4 years old

 Happy Birthday to my sweet boy!

Four years how flown by, and I have enjoyed every min of being a mommy to this amazing boy. He is getting more smart and more handsome every day.

We had such a great day celebrating HIM!

We started with presents right away!!! His choice.

 Gifts from Mom & Dad:

Remote control truck, goggles, bubble gum, bubble bath, church shirt and shoes, CTR ring.

Gifts from Grandpa & Grandma:

Soccer shin guards, soccer outfit, soccer socks, soccer net.

Gifts from Papa & Nana:

Velcro ball game, outfit, Land Before Time DVD.

ONE SPOILED 4 YEAR OLD! 

 After we ate chocolate chip muffins for breakfast, we headed to the high school to play soccer on the REAL field with REAL nets. We also played a little baseball, our boys two favs. We were all dripping sweat, but we had ice cold drinks and snacks, and we had a BLAST!!

 We went to a Rangers game @ 1:00 pm.

It was Brend's first game, and Co's second, but he didn't remember coming. So it was fun to experience it all together. The boys LOVED when a homerun was hit and the fireworks went off. There was A LOT of walking to do, and Co was a champ and did it all by himself.

 

Cohen got popcorn and a certificate and a PIN that said "It's My Birthday!". He felt pretty darn special the whole, which was just what I wanted. :) 

The top right picture above is Cohen just conversing with a complete stranger. I'm glad I got a picture of it. This is what happens wherever we go in public. I just hold my breath and tongue every time, it's great.

I love my little social bug.

 

I was in complete HEAVEN being next to my sweetheart the whole day! He has been MIA for the past month while studying hard.

Brendon spotted these giant balls instantly and couldn't wait to touch one. What one bro does, the other has to follow of course.

 On our way out of the park, Cohen walked on the red line below as long as possible. Oh the simple things in life! Cheap entertainment right there. He was really happy, unlike the picture looks.

 The boys and I waited in the shade while Daddy ran to get the car. Co's face explains the HEAT!

 Here's Co and Brend opening the package from Papa & Nana.

GO RANGERS GO!

Oh, and the game was against the A's, and we left early so I have no idea who won. Oops!

After traveling home and cooling off for a bit, Cohen chose to go to Taco Bueno for dinner, since we got coupons for free tacos. He's my kinda boy!! A saver. ;)

 Then FINALLY he got to have cake.

He picked out Yellow cake with Chocolate frosting...

Oh that face!

Perfect way to end the day.....BUBBLE BATH!

  

Happy Birthday my sweet Cohen!

I can't believe your 4.

I love you more today than EVER.

x o x o

  

Parenting Challenges

{checked the boys one night to find Brend sleeping like this}

   

Lately, I'm not sure what to do with this boy.

He is testing us to every extent.

A very sweet, mellow boy, but a spitfire if I've ever seen one!

He has a temper and does not reason for anything.

Part of this is due to the lack of communication that is possible for him right now. A lot of times I just feel bad for him. But with that said, he's learning many new GOOD things about life and about obedience and responsibility.

BUT...

Our struggle right now, and I mean struggle, is BEDTIME.

He has flipped a switch in the past two weeks and it's like he is realizing he is getting big and he's trying to hang on to every thing "baby" that's possible. I thought we were going to sneak right passed the "separation anxiety phase" but I think we're getting a little taste of it now.

He wants to be rocked to sleep and/or wants me to lay in his bed with him while he goes to sleep. I not ok with either.

That's just me.

We are working on this matter, and our starting this week with new ideas that will hopefully help him understand and RElearn how to put himself to sleep, something he has never had a problem with.

WISH US LUCK!! Especially me. I am beyond emotionally exhausted with bedtime, but mostly feel bad for the little guy.

Father's Day

 Am I lucky, or am I lucky???

I get to call these three handsome boys MINE.

And that man in back, ohh baby he is fine!

I LOVE Father's Day, a day we get to celebrate Brock and my Dad but I just LOVE giving a whole day to Brock. He works so hard for our family every min of every day. If he's not working on med school stuff he is giving his all to me and the boys.

We went for a walk after opening a few gifts, we got Brock new bush trimmers so we tried them out for a few mins.

Church was great, Co sang with the primary while I played.

Steak and mashed potatoes for dinner, one of Brock's favorites. And ended the day with an apple pie and vanilla bean ice cream.

YUM!

I love tradition and I love holidays.

Gift from the boys...

