Monday, March 31, 2008

March 29, 2008

After a long night last night, Braden crashed hard about 4:30 while watching Transformers. It doesn't look too comfy, but we had to wake him up around 6 so he would sleep that night!


March 28, 2008

If you are ever near Suttons Bay, Michigan...you have to stop by the Black Star Farms Winery and pick up some of this Riesling! After attending a wedding there 2 years ago, I have been in love with this wine. Thankfully we get to Michigan at least once a year to stock up! This year though I think I'm going to have to bring back cases for my neighbors too, I got them hooked on it tonight!!!


March 27, 2008

I was just so proud that I was on the ball tonight. I made these yummy chicken lasagna roll ups BEFORE we went to swimming lessons...so we could just pop them in when we got home...it doesn't happen so often that I'm this with it!


March 26, 2008

Just showing the in-laws some love :) Today after it snowed AGAIN Braden decided that he wanted hot chocolate. AND he wanted to drink out of the True Value mug...then he had to get his True Value Truck to go along with it! Man does he love True Value! I'm sure PopPop Dirk would have a huge helper if we lived a little closer!


March 25, 2008

First day of swimming lessons! Braden had a blast...he picked up right where he left off last session and was kicking up a storm! He was also doing the arm stroke pretty well too! Now we just have to work on getting that face in the water ;)


March 24, 2008

Braden always loves spending time with his PopPop Joe!


Tuesday, March 25, 2008

March 23, 2008



4 generations!
Grandma, Me, Mom and Braden

Braden and Emma caught a ride in the wagon from Great-Meena after the Easter Egg hunt!

March 22, 2008

Time to dye the Easter Eggs! We wrangled up all the boys to help Braden out! They all had so much fun ;) Proving you're never too old to dye Easter Eggs!

Meena even got into the action! She just couldn't resist!

Later that night Keegan came to play with me and we had a great time! Aren't we the cutest cousins!
We also wanted to say Congrats to Janice and Tim on the beautiful wedding today! It was a great reception and they were both beaming! We wish you a lifetime of happiness and love!!

March 21, 2008

My champion prize fighter!

March 20, 2008

Somehow this is the only picture I took today! Good one isn't it? Who knows what I was trying to capture?!?!?! Somedays, I swear.....

March 19, 2008

Please Mommy, no more pictures!

March 18, 2008

What a cool dude! He's SO ready for summer!

March 17, 2008

Happy St. Patty's Day

Look at the concentration as he tries to get the ratio of cookie:sugar just right!

My 4-leaf clover creation!

March 16, 2008

I found this box in my kitchen

Then all of a sudden a spatula popped out of the box?!!?


Then slowly I saw an ear emerge...

Then popped out this little monkey!

Geez, and I thought I was just buying a printer!

Saturday, March 15, 2008

March 15, 2008

Today, Braden's friend Joshua had has 4th birthday party! It had a Fire Engine theme since Joshua is currently all about fire engines! His mom asked the local fire department if they would swing by the party and they did! The boys were in heaven! What a sweet thing for those firefighters to do!

Braden even got to drive...boy oh boy was it a dream come true!!

March 14, 2008

Well the last few days of beautiful weather has left little snow and lots of mud! A child's dream! By the end of the day Braden was covered in yuck and mud and loved every minute of it!




March 13, 2008

Braden wanted to know if his tongue was as purple as his hands were after eating blueberrys!


March 12, 2008

Well it's that time of year again! This will be Team Miracle Monster's 4th year walking in the March of Dimes "March for Babies" fundraiser! Here Braden is modeling our team t-shirts for this year! I can't believe how on the ball I am this year!
This walk is near and dear to our heart...the March of Dimes has done many things that helped save Braden's life, and because of that, we will continue walking to say "Thank You"
If you'd like to know more about Braden's story jump on over to our March For Babies Website !
If you'd like to own your very own Team Miracle Monster t-shirt...it can be yours-contact me for the details!

March 11, 2008

Tonight I headed to the gym and when I got back Braden was in bed and this is how I found him! On any given night there are 14 hot wheels cars, 2 tractors and 1 bus in his bed. Most of the time he is sleeping right on top of them without a care in the world. I don't get it! But tonight the bus was front and center along with my old Cabbage Patch doll that I found on our last trip home!


