What's Alayna been up to?

Hmmmm.....I wonder.......Alayna, you are a some kind of crazy little girl!!!!! I was doing something with Bradley yesterday and when I came into the kitchen she was sitting up on the counter because she has now learned to pull the chair exactly where she wants to go to get up where wants to be. She was in none other than the medicine/vitamin cabinet and had already flipped the vitamin c top off and had one in her mouth with two other bottles next to her. I knew there were only a couple left in the jar so I knew she only got 1. Since that time the rest of the day I would catch her dragging the chair across the floor time and time again. Time to move all the meds up to the highest shelf and lock them up. She loves vitamins and I guess she knew exactly where to get her num num. Busy, busy busy.......

1 down 1 to go

Here's a fishy update...I didn't do an original post on Bradley's fish, but him and Alayna each got one at Alexanders Birthday party on Sunday and the ongoing joke was whose would outlast all the rest. Some bit the dust right away and other a few days later and well....one of ours went to fishy heaven today. I hadn't even looked at them this morning and told Bradley to go feed the fishys which he loves to do and he called out "mommy, one of the fish got killed!" Of course I laughed the way he said it and had to quickly recover myself to sympathize. I said "oh no, what do you mean got killed?" and he said "well look, it's sticking to the side" again I'm trying not to laugh. I said "are you ok buddy" he said "yeah, I'm fine, but could you please leave him in there so I can still look at him, I don't want him to go down the toilet." I'm so glad there weren't any tears, but we'll see after I have to dispose of it. Maybe I'll wait until he gets back from school to say goodbye to sunny or shiney....whichever that one was.

When are you going to have another baby momma?

We were sitting at dinner tonight and out of the blue Bradley asks me "momma, when are you going to have another baby?" I immediately said "Honey, did Ms. Sue tell you to ask me?" Since he had spent the afternoon with her I was sure she was pressuring him to ask me. HEE HEE He assured me she didn't. Hmmm....I wonder though......I said "Do you want me to have another baby?" and he told me "Yes, that he wanted me to have 10 babies" I of course gasped and assured him that wasn't going to happen. I said "what would you do with 10 babies?" and he said "well, I'd just lock them in the closet if it got to be too much work." He then told me that all the babies would be in the closet saying "please, please let me out and have pity on me" He is just getting the biggest kick out of saying that and giggles the belly giggle as if it were the first time he came up with it. I think he just knows it triggers my funny bone too!! He then went on to tell me that when they poop all over the closet that he would clean it up for me. Oh, that boy is something else!!!!

Have Pity on me

Bradley, I was laying in bed with you the other night and there are some nights you are so exhausted you fall asleep instantly and there are other nights where you come alive and I swear the silly bug bites you in the butt or something. We were talking and I was trying to get you to be still and then I said "ok, I'm leaving now" and you said "MOMMY, please NO, DON'T go, HAVE pity on me, have pity on me".... This took me by surprise as I've never heard you say that before and the way you said it with the voice flucuations...... it was hysterical!!! You even used the phrase the right way which took me by surprise too. It sent me giggling so hard which made you keep saying it over and over and you were giggling so hard which got me going even more. The harder I laughed the more you'd say it so needless to say we were both too wound up for any kind of sleep. I love your silly side Bradley!

