Daddy Date at the Pumpkin Patch

Jason and the boys had last Monday off for Columbus Day so they decided to brave the pumpkin patch...

Hard to believe these are my cubs!! Time flies!

Learning and Exploring at the Museum

Jason was in Houston a few weeks ago so the boys and I decided to take a field trip to the Fort Worth Museum of Science & History. The boys are all about dinasaurs these days, so it was so much fun to get up close and personal with this T-Rex...or least Reid thought so, Grant was not quite as sure about it, but after a little convincing from Reidy he allowed me to take these photos.

They also loved the kids play area! There was so much fun to be had at the museum, we will have to make another trip back to visit the planetarium!

New School

Getting ready for a new school means new lunchboxes, new backpacks, and new clothes! What could be better?! The boys loved picking out their lunchboxes and had to play "go to school" as soon as they arrived. The boys were so excited to start their new big boy school, although mommy was a little nervous about the change....why I'm not sure, they had the best first week at school and go to do so many fun things! They love their new teacher Miss Lin, and have already made a new friend- Isabella :)

To My Sweet Cubs

To my sweet cubs,

As we prepare to welcome your baby brother to the family in the next few weeks I think back on the past 3.5 years and how it has been just the 3 of us for a while now. You have grown into such sweet boys, and I'm so proud of the considerate, fun loving big boys you have become. I still remember how naive I was the day you came into the world. You were so tiny, just little pumpkin seeds at 3.12oz and 4.6oz; as small as you were you managed to change my world immensley and I still remember how unprepared I was. Unprepared for your 2 month early arrival, for how much my world would change, for the overwhelming amount of love I had to share with you, for the perspective you would give me, and for the fun adventures we were about to experience together! It has been so fun watching you grow and explore this world while I attempted to figure out this mommy thing without causing you any permanent damage.

Grant- You are my sweet lovey, and there is no one I would rather "snuggle tight" with than you! You are such a curious one, always looking for the next thing to "fix", and always so considerate of others, especially your mommy! You are so much like your daddy, and have a very happy, friendly, easy going nature that makes you such a joy to be around, and your laugh is so incredibly contagious it would make anyone smile!

Reid- My little perfectionist. You are such a talent in every sport, and that I'm certain you got from me! :) I love how you always want to help me in the kitchen...you're reportoire is quite extensive now, and pretty soon you won't need me to make your eggs anymore. This could be a good thing since you told me you like the way daddy's makes them. You are so complimentary and always telling me how pretty and most recently "beautiful" I look, and that you like my dress, or whatever I'm wearing....please don't ever stop these sweet compliments!

There are countless things I love about being Grant and Reid's mommy. I love our pretend play, how at only 3 you already want to play "pretend to go to college", but also "pretend to go to the beach" and many other places! I love your super hero, and robot voices, our picnics, the way you like to play scuba diver in the bath tub, our Friday trips to the donut shop before school to get donuts with "prinkles", your love for "Ruff" and "Kitty". I love your sweet shyness (although you're quickly outgrowing this), how much you adore your daddy, our trips to the park, our "special days", and the way you hold complete conversations just the two of you...and will tell me "No mommy I'm talking to bubba". The way we sing Taylor Swift's "Best Day" as loud as we can on the way to school every day, and the way you know almost every word by heart.

You have been so lucky to have each other from day 1, and truly seem to be the best of friends, always asking about the other when you're apart. As close as you two are Daddy and I wanted to give you more...we know you will both make such good big brothers and have already been such a help in preparing for Baby Payne. Helping pick names; Grant you wanted to name him Mac, and Reid you want to name him Kit, and while those are both wonderful names you agreed that Charlie Payne was the "bestest name". You're always helping pick out things for "our baby" when we go to the store, and already thinking of things you will teach him. Grant you want to teach Payne how to play racecars, and how to make a snowman. Reid you want to teach him A,B,C,D's, and baseball. You both like to sing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" to him in my belly almost every night to see if he will kick, and funny how he always does! This baby is so lucky to have you both as big brothers! I can't wait for you to meet him, and I know he can't wait to meet you too!

I am so lucky to be your mommy, and never could have prepared for the joy you have brought me, and for that I am so thankful. Blessed was the day you came into my life, and I know we have so many more special times to share together just us, and many more to share with your Baby Payne.

I love you so much!

Always will...

Mommy

Happy Memorial Day

My boys at "The Ranch" :)

Keeping cool at Grammy & Pops...

Tinkering

Grant loves his tinker toys, and building the windmill is is fav!

Guess Who...

Will be BIG BROTHERS...

