A day trip to Corolla

I'm still backtracking a bit.......We had a great time with the Ratz Family with a spontaneous trip to Corolla at the end of June. This was on a weekend in between family visits. Sometimes we are crazy for what we try to cram in.... although I'm becoming wiser in that area. HA!! Two highlights were riding on the beach (Craig could have went forever, but we finally had to reel him in:) and the other was seeing the wild horses. That was pretty cool! Three actually....it's always great fun riding the waves on the boogie board although I didn't do too much of that this time. The guys had their share of it.

Our Family

These two are a piece of work together. They always make us laugh...even when we shouldn't.

Bradley just enjoying the water.

Alayna Chasing daddy

Finding the best seashells is always a highlight....and so is seeing wild horses all over the beach. That just isn't an everyday occurance...at least not at our local beach.

The kids had loads of fun being pulled up and down the beach on the boogie board.

4th of July

Here are a few pictures of the week before the 4th when Craig's brother, Crystal and the kids came into town. We decided to be smart and skip the 4th of July fire works and go to Symphony under the stars on July 3rd at the Chesapeake City park instead of fighting the crowds on the 4th. So glad we did. We did this a few years ago and really enjoyed it so much more. They had the music playing in the background and we were able to eat a picnic dinner there. While we were waiting for the fireworks it was fun to see all the kids chasing daddy/uncle Craig all over until he was exhausted. Someone was dressed up as the Pink Panther and Alayna was so obsessed with him, as she is any big fuzzy creature (no fear for her in that area for sure.) I had many mother surges of not knowing where Alayna had taken off to and not realizing someone was always watching where she was going. She would find her way through the crowd right back to the pink panther.

In the back of the van being very silly waiting patiently for the fireworks to begin. They never did start until almost 10pm

Enjoying their picnic dinner
It was great because right before the fireworks began we decided to pack up our gear and do the tailgate thing to watch them so we could quick throw our chairs back in the truck and be one of the first ones out of the parking lot.
Bless her little heart.....the fireworks scared the mess out of her. She took her blankey and put it over her head and kept it there the entire time. She never did cry though.
My little "rock star" Uncle Aaron has the whole rock back game set and here's Alayna learning to play the guitar. It was very cute!

Being buried is so much fun!! You'd think they would panic, but no, it's always a highlight. Alayna just plopped down right in the middle of it all.

Ocean Breeze

The month of June and July has been an extremely busy months of family in town and more activities than I can count or keep track of. I can officially say I am all beached out and all water parked out which I can't imagine me saying, but I just did. We've been to ocean breeze twice and water country twice. I have always loved Water Country, but now that I've been to Ocean Breeze I think that has become Craig and I's favorite little spot. Not because it's huge or grandiose, but because it's simple, very family friendly especially with little kids and very quaint and still very fun. These were taken at the end of June when Craig had a promotion for work so we got a free night at Ocean breeze. We ended up staying until 10pm close and had so much fun with the kids and ended the night floating in the wave pool until we finally had to leave. I find myself more just trying to enjoy the moment rather than trying to get a million pictures of every event.

Happy 5th Birthday my little buddy

Momma and her Birthday boy

Oh my little man has turned 5......Bradley it is such a joy and blessing having you for my son. You mean more to me than you will ever know. Once again I told you that the special medicine was coming out of my hiding place to give you to keep you little forever. You just simply said "you are silly momma" If I could freeze you where you are forever I might...... or I might not. There is that part of me that will treasure each stage you go through and enjoy each one and each time will probably say the same thing. The thing I love most about the core of who you are is your tender heart and always wanting to do the right thing and when you don't you feel bad and want to make it right. I see you having so many of the same qualities that your daddy has the older you get and that will forever make me proud because I know one day you will know how to treat a lady. Lately you have been so eager to learn and I'm loving watching what we do together come alive for you when we read or do math...you just soak it all in. Your favorite things to do lately are school, nonstop I spy fun, building things with tinker toys, magnets, swimming in the pool, being outside, doing melting beads, building things with clay.......You have had the most fun filled week this past week for your birthday and the fun isn't over yet with more cousins and birthday celebrations this week. We've had beach days, water country days, many pool days. You were so understanding about not having a friend party when I told you all the things we would be doing this month. All you really cared about was "momma, do I at least get a cake?" Absolutely I told you...In fact there would be more than just one. You were very excited about that. So this week when Taylee and Aleigha come we will be having more cake, another Water Country day, more beach and pool days and whatever else may come our way because their birthdays are both the same time as yours.

