Happy Birthday Braden

We now have a 3 year old! Crazy! Braden turned 3 on Sunday and we had a fun day. He is getting so big and we love him so much! He brightens our lives and makes us laugh. He is so smart and we are grateful to have him in our family!! Happy Birthday Braden!!!

Well, cake wasn't so great if you couldn't tell by the look on his face! A combination of not a very long nap and embarrassed because of all the people. Plus, he doesn't really like cake so he just wanted ice cream. I ended up blowing the candles out for him.
He wouldn't sit by the cake so I had to get in the picture with him! Uncooperative! But the cake looks great huh! I can't take the credit, but my Mom did a Wonderful job!!
Braden got some play dough from some friends at playgroup and he loves it! He played with it ALL afternoon! Thanks Addi and Max!

Early Easter & Enjoying the Sunshine

So, the sunshine didn't last long, but we enjoyed a day outside while it lasted. It snowed a couple days later! Oh man--we just want REAL spring weather with no snow!! But what is REAL spring weather in Idaho anyway?

Being cool on the trampoline! He is pretty goofy though.

We went to Walmart about a week ago and picked out some Easter egg dying stuff (because I always procrastinate and then when we want to do it, I don't have the stuff). Well, Braden thought it would be fun to dye Easter eggs that same day and I said yes since Jason and I will be out of town the whole week before Easter. Plus, I'm sure he'll dye eggs with my brother, Eric. It was a lot of fun--besides the one red dye spill! Braden wanted to keep dying eggs but we ran out so this is all he got!

Disney on Ice

We had a busy weekend (a week ago)! After spending a day in Island Park, we came home late Friday night and left for Utah Saturday morning at 8:30. Grandpa and Grandma "P" surprised us and got us tickets for Disney on Ice! Braden and Kyden loved it! Kyden slept for a half hour, but yelled and laughed for the rest of it! Braden was in awe the "Do it again, do it again". He wanted to stay for more, poor kid! But he is saving his ticket for next year!! Smart boy!

Grandma P and Braden before it started.

They look excited don't they!!

Braden and his Stitch cup! He thought he was sooooo cool!

Sorry, don't know how this picture got turned but it did and I'm too lazy to turn it back so there you have it! Mickey and friends! Proof that we were actually there!

All tuckered out! What a stressful day!

Island Park

We spent about a day and a half in Island Park with my family. It was busy, but fun! Braden loved riding on the snowmobile. He rode with Jason to Big Springs and loved the whole trip. I was worried but he did great!

Braden in his snow gear.

Looks can be deceiving! It looked nice and sunny, but it was pretty much freezing with the wind blowing! But we were lucky to at least still have snow!!

Swimming! Wow that was an adventure because the pool where we were staying was closed and we didn't know that until we got there (we were the first to get there) so we had to find another one! It took a while but we finally got everything situated and swimming was fun! There was a kiddie pool just for him and he really did have the pool to himself. He absolutely loved it! Kyden learned how to splash also so that was fun. Glad we were able to go.
It was my cousins 2nd birthday while we were there so we celebrated--with a pinata. Braden had a good time hitting it.After the pinata was opened, Kyden found the stick! He was probably eyeing it up the whole time! He loves anything long and skinny--pens, markers, sticks, pencils, chapstick! Yah, not the safest toy in the world!

Playing with balloons. Kyden loved, loved, loved the balloons. He would walk around holding a balloon above his head. He would walk back by the beds and all you could see was a balloon bobbing by the beds. It was pretty cute!

Quincy (birthday girl), Abby, Braden relaxing in there chairs. What the life!

Partners in crime

Yes, those are beans ALL over the place! I was grinding wheat when I asked Braden to pick up the small pile he made up! And this is what I found! The whole box empty and guess who got to clean it ALL up! Yep, me! That's what mom's do--clean, clean, clean! It's alright though--I wouldn't trade my boys for anything! And they are growing up way too fast. I also found them in the dog food the other day emptying the food into the water bowl! I think this is just a warning for the future and all the trouble they are going to get into! Wish me luck!
Matching Little Guy sweatshirts! Jason is supposed to get one that says Big Guy! Kyden looks like he has been caught and yes he does have a bunch of cards scattered around.
Braden was having quiet time on the couch and it got really quiet (because he was reading books to himself) and this is how I found him.
Jumping on the bed!
Yes, the toilet paper! I think every kid has to have a picture like this!