Alayna's adventures and the one thing I wasn't prepared for

My sweet Alayna....you never cease to amaze me with your daily adventures. You are the type of little girl that loves wide open spaces and no boundaries and I try to grant you those wishes whenever possible and with safty limits. I often let you roam the upstairs because while in the house you seem happiest just exploring up there. I find things in the oddest places at times. You love hanging out in Bradley's room and when I was calling for you one time and approaching Bradley's room where I thought you might be you quickly shut the door on me as I arrived. You were pulling out clothes from his drawers having a good old time. The other day is was quiet and I didn't hear your chattering like I normally do....I found you were happily chewing away on daddy's deoderant and I forgot to warn him so next time he went to put it on it had little chew marks in it. He got a chuckle out of it. I shudder to think of all the chemicals that goes into your little body between that and the toothpaste that you so love and the 409 cleaner. Daddy said maybe that's why she's been sleeping so much lately. I think and hope not. You have been taking marathon naps lately and needing to go to bed earlier lately, but I know the real reason......I put on a pair of your pants today and I swear they were 2 inches too short all of a sudden. You are definitely going thru a growth spurt at 19 months old. I'm thankful summer is approaching because I'm not about add to the winter wardrobe. The real reason I starting to write this is because this morning when I was in the playroom watching cartoons with your brother and you were yet again sleeping in I heard a really loud thump that startled me. Daddy was getting ready for work and it was so loud I thought it was him or maybe he had fallen or something weird. Not so....I then heard crying and ran to your room and opened the door and there you were right behind it. You looked a little stunned and you were shaking. I had never prepared myself for this because your brother never did it and was a crib baby until after 2 1/2 and never even attemped to get out. He was always such a good sleeper. You my dear other than this sleeping phase you are going thru is just the opposite. Sometimes at night when I put you down and think you fell asleep I'll hear you talking an hour later. I really pray this is a fluke with you getting yourself out of your safe crib or I'm not sure what naptimes or nighttime will bring dear one. I fear we'll be the next family on Super Nanny. You are the busiest little girl I know and at times I think does your little mind ever stop, but at the same time it's what I love about you because you are so vibrant, funny and full of life and personality. You are daily saying and doing new things that will shock me and then again not surprise me. This phase of your learning and exploring is so fun to watch and I'm so thankful to be there to see it all. Lately you love to look up in the sky and watch the birdies and you've discover airplanes which you call hairpane. When you were watching the birds yesterday I said "Alayna, flap like a birdie" not really knowing if you knew what I meant and there go your little arms 100 miles an hour. I was so tickled by it that all day long I kept telling you to do it and every time you'd amuse me all over again.

A Special Day To Remember

Backtracking a bit......

Dear Diary or shall I say Dear Blog,

I feel like I could write about a million moments a day, but due to time I have to pick and choose and there are those special times that you want to remember. I know we keep special memories and times in our hearts and you may not forget them, but it's funny how time will somehow erase the details of the moments.

I cannot even begin to say what a special birthday that I had....Craig you make everyday of my life special in some way whether it's what you say or what you do or who you are. I wake up first thing in the morning and you had already been to walmart at 6:30 in the morning and when I come downstairs you had the table all set with a tablecloth, roses, a cake and a Happy Birthday Banner and you were already had the pans hot for omlets. You had even stopped to get my favorite coffee and handed it to me when I came down. Somehow the Lord had let me sleep in to not hear a thing and the kids also slept in because normally little bit has me up sometimes before 7am. You then show up unexpected in the afternoon with a surprise gift of a new dress, shoes and earrings and a necklace because you told me you wanted me to feel pretty for our dinner date. Bless your heart, I know you tried so hard and you know how hard I cried because the dress wasn't quite me and I felt so bad and didn't want to hurt your feelings. You didn't seem to mind and you were so eager to take me shopping to pick something else out. You know I love the necklace and earrings and wear them all the time. Thank you for loving me the way that you do with a gentle spirit and so understanding. I love you forever!!

That was all I needed to make my day, but there were more unexpected blessing weaved in...my morning was full of back to back phone calls from my dear family wishing me a happy birthday. Mid morning came more surprises from my dear friends. I hear a knock at the door and there were Jayne and Grayson with more special surprises of my favorite candy and a cute notepad with curious George saying it reminded her of me and my mischievous ways.... Hmmmmm....Literally 1 second later Sue, Alexander and Hamilton pull up unplanned and the two didn't know each other was coming with more surprises of balloons, and my favorite candy. Thank you both for who you are in making me feel special with your surprises. I love that about you both!! Still more......my dear friend Moneiva called me a week before my birthday reminding me that it was my birthday in a week (I hadn't even been thinking of it and here she was all excited to tell me) So she was all crazy giddy about taking me to lunch on my birthday and wanted to get it on the calender. Everyday is a party to her and is always looking to celebrate someone for something. I love that!! And last but not least my Michele surprised me with a gift of a beautiful devotional which I hold dear to my heart. Thank you for who you are and knowing I would love that!!! In the evening I then got a great date night with my incredible hubby to the Founders Inn and he wanted to spoil me a little and took me shopping after. So to all of you once again....whether you just showed up, called, emailedThank you from the bottom of my heart for such an incredible day showing me in your own special way how much you care. I am truly blessed and it is overwhelming to me at times. I could not ask for more!!!!!

