Mason's NOT A Good Big Brother

Yesterday, Franklin and Braden were playing at a neighbor's house. Braden came back home, but he was alone. I was a bit surprised b/c I had specifically told Franklin that Braden was his responsibility.

So, I asked Braden if Franklin came home with him. Braden replied, "Franklin walked me home and then went back to play."

I was so pleased with the choice my fine son had made to really take care of his younger brother! I told Braden, "Franklin was being a good big brother wasn't he?"

Braden sweetly nodded his head.

Mason had heard this entire conversation from his seat on the couch. He turned to Braden and said, "Braden, am I a good big brother?"

Braden very forcefully made his point by stating loudly, "NO!"

"Why not?" I asked, concerned about what might be happening without my knowledge.

Braden truthfully answered, "Because Mason is always pulling my thumb out of my mouth!"

Now honestly, what is a big brother to do? Frankly, in my book that makes him a good big brother also! Braden, PLEASE stop sucking your thumb!

Mom, I Need Some Gasoline

Today Braden had a boo-boo on his arm. We usually put Neosporin on such injuries. :) Braden announced with authority, "Mom, I need some gasoline." (vaseline)

He said a bad word!

Today Braden had a friend over to play. Braden was in the other little boy's way because he was blocking the gate. The little boy told Braden to "Go."

Braden called me. In a very serious tone he said, "Mommy, he said a bad word! He said 'Go' instead of 'Please.'"

It was hard to keep a straight face!

Me? Pretty?

I was talking to Mason about his day at school and somehow we got onto the subject of Lexie, who is currently his girlfriend. He was telling me some things that she had said, and then he caught me completely off guard.

He said, "Lexie thinks you're pretty."

I didn't really know what to say. I've never really thought of myself as "pretty." I just smiled and looked at him.

Then, music to my ears, Mason said, "What??? She's right!"

Wow! My son thinks I am pretty! That is pretty special!

Funny Sayings

Weston was measuring with his new measuring tape yesterday. He announced that his measuring tape was "130 cellimeters long!"

Braden is learning the names of all the animals. His two latest favorites are the "hippomonomous and the rhinonerous."

Braden always explores the top of the vanity while I am getting ready for the day. This morning, he picked up Reid's contact case and said, "Mommy, are these Daddy's eyetacs?"

Braden was looking at the map in the front of Reid's Bible. Without the knowledge that I was there he was pointing at the land masses and calling them, "Tennessee" while all of the blue portions were called, "The Holston River." I was laughing at his labels and, yet, amazed at the same time the he understands the "land" and "water" portions of a map. Pretty impressive for a three year old.

My sister, Wendy, shared that her family was listening to the song, "There's No God like Jehovah." When she turned around, her four year old, Camden, was singing, "There's No God like Pneumonia!" Mason though this was rather humorous, and was sharing the story with us at dinner. However, he said the original song was "There's No God like Jenovah." Jenovah?? I love it! As I was heading out the door last night, Braden was running around the house singing, "There's No God Like Ammonia!" Hilarious!

I wanna be a sluggar-d

Last night during our devotions we read a story about a lazy boy and the consequences of his laziness. We then looked a verse from the book of Proverbs about "a sluggard."

Franklin declared, "I wanna be a SLUGGER...in baseball!"

I Need a Cheerleader

Yesterday, I watched Mason and Franklin play their baseball "season opener."

My favorite part of the game was when Franklin was pitching and Mason was catching. It was so fun to watch them throw to each other in a REAL game!!

I was cheering for both of them, "Way to go, Franklin! Great play, Mason! Great pitch, Franklin, keep it up!! Quick moving, Mason - You're doing great!!"

Well, this morning I asked Franklin if he enjoyed hearing Reid and me cheering for him. Did he like to hear me yell, "Way to go, Franklin??" or did it really embarrass him?

He said that he really liked to hear me yell even though I am really loud. (I'm not surprised by that comment.)

Trying to go a little deeper I said, "Wouldn't it be great if we could all have a cheerleader cheering for us our whole life? Someone to cheer us on and say 'Go, Robin - You can do it!"

Franklin looked directly at me and very seriously said, "Then you should have a GIRL!"

Oh, the joy of boys!

3 Year Old Memories

Three-year-old Braden keeps us smiling as he communicates in typical three-year-old fashion!

Here are some quotes from this past week:

As we talk about colors, Braden's favorite, by far, is "Lellow."

On night at dinner, Braden informed us that the "moon comes out when there is a 'wotta' dark."

Cantaloupe is always a favorite at our house. It makes me smile when Braden asks for "more antelope."

The Bradford Pear Trees are abundant in our yard. As Spring begins they are COVERED with white blossoms. However, after a couple of weeks, the blossoms begin to fall. When the wind blows, the blossoms can fall and fall...and fall. Our driveway was literally covered with white blossoms yesterday. Braden looked outside while the wind was blowing and said excitedly, "Look, Mom! It's snowing!"

Braden is learnind different animal sounds. His newest is, "Cock-a-doo-doo-doo!"

Last night, the boys had ice cream for dessert. There were only two choices...Vanilla or Moose Tracks. Braden very sweetly asked, "May I have some 'Moose Trash' please?"

In talking about some of his three year old quotes, I had to include a picture of a "three-year-old play day!"

While Braden was supposed to be helping his brothers wash the car, I looked out the kitchen window to find him playing in a MUD PUDDLE - COVERED in MUD! This moment had to be captured on film!!

Funny Sayings

Yesterday we enjoyed some laughter as our boys continue to master the English language and figure out the correct words to say in different siutations.

Weston was hit with a stomach virus on Saturday night. "Yuck" was coming out both ends - Gross!! Anyway, Braden seemed to have a touch of it on Sunday. He came out of the bathroom and said, "Mom, I went poo-poo pee-pee and regular pee-pee."

We also laughed as Braden talked about the "red movie" at the dinner table. He kept saying "The Increbidles."

Finally, Mason and Franklin were having fun with each other and Mason was pinching Franklin in the chest. (I suppose it is a "guy thing.") Franklin was running around saying, "Mom, tell Mason to stop pinching my pupil!" We had an anatomy lesson to learn the difference between pupil and nipple!

Oh, the joy of boys!!