It Starts

Well we broke out our swimming suits this week in spite of the freezing cold water. The hot temperatures and my desires to hold out on turning on the AC inspired our first swims. Today, 5 days of swimming in, and a now heated pool, Braden has taught himself to swim from place to place under water. I mean literally the kid can swim. He can barely barely get his head above water to take a breath, but nothing a few swimming lessons won't take care of. I thought he was drowning himself when he jumped in to the deeper end of our pool without floaties, but after I jumped in and got my pants wet tonight to save him, he did it again and made it to the shallow end in no time. The little stinker. He is quite the little fishy. Meanwhile, he is still a two year old. I think its pretty impressive.

Friends Are the Best

Braden is the best friend ever. He was at Zacks the other day and had to go potty. Zackary wasn't potty trained, but his mommy had sure tried to get that ball rolling a few times with no success. When Braden was there using the bathroom, Zack decided it was time, and his potty training journey began that very minute. Thank you Braden!!

My Favorite Things

I use this blog kind of as a journal/ scrapbook for our family. I know I am not incredibly diligent, but I am trying and I post at least once a month, and I definitely catch up, so Id say, Im doing my best. I just went through my posts to delete drafts that didn't need to be posted, and came across a post from over a year ago, that for some reason never made the cut. It was called "My Favorite Things Today". As I read it over, I loved what I read. It was a joyful post with a list of 5 of my favorite things for the day. I think I might start a journal that way. I have only done well in a journal for maybe 6 months straight, and if I just hone in on 5 things, I think that might be do-able. And if one day I write more in it, then thats great for everyone! So here's to my 5 favorite things of each day.

1) Traegan slept last night until 6am! It was delightful!!
2) Braden had a play date at his friends this morning and I got to work on a few blog posts and go to Costco. Traegan also took a killer nap while Braden was gone and my house looked a million times cleaner that it did when I woke up this morning. My house always looks like a tornado blew through on Monday mornings. Oh well.
3) I ran into one of my favorite friends tonight at an unexpected event. It was fun to chat and laugh together.
4) I am pretty sure that I did like 12 blog posts to update my sis during her trip to Ghana.
5) Braden went swimming today, even though the pool was pretty dang cold, and he was in heaven.

Today was a great day. Tomorrow will be great too!

Traegans Blessing

We went to Rexburg to bless Traegan. We had a wedding to attend and Devin had business in Southern Idaho and Utah so we decided why not? It was so much fun. My siblings came from Utah, and Devins sister came from Utah, and then Devins brother and parents from Rexburg were there. It was such a party!

 Braden was so happy to see Auntie Chantel again. He misses her in between visits.

 Our little angel in his perfect, borrowed, blessing outfit.

 What better time to take a nap then when you have a sleeping baby in your arms?

Our entire blessing party. We felt so lucky to have friends and family with us away from home. 

All of Bradens snow pictures are somewhere still. I think on Devins work computer or on someone else's camera. I didn't take enough on my camera and maybe even misplaced a memory card from that trip. Who knows. 

Growing Up

Braden is pretty good at doing things when I ask. It took a while and he had a listening chart and had to get 100 stars before he could get a new bike, but he did it. He has gotten so good at picking his toys up in fact, that I decided he was probably old enough to do some little designated "Braden Chores". For now he thinks it is cool. Almost every time the dishwasher is clean, he gets to unload the utensils. He has even started wanting to help me unload the dishes. He is great!

A New Addiction

Our shoes. Braden takes shoes out of our closet all day long and tries to go places in them. One day Braden had his friend Matthew over to play and I could tell that they were in the closet so I listened in to what they had to say. They are so funny.
B: Here. You should try these shoes on. They are great.
M: They won't fit me. I like these.
B: These shoes aren't cool enough for me. (WHAT? Where did he learn that? ha ha)
M: They fit!! Lets go. Ive got my flashlight. (no flashlight) Theres a storm.
B: No. The storms outside. Hurry lets go see it.

At this point I dashed out of my room and tried not to laugh out loud at the two of them walking down my hallway in Devins sz 14 shoes. They each proceeded to find a push toy and tried getting up the stairs in the shoes. I think they ditched them about 3 steps up. Cute boys! I am a huge fan of play dates especially now that my role has significantly decreased. Its not babysitting Bradens friends anymore. Its just a party for B and a break for me. LOVE IT!!

Bath Time

We love bath time around here. Its a good thing too probably with stinky boys taking over my house. These boys get one or two baths a day, sometimes more just cuz they like em!! Really its just the water that counts. Nothing else matters.

 Braden decided if his action figures needed a bath, then so did he. He turned the water on and got in all by himself. Genius!

 We have tried this a few times. It is always much harder than I think it will be and I have nixed it all together. Bathing an infant isn't as easy as bathing a child. I look forward to Traegan being able to sit up in the bath and be able to defend himself against the villainous big brother.

 Just a quick wash of the face before bedtime. No big deal. The soap was there right?

 I heard a ruckus in the bathroom one night and found out that Daddy had poured the bubbles in and they were taking over. Braden loved it of course!

 Id heard of adding food coloring to the water, but since Braden had stained his hands a few times, I was a little wary of trying it. But, it worked out great and he loved it! My tub and Braden skin turned out as usual.

This little monkey adores bath time. He is getting a little big for this cute little whale tub and gets water everywhere when he kicks his feet and flaps his arms like crazy, but even if he is super grouchy, a bath will always calm down. It is one of the few Traegan tricks that actually works. Thanks heaven!

Oakland Zoo

Way back in February we went with my mom, and local siblings to the Oakland Zoo. It had been a while since Braden had been to the zoo and it was nice to enjoy the outside air and the beautiful zoo grounds. Not to mention it is great exercise. Every exhibit is up one hill and down another. It was great. We also made a stop at Fentons where we got to chow down on insane amounts of ice cream until we were sick. It was a blast. No need to talk about the amount of crying Traegan did on the way home. Poor kid. 

The Easters

We had a fun Easter. Braden and I play egg hunt for a few weeks before Easter and by the time the real thing came around he was ready to go and new exactly how to look for them. Braden got a new bike helmet since his old one from two summers ago is now way too small, and the Easter bunny forgot to bring the bike to go with it. Lucky Daddy got that one all figured out and the bike came a few days later.

I made the boys these super simple matching bow-ties. Devin didn't want in on the action. Im not sure why.

A Fish Named Water

We have gotten our first family pet. A goldfish. He was a gift to Braden from a friend. Braden was super excited. He even gets to help feed his fish sometimes when he is being extra good. It was a few days before Braden could come up with a name that he liked for his little fishy. He named it Water. Great right? Such a funny guy. Water has added a great vibe to our kitchen counter.