All I Want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth

Brax lost his fourth tooth Saturday night, of course it was the night before the primary program.  I'd been trying to get him to get it out for a while.  Both front teeth had died and were loose, but we couldn't get them out.  He'd lost the one and so Saturday night we hooked up his remote control four-wheeler to his tooth.  We'd seen it on the news.  His four-wheeler wasn't way powerful but it loosened it enough for him to be able to get it out easily after that.  The very next morning you could see the other tooth already there.  It's fun, but different to see him without his two front teeth, but I think the others will be all the way in long before Christmas.

Love that smile!

Cowley Family Reunion

Sunday evening of Labor Day weekend we headed up to Burrville for the annual Cowley family reunion.  We haven't been up there since Branden and I were engaged.  My uncle Blake's family has a house turned to a cabin, a barn, and a lot of other fun things up there.  Sunday night my parents and my dad's younger brother were in charge of dinner.  It was so good!  We had time to visit and hang out.  After that, they had a little camp fire.  They had marshmallows to roast.  We also watched a movie outside.  They popped popcorn.  It got really cold up there at night, but felt great.  We spent the night in the cabin with all the kids from my family except little Easton.  Monday we ate breakfast, played basketball, horse shoes and volleyball, went on four-wheeler rides,  went for a walk, shot skeet, and just had fun together.  After lunch they gave the jars with candy in them that we'd guessed the day before.  Most everyone went out on the motorcycles and four-wheelers.  After that we cleaned up and headed for home.  It was great to see everyone.  I'm so glad we went. 

Brax loving having punch bags!

Our morning walk with the kids.

The cute couple, Shanelle and Jordan.

Playing volleyball- we played guys on girls and had a great time.  I overdid it and got so sick to my stomach that we quit playing with one set for the girls and one for the guys.  We never finished.

Brax played basketball with anyone he could.  He played with Grandma, Grandpa, cousins, uncle Noel, Branden, and anyone else that will play him.

Branden and I pulled up right before Brax's first shot.  He was shooting a shot gun, it kicked back and got him in the cheek.  He had a nice little bruise.  After that, Branden helped him and it only got him in the shoulder after that.

Mud Lake

Every Labor Day weekend is the annual Cowley Family Reunion.  It is so much fun!  I decided that no matter how I felt I was going this year.  We headed up on Friday, but took it really slow.  We stopped a few times and made it a fun trip.  That night we worked on our house in Venice and then went to bed.  The next morning Branden helped my mom cut some tree branches.  My mom invited the other grandkids over and they decided to dig in the sand box to finish up the other kids already started project.  After that they decided to start a waterfall and fill the lake.  It was cool for us, but the kids had a great time.  They were all covered in mud from head to toe.  I only got final pictures of Easton, but the rest were even worse than him.  They played out there for about 5 hours.  We sprayed them off outside and then they all got in the bath tub, girls in one and boys in the other.  My mom's floor was also covered in mud.  It was cheap, but messy fun!

Branden is 35

For Branden's birthday this year I decided to let Branden decide what he wanted to do.  Normally I try to throw him a party or do something way special, but he doesn't seem to like what I come up with.  He had the day off so we started the day out just hanging out at home.  After a little while he decided he wanted to go to Lowe's and Home Depot to look at different things for the yard.  We did buy a new weed whacker, which we were in need of.  We then headed grocery shopping.  We got home and put stuff away, ate lunch, and went to finish our shopping.  For his birthday cake I also let him choose.  He isn't a fan of cake, so we had pies.  I made a strawberry cheesecake, 2 banana cream pies, and a double chocolate pie.  The chocolate pie was at Brax's request.

We have a friend who shares a similar birthday with Branden.  They were born the same year just a day apart.  We've been wanting to do something together so we decided to go out to dinner to celebrate their birthdays.  It was a lot of fun!  We tried going to Olive Garden, but since it was a Friday there was a 30-40 minute wait.  We then decided to head to Red Robin.  I've only been there once before so I didn't mind.  Brax tried onion rings for the first time and Brielle tried cheese sticks for the first time.  The Buell's picked the onion rings and we picked the cheese sticks.  The food was really good and our waitress did a good job in serving us.  Towards the end of our meal Branden pointed out a family from Glenwood right behind us.  It was part of the Rickenbach family so we talked to them a little bit too.

