Bobcat on the Loose...

Well, in the middle of Berk;s big birthday celebrations we had to take a time-out and head to the church for Braden's first ever Pack Meeting! He sure looks cute in his uniform. I sucked it up and busted out the sewing machine and got all his patches on and in the right place. (Did you know this is the centennial year off scouts? So, Braden got a nifty little patch to go around his purple scout patch that says as much. Which is why it looks different to you scout savvy folks)Whew. I was so glad they were done, until I had the thought that he will continue to earn badges for EVER, throw in having two more boys to come and I guess I may as well keep the trusty machine out.

 Berk was so cute, he said, "Take my picture with Braden too!" He kept asking us when pack meeting was, even though he had NO clue what it meant.  Way to be supportive buddy!

 Waiting to get started.  Some of my favorite ladies are in the scouts in our ward, and I happened to get the best shot of them in this picture! Love ya R.T. and S.B.

 The uniform check.

 Well Braden got his Bobcat and no one told me that meant I got a prize too! A cute little Bobcat pin! Wahoo! You know I love me some jewelry ;) That night getting ready for bed, he came to remind me to take it off my sweater so it wouldn't get lost.

 Proud parents with our Bobcat!

 After his patch was given, he had to 'bob' for apples. He looked at me like "why didn't you warn me!" It was so funny. He is soaking wet in thi picture but I love the excitement in his eyes!

Well, the first of a billion pack meetings in under our belts! Yipee for scouts!

Berkley is Four-tastic!!!

My funny little guy turned 4! He is a ball of energy and says the funniest things. As soon as he woke up, he walked down stairs and asked where his birthday balloons were! He did NOT want to wait for the party store to open for me to go get them! (FYI Moms, if your kids are in to Mario, you can only find stuff (ie balloons, plates etc) online.  Trust me, I looked EVERYWHERE!)

After doughnuts for breakfast and a fun day at preschool he came home and wanted to do just one thing. Play "MarioLuigi" aka Super Mario Bros for Wii. The kid is a pro, just don't try to take his 'fire or freezing' cause he will rumble with ya!

He loved his balloons so much that he had to throw his Mario costume on, so here is a sneak peak at Halloween 2010.

He did NOT want to wait for everyone to come over for cake. He wanted to open his presents NOW! Poor kid had to wait all night, but he did good. He picked Red Robin for dinner (and yes, he said I want to go to {think their jingle} Red Robin. Yummmm)  He loves that the mac n cheese is bottomless and that you get balloons!

Braden and Rusty and Rusty and Brenner, who decided he thought coloring looked cool, so he picked up a crayon, drew a sec, and then tried to eat it. Classic.

The wait staff came and sang to Berk and brought him a yummy ice cream sundae, but he was too busy playing with the balloons that came tied on it to pay any attention!

After dinner we had to break for a bit to put Brenner to bed, get a babysitter and head to Braden's pack meeting (next post). He was very specific about which cake he wanted and even came with me to pick it out and order it. (I added the Mario figures since again, you can't get Mario stuff anywhere!)

He kept walking by the table and grabbing gifts and opening them. He just couldn't wait for everyone to get there. He was so excited to get a guitar just like Braden got. They are fun little things, and the love to rock out to 'em.

When he opened the gift from his Noni and Pops he looked shocked, they gave him Mario Party 8, Just Dance and Mario Galaxy 2! He LOVES playing the Wii and these games are ones he has wanted forever!

I wish I'd had a better angle of this shot, he was so excited. He loves the Imaginext sets we got him last year. So this year a bunch of us got different pieces to help build up the Batman set we already own. This was the Penguin's sub and he thought it was so cool. He got rollerblades, a Mario poster, Moon Sand, a hot wheels track, a Buzz V smile game, some cool truck books, and a 'Finus and Ferb' jammies.

Blowing out the candle!

After everyone left they rocked out on their guitars. Brenner slept right through the whole rowdy thing! Berk you sure are a fun addition to our family. We waited four long year to get you and we are so grateful  that we did. You say and do the funniest things. Mostly things that you've heard me say. You insist on doing things yourself, except for bucking the seatbelt. You will not do it and it drives us all mad! You could play on your DS for hours but you'd gladly play in the backyard till nightfall too. You want to be just like Braden, but you also realize the attention Brenner gets and try to hold on the little kid inside too. You just started playing soccer, and your Dad is your coach. Just like Braden you love the idea of soccer, the actual game-not so much. But that's ok! You are a trooper and I love getting to spend one on one time with you everyday when B1 is at school and B3 naps.

