A Boy and his Dog

I just had to share this with everyone because I thought it was just too stinkin' cute! This week we are starting the whole "going to bed early to get ready for school" thing. So, at 9:00 p.m. I sent Braden off to bed, which is about 2 hours before what he has been going to bed this summer. I thought that I would go and check up on him to make sure that he was laying down and attempting sleep. He was obviously more tired that I figured he would be, and that goes for Patch too, because when I went in there to make sure he was laying down, I found my boy and his dog all snoozed out and looking absolutely adorable! I love the bond they have, and it just makes me smile ear to ear to see them all comfy and down for the count! I just love my boys and they love each other - absolutely adorable!!!

I just love that they are both covered up and laying on pillows! Two peas in a pod!

Boy Scouts Camp 2010

Braden attended Boy Scouts camp the last week of June, and boy did he come home with some stories of all the things they did...shooting bows, rifles, sling shots; making memory stones, tie-dye tshirts; learning to walk a monkey bridge; and many other "working together" activities to learn the skills of being a good and patient boy scout. Braden just loves boy scouts, and the camp was a great ending for this years round of scouting. One of the Scout leaders took along a camera and shared some pics with us that were taken of Braden...here are some pics of his good time being a boy scout.

Monkey Bridge - I am not familiar with this, but apparently it is WAY awesome! Those two "railing" ropes are attached to a single rope on the bottom which they have to walk across without falling off.

Listening intently at the shooting range before handed a rifle, I am loving the eye protection there, but he didn't seem to mind, he just wanted to shoot that target. He says that he wants to go hunting with daddy this season - WHOOOAAAH, too soon for that, but I didn't burst his bubble just yet, ha!

The results of shooting...not bad really for a 7 year old!

Aren't they adorable - so proud of their shooting abilities. By the way, all the boys had the camo hats...it was part of the boys scouts deal, but Braden choose to wear his bright orange Browning hat (just like his dads) that he got for Christmas this past year. Made him easy to spot in the pics - hehehehehe! See what I mean by easy to spot? He is in the background doing his own thing...but I spotted him right away with that orange hat on. This is mostly posted because my little Scout has his hat on backwards and reminds me so much of his dad in this picture, posture and all! Making their "Memory Stones"...I haven't seen Braden's in final form yet, it is still with the Scout leaders and will get them at the next meeting - but he is super proud of it. He had a fishing lure that he put in it, but he only put its tail in and the head sticking out so that it wiggles, he thought that was hilarious and cannot wait to show us - ha! All in all, I think it was a success!

Blue Doo

We went in tonight for a take two of getting Braden's hair dyed blue. The first time around it washed out in just a couple of days. Ashlee said it probably had something to do with him having "virgin" hair, so she used a different technique this time around rather than the cap, this time she "shoe-shined it"! Before it was just a small portion of the tips, and this time around it is more of an all over color on the portion of hair he wanted dyed. It is REALLY blue this time y'all - but it is way cute if you ask me :) I am so glad he is choosing ways to express himself in a completely harmless manner! Now all I need to do is get a pic of him rocking out on his guitar with that new blue doo!

Boys Scouts at the K

This past Friday night, Braden's boy scouts den went to a Royal's baseball game. It was so cute seeing how excited these little 7 year old boys were about seeing a "real live pro baseball game"....even though NONE of them knew any of the names of any of the players - hehehe! It was just the coolness of it all, not to mention the peanuts, nachos, ices, lemonade, chocolate malts, and souvenirs. The Royals lost, which we could have guessed before the game even began, but these boys could have cared less. They were just having fun smashing peanuts (which were $6 a bag for them to waste...but it was too cute watching them have fun), chatting it up, and singing "Take Me Out To The Ball Game". Every now and then they would pay attention, like when the Royals hit a home run (they did that only once) and the fireworks went off, or when the video cam was scanning the crowd, because those boys of ours really wanted to see their cute little faces up on that big marquee. They would cheer and chant when prompted by music, but mostly they just had a blast smashing peanuts. We went on a Friday night to get the full Firework Friday experience of a Royals game. I must admit, they put on a really good display of fireworks for the Royals crowd, I was very impressed. As we were walking out Josh says to me "That was pretty neat, the fireworks were the best part." Braden shot back saying that "the whole game was the best part" - so there dad! ;)

Braden posing with his mini Royals baseball bat he just HAD to have ;)

The boys singing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game", they were swaying and all, it was so fun watching them!