Brielle's first cheese stick

Branden and Brandon

Love Brax's face

Brielle and Brax both downed the cheese sticks and onion rings.

 After dinner we headed back to the house for dessert and games.  Branden had invited some other friends over for the night as well.  We played Apples to Apples and the kids played together.  I hope that everyone had fun, I know we did.    It was fun to celebrate Branden's birthday and I'm glad that he had fun.

Simon loved the banana cream pie.

Abbie is a day older than Branden and he makes sure to let her know that!

Back to School

Brax has been letting his hair grow out all summer.  He wouldn't let me cut it until school started.  Last Monday he finally let me cut it and I love his new look!

BEFORE

AFTER

Brax started school on Wednesday, August 15th.  I drove him to school at his request.  I can't believe that he is already in the 3rd grade.  I did have a hard time dropping him off this year because he's been there for me all summer.  If I haven't felt well, which happens a lot during this pregnancy, he'd take care of me.  A lot of days he'd prepare breakfast and lunch for us.  He needed to return to school though.  He was so excited he wanted to leave at 8:15 am and school doesn't start until 9.  He was also up and ready to go by 6 am.  He's such a funny kid!  I let him pick out his school shoes again this year.  They are lightweight and meant for sports.  They are also some fun colors. 

THE SHOES

THE CLASSROOM

DAY 2-I love the colors of this outfit!

 Every year before school starts I get Brax into the eye doctor.  This year was no different.  His prescription bumped up which means he's even closer to legally blind.  Now he's only 1.5 points in the right eye and 1.75 in the left from legally blind.  It's okay though.  They say that kid's eyes change a lot until they hit their teenage years when they're more stable.  The doctor is hopeful that his "lazy eye" will continue to get better.  His new glasses are awesome!  He didn't get them until after the second day of school had ended, but he has them and loves them.  He also pointed out things he could see now with the new ones. 

The new glasses.

Summer Cleaning

We were mostly done at this point.  The whole floor was covered and there were boxes everywhere.

Every year I clean out Brax's toy room closet.  It's always a disaster when I clean it and like it to look nice so he actually knows what is in there and can get to it.  I decided he was going to help me and it was going to get done before school started.  Today was the big day.  After three hours we were able to get it all done.  I should've taken a picture before because it was scary to even open the door, but now there is extra room and we even have his Christmas decorations in there.  We were both wiped out when we got done.  I definitely think we overdid it today!

Preparing for Change

I don't know that you can ever completely prepare for change.  I definitely wasn't ready for the change that is coming.  We are expecting baby #2.  I still can't believe it.  We found out on May 30th.  We announced after our first appointment on July 10th.  I am excited, but struggling at the same time.  I haven't been able to hold a lot of food down.  They just doubled up my meds.  I only threw up once yesterday and once today which is a drastic change.  I'm hoping that we can stay on top of it and figure it out.  I feel like our lives are going to turn upside down.  The last time I was pregnant was 9 years ago.  We tried for almost 8 years and now that it's here I do question why I wanted this.  I know that it'll definitely be worth it in the end.  I'm not complaining, I feel very blessed that we are able to have this opportunity.  We've prayed over the years about adopting or foster care but felt like they weren't the right options.  I do feel like it's like having our first all over again because it's been so long.  Brax is excited and really wants a sister.  We'll see what happens.

We are scheduled to have an ultrasound on September 11th.  Brax is going with us.  I have until then to decide whether or not we're going to find out what this child is.  Branden doesn't want to know and Brax does.  I'm undecided.  I figure we've waited this long I could wait another 5.5 months.  We'll see what I decide between now and then.  I'm currently 15 weeks along.  The baby is fine and it's heart is beating at approximately 160 bpm.  Brax went to the doctor with us this last Tuesday and was able to help the doctor find the heart beat.  He thought it was so cool!

In the mean time we are looking at purchasing baby items since we got rid of most of our stuff.  Like I said, it was unexpected.  I try to find neutral things just in case there's another one.  You never know.  We'll get on top of it all.  I do feel blessed and know everything is going to be fine.  I just need to hang in there while the nausea hangs with me.