Future Gymnasts? Maybe Just Monkeys

The past month both my MOPS group and our Moms Club have had playdates at a gymnastics center. Both of the boys really enjoyed playing on the equipment and doing the activities. Brayden listened very well to the instructors and had a blast. Bransen just crawled and played as fast as he possibly could.

Bransen about to crawl off the tall mats

Brayden sliding into the foam pit.

Brayden brave enough to swing into the ball pit.

Bransen got a chance to play in the pit and loved it, had a hard time getting him out.

Such a little monkey

Brayden stretching with the rest of our MOP friends

One of Bransen's favorite was playing with the balls

Found a way to trap them, for a little while.

Trying out the balance beam.

Swinging on the monkey bars.

Visiting with our Moms Club friends.

Dr. Brayden & Mr. Mischief

Dr. Brayden - The Vet or Animal Doctor

Brayden has been having Career week the past couple weeks at school. He got to have a Fireman, Policeman, and other people within the community come to his school and share about their careers. Last week he was able to dress up as whatever he wanted to be when he grew up. After the Fireman came to his school he came home and put on his Fireman Hat and determined he was going to be a Fireman when he grew up. I was then reading over the flyer we got from school and on the bottom of it were pictures of different people dressed for their career. He pointed out the one with the cat next to it. I explained to him that was a Vet or an Animal Doctor. He then went down to the basement and found his doctor kit and several stuffed animals and determined a Vet is what he was going to be. He picked out his shirt, boots and hat to go with his career, I thought he did pretty good. Such a cute Vet (or in his words Fet he can't say V's).

Mr. Mischief - This is what happens when I leave Bransen alone for more than 1 minute.

Finally Well for our Well Check Appointments!

Praise the Lord we have been healthy now for a week or so! And we were able to make our well check appointments that I have scheduled and rescheduled twice due to being sick. I requested the presence of Daddy at this doctor's appointment since both boys were being seen and last time I took them sick at the same time I about lost my mind. Both boys seemed to be healthy for the most part. Brayden ended up having some fluid in his ears (he hasn't been complaining or running fever) but she went ahead and got him started on an antibiotic. Dr. Allison gave them a complete exam and spent about 45 minutes with us discussing each and checking them out. Brayden did an excellent job! Which is a big deal considering I use to have to hold him in my lap and hold his arms and legs while the doctor just checked his temperature, not fun. Since we had such a good experience we all headed to Pizza Pro afterwards for dinner and a few games for Brayden.

Here are there stats:
Brayden Tim
31 lbs (25th percentile) and 37 1/4 in (25th percentile)

Bransen Ron
19.14 lbs (25th percentile) and 29 in (55th percentile)

All the rooms at this doctor's office are painted with a different scene, beautiful isn't it!

Boys in PJ's

Bransen having a snack in his favorite chair (notice his terrible scratch on his foreheadfrom his fingernail and I had just clipped them less than a week ago)

PJ day at Brayden's Mother's Day Out

Consider it pure joy...

James 1: 2 - 5
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

These are the verses I feel like God has been trying to teach me from the past few weeks, well, maybe months. The trials I am facing are really minor and to most may not seem like trials at all but to this momma they have been. Sickness! No MORE! I feel like my two boys have been sick since Thanksgiving. They have had viral infections one after the other, Strep Throat, the Flu, ear infections, and now RSV. This has been the trial I have been faced with - to be a Godly Momma even during these sicknesses. To have JOY as we spend night after countless night awake and not sleeping, as we spend day after day at home and not at church or around others, as we go through bottle after bottle of Ibprophen, as we spend week after week at the doctors office and dollar after dollar to the doctor. Consider it Joy, REALLY, is that what it says. Joy that I am going through this trial.

As I read this morning, this helped me. James doesn't say if you face trials, he says When. He assumes we will all have trials but it is possible to profit from them. The point is not to pretend to be happy when we face pain but to have a positive outlook (consider it pure joy) because of what trials can produce in our lives. James tells us to turn these trials and hard times into times of learning to teach us perserverance. Our character develops during this time and God's using it to make us mature and complete. So see these times as times of growth. Asking God to help me have the strength to endure and to grow with Him during it all.

