A spontaneous mud puddle moment

My day usually begins with Alayna saying up up....pippy pippy (which is sippy)..... eat eat....

ou tide ou tide (which is outside) She is definitely an outside girl and happiest when she is free to roam in wide open spaces. Craig laughs and says she takes after me because my mind will be buzzing as I lay in bed first thing in the morning going thru my mental checklist of what the day will bring and what needs to be done. Well Alayna's mind goes faster than mine and faster than I can function until I get that first cup of coffee:) Can anyone relate? Today was no different but when the ou tide ou tide came and she was screaming at the sliding glass door to go out I was telling her no because of the rain... so the screams continued. She didn't care if it was raining she wanted out. So I opened the sliding glass door and booted her little booty out and down the steps and out to the yard she went. When she came back in she was soaked... so off with the jammies. A little while later she was at the front door wanting ou tide again. So I once again opened the door and out she went.... now with just a onsie on. She was running around the cul du sac and by then Bradley had joined her in his jammies. Some may call me crazy......by now she was in the middle of a mud puddle splashing away having a ball. Bradley who I thought would have joined in was very cautiously squatting next to the puddle. I said "go for it baby, jump right in and have a ball" He said "in my jammies" I said "sure" He said "maybe I should go and get some proper clothes on for this, do you think I could go and get my bathing suit on?" I was in shock, this is silly Bradley I'm talking about who doesn't have a lot of prim and proper moments if you know what I mean. He's the boy who in parking lots when there are puddles will run and jump in them trying to get you wet. I guess I just got a kick out of him saying that. So off he goes to get his bathing suit on. Just another one of those moments that matters when you just let em have fun!It was a fun start to the rainy day. You know what came next? Yep......TUBBY TIME!!!!!!

Pay no mind to the boogers.....most know this is her normal.....poor thing.....

This is really cool...although still cautious and staying clean......

A Bible Lesson from Bradley

We were driving in the car the other day and out of the blue here was our conversation....
Bradley: "Mommy"
Me: "Yes buddy"
Bradley: "Did you know that God gave His life so we can live?"

Immediately me heart was swelling at the thought that he was just thinking of this in his random thoughts.

Me: "That's right, what made you think of that?"
Bradley: "Well, I saw it in a movie." "And did you know he washes away our sins and God can be with everyone at the same time?"

He then start talking about Daniel and the Lions Den

Me: "What else do you know?"
Bradley: "God can even help us clean our room if we ask him right"
Me: "That's right buddy"

Our conversation was short as we came to our destination, but ooh, these conversations are so sweet. It may not always be right on, but the bits and pieces they do get is so amazing. Sometimes I think and have had conversations with others about how deep do we really get with them at this age in our explanations about God etc....Sometimes it can get deep really fast because they have so many questions and how this and why that......but little by little and the older they get it will all starts to make sense and just hearing them repeat what they do get, it's like wow.....maybe they do get more than we think. I love and cherish these little conversations with him. He may be little, but he is a little person too and I can just tell he feels so important to engage in these actual conversations. It makes me also realize the importance to keep talking with himabout these things and listen with an active ear and ask questions. Bradley, I love you and I love to hear what's on your mind lately.

Where did the Snow come from?

I had no idea they were calling for snow and needless to say it was only a dusting, but when we came down stairs this morning Bradley yelled SNOW!!! "Mommy, I didn't know it was suppose to snow, I didn't even pray last night for it to snow" He prays almost every night for it to snow. I'm so glad his prayer was finally answered. We were out first thing this morning shoveling, and doing twirlys on the boogie board and hoping to make a least a mini snowman, but it just wasn't sticking. It was instant fun and playing to tears of frozen hands and feet. We just aren't equipped for these sporadic events. We did have great fun while it lasted. Because of the regular school delays Bradley's school was cancelled so off to the Y we went for their Valentine Pajama party and then gave Bradley the choice of where to go for lunch and of course he picked Taco Bell. He loves tacos.

Bradley had to take a spin in his jeep with a not so happy passenger.

Bradley kept trying to throw shovel fulls of snow me.

Bradley flat wore me out with all the twirlys he kept wanting me to do.

