Finally!

The stars must be aligned just right today...I finally found my battery charger for my camera, it stopped raining and was sunny, and I FINALLY took pictures of John and Jeff's masterpiece...INTRODUCING THE NEW SWING SET!

Caiden will model all the new features...

Ethan is getting so big...look at what he did all by himself.

So they both want to go down the slide at the same time...brothers!

Not much else to say about it. We put railroad ties around it and filled it with pea gravel. The boys love it...can't wait till Caiden learns to swing by himself! John and Jeff did a great job! Ethan is getting so big and is walking all by himself now!

Happy Birthday Caiden!!

Caiden's birthday was a little crazy this year since we actually had tons of kids that could talk, run, and make huge messes all together for a long period of time! But never the less it was full of FUN too! So as most of you know my child has a little fetish with tractors....SO this year's birthday party theme was John Deere Tractors. A lady from our church hand-made Caiden's cake this year and it was FABULOUS! Caiden's eyes just lit up when he saw this baby...and of course he couldn't keep his fingers out of it either!

Caiden got a lot of tractors, trucks, and cars for his birthday and I am pretty sure they all make some sort of GREAT (wink) noise! Payback are coming my friends!!!

Great grandma and grandpa Odle got this beauty. He loved it!

Then mommy and daddy got him a matching spiderman bike. Of course safety first...always wear your helmet! I must say though it has saved me some crying time that old helmet...we have already had to use it several times. Caiden loves to ride his bike and for me to ride the scooter up and down our drive way. I'm sure our neighbors think I am crazy but hey it makes the kid happy! A mom's gotta do what a mom's gotta do! He can't break still but he can ride quote "REALLY FAST."

So the next clip you are about to watch involves a pinata and a long metal stick...I think daddy used the longest one he could find. This was my "great idea" to do the pinata, which turned out well...but I would advise to use it for a 5 year old and up party next time! I had clear rules about where kiddos had to sit so noone got hurt but it was all of the parents that about got it in the eye, leg, head, etc. But never the less we all made it through and the kids got their candy! I am just glad that there were some older girls that showed up that A) could hit the pinata and B) hit it HARD...otherwise we would have been there for days!

Ring Security

So Labor day weekend was packed with the Erickson's Wedding events. Caiden and John were both officially in the wedding, and I was unofficially in it as well. Whoever knew that being the parent of the ring bearer was such a tiring and demanding task?? Well I am here to let the cat out of the bag...IT IS!

Caiden did so good. We of course arrived to rehearsal Brown style...that is late of course because my husband always under estimates the time it takes to do something hence the term "Brown Time". At rehearsal the flower girl was having some breakdowns like most of us girls do and Caiden turns and says "She cries a lot mommy" I told him to get used to it! So they both finally got it together and ran down the isle for the last run through. Oh and we (when I say "we" I mean" I" since John had to practice as well) had Ethan to chase around and keep happy.

Next it was off to the rehearsal dinner. Here the flower girl and Caiden hit it off and suddenly the crankiness was gone. What a miricale...wink..wink! Now this was where Ethan had to have his turn and start his breakdown since we were well into his bedtime at this point. So mommy and daddy Brown had to get their food to go. Off to Grandma and Grandpa Brown's.

So this was the first time we have put both boys in the same room to sleep...WOW! Surprisingly it only took 30 minutes to finally get them both to go to sleep at the same time...you know one would be almost asleep and the other one would start screaming. It was great fun. After that daddy and mommy took advantage of the free babysitting and jetted out to a night out on the town in Lawton. Let's just say it didn't take long to remember why John and I never want to move back.

The day of the wedding we had more Brown dilemma...we go to leave to get the tuxes and I forgot to pack Caiden's favorite shoes (flip flops) so we have a breakdown about that. We get to the tux place and John's works out fine, but Caiden's needed some touch ups. We had to tuck his shirt in (it looked like a man's shirt on a little boy, but we had a jacket to cover WHEW!), we had to pin the vest and sleeves on his jacket with safety pins. Now we all know how toddlers attention span is nill and we had to have him try the thing on a hundred times and each time was a minor wrestling match. Oh and his shoes were too big so we had to layer 3 pairs of socks on him.

So of course we have to take a nap after lunch so we are not cranky for the wedding at 6pm. We rush to get dressed and head off. We get to the church on time at 4:30pm and John gets out of the car and the bottom of his shoe comes off...I am talking the entire sole. I have to finish getting Caiden dressed (who wants to put a toddler in a car seat in a full blow tux) so John and another groomsman run to Dollar General to buy super glue for a quick fix. No I did not tell the bride!

Caiden does well for the pics before and the time to kill before the wedding starts, but about 5 minutes before we line up to walk down the isle Caiden has a breakdown...so all of us, that is bride, bride's dad, ,bridesmaids, and flower girl's mom are trying to get him calm to just make it down for the real thing. Well my natural performer lit up when the doors opened and he saw his audience! Caiden and the flower girl were PERFECT!

Then during the wedding Caiden kept running back and forth between daddy and me. It was only about 3 times during the whole ceremony and the bride and groom said they never saw him! I figured him going back and forth was better than screaming. Oh and I failed to mention that we have been pumping the two little ones full of candy to help keep them quiet. I love having chewed up tootsie roll in my hand during a wedding!

Afterwards during the last set of pics he had about enough of being good and decided to throw the pillow so we had to eliminate the pillow from the pic but I was pretty sure that they would be able to tell him role from the size of him! Then daddy and I dropped him off at the grandparents, told him we had to go to work so he didn't flip out and hit the reception and after party.

Here are some pics that were taken. They by no means tell the story that you just read, but trust me...it all happened just like that! My little man is sooooo cute!

Happy Birthday Ethan!

Ethan's party was a blast. We had tons of friends/family, food, and fun! We rented a bouncy that all the kids and adults got to enjoy. It was a lot of work and am so thankful for the crew that flew and drove in to assist in the preparation. Without them I think I would have completely lost it!! We will let the pics tell the rest of the day...

Ethan was not scared at all to get in with the big dogs!

Great Grandma and Grandpa Odle did the cake and the cupcakes. If were up to me I would have bought pre-made!

Good ole' Nikki supportin' her old college roomie by coming to the big party! You are such a trooper and great camera operator!

Rockin' the bouncy...and no my mom's hair was not pinned that way!

So Alysea and I were in the bouncy with all the kids (yes we are brave mothers) when Ethan got this urge to continually give Cashton hugs and kisses...I guess he wanted to thank him for coming to his party.

When you turn one you can do anything...even ride a tricycle for the first time (without mommy pushing you that is)!

So some people thought I went a little overboard on the balloons. At the time I was getting them all blown up I didn't think so but after I had to make 2 trips to get them home and I saw the mass next to the birthday boys I had to kinda agree...but only a little!!

Needless to say Ethan is not food shy like his older brother was...Uncle Jeff did not have to assist in this cake fest by smashing his face in it...Ethan had it under control!

He got daddy in the ear with icing...that is the LOL moment happening.

He loved all his presents but....

the paper, bags, and bows were the best gifts of all for him. Once we saw the tissue paper going into his mouth we decided the present opening fun had to end!

FYI...don't EVER buy this one it is so loud and annoying!!