Tuesday, April 25, 2006

Braxton


Braxton is now 6 years old and all boy! He loves school, baseball, football, playing with his friends and being with his family.


Braxton just started playing his first football season. Now, unless you live in the south, you can't comprehend how serious sports are out here, even at age 6. Games are a major deal and parents can quickly get out of control. Braxton is a "War Eagle" this year. He is one of the bigger players on the team so I think the coach is expecting big things from Braxton.


Braxton has many friends, but most of them live too far to walk, so he's not able to see them very much, other than at church. If you were to ask him who his "bestest friends" are he'd tell you Jake, Zach, Drake (from church) and Jordan and Evan(from school). Braxton just started his first grade school year. Unfortunately for him, none of his friends are in his class this year. But, he has quickly made new friends and already has been scolded for talking too much.

One of Braxton's favorite things to do is just be with the family. He is constantly asking, "What should we do now?". He enjoys laying in Mom and Dad's bed, with them, watching a movie and eating popcorn, going in the front yard and playing catch, going for a walk, playing games, reading, cleaning and helping out around the house. Mike just finished our theater room in the basement, so Braxton loves to go down and watch movies on the "big screen". He also loves it when friends and family come to visit. (So keep comin!)

The Magical Kingdom

This year for spring break we headed down to West Palm Beach and then to Orlando, Florida. We went with Grandma and Grandpa Brallier, Aunt Kerri, Aunt Traci and cousin Dayton.
In West Palm we played in the pool, went to the beach, swam in the ocean and relaxed. After three days of this we headed up to Orlando, where we went to the Magic Kingdom and the Animal Kingdom. Braxton and even Hailey had a lot of fun at the Magic Kingdom. Braxton was able to ride most of the big rollercoasters this year. Disney has come up with the wonderful idea of a "fast pass", which allows you to make an "appointment" to ride the ride later in the day. This way you don't spend most of your day in lines. (Where was this when I was a kid?)
At the Animal Kingdom we went on a safari through the African Bush, watched an interactive movie, and rode a couple of rides. It was very hot and everyone was exhausted from our day at the Magic Kingdom. So, we headed bakc to the condo and sat in the hot tub to relax. After all of that activity, by the time we made it back to Georgia we all felt we needed a vacation from our vacation!

Best Buddies

There are 5 years between Braxton and Hailey. When I was pregnant I was worried that Braxton might resent Hailey because he'd been an only child for so long. That clearly wasnt' the case. From day one Braxton has been in love with his little sister. He can't get enough of her. If she naps too long, Braxton is constantly asking if he can wake her up. He is a great big brother. He is always being complemented on what a great big brother he is, even by strangers. Hailey in turn loves her big brother. No one can make her laugh like Braxton can. She loves to be entertained, and entertain. They'll be up in his room and all I'll hear is laughing from both of them.

Monday, April 24, 2006

Easter


Well, Easter came and went! Braxton had forgotten all about the Easter Bunny this year, which we should have used to our advantage, but we reminded him, Saturday night, that the "big bad bunny" does come and leaves a basket for the good boys and girls. Sunday morning he woke up and saw the "treasures" left on the fireplace. He came in our room and announced that the bunny had been here and had in fact left him a basket full of "stuff"! Hailey on the other had could have cared less. She loved carrying the plastic eggs around and eating the candy. Here it is almost two weeks past Easter and we are still finding the eggs around the house that Hailey has hidden. (Mostly under our feet.) Just whent I think we've thrown them all away, another one will appear in our bed??
We spent the morning getting ready for church and were all excited to wear our new Easter clothes. After a rushed morning we all made it to church, but not for long. We took the sacrament, but I was in a lot of pain, with the kidney stones, so we ended up going home. That afternoon, when the pain medicine had kicked in, we layed in bed and watched the Ten Commandments. During this Mike asked Braxton what he thought Easter was all about. He sat there and thought for a minute. Having talked to him myself about this, earlier in the week, I thought for sure he'd say "Jesus", so I'm waiting for that proud moment we all do when we want our children to say some profound, spiritual comment. Braxton's eyes lit up and he says CANDY!