Alayna was like "what is all that weird stuff"

Quality Time equals a burnt lip

I was all exited to make the fun frosted Valentine Cookies with Bradley during Alayna's nap for our quality time of the day. Thought I was being a good mommie you know. So I'm taking the cookies out of the oven and Bradley likes to be very close to me whatever I'm doing anything in the kitchen cooking related. He'll pull the chair over so he's up high ect....This time he didn't have the chair and this time I didn't say watch out the pans not. I forgot, but he knows to not get too close in this. We he walks right up and sticks his lip to the hot cookie pan and was a little stunned at first and then the reality set in. It had started burning.....I wondered what possessed him to do that.

After I was like "Why did you do that?"
Bradley: "Because I wanted to be close to you"
Awwww........
Me: "Well, why were you down there so close to the pan?"
Bradley: "Because I'm little and not big like you"
He cried a little on and off especially when he'd take the ice off.
Bradley: "I'm really trying to be brave and not cry"
So cute...he really was trying to be brave. Needless to say I got stuck frosting about 30+ cookies almost by myself. He was finally better to help at the end when I was almost done. I had good quality time all by myself frosting the cookies any way I wanted:), but poor Bradley has a burnt lip.

That's my drama story of the day:):):):) No picture of the burnt lip......

He's still my little boy

None of us want our first born little boys to grow up do we? This was one of those priceless moments for me when Bradley grabbed his "taggy" and crawled up in my lap and fell asleep. I lay with him every night when he goes to sleep, but moments like these are different than that. He's growing up so fast and how much longer or how many more times will he just crawl in my lap and fall asleep? I'm not sure, but I will cherish the times when he does. How much longer will I call him my baby boy? As long as he will let me. Daddy just knew to go and get the camera without me even asking because he knew it was moment I'll want to look back on and remember. It was special for him to see too. It's inevitable that our little boys will indeed grow up and I will enjoy holding him as long as he will let me.

My little ponset baby

We have a Philipinno boy in our Sunday School class at church and Craig told him one time not too long ago that he loves ponset and would you know that sweet boy went home and told his mom and this Sunday they brought us a huge thing of warm ponset. I think I'm spelling that right. Well little Alayna benefited from that tremendously. She inhaled it and it was quite funny to watch her. Just thought I'd share.

Our Trip to the Portsmouth Children's Museum

We had the itchies to do something new and cool on Saturday and were googling to find something new and different in the area and couldn't find anything. We hadn't been to the Portsmouth Children's Museum since the summer and Craig had never been so to us it was new and cool again. We had a great time!! Bradley enjoyed it like it was new again and was into some different exibits that he wasn't into the last time and of course there were always the favorites that he would want to keep going back to. Alayna was off and running alot of the time without looking back of course, but would actually have her moments of staying put as well. Doesn't matter what we are doing as long as she has the wide open space of running running and running. Here are some pictures of our day.

P.S. Did you know they are starting reonovations in September to redo the whole museum and add 20,000 square. I couldn't wait until I found out it wouldn't reopen until 2009 or 2010. So enjoy it while it's still available. I still can't wait, it will be just a little longer than I thought.

Bubbles Galore

So I've been sweetly pressured why there haven't been pictures of the grand babies in more than 2 weeks. No reason other than not taking the time to do it. So here's to you Gramma Cathy in getting you up to speed:)

What do you do when you are freezing and turning up the heat and turning on the fire place isn't helping and you really want to take a hot bath and both kids are up because one took an early nap and the other isn't going to nap and it's too cold to go outside and you don't want to leave the house and it's only 1:30 in the afternoon? I'll tell you what you do.......you put on your bathing suits and fill the jacuzzi tub with water and add lots of bubbles and turn on the jets and watch em rise. That's just what the 3 of us did one day last week and stayed in there until we were shriveled like little prunes and had a ball. Alayna used to be terrifed of bubbles, but she sure was loving them!! Sorry no pictures of me on this one!!! I just totally banished the idea that I would be alone with a book on this one and enjoyed the moment with my kids so much!!!

Bradley's little side kick

Alayna daily lives up to her title as "Bradley's little sidekick" He got this power wheels for christmas and to see these two zipping around the cul du sac and the field is a riot. I just have to make sure the little fart stays strapped in because she's figured out how to undo it.

Alayna's little Caregiver

Here's just one of my favorite reoccuring stories with Bradley and Alayna. It's so darn cute to watch them.




























Alayna usually follows Bradley everywhere including the bathroom and it usually goes something like this....

