Williamsburg

Saturday we had a great family day in Williamsburg. This is also the time of year Craig is itching to head up to Bass Pro Shops to check out the hunting gear and start training Bradley in for his first hunting experience which is still eons away. So we all get recuited to go. The kids love Bass Proshops too. Bradley loves the pop guns there and so he decided that one will go on his Christmas list. I just couldn't justify buying one when Christmas is so close. He also loves shooting the targets with daddy there. Alayna's favorite part was the water outside and the little tiny waterfalls and watching the BIG fishies inside. Once we got our fix there we headed to lunch at El Pollo loco which I guess that means The Crazy Chicken in Spanish. Who knows....not that it sounded really appetizing but the crazy person dressed up in the chicken suit quickly drew us in. It was actually not too bad for a fast food joint. We then preceded with caution and mental preparation to the outlets with no expectations in mind of a certain shopping agenda with two kids in tow. By the time we got there the little rascals were already tired and my shopping mind kicked into gear, but after a few shops and a few minor meltdowns from the restraint we quickly gave up any selfish ambitions to the wind. We came, we saw, we quickly left!! Craig and I then got our afternoon coffee and the kids got their icecream and we headed to the Newport News Park and it was beautiful there. We spent the next few hours hanging out by the water and letting the kids run as free as they wanted collecting their sticks and pine cones and all was well with their world again. That's all they wanted was the freedom to be the kids that they are. Not cooped up in strollers so mom and dad could shop. Who could blame them right? I couldn't believe they were already setting up for the Christmas light show and it's not even Thanksgiving yet. It turned out to be such a beautiful day and there were so many great picture spots and settings.

Praisen the Lord

Too cute for me!! We were on the way to Hallelujah Harvest listening to praise music and we were teaching Alayna to praise the Lord and so here she was liftin her praise to heaven. Bradley was right along with her.

She was really gettin into it here!

Hallelujah Harvest

Atlantic Shores had their annual Hallelujah Harvest and the kids had a ball once again. Food, Fun, Games, Inflatables, Trunk or Treating, Candy, Candy, and more Candy. We met up with all our buddies and had a great time!! I cringe at all the candy Alayna ate, some of which I was well aware and because she had control of her bag.... alot of which I wasn't aware, but by the end of the night the way she quickly spiraled out of control...I quickly became aware she had had way too much!!!! I am the dumb dumb that gave her full control so who's to blame right!?!? It's only once a year they indulge in that amount of sugar in one day so I won't dwell to much.

I won't say I'm cheap, just thrifty and refused to spend $20 a piece on a costume and didn't luck out at the local thrift shop so Bradley had no complaints about being spiderman again this year and look....momma did his face herself. Yeah, for me!! At this point it had worn off some, but he loved it!! I forgot a friend of mine had given Alayna a fairy dress up outfit awhile back and glad I remembered so we were all set with $0 spent.

A little poo poo praise

Sunday Alayna let us know she had to do poo poo on the potty, but for Alayna poo poo means pee pee because until now that's all she's done on the potty. Craig quickly got her pants off and when she was done she got up and started jumping up and down yelling "I poo poo on the potty, I poo poo on the potty, look, look a snake, a snake!!!" And indeed she did and yes it really looked like a snake!!!! Ewe gross right!!!!! But hey, she poo pooed for the first time on the potty. YEAH, BIG GIRL ALAYNA!!!

Awww.....

......ok so my heart was melted like butter this morning. Bradley you amaze me sometimes. Every morning I pray with you in the car before we go in school and today you stopped me and said "mommy, can I do the prayer today?" I said "Absolutely!" It was one of them non repeated, non routine prayers, but one from the heart. At the very end you said "And dear Lord Jesus, please help everything with the baby be ok and help it to not have any allergies, In Jesus name amen" We hadn't even talked about the baby today or have you ever prayed on your own for the baby like that. It touched my heart and made me feel like the baby is indeed going to be ok. Even though I'm sure everything is fine, I'm at the point in pregnancy where the itch is kicking in and the over whelming feelings of really wanting to meet this new little baby girl and do the first inspection of her little body to see that all is well. We're all getting anxious to meet this little life growing inside me that makes her little presence known by her pokes, jabs, rolls, kicks and hiccups of course. I just want to see her little face and wonder what she'll look like and wonder what her personality will be like. I just keep envisioning these two little blonde girls playing side by side and their big brother in the distance watching over them and protecting them both. So for now I'm continuing to wonder and wait as the time is getting nearer to meet our new baby girl that we've been praying for preparing for and we are more than ready for her..... for we all have enough love in our heart to love another precious one. It is then that our family will be complete.

