1st Day of Kindergarten

Me and my big Kindergartener on his first day

This was on the night of Bradley's meet and greet of him sitting at his new desk. The teacher was so creative to give them a snack and playdoh to keep them busy while she talked to us. He has 14 kids in his class.This was as we were getting ready to leave this morning...he would rather sit than stand he said.

What a big busy morning for us all.....Day One of Kindergarten was a big success!! Whew....I'm thankful for that. I was holding my breath all morning and the emotions and yes the sappy tears hit after I dropped him off. I was just overwhelmed with the whole new environment thing and it was a different feeling than preschool for some reason. We got up and we were out the door by 7:50...a little later than I planned, but they have until 8:15 to arrive so we were good. He walked right in, hung up his things and went right to the big boy desk and barely looked back so I had to go up to gives hugs and kisses and it just felt strange to walk away. I sort of walked away and was like....this is it? So my mind was consumed with him all morning. I came home to get Alayna and she immediately kept asking "where braddy go, where braddy go?" So I explained he went to school and she seemed fine with that. She stayed home with daddy while I brought him. I came home, picked her up and brought her to Sue's because today was the big ultrasound appointment(marking the half way point...YAHOOO!!!) Craig met me there and we got to see our little peanut in action. This was the longest ultra sound I've ever had. It was so fun to watch!! Each baby does it's own little neat thing during the ultra sound. This one kept trying to get it's thumb in it's mouth and it's mouth kept opening and closing really fast and it couldn't quite get the coordination down to put it's thumb in it's mouth. It was just precious and even the tech was getting a kick out of it. Oops better quit calling it an it because it's official.....I can say we are having a baby GIRL!!!!! We'd have the same excitement either way of course, but it's just fun knowing for sure. Everything looked great and I'm measuring right on track. I'm due January 15th, but they will take the baby on January 5th. A big sigh of relief knowing all is well. I was quite anxious about alot this morning and that felt great to hear.

So I pick up Alayna and Sue was anxiosly awaiting for Alexander's bus to come home and hear all about his big day and I headed off to get Bradley and I knew I'd know just by the look on his face as he came out the door of his school what kind of day he'd had. So I'm waiting in the carpool line and there he came and he spotted me and gave me a huge smile and I knew it was a great 1st day. He could barely contain himself..."MOMMA, do you want to see what's in my folder?" "Absolutely I do!" So I quickly got out of line and headed out and turned in the first neighborhood so I could hop in the back seat and see and hear it all. He made a new friend named Tyler and he played with the girls that he said were really cute, but couldn't remember their names. That's my boy...always scoping out the girls...Oh DEAR!!! His favorite part was going outside to play on the playground. No surprise there......He loves Mrs. Wynn and says she is very nice. I was worried about his shirt being tucked in all day would be a big deal because he wasn't too sure about that at first and made him fussy, but it is required. We kept telling him how handsome he looked and that he looks just like daddy when he goes to work and he just loved that fact. (ooooooh, he did look just like a mini Craig....too cute for me to handle!!!) When he came out of school it was still tucked in and assured me that it really was no big deal and that he was used to it now. I hope the same excitement stays with him as the year goes on. It's always so easy for them to have a great first day the way we build it up and the excitement just skyrockets from there.

Bradley and Alayna were so exicted to see each other. They immeditately started goofing off and headed to the playroom until I called them down for lunch. It was cute to see how they missed each other.

So once again, day 1 was a big hit and pray he will continue to love it more as the years goes on.

Tomorrow's the big day.....

