Rock Chalk Jayhawk

Ashton was lucky enough to be one of the almost 1,000 kids to participate in the KU Jayhawks Holiday Clinic today. For one day these first through sixth graders received direction from Bill Self, his assistant coaches, and the entire Jayhawk team to improve their basketball skills. They didn't use basketballs. Instead the coaches worked on fundamental skills:  passing, shooting, lay ups, taking a charge, and loose ball. I think every one of the kids had a blast! And even better, all the players and Bill self stuck around for a couple hours after the clinic was over to sign an autograph for every participant. 

We waited in line to get registered in the cold and ice so we were happy to finally be inside.

This is most of the kids. They ended up filling up all the red portion of the seats.

Coach Self talks to the kids about the importance of having fun and enjoying the ride.

Ashton walks onto the Allen Fieldhouse court for the start of the fun part of camp.

This is only the third and fourth graders! The younger kids practiced in the Jayhawk practice gym and the older kids in some other building.

The players assigned to Ashton's group were Brady Morningstar, Mario Little, Travis Releford, Royce Woolridge, Nico Roberts, Elijah Johnson and Jeff Withey. They would walk around the kids and help them if need be. Ashton in this picture is at the bottom towards the right. (he's wearing black shorts)

Sometimes the players did demonstrations.

Finally waiting in line for an autograph...

 I really wanted to get Ashton's picture with Elijah Johnson because that is his favorite player and I had my picture spot staked out for about an hour. I took this quick photo and prepared for Ashton's arrival at Elijah Johnson's signing spot, and just like that, my camera died.

A super awesome completely autographed basketball.

Oh the talent...

At 3 years 4 months and 8 days old Talan wrote his own name with absolutely no help besides spelling. And quite nicely I might add...

This is new...

The amazing climbing Syphr!

He never did make it totally onto the container as it was much too small for him, but he sure did try. Also, he is much more skilled at climbing up than down. Apparently his definition of climbing down is going into a roll and landing where he lands which doesn't always work in his favor. Doors are tough on the head.

7 months old

Likes:

• wubbanub
• baby food (orange colored veggies, peas and all fruit)
• scooting
• exploring
• dogs

Dislikes:

• his car seat...still
• Talan's brotherly torment
• wearing shoes
• the car seat cover which prevents any view of outside when it is freezing
• when someone walks by and doesn't pay any attention or pick him up

Talents:

• scooting at high speeds
• radar which detects things he is not supposed to have
• talking--DADADADA
• screeching
• making raspberry noises
• holding the crawling pose for up to 15 seconds

Who doesn't love an early Christmas??

Since it was important for my mental state for Brad to be here for Syphr's surgery and recovery, and since he had to work anyway, we decided to have an early Christmas. Brad took all the leave he had saved (a whopping 7 days), and I scrambled to get all the Christmas shopping done in time (thank you internet). Luckily all the kids were on board for early festivities.

Our Christmas Eve started shortly after Ashton came home from school. We baked snicker doodle cookies for Santa, Talan decided Santa's favorite drink was pumpkin egg nog, opened our traditional new pajamas which we immediately put on, and went for a drive to Winter Wonderland. It was a super fun way to celebrate the season. There were even a couple snow flurries so technically the BRATS family did have a white Christmas. Even though we had to say goodbye to Brad once again, I think it was one of my most favorite Christmas'.  I think we all value our time we can spend together much more when Brad is home since it is not so often. (only five more months) I sure do love my family.

Syphr stayed up extra late so he could ride shotgun through wonderland. 

Apparently it was awesome when the camera flash went off while they were wearing their 3d glasses.  I'm just glad they can still see. 

My four favorite guys!

This is day 2 of the monkey band aid on Talan's head. It lasted until the end of day 4 and he was forced to remove it. 

 

Syphr likes to unwrap presents

No idea Tal made this face, but it is fitting. 

Robe and slippers waiting in the morning.

We actually had to wake Talan up. 

Santa brought us a second wii so we could race Brad in Mario Kart from half way across the country, and so we can stream netflix to the tv. 

When no one was looking Syphr rolled over and grabbed onto one of his presents and pulled as hard as he could. 

Who doesn't love a mini slinky

I love that Sy just opened a load of new fun baby toys and all he wanted was the paper.

