Grant's Stuffed Animal Christmas Party

Since they put up their tree the first weekend in November, Grant had been "wrapping" presents for his stuffed animals. He'd wrap up something, label it with a blue post it note, and put it under the tree. Every night he'd load up the tree with more and more presents! Then finally, one night before bed, he decided he was ready for all his friends to open their gifts! Oh my goodness, my heart melted a little bit as he sat with each of his animals and "watched" them open their gifts. His little voice is forever imprinted on my heart!! He truly has a love for his stuffed friends. Such a sweet innocent little boy that I hope never changes!!!

Boys and their Bears

We were heading out to get our family pictures taken and the boys decided they needed a little photoshoot with some of their furry friends!!! I love their love of their stuffed friends!!!!

Pretty sure they couldn't be any cuter than they are!!!!

Cuddles

Cuddles is still such a big part of our family! He goes in the car with us often, watches TV with us most evenings, and definitely is present for most games and playtime! Grant often tasks one of us with babysitting Cuddles while he goes to school, or to practice or something. He's such a good bear daddy!!

Stuffed Animal Fun

We've always been quite obsessed with stuffed animals around here. I was when I was little. Levi was when he was little. So its only natural our two boys are as well!! They love to play Beanie Babies and set up pet shops or zoos or whatever. Sometimes they even like to bury themselves in them. If stuffed animals are involved, they love it!!

I would imagine that this is a glimpse into what Heaven looks like for Grant. What could possibly be better than being completely surrounded by stuffed animals??

There's a Wyatt in there somewhere....

These little friends were all lined up ready for storytime from Grant!

I went to change the boys sheets, and now that their beds are bunked, its not always an easy task. So in order to actually get the sheets of the bed, I have to clear it off first. THIS was the pile of stuff I took out of Grant's bed. He probably had 3/4 of the bed covered in animals and lovies and another 1/4 for him to actually sleep on! Crazy kid!

And dear Cuddles is always up to something as well! This day, Grant was going out with Mimi so he set Cuddles up with Mimi's iPad and headphones so he could watch Netflix.

 And even bears have to do their gymnastics practice! 

Build-A-Bear Goodies

My kids inherited my genetic trait for loving all stuffed animals. Actually, Levi has the gene too, so it was inevitable they would too. Stuffed animals and books are the only toys in their room. And once lights are out, they like to play with their animals together. It's a fun little bonding brother moment and I usually don't mind it. So when Mason and Luke passed down all their Build-A-Bear goodies they've collected over the years, it felt like Christmas morning for the boys!! 

One Sunday evening after a family dinner at my parents, they loaded my car up with all the goodies. Of course, when we got home, it was time to get ready for bed.  They dressed a few of their animals before lights out, and then once lights out came, they continued to play. Until 9:30...on a Sunday night! And again the next morning after breakfast, before school! And every day ever since!! 

Thanks Mason and Luke!!

 The morning after the gift!!!

Just putting underwear on his fox. No big deal. 

 Sammy the military bear, with flame Skechers!

 Teddy and Cuddles were all dressed for their basketball practice (while Grant had gymnastics) so Grant put them in their carseat (my purse) and buckled them up. He really is too cute!

Mouse and Marvin!

One night, when I went to check on the boys, I noticed Grant set up a shoe shop on his footboard. He really is something else!!

Teddy Bear Day

Every school morning, Grant tells me to take good care of Cuddles, or he will ask me to babysit him. Wyatt makes sure we take Cuddles with us if we run errands, or Cuddles is with us as we do our activities....like school work....

 But on the second week of school, Grant had Teddy Bear Day and he was beyond ecstatic to take Cuddles to school! The night before, he dressed Cuddles at bedtime. Grant came down to show me how ready Cuddles was- he had on a Tshirt, underwear, shorts, and shoes! He was ready for his day!! He was so excited to show off his favorite bear!

He said their bears got to do all the schoolwork and go wherever they did. He said Cuddles just sat on his lap like a good boy while he did his table work. He seemed so proud to have such a good bear! They even did a page on how to draw a teddy bear. Grant did this one on the back of his sheet and I think it looks JUST like Cuddles!! Such a sweet boy he is!!! He wishes every day could be Teddy Bear Day!

Big Bike Rider

I can't believe August is halfway over and these are the first pictures I've taken this month. Shame on me! I always feel terrible about ignoring my blog, but what can ya do?! Crazy time in life right now...crazy!! 

