Mom & Dad in TEXAS Cont.

NRH2o Water Park

 One of the only ways to stay cool in the above 100 degree weather is to be in water. This was ALL our first time going to this water park. We will be back for sure! It was so enjoyable for all ages, we spent the WHOLE day there.

Cohen was so brave going down slides and swimming alone with his floaties, and Brendon wanted to be running in the water all by himself. He's fearless when it comes to water.

 Cohen went down this slide a million times. He went down and couldn't get back up to the top fast enough. Brendon also loved it, and kept pushing my arms away like "let me go alone!". He would laugh and scream every time we'd go down.

 Very good memories with my boys.

 Cohen was EXTRA brave towards the end and he went down this big twisty blue slide all by himself. He was very proud!

 Thank You NRH2o!

We'll see you again soon. 

A visit from two of the greatest.

 My parents came and stayed with us for 10 days.

I will just say all my worries and fears in life melt away when I am around them. They make me happy, they make me laugh in a way that most people can't, they make me feel like a million dollars.

10 days felt like 5 days, flew right by.

It was heavenly bliss.

We played hard, laughed a lot and cried a little.

Their first day here we pretty much got ready for Co's birthday party which was the next day, and we went out to dinner at Pei Wei. YUM! It was Dad's first time there, he approved.

Grandma was a sport and rode in the VERY back seat with Cohen EVERY TIME we rode anywhere for 10 days. 

Cohen wanted it no other way.

Cohen's party was Saturday {pics in last post}, and we went to church and relaxed Sunday.

 Brendon warmed up to them very fast!

Saturday morning we walked to the golf course park and enjoyed the SHADE, as we tried to hide from the hot sun.

Monday we headed to the stockyards, 

which was a first for both of them...

Stockyards Historical Museum...

This same day we took a tour of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing for FREE. I was impressed and surprised how much I enjoyed seeing the process of how money is made.

That evening we had our sweet friends the Grajeda Family over for Family Night and Rosa taught us all how to make Sopas {AMAZING authentic mexican food}. We love them like family, and I was SO happy they got to meet my parents.

It was a perfect day to start out our week of crazy fun.

the actual PARTY

{june 23rd}

 So about a month ago Cohen told me he wanted an "Arnie" birthday party. I had no idea who Arnie was, and it took a good two weeks to figure it out. For those of you that know who Sid the Science Kid is {one of Co's all time favorite shows to watch} Arnie is Sid's HUGE green dinosaur stuffed animal that you RARELY see. So...I started searching the internet. NO ARNIE ANYTHING. There is ONE, literally one, image alone of Arnie and it had Sid standing in front of him {which we used for pin the nose on Arnie}. Well, I was lucky enough that the whole "Arnie" party idea sorta turned into a dinosaur party. I tried to tie Arnie in a little, but mostly went with a green dino party. Turned out quite well for the budget I let myself have.

 Those in attendance:

Vicki {next door neighbor, she fills in as Grandma}

Matt, Telicia & Bridger Webb

Josh, Mary, Henry, Jane & Will Gillett

Camee, Ty, Kaylee & Maddie Montgomery

Grandma & Grandpa {my parents}

Melissa & Brooklyn Garza

Party Activities:

- pin the nose on Arnie

- dug for dinosaur bones in the sandbox

- pinata

- opened gifts

- cake and ice cream

 Brock is the cake maker in our family, and I'm sure he always will be for birthdays. The dinosaur cake was much harder than he thought it would be, but it turned out great.

 The kids got juice boxes with their cake and ice cream, 

green ones of course.

 Cohen has WONDERFUL friends, and parents of friends.

We're lucky to be surrounded by so many genuine people.

 Cohen was counting down the HOURS til it was time for his party.

And thanks to fun friends and lots of sugar, I think it met all his expectations.

This was our first "real" kids birthday party to plan.

We had a blast!  

Can't wait til next year.

Happy 3rd Birthday 'Party' Co!

Cohen's 3rd Birthday

{june 20th}

 I have a 3 year old now.

And he's mighty proud to be one.

I feel like according to Cohen to his day was perfect.

He was on cloud 9 the whole day, smiling and VERY happy with life.

I hate to admit that I deleted all the pictures of his birthday breakfast and opening gifts, SAD. The night before his birthday Brock and I snuck in his room and hung streamers and balloons across his whole cealing. He was quite surprised, to say the least, when he woke up. We had orange rolls, muffins, fruit & yogurt for breakfast. And he was the best ever this time at opening gifts. He loved it! It was like this was the first time he really understood what was going on.