Bradley: "Mommy, hurry and get Alayna out of the bathroom I'm afraid I'll pee on her"

Me: "I'm coming Bradley"

It usually ends up with a whole lot of screams when I take her out. If we are upstairs she usually makes a pit stop at the sink and pulls out the toothbrush and tooth paste. One of her favorite things is getting her teeth brushed. Bradley is so patient with her and loves to brush her teeth for her and she thinks it's really cool too. After this particular time I went downstairs and left them upstairs once they were done and a little bit later Bradley comes down.
Me: "where's Alayna?"
Bradley: "She's coming"
And around the corner she comes.
Me: How did she get downstairs?"
Bradley: "I carried her" very matter of factly.
Me: Oh, Bradley you have to be so careful, please don't do that anymore ok"
Bradley: "but mommy it's ok, I only almost dropped her one time"
Mommy: "YIKES, please, please, don't do that anymore"

He is so nurturing and sweet with her and it's just precious to watch their little relationship develop. He always has to make sure she's taken care of.

A Reflection From My Heart

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! I figure I'd better get my first posting in for the new year. We are just so excited for a fresh new start to a new year. It's a time to reflect over the past year at the wonderful memories that will forever be with us and also the things that challenged us because it is with those challenges that force us to grow and an opportunity to use those things to become better than we were before. It is a time to look forward and search for the things deep within us that inspire us to become all that God intended us to be. It is a new beginning and a new chapter of our life just waiting to be written. I am truly excited to see what the Lord has for each of us in this next year and to watch it all unfold exactly how it was meant to be. Just remember where one door closes another is right there waiting to be opened. Sometimes it's right in front of us and we just have to walk through it. I have been inspired lately by things I have read and people I have listened to and with a new way to express myself through journeling and of course blogging. I just wanted to share some heart thoughts with you. So it is my hope and prayer that your 2008 is everything that you expect it to be and more.

p.s. For those of you who have checked out my blog lately and everytime you go in it's a different color....don't worry about me, I'm not crazy....I'm just discovering who I am:)

I'm so getting more and more into the sepia option on my camera. These were just some random precious moments over the past few days. Christmas Day and yesterday we just stayed in our pjs all day and it was great!! Today we were back to the land of the living:)

Uh Oh!!

I know I refer to Alayna as my little pistol, but she really is sweet and I'm reminded by a certain someone often (ummm, Sue) however she does have normal 1 year old issues amongst that sweetness. She's been challenging me with our christmas tree by taking the ornaments off and finding a spot she thinks they look better. She goes back and forth and leaves them in various places either lined up on the kitchen chair or wherever she feels like at any given time. I'll do the flicking and don't touch ect....but she will look at me with those big eyes and start chattering at me 100miles an hour. Sort of sounds like this....tchitywehkdfdjhq;oicljfdghudgwiyekrhg. Those of you who have heard her carry on a total conversation know what I mean. Today I'm sitting at the computer and behind me in the front living room I hear something fall. I turn around and see her looking right at me and I say "what did you do?" and her response is tyeihodsihdflkdhfodyoirheh. She knew she did wrong. I quickly grab my camera and repeat myself asking what she did and again I get "tyeihjdhfiudgq;kjleyruisjhd" I guess I'm not consistant with my discipline because she took more drastic measures and finds ways to manipulate me at the same time. I dared her not to do that with the big christmas tree or her little chatter won't win me over to that one:) lol

Fun Loving times

Bradley and Aleigha hard at work trying to break the ice. Some days were so cold you could only go out for short periods of time. So glad it did snow for Bradley's sake. He prays each night for it to snow here. Well his prayer was answered, just in a different location!!

We went to Grandpas shop right when we got in town and a highlight for Bradley is to sit in one of grandpas big tractors. He gets so excited!!! I'm like Holy Cow!! His mouth is open so wide you can see the little thingy hanging from the back of his throat!!!

Alayna getting horsey rides from Auntie Lindsay

Taylee and Alayna

Grandma comforting Bradley after he got minor frostbite on his fingers. She worked her special magic to warm them up.

Alayna getting lovin from gramma.

We did have the best time up there. It wasn't what we did that mattered, it was just the fact that it was almost 2 weeks of good old fashioned quality time hanging out laughing and just being buddies and of course having the good old annual silly time that you just can't help but have when you get with my goofy family. The kids got along great and of course had their moments of picking on each other great too. They were together nonstop and only took an occasional break. They've got that brother/sister type.... well you know cousin relationship. It's so neat how the kids just sense and know they are family.

Annual Hunting Shack Fun!!

