The Houston Astros

This was Darrin's first year playing baseball and he got to be on the Houston Astros team. He loved it and has a real knack for it. He can hit the ball far and has a great throwing arm. Max and I enjoyed cheering him on from the sidelines while Troy helped the coach out on 3rd or 1st base. Pretty Intense!!!

Welcome Baby Krew!

We are excited to announce our 3RD baby boy...Krew Louis Braithwaite. Weighing in at a whopping 11lbs, 15oz and 21 inches long (although his length is up for debate because he looks MUCH longer).

Mr. Krew (or Krewbie as Max calls him) was born on April 14th, 2011. His due date was April 7th and since my lovely Doctor wouldn't induce me before 41 weeks, he came out at 41 weeks by induction. My children are SO stubborn and will NEVER come out on their own...it's CRAZY!!!

His labor went well. We went into the hospital @ 5:30am and they started the pitocin around 7:00am. I was still dilated to a 3 (had been for weeks) and he was really high.

I got my epidural around 10:30am and then my water broke around 11:15am. I slept/relaxed for a few hours and then he came out after a few pushes at 2:14pm. When he came out and they put him on my stomach, the first thing I thought was that he looked just like Max when he was born. Then, they took him away, got him to start breathing and then put him on the scale. He looked big, so I was expecting around a 10lb baby. When the nurses put him on the scale and said that he weighed 11lbs, 15oz, I was SHOCKED!!! I couldn't believe that he was that big and that he just came out of me! I was just so grateful to have him out and to have him out safely!

After 41 weeks of pregnancy, I was so happy to not be pregnant anymore and to hold my sweet baby in my arms! Here are some pictures that were taken the next day in the hospital before we left. So sweet (besides my scary face)!

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: