Ryan's 6th Birthday ~ Oct. 30, 2011

Ryan split his birthday cookie cake with Brock.  He helped Brock decorate it with Lego Star Wars characters.

Six candles...I can't believe my little guy is growing up so fast.

He's showing us a book that he desperately wanted at the school book fair...and got it for his birthday.

He worked really hard to buy a DS player and got his first DS game for his birthday.

This is such a great picture of my 6 year old!

Ryan got this Batman cake for his party with his friends.

...And the excitement shows!!

He dressed up as Ironman and had a costume party with his friends.

Brock's 8th Birthday ~ Oct. 28, 2011

Brock turned 8 years old this year.  I just can't believe how time goes so fast.  He really wanted a cookie cake for his birthday and since I got a really good deal on two of them, he got his wish.  One of them, we made for both his and Ryan's birthdays and then cut it in half.  He decorated it himself with Lego Star Wars characters.

Here he is with his half and his burning 8 candles.

Some of his gifts...a Darth Vader hat and gloves...

...the Lego Star Wars Visual Dictionary...

...and a Sooner football.

The other cookie cake was for his birthday party with his friends.  He decorated this one all by himself, too.  He created the ships and placed them and the people where he wanted them.

For his party, he dressed up as Darth Vader...

...scar and all.  I think this picture is AWESOME!

Oct. 2011

Steve learned how to sail a long time ago when he was in the Marines and has really missed it.  He found out that A&M has a sailing club that he could join.  He pays an small annual fee and then has access to a lot of different boats on several lakes in the area.  After getting back in the hang of it, he took the boys sailing at Lake Bryan.  They were excited to go sailing and fishing.

He took Ryan sailing first and Brock stayed back and went fishing.

Then he took Brock sailing and Ryan got to fish...

...and caught his very first fish!!!  (He actually caught two fish!)

Brock received his first report card with letter grades.  He had perfect attendance and was on the Honor Roll!!!  Great job, Brock!  We are so proud of you!

The Kindergarteners were allowed to dress up as storybook characters one day.  Ryan was going to be Humpty Dumpty, but then found out that two of his other friends were going to be blind mice.  So, he joined in the action and became the third blind mouse.

Ryan was honored by his class as the Golden Gator.  That is someone who has been a great friend and works hard to do what the teacher asks.  We are so proud of you, Ryan!  Great job!!!

Ryan's Ravens Flag Football

Ryan played his second year of flag football.  He loved it, like his brother.  He did a great job, too!  He liked playing quaterback, especially when they did the quarterback sneak! 

Getting ready to get some flags!

This was Ryan's stance when he was waiting for a play to start.

Playing Center.

Ryan with his medal.

Steve was Ryan's coach, too.  He signed up to be the assistant coach, but the head coach had never coached anything before and Steve soon became the head coach.  He did a great job and works so well with those little guys.

Ryan's mad linebacker skills.  (He is #1 with red shoes.)

It's not always about football, you know.  Sometimes it all about who's taller.....

Ryan as quarterback.

Brock's Vikings Flag Football

Brock played flag football again this year.  He really enjoyed it and is getting better and better.  He likes playing defense and is really good as a linebacker.  They play the kids at almost every position.  Even when he's on the defensive line, he plays it more like a linebacker....waiting to see where they are going to run before he takes off.  He enjoys playing running back, too, but he may have the Brockman slowness.  Either way, he likes the game and enjoys playing.

Brock keeping his eagle eye on the ball.

Brock and Daddy being silly for a "fishbowl" picture on my new camera.

Brock with his medal.

Steve helped coach again this year.  He enjoys coaching his boys.

Here is Brock showing his linebacker skills.

And Brock's mad quarterback skills.

August 2011

At the beginning of the month, we met Steve's brother, Allen, and his son, Logan, at a water park in North Richland Hills called NRH2O.  It was a great park and we highly recommend it!

Steve and the boys in the wave pool.

Logan, Ryan (making a goofy face) and Brock.

Allen and Logan.

Brock got so many compliments on his mohawk throughout the summer, that Ryan decided he wanted one, too.  After all, everyone was saying how cool Brock's hair was, but wasn't saying anything about Ryan's.

My Two Mohicans!

I told them to act like rock stars, so Brock really got into his air guitar playing and Ryan played the drums (sort of).

It was an extremely hot summer this year, so we spent a lot of time indoors.  One day we got out the Lincoln Logs and made a town, complete with a fence around it, guarded by Army men.  The little ones all over the center of the town are bluebonnets.

Ryan with his contribution to our Lincoln Log town.

Brock with what he built...

...and Carmen's house.

We also went roller skating again this summer.  We were only able to go once, but the boys really had fun.  We've got to do it more often throughout the year!

Ryan showing his skating skills....and dancing skills!!

Brock skating and doing some "tricks."

After skating with our friends, we went to McDonald's for lunch. 

Tyler, Ryan, Cole, Travis, Brock

After McDonald's, we went for a tour at the Blue Bell Factory.  This is a summer ritual for our family.

Free ice cream after the tour!!!

Tyler, Brock, Ryan and Travis.

Just before school started, we went to the Children's Museum in Bryan.  The boy's favorite thing is home builder project.

In my July post, I posted some videos of Ryan getting a couple spares bowling.  Now here are a couple of Brock getting spares.