One of the things we like to do is go out in the middle of nowhere to my dad's hunting shack. This year he has a new one he's making into a cozy little bungalo. He even dug a little pond where the kids had a blast throwing rocks on the ice and banging sticks. This kept them content for quite sometime. It doesn't take much. One of the times we went it just snowed so it made it even more fun for them to play. We had one of our Thanksgiving meals out here.

Here they are going on their walk down the trail to feed the deer. My dad cheats and leaves corn piles and lures them in. Just kidding dad.....but I don't think you even caught a deer this year did you. He claims he just likes to watch them and not shoot them...that those days are over, but he sure was spitting and sputtering when Craig got his. No the gun is not loaded, but he said he had to bring it in case there were "bears"

Dad lets each of the kids fill up their own little bucket of corn to take to the deer. Here's Bradley sneaking more corn from the bin.

Grandpa and Alayna

This ones for you dad....don't fall in!!!

Colleen, Grandpa and the kiddos

Here's a few shots of them playing by the water throwing their rocks at the ice.

ALL ABOARD THE POLOR EXPRESS

All A Board The Polor Express!!!!

One really fun thing we did was the day after Thanksgiving whoever wanted to my aunt treated us to a ride on the polor express. So my mom, Aunt, 2 cousins, Bradley, Taylee, Aleigha and I went. You start at one point and take a ride on the train which is all decorated for Christmas to the train depot where you get off and see all the old time trains and listen to the story "The Polor Express" The kids also got to have a visit with santa who was waiting for them after the story. When you get back they have hot cocoa, cookies and a bon fire going. It was quite a fun cozy time! The kids really had a great time in this festive event. After that we all headed out to pizza for dinner.

Bradley watching the train come as we are waiting to board.

Picture time as we wait to board. That is Lake Superior in the background.

This is looking up the North Shore. It is really beautiful, especially in the summer.

As we were getting ready to board to head back, one of the men tapped Bradley on the shoulder and asked him if he wanted to pull the whistle to get everyones attention to get back on the train. You know he felt quite important!!!

The kids visit with Santa...no this isn't Alayna, this is my cousins baby. My sister stayed with Alayna so I could have this time with just Bradley.

Here we all are before the train ride

My Man Got his Buck

I decided I'm going in no special order.......

Ok girls this one is for your husbands. Craig wanted me to do a special blog just for him to show off his prize. He can tell the guys the whole story himself and have a captive audience in person.

I do know the life of a hunter seems to me like the most boring thing of all. It all starts at 5am in the black of morning going out to find "the spot" or the tree stand or whatever you call it. They watch and wait for 12 hours a day until they get their catch. I asked him if he wanted to take a book to read or something to do out there and he said "no, I'll be too busy" I'm like busy doing what? He says "watching and waiting" I'm like oh brother....I'd be painting my nails out there or something. Anyway, 5/12 hour days later he finally got his catch and was just wired the rest of the time.

One Proud Hunter

Sorry, I know this is kind of gross. Poor thing.....

Sisters Day out

I'm going to do my pictures in stages somewhat in order of our trip. I took 150 pictures so I'll be blogging I think for a whole week on everything. Bare with me...however, I'm not going to post all 150 pictures.

What a fun day we had the day after I got up there. Me and My sisters went up to Princess Bride to try on our bridesmaids dresses for Lindsays wedding and watched her try on her wedding dress. She looked so beautiful and we are so excited to be a part of her special day in April 08. My niece Aleigha who's 9 came with and then after we went out for lunch. Gramma Cathy watched the little ones so we could just have a big girls day out. After that we went to visit with my Grandma Ann and then after that we went to grandma Babe and grandpa Gusts house for dinner. It was a full day, but was so nice catching up with everyone.

Me, Colleen, & Lindsay

Grandpa Gust, Bradley, Alayna, Aleigha, Gramma Babe, & Taylee

Alayna & Gramma Ann

We are back!!!

Hi to all of you!!! We are back from Wisconsin and had the best time up there with our family. We got back late Tuesday night. Yesterday I got everything unpacked, put away and to the store for the bare necessities. Even thought I'd be a little insane and pull the Christmas stuff out and get a start. So happy the tree is up and decorated and now I can just pittle with the other things and do some catch up around here. I usually put the Christmas stuff up before we leave, but didn't have time to mess with it.

