MTC

I know there aren't any pictures associated with this entry, but I wanted to be sure and tell you all about it. Last night, Dean and I took Braedon to watch the Mormon Tabernacle Choir practice at the Conference Center. Reilly stayed at home with one of our friends.

We took Trax downtown, or the train as we call it. Braedon really enjoys a nice ride on the train. We walked across Temple Square and into the Conference Center. I was probably the most excited person in the building and was doing my very best to keep my emotions under control.

They were practicing for the July 4th addition of Music and the Spoken Word. I must admit that the reason I picked this day was because I wanted to hear them sing patriotic music. They were singing America the Beautiful when we arrived. We were outside in the foyer during that time and Braedon seemed more interested in the people and the art.

When we finally got inside they were doing some talking and getting all organized. We walked down and sat about 20 rows behind the conductor on the floor. Braedon got a bit anxious and yelled a few times. We gave him a few cars and that calmed him down. I can imagine that being a small 2 year-old boy in the Conference Center can be very overwhelming.

Finally they started to practice. The first song was one I am not familiar with. There was a soloist at the start and then the choir joined in later. When they did Braedon snapped his head forward and his mouth dropped open. I wish you could have all seen the look on his face when he turned and looked at me. It was as if he were saying, "Mom, I cannot believe I am sitting right in front of my favorite choir. Thank you so much for bringing me. This is awesome."

He handed me his cars and sat and listened to the choir sing. He was a little tired and didn't always behave the best, but each time the choir would sing he'd stop and listen and watch them.

We stayed and listened to them sing God Bless America and The Battle Hymn of the Republic! WOOHOO!!! It was incredible.

We left and headed back home. Once we got back on the Trax to head home things calmed down, until the next stop. Dean's mom had been in Colorado visiting her mother and just got back. She jumped on and sat with us. It was a great suprise and Braedon was so happy to see his Grandma.

Well, there you have it. His first time with the Choir was everything and more. We will take many more trips back.

For those of you that do not know, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is Braedon's favorite singing group. He watches Music and the Spoken Word almost every Sunday. He has a few songs he knows the words to and anyone that has come over to watch him knows those songs work great to calm him down. As a baby, only the Choir could calm him and settle him when he was upset. They simply speak to his spirit.

Another day

I know in this picture it looks like Reilly is cross-eyed. He isn't, it is just the picture.

Things with our family seem to be going good and moving along. We've had some illness with the boys, but they are taking it well. Reilly has had his first ear infection (Braedon never had one) and a little touch of pneumonia. He may not have felt well, but he has still been in a great mood.

Reilly has developed a bit of an attitude. If he doesn't get exactly what he wants the second he wants it, he'll turn all red and cry. I just look at him and try not to laugh. He usually gets what he wants though. He is crawling all over and will now pull himself up and stand beside the couch. It's a lot of fun to watch him each day. He is just so excited to wake up and see what the day holds for him.

This picture shows about as close as the boys get to each other. Reilly wants so much to play with Braedon and just gets so excited whenever he gets close to him. Braedon, on the other hand, cannot stand to have Reilly touch or look at him. Braedon is in for a big shock when Reilly starts walking. That should be fun and in a few short months.

Braedon is doing really great. He attends preschool 4 days a week now and I can see such a difference in him. He has been communicating with me in his own way. He doesn't say full words, but the first part of them. We are going back for more hearing tests this coming week. He failed his low frequency testing (YUCK) so we head back for more tests. Keep your fingers crossed it turns out okay. It seems I have something new and incredible to share about his progress each day. Last week he was learning the letter "Z" in school and when he got home he went in Reilly's playroom and picked up the foam letter Z and was so excited. All of a sudden the light clicked on and he looked at the other letters and started picking them up and telling me what they were. U, S, K, M, and on and on. He must have picked up at least 15 of them. I was so excited for him to realize that he knew what they were.

Good times with Reilly

Reilly has discovered he can lift himself up. He has stood up a few times, but seems to really enjoy playing with this step stool. Just because he can, I suppose.