Just so I never forget...

Blake knows just how to push my buttons.  Sometimes I have to give myself a time out just so I can collect myself enough to not yell my head off.  But, on the flip side, Blake has THE kindest heart of anyone.  Ever.  And I adore this about my son.  Its a quality that is one of many reasons I'm so proud to be his momma.  Like when he came to a friend's aid at school, two years ago now, because another kid was picking on her.  Or when he stopped last soccer season to help up any of the kiddos that had fallen on the field.  Or how he is the first one to Brady's defense when I have to reprimand him.  If he ever feels like there is tension between others, he immediately tries to break it down.  He just wants everyone to be happy.  Always and always and he will do anything in his power to keep you that way.  Such a love.  Such a good egg this kid is.  Last night, Brad was reading bed time stories and I was finishing cleaning up the kitchen and I overheard Blake tell Brad, "When I grow up, I want to marry mama!"  And then I died from my heart bursting.  

Brad said, "Well, mama is already taken.  She's married to me."  And in turn Blake replied, "Then I'll marry grandma."  
What a love he is.

Walk in the Park

Today was a no school day for Blakers.  The weather was beautiful and a perfect day to get out of the house and soak up the sun.  So, we headed to one of our favorite parks, Frisco Commons.  The boys had an absolute blast playing on the playground for a good while, and then Blake announced he wanted to go see the ducks.  Just as an FYI, you can't see the pond from the playground.  So he only knew there were ducks because he remembered the last time we were there.  In January.  And that last visit?  Yeah, I told my boys that we couldn't feed the ducks because we were all going to die.  Okay, it wasn't that dramatic, but I did slightly fear I was scarring the boys for life, with all my totally rational fears.  (you can reminisce that story by clicking here)  
So, I told Blake, "Sure, we can go see the ducks, but we don't have bread to feed them."  Blake,  "That's okay momma, we can bring bread next time!"  Haha. Hahaha.  Ha. Isn't he cute for thinking that.  
Its a bit of a walk to the pond from the playground and the boys were super excited to see the ducks and took off running ahead.  Love them.  Love just watching them soak up the world around them.  Love seeing the world through their eyes.

And then, that crane type thing that tried to kill us last time??  IT WAS STILL THERE PEOPLE.

Teddy Thief

Someone was spotted snuggling Brady's beloved, "Teddy".

Brady's Close Up

OMG.  This boy!  This boy is just the biggest love.  I can't not squeeze him and kiss on him all.day.long.  Can you believe his third birthday is approaching??  Because I can't.  

Go Strikers!

It's that time of year again folks.  No, not back to school, not football.... SOCCER season.  Not my favorite sport, but its totally a rite of passage growing up, I think, to play.  And Blake is in love with it.  Now that Blake is a big four year old, he's old enough to play in the organized city league.  We got an e-mail asking for more parents to volunteer as coaches and Brad decided his knee was well enough to handle coaching a group of four year olds and signed up for the job.  Little did we know this league does NOT mess around.  Brad has had to undergo extensive coaching training.  And I'm not even exaggerating. 
Blake played last year in a private league and it is hard to say he was really playing soccer out there.  It was really and truly like herding cats.  The kids had no idea what they were doing or what rules to follow.  This season, our team, The Strikers, has had two practices and we didn't really know what to expect at the game.  Oh my goodness, the difference a year can make.  The kids really are starting to get the game much better and their team played so well.  (In large part to the best coach ever!)
 
 

 
 
 
Blake is having the time of his life getting to run around with other boys his age.  He is always eagerly anticipating the next practice and now the next game.  Love it.  And, happy to report all the hard work Brad has put into being a coach is totally worth it.  Brad loved coaching the game Saturday and I know its going to be so incredibly rewarding for him.
Brad is so good with kids.  He's fun and patient, which goes a long way with little ones.  After the first practice as Brad was sitting around talking to the kids, somehow the question came up, "What do you want to be when you grow up?"  Every.single.kid. answered, "A COACH!"  And one of the mom's told me, the morning after practice, her son excitedly said, "I LOVE soccer!  Coach Brad is so much fun! I want to be a coach just like him."  
Heart melting material right there.  

Preschool Start

Today was finally the day!  Preschool time!  And, in typical Brooke fashion, all the worries I had were for not.  
I wanted to have a special breakfast for Blake when he woke up today.  Something that he wouldn't expect.  And I finally decided on Mrs. Bartley's Banana bread.  Its a famous recipe in my life.  For those who know me, know I am a freak and don't eat fruit.  Its a disorder I've suffered from for all my life.  And this issue of mine bothered my best friend Kristen.  And I mean it really upset her.  I think it was her mission in life our entire upbringing (and probably still is) to see what fruit she could get me to try...and like.  Her mom was one of the best cooks, like in the history of ever.  One day, I think we were like eight years old, there was a fresh loaf of banana bread on the counter.  It looked yummy.  It smelled even yummier.  And I did something that shocked Kristen.  I tried it.  And I loved it.  And helped myself to more.  I came home from her house incredibly excited, telling my mom, "I tried banana bread!  And I liked it!  It was so yummy!  Mom, you HAVE to make it!!"  So my mom got the recipe and we made it at home.  It is still a memory etched in my brain, I went to bed after the bread went in the oven, but a little while later, my mom woke me up and told me to run into the kitchen.  She wanted me to see the bread rise in the oven, because I just didn't understand how it would happen.  Love that my mom did that.  I love that I got to be so lucky to inherit the yummiest recipe for banana bread ever from Kristen when I got married.  So, as you can see, this banana bread was the perfect start to Blake's first day of school.  Blake had never had it before.  When he woke up I told him about the surprise I made him for breakfast.  He was a little unsure, but after he took the first bite, he was all, "I LOVE banana bread!  This is so good!  Momma, will you put a piece in my lunch for me??"  And I was all giddy inside all over again.  Love reliving some of my favorite childhood memories through Blake.  He then asked for SIXTEEN pieces in his lunch.  We agreed at a compromise of one piece. 
Then it was time to leave for school.  

Blake seemed a little unsure about things.  He seemed sort of excited but also a little uneasy.  He kept asking, "So, you're not staying with me momma?  You're just dropping me off??"  I assured him he was going to have fun without me and I'd be there to pick him up later.  But I wasn't quite sure if he'd handle the drop off as swimmingly as I thought he might.

We got to his class and he found his seat with his name tag and sat right down and started on the activity they had put out for the kiddos.  He was totally in to it and not at all weary of saying good bye to us.  So glad, yet it was my heart that still felt a little sad to be leaving my Blakers for the day.  And then of course there was Brady, who went straight for the toys in the room.  But when we explained to him he got to go home with Momma and play with me all day, he put the toys down and walked right out.  No tears.  No melt downs.  VICTORY.  Now of course, I know not all days will go as smoothly as it did today.  I'm relieved today did though.  SO relieved.  But I am chopping at the bit for 2:15 to get here so I can hear ALL about Blake's first day!!!