You are the best little brother and as much as you and Alayna love to irritate each other you have just as much love for each other. I loved watching you two this morning hugging and kissing all over each other and to see Alayna's face brighten when you came down this morning and her little shreek..... "BRADDY.....HUG, HUG!!!! She keep wanting to hug you and jump on you and I"ll tell you, you loved every minute of it. Mommy and Daddy are both so proud of you dear son and we were both just saying how fast the time goes and where did the time go from the time we took you home from the hospital 5 years ago where we had the most special 4 days in the hospital back when our firstborn son was born....Bradley Scott Boyer.....a day we will never forget. We love you baby!!

You wanted a Spider Man Power Ranger birthday, so the cake was spiderman and the decorations were Power Ranger.

OOOOHH Presents!!

Brynne, Bradley, Alayna, Ryan

Trying to make friends

This little girl is hysterical when it comes to the our Ashleigh cat. She trys so hard to get the cat to like her. The other day she had the phone and was saying "kitty talk on phone" She herself LOVES to talk on the phone and thought the kitty would too I guess. She tries numerous times to get the kitty to take a drink from her sippy or she'll try to feed her some snacks, and loves to talk to her. Ashleigh is like "whatever" and hangs her head. The cat really doesn't like anyone but Craig and I and really am surprised she tolerates Alayna getting so close although she has swatted her a few times, but that doesn't stop Alayna from trying. The phone thing really took the cake and got a picture just in time. This girl keeps me laughing with what she says and does. Would you believe she calls me Mrs. Heidi because she hears her little friend Sarah call me that all the time. This morning it wasn't "MOMMY, a r you!" like she does most mornings when she wants out of her crib, it was "Mrs. Heidi, want out" Well, we are on day two of feeling happy and good. Bradley has a little trouble still finding things to eat that don't hurt his mouth, but we are making progress and on the upswing. YEAH!!!

Ok mom's on me again for not blogging about her babies and I said "what am I suppose to say I'm depressed, I don't feel good, I'm tired, my kids have been sick and cranky for a week with this absolutely awful virus called hand, foot and mouth disease (sounds deathly doesn't it)which is really gross and discusting. It gives you blisters in your mouth, hands, feet, and butt and they are so painful you can't eat anything solid. Due to the fact that several people I know have now contracted it I'm convinced they got it at the YMCA." She thinks I'm funny and asks "why are you depressed?" I say "no worries it's nothing chronic, it's hormonal and I'll get over it" I'm really thinking "why don't you just quit your job, get on the first plane and come see your favorite daughter in the whole world!!!" HA! Just kidding mom! I think it just all came to a head yesterday being cooped up like a chicken all week and to top it off my dear friend is moving to another country and found out their official leaving day is Friday rather than next week. So that also means Bradley's best little buddy since birth will be leaving too. Right from the get go they used to sit in their carseats side by side staring at each other or put up with Moneiva and I toting them all over the city so we could shop all day. So many memories and being pregnant all three times together. Only this time we won't be finishing up together to see each other's end result. Bummer! Anyway, the reality of that has sunk in and now it's time to be a big girl and realize this is just part of life and being a grown up. So on another note all funniness and seriousness aside.... today has been a great day with my kids, the depression has lifted, my kids are very happy, Alayna hasn't thrown one fit, I feel really good....so good, I woke up this morning and went for my first run in over a month. I sorta feel like me again. Don't get me wrong I've had alot of good days weaved in and it's getting better.....I was just tired of me and the kids not feeling 100%. Still so much to be thankful for and have to keep it in perspective right? I even put a roast in the crock pot to make a healthy meat, potatos and veggie meal for my poor deprived family who has so graciously put up with my lack of cooking and has been living so unhealthily. Mainly on pizza, fastfood, or nothing at all. The swingset has been in commission for awhile now except the tunnel across the top, but the kids and I spent the morning digging out all the grass from the space underneath by the roots to get it ready for the sand. We headed to Walmart and got some sand and now the sandbox is complete. They loved it and thought it was really cool to help with all the hard work. Bradley felt very important helping with such a "big job". "momma, did I get all the roots?" he kept asking. Even Alayna was in there pulling with all her strength. So we just had a backyard laborous fun kind of day today.

Visits from friends and family

I feel like I am doing some major catching up, but there has been some much going on over the past few weeks. A few weeks ago we had some dear friends and their girls in from Pennsylvannia. Missy and I go back a long way.... like 17 years ago and a story inself how we became friends and remained through the years. We had a wonderful time catching up with them. I was able to enjoy a girls night out with her and Michele which is where the two convinced me it was time to get a pregnancy test. Long story short they won the battle and off we went so they and Craig were the first to hear me scream!!!! Too funny! Anyway, we enjoyed a beach day, a park day, cooking out and Jeff was able to help Craig with the swingset a bit which was so nice.