Weekend in Boise

We had a very fun weekend spent with Brion, Ashley and Maddy. My roommate, Debbie, from college got married and her reception was in Boise so we decided to go since Brion and Ashley had just moved there and we thought the trip would be worth it! Nothing against my roomie's reception, but I don't know if we would have went all that way just to see her for 30 minutes! It was very fun to see her though--Congrats!! I'm so excited for her! I also got to see Shelby, another roommate from way back when! We missed each other at the reception, but got to catch up the next day since she lived just 10 minutes away from Brion and Ashley! It was fun to see her since I haven't seen her in years--besides catching up through blogging! So, we had a very fun and productive weekend! Oh ya, we also went to see Jason's cousin. She and her husband just adopted 2 kids and they are so cute!! It was fun to see them too. The weather was so nice and we did not want to come back to snow. It was soooo beautiful! We even got to go to the Zoo in Boise! Braden loved the animals! Kyden especially loved the monkeys! He just giggled and giggled at them--it was so cute! Wish I would have had my video camera! Thanks Pearson's for such a great weekend! We want to do it again soon! We miss having you guys around!
Leopard, Braden, Dad!!

Awesome giraffe slide huh! The kids loved it!

Eating at McDonald's after seaching, I swear, the whole town for something to eat!
Kyden loved it outside! As for the rest of us! And today the weather is so nice--I just want it to stay nice!! I walked outside today to birds chirping and it just made me want to jump up and down, scream and dance!! I'm ready for spring!
Braden and Maddy having a ball on the slide!

Our handsome boys! Braden's thinking--oh mom, quit taking pictures (I really don't take THAT many)! They are growing up so stinkin' fast! I can't believe I almost have a 3 year old! Where did the time go to? Kyden is 11 months old now and has been walking good for about a month! Yah, exciting, but so much more work, but then again he did crawl at 7 months so what's the difference between walking and crawling--they still get into everything! Braden is almost 3 and likes to pretend he can read! He loves his brother and does not like to be apart from him!
My cousin, Jake, and Braden playing with the car race track. I watched him a couple days last week while his parents were on vacation! Braden loves playing with him!

Highlights of the last month

Super Bowl Party--or at least for the husbands!! We didn't catch much of the game since we had our hands full being moms and chatting!Braden has his cheesy smile down quite well--Don't you think! He was pretty proud of himself because he would stand on the stool behind him and jump onto his Clifford bike. Cool huh!
Kyden loves food--this night was very messy with berries!
The new thing for naptime--I set the timer for 60 minutes--yes 60 minutes (on purpose) and let Braden sit on his bed and look at books. My plan for him to fall asleep usually works and I end up going in and stopping the timer before it goes off!
Braden with my cousin. He loves my cousins since he doesn't have any his age and they love him. We have gone to a couple of there basketball games and loves them. He is cheering for my cousin in this one with her sister. He had a blast!
Watching the basketball game!
So, I just had to put this picture on because it is just so cute! Braden put this tin can on Kyden's head and he didn't mind it until Braden bumped it and I think it scared Kyden! He looks like a Russian huh! Yah, I love it because I saw a lot of men who wore those hats when I was in Russia! Oh and Braden's new thing to do is wrestle with Kyden. Braden will lay on him and Kyden takes it pretty well. Usually he laughs but I have to stop it because Braden is going to break his arm one of these times if he's not careful! Braden just doesn't understand how big his is compared to Kyden! Oh well, I guess it's just a stage--another one I should enjoy!
We went rollerskating for FHE with my family and we had such a good time! Braden hasn't stopped talking about it! Braden refused to wear rollerskates, but he loved riding in the stroller and walking around. Kyden wasn't so sure about the whole thing!
Eric and Braden!
Our Valentine's ice cream. We went to Sub Zero and it was so good! And it is just a fun place for kids because it is cool to see them make the ice cream with freezing nitrogen (I think that's what it is--oh well if not) and the steam. We told Braden all day that we were going to get ice cream so when we headed there and had to stop at a store before ice cream he almost had a melt down! It was a great night! Thanks babe!!