March 10, 2008

Ok, I guess this needs a little explanation...My friend and I were at a March for Babies family team kickoff meeting and decided to head out for dinner and conversation afterward. At around 10pm we closed the restaurant down and headed to the restroom before heading to our cars...there both of us realized that we hadn't taken our *picture of the day* at the meeting as we had planned...so we improvised and took this shot...yeah we're geeks ;)

Friday, March 14, 2008

March 09, 2008


While I was making supper tonight, Braden climbed up on the counter to watch "Jon & Kate plus 8" He loved watching all the kids going skiing!

March 08, 2008

King of the Mountain


Catching a little air!

March 07, 2008


After sitting in the garage for 2 years...Braden's bookshelf is finally painted and in his room! He was very excited!!!

March 06, 2008

Thursday, March 6, 2008

March 05, 2008

Ok, so I'm cheating and this picture wasn't taken today, but, well, Braden passed on his germs to me and I didn't get a picture taken today. I haven't been this hard hit for awhile now, not liking it at all! Good think Braden has been cooking me up soup in his kitchen!
Ok, back to this picture...it was taken a few weeks ago when my dear friend Lindsay and her husband Glenn baby-sat Braden for us while Chris and I had a date night! I have been sitting on this picture b/c I wanted to announce that Lindsay is PREGNANT ;) and I had to wait until she told certain people!! So here is one more reason while we'll be walking in the March for Babies...we're praying for a Long, Uneventful 9 months little one...don't give your mommy any troubles!!!

March 04, 2008

Just thought this was too funny...this is what your bite marks look like on an apple when you went and knocked out your two bottom teeth before you were even a year old ;) It really doesn't look like there will be room in there for 2 permanent teeth when they start filling in...I see some pulling in our future...ouch!


March 03, 2008

Well...this picture represents how Mommy went a little crazy with the buzzer tonight...I guess I am more ready for summer than I thought! Ok actually I *thought* I was using the guard that we usually do for Braden...but I thought wrong...and after I took a nice long sweep across the top of his head, well there was no turning back! So we're all ready for summer!!!!


March 02, 2008

Just a little quality listening of Jack Johnson, Braden *hearts* Jack!

March 01, 2008

Big Engine, Little Engine...oh so much fun!


Sunday, March 2, 2008

February 29, 2008

Well the verdict is in...after reaching a temperature of 105.2 today I took him to the doctor and he has croup with 2 very full ears on the verge of infection...of course they said this stuff is going around like crazy...so we're on the dreaded steroids which we haven't been on since MARCH last year, which is huge...but still, I'm not ready for the change in personality that this medicine brings...but if it will do the trick, we will get through it...I DO NOT LIKE fevers!

February 28, 2008

Well...Braden started hacking, sneezing and running a fever this morning so he missed his pajama day at school...so I had to make up for it somehow...so we had our own pajama day and enjoyed some (frostbitten) popsicles! And yes, I'm blaming this on the blasted Merry-go-Round he had so much fun on...UGH!!! (see pics 2 days ago...)

February 27, 2008

Braden wanted to take a picture of our feet today as we were sitting in bed...so if you get all weirded out by little piggies (or big ones) turn your head...It still amazes me that at one time his WHOLE foot was the size of my thumbprint...

February 26, 2008

A little fun on the Merry-Go-Round...


February 25, 2008

There was someone very important missing yesterday at Keegan's baptism...his cousin Isaak. Isaak was taken from us over 2 years ago when he was only 6 months old. As I write this my eyes are filling with tears. He was one of the cutest babies around...oh, those chubby cheeks. Today was an emotional day. It was the sentencing hearing of the man that killed him. Since I was in town I went to offer whatever support I could and to show that we have NOT forgotten Isaak. Today was sad, very very sad. But I think now his family can have a little peace, heal just a tiny piece of their heart, that some justice was done. It won't bring Isaak back, but knowing that the man who took him from us can not hurt anyone else, it's something.

Renee, I love you like a sister. I don't think it is too often that the family of the in-laws gets to be so close, but I think our families do a pretty good job! I know that Keegan will forever have his very own personal guardian angel and having known Isaak and having the special memory of playing with him and rocking him to sleep just 3 short weeks before this tragedy...he will FOREVER be in our hearts! We love you Isaak!

February 24, 2008

All dressed up with somewhere to go!!

It was the special occasion of Keegan's Baptism today and Chris and I have the honor of being his Godparents!

When Braden heard we were going to be Keegan's Godparents he wanted to know what that was all about...after thinking about it for a few short minutes he asked Chris if he could be Keegan's "Baby Father" :) and Nathan and Emily agreed!