July 23, 2007

Today I took Braden's changing table pad off of his dresser...so now it just looks like a big boy dresser...he's growing up way too fast!

July 22, 2007

Sprinkler fun!

July 21, 2007

Today was the 1st Annual Ride Iowa to support the March of Dimes! Farmers Insurance put it on and it was a huge success! I volunteered most of the day and Chris and Braden came out to support me as I told Braden's story for the first time in front of 800+ people at the Iowa Speedway! I am in no way a Biker Babe...but it was a lot of fun and the bikers were great!

Braden even got to make someone's day when he drew the lucky winner out of the raffle and we gave away a brand new 2007 Harley Sportster! I think Braden has a friend for life now!!!

July 20, 2007

Braden being goofy with his Cardinal Light pen and eating oreos!

July 19, 2007

Love the spikey do in the bathtub!!!

July 18, 2007

The first tomato of the season, fresh out of the garden...hope it's yummy!!!

July 17, 2007

Today Trey and Bret came over to visit while their mom ran some errands. We had lots of fun playing outside (in the shade...it's HOT) and running around like the crazy boys that they are! Here the boys were showing off the new tatoos we put on their arms, they are kind of hard to see but Trey has Doc from Cars and Braden has Mater from Cars...they thought they were pretty cool!

July 16, 2007

This is the view I caught this morning as I was sitting on the stool at the island in the kitchen and felt something under the stool...surprise, surprise it was a monkey??? Good thing the camera was sitting right next to me! He told me he was fixing the stool...of course!

July 15, 2007

Look at all those stars! Braden is a superstar! He hasn't had an accident since Wed...not too shabby for our first real stab at potty training! He is awesome! We still have a little work to do, but we are so proud of him!!! I don't know what I'm going to do when I don't have to buy diapers???

July 14, 2007

Today started off with a little haircut...I admit that Braden was getting a little shaggy, but I was totally against Chris buzzing his hair on our deck...but Braden said sure, so daddy went to town...it turned out cute, I guess...it's a summer style at least :)

After the haircut we went off for a little fun...it is the Ankeny Summerfest days which means lots of rides and fun...we actually went to see some big trucks (the kids were supposed to be able to play on the them and check them out...)but we never found exactly where they were...so we opted for some slushies and rides. I really didn't think Braden would do the rides...but he was gung-ho! First we rode the cars...then the big slide...then the roller coaster! I seriously had some tears in my eyes as he took off on the roller coaster...I swear he has totally grown up since turning 3...potty training, big boy hair cut and riding roller coasters...a mommy can only take so much! But he had a huge smile on his face the entire time and didn't want to leave...I guess next year we'll be getting one of the all you can ride wristbands for summerfest :)

I told you we had a busy, funfilled day...tonight after a little nap we met my good friend Andrea and her family at a hotel near our house (they came to our area to go to Adventureland!) It had an awesome pool for the boys...(her son Cole is almost 4). Cole and Braden had a great time playing together and really only came out of the water to eat a piece of pizza. We finally said good-bye a little before 10 pm...Here the boys are ganging up on Chris!

July 13, 2007

Beautiful flower in my garden

July 12, 2007

This is the snazzy little car Braden and I get to drive around in until my car is fixed! We found out today that is was about $5,000 worth of damage and it won't be done until at least July 24th...I just hope it is done before we leave for Michigan again!

July 11, 2007

Braden *discovered* his shadow today! He was having so much fun watching it and making it do different things, it was so sweet to watch!

July 10, 2007

Could the kid get any more comfortable on the potty chair?

Feet up a

Drink in hand a

Reading material a

He has made great progress today though! Still some accidents, but he's starting to get it!

July 09, 2007

Today for some crazy reason I decided that we would start potty training! The summer is quickly flying by and Braden is supposed to be potty trained by August 23 when he starts preschool. So we just jumped into it and pretty much winged it! We spent most of the day in the kitchen so that *clean up* would be much easier on me :) The day was long...but a little progress was made...I think it will be a long week! Braden and I did many things in the kitchen today...this is one of the beautiful pictures that he drew!

July 08, 2007

In the midst of this beautiful green bush was this one branch of red leaves...it was a beautiful contrast

July 07, 2007

Lynz got married on the lucky day of 07-07-07, it was a beautiful wedding and a great time! We've all decided we need to get together like this at least every 2 years or so! Love ya girls!!

Melissa, Sidney, Erin, Lyndsay, Me and Stacey

Me and Stacey

Lynz and Me ~ Beautiful bride!

Fun crowd!!!

July 06, 2007

Tonight was a great start to a fun weekend!
My college friend Lyndsay was getting married in the middle of Missouri and *the girls* all got together to see it happen! It was a great unofficial college reunion! All of these girls were athletic trainers at Truman State with me and we shared some great years together! Now we are spread across the country...Louisiana, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, New York and South Carolina...and all of us haven't been together in about 4 years...so it was a great time! Thanks girls!!!
Melissa, Stacey, Erika, Sidney, Me and Erin

July 05, 2007

Braden got a birthday surprise in the mail today...

His uncle John sent him a Transformer! Optimus Prime to be exact!

Braden loves it because it turns into a semi truck! Chris had a great time putting it all together...hope we don't lose the instruction sheet :)

July 04, 2007

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY

We just had some good ol' American fun...

Swimming in the pool!

Playing baseball (look at that pitch!)

And eating watermelon!

Does it get any more American than that?

July 03, 2007

As if Braden having a 103 degree fever all day long wasn't bad enough, he and I got rearended on our way home from the doctor's office. The good news is we were fine, the bad news...my car is not :( Not a good way to spend a Tuesday!

July 02, 2007

Daddy has been teaching him the art of *dunking*! He already knows that Oreos are Daddy's favorites and if we go by them in the grocery store he has to have them!

July 01, 2007

We got back in to town around 1:00 and then had a few hours to relax before we headed to the zoo for this years NICU reunion! There was A LOT of people there, way more than I expected, but Braden still had fun, except we didn't get to ride on the train b/c the lines were way too long, but he did get to see the giraffes which is what he said he wanted to see!

He also really liked the Bongos and would yell "Hi Bongos" really loudly, it was pretty cute :)

June 30, 2007

Well, I did it again...but 2 times in 6 months isn't too bad ;) So since I goofed and didn't take a picture today, I thought I'd show you what was going on 3 years ago on this date! This was the day that Chris first got to hold Braden...it was a great day!

June 29, 2007

Emily (the pregnant one) just laying around :) love ya sis!

June 28, 2007

More fun at the Reunion!

Matt and Braden on the paddleboat

Celebrating Mass together...always a tradition! (Braden was a bit confused when I told him we were having church, he said "Mom, this isn't church, it's a hotel!")

Just the 3 of us!

Braden and my cousin Emma, they had lots of fun together!

Growing up, Jennifer and I always took pictures together, usually when I'd come stay with them in Florida...so we started a new tradition, us with our kids!

This is almost the whole clan!