Trashed

This is what I've been dealing with...don't worry it didn't look like this today! However, we did have to wet-vac the room since there was a small lake from last night's rain.

Reunion

We went to KC this weekend for a reunion with Adam's college roommates. The guys golfed while the kids swam and played all day. Thanks Paul and Vickie for hosting! We had a great time.

The kids lined up youngest to oldest: Graham, Suzanna (Dansel), Miles, Jackson (Dansel), Morgan (Cannon), Owen, Drew (Cannon), Sydney (Cannon). Plus the Dansel's have another one coming in just a couple weeks.
Paul and Vickie have a neighborhood pool where the kids enjoyed swimming (and all the pop Paul brought them).

Future Runners

Last weekend Owen and Miles (along with friends Mason and Meg) participated in the one mile run that was a part of the Brew to Shoe 10K. Owen ran the whole thing--Miles, not so much. I had to give him a piggy back ride for at least half of it because it was "sooo hot, Mom!"

More About Food

I don't know where I remember hearing about this popcorn, but I actually thought to look for it at the store last time, and there it was... I love popcorn, and these are great flavors for at-home snacking (not appropriate for sporting events or movies--better to stick with "too much salt" on these occasions). The other flavor I really liked was the salt and pepper; Miles thought it was "too spicy."

Bad

My mom makes a great slushy punch that we've had for lots of parties, showers, etc. She also brings us a batch pretty much every time we see her just because we all like it so much. So... we were out of the last batch she gave us and I decided to make it myself. Owen and Adam went to the store with the ingredient list which includes two boxes of jello. I told Owen he could get what he wanted, not thinking that he might get two different colors (orange and green). I was too lazy to go back and too impatient to wait, so I just used them both. Although it didn't taste awful, it looked so gross that no one could/would eat it.

I saw my mom on Sunday and she replenished our supply :) Moral of the story: I will never cook/bake as well as my mother, even if it is a simple task.

Good

I stumbled across this recipe on some part of the Pioneer Woman site. The kids like monster cookies, but like most things that involve cooking/baking, I hate to make them (plus they never turn out). So I was pleasantly surprised when this recipe was A) easy, B) good, and C) fast! We've made these eight times this summer--six if you take off the two pans that Newman ate.

The recipe link is in the sidebar if you want to try them out.

New Ride

Miles (during a Miles/Dad day) scored a new big kid bike. This is the first bike for either kid that we've actually spent more than $75. He had a great time picking it out and testing it out at Big Poppi's. He thinks he's hot stuff for sure! Too bad it's so hot that no one wants to take him for a bike ride :(

Will Work for Diapers

I like this little red shirt (hand-me-downer from Jake) but he didn't really have any pants to wear with it, so we had to settle for the standard Target uniform (at least they aren't black = Pizza Hut). You think they'd hire him and give us a discount on diapers and formula??

Beat the Heat

With Miles' ear infection and Graham being too little to swim we settled for something a little cooler this weekend. The bigs loved bowling; I guess we should go more often. Sidenote: if you really need to cool off, go hang out in the KSU bowling alley--it's freezing in there! And their bowling shoes are pretty nice :)

Bowling/rolling/throwing??
Apparently if you lean hard enough you can change the path of the ball...

One Month

Graham is a month old now. He weighs 8 pounds, 5 ounces now and is 20.5 inches. His hair (top and front) has fallen out so he looks like a little old man. I'm going to take his monthly pictures in the carseat to measure his growth (compare to newborn).

First Photo Shoot...Kind Of

We had pictures of the boys and dogs (this explains the paw shirts) taken Monday night. Graham was in very few because he is still so little--Owen has to hold him and he ends up looking like a little alien. So here's a picture of Graham in case he doesn't end up in any others. I love these little shoes I found at Target. Of course, Adam thinks it's stupid to spend money on shoes for an infant--whatever!

Pregnant??

As I was going through pictures from this summer, I came across this funny one. I think it was taken right after we came home from the hospital--not sure why he posed like this, but it made us laugh!

Cars!

Since Graham has been in the house, Owen and Miles have spent a lot more time together--sometimes they are best buds and other times they just try to get on each others' nerves. Today they spent over an hour (with strict orders for me not to come in) setting up all of the cars so that they could surprise me. I love that they enjoy sharing a room--so far at least.

Three Weeks

Mr. Graham celebrated three weeks yesterday. He's filling out some and getting a little picky about sleeping (likes to wake up an hour before he's going to eat and just be held). However, he still eats like a pig. He experienced his first "man weekend" since I had Amy's wedding this past weekend. Adam and the boys stayed in Manhattan (he had reinforcements on Friday and part of Saturday so he could work/take the older boys out some). Thanks Mom and Aunt Nancy!