Happy Father's Day

to the one and only

Brock Tood Kitchen.

 x o x o x o 

Tomato Bug

 BAD BAD BUG!

He ate our whole plant that was about to get tomatoes on it.

I guess things like this happen now that we're gardeners, or at least wanna be gardeners.

 Such an ugly guy.

Dissapointed boy,

but we aren't giving up!

Happy 6th Anniversary 

 More in love today than ever have been.

I can't tell you how happy I was to have had our Anniversary fall on a Sunday this year, Brock's only day off while studying for boards. So he was ALL MINE the whole day.

That's all I needed and wanted.

This man of mine makes me feel like a queen, a million dollars, he's all I ever wanted.

I woke up to a homemade sign on my bedroom wall and roses from our yard on my nightstand. He knows me too well, that's exactly what I would ask for!

 The boys helped Daddy make applesauce pancakes and evil syrup. We played and laughed, and relaxed, and took our time getting ready for chuch. Church was great. Then we had a yummy meal and chocolate cake and ice cream.

He is mine FOREVER and EVER!

Can't wait to see what our future holds. 

 

S P L A S H   P A D

 We went to a splash pad with Beka and Telicia last week. It is getting HOT HOT HOT and water outside it becoming a must.

The boys had a blast with Nixon and Bridger.

 It was little Watson's first time and he's expression was so cute! He wasn't sure what to think. He is so mellow and handsome. Such a sweet baby boy. 

BOYS, BOYS, ALL AROUND!!

National Doughnut Day!
june 7th

 We embraced the holiday!

Doughnuts always make my mouth water just looking at them.

The boys and I had a picnic at the park to celebrate.

 Shade + a little breeze + doughnuts = PERFECT PICNIC.

I ate three in one day.

I think my doughnut fix is fixed for awhile.

But OH YUMMY!

as of late...

 Trying to stay busy and entertained.

The empty sandbox was not too much fun anymore, so they dicovered the AWESOME mud pit under it. 

The boys love to paint! Or make swirls with all the colors.

 As for me, after I get all my TO DO's done and the boys are sleeping and Mr. Med School is studying for boards I play with hair color. I can't seem to keep the same color for a week or two. Oops! But so fun.

 We are ALL four counting down until Brock's big board tests are over soon! We want to play and see our Daddy. And Mama is ready to SNAP most days, but trying to be as PATIENT as possible with my little ones. Very VERY hard for me to do the past month or two. We are all obvious in need and READY for a change. Can't wait for a few party hardy days for Co's birthday and Brock's break before he starts 3rd year rotations. YAY!

We can make it... we can make it... we can make it.

Ammon Carter Museum

I had this brilliant idea...

The boys and I were going to attend a special Mommy and Child tour of the Ammon Carter Museum of Art. Sounds fun, right? Refreshments afterwards.

NOT so exciting for these little tots of mine.

I'm not the biggest art fan, but it does interest me. I'm going to take Brock on a date there one time. As for the boys, they had WAY more fun outside on the museum grounds. We lasted about 5 mins of the tour, then just did a quick roam around of our own. Pretty building, amazing art. But like I said, the huge grassy hill to run up and down WON.

bye bye "bee-beent"

 He's big!

No more BINKIE. Happy? YES. Sad? YES.

They just get BIG the split second the binkie is gone.

So how it happened and why now....

He was getting WAY too attached. He was starting to ask for it all during the day every day, when he only had it in his bed for over six months. Was NOT working out.

So....the evening of June 7th the bink accidentally "broke" right before bedtime. I cut a hole in it when no one was looking. After getting jammies on and books read and teeth brushed, then he asks for his "bee-beent". I got it and said, "Uh Oh, Brend, the binkie broke!" With a look of concern he said, "Oh No." He checked it out, tried to suck it and spit it out and said "yuck!". We said "bye bye Binkie!" and he threw it away. THE END.

Four days later and he still has not mentioned it once. He has slept through the night just fine.

 Just two recent pics that make me smile BIG thinking of them...

Brend talking to JB our fish, sweetness. Then he shook the bowl and nearly killed the poor fish I'm sure.

Park time with my boys.

When Brend is outside, he is HAPPINESS from ear to ear.

LOVE YOU my sweet baby B.

You are still my baby with no bink.

Thanks for being tough and getting rid of a big piece of comfort in your world. 

I was dreading it and thought you would have an extremely tough time...boy did you prove me wrong.