So here's to those of you who missed us...it's good we're back and to those of you who didn't....too bad so sad we're back anyway and you have to just put up with us and you are stuck with us. HA HA HA!!! I'll be posting pictures as soon as I get back in the groove of some kind of routine. I was poking at all your blogs a little here and there to see what you all have been up too so now I can look a little more thoroughly (sp) and comment. Can't wait to catch up with you all in person.

A Parent's Prayer

I came across this and thought it was such a good poem and a great reminder. Enjoy!! Here's to all you mommys who I know love your children dearly.
Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.
Proverbs 22:6

They're only little once

Lord, grant me the wisdom to guide them down the path that their little feet should take.

For I know that they can never turn back and walk those paths with me again.

Give me the wisdom to guide their feet so that someday they'll be able to walk alone.

They're only little once.

Give me the time I need to enjoy them.

For I know that after they're grown, I'll never have another chance to tell stories and pretend at those tea parties.

I'll never have another chance to watch them in a school play or sing in church, or to see them catch that first fish or score that first goal or hit that first home run ball.

Give me the time in life's busy schedule to have fun with my children.

They're only little once.

Let me be a loving parent

Let me correct and not just punish, explain and not merely scold.

Let me know when to correct, and how often, and when it's best just to look the other way.

Help me be patient and give me a gentle hand to mold them into better people.

They're only little once.

Let me be a good teacher and an even better example.

Give me the right words and deeds to teach them.

Help me to teach them about You and how to walk in Your ways so when they are old, they will not depart from it.

For they are only little one time

Only innocent and trusting and pliable for a space of time, one minute in an eternity.

Let me do my best for them while I have the chance.

Amen

I can ride my big boy bike now

Oh my little big boy is getting bigger..... A few weeks ago Bradley started to show interest in wanting to ride his bike with no training wheels. When we got his bike for his birthday he didn't want anything to do with it. He just wanted his little 3 wheel thing. It's too tippy he would say.....Well when he seen Alexander zipping around his neighborhood on his bike like a little champ, it got his wheels spinning (no pun intended) and planted a seed in his mind that now was his time to try. We started out slow and little by little he got it with me or daddy running behind like maniacs trying to keep up with him. At first he would get a little frustrated so we didn't want to push him, but he kept wanting to try. However, he didn't have the right attitude and we told him your attitude about how you do this will make all the difference and that did make all the difference for him to hear. So little by little he had it down in no time. He zips around and around the field by our house over and over and over. We have now ventured out into the neighborhood. So now I get my workout in in a whole new way. Baby in the stroller and momma running frantically to keep up with him. Craig and I both looked at each other the other day and were thinking the same thing....under his big boy helment is such a little baby face, but with such a big boy mind and determination to never give up. With each little milestone I'm reminded that my little boy is growing up and to cherish every minute and enjoy each little thing he accomplishes. I love you my little big boy!!!

Three days of Trick or Treating Fun

It all started Sunday night with such a fun fun "Hallelujah Harvest" Festival. Bradley's favorite was playing all of the games and I think we made it through them all. Then we took a break to have some of the best chili and hotdogs. It was such a chilly night so it hit the spot. Then off we went to the trunk or treating with Bradley slinging webs all the way. Everyone was so creative with how they decorated their cars. Next my spiderman was off on a pony ride. By then the line had died down a bit for him to go on one of the inflatables. What a successful night!!!

Here's my cute little clown. I hadn't really even planned on dressing her up, but last minute popped into CHKD and found this little clown outfit for $2.50. What a bargain and I was excited so I thought, what the heck. So here she is.

Spiderman digging in the hay for more candy.

Ok, something I said I wouldn't do especially with a 1 year old is give her candy. But just to keep her in the stroller I was bad and gave her a sucker. It was hard keeping up with her after awhile because all she wanted to do was rome around. So it was a way to get her to sit in her stroller. She nursed that baby all the way to the tootsie roll!!! Boy, was she in hog heaven!!!

A fun party at Bradley's school with more trunk or treating in the parking lot.

Alayna eating her little mummy dog.

Bradley, Diego, Nola and Audrey. Audrey's mom told me Bradley is her boyfriend, but thank goodness Bradley is kind of clueless. Surprises me though because in the past he wouldn't hesitate to tell me certain girls were adorable. I guess his mind is innocent again:)

As if all this weren't enough we did indeed take the kids trick or treating last night. I think because it was such great weather and warm enough for a walk we decided to go for it. So as I'm sure you all are too....we are loaded to the hilt with candy, candy and more candy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!