McGrath Moments

Wow! This has been such a busy month and it has flown by. I have had very little time to update our blog and reading the Twilight series has not helped!!
Our excitement this month has been focused around Braeden playing soccer. He participated in the YMCA program. It just lasted a month and consisted of 3 practices and 3 games. Braeden did so well! Ed and I are so proud of him! He scored 4 goals in his last game!!
Braeden's team consisted of all 3 and 4 year-olds. We were very surprised to find out that one of my best friend's sons was on our team. Braeden and Chase had soooo much fun together. When one of them fell down, even if it was during a play, they would stop and help them up and make sure everything was okay. It was absolutely precious!
We had another boy on our team who is also in Braeden's class at Tots and Tales. He is quite a bully and began picking on Braeden during the first practice. Ed even started showing Braeden how to defend himself. Well, after a month of witnessing this child bully Braeden, Thursday I had finally had enough. After tackling Braeden to the ground in the middle of the soccer field, I marched myself out onto the field and removed Braeden from underneath him and proceeded to yell at this other child in front of everyone...even his own oblivious parents. DO NOT MESS WITH MY CHILD!!! I know that I can't defend him forever (as Ed reminded me last night), but for now I am Mama Bear and I will be there for my children. I love them so much!!!

Halloween is approaching and therefore the costume magazines have started arriving in the mail. Braeden decided to look through one and found the costume he wanted...Darth Vader. Well, he was unaware that I had already decided (like 6 months ago) that Brenna would be a KU cheerleader and Braeden would be a KU football player. I have already bought Brenna's outfit and I just found a NCAA KU football uniform for Braeden. What is a Mom to do? Should I give up on my cute idea of matching, themed costumes and let him be what he wants? I think not!

It is only going to get harder as they get older to make them wear a costume they don't want, so I think this will be the year to get my way. Right? Or am I being a horrible Mom? I think that once the football uniform comes, he will love it. Braeden is starting football in October, so he should be excited to get a real helmet to wear-at least that is what I keep telling myself.

Perhaps the solution is to buy both costumes. Braeden can wear his Darth Vader costume around the house for dress up, but he can be a football player for Halloween. I guess we will all find out if Braeden or Mommy got their way when my children ring your doorbell for trick or treats!!

Brenna's crib was recently recalled, so I wanted to get some pictures of her room before we put up her new bed. Can you believe her crib was recalled over 2 years after we bought it? Kinda scary!! Anyways, Brenna-here is what your nursery looked like!

Friday evening we finally decided it was time to get Braeden new shoes. I always put off getting him new tennis shoes because the first time they are worn to school , he will come home with the shoes already muddy, stained, or just plain dirty. Well, being that his toes were hitting the end of his shoes, we knew we better get him some new ones.


We walked into the shoe store and the sales woman asked if she could measure Braeden's foot. I said, "Sure! It will be great to know what size shoe he needs." Braeden takes off his shoe and I about died of embarrassment when I saw his sock! ALL OF HIS TOES HAD RIPPED THROUGH A HOLE IN HIS SOCK!! This is what me, Ed, Braeden, the sales person, the whole store saw...










Ed dressed Braeden Friday morning, so I looked up at him and gave him the worst look and asked him why he would put him in socks that looked like this. He said he didn't and Braeden replied with, "Yes you did Daddy!!"



We felt so trashy that we bought two pairs of shoes. Why did we buy two pairs? Was it because we thought they might think we had some money? Was it so they didn't think we neglected our children? Who knows! I just know I felt better buying two new pairs until we went to pay and the sales person asked if we would be needing socks too!!!

I was able to go visit a long time friend in Phoenix, AZ. Rachel and I have been friends since our eighth grade year at Sumner. It was so good to see her and to catch up with what is going on in her life. I met her boyfriend who I just think the world of. He is doing a fellowship in GI and was on-call while I was there, so we didn't get to hang out too much, but from when I was able to talk with him, he seems awesome! I also want to congratulate Rachel for being accepted into the Nurse Anesthesia program in Phoenix. It will be two years of very intense schooling, but any of you who know Rachel know that she will do great!

As I put Brenna to bed tonight, I was so sad. She will start Tots and Tales tomorrow with Braeden. Why do children have to grow up so fast?

Friday Brenna and I had "Mommy and Brenna Fun Day" as it was her last day with me at home before she starts school. We went to the Deanna Rose Farmstead. She loved looking at the animals and feeding the goats. We had a great day together and I'm glad we were able to spend some time alone. I know she will gain a lot from going to Preschool, so I know it is for the best that she starts now, but it is still so sad to see one chapter of our lives come to an end.

I love you Sis!! Love, Mommy

Braeden: Mommy, I just found Brenna's booger, so I'm just going to throw it in the trash.

Me: O..K..?? Thank you??

Brenna doesn't have a toy, blanket, anything that we call "Booger", so he actually meant a booger. There were so many questions that I wanted to ask, like "Where exactly did you find this booger? How do you know it is/was a booger? Why did you want to pick it up?" But I couldn't ask any of these questions. I'm not sure if it was because I didn't really want to know the answers or if it was because he was so proud he thought he was helping and I didn't want to make fun of the situation. Either way, good blog material!!