Christmas!

I have noticed that Christmas is a great time for parties. There seems to be a lot of them.

The first Christmas party this year was the church party. 

 Tommy and I both got to get up with the Primary and sing Christmas Primary songs.

I sang a little. Tommy was scared and didn't sing at all.

 We didn't get costumes, though. They didn't have enough for everyone, but with our Christmas sweaters, Tommy and I looked pretty good!

 There was dinner at the party too and it was all right, but the desserts were better. 

I ate lots of cookies.

 The best part of all was meeting Santa. 

I told him what a wanted for Christmas (a toy penguin) and he gave me a candy cane!!!

 Then we had another party on Christmas Eve. 

The family came over and we ate a big, beautiful dinner. 

And then we sang songs (and whistled songs too--our Christmas Crackers came with whistles inside!)

 We opened presents and stockings from the Grandparents. 

I gave Grandma and Grandpa a book about rainbows and I think they liked it very much.

All the uncles and Aunties were there. 

Did you know Aunt Barb is having a baby soon? She's having a little girl.

Aunt Karren is having a baby too--a little boy.

Hurray for new cousins!

 Christmas morning was the best party of all, though. 

The hardest part was waiting for Audrey to wake up...she took forever! 

When she finally came out, we did stockings (mine is the gold one in the middle!)

Then we opened the presents around the tree. 

We got hula hoops, legos, beyblades, and lots of other things!

And when that was over, we packed up and went to Uncle Stu and Aunt Barb's house to eat, watch movies, and play games.

What a great Christmas!

Sunset Beach

It's been raining a lot here, but a few weeks ago we had one day that was perfect! The sun was out and warm. The sky was clear and we just needed to get OUT!

See, days like that are rare (even here in California) at this time of year, 

so we kidnapped Daddy and raced to the beach!

The problem was days the days were getting shorter and we got there just before sunset. 

Still the water was nice and any time you can be at the beach is a good time!

Mama and Tommy stayed by the blanket mostly--they don't like being cold. 

So, it was up to Daddy, Audrey, and me to enjoy the huge waves! It was heaven!

Even whenAudrey got pretty cold, she just could't stay away from those waves! 

And who could blame her? She takes after me!

In the end, Tommy caved and came down too. 

All too soon the sun was gone 

and I only had time to throw the frisbee a few times before we had to go home. 

Daddy always says the beach helps him relax and makes him happy. 

I guess I take after him. 

Thanksgiving!

This is my favorite holiday! I mean, Christmas and Halloween are awesome, but Thanksgiving is the best for me. Mmmmm...so much food!

We had a big dinner and Aunt Karren made the table so pretty!

It was a big table too--eleven people sat at it! I didn't know we even KNEW that many people!

See? And Tommy, and Audrey, and I didn't even get to sit at the big table! We sat at a little table nearby I was unhappy about it at first, but Mama made it pretty too and the food was still very tasty.

My favorite thing to eat was probably the rainbow jello. I had five helpings of it! Aunt Barb and Uncle Stu made it (Aunt Barb also made the pumpkin pies--my next favorite thing!)

We had such a wonderful dinner! And then we watched Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving and went on a nice long walk! What a great day!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Learning to Ride!

On my last birthday, you might remember, I got a new bike with training wheels. I loved it, but soon I noticed a lot of my friends could ride without training wheels. My friend Emma Farrell is a year older than me, but I'm bigger, and she can ride a two-wheeler! 

So, Daddy and I decided it was time for me to learn how to do it too!

So, last weekend Daddy took the training wheels off my little red bike. Then we brought the whole family to a nearby park and, while Mama and the little ones played on the playground, Daddy and I went onto the grass.

Mama wasn't sure about riding on the grass, but I liked it. There was a little hill, so I could coast down and if I fell (which only happened once or twice) the grass was nice and soft to catch me!

As you can see...I DID IT!!!! 

We practiced lots on the grass and I got better and better!

Soon, Daddy said we were ready to try riding on the path. 

I was a lot more nervous and I didn't do as well.

Yeah, I fell. 

But I didn't get hurt or anything. I was just a little scared. 

I love riding my bike, and since that day at the park, I've been practicing in the back yard. I get better every day! 

