All I want for Christmas... AND Hanukkah

I let the boys sit down today and write/draw what they wanted for Christmas and Hanukkah this year.  I love what they came up with.  

Blake has been busy working on writing at school this year.  Its the one area that he has struggled with at all.  Give that kid a math or logic problem and he's all about it.  But, art and writing?  Not so much.  Anyways, I told Blake how to spell everything, but he wrote the list on his own and I was so proud of him.  And he was proud of himself.  My heart was full.

Blake's Hanukkah Wish List:

1. Domino's

2. Angry Birds

3. Chess

Blake's Christmas Wish List:

1.  Blue truck

2.  FIFA 13 (soccer game for xbox)

3.  Mario Party 9 (for Wii)

Brady's Hanukkah Wish List:

1.  Blue & Yellow Truck

Brady's Christmas Wish List:

1.  Pretend Tacos

*This is SO Brady and completely cracked me up.  Brady is OBSESSED with tacos.  He wants them for every.single.meal.  So, its natural that he wants pretend tacos so when he's not eating them, he can pretend to be eating them.  Love that kid.  

Silver Lining

On Wednesday I had to have a colonoscopy to see if we could get any answers on this bad pain I'm still having.  (awaiting biopsies to come back still before we move on to possible surgery)  Colonoscopy = NOT FUN.  However, the silver lining in all of this was some one on one time between Brad and Brady.  They never get it.  When Brad is not working, all of his time is typically with both boys.  Sometimes he gets one on one time with Blake, but really, never Brady.  My dad was awesome enough to take off work and stay with me at the hospital during the procedure and take me home afterwards and Brad was on kid duty.  Wednesday was a school day for Blake, so he got to spend the majority of the day just him and Brady.  I get to do this all the time, but I'm SO thankful they had that chance.  Brad ran an errand to the hardware store and lucky for Brady they had a big wooden rocking horse.  He was a happy camper.  Brad said he was making all the people in the store smile and was passing out high fives.  Love this smiling boy!  

Thoughts from a Soccer Mom

After we signed Blake up for soccer several months ago we received an email sent out to all the parents that coaches were needed.  I asked Brad and he was like, "Why not?  I'm sure it won't be too big of a commitment and would be fun."  Well turns out it was actually a really big commitment.  But Brad was right, it was also REALLY fun.  Brad got so much out of the coaching and in turn I believe Blake really did too.  I love Brad for so many many reasons, but one of the things I love most about Brad is his patience.  I probably love that so much because I have NONE.  Even the other parents of kids on the team have commented on how much they admire his patience.  Brad is so amazing with this group of rambunctious four and five year old boys.  He is fun and patient and kind.  He is also athletic so is teaching these young ones a thing or two about soccer all while having fun and playing games at practice.  Its been really great to see.  We figured we'd be done with the commitment for awhile after our last game on Saturday, but the parents were like we want to keep the team together with YOU (Brad) coaching for the spring and in the mean time we want to play in the tournament in two weeks and we want to play in an indoor league in the winter with YOU coaching.  While Brad was not really expecting to keep up with the time and energy it takes for him to coach the team, what a huge compliment it is to Brad that these parents want him to continue on.  And after thinking about it he knew he'd miss the "job" if he said no, so here we are, a soccer family, at least through the end of spring.  Here is Brad giving the team a pep talk during half time last game.

And while I'm so proud of my hubs, I'm also so proud of Blake.  Blake loooooves soccer.  Tuesday nights, practice nights, and Saturdays, game days, are his two favorite days.  He wakes up on Tuesdays, "Mom, its Tuesday!  Soccer practice!!"  Same thing on Saturdays.  During games, Blake is so focused.  A lot of the kids tend to lose focus at this age and want to play around more than being in to the game, but not Blake.  He is determined out there on the field.  He makes sure he gets back on defense and does everything in his power to prevent a goal.  And any chance he gets the ball away from the other team, he is off towards his goal and does everything in his power to score.  I am pretty sure he is the leading scorer on our team.  He is plain and simply an athletic child, but more than anything, I really love how much he just tries out there.  Win or lose doesn't matter to me (although it does to him!) but the fact he tries so hard, makes my heart burst.  One of my favorite parts of the games (and I think the other parents' as well) is whenever Blake scores, he does a celebration dance.  Its awesome.  Here he is after one of his goals last game.

And while Brady is SO ready to get out on the field as well, he has been able to practice with the team every week, which is so cool, he is so patient during the games sitting on the sidelines.  When I had to miss several weeks of games because I felt too bad to attend, Brady even got to sit on the bench during the games with the team.  A lot of the moms commented to me they were amazed at how patient he is.  That's my easy going Bray Bray.  Last Saturday was CRAZY hot out on the field.  The sun was just so intense.  For a November day we were not expecting to be boiling like that.  Brady sought refuge in the shade made behind my chair.  He laid in the grass playing with my phone.  Love him.

Our first "official" soccer season was such a success and I really am looking forward to it continuing over the next few seasons.  I know Blake is making lasting memories of this time with his dad too, and oh, how that warms my heart.  

Halloween Week of Fun

Oh my, what a FUN (and EXHAUSTING) week this has been!  The boys get more and more into holidays as they grow which means they become way more fun!  My heart is the fullest its been in awhile.  The boys have been full of joy this past week...more so than usual, and it just makes me oh so happy.  I'll be honest, its been a week of struggles for me because I'm still battling crazy fatigue (and pain) and as soon as the boys are tucked in bed I crash hard, but tonight my eyes are still open from drinking coffee at 7pm, so, my blog benefits! 
Sunday we helped (but mostly watched Brad) carve the pumpkins we picked out at the pumpkin patch the previous day.  The boys picked out the patterns online they wanted on their pumpkins and Brad cut accordingly.  I thought he did an excellent job!

We started off the week going to the store and letting the boys pick out some mini pumpkins that we could decorate.  I think they enjoyed pushing the grocery carts more than anything.

After painting pumpkins, there was pumpkin bread to be made.  Blake is obsessed and wants to eat it every chance he gets.

And then we had a pumpkin patch family picnic at Blake's school.  

And Blake's spooktacular pumpkin he made at school.

And then of course there was trick-or-treating.  The boys have never had so much fun. They had THE best time.  

Blake is already talking about next Halloween!  So funny.  Love my little Mario and Luigi!