So, I guess I have been needing to grow. I'm thinking I needed some sickness to allow me to see I can't do this mothering thing alone (really God? I thought I had learned that by now, and being away from ALL family really is teaching me that) but to depend on God for my strength and rest (since I'm not getting any at night). Only God can give a mom the kindness and gentle Spirit and tame tongue she needs to stay at home all day and be a nice momma to sick kiddos. I'm praying I have learned from these trials of sickness and have persevered and past the test and can have all the sickness behind us for a little while.

Laughing and Crawling Fast

Contagious Laugh (In the car after about 6 hours of driving, both he and I were a little simpled out but you do whatever to entertain at this point)

Crawling Fast

Brayden being silly but making Bransen laugh so I was okay with it.

Winter Wonderland

In the past few weeks we have experienced a Winter Wonderland. We have had 2 different snow falls come through leaving more than 10 inches of snow each time. That is a LOT of SNOW! The pictures don't really do it justice.

I enjoy snow and think it is beautiful to see the pure whitness which makes me think of the Bible where it says our sins are washed away whiter than snow. I enjoy getting to sit by the fire and be inside with the warmth of my home. It makes me so thankful for a warm home and heater. I am thankful for the fact that during this snowfall Josh was able to stay home and help me with 2 sick kiddos since it was so bad his work even closed for a few days. I enjoy playing in the snow, making snow men, making snow ice cream, throwing a few snow balls, sledding, tubing. But all these things are a little different now with 2 kiddos at home that can't really enjoy these things yet and it takes 3 times as long to get all suited up to go outside for a total of maybe 5 minutes of fun.

So I now have been able to thoroughly enjoy the snow and am READY for some WARM weather! Time to get outside and play in the sunshine. We do have some great memories from our snow.

Daddy and Bransen checking out the snowman

Bransen thought the snowman was funny

The boys with the start of the snowman or snow woman. This snowman was a big deal. The first snow we had was pure powder that did not pack. So our second huge snow Josh and Brayden discussed building a snowman. Josh got all ready to head out and Brayden refused to go. So Josh went alone while we all watched from inside. Stubborn finally on his own got dressed and headed out. Josh was about half way through. Brayden lasted maybe 5 minutes (he doesn't like the cold at all). When Josh had the snowman all finished he wanted everyone to come back out for a picture and guess who refused. I decided our snowman needed a pink Black Cattle Company Cap to be a snow woman since I am so outnumbered.

Snow Ice Cream - yummy!

Looking at all the snow, notice he is barely hanging on, brave little man.

A beautiful snow covered tree in our backyard.

The cliffs near our home covered in ice cycles. Thought it made a neat picture.

The boys standing near the snow piles in Walmart's parking lot.

10 plus inches and another 4 in two days later

Our driveway after Josh and I shoveling for at least 30 minutes.

Now that is Snow, not use to seeing this kind of snow in Texas

Shoveling the driveway - Daddy's big helper

Look at all that snow next to our driveway

Bransen Ron - 10 months

Bransen Ron is 10 months old today. He brings such joy to our lives through his contagious smile and great personality. Thank you Lord for blessing us with this precious little boy. Here are some of the things he is doing.

• Crawling everywhere FAST! Before we left for Christmas he was sitting playing and would roll where he wanted to go or army crawl a few inches. Now he chases Brayden everywhere.
• Pulling up on anything he can find and letting go. SCARY!
• Eating real food by himself. He no longer lets us feed him baby food. He eats most everything we put in front of him. It is very messy.
• He is finally sleeping some better. He generally goes to bed at 7 and will make it until about 5 before I have to feed him (although he still cries out around 3 for several minutes, hoping this passes soon.)
• He smiles and laughs all the time. Such a sweet boy. He is very friendly and catches everyones attention with his smile and dimples.
• He waves to people and points at things he wants.
• He says dada when looking at Josh.
• He babbles other double syllables.
• He loves his bathtime and I think would stay in as long as we would let him.
• He really enjoys looking out the windows at all the snow we have had (pictures to come).

Opening every drawer and cabinet he can get his hands on, way past time to baby proof

Bransen playing with his friend Jackson at MOPS

His best friend M'Aggie, they are always near each other, we think M'Aggie thinks he is her baby