Thank you for helping me, Daddy! I love you!

Halloween!!

We had a wonderful Halloween this year!! It's one of my favorite holidays!

The first thing you do when it's Halloween is go to a Pumpkin Patch.

The one we went to this year was super fancy! There were six or seven bouncy houses and slides, like this one. They were all race cars and Lightning McQueen! Tommy and I were the only kids there that night and we had SO much fun!

Tommy liked jumping mostly, but I liked the slides best. I went down all of them many times--even the really high ones! I am super brave when it comes to fun!

Can you tell which one is me? 

This was when I climbed up on top of one of the bouncy houses. I'm not sure it was allowed, but I thought I was so clever for figuring out how to get up there!

When we were worn out from all the bouncing, we got to pick out our pumpkins. Daddy gave us a ride to bring them to the car--it was SO fun!

I LOVE HALLOWEEN!!!

Then, a few days before Halloween, we had Family Home Evening and carved our pumpkins. It was a terrible mess, but lots and lots of fun!

My pumpkin was especially scary. Mama drew the picture just the way I asked her to (I wanted it to look like a zombie!) and Daddy carved it for me.

It was so spooky and scary and just exactly what I wanted!

You know what else? I got to wear my costume to school on Halloween! It was great! All the kids paraded around the school and we got popcorn hands (clear plastic gloves filled with popcorn and candy corn) and I got my face painted! 

And in case you were wondering, I was a skeleton for Halloween! I glowed the dark and everything! Tommy was a baby dragon. (Audrey was a bear--you can see her in the picture below holding hands with Uncle Stu!)

This is us from the Neighborhood Halloween Party! It started with a BBQ and a costume contest (which I DIDN'T win <sad face>), then we had a parade up and down the streets walking behind a firetruck and finished with Trick-or-Treating!!!

Daddy and Uncle Stu took us Trick or Treating, while Mama and Aunt Barb gave out candy to the kids who were running around with buckets and bags (they even gave some to us!)

Everything was fun and we got LOADS of candy!

Happy Halloween!

Brady Quotes!

Brady Says:

"Pants! Pants! Pants! I'll pants you if you come over here!"

(Said just now to Tommy in the other room...What?!?!)

"I have ten jobs for you, Mom. First, have lunch. Second, play outside. Third, do homework. Third, play at Emma's house. Third, clean my room. Third..."

"What number is it before we get to the store?"

"Do you remember the song I learned at school today, Mom?"

(me: "No, what song did you learn?")

"I don't remember. Sing it for me."

"This is ridiculous!"

(Often said when things aren't going his way.)

"I'm in-arable, Mom. That means I want Halloween to happen RIGHT NOW!"

(The house is unusually cold, but Brady is undeterred.)

"Mom, I'm hot." (His body sags and the tongue rolls out.) "This house is SO hot! Can I have a popsicle?"

"Okay, what, are you kidding about this?"

"Mangooos!"

"I'm winning, Mama." <pause> "Am I winning?"

"I jrumped over the bean bag! Did you see me jrump?!"

"That's what I always say funny."

Family Time

Now, this happened a few months ago, but I guess I forgot to blog about it! 

In August, all of the Lyle family (Uncles, Aunts, Cousins, Grandparents, and all!) came to celebrate Nana's birthday! First they gave all the kids blue shirts with our names on them! Then we had a picnic and took lots of pictures. 

This is one of all the great-grandkids sitting around, and on, Nana! That's me in the back on the right--I'm holding Audrey! (Yeah, I am such a big boy!)

Then we played games all morning. We played with plastic swords and chased each other, and Uncle Cameron, around and around the park!

Then we had a treasure hunt and got to be pirates! Tommy and I still have our pirate hats!

After the picnic, we all took naps or, in my case, quiet time, then we all met again at a big restaurant for Nana's big birthday dinner! 

There was cake and candles and everything!

It was so fun to see family and have such a great day!

The next day we played with our cousin Barrett all morning at our house before everyone went home again. I wish they didn't have to live so far away, but it is super fun to see them when they come!

Happy birthday, Nana!!!