After opening gifts, we headed to Storytime at our library. Cohen LOVES Storytime. They sing, dance, read books, and make a craft once a week. And they even sang Happy Birthday to him, which he thought was pretty dang cool.

 After Storytime, we went to Let's Jump with Co's cute friends Ty and Kaylee. They are such cute friends and the best examples for Cohen. They played nonstop for about two hours. After jumping, we ate Lunchables in our van with the a/c blasting, a park was WAY too hot.

 {Ty & Kaylee Motgomery}

 After dropping Ty & Kaylee off, we headed home for a little R&R and naptime. After recharging our batteries, we went swimming at our friends The Webb's neighborhood pool. I think this was the most fun part of the day for us all. It wasn't too hot, wasn't crowded and we spent the perfect amount of time there, before we got kicked out by some serious black rain clouds.

 Cohen is becoming quite brave in the water, big progress.

 Brendon on the other hand, is FEARLESS.

 On our way home from the pool, we ended the day with dinner at "Old McDonalds" requested by Cohen. He snarfed his happy meal down, then played in the play area just like a three year old.

 He is proud to be three.

On our drive home from dinner, he said "Mom, am I STILL three?" which was asked a few more times for the next couple of days.

When he was talking on the phone to some family wishing him a happy birthday, he was telling them about his new book, 'Who's Your Hero?' which is a children's book about scripture stories.....during telling them about it he was asked who his hero was and he said, "my dad is my hero!" all on his own. 
And I believe him.

The whole day was special.

Very close to a perfect day.

Happy Birthday to my sweet 3 year old!!

I LOVE YOU CO.

hydrocele cyst

 The last part of May, Brock discovered a lump in Brendon's groin area, seemed like it showed up over night. After taking him to the pediatrician, getting an ultrasound done in radiology, and seeing a pediatric surgeon ALL IS WELL. 
The lump went away by itself.

We found out that is was a hydrocele cyst, which is fairly common for little boys this age. It was there for about 3 weeks total {a nerve-wrecking 3 weeks}, and now seems to be completely gone. What a blessing. We were so nervous and it definitely gave us a scare. So grateful it is gone, now just hoping it doesn't return.

At the hospital where we saw the surgeon, there was the coolest play area in the commons area. Brendon loved climbing and exploring, so naturally I snapped a few pictures.

father's day 2012

 There's a reason why Father's Day is on Sunday every year...

So we can take a WHOLE DAY and celebrate and honor our Daddy's without other distractions that we have during the week.

The daddy of our house deserves months of celebration.

Father's Day was very relaxed this year.

We had a yummy breakfast and he opened his gift, a new white pinstriped button up shirt. We had a big Father's Day feast saturday night, grilled steaks and mashed potatoes. Sunday we had our sweet neighbor Vicki over for the holiday, which was perfect.

We have an outstanding Daddy in our home.

He works so hard for our growing family and somehow ALWAYS finds time to fit everything into his crazy schedule.

Family is first to him ALWAYS.

Which means the world to the boys and I.

Happy Father's Day Brock!

xoxoxo 

Update.

 Brendon will be a ONE YEAR in two weeks.

He is becoming quite the spunky stubborn kid. I will guess he will give us a run for our money, so watch out world!

He is WALKING, no more crawling at all. He took his first steps at 10 months old. He still only has 3 teeth, two bottom, one ALMOST two top. He eats more than Cohen 95% of the time. He will gum pretty much everything we eat, other than steak or too hard of foods. He loves pizza, chicken nuggets, mac n cheese, CHEESE, fruit, sugar snap peas...pretty much anything we give him. His new love - POPCORN! Big mistake letting him eat some yummy air popped popcorn with butter and salt. He is saying more sounds, still only Mama, Dada, Nana {banana I'm pretty sure}.

Wants to be Cohen's shadow, even if Cohen is bullying him a little. He doing pretty well now a days at keeping up with him.

{soccer ball and goal was a birthday gift from Papa & Nana}

 When Brendon cries Co either brings him a blankey {which in Cohen's world makes EVERYTHING feel better} or sings him a primary song. He is being to be a very polite boy and working hard at being a patient big brother. Recently we were deciding what park to go to and Co said "Mom, can we go to the red park that has lots of people that I can talk to?" He is a social butterfly to say the least. Shopping at any store we make plenty of friends. Co seems to be not having as many scary dreams {ANSWER TO PRAYER}. Cohen is getting tall and skinny, and has been called the Coppertone kid with a pretty sweet tan line.

These boys can make me a little CRAZY,

but they are what life is all about.

Love them.