I just know I am gonna blink and four more years will go by nd I'll be writing about your baptism! Crazy! Happy Birthday Berkers!

Braden's Baptism...

This Saturday was a big event around our house.  Braden decided to get baptized into our Church. We are so proud of him and the decision he made.

We had a busy week in preparation. Monday was his birthday, then he got to go to Cub Scouts for the very first time on Wednesday. I have to tell you, ironing his little scout shirt and dropping him off to his Den Mother was rather weird for me! But I guess with three boys I will get used to it before I know it.  He's already working on getting his Bobcat (do I sound like I know what I am talking about, cause trust me, I have NO CLUE!).  I still have to get his little patches on, but I have until his first pack meeting, and thankfully, the internet is very usefull for scouts.

 Braden and his Dad in their spiffy suits

 B in front of the font where he was baptized

 Proud Mama & Dad with a very excited little guy

 Changed into his whites, almost time!

 So proud of him!  Rusty did the baptism and then we had a great group for his confirmation. Including my Dad, my brother Troy, Russ, Braden's great uncle Todd and great grandpa Steve. I am so grateful to have so many worthy Priesthood holders in our lives. 

After we headed to our house for a little party. We are so thankful to everyone who came! Grandparents, Great Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, cousins, Primary teachers, friends and their parents. It made the day so special to see all those people who care about him there with us!

 The cake and the some of the food spread

More fun guests from the party. I am bad and didn't get one of all Braden's friends together, but they were having too much fun enjoying the nice weather and running around outside! Nor did I get one of our entire family together, but trust me, Berkley and Brenner were both there too!  Thanks to Auntie Kelcie who flew in just to be here and for our cousin Hayden's wife Cheyenne and her girls who drove all the way from Glendale to come (they just moved here from Utah and I am so excited to have another cousin in the state!). Thanks to the Ryans, Farnsworths, Betheas and Smiths for having such fun kids that Braden gets to play with!

And just in case I needed yet another shock to my system, someone pointed out that it would only be 11 years until he went on a mission. Wow, I hope the teenage years go fast, but not that fast!

Congrats Braden! We love you!!

Eight is GREAT!!!

Has it really been 8 years since I became a Mother? Wow, times flies! Braden requested a pancake breakfast, with bacon- and his Daddy so willingly made it for him!

After school he came home to his 8 balloons...

The traditional "Show Us How Many You Are" picture--- wonder what I'll do once he turns 11?

I special ordered with Mother Nature and the rain storm came just in time!

We met up with Noni, Ryan and Jill for dinner at Logan's Roadhouse. I love all the food there, but since I'm dieting (again- will I ever be back to a weight I can live with?!?) I tried their light menu, and the chicken and broccoli was actually soooo yummy.

Brenner had rolls and threw peanuts.

Rusty & Brae- he had to order Steak, that's why he wanted to come here. That, and the tiny desserts that come in buckets.

Noni & Berk- he was too busy looking at Ryan and Jill to look at the camera.

Jill, Brenner and the always cool Ryan.

Rusty, the Birthday Boy and Me (with my new really light blonde locks!)

Braden decided that this year instead of cake and ice cream he wanted Chocolate Mousse. And that he wanted Noni to make it, not me. Fine by me, although I do laugh that yet another member of the Beck family has chosen NOT to have cake for their Birthday treat. (Rusty gets Chocolate Dessert and each of his siblings and parents chose something other than cake!)

Blowing out the candle!

Braden & Noni (who he requested to make the dessert)

Berk digging the whip cream

Little Miss Yaz

Brenner getting dessert form Noni & Pops

We love this little stinker so much!

Pictures with the grandmas aka. Noni & Nana

Opening his gifts...

A Flat Out Guitar, the gift card Brenner swiped, his Scout shirt and all that Scouting jazz he needed, his very own set of Scriptures with his name on it and a case for it, a book of Gigantic Paper Airplanes, a basketball, a couple DS games and a New DSi XL.

He had a good day all around. I was able to go work in his class, it rained and was cooler, which is always a bonus, and he got to see all his family and play with cousins, so it was a great day. Thanks to everyone who called, texted, and Skyped!  We are so happy to have you in our family, and we can't wait for your Baptism this weekend!