The Jungle Book

This past Sunday, the boys, my niece Sarah and my mom went to a children's theatre production of The Jungle Book. It was great!

At first, Ethan didn't want to go, but I think he was pleasantly surprised.
For him (just as it was for me when I used to go with my Grandma Evelyn to the Fontana Players when I was a kid), they play was magical. His eyes were so bright and big, and I was so happy to see it!

Sarah loved it too! She was bouncing and singing in her chair during the musical numbers. It was stinkin' adorable.

Brenden liked it too, but he asked if he could play with my Blackberry twice...so it wasn't as magical for him. LOL

After the play, Ethan wanted to go back to get a look at the actors up close and as normal people. And when we got home, even though it was late, the first thing he did was look up the theatre group online. I think I might have a little actor on my hands!!

October 31, 2008: A Zoo and A Whole Pirate Family!

For the past month, Brenden's teacher Mrs. Moerke has been sending home information about Mrs. Moerke's Zoo...a place where all the first graders become animals, and they talk about themselves. Parents receive admission to the zoo through donation of school supplies, and get to buy bags of food for the animals for 25 cents.

For the past week Brenden had been working diligently memorizing facts about the panda, and lines for his class performance. For the past several days, while the kids did this,

, I worked diligently on a panda outfit for Brenden to wear! Now, I don't know how to use a sewing machine very well so I did it by hand.

It turned out pretty cute, and Brenden looked adorable in it!!!

He did a great job speaking and telling facts about the panda. He also enjoyed talking to his friend Kyle while the whole class was singing! (...that Bren!) And everyone thought the giant bamboo stalks that Grandpa Steve collected for the pandas were awesome!

The panda exhibit at the zoo was a definite success!

Later, we got dressed up and drove down to a nearby Halloween event with Jay, Sarah and Ryan. They had music and all of the stores were passing out candy. It was WAY better than trick or treating in our dud neighborhood!

Ethan went has the "head legendary" pirate, and Brenden and I were his followers. Sarah was a cheerleader and Ryan was Piglet. So fitting! :)

While we were having frozen yogurt, some people walked by and said "Look, a whole pirate family!" Aww it made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. :)

On Main street they had a band playing. Ethan and Brenden showed us some of their break dancing skills! Here's Ethan in action:

What a fun day!

Brenden got to be a panda and a pirate.

Ethan was the legendary leader, and an awesome dancer.

And I was a very proud pirate mama, indeed.

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!

All three of us have our costumes now....we are three PIRATES!! Darn cute ones!!!!!!!!!!

The boys put their costumes on just now and they look so flippin adorable.

We are so excited!!

:)

My baby is SIX!!!

That's right, my littlest baby boy turned SIX on Saturday! I can't believe that it was six years ago the evening of October 17, 2002, 2 weeks before Bren's due date, that I was sitting on the couch with giant swollen feet up, complaining that I didn't want to go to work the next day...then off to bed that night with my giant human sized pillow next to me (wow I loved that thing)...then BAM, awoken in the wee hours with a huge gush of fluid. Haha I remember wrapping towels around myself before getting in the car....But ok, ok I know, no one wants to read birthing stories...that's for the maternity blog....he arrived October 18, 2002 at 10:45am...and now back to Brenden and his party.

Brenden is the kind of kid you wanna hang out with because he is fun. Since he was born, he has been curious, sweet, kind, rambunctious, and beautiful...

I took video at his birthday party. I interviewed him and asked him how it felt to be six. He told me it felt good. I asked him if he felt older. He said he did. I asked him if he had any last words to tell the camera before I turned it off and he started talking about my bra...that kid is crazy!

So, I made cool ice cream cupcakes for his class on Friday and again for his party on Saturday. They were so cute.

We went to John's Incredible Pizza Company and had such a blast!! The people that came to celebrate with Brenden were: Me, Ethan, Grandma Joy, Grandpa Steve, Aunt Kellie, Greg, Uncle Richie, Aunt Jay, Sarah, Ryan, Angela, Andrew, Caleb, Madelyn, Jordana, Isabella, Daddy, Arena, Micah, Bryce and Natalee! So many people love Brenden! Here are some pics:

...to be posted as soon as I get them since I lost the camera! :(....

