Disneyland trip with Grammy and Papa!

Well, we made it back from a very fun trip with Grammy and Papa! We headed out last Wednesday and went to Disneyland on Thursday May 28th, Kaylee and Mommy's birthday! I must say that it was a blast to spend your birthday in the park! Everyone was wishing us a Happy Birthday and the special treatment you get is awesome! We received fast passes all day for all the major rides along with a $70 gift certificate to use at the park! Can't pass that up! The kids were soooooooo excited! We started out early in the morning and as you can see in this first picture they were all ready for bed the night before.


Right on Main street just getting our birthday day started...



Grammy had fun getting spun round and round on the Tea cups in Fantasyland...I use to be able to ride these tea cups but not so much anymore...




Kaylee with the Fairy Godmother...She was the sweetest character of all. She took so much time to talk with Kaylee and the whole family...fun times. Grammy and Papa supplied the kids with autograph books, so they were able to get quite a few pics and autographs.

Taking a break from all the fun...although people watching was pretty fun too!

We had breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen the 2nd day...this was a lot of fun. Great food too!

Here we are on Kaylee's favorite ride and became Brayden's too...it's a small world...

Where did my kids go GOOFY! He was a quite a character!

Baloo the bear definately had a thing for Jared...this is just one of the funny moments...he kept coming back for more...

The Pixar parade at California Adventure's Park...we had a fabulous time here...weather was perfect, crowds were the right number and we were able to ride everything and see all the shows...I actually think we liked this park better for some reason?? Of course I love Disneyland too. It was so relaxing, and the kids were so good! After the parade we went to Downtown Disney and had dinner and then went back to the hotel and soaked our feet and bodies in the spa...every night we did this...NICE! Then we were on the 10th floor so we were able to watch the fireworks from our balcony...REALLY NICE!

Brayden all tuckered out on Papa....He was such a good little trooper and never complained. I was able to meet another really sweet family who had a 7 year old son with Down syndrome. They were from Canada...it was really neat how connected you automatically feel to these families that share the love you have for someone with Down syndrome...I wish I would of asked if she blogged or facebooked...but of course I forgot...

We rode the gigantic Mickey Mouse farris wheel.

Here are the kids awaiting the Pixar parade...don't worry I had antibacterial wipes for these dirty hands touching the street...right after this picture I was yelling ," Now get up and wipe your hands off!" I was such a germ freak on this trip, but then again when am I not??? If you know me well, you know what I am talking about....LOL...

My little ones showing off their balloon glamour...at dinner a man was making these great balloon thingys and Cody became a pirate and Kaylee got a Princess crown...Like my little posing girl? She LOVES taking pictures...

Outside of California Adventures before heading back to the hotel...

Happy 5th Birthday my little Princess Kaylee! We sure had a fun time celebrating your 5th birthday and my __rd birthday at Disneyland! You are one amazing little girl! Thanks to Grammy and Papa for making this trip a memorable one as well. You two were great! Thanks to my husband and my Cody boy for being the great boys you are!

We have something new!

On May 20th...Brayden cut his first tooth...and 3 days later he cut the one right next to it...I haven't taken pictures yet...but had to post since this is a first! So he will have 2 (FINALLY) little bottom teeth...so cute!
We are busy packing and getting ready for our Disney trip. We are leaving tomorrow and can't wait to spend our birthdays in the magical place! Should be fun...will update with pictures when we get back...

Finally an updated post...

Finally, I have added some new photos...get ready for PICTURE OVERLOAD! I just had to include all the highlights of the past month and 1/2...As you can see, our little man turned ONE! We had a very fun birthday...with just family and a few really close friends...at a local park. Everyone had a great time and Brayden was happy! (when is he not?) He had his one year physical and he is 21 pounds....29 inches and in the 25% on typical charts! He is growing right on target as he has been, so the doctor was pleased. He is eating all kinds of different foods even without any teeth yet...He is not crawling yet...but has just began standing for short periods of time...He has been such a joy to be around and he lights up any room we go into.

He wasn't quite sure about this sugary frosting cupcake thing...

Here he is with my homemade cupcakes...yes I went cheap, but everybody LOVED them...

Daddy giving him a taste test!

Still not sure?????

My nieces Kaitlyn, Alyssa and Maddy and daugther Kaylee...they all just adore Brayden.

Being my happy boy!

Leah holding Brayden...everyone wanted a piece of him.

I made picture/plant centerpieces...after the party I handed them to all of his grandparents that were present for the party. They were happy to take them home.

We have had many physical therapy appointments, but haven't posted some recent pictures. Brayden is getting so strong and his therapist is quite happy with his progression. It really makes me so proud when I hear his therapist commenting on his progression and not just hearing myself brag on him...Sandy is so great with him and he adores her and her helper Katrina. We are going to miss her for a month in June...but will have another PT in her place just for the month...then will resume in July with Sandy.