Hannah, Abbey, Bradley, & Alayna

Abbey

Bradley and Hannah

After Jeff and Miss left a few days later Craig's dad, Barb, Lindsay and Destiny came into town for a most a week and they got to hear the news they would be grandparents again. YEAH!!!! Again, we hit the beach, had a great day at Busch Gardens on that Sunday and just enjoyed hanging out with them in the evenings for dinners. Craig's dad gave him a hand to get some more of the swingset done. Yes, it's taking forever due to time, but when it's done and I'm feeling fine we will have a big swingset party to celebrate!!!!

Bradley loved the swings

Father and Son working on the playhouse

Alayna adored her Grandpa Bruce

Destiny & Bradley on the skyway

Gramma with Destiny and Bradley

My little man of the house and his little side kick

Even when there were no plans to have another baby in the near future it's funny because Bradley had been asking me frequently over the past few months out of the blue when I was going to have another baby before we knew we were. So funny because looking back I think it must have been God's way of sort of getting it in my head there would soon be one on the way. Too weird!! Anyway, when ever I would ask him what he would want to have he always would say another girl. Well, when I told him that we were actually going to have one and his wish had come true he is still stuck on having another girl and I said "why do you want a girl instead of a boy?" His answer was "because mommy that's just what I do." and I said "what do you do?" and he said "It's my job to take care of 2 little girls" It sure was priceless to me to hear him say that. Since I haven't been feeling myself he has been so sensitive and such a joy to have around. He knows I don't feel good and why I don't and there are times he'll just curl up on the couch with me and say "how about if I just sit by you and I can play a video game by you?" or he'll say "come on Layna let's go in the other room, momma I'll watch her for you?" Yesterday, he took her in the other room and turned some music on and was dancing with her and was yelling for me to come watch. "momma, come look, Layna is having so much fun, I like watching her have fun" "Is this helping you?" Sometimes he'll take her up to the playroom or color with her. I just don't want to forget these times. The older Bradley gets the more his caring sensitve side emerges and I love seeing that side of him more and more. The other day he kept telling me "momma, you are so pretty, I love your hair" and just kept complimenting me. I said "Bradley you are going to make the best little husband, are you going you tell your wife she's pretty?" and he said "yes, I am and then I'm going to throw a cake in her face!" So he's still really silly too, but I love it. I did tell him he better not do that:).......Even in the midst of feeling so yucky I've had so many precious moments weaved in to brighten those moments and things to be thankful for. I think for Alayna and her little self I could write a novel for. She is blossoming daily into an animated vivacious little girl with a raspy voice that fits her to a tee since she's such a ruff and tuff little thing with a slight bit of girly in her. Her words have become endless and more and more indenitfiable. She will repeat about anything you ask her to even if it's 3-4 words she'll try her darndest and take her time to repeat it all as close as she can. It's so fun to see it all come together for her. The other day we were in the store and I grabbed some milk and she said "oh, da milk" and as we passed the milk section she said "bye bye milk" It was too funny! She likes to say bye bye to everything you pass. Her little face always radiates with such joy. She will still drop to the floor in a skinny instant and throw a fit, but she's much more in control than a month ago and just a joyful little thing. When given the chance she loves to just lay on top of Bradley and most the time it doesn't faze him. She loves to color and color she does....all over the wall, cabinets, herself, me, the table. We really have gotten control of that though, but sometimes she get a marker from out of nowhere and the damage will have already of been done. Alayna hardly walks anywhere, she runs. She's in love with Barney and loves to sing and dance. Bradley at this age was so into Veggie Tales and Blues Clues, but her little love is Barney. I love seeing these two emerge into best little buddies and the gap between them continues to close in and I see it more and more as Alayna grows and changes almost daily. Bradley and Alayna, you couldn't make a momma more proud than I am right now. I love you both dearly!!!!

Bradley has graduated preschool

Oh it sounds so big doesn't it.....last night was Bradley preschool graduation and it was the most precious presentation. I was so thankful that I felt better in the evening than in the morning. I felt like the Lord just knew I needed to enjoy this moment. One of the first songs they sang was Jesus Loves me and when the song started he looked right at me and sang the entire song without taking his eyes off me. It was the most endearing moment to me that I will not forget.

They had some really cute songs centered around "obedient bees" Sort of centered around Max Lucados Buzby Bee. When the songs were jammin he'd wiggle and jam and of course be really silly and then when they were serious he'd be serious. After they sang their teacher called each child up and presented then with a big hug, their diploma and a medal. You could tell they all felt so big. At the end they had a slideshow of the children's preschool year played to a sweet song which of course brought more tears. They then followed up with refreshments in the social hall. Bradley, mommy and daddy couldn't be more proud of you in these past years watching you grow and become the fine young little man that you are. We love you just the way you are!