Fireworks Friday

Just a neat experience all around with our little man and his friends!

Ninja Soccer - Game #1

WOW! That sums up my feelings towards the first soccer game of this spring season. First, it was a GORGEOUS day; second, Terri came to help cheer Braden along with Josh and I; and third, this age group is so awesome to watch play soccer! Last year, the boys had the fundamentals of the game down pat, but not the attention span to actually play for the entire game. This year, it was all business. Braden was very into the game, no shame, no fear, no-holds-barred! It was great watching him play both on the offense and the defense, and he did an awesome job! I was very proud of him, and the game went by so fast. I cannot wait for this weekend, we have two games to watch, one on Saturday and one on Sunday, GO NINJAS! Here are some pics from the game.

Braden getting in there to get the ball!

Defense, blocking that goal from a free kick - look at all those blond haired boys!

Going in for a goal! And in case you cannot see what name is on his shirt it says "Lightning", Braden chose this to be his nickname on the team, and that is what they all call him, it is rather cute actually listening to them all cheer for him calling him Lightning! hehehe ...and yes friends, Braden's soccer is #9, and no we didn't chose it, it was assigned to him -ha!

Watch out, he is getting ready to kick it!

Run buddy, run!

This is my all time favorite pic though, look at that tongue sticking out, my only guess is that it is totally helping him concentrate more on the game and his role in it - ha!

Boy Scouts Space Derby

Last weekend we spend Saturday in Sedalia so that Braden, Dad, and Grandpa Steve could build Braden's Rocket for the Boy Scouts Space Derby that took place tonight. If you want to get down to the nitty-gritty, Braden told his dad and grandpa how he wanted his rocket to look, and what color he wanted it to be and then they built it...too tedious for Braden at this point in the scouting ranks...but I am not sure if dad or grandpa would have given up the control to Braden anyway - ha! Well, the results are in and Dad and Grandpa did a FABULOUS job of building their very first Rocket for the derby. This derby is alot more laid back than the pine wood derby, there are no speed timers, official check and weigh in's, or any of the likes...nor are there trophies given to the winners of the derby. The boys race by and continue by process of elimination, the winners continue on racing. Braden's rocket won every race he was in, and he earned a bead for every race (five beads total). He was dubbed the overall winner of the derby, and earned another pen for his shirt like from the derby, that is the only pen handed out though for this derby, so it is very special to receive it. Way to go Braden, Dad, and Grandpa Steve!

...and they are off, Braden was very into setting his Rocket off, but look at it go!

Showing off his winning rocket...he had a blast!

Winding up the propeller, that was a very important part of how fast the rocket would go down the zip line.

VICTORIOUS! (I think Dad looks a little happy in this pic too - hehehe!)

