I can't believe what a difference a year makes. Brendan seems to keep growing and learning and making new friends. Brendan won the Scholar of the Month award for his first grade class and he was so excited. I enjoy the fact that Brendan still loves me and isn't embarrassed to have his mom at school. He has also grown a lot in height this year. I just can't believe how fast kids grow up. I think he is growing up even faster than his brothers did because there is such an age gap between them.
This is Brendan and his Principal. It is a great school.

Thanks to my sister

Not much to say here but a big Thanks to my sister. I often think about how lucky I am to have such a great sister. This is a picture of the flowers that she sent to me after my surgery. They were beautiful and made my week. I would have enjoyed Lesa just hanging out with me since that was all I could do, but it is hard to hang out when you live in Saudi Arabia... she sent flowers instead. I often try and tell my boys that they need to be nice to each other and to STOP fighting, but they rarely listen. I give them the example of my sister who always seemed to be nice to me. When we were teenagers she always let me tag along and didn't seem irritated by me at all. She has always looked out for me and I hope she realizes what a great example she is to me.

Let the games begin

I have to say that Lesa was suffering from a severe cold but she was still fun to have along. She and Brendan were WII boxing and there were a couple of times that I thought she might actually hit Brendan and/or the TV.
We moved on to Rock Band. Lesa's husband Brett had never played before...he did better than I think I have ever done. However, that isn't saying much.
Russell at home on the drums.
My dad even tried playing the drums. I think we had more fun laughing than anything else.
Brett just rockin away.
This is where we really started the laughing. My mom claimed over and over that she played the drums in school and that she wouldn't need any help. She got a little out of control and ended up needing a little help. I am not sure if we helped her or not because we were all laughing soo hard. My parents are good sports.
I like this one because Brock is over in the corner trying to coach Lesa.


I think the only thing I can do very well on Rock band is sing. It doesn't sound very good, but I can still get 100%.

Basketball

I am trying to do a little catch up. As you can see the month of February was spent running from Brock's basketball game to Russell's games. Lance was Brock's coach. Luckily or maybe not Lance's brother Cole was his assistant coach and helped to keep things a little calm...sometimes.
Russell's team didn't have a coach at all. They all played well together. It was good to see the boys willing to share the ball and have fun while trying to win their games.

Brock is #12. I guess he was on a run. I
Russell was shooting free throws. I am sure he made both of them. I guess I just couldn't snap the picture soon enough.

Rock Band

The day after Christmas we had the Botts over and played rack band. Brock is looking pretty serious.

We also took the show on the rode and went over to their house. Stephy is pretty amazing on the drums.

Serious Russ and I like the fact that Brendan is behind him scratching his head. This isn't Brendan's favorite game. Brendan likes to have me play him in almost any WII game. I don't beat him very often. However, the other day I did hit him pretty hard in the arm when he walked into me swinging the bat.

This is Chad, Brock and Brendan.

I think all you can see of me is the top of my head. However, Brendan and I were trying to sing together.

This is usually where we find Russell. He got an IPOD for Christmas and he was busy putting stuff on it most of the day.

I am afraid the older the boys get the more expensive things they ask for. This is Brock's haul. He got an Ipod and some other things. I am sure they won't even remember what they got by this time next year.

Brendan got a Nintendo DS. The problem with him being the youungest is he thinks he needs the things that his brothers have. He could barely stop playing long enough for me to take the picture

This is the only picture where I kind of got all three of the boys. They actually slept in until 7:00. They had to wake up Brendan. He told me before he went to sleep that I should be prepared because he was going to get up very early. I was happy he didn't follow through on that.

I love the fact that we get ready and excited about Christmas for months and then it is all over in about 15 minutes.

Russell was trying to take his time opening presents so it wouldn't end too fast.

Russell and Brock got Brendan this big Nerf gun. Brendan was wanting to open it from the moment it went under the tree. He spent hours guessing what it could be. I think he was surprised....we (as in me) forgot to notice that it took batteries. Who would ever think a NERF product would take batteries?

Brendan was happy about everything he opened. He would say thank you to whoever and move on at lightning speed.

Brock enjoying the moment he saw the 120g Ipod. How about those curls. I think he takes after me a little.

Russell was surprised that he actually got an Ipod. They wanted a dog, but Ipods are so much easier to take care of.

The Snow Mermaid

This is my friend stephanie. She was taking a break after all of the work we put into this snow mermaid.

Russell thought we were all a little crazy. However, they made a smowman laying on the ground while we were building our masterpiece.

Brock is checking things out

This is Regina, Stephy and myself and the masterpiece.

I might add that we all came over and shoveled our yard and my aunts before we started the building of the snow mermaid. I think we finished around 11:30.