Soccer Madness

Both Darrin and Max played Spring Soccer this year. They were in different leagues - Max played on the little field with the 3 year-olds and Darrin played on the big field with the 5 year-olds. This year, Darrin learned more about the strategy of soccer and different positions on the field. He mostly played defense and goalie and really enjoyed both. He has quite the leg and had a really fun team!

Max was one of the bigger kids on the team and had fun playing. At his age, they don't play positions - they all just run around huddled around the ball trying to kick it in the goal. It was fun to watch him and cheer him on!

Little Creatures in Texas

One of the boy's favorite things to do is go out and look for little creatures. Since we have lived in Texas, they have found many different creatures in all shapes and sizes.

Troy has caught a few turtles while he has been golfing. Darrin has caught a few frogs and Jon even caught a mini turtle while he was out for a walk.

Once they are caught, the little creatures spend a few hours (of days) living on our balcony in a storage tub with Darrin and Max hovering over them, picking them up, putting them in water and feeding them lettuce.

At first, we let them keep them for a few days. But, once we lost a few of the creatures due to drowning, we now have a rule that they can only keep them for a few hours!

Sorry to all of the past creatures that haven't survived and the future creatures that will be caught by the Braithwaite Boy's!

Basketball!

So, we signed both Darrin and Max up to play basketball at the YMCA this year. They were supposed to have a 3-4 year old league, but not enough of that age signed up so Max ended up being with the 4 and 5 year olds. They used an 8 foot hoop and a youth-size basketball, so needless to say, there was no way that Max was going to make a basket!

It was challenging at first because Max wouldn't even go into the game - he was the official "bench sitter". But, after a few games, he worked up the courage to play in the games and had a great time.

Darrin enjoyed it as well. Since he is a little bigger, he could make a basket and got to learn the basics of Offense and Defense.

All in all, the boys had tons of fun and probably their most favorites parts of the season were getting to go to the Dallas Mavericks game and have GREAT seats in the lower level and also getting their season-end trophies. Oh, and don't forget the after-game treats! Those were definitely highlights for Max!

Darrin's Basketball Team

Their Season-end Trophies

Darrin & Max at their First Dallas Mavericks Game

2010 Family Pictures

Here are our official 2010 Family Pictures that were taken at Bear Lake in August!

Christmas 2010!

Christmas this year was spent all by ourselves in Tyler, Texas. Because we had just moved the month before, we were definitely not up to driving back to Utah for the holidays! It was fun to have our own little family Christmas; however, we definitely missed family nd friends aand all of the family parties and goodies that come along with them!

The boys favorite present this year that Santa brought them was a Black Ford F-150 Power Wheels truck. It is a 2-seater with a working radio. They love cruising the roads in it together and look ridiculously cute doing it!

Here are some pictures from Christmas 2010:

Christmas Tree Farm

We had a playgroup date at a local Christmas Tree Farm and the kids had a blast. We didn't cut down a Christmas tree, but we got to play some fun farm games and the kids got to play on the "real" tractors.

However, Darrin and Max's favorite part of the whole farm were all of the animals! They had 2 big lab dogs roaming around and some goats that the kids got to feed branches to. All in all, it was a fun day!

Texas Thanksgiving

After the BRUTAL move (22 hours) from St. George to Tyler, Texas, we got to celebrate Thanksgiving at the Christy & Greg's house this year. It was great fun! Jessica and Matt were there as well.

Some of the highlights were:

Deep Fried Turkey (SUPER Yummy)

Early Morning Black Friday Shopping (Wake-up time 3am)

Dallas Cowboy's Turkey Bowl Game for the Boys

YUMMY Food and great family fun!

I am so grateful for my family and friends and everything I have been blessed with!