Time

Wow, I had not realized how much I do not blog until I read my Dad's blog and my Aunt's. To my defense, I am not retired. Since my last entry much has changed in my household. The boys are 3 months older, school has started and Dave has changed jobs.

First about the boys, Logan is in the 2nd grade and doing well. His teacher stated that he is very smart and really excells at Math, Science and Social Studies. He is struggling with reading and writing, but he comprehends everything which is a great sign. She stated the obvious that he is very active and athletic. He is friends with everyone, doesn't pick on other and doesn't like others to be picked on. I am proud about that. He had a great football season. I am so amazed at how he understands the game so quickly. I still don't understand it. He is gearing up for more excitement as he is blessed with AWESOME Aunts that love to do things with him. His aunt that lives in Seattle got VIP passes to Disney Land and asked if Logan could come out to play. We were ready to let him fly as an unaccompanied minor, then his other Aunt offered to fly out with him. So he is leaving on Friday for a weekend at Disney Land. He has had a great year and it will end with Christmas. He has been working on earning a Wii play station for over a year and half. For each book that he reads to us, he earns a dollar towards a Wii, he will be about $50 away at Christmas time. He doesn't know it, but that will be a present from Dad and I. I am excited to see his face when he opens it.

Truman is also doing well. He goes to daycare across the street from our house. Again, we are blessed with great neighbors. I am not sure if this is my ego, but I am positive that Truman is the favorite at daycare. I am not real comfortable with the fact that she has favorites, but if she is going to, it might as well be Truman. He loves going over there too. I am just happy that he loves coming home at the end of the day. He is getting into everything, I mean everything. He pulls chairs to the counter tops and climbs onto them to get a cup for a drink or a snack. Last night he pulled a drawer out of the big file cabinet, causing it to fall over. I pushed him out of the way just in time. He gives me a heart attack daily. He is one busy boy, curious and active. No wonder I fall asleep so quickly at the end of the day. I am a little sad that we sold his crib, changing table and rocking chair this last weekend. It is a way of saying that my baby is growing up. He is liking the extra space in his room and wakes up most morning and immediately starts playing with his toys. Now lets hope that we will not need the crib again since it is sold. Which brings me to Dave. (still has not been checked to make sure that his "snip, snip, was successful)

Dave applied and recieved a new career witht he KBI. He is a special agent doing Polygraphs. It was a tough decision for him to make as he had been with the Sheriff office for over 12 years. He was concerned that he would not fit in, or be happy. He is happy to report that the grass is greener at the KBI. Many other agents have told him it is. They are very family oriented and supportive of each other. He started there on October 20th and has been going through their training ever since. He will complete it on December 19th. Truman and I went to witness his swearing in on his first day. His boss immediately took Truman to the snack machine and bought him some animal crackers. His immediate boss has 5 grandchildren and the director has 17. They do know what it is like to have young children. We are just happy to have a normal routine. Dave works 8-5 Monday - Friday. We have been enjoying our weekends.

Not much has changed with me. My business with Primerica is doing great as long as I am not out of town all the time with my State job. I was recognized in October for being the top producer for my level in the state of Kansas. It is always nice to be recognized for hard work done and get paid well for the work that you do.

Enjoy the latest family photo.

Vacation and kids

As I am less than 24 hours from my family going on vacation, I find myself excited and sad at the same time. This will be the first time since Logan was born that I truly do not have any responsibilities other than myself and work. I am looking forward to the time. The quiet will probably be too much, but I am looking foward to it. I am looking forward to sleeping through the night, lets hope that I don't have to go to the bathroom. However, I will miss Logan's stories of his day, watching Truman explore, and both of the sleep--quietly. I will miss Dave too, but it is not the same.
As I am preparing them to go on vacation I am thinking about all the times I took a vacation with my family. What I remember happening consistently is I was sick or would get sick. That must be the job of the child. This morning we took Truman to the Dr. as he has had a cough since Thursday. He has been wheezing and eyes watery. The dr. prescribed the breathing treatments every 4 hours for the next 2 days and then taper down to 6 until clear. She also gave him a steroid, which should be fun for Dave and all of the other passengers on the air plane. She suggested that Dave give him some benedryl also, to quiet him down. On top of having an antibiotic. Yep, it is just pay back for all the times I would get sick. I would get car sick on the way and usually have some sort of respiratory trouble everytime I traveled. Luckily, (knock on wood) neither of the boys get motion sickness. However Logan usually has the respiratory stuff and Truman is following suit. I just want them to have fun and for Dave to be able to relax. I know I will be.
As for what am I going to do with my time to keep me from missing my boys so much. First of all I plan to clean my house, including the carpets. It will atleast stay clean for one week. 2nd I want to paint our bedroom. I am hoping to get this done. If I don't at least the room will be clean. 3rd, I plan on filling my calendar with appointments and grow my business and 4th visiting my best friend in Salina with out any responsibilities.

I will miss my family but enjoy and be thankful for my "me"time.

"Jesus isn't always the "right" answer."

