Pinewood Derby (Jan 29, 2014)

This derby was Carsen's first...

Braeden's car didn't originally have the triangle cut out of the tail, but when he got it all finished and we looked at it, we all agreed it looked a little bit like a whale, so he went with it. We cut out the tail and with a little black and white paint...

Carsen happened to have a Lego piece for Braeden to borrow which finished it off!

Introducing: Shamu

In honor of the upcoming Superbowl

Presenting: Seahawk

The winners: Braeden took 2nd overall and Carsen was 4th or 5th (I can't remember).

Our Scout leaders did a GREAT job making the kids feel special!

Random January Pics

 Gaven LOVES to help out at the big boys' baseball practices.  Coach Mason asked him if he wanted to be a runner as they were fielding.  He quickly grabbed his helmet and jumped in there.  After one play was over, he was walking back to home plate in foul territory when he got hit in the face with a wild throw to first base.  He didn't even see it coming!

He was pretty tough because I KNOW it hurt!

The kids and I took a fun bike ride one of the Saturdays that Jason was working.

Jason and I snuck in a date night when sweet Grandma Millie offered to watch the kids.

... And somewhere in there (Jan. 18th) we celebrated Jason's 35th Birthday at, where else, but Red Robin!

Adventure Landing (Jan 20, 2014)

We met up with some of the big boys' baseball teammates at a local place called Adventure Landing.  They have mini-golf, batting cages, laser tag, and go-karts.

We started off with some mini-golf.

Carsen wasn't QUITE tall enough to ride solo on the go-karts...

Kammy LOVED going with Jason!

The big boys at laser-tag.

The kids enjoy the mini-golf more than Jason and I, so we headed back there.

Carsen with Coach Mason

This time Gaven was my speed buddy.  They let the double lane head out first because they are generally slower than the single cars... So, we were the first ones out...

... AND the first ones back in!!

Gaven was big enough, yet small enough, to drive the kiddo-karts, which he LOVED!!

Of course, we hit the batting cages, too, but for some reasons, I didn't take any pictures there... maybe because I was hitting, too. ;-)

Gaven's 1st Year of Basketball

Gaven was, needless to say, super excited about getting to play basketball this year!

Heading in for his first game:

We were some of the first ones there, so he had the court all to himself to warm-up.

Gaven scored the first basket of the season!

 Great season, Roo!  We're proud of you, especially that you had just as many assists and blocked shots as you did baskets!

 Picture Day:

Back to Real Life (Early January 2013)

We got back to Dallas late Tuesday night and Wednesday morning Braeden had his spelling bee.  He did a great job, placing 2nd.  

 

These 2 boys were the 2 youngest in the Bee!

That night, Gaven got to open his birthday presents from us.  And of course, when you have siblings, you never really get to open them all by yourself!

He got a new bat for baseball season!

Gaven was chosen to be a star student at his school.  He chose to break his poster into 2 sections... Life in Texas and his vacation to WA!

Carsen's obsession with making Loom bracelets has continued to grow.  He frequently looks like this when heading out the door to school in the morning...