Brendan::11 Years Old

Well darn it all. I apparently have too high of expectations for myself. It is September 2 and Brendan's birthday was nearly a month ago. Slow down world!!!

Brendan is 11. sigh

We had Grandpa Mike with us and actually had to take him back to the airport on Brendan's actual birthday. Sad. But we tried to make it fun and managed to pull Rand away from work early that day (I think it was a Thursday). We made our airport run and then took the kids to a surprise dinner at Rainforest Cafe in Seattle. I swear they had been there before, but no one really remembered it. It was hilarious because they were all just a little freaked by all the mechanical animals, noises, fake thunder and lightening and rainstorms. Some of the pictures I got there were hilarious! It was really fun and we gave Brendan some gifts and then went to a movie after.

We had an extended family party the next Monday when everyone was free from work.
Brendan is officially in the 6th grade now which technically makes him a Middle Schooler. So weird. I'm happy to have him home becoming more and more aware of how quickly it all goes and how soon he will just up and fly away. His own life just around the corner.

Brendan continues to be a good helper. Full of interest in many things and bordering on obsession with whatever it is that he happens to be into. It has been many things. Today it is fishing and learning piano. If you run into him, no doubt he will tell you about one or both of those things!

We love you Brennie!!!

 

I'm an awesome mom and got my new 11 year old his own manly soap and deodorant. :)

 

Look how freaked they are about the sparkler on top of the cake!!!

 

 "not so sure about this, Mom" (these pics crack me up!)

 

Tackle Box!

Baseball::Opening Day 2014

Once again...I have some catch up work to do.
Let's start with baseball, shall we?

Opening day was a week (or so ago) on April 12th. Easton has decided he isn't playing this year (fine with us) and they bumped Wyatt up into the same level as Brendan (Hallelujah!). Wow! Baseball feels so much easier this year with both boys on the same team. They are playing Minors on the Detroit Tigers team (10-11 year olds). They had a great opening day (big win) and another big win their next game that week. Fun times ahead!

 

You can see the Wagner cheering squad out there in the outfield.

Brendan's Big Party

For his birthday, Brendan decided he wanted to have another camp-out with his friends. We planned it for a Sunday night so that Rand would be available, and me for that matter! Since it's summer we can get away with a sleep over on a Sunday night! We invited 8 boys (3 brother sets!) and the neighbor girl (poor Ella! She didn't get to camp), plus my boys...that made 12 counting Easton (he also slept in his own bed). Everyone zip lined, trampolined and ate. I decided to contain the chaos and kept everyone to our end of the property.

 

Even Easton zip-lined!

 

Brendan's request for his "cake". Genius!

When the sun set (but before it was pitch black) we headed to the field towards the front of the property. It's a sweet piece of land that is cleared but with lots of trees. Not sure that makes sense unless you live in the northwest. Let me just see if I can show you a picture:

Our Capture the Flag field!

Here are the kids learning the rules and getting their team assignments for Capture the Flag.
 Notice the ninja...

 

Team Samuri vs. Team Ninja

apparently this is not the time for pictures!

 Capture the Flag was a HUGE hit! They played 3 rounds...well into the dark. They are begging to play again, but unfortunately for me you need a lot of people to play! After the games, the boys tucked themselves into the tent and proceeded to stay up the whole night. They woke me up in my room at 5:15 in the morning and the tent was nowhere near the house!

After breakfast, what could be better than some slug observations?

After all the boys went home, Brendan and Wyatt got to go to Wild Waves with my sister and her husband. I don't know how they functioned on no sleep, but when they got home they crashed hard! Brendan didn't wake up the next morning until 11:00!!!! Welcome to being 10!

Opening Day::2013

Saturday was opening day for Capital Little League. It was just me with the kids and the plan was for opening ceremonies (be there by 9:30) and then Brendan had a game at 11:00 and Wyatt at 1:30. The weather could not have been more miserable. It was freezing and raining and windy. HORRIBLE. I put Easton and Annabel in the double stroller with the rain shield on (a fitted tarp with a window) and they were as cozy and dry as could be in there. I kept looking at them wondering how I could crawl in there too. Opening ceremonies happened and I found the boys and they were still planning on playing the game. So Brendan went to his field and I went to the car with everyone else. 45 mins of trying to soak up puddles with sand bags and they finally called the game! We went home, bundled up and watched movies. All the games were cancelled for the day so we have yet to have our first games. Thursday, maybe. The boys were bummed, but if we are going to have weather like that....NO THANK YOU! When the nice spring weather arrives, let's play some baseball!

Racers

Brendan and Wyatt got to participate in their first Pine Derby Grand Prix last week. They bought their blocks of wood themselves and we scrambled to figure out how in the world to go about this task without the experience or the equipment. I am proud to say, that at the end of this, we all have both of those things now!

Brendan got 3rd place for speed and Wyatt, although he won 3 out of 4 races, didn't get to advance and continue racing. He did, however, win 4th place for design.

So cute these little growing boys.