My Kissing Monster

He even got ahold of me today!!

Ok, so Bradley has been in this kissing stage lately and some know it because he has gotten ahold of your child. He's been chasing his friends lately and kissing them. He got ahold of Alexander at small groups and if I'm not mistaken he was kissing him goodbye. The other day he was chasing Ben and then tackled him and was kissing his whole face. Finally, we needed to talk to him about it and he said...but, mommy, but I like pretending I'm a kissing monster and tackling my friends and kissing their whole face." Without getting too detailed about why we don't kiss boys....mind you we know it's cute and harmless at 4, but didn't want him to grow up doing this if you know what I mean so we explained that kisses are reserved for mommy, daddy, sister, grammas and grandpas ect.....and with our friends we high five and hug.... blah blah blah. It was so stinkin funny though with his answer and I know mom you are dying laughing right now because who did he learn how to be a kissing monster from and kiss whole faces off?.....yep me..... and where did I learn to kiss kids whole faces off?...yep YOU!!!!! You are the queen of "Watch OUT, or I"m gonna kiss your whole face off and smoosh your cheeks off!!!!! Just another funny Bradley moment!!! Another mommy moment today he said to me right out of the blue.... "Mommy", I'm so glad that you are my mommy." So sweet and another little treasure in my heart. I was like "good because you are stuck with me forever and ever!!!!!!

My Alayna

Here you go mom...I know you wanted to be able to click on this to be able to see it bigger. I know you can't click on the side bar ones and bring them up. I tried doing the focal black and white to bring some of the color back in, but couldn't get the whole dress.

Spiderman on an egg hunt

On Saturday afternoon our neighborhood had an Easter egg hunt and party right in the field by our house. It all took place during nap time so Alayna missed out on all the fun.

Bradley and Ben waiting for the hunt to begin.
They did it in age groups so the boys decided to play games while they waited for their turn to hunt eggs. They let the kids play as many times as they wanted so between him and Ben they both kept picking bouncy balls as their prizes and balls were bouncing everywhere by the end.
Bradley got his face painted. I wasn't surprised when he picked spiderman. I tell you these women were good at whipping up these kids faces very quickly and creatively. In the fall he choose Batman and he decided to be Spidey for the Spring.
Here's my spiderman!!! He was loving life being a real Spiderman for a whole day!!
I'm gonna sling a web on you mommy!! Watch out!!
At the end of the day I think I felt more bad than he did having to take spiderman off his face.

Let's Go Fly A Kite

We had a power pack weekend of fun activities....Saturday morning we woke up and headed out to get some bagels and then went to Mount Trashmore to fly a kite. It was a beautiful day for it and the wind was just right!! I tell ya wide open endless spaces is a miracle worker for little ones. The kids had a blast and it was something fun and different to do. We fed the birds, flew Bradley's spiderman kite, ran and rolled down the hill and played at Kid's Cove at the bottom of the hill. It was such a fun quality time. Bradley keeps asking when we are going to the big hill again.

Bradley was so proud of his spidey kite.

How high will this thing go? Holding on for dear life!! Alayna was mesmerized by the geese and followed them everywhere talking to them.

She even followed them under the docks. Where are you birdies?

What a big girl!!!

Taking a fruit snack break
Alayna has learned how to throw rock and sticks in the water like big brother.

There were many seagulls mixed in with the geese so my question is if seagulls fly over the sea then what kind of birds fly over the bay.....HA!! Get it?

Bradley's imagination hard at work!!

This is one I don't want to forget.......

The other day we were pulling out some old pictures and one was Craig and I's engagement picture. It was actually one of my high school grad pictures that I wanted him to be in and then later we used it for our engagement picture.

