Brenley in the kitchen

Brenley really seems to be enjoying her new play area downstairs, but took it to a whole new level this weekend when she wanted to play restaurant.  She kept asking to play and I kept putting her off until after I finished X, or after I finished Y, until I could put her off no longer.

She told me she needed to have some time to get ready, so when she was ready for me she hollered at me to come downstairs. I immediately yelled back at Brian to come down and be a part of this.

She had organized all of her Melissa and Doug food on the back of the downstairs kitchen counter (which had been in her bedroom upstairs), she brought her step stool down from her bathroom, and she had put her apron on herself.

Beau, Brian and I all sat at the bar and she took our order, and then she went to the other side to prepare our food. When she was ready, she served us, we ate, and then she cleaned up our dishes. We managed to snake some cash out of her cash register to pay her, and she was delighted at her success. It was totally awesome.  I love this girl's imagination and she did this one all by herself. Sweet girl.

The cook and waitress, Brenley May!

Dream Team Baseball Night

Beau's baseball team, the Tigers, finished 1st in their league this Spring/Summer.  To celebrate, they organized a "Dream Team" night with the Wichita Wingnuts. It just happened to co-incide with the first day of school. So while it made for a long day, it was a really fun night.

First of all the weather was amazing. Secondly, the boys all got to be introduced over the PA system and run out in front of everyone in the stands to accept their 1st place trophy and miniature engraved bat from their coach.

While the Wingnut players warmed up, the boys got to meet them and get autographs. They also played around with the Wingnut mascot, Spinner. Their final fun was getting to run out with their position player when they were announced and they got to stand with them during the national anthem. It was really a cool event for the boys and provided for a lot of fun pictures.

1st day of school - 2012/2013

So the night before school after summer vacation at our house probably isn't your typical "night before school" house as our kids are very used to going to bed and getting up in the morning. We have a routine even in the summer, so when school starts, it is pretty seamless for us. Unless, of course, that is, Brenley decides to be in a bad mood, which she did.

Morning came and we ate breakfast, got dressed, and then we headed outside to take pictures - like we always do - and Beau did great. Brenley.......well, it wasn't her idea, so she didn't want to have any part of it. Imagine, that?!

Here are the "1st day of 4th Grade" pictures for Beau and the very "1st day of Pre-School" for Brenley. So far, her first day mood is not an indication of how her first week went. She has Ms. Darla for her teacher, and she loves her. Plus her BFF Dale is in class with her too.

Beau has also started off on a good foot. He has Ms. Summers, who seems to be the most sought after teacher.  Beau has had a spelling, vocab, and reading test, all of which he has gotten 100% on, or an A+. That's right - finally - we are into letter grades. No more "S" or "O" bull. Something I can get my arms around! :)

Anyway, we are off to a good start - despite the pictures of Bren. Hoping for a wonderful year of learning and growing for each of them.

This one makes me laugh the most. Brian says it looks like she is being forced to hold up a ransom note. 

My babies...

Beau turns 9!

Everything seems to be a blur these days. Time is moving so fast. We've been settling into our home, getting ready for school, and starting football practice, and it just seems like the days whiz by - especially the weekends. But I need to take a minute to reflect on my son, Beau Charles Grant. He turned nine on August 6th. It was a Monday. Of course his celebration started over the weekend. He got to see both sets of Grandparents and family, which he truly loves. Of course, that brought presents and spoiling, which he loves even more.

We celebrated both Saturday and Sunday enjoying good food and company.  Then on Monday, I let him stay home from camp and that afternoon I took off work and he and I went to see Diary of a Wimpy Kid. He had been looking forward to that all summer.

That evening he had football practice, but when he came home we opened a few more presents, and that was it. Little uneventful, but we hope this Fall we can get a few of his friends together over here at the house to have a sleepover so he can have a good time with his buddies. As I can attest, summer birthdays are just a little tough, especially the week before school starts.

In any event, I think he had a good time. Part of me still can't believe he is nine, but he is definitely showing signs of pre-adolscence, which hurts my heart a little, and has caused me to buy a few books on how to properly communicate to kids in the pre-teen stage.

I realize my mother is laughing right now as she reads this, but seriously, that boy thinks he knows everything. He has his moments of disrespectfulness, which we are dealing with. However, you ask his grandparents how he behaves, and he is the sweetest, most thoughtful boy ever. And I truly think that is what his core is made of, but he is definitely testing his parents, which I know every child does. And if he behaves at grandparents' houses, school, and friends' homes.....then we must be doing something right.

Beau Grant has a very tender heart, and wouldn't hurt a soul.  He has NO idea how strong he is. He is 4 foot 11 inches and a little over 100 pounds. He can't wait for the day to pick me up and be taller than me, and I know that day is coming soon. Now if we could only work on his mental toughness.  He tears up a lot.  He stresses and is anxious a lot - and most of the time not over the "big" things like starting school or going to a new place, but little things like eating vegetables, and not being able to play sports for a day. I'm trying to decipher how his brain works, as we have definitely had some challenging moments this summer (insert "he knows everything and refuses to believe Mom and Dad could be right").

I love this bronzed stocky "little" boy with all my heart and soul. And every once in awhile I get a glimpse of the sweet boy that used to climb on my lap. Sometimes he forgets he is a "big" boy and slips his hand into mine. I am careful not to squeeze too tight so he notices what he has done.  He definitely thinks his Dad is cooler and funnier than his Mom, and that hurts a little too, but I understand that is all part of the growing up process.

So here he is....ripe ole age of NINE!  I took these pictures in our backyard.