Wedding

This weekend I traveled to Estes Park, CO for my friend Amy's wedding. It was a beautiful place, and although I missed the boys, it was a great time with friends. I was honored to be her maid (or is it matron?) of honor. Congratulations to Amy and David! (My pictures are limited as many of them are blurry--must figure out what I did to my camera or consider getting a better one)

Me, Amy and Sharla on our way to rehearsal dinner.
They chose cupcakes in place of a fancy cake--very fun.
The resort where the wedding was held (Della Terra) was SUPER nice. Here's a picture of PART of my bathroom. Each room had a fountain, fireplace and its own hot tub on the deck.
This is the outside area of the resort where the cocktail hour was held.
Amy looking beautiful after it took four of us to get this dress on right :)

2 Weeks

Graham is two weeks old already. Time is definitely going by quickly. This week he took his first trip to the pool (hung out in the shade, no swimming yet) and ventured out to Owen's baseball game. He continues to be a great baby--sleeping and eating well for the most part. As for me, I think I've graduated from the "are you still pregnant" phase to the "beer gut" stage. Progress (I guess).

Scooby Doo 2

Both of the big dudes are too old for naps so they have movie/rest time instead. They choose Scooby Doo 2 EVERY time--mainly because Scooby toots--and they always lay like this which makes me forget all the arguing they've done beforehand!

Buddies

We took Graham to Owen's baseball game last night where he hung out with his 6-month-old friend, Jake. I took this picture to refresh myself on what I'll be dealing with in a few months. It's amazing how much they change and grow. These dudes have the same carseat and stroller so you can really compare. On a side note, Owen's team played awesome. He got to play 1st base so he got his hands on the ball a lot; he also had a home run. Miles spent the time making mud with his girlfriends.

Week 1

Graham was a week old on Monday. He celebrated by taking his first ride in the stroller--to Dara's for slushies for the big boys. He also had his first blowout which amazed Miles, who has become the poop sniffer (he smells Graham's bottom and predicts poop or pee diaper). So far he's been a great baby--I think we'll keep him!

Wearing Owen's coming home outfit...which he peed on...
And then changed into Miles' coming home outfit.
Owen and Miles love doing stuff with Graham. Miles goes into "baby talk" mode around Graham, "Hi, little buddy..." It's very sweet.

Rainy 4th

It rained ALL day on the 4th. The kids were stir crazy, so they put on swimsuits and helmets and spent a couple of hours riding bikes and playing Star Wars in the rain while we watched from the garage. Not quite the fun day at the pool we had planned, but better than sitting inside all afternoon. It did quit raining just as fireworks were starting so they enjoyed watching the neighborhood and Cico displays. Owen and Adam were able to attend a 4th of July party with LOTS of friends the night before; Miles fell asleep at 5:30 and stayed home with me and Graham.

Firsts

Graham's first ride in his stylish "fuego" car seat (coming home from hospital). I'm sure he's really looking forward to the complete ride in his matching stroller.

Graham's first book, selected by big, big brother Owen--"Nemo"

Pool Days

Even though Graham has entered the picture the "big boys" have still managed to get to the pool pretty much every day with Grandma Jean or one of us. They both completed swim lessons last Friday--they were excited to have passed their levels. Miles loves the water and spends his time jumping in and diving for torpedos. When the swim lesson instructor asked for a volunteer, Miles raised his hand and said, "I can do that easily." (he's been using "easily" a lot since he turned 4 :) Owen's strokes are looking great, but he's stuck on his dive.

Hard life, huh?
Cannonball!!!
Young Michael Phelps??
Miles jumping off the board (to instructor) at lessons.

Introducing...

Graham Michael Braxmeyer, born June 28 at 12:25 PM, 6 lb., 14 oz., 20" long. So far he's been a great baby! Let's hope it continues this way...

Like my mittens?

And then there were 5!
The boys: size small, medium and large!

Almost Time...

House clean, car clean, seat installed, name up on baby room wall, groceries bought, laundry done, errands ran, MATERNITY clothes OUT THE DOOR already, furniture ordeal straightened out (for the better actually), Mother's Day gift cards spent on new workout gear (in my fantasy world, I run home from the hospital), etc. . . . now I'm ready for the baby TOMORROW!!

Mariners

Owen has really been enjoying playing on the Mariners' baseball team this summer. They continue to improve every game. We are lucky enough to have some friends (with younger siblings) on the team, so Miles is entertained as well.

This week, Miles and Reese took turns being the "big baby" and pushing each other in Jake's stroller.
Some "Junior Mariners" in uniform.
Owen taking off for first base after a hit.
Mariner #1, 2 and 3 after the last game (if I haven't said it already, Adam is helping coach, he's not a crazy fan who wears a team shirt :)

Toy Story 3

We took in Toy Story 3 this week to help celebrate turning 4 and 7!