Back to School

I started Kindergarten at Nesbit Elementary School in Belmont on August 29, 2012. 

I was super excited! I had a new backpack (with Bumblebee the Transformer on it!), a new sweatshirt, a yummy snack, and my hair combed nice and smooth. I was Ready!

Mom took lots of pictures and made me eat breakfast (though I was too excited to eat more than a few bites). She packed my snack (only healthy foods--sweet things aren't allowed) and made me wear my sweatshirt (it's a pirate sweatshirt!!)

It was only MY first day of school, but everyone ready and wanted to be in the pictures. Tommy starts school next month and he gets some pictures then too. 

When everyone was ready, we walked. We walk every day because the school is so close. Sometimes I walk with my friend Emma and her mom, which is really fun!

This is me with my teacher, Mrs. Rothe. We are in room 2. She is very nice and when Emma was in kindergarten, she had Mrs. Rothe too! 

Yes, I really like school. I only go for half a day, but we have a lot of fun! I'm learning to read, you know, and I could teach you! 

"I like to read...I'm an egghead!"

Look out Kindergarten!

Now that I am five, I get to go to kindergarten! Mom and I have been working like crazy to get me ready. And now we're here! School starts tomorrow!

We had to do all this paperwork (I even had to sign some of them!) and I had to get shots (five of them!) I have a backpack (Transformers Bumblebee!) and new clothes, and I've even met my teacher...Mrs. Rothe. She is amazingly great!

Mom says I am getting so big. She told me she likes to come in late and night and watch me and Tommy sleep. She says she can't believe how big her first baby has gotten. Ha! I AM pretty big now!

I love music (singing songs I know and songs I've made up), reading (well, having books read to me. I can't wait to read them by myself!), running, soccer, baseball, swimming, making new friends, drawing, making up stories, and playing with "my best friend...Tommy!" Audrey is great too, but she's my little sister--someone to take care of and protect. "She is so pretty and I love her."

Other favorite things...the color red, anything with beef in it (steak is the best though), "cream-in-the-middle" popsicles, my stuffed animals (cuddly bug, ducky, and Perry the Platypus--among others), the poem "Winkin', Blinkin', and Nod", the book "Russell the Sheep", the movie "Wall-E", vanilla (or "White") ice cream, and all things superheroes!

I am so ready for Kindergarten! I had a great summer--swimming lessons, visiting Reno (to see a rodeo!), camping, running in the sprinklers, and eating loads of watermelon and popsicles! But school is going to be SO fun! I've already met some of my future friends. The boys I've met so far are Gabriel (sad though, because he is not in my class!) and Oscar (who IS in my class and will sit next to me every day!)

Swimming Lessons

When Mama and Daddy told me, a few months ago, that I would have to take swimming lessons this year, I was not happy about it. 

I was scared and worried.

Well, we started swimming lessons three weeks ago and I love it!

For the first two weeks, both Tommy and I learned from Ethan and he is SO cool!

From the first day, I just jumped right in and started splashing around.

Tommy didn't like it so much. He wouldn't get off the steps unless Ethan dragged him.

Audrey wasn't allowed in the water, so Mama brought her a bowl and some spoons to play with water away from the pool. She really liked that.

 After a few days, Tommy decided he wasn't going to learn how to swim. Every time Ethan asked him to do something, he curled up and screamed and cried. He's pretty stubborn. 

 I tried to be a good example for him. When Ethan told me to jump, I jumped.

 Turned out, jumping was the one thing Tommy liked doing. 

 And once he was in the water, he liked it.

 In the end, he even rode on the kick-board! But he never really connected with Ethan, so a week ago, I moved on to the next class level and Ethan stayed my teacher, but Tommy got a new teacher--Emily. 

I think Tommy likes girls, because now that Emily is his teacher, he can't stay out of the water! 

Just like Me!

 Oh, I love the water! I love floating and kicking around on the kick-board.

Did you know I can put my whole head under the water now and hold my breath for a long time--ten seconds sometimes! It's especially fun if I'm wearing my goggles and can see everything. 

 I like floating on the noodle too. I am just such a good swimmer!

 We really have such a good time swimming.

And I know one little someone who gets a little jealous!

Poor Audrey!