A night on the beach

Just some fun silly pictures of us down on the beach over labor day weekend.

Look at me...I'm a little dog digging in the sand!

Look daddy!

Mommy and her babies being silly

My Baby Girl Alayna--Happy Birthday Sweetheart

We didn't go all out and have a big fancy party this year, but needless to say that doesn't make her any less important in our eyes. We had the Ratz's come over for cookie cake on Friday night to help celebrate and Sue convinced me that Ham-ton needed to come over to sing to his little women so I politely agreed:)

Our Birthday Girl

Daddy showing her how to blow out the candles
Yummy....cookie cake



Before I let another day slip by I want to wish my baby girl a great big Happy Birthday!!! I can't believe you are already 2 years old. You are growing before my very eyes and I love watching you. You at times even seem so much older than you are, especially with the way you can communicate....it amazes me. I love everything about you....even the fiestyness and boy can you be at times. You are tuff in the way you will surely fight for what you want and will hardly take no for an answer, but you are just as tender in the ways you show your love whether by taking my face in your hands and bringing yours close to mine or coming to me and daddy saying "hold you mommy or hold you daddy" or "hug, hug" You are quickly learning each day how to be more and more compliant. When you get into trouble you quickly say "hi mommy, hi mommy" right in my face in a happy little voice. Like you are trying to distract me or something. I have to sort of snicker to the side so you don't see me. You are just precious and spunky to me and so full of life and energy. I am learning you just as you are learning me dear one. Some of your favorite things to do are color with markers and oh my color you do. Color on paper, color on walls, color on yourself, but again each day you are learning to keep it on the paper, but you still are full of surprises. You absolutely love playdoh and that's another thing I just let you have at it because you love it so much and will keep you entertained forever. You are learning to play rescue heroes, and power rangers with your brother and learning the little lingo and lauguage he uses to play. It's quite entertaining to see the two of you in action. Barney is still your most favorite thing to watch and it's so fun to see you sing all the songs you learn and can get them almost word for word. You are definitely a free spirit that enjoys not alot of boundaries, but again are quickly learning them and learning to abide. You love being outside roaming around and riding your motor trike and playing on the swings. I've said it before that you do have a feminine side for sure that knows when you look pretty, but I can dress you up all nice and yummy and sometimes within the next hour you look just like you've lived a whole day and then some. Sometimes it makes me fussy and sometimes it just makes me roll my eyes and laugh because that's just who you are. My little dirty faced, sweaty, hat on backwards, dirt from head to toe kind of girl. I do have to say your brother is a boy and doesn't break a sweat like you do. Too funny for me. The girl side of you loves to have your toes painted. Ms. Ki Ki started that with you and now when I take my polish out you say..."want some too mommy" I love watching you with your daddy and the special bond that has been developing since the day you were born. He is so taken by you and you by him. He gets just tickled by you and watching you in the things you do and say. You are definitely a daddy's girl. Well sweet one you have definitely won our hearts over with all that you are and love you for just who you are because you are exactly how God made you to be.






Alayna was trying to convince Sue that she needed a hat too.
Giving Ham-ton a birthday kiss. These two are a hoot together!!

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!