Proud of this kiddo!

Brady has played t-ball since he was four.  However, this Spring was his first Spring to play rec ball - instead of Upward.  Needless to say, the difference is obvious from what he experienced with Upward and what the kids in rec ball have experienced.  There was an obvious difference in his baseball abilities and the other boys.  It was a lot of fun to watch him play, grow, and learn during this season.  We were blessed with awesome coaches and great families to cheer the boys on with.

I have discovered, in my almost 9 years as a mom, that we can learn sooooo much from our children.  Watching his attitude, patience, joy, and overall fantastic attitude during this baseball season has been so refreshing to watch.  On multiple occasions his coaches said something to either Chris or I about his great attitude, respect for the coaches, willingness to do anything asked of him, and constant smile. 

I love baseball.  Watching Brady play has reminded me of how much I enjoyed playing softball and of how much I miss it.

BIGGER - I love Brady and watching him do life makes me want to be a better person and how much I am missing.

He is a GREAT kid that has a lot worth emulating....when his coach handed Brady his trophy he told him what a great kid he is and told him "any chance I get, I am going to have you play on my team". 

On a baseball note he told Brady that he was the team's most improved player.  He told him that in all of his years of baseball experience, he has never seen someone improve as much as Brady had in just one season.

My MJ

 This little star did AWESOME at the Bluff Park Elementary School Living Museum.  All the third graders are assigned to choose a famous person that is either retired from their known profession or deceased.  They have to create their background and research, write, and memorize their biographical speech.  They are all lined up in the halls of the school and as visitors approach them they introduce themselves and then recite their speech.  Brady chose to Michael Jordan and he rocked it....absolutely nailed it!  He enjoyed this school project a lot!  He was one of the only ones that memorized his whole speech and he had A LOT of facts!!!

Thankful Little Soul

I am enamored with Maddox's thankful spirit.  He has a way of noticing all the little things in the world and pausing to thank GOD for them.  So often he will say "I want to tell GOD ______" and then he will bow his head and say "GOD thank you for _____".  Just last week Maddox and I were driving in the van and he said "Mommy aren't the trees that GOD made beautiful?"  I told him yes and then he said "I am gonna tell GOD."  Then he said "GOD, thank you for the beautiful trees."  This continued for a while as he prayed for everything and everyone that GOD created.  It was so precious.....love it!

My sweet pea praying at school before lunch

eVan Gogh

Evan has really impressed us lately with his artistic abilities.  We do not spend much time with other 5-year- olds but we are quite impressed with his art work.  He has really blossomed in his talent.  We have had several "WOW!! Did you do that by yourself" moments.  We have even considered enrolling him in art classes to further his talent and invest in something he enjoys so much!  Our own eVan Gogh : )

a banner that Evan made for Brady's basketball team...the Ducks

A penguin Evan colored for the brochure he made for his class' presentation on the Arctic

Sweet Rudolph that Evan drew in December of 2014

Art project that Evan came home with on 2/19/15

The best Daddy

Yesterday while having lunch with my caboose at our kitchen island, Maddox looks at me and says "you know who the best Mommy is?"  I answered: "Who?" With his yummy grin he says, "You, Mommy."  Then he says: "Do you know who the best Daddy is?"  Assuming the answer, I replied: "Daddy?"  He said: "No, not Daddy?" "Cwis, that is his other name, you know, Cwis (Chris)."  He is quite funny this little guy.

Winter fun at home....fort building

Out of the mouth of Babes

This one:

 (Maddox on Circus Day at preschool)

 and his many "sayings"

I love the fun, sweet, curiosity-filled things this sweet Angel says on a regular basis.  As much as that, I love how he says things....how his r's are still w's, his cute lisp....how this is it, my last baby so I am enjoying every misspoken syllable of it knowing when this ends, it is over for me.  This past Sunday after I picked Maddox up from his class at church I asked him about what he learned.  He told me about how Jesus healed Lazarus.  I said "that is awesome, buddy, isn't it?"  He said "yes, Mommy, GOD is going to heal my back too." (he fell on the bleachers at Brady's basketball game the day before).

Last week while Maddox and I were in the car together he said: "I love Daddy.  I want to be just like him when I grow up."  I said: "you do?"  He said: "yes, I do.  I am gonna ask GOD right now if I can be like Daddy when I grow up."  I said: "okay, buddy."  Then from the back seat, I softly hear: "GOD, can I be like Daddy when I grow up?" Then I hear: "Mommy, GOD said 'that is fine'".

It warms my heart how he will come running up to me at random times - "I want a hug and a kiss" with his arms open wide.  When I kneel down to hug him, I am greeted with his puckered lips : )  After our hug and kiss, he goes on his merry way....so precious!

Often in conversation with Maddox when we tell him some bit of information, he will say "I already know that."  This is always after we have told him something we have not yet conveyed to him.  When we ask him how he knows, his answer is always: "Because GOD told me."  Oh my!  A prophet perhaps?? Probably just a know-it-all ; )

Love this sweet babe and all his little comments, cadence, and voice!

Are you kidding me?

So today Maddox and I were in the restroom during a quick stop on our way to Atlanta.  As he was standing there with his pants down around his ankles he noticed the "convenience hole" in the front of his underwear.  He looks down and then back up at me and says "These underwear are getting ode (old).  I need to get new ones."  I said "why do you think they are old; they are fine."  He said "look, they have a hole."  I wanted to bust out laughing.  I then explained to him what the hole was for.  After he listened intently, he looked at me and said "Are you kidding me?" seriously and with a straight face.  It was quite funny, what a card!

an appropriate pic for this topic : )