Tomorrow's the big day for my little/big boy. Little just because he is still little and big because I can't believe he's going to be a Kindergartener and starting his real little school career. I'm not sad because he's going to school because we've done the whole preschool thing and used to that morning routine of being gone. And there's no use getting sad that he's growing up because that's just a part of life that I'm realizing and accepting, but just floored at how fast and where the time has gone since that little baby was born 5 years ago. Even more mind boggling is I've had another one since then and another one on the way. WHEW!! I can't even say that I enjoy one stage more than the other because each one I enjoy so much and with each stage has it's challenges too. Before I had kids Michele used to say to me "you just wait, you're going to want to freeze frame each stage and want to keep them right where they are" and I get that now and she still says the same thing as hers have grown way beyond where mine are. She says, "I want to keep them right where they are and enjoy them right where they are" I love when I'm reminded of that. So as my children grow I'm just remembering to enjoy them "right where they are" Forget the challenges.....they are going to be there no matter what stage/phase they are at and you deal and move on as they do, but I just want to love where each of them is because each one brings just as much if not more joy. So I'm excited for my little guy to start kindergarten because I know how excited he is to go and can't wait to relish in the journey with him and hear all about his new exciting adventures in his new little/big world. We have the privilege of being able to send him to Great Bridge Christian. A story in itself....and much turmoil that went on in my mommy mind of wanting to do "the right thing" for him of what to do and not sure we'd be able to do private. The battle to do public vs. homeschool vs. public vs. private yada yada..... The plan was to do homeschool and then came the news of a new baby and the battle in my mind of can I really do it with a baby plus a 2 year old and be everything to Bradley socially and academically. I new the Lord would equip me with whatever He wanted me to do and just prayed for the right path and door to open or not open if I wasn't meant to home school that he would have to clearly open the right door and that He did at just the right time. Even when I again went through the mental battle I had yet another confirmation at just the right time and then I knew this is what I was meant to do at this time so I just had to sit back and say thank you Lord for being so clear in this with me and for me even though at times I just wasn't sure. It's crazy how we torture ourselves with things. I won't say I'm not still a little anxious or nervous for him as he goes to a whole new environment all by himself not knowing a single soul....unlike preschool, but I know once past the initial adjustment he'll do just fine. He can be a tad bit shy in new situations...sometimes, but not all the time, but adapts quickly and I wouldn't dare even say he's an introvert because he is not. My mind will be at ease the first time I hear him say how much he loves it. Soooo, hopefully I do hear them words......

I'm excited for getting on a new routine, accomplishing some things before this new little one arrives and spending some one on one time with my little Alayna before I soon have a new little life that will divide my time once again. So as one chapter of our life slowly comes to an end and another one is on the brink of quickly opening, I'm exctied to see how it all unfolds for many reasons.

To my Bradley....I'm so excited for you and this new journey you will begin all by yourself. To meet new friends, to learn new things, and become all that God wants and needs you to be. My hopes and prayers is that you will always be sensitive and in tune with what He wants you to be. Two of the things you told me you were excited about most were "momma, I can't believe I'll have my own desk" and the other one was playing. I love you my little/big boy and hope you are just as excited once you start as you are now.

Some Family memory moments

Just a few random family summer time memories....

On a mission.....
Down by the dock...Bradley says, "momma, I really wish we could have a boat one day" We were watching a family getting ready to load up and go for a ride. I'm like..."That would be fun wouldn't it buddy?"

Auntie Colleen gave Bradley a gift card for his birthday that we sort of misplaced, (sorry colleen) but found it. It was of course buried in a pile on the "junk counter" Bradley got to pick something out the other day as a late birthday present. He was thrilled when he picked out a power ranger with a motorcycle and learned later that the motor cycle transformed as well. Thanks Auntie Colleen!!!!
Any evening at Chuck E Cheese. Alayna has no fear of the big furry creatures whatsoever.

This was really cool!

We all love air hockey
Barney is my favorite!

My beautiful girl
Watching the birdies
My handsome boy
The locks park
It was the best investment to buy one of those intex pools this year. We've had some great fun in it with just us, company and sharing it with friends.

As Alayna would say....girl time, girl time

Flying high, oh what fun!!!

Daddy and his baby girl

My little tomboy/fairytale princess

Alayna has really grown to love baseball hats. All on her own......she knows just where they are and will pull her little plastic chair over to the coat rack where I keep them hanging and comes out with it on backwards. I'm like how does she know to put it on backwards almost everytime she puts it on. Usually if it's not, it will end up that way after awhile. She looks like such a tuffy. I wondered how she had gotten it until I seen her in action. So she puts the hat on, but will still prance around on her tip toes like a princess and finds her beads to wear around her neck and still loves to get into mommy's lipgloss and high heel sandles. Last night she just had to take the hat to bed with her and about went into orbit when I tried to take it away so I thought, no harm in it so she slept with her hat. Another story......Go figure.....she's my little tomboy/fairytale princess.

Her latest "new trick" is she has learned how to open the fridge. I was dreading this day as did I when Bradley learned how to as well. Time to firm up on her. She knows where to get the goodstuff. It is kind of funny watching her wrestle it open, but a battle I need to face.

