Training Wheels Are Off!

We just took off the boys' training wheels... and success!  Probably because we could've done it months ago... but they were able to do it pretty easily.  Branson could use a little more practice, but I think the real problem is he is too tall for his bike.  He wobbles a bit and starts and stops a bit much; but he can do it.  I give him one more day of training and he'll be smooth as butter.  Holden is zooming up and down the street with no problem; he is an expert already. His coordination and athletic ability constantly amazes me.  We only took the training wheels off around 5:30pm this evening ~ so really there was only about a 30 minute window to practice, if that long.  Tomorrow will be fun I'm sure! Zoom Zoom!  (I'll try to take a picture of it, if they aren't going by too fast.)

Trying not to think 'deep thoughts' and get misty.  It's hard not to as they are crawling towards you one day and then the next they are pedaling away from you.  Our baby boys are growing up so fast. (sniff)

Go Green Socks!

First Baseball Team! Was a fun and wonderful learning experience.  The season ended mid October but I think they want to sign up again in Spring.  Flag football is next!

Year of the 5 year old

Well well well, I didn't know we'd be MIA for so long! Sorry about that and I hope to post some pictures a little more regularly. The year of the 5 year old is BIG.  Meaning big changes this year for our boys.  They have a totally new schedule, new school, new friends and new teachers this year. And I must say I am so proud and impressed with how well they have adjusted to it all.  (I think I'm still adjusting, but a bit slower.  But then again, I'm not 5 so I think that's to be expected??)  They are enjoying Kindergarten so much.  Just yesterday Holden's teaching assistant for his class was just gusshing over him (I'm not kidding... gusshing) over how it is so fun to see a student so excited to learn.  He gets excited and gets his classmates excited about learning! She says she has never seen a student with such enthusiasm and she hopes he never loses that. (That really meant something, especially since she is in her late 60s or 70s... so she has seen years and years of students).  She just hugs on him and sends nice notes home, etc.  Branson is a split personality student I'd have to say.  He is so well-mannered, follows the rules, is always a wonderful student, teachers love him - while he is away at school.  But then when he gets home after school.... it goes a little differently some days.  It's like he has been so good for so many hours that by the end of the school day he is just tired and let's it all hang out when he gets home. A little whiney or a little hard-headed/hard of hearing. Sheesh!  I guess I'll take it though, I'd rather him be good all the time but if I have to send him out into the world I choose for him to do well out there than at home.  He's just my parenting challenge child somedays and other days he is as sweet and loving and helpful as can be.  I mean "hello" he's five.  Afterall, it IS HARD being five!

5 Years Old, Can You Believe It?!

Wow! It hardly seems like 5 years has blown by, but it has.  Our sweet boys are turning 5 tomorrow and they are beyond excited.  Me too really, because they've been asking me for months "how much longer until our birthday" on a daily basis ~ so, just happy for them... happy for me. ;)  It's a little bittersweet though, because 5 seems a little old to me, no more 'toddlerdom' for them. All I can say is WOW!

    

Branson (5) 

Holden (5) and Dusty (10mo)

Photos courtesy of Chris Hamilton Photography www.hamphoto.com

A couple of Disney pictures from January

They loved loved loved watching the fireworks... glad we stayed late!

These two are soo EXCITED to meet Buzz LightYear - what a thrill

Branson's favorite thing was the Castle and Holden's favorite thing was Splash Mountain; which we got to ride 2x in a row because there were No Crowds when we went!! Great trip!

Branson and Holden

Well, it has been an interesting start to the New Year.... we went to Disney World with the boys in early January and had a wonderful time. Got to see Mickey, Buzz Light Year, Woody the Disney Castle, Sea World, etc. Very fun! Then, Beverly (GramBee) passed away near the end of January, today is her birthday by the way! Happy Birthday GramBee - we love and miss you so very much!!

What the boys have been up to lately:
continuing to do Karate (a 30 min exercise class really, at the school) after preschool once a week
signed them back up for gymnastics class again - once a week; they kept asking me to sign them up again
trying to decide whether to sign them up for soccer this next season - they really liked it and excelled in it, so I probably will... not sure when it starts back

Branson and Holden's all consuming activities, thoughts, ideas, etc. revolve around construction. They want to build things, use their tools, dress up like contruction workers, put the orange cones out in the road. They LOVE contruction stuff right now! Thanks to Aunt Courtney, they can now carry on in style with the outfits she got them for Christmas - Contruction Worker Men! Also, whenever we are driving on the highway and they see those work zone orange signs on the side of the road... they immediately yell out "Man Working Ahead"!! Pretty funny the first 920 times really.

Very Sad Loss...

It has been an incredibly sad week for us. Beverly aka "GramBee" unexpectedly passed away on Sunday evening, January 22nd. It has been rough on Ashley and his entire family, as she was only 67 years young. I've gone through my mind over and over how I would update this blog about her, and there is just no way to do her justice with what I would have to say. I was going to make this lengthy and mushy (even brought in a roll of toilet tissue before I started because I knew the tears would be rolling)... but I've decided to keep it short and sweet.


She was a very talented beautiful woman
She loved beach music and other good music too - had hundreds and hundreds of awesome songs on her computer
She was a very good shagger, loved to dance... was going to teach Branson and Holden to shag one day
She was an artist, she dabbled in paintings a while ago... but her best artworks were her beautiful quilts she made - so gorgeous and detailed
She was a dog person - I'm a dog person too; I think it says something about a person if they like dogs ;)
She was incredibly generous and very kind and loving, always had a bright smile and a fun laugh
Loved to be around family and friends - knew how to throw a good party so everyone had fun; it also helped that she was a good Southern cook too
She loved being Grambee and she loved her three grandsons so much ~ Spencer, Branson and Holden

The part that really kills me is that Branson and Holden are only 4... ONLY 4 Years OLD! and it just doesn't seem fair that they won't get to grow up with her in their lives and really knowing her. She was a wonderful lady. That makes me the saddest when I think about it. What a loss for them and for us all. She was too young to die but I have to trust in God's plan. He has a plan for all of us and that gives me comfort.

Psalm 30:5b “weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” (*KJV)
Lamentations 3:31-33 “For men are not cast off by the Lord forever.Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men.” (NIV)