Fire Station

This week our playgroup went to the fire station. My boys were quite nervous/interested in everything that was going on. The firefighters were great! The let the kids do all kinds of things. They got all dressed in their gear and scared the boys to death. They brought out the truck and put the ladder really high. Overall, they had a great time!!

I never realized how big firetruck tires were until now.

They both listened pretty well while the firefighters talked to everyone.

Damon and his friend Emily.  This little girl loves our boys!!  She is always standing by them and trying to hold their hands, but my boys are so not into it.  They walk away and refuse to let her touch them.

When they brought the truck out to raise the ladder, they had to put out the stabilizers and caused the tires to come off the ground.

That ladder gets really high!!

Kyler was really focusing when the firefighter was putting on all the gear.

I was trying to convince the boys to give him a high-five, but they didn't want anything to do with him once helmet and mask were on his head.

Damon pouting because Emily tried to touch him.  I wonder how long they will avoid girls like this?!?

We've never had a playgroup like this!!!  I guess you say fire station and everyone comes out!!

The boys and some of there friends.

Radley and I were there too!

Big Boys!

They really loved being able to sit on the truck.

They let Emily squeeze in for a picture!

Spring Break Part 2

After visiting for a few days in Childress, we headed down to Brownwood to visit my Nanny. All 3 of the boys got spoiled and loved being at Nanny's house. Kyler especially loves Nanny's because he gets to watch cartoons all day (she has cable and we don't),  play on the iPad, he get's ice cream and she took the boys to McDonald's and "Chick-a-lay". Damon had fun too but doesn't watch TV quite as much as Kyler.  He really liked the food Nanny has at her house! 

This is my Great-Granddaddy Pierce's house that he built.  The city is about to tear it down so we wanted to go see it one more time.

My Granddaddy made this for his dad's house.  I'm glad we were able to grab it before the city knocked it down.

Kenney took one look in the garage and said, "Yep, this is a mechanics garage."  There were quite a few tools and other things still there.  He was able to get an oil can out of there and cleaned it up.  It's pretty neat.

My Nanny, the boys and I on the front porch.

I found these in the garage too.  They are my granddaddy's business cards. If you can read the card it's pretty funny!

Reminds me of my Granddaddy sitting there with his legs crossed watching TV.  Kyler took good notes from when he was younger and Granddaddy was sitting there.

Poor Damon got an eye infection while we were there.  He woke up one morning with his eye matted shut.  He had a black eye on the other side with scratches on his face too.  He looked pretty beat up!

The best time for cuddles is when he is drinking a bottle and falling asleep.  Nanny rocked him to sleep every night!

These boys loved exploring the backyard.

Follow the Leader

We went to the cemetery to see my granddaddy's grave.  I haven't been back since the funeral, and the headstone wasn't there yet.

They found some cars and thought the ramp was pretty cool!

Nanny and 3 great-grandsons.

This little one got spoiled!!

Sittin' on the porch just like the rest of the family!

Silly faces!

Spring Break Part 1

Our Spring Break was pretty busy this year. Radley and I started off getting his kidney checked out at the hospital. He had to do the Mag3 nuclear test again where they put radioactive particles in him and watch the fluid go through his kidneys. He did it once when he was 2 1/2 months, and it was much better that time. The IV and catheter were much easier then, as was strapping him down to the table. However, he did good considering, and the test came back showing his kidney looking pretty good. It is working about 70-75%. That same day we had a LOT of family in our tiny apartment. Kenney's cousin Celesta and her family were being sealed in the temple, so we had a lot of Kenney's immediate family around. (I rushed out of the temple to rescue the babysitter so I didn't get a picture of the family at the temple, bummer). We didn't have room for everyone to stay with us, but Kenney's sister Shayla and her family stayed here so the kids could play. It was a lot of fun. We went to the park, went swimming, out to eat, and the kids' favorite Chuck E. Cheese!! The adults were exhausted by the end, but the kids had a blast!! At one point while we were at the temple there were 10 kids in our 900 sq ft. apt. Let's just say that wasn't planned!!!

After Chuck E. Cheese we came home and packed for Childress and Brownwood. We headed to Childress first where the boys were able to play a little longer with their cousins. On Monday, St. Patrick's Day, we had our first ever green dinner. The boys have an aunt who goes ALL out for EVERY holiday!! My kids definitely got the short end of the stick there; I consider it a success to celebrate birthdays and Christmas,!! We had dinner with them that night and all of us got in the green St. Patty's Day spirit! We had green everything! My boys seemed somewhat confused, but they ate. Damon especially liked the dessert which was also green!