She is continuing to talk nonstop and blows us away everyday with her vocabulary. We just look at each other in amazement and say "just how does she know how to say that?" Her fits are minimizing which is a good thing. They are much less and more short lived. Her new thing when I ask her not to do something or to do something is "ok, mommy"....in her raspy little voice. That is quite shocking too as I still brace for the "NO, DON'T WANT TO MOMMY!" Which still comes out at times, but she is learning slow but sure how to obey. How much to expect from a 1 year old I'll never know, but I leap for joy when I see the progress. Her latest phrase is "guess what mommy?" Too funny....and then she jibber jabber a story I can half understand. Just like a girl though. If she is in trouble she'll get right in my face and say "HI MOMMY!!!! and start talking really fast as if to explain herself. Again, how does she know........

What a mess......

I love my hat!!!

Just hangin with brother

Blueberry Picking

Friday we headed out to Pungo once again, only this time for blueberry picking. I hadn't been in probably 10 years and thought the kids would enjoy it and they did. Alayna had fun playing peekaboo in the bushes or sitting contentedly right next to me picking and eating nonstop. At times she'd dump what Bradley and I had already picked...Oh boy, we quickly put a stop to that. With strawberries you can pick a bunch in a short amount of time, but with blueberries it takes alot longer and little tiny hands can't pick that fast. Bradley asked me a million times "momma, do we have enough for a pie yet?" I wanted much more than for just a pie so we picked until we just couldn't pick anymore. Bradley was still concerned about not having enough. We got enough for a pie, muffins, pancakes ( all very yummy !) froze some and ate all the rest within days. Even though it was the end of the season they had alot left so we may have to get more. Well the end result were two very dirty, sweaty, tired, but content kids. The bottoms of Alayna's feet were pure blue from stepping in the ones that were on the ground because she's like her momma and loves to be barefoot all the time.

One proud berry picker

Shhhh...don't tell anyone!

You can't see how dirty Alayna really is, but here are my tired sweaty kids....

My Funny sweet Girl....

Just a quick one for the books.....Bradley slept in extra late this morning and Alayna and I kept waiting for him to wake up. She kept saying "where Braddy mommy?" and I kept saying "He's still sleeping." When he came down she jumped on him and started rubbing his head and said "hi, braddy, oh wha a priyy (pretty) boy. It was so darn cute!!! Bradley quickly corrected her and said "no, I'm a handsome boy" I guess she's so used to hearing "oh what a pretty girl" that she just thought boys were pretty too. A little later she got on him again and got right in his face and said "Oh, wuvy wuvy Braddy" meaning...lovey lovey Bradley I think she felt a little lost without him for longer than normal this morning......Oh those moments.....love em!

Our Camping Trip at Bear Creek State Park

Here are a few pictures of our wonderful, family reconnection with no distractions and just pure quality time camping trip at Bear Creek State Park just us 4 (until next year that it). We always love camping with friends, but usually like to take at least 1 trip each year just us. We used to go to this campground before kids and it's the first time we've taken them here. It has a fresh water lake to swim in which is always the best and reminds us of back home. Alayna is quite the little camper girl. She fit right into the environment. I didn't get a picture of it, but one time she had the baseball hat on backwards, dirty face and sweaty little curls hanging out. It was quite the site. Her only issue was falling asleep in the tent which resulted in 20 minutes of screaming each night until she wore herself out until we could lay with her and she would be still and then fall asleep with one of us. But once she was out, she was out and both of them slept until 7:00-8:00 each day which was great! Of course there was fishing and hiking too. Alayna kept right up with out little hike, although we didn't push it and go very far, but loved the exploring none the less. Our favorite things were sitting around the campfire at night and relaxing by the lake during the day. It was so peaceful with all of the surroundings. It was a little on the warm side but nothing unbearable and are looking forward to going in the fall once the crisp cool weather sets in.

They had a fun little play set for the kids to play on

Impatiently waiting to go fishing
Just me and my dad (I love that book by Mercer Mayer)

"Momma, I'm gonna sling you!"
Our little boat ride in the old fashioned "johnny boat" We did get an electric motor though. Definitely no water skiing on the back of that thing.

Preparing to go
Alayna kept saying "want dis boat mommy, k"
Seeing if anything is biting
Playing with the fire is the best

One tired boy
One tired baby
Out on the peaceful lake
Trying to be quiet and wait for the fish....no bites though.
Here I come mommy

Turtle time
Bathing Beauty....she loved just hanging by the shore. It's less stressful for her than the beach....no waves to worry about.
Getting daddy time
Momma cookin breakfast