16 December 2009

Sillyness and Christmas fun

We have been having a lot of fun lately, we usually do I suppose. But I wanted to show a few pictures of the fun that Alex and Archie inspire in us.
Just needed to wear Archie's shirt and an oven mitt :)
One of their new favorite hang outs, under the side table.
Sharing is becoming more and more a thing of the present, so they take turns playing with the toy, while the other does the grunt work or chases in expectant excitement.
Our tree! We decorated a couple of weeks ago, Archie was more interested in the treadmill, as you will see below...
Archie + spatula = good buddies



He loves this thing, and expects it to be on every time he steps up on it, when it isn't on he is likely to walk right off the edge...

06 December 2009

It is Sunday. As many Sunday mornings go, Arch gets a bath before church. This morning, however, I played a more productive role in assisting with the bath routine: I was the photographer. In the two pictures below, one is Archie in present day, and the other is his not to distant future. In other words, I am increasing my insistence that Archie is ready for a hair cut. I acknowledge that many mothers don't want to cut their babies hair, not that I understand it, only that it seems to happen. Kate seems to think he can go for another eight to ten months. So, I give you Archie today (13 months) and Archie tomorrow (21 - 23 months).

14 November 2009

Happy Birthday to my Banana!

Sour puss face, I guess the frosting was not his favorite...
I found some pictures on Kristen's blog, thanks for letting me borrow them. Enjoy!

Archie turned one on Nov. 7th, and I am a little late in posting about the festivities. I went to the computer today where I thought I had saved the pictures that we took on his birthday, but they are gone... so I guess I didn't save them, and they are now deleted off the memory card, so I will just have to paint a picture in your minds with words about a marvelous first birthday party!

Archie woke up that morning and didn't look like a one year old, he still doesn't to me, but I guess I have never really seen him as 1, so I have nothing to compare it to, he is growing into it I suppose. I made a banner of flags that spelled out HAPPY BIRTHDAY, that are now the family birthday sign, Arch liked examining them in his hands, touching the fabric and the felt. We had waffles, with ice cream and strawberries, for our birthday lunch, I added chocolate syrup to mine, of course it made my waffle more delicious. Archie just had green beans and bananas, we weren't too sure about the dairy products yet (but we are now, he is all ready to go to eat any dairy he wants, or that his parents will let him!).

After the lunch we opened presents! Archie didn't really get the concept, he tried, half heartedly, I was too impatient, so I helped him open his gifts. He got a great dump truck with blocks, from grandma, a fire truck push/ride on toy from mom and dad, and a great book of pictures and words, that has been flipped through hundreds of times already, from Aunt Krist. A few days later, a wonderful package arrived from Grammy Manker, with a baby that Alex adopts when she comes over to play, a fun little truck and jammies. BUT, the best present of all, and the most short lived, was a giant box that Archie's new car seat came in. Seriously, it was the best toy for a few days, until Ben sat on it and kind of crushed it; it became a cave with a welcome mat, then just a flat dancing stage, then garbage, but recycled garbage, boo-yah.

So after presents, we played a trivia game, Alex and Archie style. Alex weighed 6 ounces more than Archie did when she was born, Archie has traveled through 20 states in his first year of life, Alex wears huggies and Archie wears pampers, and Alex's name has 19 letters while Archie's has 18. All interesting facts... I am sure if you study you will win the next Alex-Archie trivia extravaganza.

So now, onto the cake-! We put Arch in his booster seat in the kitchen. We got a free cake from a local grocery store that gives free cakes away for a first birthday, so I wasn't really concerned about what happened to it. Alex stood by, right next to, Archie while he investigated his cake. First he stuck his hand in and frosted his entire right hand, but he did not taste it until both hands were covered and he had no other option but to lick his hand of course. Meanwhile, Alex stealthily took swipes of frosting for herself, it was so cute, because Archie had a confused, slightly ornery look on his face, while Alex was just having tons of fun.

Taste test over, Archie no like, Alex like. Soon it became just tearing the cake apart, then a whine and a whimper to get out of the chair, he was ready for his nap, too much fun for the day.

It was a fun day, there were balloons, flags, waffles, games, presents, food, oh and an M&M cake, I frosted it with white vanilla, and did lines of the same color, but different shaped m&m's, so there were regular, peanut and peanut butter.
The kids took naps and we played cranium, then outside to play bags- it was a wonderful day. Thanks to everyone for having fun with us and being a great family! We love you.

01 November 2009

Walking!

Pumpkin Patch cheese balls for our Halloween Party!
Fun on the slide, he giggled all the way down...
Dressing up for our Halloween Party. Tyler is in his kilt, Kristen is in her high school prom dress and Archie is in his pajamas, he later put on his Banana suit, and he was a Banana in Pajamas.
He decided to start walking. Just this morning, and he loves it!

27 October 2009

October has been a great Month...

.... and it isn't over yet. We still have so many fun things to look forward to! Halloween parties, costumes, bobbing for apples, fun runs, delicious treats... where does it end? ( I actually don't think it does, because November is Archie's Birthday, Alex's Birthday, Thanksgiving, then December of course has many holiday highlights, then into January, with New Years parties, more birthday's, then February, with my birthday and valentine's day.... endless opportunities for excitement). Plus, I almost forgot, the second annual Brady family Decathlon has begun! Our first event: Pumpkin Carving. The winner: TYLER BRADY!

