The Reactions of a Certain Little Boy

Brandon is putting it all together.  The way he is starting to process things has me simply astounded at times.  Here are a few of the fun ones lately.

Saturday afternoon Grandpa and Grandma took us to see CARS 2.  (Micah stayed with some friends so he could have fun and I could watch the movie without having a squirmy, crying kid the whole time.  This also meant that Brandon got some good individual attention, without having to be interrupted by Micah.)  When asked what his favorite part of the movie was he said, "McQueen went FAST!!" and "The cars CRASHED!" and "They called him 'Mata'" (instead of Mater).  He said that for a long time, but then on Sunday it came out in his play.  Here's what he did with his cars:

The CRASHED!!  :)

Sunday was a beautifully sunny day.  It only hit 72 (yes people, 72 is still cold), but the sun was gorgeous so we sat/played outside for a long time in the afternoon.  Have I ever told you that Brandon is amazing with whatever type of ball you put in his hand?  He can hit a ball with a hockey stick, throw a ball in the air and hit it with a bat (all on his own), he can kick a soccer ball, he just about has a football figured out, and he's finally starting to throw balls using an over-arm swing instead of a side-ways type swing.  Anyway, we found this frisbee in the shed when we cleaned it out a while back and he's been trying to figure it out ever since.  Finally on Sunday, his daddy started teaching him how to "hold it flat like a pancake (this kid LOVES pancakes) and throw it from his tummy".    We have a little work to do on that one, but do you see the reaction on his face?  Pure joy that his daddy is teaching him how to do it.

And the final reaction I'll tell you about this morning:
(A couple days ago.)
Me: Brandon, do you know where we're going in 3 more sleeps?
B: Where?  (eyes bright with excitement)
Me: We're going to go see Uncle Andrew and Auntie Cheryl.
B: (after nap time the same day) Is it time to go yet?
Me: No, I told you, in 3 more sleeps.
B: But I slept LOTS already, Mommy!

(Yesterday on average every hour)
B: Is it time to go yet?
Me: In one more sleep!
B: (after nap time) Is it time to go yet?
Me: No, Brandon.  One more sleep.
B: But I just did have one more sleep!

(At just about every store we've been to, and all the people we've seen this week that he knows.)
B: I'm going to go swimming in Uncle's pool!  And I'm going to go down the slide.  The slide is in the water.

And on that note, it's time to get the kiddos out of bed so we can go to "Uncle and Auntie Cheryl's pool" (oops, I mean house).  80 degree weather, HERE WE COME!!

Have a fun, safe and blessed Fourth of July weekend.

Happenings

Here are a few  pictures of the week's highlights. 

Micah has started eating with a fork--as long as I put the food on it for him.

A great big red contraption (otherwise known as the MUSTANG) showed up "mysteriously" in our driveway this week.  Daddy and Brandon were equally excited about it...

Our park adventure this week started out being one park, but was changed on request from Brandon.  Grandpa gave Brandon a captain's hat several years ago but sometime last year it broke and I hid it to fix it, but consequently forgot where I hid it.  This past weekend I discovered it in the dark confines of the guest room closet and fixed it up.  Needless to say, boats and captains have been the theme of the week.  All that to say, Brandon specifically asked to go to the "Boat Park" (aka Zuanich) so he could be a captain on the boat.  Who can resist such reasoning?!?!

All captains must have a scope and I just happened to have a cardboard tube from
finishing off a roll of aluminum foil that worked perfectly!

Micah wasn't so sure about the whole thing.

However, as soon as I got him up to the wheel, he started making engine noises.  Grandpa and Daddy were very
excited to hear he was doing it at the proper times.

Finally, Grandpa stopped by to drop some stuff off and had his tractor with him.  The boys were EXTREMELY excited when he said they could sit on it for a couple minutes.  He even turned the engine on for a second-- oh boy they could hardly stand it they were so excited!

Praying you have a fabulous weekend.

Birch Bay at Low Tide

*WARNING: Lots of pictures!*

Thursday we went out to Birch Bay when the tide was very low (don't ask me about the numbers cause, well, you know how well I get along with numbers...).  Grandma Sally and Auntie Sally both came out with us and we had a blast learning from Grandma Sally all about sand castles, tides, and clams.

The eagle that flew right over top of us.

Clams covered in barnacles and live crabs.

Brandon starting to splash Auntie Sally

Ooops, we're in over our boots!

No rocks to throw here, but clam shells work just as well.

Wow!  Did you see how far that one went?

He kept his hands in his pockets for a long time.

Then next to him tight

But the lure of the mud finally caught up to him and he couldn't resist.

Micah stayed in the backpack while we were walking around discovering.

He loves texture!

While we ate some snack Brandon started playing in the sand.

Micah, Auntie Sally and I enjoyed the sun.

But then Grandma pulled out the BIG guns and showed Brandon how to make sand towers.

And boy did they have fun! 

The sand was really, really wet so they didn't hold their shape very well.

Then Grandma showed Brandon how to look for the holes where clams were hiding.

And they dug them up and let them go.

Except for one because I was curious what they looked like inside.

Time to go and of course that means destroying the towers.

My philosophy with taking boys to places like this is that if they didn't get muddy/dirty from head to toe then they didn't have enough fun. 

Let's just say, "Mission Accomplished".

Have a great weekend.

Conversations

Brandon is becoming quite the conversationalist and sometimes they are just too fun not to share.

"The Absent Minded Professor" Conversation from last night
I was changing Micah on the changing table and Brandon was behind me putting on his PJs.
B: Mom, you forgot my pants.
Me: What pants?
B: My pants!  Where are my pants?
Me: The ones that are on you?
B: Ohhhhhh!  Yeah!

"The Professor's Mind is Back" Conversation from this morning
B: Mommy, you have two, no you have three boys.
Me: I only see two boys--pointing at Micah then Brandon--one, two.  Where's number three?
B: You have three boys.  Daddy's at work!

Hope that brought a smile to your day as it did mine.
Pictures hopefully later today from our second park adventure.  It was a GREAT one!!!
Blessings

The Hours of Sunshine

As I've said numerous times, when the sun (or even a little blue sky) breaks through, we head outside these days.  It may last a day and may only last a couple hours--but it's better to take full advantage of what we do get.

Saturday once again started out gloomy and dreary.  I went shopping for a couple hours in the morning (if you have kids you'll know what I mean when I say it's amazing how much more you can get done in two hours when you don't have kids with you--never ceases to amaze me!)  Anyway, as I was driving home there were a few patches of blues sky so I called Bryan and told him I was going to tackle the shed full force in the afternoon.  He fully agreed it was over due.

This was the third time we've cleaned it in the three years we've lived here and before we would set things aside that "might" be useful in the future and put it back in.  This time, however, if we hadn't used it in the three years we've been here, it was relocated!

By the evening, we had it all cleaned out (though there's still a pile that has to go to the dump), and the sun was shining brilliantly.  Don and Sally called and asked if we'd like to take a joy ride on the lake with them and enjoy the sunset, so we did.  It was the perfect ending to a stressful and busy week.

After a crazy week, it was very therapeutic for Bryan to drive the boat.

Brandon enjoyed all different aspects of the boat.

These two are best buds.

Aren't you supposed to learn to drive on your daddy's knee?  There's no better place to be when you're a boy.

He was so proud...

Micah just snuggled in next to Grandma...

and fell asleep.  :)

Talk about seeing things through rose colored glasses...this
was taken through my sunglasses, just for fun.

Yesterday started out raining again.  I told Bryan I woke up and started a packing list in my head to drive to sunshine...Colorado sounded really good!

Our friends, the Kennedy's came over to play for a couple hours in the afternoon and the Lord blessed us with some sun as well, so we headed to the park.  It was a great time!

All four boys were fascinated with watching the popcorn pop.  It was so fun to hear them all giggle over it.

Praying you are finding joy in life and LIVING today.
Blessings