Catching up with the Ballards...

Well, where to begin??? There has been a lot going on lately and a few things I'd like to share that have gone on over the past couple months.

You make our hearts smile!

Brayden had a cardiology appointment last week and that was some of the inspiration for starting this blog...a way to keep people up to date about all the little things in our world!

Well, the appointment went great and it never ceases to amaze me how good he is when we are there and how intrigued he is by things in the medical world. The little man who can't sit still at home just takes it all in and does what he is told! So after an Echo, EKG and Dr.'s visit it seems that there have been no real changes since his last visit. It's always a little anxiety producing going to that appointment, but such a relief to get good news. To think we were told to expect surgery within the first year when he was born and here we are with an almost 3-year-old little boy (or "big man" as he prefers to be called:) with no surgery, no medication, not even any outward symptoms of any ailment! Praise God for his goodness!!!

Our Little Hawk Fans!

You can probably tell by the picture above that we're a Hawkeye household...no surprise there!

I'm excited to report that the boys got to take in their 1st basketball game live from Carver Hawkeye this winter! They loved it and cheered their little hearts out! (Good thing someone did! The Hawks did manage to pull out the win against Northwestern, but it was a really low scoring game and would have been pretty boring without the boys along with us!) The favored shouts from the Ballard boys included "Go Hawks," "Go Defense," and "Go Tony!" They have become little Tony Freeman fans! Nolan even got to have a moment with Herky! Poor Brayden missed the beloved mascot and waved to him from afar for the remainder of the game trying to get his attention! Maybe next time little buddy!

Nolan's 4th Birthday

Leap year not only brought an extra day to February, but a REAL birthday for Nolan! Yeah!!! At long last, Nolan celebrated his 4th birthday on February 29th. We had a great time and celebrated with a Froggy party (Leap year...get it?!) The boys helped me make some frog cupcakes and we played pin the fly on the froggy's tounge! Check out Nolan puffing into his froggy party blower! (Thanks for the pictures Aunt Heidi!)

Baby Mitchell!
We've also celebrated the arrival of the boys' 1st cousin (and our 1st nephew!) Mitchell Martin Volz on January 30th. He is just the cutest little thing and is really growing a lot now. The boys are so excited about Mitchell and have finally begun calling him Baby Mitchell or Baby Mitch instead of their original picks for names... Alfred and Donut. I can't imagine why Shane and Sara didn't chose one of those names! We are really looking forward to spending lots of time with Mitchell as the boys and I are going to be taking extra good care of him once Sara returns to work.