The poor guy finally had to get the IV in his ankle.

After a lot of trouble getting the IV and catheter in, Radley finally gave up and feel asleep for about 10 mins before they came to wake him up again.

He was not happy about being strapped down and immobile!

He had to be like this for 40 mins, and he finally gave up about 30 mins into the process.

Damon was not so sure about the pool this time.  It was extremely crowded and loud.  I had a hard time getting pictures, but Kyler had a blast and is much more comfortable in the water now!!

Two kids are missing but we told Kenney's brother and sister to put a movie on for the kids, and it seemed to work pretty well.

Kyler and Tyce love each other so much.  Papa made their day by taking all of them to Chuck E. Cheese

Radley eating his green dinner.  We even had green bread!

Proof that my boys really do eat.  They even eat green food!

Conner and Jace really enjoyed it too!

Now that is one green dinner!!

I told you he liked the dessert!

Kyler Turns 4

I can't believe Kyler Dude is 4!!! How is that possible?!? On the other hand, I have only been a parent for 4 years?? That doesn't seem possible either!! This guy was so so excited for his birthday this year.  We had a countdown for about 8 days once the 12th got closer.  He would ask every night how many times he had to go to bed before his birthday.  And everyday since he tells me, "Mom tonight I go to bed and tomorrow I will be 5!"  We are still working on the concept of time.  He had a great day because he was able to get ice cream at Sam's, get a present and cupcake from a friend at storytime, and the highlight of the day was getting his present from Oma that had an envelope with money to go to Chick-A-Lay (aka Chick-fil-a).  He even had to stand in line with me at pay with the money himself!  The next day, one of Kyler's favorite people came to our house.  His cousin Tyce!!  A lot of Kenney's family came in for the weekend and were able to celebrate Kyler's birthday with us, making his birthday even better.  Overall, Kyler had a great birthday and we can't imagine our lives without him!

Can you tell he was excited?!?

We love this little boy so much!!

He got them all in one try!!

Daddy's wrapping job!  It took Kyler a while to figure out where the present was, but he thought that was pretty funny!

Kyler continues to love balls of all kinds.  He was excited to start practicing his dribbling skills.

These are the cupcakes Kyler and Damon helped to make.  Kyler picked out the red cupcake liners, blue frosting and Christmas sprinkles.  He got what he wanted.  However, this year he also just wanted ice cream.  We only made cupcakes because a lot of family came over for a party.  He asked for ice cream with candy on top!   I love how easy they make it on me; no crazy complicated cakes!!

This is the boys playing at Chick-fil-a.  This video shows just how high Damon can get.

The beginning is hard to see, but Damon is just crazy!!  He gets so high; at least twice his height!!

Radley enjoyed his dessert too!!

Playing Outside & Damon's Stories

These boys love getting out any chance they get. Since we don't have a yard we have been trying to make do with what we've got, a parking lot! What is there to do in a parking lot? Throw rocks of course!! I told the boys the only way they are allowed to throw rocks is if they throw them at the fence and away from cars and people. Surprisingly they obey, for the most part! After they got tired of the rocks, they decided to bring their basketball goal outside. It was a good way to pass time while Daddy was studying and mom needed to distract the kiddos!!

Find the biggest rock possible out of the pothole and throw it at the fence or over it!

He of course had to join the fun too!

I'm not sure we are instilling good habits, but at least they are occupied and throwing away from the cars.

We try and avoid this pothole every time we pull in and out of our parking space, and my boys are kind enough to make it bigger!

Papa Dude would be proud of this trick shot.  This is how he used to play PIG/HORSE with me.  He never shot a 'real' shot.  Kyler usually makes all these shots.  Go figure!

Slam It!!

Kenney's hoping one day we will be able to compare this shot with him doing it on a real basketball goal!  We'll see, but for now he's pretty much dominating!

Getting ready for a bath and just so stinkin' cute I can't take it!!

He thinks he is so big and just like his brothers.

Here are some of the new basketball tricks Kyler has. I think Damon doing the tricks is pretty funny. He tries to do everything that Kyler does. I was trying to get Kyler to tell about how he thinks broccoli is what makes him big and strong, but he only talked about how big he is going to be one day!

  

Damon telling stories is hilarious. Here he is telling a story about thunder and Kung Fu Panda (the movie). Kenney was reading them a book, and they were talking about thunder. Something reminded Damon of the movie Kung Fu Panda which caused him to tell this story. His facial expressions are so funny, and he takes it so serious!