I can't keep this to myself. At times kids just say and do the funniest things. I am constantly told to write it down. I have not been great at doing that. Maybe the blog will help me.
Anyway, Logan is finishing up Vacation Bible School this week. Last night, I took him, which is always nice because it is about a 25 minute drive where we can talk. He was telling me all about what he likes and doesn't like about VBS. We are not big church goers. We have talked about religion and God in our house and we do answer questions to the best of our ability. So, last night Logan says to me on the way to VBS. "I never get the answers right to the questions." I asked him to explain. "We don't have a bible so I don't know the answers. I raise my hand, but Jesus is not always the answer."

In the context of the conversation, when this came out it was funny. Those of you that know Logan know that he loves to be first, he loves to be right and he loves to be recognized for doing both.

I told him that we do have a bible, but I think a children's bible would be better and I would get him one if he would like to learn more.

I can only imagine what things he is telling his teachers at VBS and what conclusion they are making about our family.

Have a great day and I hope that a child puts a smile on your face today!

The Boys

Our days are filled with chasing after both boys. Logan comes home and immediately is asking to go play at a friends house. Truman is immediately getting into the pantry wanting a snack. I can't imagine that he is actually hungry. I think he is more impressed that he can reach, grab and get something by bringing it to us.

This week Logan has been in Vacation Bible School every evening. He admits that he has fun, but his complaints are that he only gets one snack and that each activity is only 15 mintues, "which is not enough time to do anything." And, he can do without all the singing. "Does Jesus and God like singing? I hope so, that is all we do is sing."

With the way they are on the go now and always hungry, I can't imagine what it will be like when they are teenagers. All I know is when they do become teenagers, Logan anyway, that it when we will consider moving. We have over 20 kids on our street alone, the picture is showing most of them. About 12 of them will all be getting their driver's licsense at the same time. We have considered purchasing a "community mini van". All the kids will have to share.

They do grow up fast, that is for sure. I have to keep reminding myself to enjoy every day as I won't have the chance to relive it tomorrow.

The only question I have, is when do I get to sleep again?

Like Father, Like Daughter

I figured if my Dad can start a blog, then I should be able to do it also. I had no idea it was so easy. I have been thinking of doing this since Truman was born. I will add pictures of the boys and hopefully be able to keep family and friends better updated on what they are doing.

A quick glimpse of what is happening with the Brede Family:

Truman is almost 18 monoths old. He is into everything. He loves to climb, empty and destroy what ever he can get his hands on. Our house has never been so messy. How do people with more than one child keep a house clean? He loves to follow Logan and do what ever he is doing to the best of his ability. He wants to eat when ever he sees someone else eating and will try just about anything. He has a horrible sweet tooth and he loves apples! He understands much of what we tell him and is great at following simple directions like"go get a diaper". He is still babbling most of the time. He has different sounds that start with a "b" that stand for brother, ball, or bottle. Most of the time I can understand what he wants by what he is pointing at or events happening around him. He is a great boy. He likes to sleep in any day that he can. On the flip side, he loves to stay up late. Much different than Logan who likes to go to sleep early and wake up early. Logan always loved to play with any kind of a ball. He was so easily distracted. Truman is not easily distracted for long.

Logan is now 7 and will be starting 2nd grade soon. He will be going to our neighborhood school this year. He is excited to be going to school with his neighborhood friends and riding the bus. He was concerned with how many recesses the school has. Another baseball season has passed. This was the first year of "kid pitch". He learned what it feels like to be hit by a ball. He did a great job playing catcher, 1st base, short stop and pitcher this year. Pitching really stressed him out, but he did a great job. He is a player to watch and remember his name. I truly believe you may be hearing it more in the future at bigger venues. Speaking of that, he had the priveldge of throwing out the first pitch at a T-Bones game in June, thanks to Grandma who sent his name in. Of course he threw a strike. We stood on the field with the player during the national anthem. He loved that night. A few friends from his team, their dads, Grandma Margaret, Aunt Barbie and "cousins" Oscar and Charlie and their parents were able to come and watch. He declared that night one of the most fun nights he had ever had. Now we are gearing up for football. He loves all sports!! He is looking forward to his vacation to Washington and catching another Mariner's game to watch his favorite player, Ichiro.

Our summer always ends with a vacation to Washington to spend time with Dave's family at their "beach house" that Dave's grandfather built. It is one of the most relaxing and enjoyable vacations to take. However, this year will be different. Dave is taking both boys and I am staying home. I really think that I am the one getting the vacation. I started a new job in January and really do not want my time to be taken down to zero. I also have a good momentum going with my Primerica business that I do not want to lose. I am sure Dave will do fine and they will all have a great time. I will be sure to post pictures of all of them from their vacation.

Be looking forward to my weekly updates of the Brede Family. I will be sure to post pictures of the boys so you can see how much they have grown. The pictures posted are from our "stay-cation" to KC. We went to a T-bones game and the T-Rex Cafe. The boys had fun swimming at the Hotel and wore themselves out.