Day 3 & Some Beach Time...

Every day at Disney was busy. We expected that, but we really truly experienced it on day 3. All the other days the park opened at 8am, but on our last day the gates opened at 8am but not the park. So it was literally a marathon start, until they took down the ropes and allowed everyone to disperse off main street. It was crazy, but by day 3 we were used to the waiting.

Four was such a fun number. We all stayed together for pretty much every ride, and riding buddies emerged. I think I only got to ride one ride with Brody, the rest of the time Colby and I were joined at the hip, and Matt and Brody the same.

Brody's expression captures it all...he loved it and was a little unsure of it, all at the same time. He loved Nemo, but was a little scared of the shark part, and he loved Pirates, but was a little timid to go down the hills in the dark.

He loved Star wars...but was afraid of it. He didn't want to leave the show, but didn't want to leave daddy's arms either. We got great seats for the Star Wars show and I think it was one of the favorites...we had so many...but they really did love this show.

Brody's favorite character - Darth Vader

Colby's favorite character, Darth Maul, sure gave him a scare. He kind of snuck up on Colby and got right in his face. Scary isn't he?

I don't know how he did it, but the random stranger we asked to take a picture actually got a good one!

Hamming it up in front of the castle! These boys were so good! It was such a fun bonding experience for us as a family! We really had a great time!

Each day the boys got a prize for being good and waiting in the long lines. They each picked out stuffed animals on the last day. Colby saw a little boy with a puppy from 101 Dalmatians and we searched the park high and low to find that thing! Believe it or not, that was one of the things that wasn't in every single shop or cart...they only had them in one store.

Brody chose the dog from the movie Bolt, which he quickly renamed Gracie, because he had recently met his Auntie Shell's dog Gracie and her puppies a few weeks before. Thank goodness Bolt doesn't get a say, he might be pretty upset. :)

Our last day was lots of fun, but we cut it short to go see the beach since we won't be able to make it this summer (tear).

We thought we would make a quick stop and maybe grab a treat, but I think we ended up staying over an hour. I didn't want to leave, they didn't want to leave... it was so nice just being on the empty beach after the chaos of Disney.

Can little boys resist water and getting totally dirty in the sand? Of course not!! Matt and I tried to keep them semi-clean for a few minutes and then gave up. By the end of our little excursion they were wet & dirty, but grinning ear to ear.

We had kind of a long trip home the next day. I couldn't resist taking this picture of Brods. He was so tired from us running him ragged with no naps, he was just sacked out on the airplane. I think he stayed just like that for over an hour. So cute!

IT'S A....

BOY!!!

Yep, another Boy! I couldn't be happier! This is what I know, and love so much. Not that I wouldn't love a little girl to pieces too, but I am content with boys! Remember? My ridiculously long blog title: I'm-building-my-dream-team (Me & My Boys)? Won't be needing to edit that anytime soon! :) One more and I have a basketball team (including Matt, of course)....I'm not making any plans yet though! This little guy is due to arrive late July, but I bet he comes close to my mama's birthday around the 15th.

Marathon Kids

Colby got to participate in this really cool event this year called Marathon Kids. Marathon Kids is a free program that challenges children to run or walk 26.2 miles over 6 months. Since school began he and his classmates have run 1/4 to 1/2 mile each day and last weekend they completed their marathon at the medal ceremony!

It was a really rainy Saturday, but Colby was so excited to get his medal that we decided to brave the drizzly mucky weather for over an hour as we waited for our turn to run our last lap!

Through the finish Line Hooray!

Of course we had to have something for Brody too. Colby gave Brody his medal he got from swim lessons last year so that he wouldn't feel left out! Isn't that sweet? Colby we are so proud of you for finishing your first marathon, and for being such a great big brother!

Puppy Love

I walked in the kitchen the other day to find Brody sitting like this, and the first thing that my eyes saw, were those cute little feet crisscrossed and those tiny toes just waiting to be kissed! I have major puppy love for my kiddos. I just love them so much, all of them, even their toes!

Yes, Even their dirty little toes. I can't help but think how they grow up too fast and these are all the little things (literally little things) I will miss as they get older! We still call Brody's little toes his "blueberries" and we eat them up whenever there is a need for a giggle!

