He’s Riding a Bike!

After a couple of years of us asking him to learn and him refusing, one day (the day before Easter) he hopped on his bike and just started riding – no training wheels or anything. Maybe it was the threat that I would teach him the same way I taught my younger brother and little cousin – I pushed them off of hills. They learned to ride right away! ;)

DJ’s 8th Birthday Pictures

We were on vacation during DJ’s birthday so we took advantage of the San Diego beach and took his birthday pictures at Solano Beach.

Of course, he didn’t want to do them at first, but once I bribed him with getting to run around the playground then he was more than willing to smile for the camera.

Almost a Black Belt!

A few weeks ago, DJ had testing for his next belt – a red belt in Taekwondo.

He had been practicing daily and was anxious to take the test.

His hard work paid off and now, our DJ Man is a RED BELT! WOOT WOOT!

He is only 2 midterms and a test away from becoming a black belt and he is ready!

Congratulations, DJ Man! We are proud of you!!!!!!

Easter Egg Hunt

This year, Cody participated in his first Easter Egg hunt. We tried to take him when he was one, but the Easter bunny scared the beejeezeez out of him. Now that he was almost 5 we decided to try again!

We headed to Pixieland in Concord for their Annual Easter Egg Hunt.

While waiting for the train that would take us to the Egg Hunt location, the boys entertained themselves.

They enjoyed a plane ride right before it was our turn to hop on the train.

After a 1.5 hour wait (that the boys were very patient about), it was our turn for the train.

A quick ride on the train and it was Easter Egg Huntin’ time.

Cody immediately spotted the kind of scary looking bunnies (people in costume) and did not want anything to do with the egg hunt….

while DJ took off at warp speed to shake some Easter Eggs (to filter out the ones with no noise because that meant it was stickers) and find some treats.

Cody watched DJ for awhile while his dad hunted eggs for him.

Then DJ started helping him.

Then he dumped the eggs out…

Eventually, he realized that DJ was having fun so he started hunting for eggs on his own.

The colorful goodies in his basket…

Since Cody wouldn’t take a picture with the scary bunnies, I made DJ do it. Luckily, he only put up a little fight.  

Here are a couple of the boys and their Easter baskets.

Happy Belated….Valentine’s Day!

Yes, I am aware that is almost April and I am posting Valentine’s Day pictures. I’m playing catch-up!

We set up the home portrait studio and took some pictures of the boys for Valentine’s Day.

DJ wasn’t quite into it. Can you tell?

Then he gave the fake smile that is usually reserved for school pictures.

Then FINALLY a real smile!

Cody, on the other hand, was happy to pose for me (after 30 minutes of me begging).

Scooting Around

It has been a long time since I updated this blog so I owe you pictures of the boys.

During one of the first sunny days in the year, DJ decided to take his new scooter for a ride. Not wanting to be left out, Cody hopped on his new, hand-me-down-from-DJ Scooter and scooted along with big brother.

We were amazed that he was able to ride it without falling. It took us a lot longer to get to our destination, but both boys were enjoyed themselves!

He had watched DJ enough to know the footing for riding the scooter.

Taking a little break after scooting a few feet from the house…

DJ was long gone before we even made it down the driveway with Cody.

Striking a pose…

Dandelion Magazine – Bay Area

If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, you may have heard of Dandelion Magazine. It is a magazine dedicated to parents of special needs children. It is  a great resource full of information for therapies, activities, events, doctors and so much more.

If you take a look at the magazine you will see a couple of familiar faces!

The digital copy of the magazine was made available last week and I was excited to see my handsome baby not only in the article, but on the “What’s Inside” page!

The digital copy of the magazine can be found at: http://www.bluetoad.com/publication/?m=11210&l=1 

The article features a picture of Cody with is “James Dean” stare. ;)

My boys…..

It still makes me choke up when I see this picture of my boys. It reminds me of how blind and unconditional love can be. We worried that DJ, 3 years old at the time, would be scared of all the wires and tubes coming out of his brother, but he walked into the ICU room, walked straight to his brother’s bedside and grabbed Cody’s hand and just held on to it. He didn’t ask about the ventilator;  he didn’t ask about the tubes or wires. He just stood there holding his brother’s hand.