Brandon's Huge Exciting Amazing Day

This morning Brandon was baptized at the lake behind Columbia Christian Church by his Daddy. We are so proud of his decision. It is one that he's has thought about for a very long time.

Horse Show

On the last day of each horseback riding session they have a "Horse Show" Where they get to show off what they can do. they use the reins to guide the horse, do a two point going over the 'jump' and trot. Everyone gets a ribbon at the end. Ethan's was for Best Trotting!!! This was his third session total, and the first this year. He really has learned a lot and done a great job.

Zoo trip

We had a fun time at the zoo but need to go back, there just wasn't time to see it all, or enough camera battery to take pictures of it all so I can scrapbook it. ;o) Ethan was able to walk more of it than we expected, but having the wheelchair along was helpful when he was wearing out and getting tired. We ended up using the chair a lot more at the end because one of Ethan's braces actually broke and was starting to hurt his leg. That is tough plastic so I was very surprised it happened. They should be able to order another under warranty but right now it's duct taped together so it won't pinch him until we can get the replacement. Ethan wanted to see the jaguars but he was asleep at that point and they weren't out. They both loved dragging Mommy to see the snakes. Ick!

Ethan's 7th Birthday

Gotta love trick candles.

Brandon's 9th Birthday

Fun fun fun

Mommy's first ride!!!

Brandon's first ride on Papa's motorcycle. He loved it and couldn't wait to go again.

Ethan's first ride.

Brandon

Ethan.

Birthday Dinner at Chevy's

MU Quest science camp

Brandon had a lot of fun at MU Quest science camp. They learned all about magnets. The last day we got to go and see them show their project that they designed.

Riding 7-9

It was carnival day at horseback riding. Ethan did a good job hitting the target with the bean bags.

Leaning forward over the 'jump'

Talking with his favorite sidewalker Kathryn. He thinks she's pretty and plotted the whole way home how to capture her and make her his queen.

Hamming it up for the camera. Usually he is concentrating so hard that he won't smile. This week he must've relaxed a little, he gave me a huge grin every time he passed by.

Pet Show

Brandon is visiting his grandparents for the Hopkins Picnic. Today was the pet show. Grandma helped him catch some baby toads and he won a first prize ribbon for smallest critters and three tickets for rides. I hope someone got a picture for me. Tonight is arm band night, he is very excited to go ride all the rides.

I'm praying for these three super cool kids, their two older sisters, Mama and Papa. Papa is leaving today for his year deployment. This picture was taken the day of Ethan's surgery, my friend and her kiddos came to keep us company while we waited through surgery.

Thank you Doug for your service to our country, and Mary and family for sharing your husband and father with all of us.

My friends blog

Even though we are not adopting right now, a friend of mine is. She is fundraising for their next adoption. She is raffling off a cute little girls handmade to fit outfit, and auctioning a Lia Sophie necklace and a Mary Kay compact. Even though I currently have the high bid on the necklace, I would love to see her raise more money. ;o)

http://adoptfund.blogspot.com/

Head on over and see if there is something you would be interested in.

Lisa

Fireworks

Fireworks fun, and physical therapy all wrapped into one.

Waiting for our turn.

Hmmm, what should we light next.

Teamwork

Practicing his rich and famous paparazzi move.

Riding 7-2

Katherine was Ethan's favorite side walker last year. He talked about her all winter and even has her picture on his bulletin board. She came over to see him today and he was either too shy to talk to her or concentrating too hard on his riding. Of course, as soon as he was off his horse he asked about her and wanted to see her. He talked the whole way home about how she was his "old friend from a long ago galaxy."

Riding

This was from last week, I just realized I'd forgotten to post it before I put up some pictures from this week. Ethan had to lean over to see why Warrior stopped.

Swimming on Saturday

We spent the first part of our time swimming with his arm floaties on then he wanted to be like his big brother without, so we went where he could reach and had a blast.

Brandon does a great job swimming underwater, but not quite as good on top, we're still working on that part.

Half boy, half fish

I found a pair of arm floaties for Ethan and boy does he have fun.

Swimming

Here is a little bit of Ethan at the pool after we'd been there for 2 1/2 hours. He was exhausted but still didn't want to leave.

Brandon doing some flips underwater.

Ethan started his therapeutic horseback riding again today. He has been talking about it for a couple of months. When we got there he was ready. They got out the steps and he didn't want their help, he climbed up there and got on himself! Karen, the main lady there was just amazed at how how much he has changed since last year. I think a lot of those changes have been just since this recent surgery. He is concentrating quite a bit in the pictures. But he did try to smile at me every time he went by because I told him I was going to take some pictures to share with Daddy.

Karate and playing possum

Ethan says that he he knows karate and kung fu from watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle cartoons. We just watched Scooby Doo and the Samurai sword so I guess he has been 'trained' by that as well. Here he is showing off his ninja skills. Notice that he's doing all this kicking and jumping without his braces on, and only falls once. He even squatted down a lot lower than he has in a very long time. After that he lays down to rest ie. playing possum, and I got some good tickling in. I love that laugh.