He Never Wants to Leave Us, Except to Go to Kindergarten.

This morning Braden woke up super excited and a little sleepy!

I fixed his favorite breakfast of muffins, bacon and chocolate milk.

He got dressed and took pictures for his first day.

Brad and the kids and I took him to school.  He got nervous.

He found his seat and took a picture with his teacher, Ms. Ruff.

He sits beside Faith.

We thought he was ok, but he freaked out a little when we were leaving.

He came home full of smiles, which made me really happy.

 He told me he loved centers.  He got to go to art.  He ate all of his chips and watermelon and only one bite of his peanut butter sandwich.  He went to the playground and played on the wings and it was really hot, but he still wanted to play longer.  He has a big notebook.  He loves his teacher.  Oh, and when I asked him what he wants to be when he grows up he said he never wants to leave us.  He doesn't want to grow up or get a job or ever leave this house- said with conviction AND tears.

A Trip to Oxford

Friday morning, my mom and I loaded the three kids into the packed down Expedition and set the GPS for our destination: Oxford, Mississippi aka the city where the cutest little redhead lives with the best brother and sister in law in the world.  To say we were excited was an understatement.  After a stop in Leeds, AL at the outlet mall and several stops to feed Emersyn, we finally arrived.  We were all ready to get out of the car and see Chad, Erica and Walker.  It was such a fun weekend and here are the highlights.

Chilaxin in the pool

She looks happy to be in Mississippi...or maybe just out of the car

The BEST uncle in the world playing on the slip in slide

now it is Braden's turn

slip n slide race

reading and songs at Square Jr bookstore Saturday morning 

pictures for Walker

Braden couldn't resist

more loving fro Uncle Chad

sleepy Parker

sleepy Walker

littlest grand babies with Grr

Walker's first ride sitting up in his stroller

Uncle Chad showing Braden the Engineering Building at Ole Miss.  We got a tour of the building and got to see Chad's classrooms and labs



Hanging out in the grove

My favorite picture from the whole trip

Countdown

Well, I am sad to say that the countdown is on for the first day of school.  Except this year it is not my first day of school, but my little man's.  I have very mixed feelings about this.  Whenever I pictured Braden's first day of school, I always saw him with me- riding to school with me, hanging out in my classroom before school, checking on him at lunch, coming to my classroom after school.  And though I am thrilled to be able to stay at home, I am heartbroken that I won't be getting a first hand look at B at school.  I will be like every other parent- wondering how my kid is doing, is he making friends, what does he do at lunch, how does he walk down the hall, how does he interact with the other kids?  I know I need to step back and let go of my baby.  But that is just it- he is my baby.  And even though he will totally argue with that and say he is my big boy, he will always in some way be that tiny seven pound three ounce baby boy. 
So this past week or so I have been trying to make the most of our time together (next week is actually his last week before school starts, but I am watching a few teacher's kids during pre planning and he has Kindercamp two days). 

At the zoo with his buddy and future classmate, Ty



coloring and building Tow Mater

Tow Mater was a truck, tent and camper

early morning coloring with just Mommy and Braden- this is his lightning bolt from the storm we had the night before



spending the day at the pool with just Mommy and Parker- Braden spent the whole time jumping off the diving board and swimming the length of the pool without floaties



The soon to be Kindergartner

 He also went to the movies with Grr to see Madagascar 3 and out to dinner and we went to Sonic and took Daddy happy hour drinks at work.  We have also had Mommy/Braden cuddle time with Disney Junior cartoons before the Park and Emy are up each morning.
As hard as it sometimes is with three little ones at home, especially when he and Parker are arguing, I am totally going to miss him.  It just won't be the same without my little man.

Daddy's Boy

Brad and Parker love all the same things- Me, Braden, Emersyn, hats and any sport played with a ball!

Yes, that is a snowglobe in the background.  Yes, Braden does celebrate Christmas in July and carry it around with him.

Fun on the Fourth

This year we spent the 4th of July at my parents' house with our friends the Butts. We had tons of food, lots of great conversations, water fun and fireworks! Parker spent almost all of his time playing in the water, but he freaked out when it came time for the fireworks! Even the babies got a little pool time and Braden and Ara drove the boys' power wheels when they weren't on the slip in slide.

They look like two old people!

Emy!  Emy!  Hey Emy! Hey Emy!

Go big girl, go big girl, go!

Watching the fireworks!

Parker

Parker is on his way to being a big boy.  It seems like just overnight he grew from my baby boy to my big boy. I think that a a lot of it has to do with the fact that he is talking now.  A lot.  Like all the time.  Hallelujah!  He started speech therapy at the beginning of June and he really enjoys going.  His vocabulary quadrupled in size a few weeks before he started, but Ms Debby is working with him on verbs and certain sounds that he struggles to make.  My favorite thing that he is currently saying is "Oh no!" when he gets upset about something.  He also started saying Emy instead of Agm (Ah-Gum) and it kind of made me sad.  However, he still calls Braden "Bubby"!

refusing to take any more pictures!



feeding Agm

Parker is the most independent and stubborn kid ever!  I just thought Braden was stubborn!  Parker is fiercely loyal to those he loves and gets really upset if someone hurts his brother or sister.  He loves to hang out with Braden and wants to be so much like him!  Parker loves to put on Braden's soccer gear and pretend that he plays soccer like Bubby!  He adores Emersyn and whenever he wakes up from a nap or in the morning the first person he seeks to find is her!  When he sees her he gets on the floor and says her name over and over and just smiles at her like she is the greatest little person he has ever laid eyes on!

Mr. Serious

Cheeeeeese

This duo could be trouble!

I totally dread walking into Parker's bedroom after nap time because I never know what I am going to find...usually clothes pulled out of his drawer or closet or marker on his body or furniture (we can't find the marker and he won't tell his hiding place).  While we were at the beach he got up in the middle of the night, put on shoes and got a Gatorade from the refrigerator and woke me up to open it for him!  What?  Are you kidding me?  This is why we keep him locked in at night!

Parker is very athletic and coordinated.  He can already kick and stop a soccer ball.  He throws a baseball and football really well.  In fact he spends most of his day either kicking balls around or toting a football or baseball around and throwing it. 

Sporting Bubby's shoes and soccer socks

 Parker has the funniest sense of humor.  Often he will say something and then crack himself up laughing at what he said!  He is so silly and loves to be tickled and cuddled.  He is our little handful and into EVERYTHING, but we love him so much and he totally lights up our family with joy and love in a way that only he can!