Day 'o parties

On Saturday, June 6th, we went to two animal-themed parties. Here are pictures from the one at the Fort Worth Zoo for Noah Cunningham's 5th birthday. The boys loved getting to see some animals "up close".

Here you can see Braden coming up close to the penguin.

I love Landon's joyful expression when they brought the opposum in. Yuck!

Next, came the baby alligator.

Last, was the little owl.

The other party was at Hannah McDaniel's home, where they set up their backyard like a farm. It was great! They had a petting area for the kids to touch and feed baby goats, chicks, piglets, and a llama. Then, they had pony rides. Braden loves animals and was instantly drawn to the petting area. He had no qualms about touching goats or chicks, but Landon was screaming after about 2 seconds of being placed in the "petting pen". Landon preferred the pony rides. He likes pretending he is the "Lone Ranger". Here are some pictures from that party:

Landon riding the pony. This was more his "speed".

He loves horses!!!!

Here is Landon in the pen seconds before he lets out a HUGE scream. I captured his being 5 inches away from the goat. Rare moment!

Ah yes, here is Braden just relaxing and petting the goat. Such is life!!

Braden is picking up the chick and not really sure how to hold a wiggling, squiggling chick.

Braden's Latest Look

On the evening of Wednesday, May 27th, I went to go check on the boys before "turning in" for the night and Braden held up his his second tooth he had lost. This is what he looks like now. (He has already planned what he is going to spend his "tooth fairy" money on....Star Wars stuff!)

Fun at the pool

Today we went to the Ridglea Country Club pool with some friends of ours... Blake and Connor Benkel. The boys had a BLAST! Braden has become quite the little fish, although he did turn blue after being in the water for only a minute. (Don't know what kind of fish that would make him?!) Landon is my laid back little "pool guy". He does not really know how to swim yet, but he sure does enjoy going in the baby pool and just watching everyone swim around him....just soaking it all in. Braden starts shivering uncontrollably and gets the blue lips as soon as his feet touch the water, but loves to swim and keeps telling me that he is NOT cold and wants to keep swimming. Landon, on the other hand, is not big on swimming, but NEVER turns blue even after being in the water for 30 minutes. (Might be all the insulation he has!) So fun to watch two complete personalities. Here are a few pictures from our afternoon at the pool:

Braden, my fish. (you can see his upper lip has turned blue) He's not happy with my interrupting his swim time.

Landon wore his goggles like this all afternoon with his hair sticking straight up. (He does not mind my stopping him to take a picture.) He loved soaking up the rays!Beyond this fountain is Landon watching people in the baby pool.

Braden (our "little Michael Phelps") and Blake posing for a picture.

All the boys: Landon, Connor, Blake and Braden. (They were taking a break after swimming all afternoon.)

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Mother's Day 2009

Here are a few pictures that were taken on Mother's Day. Christian helped get the boys ready for church that Sunday morning and they both wanted to dress up in ties. So cute! They took me to Esperanza's for lunch and then, got me some new shoes for my special day.

Happy Mother's Day to our moms Kristi La Montagne and Gina Ellis. You both mean so very much to us and we would not be here today if it were not for you, amazing women. We love you!!!!!

Big Boys....

On Tuesday, May 12, 2009, around 8:30 a.m. Braden was eating his cereal and out popped his front bottom tooth. He was so shocked at the idea of holding his tooth, that used to be inside his mouth, that he did not know what to think. We explained to him that he needed to save it and put it in his tooth fairy pillow so that a little "prize" could be brought that night. Here is a picture of his new look:

We have just been informed that the tooth next to the one he lost is loose and will probably fall out within the next few weeks. Won't that be cute? I must admit, I was starting to tear up when I held that tooth in my hands thinking about how that very tooth was the first tooth that came up when he was just 5 months old and how I thought that my baby (Braden at 5 months)was starting to grow up. The things that make me get choked up!

Not only was the lost tooth a big one for us, but Landon has officially moved from the baby crib to a BIG boy bed. It took Landon a little adjusting to make that transition....he would have probably stayed in his crib until 4 years old, but we felt that since he is almost 40 pounds that he needed to be in a Big boy bed. We put up rails so that he would not fall and he seems to like that security. No more babies in the house!!!!!! Sad, but also exciting because we are now forging ahead and able to do a lot more activities.

About our boys......