I didn't really take many photos. We were having too much fun. Ashton's big present this year was a ticket to go visit Brad....by himself.....in February for 8 days. I'm still uneasy about this one, but I've been reassured all will be well by the Frontier Airlines staff.  Talan raked in some awesome cowboy stuff although I was unaware that his definition of a cowboy shirt is a shirt with a cowboy on it, not a shirt a cowboy might wear. And Syphr got a super cool new bouncer which he can't use for at least a couple more weeks. He does have fun looking at it though. Brad was spoiled with a new android phone, and I am actually hoping it gets a lot colder so I can see if my new amazingly cute and stylish winter boots really do keep my feet warm up to -40 degrees. 

None of us in the BRATS family will complain about presents or getting new things, but we do also remember the real reason we celebrate Christmas and know it is not so much about a fat man and 9 reindeer who bring us presents and eat all our cookies, but about the birth of Jesus and the love that Heavenly Father has for us. For that we are all grateful.

I am so done with this year! As if it isn't enough that my husband is half way across the country for all but 4 days out of the month (2 of those days being travel days), and Talan's allergy issues this time of year, lets go ahead and just push a little farther and have Ashton have surgery followed by poor little Syphr. And just in case you want to throw a cherry on top of that misery sundae, lets just go ahead and say Syphr can't be sick for 6 weeks before surgery during the season where everyone is sick.  Someone has it out for me. 

Syphr had Hypospadias repair a week ago. In case you are wondering, because I thought the pediatrician at the hospital was loony and made up a new word,  his urethra was a little lower than it should have been. Luckily his case was mild so we only needed one surgery, but it is apparently one of the most common birth defects for boys. 

We arrived at Children's Mercy in Kansas City early Monday morning and suited Syphr up in his surgical wear. He was all smiles which was a relief since he hadn't had his breakfast and I was prepared for much worse. I only had 2 minor meltdowns when the OR nurse was explaining everything that would happen and then in the hall where they took him away. Brad was on a flight and arrived at the hospital about an hour into surgery. 

3 hours later we were in the discharge room. Syphr was incredibly drugged up which made him super cuddly. And finally.....he was able to eat.

His poor little hand is barely bigger than that band aid let alone the IV they had in there.

Syphr spent most of Monday sleeping only waking to get a drink every now and then. 

His Wubbanub went into the OR with him, thus the ID bracelet which the nurse labeled Wubbanub.

So far since the surgery Sy is doing okay. He had a catheter, and some stitches for a week which were both removed today. Could have used the anesthesiologist for that! He  no longer needs his Tylenol with Codeine and is down to about one dose of Motrin a day. It sure hasn't stopped his mobility. His newest discovery is the cabinet I store all his diapers in. Wonderful.

 Here's hoping 2011 will end all this madness!

Talan at his finest

*After asking for chocolate milk and being reminded we were out of milk and had to go to the store later he said,

"That is okay. I will just have chocolate."

*After demanding he needed another sticker from the lady at the post office I told him he was only one boy so he only needed one sticker. His reply:

"No, but I do need more stickers. Don't cheat me!" 

6 month stats

17 pounds 12 ounces

27 1/4 inches

Ashton has a secret door in his closet...

This is what he wrote in school today telling what is behind that ever so secret door:

If I had a secret door in my closet, there would be a training combat area on the other side. There would be an ocean for the pirats.  Everyone will have a specil walky-talkey that has a screen on it so that you can see other people while you are talking to them. I would be the comamder  of the U.S army, and that includes my father. I would bomb some old guy's house. I would buy scuba diving gear and build a hideout in Davy Jons's locker (that means the bottom of the sea). I would build a tube that went just above the surfase of the sea. I would have a lazer so that if a boat came along I would still be abel to breath. I would have a tracking systym so that I would be abel to see where everyone/everything is. I would have a flotation device to attack everyone. I would go to Australia. I would kill all the Hienas there. I would bomb ten old lady houses. They would scream and run away. Then , I would go to Eurp. I would bring half the army, and the other half back at the base to defend it. I would lead my army into battle. After that we would be surprised to find that we won the war!

That sure is a lot to have behind a secret door.  Maybe he has been watching The Chronicles of Narnia too much. 

6 months old

Likes:

• Dragon binki
• being held
• going outside
• winter squash, sweet potatoes and carrots
• swinging at the park
• standing

Dislikes:

• brothers being in his face
• being cold
• wearing hats
• anything to do with riding in the car
• talan taking his toys away

Talents:

• rolling across the room at high speeds
• scooting 
• putting himself to sleep

We are working on sitting up...he would rather stand.