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Grant learned how to ride his bike when he was 3.5, while we lived in Texas. It's so hard to believe Wyatt is now that same age. I always think back to that time and Grant just seems so much older then than Wyatt is now. Actually, I know he was physically bigger because we've had a hard time even finding a bike for Wyatt to ride because he's so tiny!! Grant had to start on a 14" bike because the beginners bikes were too small!

But, Wyatt LOVES his balance bike. LOVES it! Every chance he gets, he's on that bike. When we're going to get in the car to go somewhere, he has to ride his bike around the driveway "really quick." And when we get home before he goes inside, he makes a spin around the culdesac. He just can't get enough!

 And he learned how to ride it quickly! Too quickly, because when the time came to buy him a big kid bike, we couldn't find one that fits! Most kids start on a 12" bike but Wyatt's feet were nowhere close to touching the ground. But after some searching, we found a perfect extra small 12" bike. And he can ride it all by himself- but, "its a little scary" says Wyatt. The first time he got on it, Levi was holding on to him and then Wyatt just took off. He looked back and realized Levi wasn't holding on and he started crying, even though he was riding it all by himself! 

So for now, he's sticking to the balance bike until Daddy gets a good stretch of time to get Wyatt comfortable. But I have a feeling, in no time, he'll be zooming down the street with Grant! I'm so proud of my little little guy!

 This is his favorite move, he calls "The Ninja." One foot forward and one foot backward, balancing the whole way down the driveway! He also has the "No Feet" move, where he brings in his feet and rests them on the bar in the middle. He also likes to "pop wheelies." 

And speaking of Grant, he now has a new addition to his bike. Something that kind of made Levi cringe as he was adding it on, but seeing Grant's face light up, it was totally worth it!

Yep, a basket, just for Cuddles! At least its not girly and has flowers and streamers!! Grant, I just love how you love Cuddles!!

The Broeckelman Bears

 I took the boys outside before church this morning to get a nice Easter picture. But they INSISTED on bringing their bears outside. Because, lately, Grant can't do anything without taking Cuddles along. And since Wyatt does everything Grant does, he now carts Teddy around too, and of course, Teddy Lovey. And while the pictures didn't turn out very Eastery, they sure are cute and I'm glad I let them bring their bears because it tells the story of them at the moment. Someday, they will look back at these pictures and think they look silly holding a teddy bear, but for now, those bears are two of the most important things in their lives and I want to always remember their sweet little hearts they have right now! 

These Broeckelman Boys love their Broeckelman Bears!!

And because the outtakes are just as good as the "good picture"

A Boy and His Bear

Cuddles is Grant's best friend. Lately, Grant's been referring to himself as Cuddles "Daddy." He's been wanting to take Cuddles EVERYWHERE, and when he's at school, he asks if I can "babysit" Cuddles and he gives me very specific directions on what to do with him. It's so stinkin cute!! So today, Cuddles rode along in the car while we went to Grant's preschool party. On our way home from the party, we decided on a spontaneous park picnic and Grant was overjoyed to show Cuddles around the park! Those two did it all!! I had a smile on my face the WHOLE time!

Grant took him on the slide of death super long slide, he pushed in him the swing many many many times, he played with him on the equipment, he did the monkey bars. Cuddles got to do it all!!

Oh, how I love that sweet boy of mine!!!

Cuddles Best Friend

I gave Cuddles to Grant when he was a year old and preparing for becoming a big brother. Cuddles was my favorite since I was about 6 years old. I never imagined Cuddles would become such a favorite for Grant too. But Grant might even love Cuddles more than I did- he takes him everywhere and snuggles with him ALL THE TIME! He talks to him (and Cuddles talks back!). He feeds him. It really is the sweetest. 

I had made the comment a few months ago that Grant was kind of like Cuddle's Daddy because he loves him and takes good care of him. Well, part of Grant's routine every morning is waking up and finding Cuddles, Little Cold, Dolphie, and Pup and bringing them to his red chair in the playroom before he goes potty and gets changed. Once he's changed, he eats breakfast as quickly as possible, and then climbs in his red chair to snuggle his friends before leaving for school. 

The other day before leaving for school, Grant ran back into the playroom as we were walking out the door. I heard him say, "Daddy's going to work. Be good while I'm gone. I love you!"  It might have been the sweetest thing ever. Then, while we were driving to school, he was telling me all the things to do to take care of Cuddles- I need to let him watch a show, give him a snack, and make him a fighter jet with Legos. And if he's starts getting fussy, I need to make him take a nap. (Again, sweetest thing ever!)

So when I come home, I went to grab Cuddles so I could take care of him and I found him, just as Grant had set them before he left....

I am so in love my boy and his sweet and gentle heart!!