And this handsome boy started his fist soccer session ❤️

He literally has my heart, my whole heart! (Ok, he shares it with his brother but I have enough heart to give them each a whole, they are that special to me!) 

A weekend full of Apples!

This past weekend we were spoiled with visitors, apple turnovers, apple slushies, ape donuts and lasting memories. We even managed to use up some of our apples already for apple bread and some new breakfast cookies! Mmm! Check out a few phone shots I got (so many more on my camera!)...

This boy ate half the orchard!!! 

Starting September with these two!!

A couple weeks ago Braylon had his first "real" play date! His friend Baya came over for a couple hours and they just roamed the house playing lots of pretend! Of course Brekkon tried tagging along every step of the way! 

Along with a fantastic play date we did a quick shopping trip for some family picture attire and these two turkeys talked us into the new "thing" at the mall. Ride on animals....

We also had more fun.... Making cookies WITH frosting of course! 

Having fun with tubs as mommy cleaned out and changed out our closets! Brekkon LOVES light switches! 

Water play... 

Sharing a VERY messy root beer float! 

And it must have been an extra exhausting weekend of fun.... SLEEPY BOYS! 

My sweet, sweet Braylon

Tonight was a rough bed time. I was folding laundry and suddenly here little foot steps and lots of crying. Braylon was on the floor of my room with big alligator tears just wanting to sleep in mommy's bed. More or less it was with mommy not her bed. I needed up in a twin bed snuggled between the two of them. After safely transferring a sleeping Brekkon I continued to snuggle with Braylon. His back was to me and I heard lots of whispers. I reminded him it was bed time and we needed to turn or whispers of. His reply "but I'm saying my goodnight prayers". Talk about a heart melt moment. He proceeded to tell me it's for quiet time and finished with an Amen. Needless to say this momma is going to bed with a very happy heart. He sure knows how to pull those heart strings. That boy makes my heart melt daily!! 

Huge slacker ... That's me!

It has been three months...seriously Kara! Geesh! I could throw all my excuses at you about a busy summer, two overly active boys and on and on or I could just do a quick update! 

Summer went by way too fast. Lots of playing and sunshine. Andrew was busy with baseball and the Braylon was having a blast at school with water days and bike days and enjoying all the outside time with his friends. Brekkon was being beyond spoiled at daycare. Shira only had two kiddos for the summer and on Mondays the other little guy didn't come. Monday seemed to be the day of adventures to the grocery store or library. Like I said....spoiled! I kept busy with drop offs, pick ups, playing and also trying to enjoy some summer outside of work. We made a decent amount of campin trips too. It's getting a little easier to go and make it "fun". The best trip had to be our end of year little adventure to the zoo and Adventureland. Nothing to crazy but a good few nights away and full on family time! The boys had a blast at the zoo and they both ended up riding lots of rides and loving them!! I think Brekkon loved every single one and they were all his favorite. Braylon's favorite had to be the tilt a whirl. He could not stop laughing! We even made a fun stop at the Bass Pro Shop. 

Other than that we ended the summer buying a new house!!!! We loved were we  lived. The location was great but there just want enough room anymore or many kids for the boys to play with. We just moved a couple weeks ago and already Braylon has meet the neighbors and had fun running wild through yards and had a quick play date with a friend down the street. I think it was a great move and we can't wait to get even more settled. The boys have done great with all the change too! They have so much more room to run and play and hide!! 

This past week was the start of the new school year for us all. Andrew is still teaching 5th grade but this year only part time. He is taking on a new position in the school district as a Innovation PD Faciliator. I think it's still a work in progress as to what it entails but it should be something he will like and I know he will be a rockstar at it! Braylon started a new school year with a class of new friends. He will be staying in the 3 year old room until November and then moving up to be with Ms. Emily (who he has recently fallen in love with it think). He is pretty excited!!! He is getting way too big for this momma! Brekkon is still loving his time at Shira's and being spoiled. He is in absolute love with her and her family. We sure are blessed beyond measure with the way she loves our Bubby! I'm still living the life of preschool and this fall started back in a room teaching (while still playing the role of assistant director). It's been a busy start but I truly do love being with the kiddos each day. They are so full of joy and laughter and then give the best hugs!!! We were hoping to find a teacher for the classroom but no canadiate has walked through the door that was a good fit for our program. For now I play double duty and do love it but need a little extra coffee each morning! 

This is bath time in our house...

.... And actually all the time! I never realized a child could love to (serious high pitch) scream so much and so often! It is honestly very painful to listen to but they sure do love it!

Some little B's and their silliness!

 The last couple weeks ha been full of fun for these boys! We are definetely a family that enjoys being outside as much as possible. We had attempted a bike ride with both boys in the trailer a few weeks back. It started great and went down hill fast. They were too close for their likings and who wants to share their foot room or toys with their brother. When Brekkon and I can home to the new bike seat.... I'm not sure who was more excited!!! Since we got it we have been on a handful of rides and I even hooked braylon up behind us and headed out on our own adventure this past Sunday while daddy finished up a camper project! Yay! 

On top of the fun comes some tired boys too! We have had a few rough nights of getting them both down with some major emotional issues. It resulted in two nights of just saying forget it and getting them both to sleep with some extra cuddles. Not the best for our routine but definitely great for the soul! Do not mind the grumpy face! The flash was bright and I may have been half asleep myself but I assure you I was in a happy momma place! 