The Living Museum

A few weeks ago we went to the Living Museum in Newport News. Katy is always to good about letting us know about free things and I'm all about that. It was free day at all the Smithosian Museums so we took advantage. Gramma Dennice was in town so she came with us. It was a really cool place and the kids loved it! Alayna was especially mezmorized. She would go up to the glass cases of the snakes and say "tickle, tickle" and try to get them. The huge fish tank was awesome! Ok, the alligator I admit it had us stumped. We thought it was a fake display because it wouldn't move and we kept going back to look at it and it would be in the same position. Finally, it moved and we were done being driven crazy about it. I was telling my friend about it who not sure if I'll mention her name or not about the fact and if she thought the same thing because they had went too and she so sweetly and smart alecy says "Heidi, isn't that why they call it a Living Museum, because everything there is living?" I love Sue because the fiesty little thing and I have just that in common. Being a smarty pants. Oops, did I just mention her name?

Deep Thoughts From Bradley

Another one of them stories I don't want to forget. Short but sweet and comical...It was a dinnertime conversation. Bradley has been learning so many new bible verses lately between school, Awana and Church. So he has had some memorizing to do. Awana is the highlight of his week and the other highlight is his new Sunday School Class. He loves them both so much and most days he asks how many more days until Awana or how many more days until church. He is pretty goal oriented so it's probably because they both have different goals to reach for.

So we're sitting there and Bradley was randomly rattling off one of his memory verses and it was John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He have His only begotton Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life. We were talking about what that means and he said..."I can't believe God is a boy and had a baby "oh dear.....I'm thinking, what a funny boy! Daddy says, "boy, that's a......and I knew what he was going to say that "that's a tuff one"...and Bradley quickly interupts and says, "oh, I know...God made Jesus up in heaven in his office and then sent him down like a robot: Crazy kid!!! How do you get a 5 year old to truly grasp something that can be hard for a big person to comprehend. Bradley gave us a good laugh at the innocence of his 5 year old mind and imagination. It's funny how you think they are getting something and then their imagination totally takes over and they get their own little ideas of what something means. No matter how crazy the conversations are, I still love them.

Starting to potty train? Hmmmm.....maybe?

Oh, those big eyes...full of wonder, amazement, adventure, curiousity, spunk and so much more to describe this baby girl!! I love her!! Every fiesty bit of her!! Some days she is so compliant and so predictable and other days there isn't alot predictable about her. It's a day to day thing. Yesterday, I hardly knew I had her and today she is so full of mommy, mommy mommy....look, look, watch this, watch this. Can I talk to the fishy? Can I color? Can I do a puzzle? Can I play a game? Mommy, do you want to do building blocks with me? Right now she is running around the house in a way too small clown costume that I pulled out for my friend Katy's little girl. Bouncing around like a crazy little clown. She is so full of words and sentences bursting right before my eyes. Her new big thing is going pee pee on the potty. Before it was just a game to her and a game I wasn't willing to play because I already said I wasn't going to stress about this whole potty training thing. I did want her out of diapers before the baby, but thought well....., she just turned 2 she'll do it when she's ready. She definitely is still in diapers most of the day or sometimes I'll let her run around without one for short periods of time. It went from telling me every once in awhile and not even an everyday thing that she wanted to use the potty to 1-2 times a day. I thought in the beginning it was just a fluke thing but she continues to do it. It's just not a consistant thing. So who knows she may have it down in the next 2 months anyway with no pressure.

My little prayer warrior

Bradley can be a hoot sometimes with the way he communicates. He doesn't complain about going to school at all. I can wake him up and after a few minutes he's up and out of the bed and following the same routine with not really much fuss. There was one day that he said he didn't want to go, but got over it really quick. If you ask him if he likes school he will tell you "no, it's not fun at all" But he will just go with the flow. I'm backing up to day 3....you know the first week of school where momma wants to know it all and I asked all the same questions a million times like I'm looking for a different answer or something. He finally said to me after 3 days of school "mommy, I like school, but it's not fun and the only reason why I tell you that it is, is so I don't hurt your feelings" I was taken aback a little by his answer, but realized I as momma, who wants to know it all probably set myself up for a smart alec answer like that one. I have learned to back off a little bit and simply say "did you have a great day?" or "how was your day?" I usually get the answers I want and need just by keeping it simple. He'll still tell me that school is boring and that he didn't have fun, but he still wants to keep going. We are working on the attitude portion of those answers though. I've come to the terms these smart little ones know how to get your goat when they want to.

On another note I was on a high after leaving Bible Study and had to stop by Christian Lifeway before getting Bradley and quickly had to fight against a low and remember the Godly thing to do when I quickly had to escape Christian Lifeway because of a tempered 2 year old. I graciously did escape probably not unnoticed but wasn't going to allow it to rock my boat, but I was struck with a little blessing as a mommy when Bradley's teacher put him in the car and told me what a little prayer warrior he's been at school this week. Apparently he had been wanting to pray alot at school. She said she could really feel his heart behind his prayers. It did my heart good. Being thankful and praying more are the things we've been working on lately and it's times like these that really make me think.....WOW, it's all worth it. We are never promised we won't face difficult times in our season of life. Even mommyhood during these precious times of trying to rear our children in a Godly way, but with the right heart, attitute and much prayer it is much easier and our children will sense that and grow from it as well. I mess up alot alot, but am reminded alot alot and it is a fight worth fighting and a path worth taking and it isn't always going to be super easy.