Anyway, Bradley said "daddy did you rescue mommy from the tower?"

Immediately we knew where this was going so.....

Daddy said "yes, I did...?" We gave each other that knowing look.....

Then daddy asked "what does mommy look like in the picture?"

Bradley: "daddy, she looks like a princess"

Bradley then said "well, how did you get past the dragon?" Our suspicions were correct.....His imagination was working overtime.

Craig told him that he slayed the dragon with his sword to come rescue me from the tower. Bradley thought that was so cool.

I was a little self concious, but bravely asked him...

...."Do you still think I look like a princess?" and he told me "yes, you do now and in the picture"
He was so sweet about it. Maybe he sensed that's exactly what I wanted to hear.

It could be that daddy tells him that we need to treat mommy like a princess all the time, but I certainly didn't know that I came from a tower. It's always hard to recap the tone, emotion and atmosphere in a blog. I love my two boys for always treating me like a princess!!!!

The Case of Alayna, Her Man, and the Little Pink Bag Obsession.

We all know about Alayna and her little pink bag. It has become quite an obession of hers. She is known to always have it slung over her arm like a little old lady running around with it. No one dares to touch it as one knows Alayna's temper will surely flair. Everywhere we go it gets the attention of people we don't even know. I don't know if Alayna is just paranoid that Hamilton is always trying to steal her little pink bag or if he really is out to get it because if you look Hamilton is distracted with something else or does it just appear that he is pretending to look at something else as he is caught in the act....hee hee. She was running her little heart out and stopped to make sure he wasn't hot on her heels. These two babies are a hoot to watch because they really do fight with each other and as naughty as it sounds Sue and I just let them go at it.

This was in an open area at the zoo where we stopped to have our lunch. We had a playdate there last week and it was the most gorgeous day for it. It was yet another great break from the norm and the winter weather.

Dressed up with no place to go:)

Here's my yummy girl....Yesterday was picture day at Bradley's school so I got them ready to go and when I went to put her on the bench next to Bradley she paniced and wouldn't let go of me. I tried like 4 times and instant tears so we came home and I took my own and she was a happy little thing. My camera battery was dying, but I was able to lighten them up and sharpen it with some nifty features. By the time Bradley got home she was already undone and dirty so I said another day I'll redress her and get them together dressed up. She knows when she looks pretty because when I dress her she pats her clothes and says "pyity" Sort of like that:) I love this little firecracker!!!! She is so full of zest and life and funny, I can't help but not.

Cousin Time

Caitlynn is our adopted cousin and since we don't live by family your friends become like your family. Caitlynn came to spend the night with us which was the highlight of Bradley's night. She was so patient with him as he would say Caitlynn do this with me, do that with me and on and on and on........ So they played games, computer, ect...and then snuggled up to watch tv with him last night. He absolutely adores her and Steven.
She loved on Alayna and was such a big help and was always asking if she could help with something. A couple of more years and Caitlynn you'll be first on my babysitter list:)
Today we headed to the playground and had a great time all of us playing tag until we couldn't run anymore and the wind got the best of us!!! Forgot my camera......

Circus Fun!!

Once again I need to catch up and once again I'm sorry Mommie for slacking:) I know you daily look for new picture of your grandbabies. As I write my three favorite people are peacefully napping.....I'm not jealous because I'm sitting here with a ton of energy waiting to do something. I will have to say though that I think this week, I could have taken a nap everyday, but didn't have the luxury and now that I could, I don't want to because I've got my energy back. So I've done some reading and now I'll do some blogging waiting for my family to wake up and be ready to go. Hopefully I won't want to nap when they get up. Wouldn't it work just like that.......

We had a fun night of circus time with just Bradley. Doesn't he just look so enthused!! Little stinker refused to smile for this one. He looks utterly too depressed for all the excitement around him. He really did have a great time and I know he enjoyed time with just us without us fussing on Alayna. There is so much value getting time with your children one on one...especially the older they get.

There he perks up again!

We so are clown wanna be's.They had little things for the kids to try on.

Bradley in all his glory riding on the horse that you can't see.

Fun times with just the big boys.

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.