He just LOVES the exercise ball...

Practicing standing...this was last week...he is doing it so much more this week but forgot my camera at today's session.


Katrina blowing bubbles for the kids...Brayden absolutely loves bubbles and popping them as do the kids I watch. They are so great at Dynamic Kids as they accomodate the little ones I watch during the week to come with us to PT. IT is a busy time, but they love it!

These are two little guys I watch who are just adorable and so good with Brayden. One is 20 months and the other 2 1/2. Brayden sure watches them and wants to get in any action they are in. It really has been good for Brayden to be so stimulated with all the kids I watch. Sometimes I feel guilty to not have all my attention on his needs all day...but when I can't all the other kids are stimulating him and teaching him new things as well.

Ok...so my husband will not be proud of these next few pictures...nor will any other male in our family...but this was so cute I had to post. Kaylee was getting ready for her bath the other night and had gotten undressed and decided to put her dirty clothes on Brayden...well of course I noticed what she had done and told her she had to top it off with a bow or flower and OF COURSE I had to get the camera... He will probably hate me later for this...

Doesn't he look like Kaylee????

And well, THIS WAS TOO CUTE FOR WORDS!

We went to the Clovis Rodeo this year with Grammy and Papa and had a blast! The kids had never been, so they LOVED it! Thanks for the great time Grammy and Papa!

I think they had everything to eat at the Rodeo...cotton candy, snow cones, kettle corn, hot dog...and then they ate their whole plate at Daves BBQ...YUM!

Just a fun picture in the high chair...

Kaylee and my nephew I get to watch during the week, Bryce... We had a fun time going to Bryce's T-ball game and that is where the next picture was taken. Kaitlyn, Alyssa, Cody, my mom, Kaylee and Brayden.

The next few pictures are from Kaylee's DATE with her Papa...She has been on one other date before and just loves this time. She had her outfit picked out 2 days in advance...requested me to make her a flower headband too...Papa showed up on a Friday afternoon with flowers at the door...She was estatic! She had a list of places or ideas they could do on their date...and he showed up with a list of his own too...they had a fabulous time and I think hit everything on their lists! She told her Papa, "Next time on our date, we don't have to spend any money." Too funny. Thanks Papa for that quality time...Kaylee sure loves her Papa!

"Mom, take some pictures before Papa gets here...and then when he gets here, take some more."

Just look at the smile....she even had her purse all packed with hand sanitizer, cell phone (Barbie one) wallet with all her FAKE credit cards, so PaPa didn't have to pay and her list...ohhh and lip gloss.

Here they are at the end of the date, with Starbucks hot chocolate in hand.

Brayden just spending some time playing...I just loved this reaction picture.

So glad I could finally put an updated post...I have slacked quite a bit. I have been so busy lately...next week we leave for Disneyland, and the weekend after that we are going to the beach for my mom's wedding! So I will have lots of pictures to post in the next couple of weeks. I am trying to keep well as the stomach virus as hit 3 out of the 5 of us...Just Brayden and I are still well...but tonight is not over. Cody and Jared are rooming together tonight as they got it within 5 hours of each other...Kaylee had it 2 days ago...and well...I am DISINFECTING like heck! Hope all is well with everyone!

We have so much to catch up on!

Hello to all of you! We have had such a busy past month and I feel so bad that I haven't had a chance to update my blog...my computer is still in the shop trying to get fixed...can't believe a computer part (hello HIGH-TECH world) is taking so hard to find and get shipped! UGH! So, I am stealing a little time on Jared's computer to make a short update.

I will have to post pictures later...but want everyone to know that we had an amazing first birthday party for our little guy Brayden. We have had many appointment/meeting updates too...we had our IFSP meeting with our worker and teacher and Brayden is doing so well. As per NDSS health guidelines, we had Brayden's thyroid checked and all is good. So, health wise...he has been checked off on all guideslines for the first year with perfect health...YAY!

I also wanted to share that we finally got to have our Littlest heroes project photoshoot and Pamela shared a few photos from the shoot yesterday...she does AMAZING photography and we feel so fortunate to have found her through the Littlest heroes website. She has too been touched by Down syndrome as she has a 21 year brother with Down syndrome. She shared a few stories about him and can tell that she has a deep love for him. If you would like to check out her blog it is http://pamelacouchphotography.blogspot.com/
We had so much fun taking all these pictures and can't thank Pamela enough for doing this for our family.

Well, as soon as I get my computer back I will update with all pictures from all of our fun outings, birthday, rodeo, Kaylee's date with Papa...and so much more...We are looking forward to a trip to Disneyland in a couple of weeks for Kaylee and my birthday. We are taking Papa and Grammy with us too...can't wait! Hope to get back into the blog world very soon! I can say that I really do miss it!