Bradley singing his heart out

Bradley with Ms. Liz and Ms. Meredith recieving his rewards

Proud new Graduate!

Bradley with his best buddy Diego

On a funny side note....After the singing part was done Bradley was sitting with his class he was sitting next to Audrey (his girlfriend) and he leans over to her and sort of growls and says "I'm gonna kiss you" I was sitting in the pew next to him and thought that's what he said so when I asked him later he said that yes he did say it and that she looked at him like this and he gave me a really funny face. Then later he said "mommy, wouldn't it be funny if you video taped me in my class when I didn't know it and I kissed Audrey" I gotta keep my eye on that little charmer!

Gone Fishing

As I write this my two boys have gone fishing....Daddy and Bradley have been planning a fishing trip for quite sometime. Craig is of course thrilled that his little guy has developed a love for fishing just like him. They got everything ready last night night and finished preparing this morning. Craig woke Bradley up early to go. I heard them rustling around and wanted so much to get up and be a part of the excitement and be a mom/wife and say "don't forget the sunscreen, oh and don't forget snacks, drinks ect"....but I held back and just let them have the moment to themselves. Bradley was bouncing off the walls last night and had been ever since Craig mentioned it so they finally made it a for sure thing that they would go today. They headed off to a lake in Suffolk to rent a boat for their journey.

As I finish this it's now a new day....The boys had a blast on their adventure. Bradley caught 2 fish:)...Craig caught none:( Craig didn't bring the camera, but got a priceless picture of the prize in the little boys hands with a million dollar smile on his face with his cell phone. It did my heart good to see my two boys head off together for some quality time. I know the older Bradley gets he will want to do more of these big boy things with daddy. He told Craig when they were gone "Daddy, isn't it nice that we can do this with just us and not mommy" I took no offense because the way Craig said he was trying to say it he knew exactly what he meant and so did I. Not that he didn't want to be with mommy, but he was enjoying time with just his daddy.

Yes we are suprisingly and happily pregnant

Holy Cow.....a little shocker for the Boyers!! We had one set of plans and for the first time in baby planning, God had other plans for us HEE HEE!! Most of you know by now about the news and some I still haven't gotten a chance to tell in person. We are excited about baby #3 for sure although once this dreaded morning sickness or should I say all day sickness/fatigure fades away I will be even happier. It kicked in a little quicker this time and I was convinced out of stubborness I wouldn't get in, but kicked in faster than I could get the words out. I'm very early and have a ways to go. Most people don't even tell people this early, but I've never been anal about that. So the precious little lima bean is already in full swing making momma sick!! All and any prayers are much appreciated to pull me through. HA!!

I have so many other stories to tell and catching up to do and not sure where to start. I haven't been much up to blogging, but will poke in now and then and try to post more soon.

Strawberry Pickin Time

Last week the kids and I headed out to "the country" Pungo to go strawberry picking. The weather was gorgeous and the ride out there was so peaceful and pretty. Wasn't quite sure how Alayna would do but my little anti stroller girl did awesome and was so good to her mommy. She stayed in the stroller almost the whole time. Of course I had to keep feeding her pesticide infested strawberries. She calls them strawbididdis. It's so cute!! She wanted out towards the end so I let her pick a couple herself and she seeme to think that was pretty cool. Bradley and I were addicted to finding as many big ones as we could and ended up with 25 pounds. I think I've made 4 pies so far all which are gone...some muffins and then froze some for later and ate a whole bunch too. Bradley was so excited and proud of himself...he always was cautious and wanted to make sure he was picking just the right ones without any green on them and when he would accidently pick one with green he would say..."oops momma, is that ok?" I had the best time with my two little strawbididdi picking buddies.

Lindsay's Wedding

Well I'm sort of getting on the ball here with some postings.....I can't tell you how awesome Lindsay's wedding turned out!! She was a beautiful bride!! It couldn't have gone better other than the fact that I wasn't as in tune with my camera as I would have liked to be. I got so caught up in moments I didn't get as many combinations as I'd have liked, but she had an incredible photographer that literally followed you the whole night so I know I can get the ones I missed and then some. Lyn, you truly did look like a fairy tale princess just like the song talks about. I am so proud of you and all that you've become. Here is a little slide show to capture some of the moments. I wish I had gotten more. It surely was a night to remember and I'll never forget how radiant and happy you looked. This song is for you Lyn!!