Boys after they got their hair cut. (Note: this was Landon's first haircut and they have not had another haircut since this time....September 2008)
Boys all dressed up to go Trick-or-Treating. (Braden is a cowboy and Landon is Bob the Builder-October 2008)
My little cowboys. (A trip out to the Cowgirls Museum in Fort Worth)

Braden posing before a BIG game against the Marlins. (His team was the Astros.)
Braden "dressing up" in the coat and tie that Grandpa got him. (This is his favorite look for church on Sundays. )
Landon my "dare devil". (Wonder where he gets that from?)

My favorite picture of Landon. He was squatting and whispering to me outside of the boys preschool. (I sure do miss his Rod Stewart hair! )

The boys on Christmas morning 2008. They were so excited to see what "Santa" brought.




I want to give you all a picture of what our boys are all about at these "fun" ages.

Braden(5)--He is smart, quick to get Daddy's jokes, sensitive to others feelings and needs, cautious, finds the silver lining in a crummy situation (famous Braden quote, "It's not the end of the woald(world), it's just part of it")and has an amazing love for God. In fact, he is always telling me that, "I love God more than you and God is your boss". He already has an understanding of who and what God is. Granted, he does go to church and we do pray and sing songs about God in the home, but it is much deeper than that. He truly wants to follow God and honor him in all he does and that is such an awesome thing for a parent to watch. In the evenings after we've read stories and prayed with the boys, I will go check on Braden and he will have his lamp on by his bedside and be reading stories out of his Children's Bible. He also provides a hug or love whenever one needs it. For instance, Landon fell from the playground equipment a few weeks ago and was crying so hard. His first words were, "I need Braden....I need a hug". Braden has such a tender spirit. He and Christian share a love for history. They have been reading Laura Ingalls Wilder books so as to get a picture of what life was like on the prairie. He is a wonderful helper. If Landon is doing something dangerous, he is quick to let me know if I am not around to come see Landon. For example, when Landon was 12 months old, Landon decided to climb up on the dining room table and do the "mexican hat dance" on it. I was getting something out of the back of the house and Braden comes rushing to tell me to go get him. Braden is my other set of eyes!!!! Thank you, God, for sending me Braden.

Landon(2 1/2)--He is such a joy, full of life, outgoing, funny, physical, bold, daring (hence, the picture above), strong leader, very laid back. When I got pregnant with Landon, I prayed for a laid back baby and one who was happy and strong. Boy, did God give me that and tenfold!!!! Landon brings rays of sunshine with him. He is always so happy and joyful in the morning. ("Good morning, Mama! Love you much!!!") He is his own person and not at all bothered by what others might think of him. He always wears some sort of dress-up hat wherever we go....usually, a cowboy hat. He says "hello" to all he sees and strikes up a conversation. I guess I better have the "don't talk to strangers" talk with him. (I never really had to have that talk with Braden because he is always very cautious of all he meets.) Landon loves to make us all laugh. He is usually doing something goofy or saying the funnies things. For instance, we went out to eat a couple of nights ago and Christian and I got the adult menus and the kids got a colorful sheet with some confetti surrounding the menu choices. When our waiter came to take our order, Landon spouts out, "I'll take the party." Landon is also very easy going. He is not a big fusser. It was so nice when I had just had Landon and Braden was 2 1/2 at the time and still needing so much attention. Landon would just sit back and be happy while I tended to Braden.

It's moments like these that make Christian and I realize how we are so richly blessed with these two precious boys. How full they make our lives!!!! What did we ever do without them? I seriously have a hard time remembering.

In the beginning.....

Elise and Christian
Family picture taken October 2008 when we went to Boulder, Colorado to visit Uncle Jeff, Aunt Michelle, cousins Will and Evan

Here is Christian giving the boys a "horsie ride" Landon, Braden and cousin Will

My birthay celebration with "my boys"

Well, I finally decided to join the "blogging world". I cannot believe that it has taken me this long to document life with my precious family that God has given us.

Where do I begin? I probably should start with how this family came into being. I met my husband at TCU. We dated for four years before we got married. We were both dedicated to our jobs for 5 years before God decided to "bless" us with our first son, Braden. Before Braden, I was a merchandise analyst for Zale Corporation. After Braden, God decided my next job was going to be a mother to a sweet-spirited, loving little boy. After 2 1/2 years, God wanted to add another "precious angel" to our family, Landon. Thus, making us a family of four.

We live in Fort Worth, Texas, near TCU. The location is perfect because we are big TCU Horned Frog football fans. We have season tickets and NEVER miss a game. Christian is an attorney in downtown Fort Worth and I am a stay-at-home mom to our two beautiful boys. Here are some fun pictures of the boys. I will tell you a little more about them in a bit.