Braden kneeboarding

Last weekend I caught some pictures of Braden kneeboarding...unfortuantely I was on another boat so they weren't the closest shots but he was glad he had a few to see. Last summer he got up on the kneeboard but only with help froms someone in the water. This year he can pull himself up, attach the knee strap and grab the rope.  Chris said he tried to do a 360 right away...ha! Maybe next time he'll get that. He looked like a little peanut out there. I can't believe all these little guys are so brave behind the boat. :) The last picture is a video if you click the arrow.

Pancake Pen

So after reading a couple friend's blogs (Janelle and Alicia :) and seeing how fun their pancake pen looked, I finally ordered one.  We love it! The boys love it and I think it's pretty cool too. You just pour your batter in and it makes shapes, letters, and designs so easy.  Ethan loved watching. I'll have to get creative next time on what to make, but at first we did letters in our names, hearts and snakes (requested by Ethan).

"I go boating!"

So Ethan is obsessed LOVES boating! I mean loves boating. In fact when he does his prayers at night, we always have to pray for boating (not sure if it's a person or a need or a blessing, or what we're praying for but we say "and we pray for boating" because that's Ethan's request). He talks about wakeboarding and skiing endlessly. So for his 3rd bday party coming up, there will be no trucks, no dinosaurs,no Deigo in this house...yep it's a boating theme.  This was a practice round of pictures for his invitation.  He even pretends he's holding the rope and falls.  ha!

Braden's first day of kindergarten!

Finally I get to blog. :) Our stinky Internet has been down and I'm losing my mind with no Internet. hee hee!  Braden's first day of school was Monday at Grant Line.  I knew this day would be hard for me but honestly I didn't anticipate it to be as hard as it was. :(  My sad day was Sunday, the day before, as reality hit me. I cried when I made his lunch, I cried when I got out his outfit, I cried getting the backpack out....OH MY!! Chris thought I was a little nuts and I'd have to agree. :)

The thing is...he's my first, my baby and I've been home with him for 5 years. Now he's gone all day everyday. It really is a hard thing for us mommies. My emotions were all over like being scared that I haven't taught him enough (academically or even with manners or how to wipe his booty properly. ha! I mean the list is endless). Then it's just how much I'll miss him and I'm used to him doing everything with me and doing everything for him! Plus, will he embarrass me? :)  Will he listen to his teacher, be nice to others, remember to bring his lunchbox home (all the importants right?).  This is such a HUGE change and it was hard on me.  Now come Monday, it was a whirlwind so I didn't have to time to get emotional. We were up, dressed and out the door before any of us were really awake. :) Plus I had a "Boo hoo/yahoo" breakfast back at my house for other Grant Line mommies leaving their kindergarterner for the first time. It was a great distraction.

Chris said, "wait, we have to get your picture making his first lunch." ahhhh, the joys of a blogger husband. :) Good work babe!

 The first lunch...with a note from Mom and Dad of course. :)

 Uh....do you think I was ready for the morning? :)

 Rise and shine my big kindergartner!!  He wasn't quite ready to be up yet.

 Trying to be all good mom and all, I thought "Oh peanut butter on toast would be filling and some good protein." Of course he complained and wanted cereal instead. ha!

 Then the paparazzi had to take several shots....don't worry-I only included 1/3 of them. ha!

 Poor Ethan, always tagging along with his "Bubby."  He's such a good supporter. :)

 Daddy came for the first day drop off too!

 Mrs. Schneider, his teacher that I have dreamt about! No not really, but she is the best and I'm thrilled he has her. :)

 Cousin Izzie is in the class next door.  Didn't we just have these babies Laura? :(

 A quick pic with Mommy (who by the way is apparently wearing a "Halloween shirt??" Braden asked why I was wearing a Halloween shirt for his first day! ha! And so the embarrassment of Mom's clothes begins.

He waved to me the whole time his line walked away.  Talk about trying to make a momma cry. "DON'T GOOOO!!!! :)

* So just for an update since day 3 is now over...Braden is loving it but is beyond exhausted when he gets home! I mean pooped, dramatic, cries, mean to Ethan-the works!  Hopefully we can make it through the week and rest up some on the weekend. Shooowee!

Melissa's visit

Today Melissa and her family came down for a visit. We have been friends since middle school and were even college roomates but she moved to California in '99 and we have all missed her! She and her hubs have moved to Indiana and we are thrilled. She has a brand new baby, Jackson,  who I got to snuggle with all day!!  Love that little 3 month old baby talk. I could eat him up!

Sweet baby boy! Love his hair!

Melissa, Brandon and Jackson :)

We'd like to think we look just like we did in high school. Hee hee!!! :)

We tried to get a picture with our boys...Ethan wasn't feeling it. I love how he's still peeking in the background. ha!

Last Friday night we planned an adult only dinner cruise on the river.  We had 7 couples on Nick and Jenn's boat. Love boating with my boys but going all adult sure is fun too!  There were some serious storms during the night so we had to hurry to Tumbleweed to eat and dodge the rain but it was fun, fun!

Columbus Commons

Last Wednesday I met Michelle in Columbus for a little playdate. It's perfect because it's the halfway point for us to drive and the kids can play together.  I love this little free place in Columbus and would love to have one here. :)

Ethan crawled all the way to the top several times but then would get stuck and yell for me. ha! Thankfully some big boy kept helping him down.

Michelle and her cuties craweled up too.

Braden's week

Last week was a busy week for Braden. He had kindergarten registration and his MRI was scheduled.  Since March Braden has been suffereing from migranes that end in vomitting.  It's been so scary for me because of course I thought something terrible could be wrong (darn Google searches). So we decided to do a MRI to rule anything really bad out. Praise God that his results were normal so now we'll just go back to monitoring and trying to figure out triggers and go from there.

Kindergarten registration night-this display was in the library. He was a little excited!

Waiting to get started for his MRI-he as pretty comfy just lounging and watching cartoons

After his IV got put in he pretended he was Spiderman and could release his webs. ha!

Poor buddy...it took him over an hour to come out of anesthesia and then he was sooooo groggy and loopy. Eventually he was his chatty self and all was good.

Boating fun

Here are some pictures from last weekend's boating trips

Check out Ethan's booty watching the tubers. ha!

Braden & Judd laughing it up

Amber and I tried some double skiing for the first time. We were pretty good. I think we'll start entering some competitions. ha!

What are these cuties doing?

Big messes! ha

Braden tried wakeboarding for the first time. I was super nervous but at least he had a helmet on. :)  He got up twice like this but didn't get his board turned so went over the top in a few seconds but I was SO proud that he tried.

Lately...

Lately we've been doing a ton of boating and playing with friends. :)  Summer is sadly creeping away. It's been a super fun summer but why does it have to end so soon?

Braden loves to push the limit on the tube and try new "tricks." Crack me up!

Braden had his first sleepover...Jackson stayed with us. They played and played so when it was time for bed, they both crashed. Such big boys!

Kate invited us over for a fun Friday night tonight. The weather was perfecto! The kids had a blast in the bouncer and on the waterslide.  What a group of cuties!

This was their silly face. :)

And last but not least....a little painting session with my cutie pies.

Chic-fil-a Day

Last Friday was Chic-fil-a's dress like a cow day to get a free meal :)  We didn't do the full cow outfit this year but I did have these hats I had saved from months ago.  It was supposed to get us free sandwiches but they actually gave us all free meals. Jackpot!  This was Braden's special day too because we went school shopping and got him his kindergarten supplies, backpack and lunch box (sniff sniff). He picked out Batman for his lunch box.  SOOOOO big!!!