Ben and Archie and I were able to visit with Ben and Laura on our way back from the East, it was so much fun! Ben bought a motorcycle, so he let us take it out for a ride, it was about 30 degrees, so we didn't last very long, but it was fun. It was great to see Ben and Laura and their new house, which is done, yeah! We love you guys.
Just a cozy picture, Ben got tired so he thought he would take a rest, Archie needs to work on keeping his eyes on the road.... (just kidding for any grandparent who might have a tiny concern in the back of their mind ( the car was not running)).

Yorktown with Sam, Natalie, Nicholas and Christian! Ben is holding a big gun. He didn't get to shoot it.

Florence Nightingale and Grandma and a teddy bear patient.

Archie Banana and Grandma!


Florence, Grandma and Banana handing out candy at our neighborhood Trunk-or-Treat!

Alex and Archie enjoying the BYU Homecoming Parade. They really did like it, their faces may not show it in this particular picture, but i couldn't really see what I was doing when I chose this picture to upload... They got lots of candy and stickers, and only tried to crawl into the road a couple of times. Yeah for parades!


Archie 'helping' Daddy put in the child safety locks.



The Winning PUMPKIN!

All the others, in no particular order.... From the Left, Kate, Kara, Kristen, Devin and Ben.

Archie came back home and realized he was a lot more mobile and a lot more interested in the cupboards and refrigerator... to our slight dismay he likes to empty them both.

Playing dress up at Yorktown.


Races at Williamsburg! We had a lot of fun with Sam, Natalie, Nicholas and Christian, just spending some time together. We played and the kids played and I hope we can do it again someday. Miss you!

The Boys. Best picture I could get...













16 October 2009

Home

we are back in Provo. I'm tired, so i will post pictures later of our most recent adventures. It is nice to be home.

04 October 2009

Picture Update

Here are some pictures of our Adventures. Not every adventure, but some of the highlights... and I am so bummed that we didn't get a picture with Nate and Ashley in NYC-- sorry, we'll all just have to remember that night forever:)

Archie kissing himself in a mirror at David's Bridal; we went with some ward members in New Bedford, it was fun to Stephanie get dressed up in wedding gowns, and Archie loved the floor to ceiling mirrors!
On our excursion to Boston with our friend Vickie we ran into Harvard's Marching Band-- music good, marching lines, not good.
I thought this was so cool... Harvard's Courtyard, and hundreds of colorful chairs just placed in the grass-loved it.
Aunt Barb, Archie and cousin Jeff- it was sooo great to see them, and I am glad that Ben and
Archie got to meet them. We love you!
Some Cape Verdean friends from New Bedford. We'll miss them.
Archie and I by the resting horses in Williamsburg, Arch wasn't too interested in the over sized dogs.
Uncle Nick and Aunt Barb- we struggled to get a good picture by the sheep, which you can't see really at all.
In Fredericksberg, VA with the Dudenheffers, here with Matthew and a grumpus Archie.
In Reading, PA visiting Aunt Dow and Uncle Rick- it was sooo wonderful to see them, it had been about 7 years since the last time we saw each other!
Family photo, looking across the river to Boston.
Vickie, Archie and Kate standing in front of John Harvard. We felt smarter just posing there...
At dinner with Milena, a wonderful woman- we love her.
Anniversary Picture! This was our celebration, pizza and peas for Archie- I love Ben, I love Archie and it was a great Anniversary.
Archie's "high" chair. We didn't have a chair in our make shift apartment in New Bedford to attach Archie's chair to, so he just sat on the floor like the rest of us.
Out side the Anniversary pizza place.
A delicious breakfast from one of the many bakery's within walking distance to our apartment, Portuguese pastries and orange juice.... better than it looks, much.
The tub in our 'apartment'-- Archie loved it more than his parents did.
Excited about his rake.
Happy.
Ben's 'desk'. We all make do with what we have.

17 September 2009

Update

Well, we did a triathlon and didn't die, traveled 15 hours and didn't die, arrived in New Bedford and then slept on the floor, no padding, and almost died, we found a bed; tonight we'll slumber peacefully and stay alive, all night long. Archie is well, Ben is well and Kate is well. We miss you all.

08 September 2009

Kiss-wet-kiss-slap-of-affection

Archie loves having his daddy home, and the evidence is that when Ben is laying on the floor Archie will crawl over to him, get on top of him and put his wet lips on Ben's cheek, then give him a hearty slap on the other cheek.
We are winding down here in Michigan, Saturday is the triathlon, then we'll leave the following Monday. I've been trying to get myself in good shape, but I haven't been in a pool or lake to actually swim in about 4 months, I have biked once, and I have only run over 3 miles at one time a hand full of times... but I'm doing it and I am so excited!
I have been making lots of zucchini bread, trying to keep Archie from hurting himself or getting into trouble around every corner in my mom's house, and working on more crafts with my friend Beth-- so much fun. Here are some pictures of our days here and a couple of videos.


This one ended up sideways, I don't really know how that happened. This is Archie after a nap and with help from his dad in doing his hair...
Beach! The only way we could get Archie to smile, but he still hid it from the camera.
I guess something was HILARIOUS.
Mama and Arch.
Grampa and Archie, splashing.
I did not get out all of the videos myself and the plop Archie in the middle of them... guess who did.
Just a crazy banana- it looks like two, but it was one...

We went to Reeds Lake, incidentally where the triathlon will be, and had a great picnic and listened to a band, while Archie entertained himself, and us I must admit, with a balloon from Uncle Alex.
The second video is a record of what seems to be Archie's favorite thing to do. He loves being outside, and he prefers cement to a blanket, or grass, or anything soft! He learned quickly that he doesn't like having his knees on the cement however!