We even started the crazy (and sometimes dreaded)baseball season. Andrew started try outs this week we he is MIA in a lot of the day. I am on my own for supper, play time and bedtime. So on our way home Monday I asked braylon what he wanted for supper. It was the quickest response ever ... Quesadillas, chicken that you put in them and mashed potatoes! So.... That's what we had! We also learned our little ketchup over (Brekkon) loves sour cream too! 

One last thing because I know braylon will be so upset if I don't share! He recently had a field trip to a local nursery and was able to plant a small marigold. We brought it home and transferred it to a small hanging basket and now it has  flowers and a third one coming. He was pretty proud! 

Another catch up....

I had the opportunity to go to a work confrence two weeks ago. I was beyond stoked to push a "refresh" button and just get back to the heart of it all with new ideas and inspiration. One down fall.... I would leave on a Wednesday around lunch and not get back until Saturday at supper! Abby! This momma was freaking out! The boys are 3.5 and just over 1 and I have left them over night once and it was for right at 12 hours. So to have to leave them for over three days.... Heart breaking. I had already registered and paid so there was no turning back. Brekkon is young enough that there  wouldn't be much of a good bye but I had to prep braylon for weeks! He is my emotional boy. He leads with his heart in everything! As the days counted down he kept reminding me he would not cry. I had a few surprises for him in hopes to ease the time and partially because I wanted to make it special for him too. I left q goodie bag for him to open each day. Nothing big or fancy but things I knew he would smile for! I left after lunch on Wednesday so I have him extra loves and said good physics while he was at school. He stood in the window and waved... Not one tear! I was proud and sad at the same time. Ha! During my time away Andrew had a meeting and a couple things that needed to be done. The boys had Nana Judy there for a few ours on Thursday and a brand new sitter on Friday. I was a bit sad that I missed that. It was more of a trial run since Andrew was home but still ... It's kind of a big deal to this momma bear! The trip was amazing and refreshing and my boys survived! It was a win in the end but I had a few restless nights as I slept alone. (Not my style!) 

The conference was in St. Louis and the hotel was a roads width from the Arch. I was able to go with a co-worker so the time went a faster when we were not in classes. We enjoyed walking around the area and trying a couple new places to eat. It wasn't so bad in the long run but a big first in my books! 

 

Could it be Spring? (Why didn't this post way back before!?)

This weather has been good for our souls! We have spent every minute we can outside this week and the boys are beyond happy! I remember this phase Braylon went through one year where he acted as if we were torturing him EVERY time we came in from outside. He seriously wanted to live outside. Brekkon is NOW in that stage! I am sure the neighbors or passing walkers wonder what the heck we do to our children. We have to hold tight once we pick him up because he will try any maneuver to wiggle his way, fall or jump right out of your arms and back on the run outside. Not to mention, if any of you have personally heard it you would agree, Brekkon has the WORST high pitch scream for everything. Especially when he is down right mad! Ugh! I love that our boys have joy and happiness for outside because momma and daddy do too BUT it would be nice to walk inside with out two crying kids and a whole lot of people staring! Ha! 

We have been puddle jumping, scooter riding, bubble blower and walk around the block machines! It has been wonderful! Daddy eve busted out the grill last night and we plan to use it EVERY night... no joke! On top of our outside time at home the boys are both blessed with childcare that enjoys outside time too. I see how happy it make Braylon to be in the sunshine each day and love that Brekkon is doing the same thing with his little friends. 

Speaking of that Brekkon... he went down at 7:30 last night and did not wake up until 6am!! WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO- HOOOOOOOOOOO!!! I am sure it was a cross of the extra outside time and activities as well as the meal he ate that was fit to feed a giant and followed by a snack at bedtime story. Seriously he out ate his daddy I think! 

We hope you are all enjoying the sunshine just as much! Much love from all of us! 

Where do I even start..,,.

Let's start back with Easter! This was the first year Brekkon really noticed what was going on with all the Saster eggs, baskets, egg hunts and so on. We were blessed to be able to spend Easter Sunday with family. We headed to Mamaw and Papaw's Saturday and had a fun play date at the farm helping plant the garden and getting a little one on one with Mamaw and Papaw. The boys even ended the night with a wrestle session. Which. Brekkon now joins in on! Braylon loved the garden (it's quiet large!). It was like his own special place with all the dirt he could get into and nobody cared! He was hammering dirt clumps, racking, digging holes and even "planted" his shoes! We of course love to go bare foot so what else do you do with shoes I a garden! I was sure hoping some new ones would grow because he has pretty much wore right through them! Brekkon, however, did not like the dirt. It took him 20 mi Utes and a lot of graham crackers to decide maybe he should stand up.... He finally got the hang of it as we were fi wining up. He sure loved to mess with Papaw and get some giggles out though! 

We headed to be that night to rest up for an eventful Easter Sunday at church and a LOT of play time at the farm. We had fun riding the four wheeler, shooting off rockets, playing king of the mountain, running around like crazy, flying kites and shooting guns (for the grown ups)! 

On top of all that... Who could forget about Easter baskets from the Easter Bunny and our egg hunt!?!? The Easter Bunny hit spot on with a Ninja Turtle water bottle for Braylon and some sweet new sunglasses for Brekkon! 

Along with all our Easter fun at the farm the boys participated in a fun, local egg hunt with some crafts and a visit with the Easter Bunny. Neither would get near him but both looked in awe as I snatched them up in my lap to get some what of a picture! 

It was a busy Easter! Phew! That was only one of the items on my "catch up" list! More tomorrow... Night!