Fat lip

first football injury that was technically not from football. all it need was a cold ice pack.  a few days later it was perfectly normal.

The Big EEEEEEEEEE!

Every year we venture over to the Big E  (Eastern States Expo)  basically a giant state fair. (only it includes all of the northeastern states.) We ride ride, see animals, play games, eat food! and just have fun as a family.

ultimate ride bracelets...Check!LEGOS!

not a fan of the roller coaster (this coming from the boy who has been begging me for 6 flags passes.

I shared my giant cream puff with my little cream puff!

sprinkles and ice cream

LOVE everything about this picture!

Nicholas loved the roller coasters!

 we had a great time at the big E.  until next year!

back to school time!

I have been looking forward to this day all summer. Don;t get me wrong I LOVE my boys. Nicholas is very sweet and has a tender heart but he is also a puncher. Brock is helpful, smart, and energetic, but he is a teaser. These boys together are up to no good. I find them fighting constantly. and no matter what I do, say, take away, reward them for, they will continue to fight every minute.
I have yelled way more then I wanted to this summer.  Nicholas will be attending preschool this year but doesn't start til next week. Brock on the other hand started back today. As a first Grader!

this boy is a handful. So excited to see how far he goes this year!

Football Jamboree

Double header for Brock today.  To kick off his first tiny mites football season.  He has been doing great at practice. and we were so excited to see him play his first game(s).

                                                        #55  go Chicopee Braves!

Tiny Mite Football

 it was bound to happen right...    Brock joined a football team.  His team is awesome. I've been to a football practice or two before but trust me when I say these kids ROCK.   I am so impressed with how much they do EVERY practice.

 Ryszard has even joined as a coach. It has been so fun watching both Brock and Ryszard take on new responsibilities. Brock must like it a lot. Because he has been coming home and teaching Nicholas all the new things he learns.

life with boys....

Balls....

So we have a million of these little plastic play balls. And I've thought about throwing them onto the trampoline with the boys for a wile now. Yesterday we finally did it. The loved it  of course it only entertained then for a few minutes before they were back to fighting and wrestling each other but it was fun.  Although when you put  your overflowing laundry basket full of balls onto a 13 foot trampoline. 

They seam to shrink in size!  

Aunt Tammy's Playground

My sister Tammy and her husband were our gracious hosts during our little visit to Utah. they had a little playground out back that my boys were constantly wanting to go to. So we went. Dallas and I played at the swings while Brock and Nicholas ran around, jumped and played. sadly due to no other kids there they got bored fast. But it's always fun to try new playgrounds.

West Jordan Park.

Planning a trip to SLC, Utah anytime soon?  have kids that need to run around, get some wiggles out? send them to the West Jordan Park:

 While Brock and Nicholas enjoyed running, jumping and playing around on this playground.  Dallas and I took to a little but of shade and played there.

Random Cuteness

Occasionally  Brock will actually come up to me and ask me to take his picture usually he just gives me a super silly crazy faces.

But occasionally it turns out super cute!

Shriner's Checkup.

we had our 6 month check up at Shriner's Hospital for Children today to check on the progress of Brock's Clubbed feet. Yes they have been corrected ( 7 casts, and double tenotomy, full time- nightly brace wear for 4 years) but we continue to have check ups every 6 months to check his progress. measuring the rotation  and tightness of his feet. Lately he has looked and felt a little tight.  I try to continue to do his stretches and massage but honestly I've slacked a lot in staying on top of that.  (must do better). Anyway although my concerns were validated it was minor. so we go back in 6 months. Brock actually Loves going to Shriner's. he gets to pick out a sticker! If only everything was that easy!

3 Boys in a Hat

there are just some things that are just too cute to get rid of. When I was expecting Brock 6 years ago I found a cute little hat for him to wear. I loved how my chubby checked 5 month old  looked in it.

 The hat accidentally took a ride in the dryer and shrunk but Nicholas was a wit=nter baby so it was perfect for his little newborn head.

 And now we have Dallas. our ever growing baby. He is now 5 weeks old and I am currently packing up his 3 month sized clothes and moving him into 6month sizes. But I had to get a picture of him in the same hat his brothers wore.

 To me, most of the time Dallas looks just like Nicholas did as a baby, but on occasion he looks like Brock. When I took this picture he looked like Brock. Here's a side by side:

Dallas Brock

What do you think??

pictures, Xrays, a Motion Analysis, and clean teeth.

Brock had an early morning Doctors appointment today. We headed over to Shriner's Hospital for what a assumed was a regular checkup. turns out they had a few others experiences for Brock.
We started out with our Regular check up, which usually consists of  measuring and stretching his heel cords, measuring the tightness in his feet and a watchful eye as he dose a few walks up and down the hallway. (Pretty much to see if his feet are staying  straight and if he is walking on the outsides of his feet at all. Usually a 30-45 minute visit.  After all that, we were sent over for x-rays.  Which Brock did alone since I am expecting and not wanting to risk the exposure.  He did great! (sometimes he has a hard time with new experiences if  I'm not right there with him) We then went up to the Motion Analysis  Clinic. Where he walked a lot!  back and forth back and forth. and then they took a whole bunch of measurements.

 How wide his hips are, the length of each leg,  the angle of his feet, etc. Then it was back to more walking back and forth and back and forth, but this time with sensors to record everything.

(So fun) Brock also had Medical Photographs taken of his feet.  So many fun new things and when I asked Brock what he liked best:  "playing games".  Shriners has a touch screen computer game and an Ipad that he got to play between tests.


















Nicholas got in on the fun too.    And three and a half hours later we were headed back home.
















 Then later on we headed to the Dentist where both boys had a check up, and cleaning.

                  NO CAVITIES!   and better yet no tears!