OK, luckily, Jordana had her camera and let me take some pics...here are the highlights. ;)

Classic

We still haven't found the perfect costumes for the boys, but we're close!! hehe

Out of the mouth of...Bren

Last night, Ethan fell asleep a little earlier than bedtime. So, I tucked just Brennie in at 9. Every night I remind the boys to say their prayers and sometimes I get them started or pray with them. As I was walking out of their room last night, I heard Brenden start to pray. What I heard went like this "Thank you God for my pillow and my toys and my bed and for boxes and for windshields and our car..." He is the cutest thing. I don't think I've ever thanked God for my windshield.

Speaking of Brenden's words...before I started blogging I wrote down somewhere else a funny phone conversation I had with him one time. It was about 3 or 4 months ago. I called the boys from work one day to say hi. Brenden answered the phone. Our conversation was:

Brenden: Hello?
Me: Hi Brennie (in hushed tone)
Brenden: Hi Mama! Why are you talking so low?
Me: Oh, because I'm at work baby.
Brenden: Ohhhhh! Is everyone sleeping?
Me: Hehehe no baby!
Brenden: OOHHH! They are just trying to concentrate!!
Me: Yeees baby that's right! You are so smart!
Brenden: I know! And I just thunk of that myself!

hehe...I have the cutest kids ever.
:)

Adventures with Bob!

At school on Friday, Ethan's name was picked as the lucky one who got to take the class bear, Bob, home for a week, recording all of his adventures in a notebook. If it was adventure Bob wanted, it was adventure he was gonna get!! There were many fun and exciting choices for Saturday but we ended up with good ol' bowling....then miniature golfing....then all kinds of carnival rides....then mexican food....and yet more carnival rides. It was a perfect day for it too; not too hot, and not too cold!

Bowling started at 9:30 in the morning. $1 games! Woohoo! I beat the boys (and Bob) on the first game with a 113. GO ME! But Ethan and Brenden did wonderfully. Ethan kicked my butt the second time around! Both of them got strikes and everything. We even shared a big giant diet coke that Brenden ordered for us. Thanks Brenden!

After bowling, we decided on miniature golfing. After a quick pitstop for a Mean Bean (yum!) and a couple green apple sodas, we were off! We lost a total of 4 balls during our 18 holes. Awesome! Final score: Mama rocks, Ethan's super, and Brenden is amazing! And of course mini golfing wouldn't be complete without some duck feeding.

First ride after miniature golfing: Merry Go Round. Bob enjoyed it immensely.

Now, I am not sure when Ethan turned from scaredy cat to roller coaster junkie, but it happened sometime between ages 5 and 9...and boy does he love the thrills!! He couldn't get enough of the roller coaster, swings and some sort of flying contraption. Every time he flew by me on that thing (during his second session) he screamed "MAMA IT'S JUST LIKE HARRY POTTER!!" (Yes, my big 9 year old still calls me "mama" and that makes me smile.) He must have screamed it seven times. It was the cutest thing. He didn't know if I could hear him so he just kept screaming it. It was so funny to me that I was laughing during his last four laps, out loud, to myself. I think the dad next to me thought I was a little strange because he was eyeing me as I was laughing and telling myself that Ethan doesn't know I can hear him. :)

As for Brenden, I watched with sympathy as he flew by on the swings, holding on for dear life, with a terrified look on his face. After about 5 turns, that same dad looked at me and said "Is that your son?" Yes, that is my poor, scared, son and I am his helpless mother. As the ride came to a slow, I wanted to run to Brennie and hug him, but before I could, he was strolling away from the ride. Being the laid back, carefree soul that he is, he simply said "I didn't like that one." My baby, I never liked that one either!

So Saturday, for bears and humans alike, was a pretty great day!!

Sunday was nice too. Bob went to church with us. I could tell he liked it. After that, he accompanied Kel, Bren and I to Kel's boyfriend's hockey game! So much fun! Ethan was a party pooper and wanted to stay with Grandma. HUH? Ok, fine! We had a blast anyway! Afterward Brenden declared "I want to do that!!" so that is on the agenda!

After hockey, Brennie and I got some more frozen yogurt on our way home (I think we are beginning to like frozen yogurt a little too much!) and we walked around shops and sat on benches.

Bob waited in the car. :)