I've had this post waiting for a while, it's hard to keep good news a secret for too long...so enough is enough...Grant & Reid are going to be big brothers! It's been a rough few weeks of morning sickness, but we couldn't be more excited. The boys are talking about all the things they will teach the new baby...Reid will teach A,B,C,D's and Grant will teach "racecars" and maybe a few manners (I won't hold my breath on that one). Jason and I are looking forward to experiencing everything 1 baby at a time has to offer. We have such a blessed life it's hard to think it can get any better than this, but I know this Baby Nich will be the perfect completion to our family. Baby is scheduled to arrive December 12, 2010.

Things I'm Good At and Things I Like...

The boys love to help mommy these days, and mommy loves the help, so I have been trying to find new things for them to help me with all the time. It started one night when I was making salad and Reid thought tearing up the lettuce looked like fun! Perfect, because that's mommy's least favorite part! So by the time we were done tearing the lettuce and putting the salad together he was very proud of his accomplishment. Next it was iced tea...he would help me open the tea bags and put them in the iced tea maker, and then it progressed to many other areas. So the other night as we were making more tea (I'm addicted to tea!!) Reid decided to tell me all the things he's good at....it went something like this.

Reid: "Mama I'm good at salad, tea, blueberry muffins, cupcakes, cheese, and ants on a log"

Sunday morning we added one more to his repertoire...scrambled eggs...which he proceeded to explain every step we took as we sat down to enjoy our breakfast...I love teaching them new things...not sure who is having more fun with this stage!

On the Grant front...as Reid was telling me all the things he liked the other day, which of course were baskteball, baseball....etc. I decided to ask Grant what he liked. Reid is sometimes more vocal than Grant, so I wanted to see if I could get something out of Grant this time....It went like this...

Me: "Grant, bubba likes basketball and baseball, do you like basketball or baseball?"

Grant: "No"

Me: "What things do you like Grant?"

Grant" "Racecars"

Me: "Is there anything else you like?"

Grant: "Racecars"

So that's about it....a boy of few words, and 1 passion....racecars :)

Pony Rides and Easter Egg Hunts

Happy Easter 2010

This year we spent Easter without Daddy since he was in New Orleans for a tournament. This made church extra fun with two 3 year olds :) It was the boys first time to not go to the nursery. They decided to join me for "big boy church"...thank goodness Grammy & Pops were there to help, because as good as they were I still needed a little assistance. The boys recap of the service was perfect....Reid said "we go to big boy church and sing songs, and stand up sit down, and go to the front for a story (a.k.a. children's message). They were fascinated by the choir and the bells. Thank goodness there was lots of singning! The boys favorite Easter greeting was "He has risen indeed! Alleuia" and so much cuter when they say it!

After church we came home to find the Easter bunny had come and left the boys "bunny baskets". They were so excited of course, and could hardly sit for a picture before they were begging me to open their toys. We had a quick visit with Nana and Papa complete with our very own private Easter egg hunt. We wished we could have stayed longer, but we had more Easter fun to be had so we were off to Gigi and Pa-pa's. We had fun playing in the yard, and visiting with all the family. We had another Easter egg hunt with cousin Blakey and found lots of eggs. The day ended with Grant pulling the bird bath over on his leg, which gave him a nice big boo-boo. Good thing he's my tough boy! It was a long busy day, but tons of fun!

The best part of his Easter if you ask Grant...he got "Wingo", and managed to snag Reid's "DJ" too. He loves cars, and has been wanting these guys for a while. He doesn't leave the house without them now.

Trying to get a quick picture of them together..."hurry up mom"

Please mom, please open it...please!

These are just a couple of the treats Grammy made the boys. These were so cute (the pictures don't do them justice) white chocolate bunnies complete with edible grass.

Field Trip

We took a field trip to Grammy's work to see the big helicopters. The boys had a blast and learned so so much...their favorites questions for Grammy..."what's that?", and more importantly "what's it do?" While Reid was hoping to see a pink helicopter he was more than satisfied with the American flag copter. The boys loved sitting in the helicopter and watching the big red one get pulled out of the hanger for delivery. Check out my future pilots below...oh yeah, and the safety goggles were pretty cool too!

It's Official...

Jason is the Head Coach of the JJ Pearce Mustangs! Congratulations babe, we're so proud of you! We can wait to sport our red and blue to your first game as head coach! I need to get a picture to post....stay tuned :)

A Creative Moment

The boys love the art easel Grammy & Pops gave them for their birthday.

Grant explaining his picture...(it's a "rainbow shark" in case you're wondering)

My little artists

Boy Fun

These are a few more random pics from last weekend...

Grant enjoying his chocolate bunny from Pops

...the Fun Dip from Grammy...can we say sugar high?!

Diggin with Blakey

Playing boats in Gigi's bird bath

Picking Wishies at Gigi and Pa-pa's

These are some pics from last weekend's fun at Gigi and Pa-pa's...as noted by the beautiful weather in these pictures :)

" Wishies"...one of life's many wonders. The boys had a blast picking them with Grammy in Gigi's front yard.