Mommy I just want to be like you

Alayna is so very attached to her daddy these days it's not even funny. It even escalated to a ridiculous point(I say that humorously because it's now become a joke between Craig and I in our own humorous way) after this weekend when I left for a few days for a womens conference and came back to witness the attachment even more. She asks "where daddy?" all day long. She will always go to the bedroom thinking he's sleeping. She ruffs and tuffs with him, fights with him, wants him to put her to bed, wants him to read to her ect.....There are moments though where she does want mommy and wants to do what I do. They other day I was painting my toenails and she just perched herself by me and watched and then said "want some too mommy". KiKi introduced her to getting her toes painted. One may say she's too little, but I see no harm in it so I freshened hers up from the last time and she sat oh so still and even let them dry. Too cute for me. Anyway, I put the polish on the counter when we were done not thinking another thing of it. The day went on and later on I came into the kitchen from being upstairs and to my utter surprise there was Alayna with the damage already done with her little chair pulled over to the counter and her standing on top of it with her fingers painted, her toes REpainted, her lips painted and a portion of the hardwood floor painted. Oh dear......she wanted to be like mommy in that moment and time. These little eyes watch and wait in the shadows. Watch at what we do and wait until the moment presents itself. It's funny certain things can be dangerous at certain ages and totally fine for other ages. Nail polish in and of itself isn't dangerous, but used the wrong way it can be. Thank God she didn't eat it and was fine and I'm sure the little bit that was on her lips didn't cause any long term effects. It made me wonder and ponder the thought how God must look down on us at times and see what we do and how certain things we may get ourselves into at certain times can be totally fine, but when used in the wrong way or in excess those same things can be harmful. The bible study I've recently been apart of and it's only been a few weeks ( a Beth Moore Study-Fruits of the Spirit) who I've heard so much great things about but never taken a class has been so amazingly informative with simple things we may already know and need to be reminded of or deep thoughts to really ponder that as Katy put things we have a hard time to wrap our minds around. I can't even do it justice but her way of teaching and explaining things is incredible. I've really enjoyed the first week of studying and homework although it seems you really only scratch the surface of where you could go to study even further. I love how so far I've left each week wanting to be better...a better me, a better mom, a better wife, a better friend, sister, daughter ect....God can meet us where we are daily even though the work in us will be ongoing on what we need to work on specifically, He can meet us where we are in each minute of each moment we are faced with in each day if we fill ourselves with Him first and seek to please Him only because automatically that will reach out and have an effect on the ones around us. I had the opportunity this weekend to hear Karen Kingsbury speak at the conference we went too and I love her christian fiction novels and she said our life is a story that we are in the process of writing and how do we want our story to read? How are we treating the characters in our story? How do we want to be remembered? It was really neat the perspective she gave and again it's hard to say it how she did, but more to ponder and daily think on. Not sure how I got off on a rampage, but somehow from the nail polish to now my heart took over and is overflowing. I love some of the things I've been learning lately. It's been uplifting, encouraging and inspiring.

Semi Anuual Neighborhood picnic

The little neighborhood shindig they have in our neighborhood is always a hit with the kids and I must say they do have an awesome quality BBQ as well. This was a few weeks back but the pictures got lost in the shuffle. They always have face painting and Bradley has been Batman, Spiderman and this time choose to be an Army Man. The girl asked if she could paint Alayna's face and I told her I didn't mind, but it could go either way with whether or not she'd allow it and amazingly enough she sat so perfectly still the whole time. She only did half her face. It was cute watching her be so still while they were doing it. They did balloon animals and Alayna went through 3 of them. Each one ended up popping at some point. Bradley choose a bow with balloon arrows, but that too was short lived. Those things never do last long. At the end of it Bradley said to me "momma, I bet you didn't even know that I had 4 snowcones today?" I said "no I didn't, you sneaky little thing" and then he said "yeah, the people didn't know either, they must not have recognized me to tell me I couldn't have another one." Silly boy.....

Happy Anniversay to Us

Not sure I like the weird hair or the chubby cheeks, but needless to say it's a picture Bradley took of us one night on the beach. We just celebrated our 16th wedding anniversay and am very blessed to call this man my very best friend, confident, soul mate, and lover. It's been such an adventure doing and going through life together learning a little more about each other as we go and raising our babies together with one mind. I love that we know so much about each other and accept each other just as we are and sees the best in each other, and still allows each other room to continue to grow into the people that we need to be as individuals and as a couple. We certainly would have loved to sneek away to an exotic island alone like we always talk about doing, but will delay for another season until the time is right. We were still able to get a sitter and sneek away for a dinner date night to celebrate and that was ok with us as we know one day we will be able to really get away and do what we want. Craig feels so bad and every year that has passed since our 10th we have been talking about doing something grand and I assure him that it's ok and our time will come when the time is right. So until then honey when we can get away and it just be us I love you and all that you are to me and all that you are to our kids and what you mean to our family. You are the best daddy and husband a girl could ask for!!!!! I thank the Lord for you!!

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.