The Best Pet of All

 Last year, the boys received the best book from Aunt Kelli....The Best Pet of All by David LaRochelle. Pop had the pleasure of reading this to Mason on Saturday night. The gist of the story is a boy keeps asking his Mom for a dog, and she keeps saying No. She finally agrees to let the boy have a dragon for a pet, but he's a very bad pet. The boy then convinces his mom that a dog would get rid of the dragon, so they get a dog.

We didn't start with a dragon, but the boys did wear us down on getting a dog. Dash has been a wonderful addition to our family, and as you can see below....he truly is the Best Pet of All.

 It's nice now that Braden can read, he reads to us and even sometimes Mason, instead of us reading to him.

 Doesn't everyone need a batting helmet to play in the sprinkler? Just so you know this started as a batting practice for Mason, before he decided to get the sprinkler out.

We are the luckiest family ever to have Master Griller, Blake Benson to cook the most delicious meals for us! Thank you, Blake!

Saving The Best For Last

 Loving the shadow I got on the picture above....Braden "on deck"

 Braden played one of his BFF's teams tonight, the Royals. Needless to say because of the weather, the first week out of school, a week of baseball and basketball camp or they are goofy 8 year olds, but our undefeated team was behind by four runs until the 5th inning (they only play 6) and by the time they rallied, they barely won by 1 point. Braden did strike out, but he caught an awesome pop fly, and got on base twice.

 Blake does the best job of getting the boys in batting order....but it's next to impossible to keep them in it!

 A little encouragement from Dad

 It's hard to believe that Braden is 8 years old! He truly loves baseball, and amazingly is naturally good at it!

 After each game, Mason pretends to hit a home run and takes off around the bases. Tonight he said his score was 80 to 6.

This is our good friend, Ethan, who we played against. Ethan and his Dad are die hard Cub fans, so it's a never ending battle of Cards vs Cubs when they get together.

Braden enters World 8

 We celebrated Braden's birthday this year, for the first time....ON HIS BIRTHDAY! With a full blown Mario themed "boy only" party, we had fifteen guests, in addition to our "guest of honor" Pop.

The boys enjoyed hanging out with Pop and opening family presents before the party started. Even Mason got to open a present from Pop, since his birthday is next Sunday. Both boys got new fishing poles and some tackle. They are very excited to use it!

 Once again, we used the banner I had made for Braden's First Birthday party. Two years ago I took a new approach to the gift opening and let Braden open each gift as it arrived. This cuts out asking all the kids to sit and watch as he opens all his gifts, when really they just want to keep playing. This also let us get a picture of Braden with each guest.

 Mason and Braden equally adore Ms. Zadie, little sister to Ethan, and I believe she adores them right back!

 The Mario cupcakes....I can't take any credit other than placing the order! Thank you Sweet Designs Cakery!

 The past few years we've had our local snow cone vendor, the Jolly Trolley, show up for the party and the kids could each get a snow cone. This year, they were out of town for the holiday weekend, but they are so awesome, they left a cooler of shaved ice and half a dozen syrups. Blake was an excellent snow cone maker, and it was a perfect day for it!

 Mason had a little left over frosting on his chin....saving it for later!

 The Pinata.....disaster. The head separated from the body, so it could no long be hung up, but it never did bust apart.

Water Shooter Thank you gifts......better than a goody bag!

Braden at 5
Braden at 6
Braden at 7

Dash Goes Fishing

Saturday, after the chores were done, and Braden played his last soccer game of the season, Blake took the boys, and Dash....fishing! He said it was like turning a kid loose in a candy store. Dash was nipping at the water, jumping in, swimming out to try to get the bobber, eating moss, and chasing butterflies. The boys were apparently mesmerized that Dash could swim!

 Maybe it was the wind, and maybe it was Dash, but Mason made the only catch all day long.

I have to give Blake a lot of credit for these great pictures. I love that he got Braden baiting his hook in the background.