1st Guitar Lesson

I thought Braden's guitar teacher would think I was a fruit loop because I showed up with my camera in hand to capture the first moments of him learning how to strum that awesome guitar is great grandparents got him, but he actually thought it was pretty cool to capture the moment on film :) Braden's first lesson was pretty simple. They went over the "anatomy" of the guitar and the lingo necessary for Braden to know in order to understand what Mr. Nathan was teaching him. Then they went over the strings and all the names of the chords, and lastly he taught him a short song to learn for his his lesson next week. Braden is to practice every evening for 15 minutes a night at the least. Mr. Nathan says that it is important that Braden doesn't get frustrated with the guitar and practicing, so it is best to just "make" him sit with it for 15 minutes a night, and if Braden wants more than to support him being on it as long as he wants too. Braden's favorite part of the "homework" given by Mr. Nathan...memorizing all the parts of the guitar, and the song he taught him...is his assignment to "rock OUT and play all sorts of silly stuff on the guitar to find sounds he likes." I told Mr. Nathan that I thought we (mom and dad) need to invest in some headphones for that electric guitar - ha! Braden practiced for about an hour tonight, but that is all the time we had with our busy Thursday night with Boy Scouts. He just loves it, and I hope that he continues to think it is as awesome as he does right now! If all else fails, I think Josh would take over the lessons...last night he learned the song on Braden's homework list, and played on the guitar for about 45 minutes himself - ha!

Its Beginning to Feel Like Spring!!!

This past Sunday while I was inside cleaning up the house, Braden and Dana decided to go outside and enjoy the sunshine and 60 plus degree weather. They each took out their hula hoops along with some music and started hulaing away...it was just so cute seeing them out there enjoying each other and the sun that I just had to stop my cleaning and grab the camera for a couple of quick shots, I just love how much fun they have together. Braden really enjoys having his Aunt Dana around to play with!

Grandparents & Special Friends Day Evening at School

Tonight was Grandparents and Special Friends night at Braden's school. This is the night that Braden gets to show off his classroom and school to his family members that are able to attend. Braden had quite the crowd for this years event. Grammy Mellody and Grandpa Steve, Grandma Paula, Great Grandmother and Granddaddy Walker, and Aunt Debby, Uncle Dave and Diana all came to join in on the fun. We first met at our house, then headed out to dinner at the Hickory Pit. The food was great and the company was even better! Then we headed over to the school for Braden to show off his skills. He took us to his classroom, where he was able to introduce his family to Mrs. Cohen...who was shocked to see all the family there for Braden, she even said that he wins the award for the most family attended for the evening ;) Braden was very proud of his artwork in the hallway, a picture he painted along with his self portrait. I have to say, and I am sure we are biased, but we were (and still are) very proud of him too :) While in the classroom, Braden read a book to his grandparents that he wrote, he is very much into writing his own series of epic novels, and they are very very interesting books...it is a talent he definitely has. Then he showed off his mad skills on the SmartBoard...he is a whiz at counting money, adding, reading, and many other things. After that we went to the cafeteria for dessert and coffee/tea/water. His grandparents were very proud to spend the evening with Braden and to share in the evening. It was great seeing everyone beaming...including Braden :)

Dinner time, we were all starving, and it was good eats too :)

Braden is pointing out his drawing to his grandparents

He is telling me about how he made his butterfly out of nothing but hearts, way cute!

This is the self portrait, it looks just like him obviously :)

Braden reading his new epic novel to Grandma Paula & Grandpa Steve

Look how proud they look, I just love that beaming shine in their faces and smiles!

All of the grandparents sitting at the desks while Braden talked to them about his school, WAY cute!

Left to right: Aunt Debby, Diana, Uncle Dave, Grandpa Steve, Grammy Mellody, Braden, Grandma Paula, Great Grandmother & Granddaddy Walker...quite the crowd for a very loved little boy!

Blue & Gold Boy Scouts Banquet

This past weekend the Boy Scouts celebrated 100 years of scouting at their annual Blue and Gold Banquet. We had a couple of speakers talk to the boys about the honors of boy scouts and hype them up for moving forward in the group. It is that time of the year that they start to prepare the boys for their crossing-over into the next level, which is a ceremony of its own next month. Braden was very into listening to the leaders speak, who went all the way through the scouting experience and still remain active to this day. Braden earned more beads that evening. It was a great evening for him. He truly loves Boy Scouts.

Braden listening attentively to the speaker talk about what it takes to become an Eagle Scout

Four of the boys in Braden Den

Braden getting his beads presented by his den leader