This weekend we took a last minute trip up to Plano, to buy a new mattress actually, how weird is that, but we got to see my family too, and my mom just happened to be taking care of my sister's dogs and the puppies that are now about 7weeks old. Needless to say, the boys had some major puppy love going on!

There were 4 all together. One white, two black/brown, and one tan! And, yes, they were scrumptious...And, no, we did not take one home!

We also got to go to our favorite park, just around the corner from my mom's house. We call it the Barney Park b/c it just happens to be where they filmed the new opening for Barney, and Barney's headquarters are in Allen, where the park is.

"Barney Park" is so huge, I can't even tell you how big it is! The boys always have a great time b/c it is and endless maze of slides, ladders, ramps, swings...and climbing thingys and then on top of all of that a splash pad. The park grounds that surround it are expansive with ponds, and giant gazebos covered with sails that look like boats. It is fantastic.

Both of the boys were total monkeys. Brody is definitely more of a climber than Colby was at his age, and he confidently climbs everywhere, sometimes giving mom and dad a heart attack. He has no fear. Look at Colby, never have I ever seen this boy climb like this. He has made leaps and bounds in strength this year in therapy, I am so proud of him!

Colby made sure he covered every square inch of the play-scape even the "baby" rides. Brody's favorite thing was the slides.

By the time we left we were truly tuckered out!

From 80 to 18

From 80 to 18. Yep the day before it was right about 80 degrees outside and then "bam" 18 degrees and snowing at 2am. Nothing like Texas weather! Snow is pretty rare in Texas, but up in North Texas near Dallas it snows and ices a couple of times each winter, and much more heavily than here. Occasionally here we get ice so to see this soft white snow was so much fun...and yep we had a snow day.

Our street was so quiet last Friday morning. Pretty much everything here shut down until after lunch (its best that way since no one ever drives on snow and ice here). We spent the morning playing with all the neighbor kiddos, sledding down the driveway, having snowball fights, and just marveling at our little miracle. It was to Colby anyway, who had prayed the night before that it would snow on Friday.

Here we go, sledding down our driveway. Love, those Austin hills!

Down by the creek right across the street from the house it was so pretty. The boys had fun crossing the icy creek and going on an "adventure." Good thing 10 minutes is a long enough adventure for them :)

The snow didn't last long. The sun came out and by lunch time most of the snow in the grass was melted, by the afternoon, it was all gone except for the shady spots and some parts of the roof.

We had so much fun. Things warmed up quite a bit over the weekend, and this morning I woke up to a similar situation, although a little less extreme. Yesterday it was 65 degrees or so and this morning it was sleeting, snowing and 18! Brrrr. I don't think I would survive living in a really snowy place...so for now I'll take the Texas weather that swings just about as bad as my prego mood swings! Yep, it's official. If you didn't catch the ultrasound pictures on my Christmas post (they were super subtle), I am expecting a ??? in July. It's been a rough go so far, but I am starting to see the sunny side, and we couldn't be more excited to be a family of 5!

Precious to Me

There are so many times I wished I could have been the fly on the wall...when the boys were playing well together, or could have just heard something cute the boys said or told to me one more time. I love this. We were all going to bed in our hotel room when we were at the Gaylord Texan for Ice. Never are we all in the same room. Brody in the port-a-crib, Colby in his own Queen Bed, and Matt and I in another. Lights off. Bed time.

Colby - "Brody"

Brody - no answer

Colby - "Brody"

Brody - no answer

Colby - "Brody, will you protect me?"

Brody - no answer

Colby - "BRODY" - much louder now

Me - " leave him alone, he is trying to sleep. So are the rest of us."

Silence......

1 minute later....

Brody - "Colby"

Colby - no answer

Brody - "Colby I go night night"

Colby - no answer

Brody - "Colby??!?"

Colby - " Yes, Brody...will you protect me?"

Brody - "Ok"

Colby - "Ok good"

Silence.....

1 minute later....

Snoring...both of them....

Colby and Brody asleep.

Mom and Dad snickering...trying really hard not to burst out in full laughter as they have this conversation.

Priceless Parenting!

I absolutely treasure these moments as silly and probably insignificant as they are. These are the moments that make all of the hard work and craziness that goes with being a parent totally worth it. Little precious moments of time like this. I need more of this!