more fall fun

Jer's parents Fall Festival ward party was last night, on pretty much the coldest night ever! Brayden's costume was very warm, and I was feeling pretty good about Kosty being covered from head to toe in his Spiderman suit. Both of them were surprisingly still freezing, but it was fun anyway.

the pony ride...

the fire truck tour...

the train ride...

snow cones, seriously?!!!! too cold.

Zoe and Mindy

Chili really does warm you up.

And in case it isn't obvious... ;) Brayden decided to be an 'Ice Climber' this year. He made his choice and never wavered no matter how many "Huh's?" he got, and he got a lot. He plays a computer game with these little ice climbing characters, which were his inspiration. His requests were {fairly} simple: A furry hooded coat, and a grappling hook. Mindy happened to have that coat, and it fit. I couldn't believe it when I actually found a plastic grappling hook at Party City. Phew.

fall fun

At the pumpkin patch, there was this gate and a sign that said "FREE PUPPIES"... I am still in shock that Jer didn't decide to take one home. They were the cutest puppies either of us had ever seen, they were a mix of Sharpe, Husky, and Chow...anyway, adorable. I told Jer it was totally up to him as long as he knew that I would have pretty much nothing to do with it (I'm allergic). He passed!? Oh well, we aren't ready for such a commitment. And I'm pretty sure they grow to be pretty big dogs.

happy sights

Kosty's first family portrait, awww.

the main Halloween shrine. (it looks much better at night, all lit up). I will never understand "Halloween Haters" which seem to have crossed my path many of times....I LOVE everything about Halloween. But maybe I'm partial to all the good memories since both my babies were born in October.

I found this rug 75% off, making it impossible to leave behind. I was unsure about the green but it stays!

Winter grass, and lots of it. Thanks to the 3 Figgins men for getting it beautiful!

seven.

Seeing him over the years like this always make me emotional...look how tiny he was, he is so big now. Chubbiness has disappeared, as have his teeth. But, I love how his big blue eyes stay the same no matter what.

Brayden,

So many changes this year! You've grown so much and starting to lose all your teeth. You are having such a good school year. No crying or complaining of it being "too long." No dragging you there either, which is a major relief for me. You are such a good example around here and we just think you are darn special. You are so smart, acing all of your spelling tests, reading up a storm, and already trying to learn multiplication. Looks like I'm going to need to brush up on those times tables. You are starting to care more now about what people think and getting embarrassed here and there, which is sad, but a part of growing up. I really didn't think that stuff happened until around 13. You love soccer, but you get pretty frustrated at your teams constant defeats. You told me you are worried about kicking another player and hurting them. I told you that's what shin guards are for, but that didn't matter to you. You responded, "but they don't protect the back of their legs!" and "what if I accidentally kick someone when I'm trying to get the ball and they fall down and cry?" You've always been a thoughtful little boy.

Kosty is constantly trying to "beat" you in every kind of race you can think of. Who can win a board game, who gets in the shower the fastest, who gets a ride on Daddy's back first, who gets their jammies on first, who says the family prayer, and the most competitive: who is dressed and ready for church first. These things usually frustrate you, but mostly because of the unkind way Kosty announces his victory and your defeat. He likes to rub it in a whole lot. This past Sunday, you were both ready and at the last step: socks and shoes. Kosty was seconds away, and you were closer....but then I watched you completely slow down. Slowed down & watched until he had clearly "won." And even when he started with the "Ah-ha, I won" taunting, you just smiled and walked on by. Little did he know, you let him win.

You do sweet & funny things all the time that I want to remember. A couple days ago, we went to Subway and Daddy ordered a foot long steak and cheese that he couldn't finish. Leaving an entire 6 inch remaining. You said you were still hungry, so I took off his cheese and peppers, you tried to eat it, but steak and cheese is just not your favorite. So after asking everyone if they wanted it, you held it above the trash can and then covered your eyes with your other hand as you dropped it in. I had to laugh because as you couldn't bear to watch a perfectly good sandwich go to waste, I was also cringing in my mind.

This morning, I was doing your hair and you asked if you looked like a "fancy waiter." Then you proceeded around the house holding up a folder as a tray and told me that you would be a waiter someday. And that you really hope you can balance the tray high above your head. Then you reminded me that the waiter gig would just be temporary until you can secure your dream job as an astronaut.

We love you so much Brayden!

bedtime stories

Brayden loves the "Wimpy Kid" Books. He has been waiting for the release of the yellow one and when it came out we went and got it. He wanted to read it on a blanket at the park, and then that night, apparantly he couldn't put it down because I tucked him in at 8:45 and when I went to check on him at 11, he was still reading....with watery, bloodshot eyes! He finished it in one day.

Isn't this sweet, look what page Kosty was last looking at before he drifted off into dreamland....Hello creepy Lord Voldemort. And on the floor. My poor child.

kosty's birthday celebration

Kosty was reeeeallly excited this year for his birthday. It was an unbearable wait for all of us. It really is fun to spoil them good one day of the year. He woke up at 6:00 am, and {surprisingly} waited to rip into his presents until everyone was accounted for. In lieu of birthday "parties" this year either of the boys, we decided to do something more useful and get them a trampoline. So we put it up when they were sleeping and they saw it through the window when they woke up. Boy were they surprised!

They ate breakfast on it...

Then I took him to pick out an action figure since there are 1,000's of different Spiderman characters that he requested. I never buy him anything like that when we are at the store, so it was a real special treat to actually pick it out and leave with it too! So deprived, lol.

He chose to go to Peter Piper for lunch. Surprise for me, they do free lunch and tokens for the birthday kiddo.

Then we went home to play a little "Crack the Egg" and look at these two adorable eggs I got to crack. :)

Cousin jump. Zoe, Libby, and Kosty, the one eyed-monster. {I went a little crazy with the red eye tool and it wouldn't let me undo it}!

We had our family over for pizza, cake and ice cream, and then we slept under the stars that night....on the trampoline, of course.

Brayden's prayer

"Dear Heavenly Father,

Grateful for this day.

Grateful that we could go to the library.

Please bless that time will pass by quickly so my birthday will get here soon.

Please bless that Momma's throat will feel better and her asthma too.

Please bless that our winter grass will grow big and soft and green.

Bless Daddy to find all the scorpions so they won't be in our backyard.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

kosty's prayer

"Dear Heavenly Fadder,

Grateful for this day,

Grateful for my Spiderman co-weck-shon (collection).

Bless Bubba's birfday to come really soon,

and bless Sam to come over to play with Bubba.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

just because

He's cute.

(these are a few weeks old, before his haircut, but I needed them in here for my book).

star student

I got to dine in the cafeteria with Brayden since he was star student. I surprised him & brought his favorite Subway sandwich, cookie, and large root beer. He felt pretty cool drinking his giant soda at the lunch table, especially since I don't normally let him drink soda. I was so happy to see how loved he was by his classmates. There were two little boys arguing over who got to sit by him, kids all over saying hi to him, and one sweet little girl far across the opposite end of the table who called his name & waved sweetly. He got a little embarrassed about that. I am happy to know he is so liked.

four.

Time flies. And my baby is four. He has grown up so much in the past few months! I think it all started with preschool. He is still strong headed, but he is also the sweetest boy. The kind of boy who never walks past a flower without picking it for me. He is a total mix of Jer and me. Me=strong headed. Jer=sweet. He looks SO handsome with his new haircut, I can hardly stand it. I finally found a lady that cuts it exactly how I had it pictured in my mind. And don't even get me started on those dimples. He is simply irresistible. We love Kosty.