Alayna's a big kid now

Our little Alayna has learned to ride a two wheeler now. I just can't believe it! She had been asking for awhile to take her training wheels off and honestly I just didn't think she was ready so I kept putting if off. A few weeks ago we decided to take them off and after a couple of weeble wobble attempts she took off like a little bandit. Craig and I just sort of looked at each other and couldn't believe she did it that fast. It was so cute...she is so proud of herself and constantly wants us to watch her.

Silly daddy!

Need I say more........

Need I say anything about our Bass Pro Shops? It just makes everyone's day. This particular day we weren't even planning on going we were just passing through headed to Yorktown and somehow the car just exited at the right time to stop here first:) Somehow this place just makes everyone happy!

Junior Hunters in training...this was a hoot trying on future hunting attire. This sure made a daddy smile and I can honestly see Alayna as a little tomboy/hunting princess diva with her daddy.

Couldn't resist...Alayna looks like a serious cowgirl ready for action.

Hers wanted to play a game too. She sees everyone else having fun..

Alayna was afraid the bear was going to get her so she wouldn't take her eyes off of it. She wasn't too convinced that it wasn't going to come back alive.

Laura loved the shishies

A broken arm

Ok, so I'm back to blogland for a little bit. Can't make any promises, but I've been picking at it a little at a time. When I do have spare time I've been trying to keep up with my 2010 book directly which has been great and really like that idea, but figured since I'm caught up on that and instead of going crazy trying to backtrack I'd do a little of the last month in review. So here's a little glimpse back in our world:)


One of the things this mommy has always hoped she would never face was any of her kids coming to her with broken bones. I just know with how I handle the minor injuries this was something I'd surely faint over and wouldn't be any help to my poor children. So the day came when I did have to face it like a real mommy and I won't say I passed with flying colors, but I didn't faint and Bradley hasn't held it against me for my lack of immediate assistance. He came in with his arm held up against his side saying he fell off the trampoline and he heard a crack when his arm bend back. I couldn't even look.....I just knew, by what he said that it probably was broken. I got all tingling so I sent him to the couch so I could lay on the floor and compose myself. I knew I'd be a goner if I didn't. Nice huh?......After twice of this I braved it to take a look and since there were no bones coming through his skin or any deformity I felt I would be ok. Our neighbor who is a nurse came to look and said he'd be fine, but to bring him in. I called Craig and thank God he was already close to home so he brought him right in. We were so thankful that is wasn't bad. It was a small hair line crack in the radius head (elbow). Because of where it is he has to have a thumb to almost armpit cast and cannot write because it was his right arm. The hard cast was put on 2 days later. Overall he's done really well, but has had times where he gets frustrated if it gets itchy or hot. About day 6 he had a meltdown one of which I haven't seen in a long time that was unrelated to the cast, but knew it had everything to do with it and being tired after 3 weeks into school. His biggest complaint was not so much having it even though I can tell at times it's wearing on him, but he was afraid of getting it off because he thought his skin would look funny. Crazy how he was more focused on getting it off rather than having it on. His best part about it is that he gets to do alot of computer work at school, but it doesn't substitute from him still having to make the work up. So guess who gets to do his work? None other than mommy herself. By day 2 of makeup work from when he was gone, regular school work and regular homework we were so over it. After that it eased up and we are officially caught up. YEAH!!!! We've got a little more than a week behind us and looking forward to October 15 to celebrate his cast removal day!!!! To add a current update before posting.....he has officially learned how to write with his left hand and now does his own school work at home and at school. YEAH!!! He's a determined little guy to make the best of things. I love that about him! His neon green cast with the glow in the dark strip is now a part of his new make up and he's doing great. We're down to 13 more days! Add Another YEAH!! to that.

Little booger wouldn't smile, he thinks he's all big and bad about it!

My big second grader

So far so good with Bradley's first few weeks of second grade. He only has 1 student in his class that he had last year. So he's kind of staring from scratch in having to meet all new kids. His teacher seems really nice and I'm glad for that. It sort of snuck up on us quickly even though you know the time is approaching. I think it's easy to think you still have more time than you do. We had a wonderful summer although it seemed a little shorter this year. We were gone for 3 weeks of it so that probably made it seem that way. I thought it was going to take alot more adjusting to getting back in the groove and as much as I wasn't ready for him to go back a part of me was craving to get back into a routine, pick up on many things that I had tendency to neglect over the summer and start getting myself back on track with some disciplines and say goodbye to the carefree summer days as bitter sweet as that was. It's a good thing for everyone I think. This year Bradley is telling me the same thing as last that his favorite part of school is lunch, recess and coming home. I wasn't as emotional this year. Probably because we knew what to expect and it wasn't as new as it was last year with the change of schools and having a longer day. I'm praying the rest of this year goes well.

Raring to go! Saying goodbye to sister

There he goes

Alayna could hardling contain herself waiting for Bradley to get home from school. We were waiting at the bus stop and she just couldn't sit still. She kept skipping and running all over the place and then when he pulled up she went crazy. He gave her the biggest hug.

And finally....there he is!!

Happy 4th Birthday Alayna

Happy Birthday Alayna!!!

Alayna told me she wanted to have a power ranger birthday this year, but Walmart didn't have that theme and I just didn't get further than that so her second choice was Dora. So Dora is was. These days she dresses up as spiderman and now wants a power ranger costume so bad she just won't let me forget about it. She can still be a girly girl, but her heart these days just wants to be a super hero. So I have since buckled and bought her a power ranger costume and it is already worn out since she has worn it every day since. I just don't think it will last until Halloween. She's got the moves of the ranger almost mastered.

Her Birthday started with her waking up to the kitchen decorated with Dora. She then wanted to go to Dunkin donuts for a birthday donut and then we went to her favorite park to play for awhile. After lunch her and I decorated her cake and cupcakes since she wanted both. We had so much funny doing that together. She paid careful attention to making sure each one was decorated perfectly and pretty. That evening after dinner we had her cake and she finished opening her presents. She had a full day fit for a princess. She tells us that she doesn't want to be called that anymore and when you ask her what she wants to be called she says "I just want to be "dark vader" You just never know what she's going to say. It's just a phase.

This little girl lights up our world like no other. She is so full of joy it can't help but be contagious. It just doesn't take much to excite the little thing. I just can't believe my second baby is 4 years old. It was just yesterday it seems that she was Laura's age. Unbelievable as it seems and as much as I as a mom would love to stop the hands of time and freeze frame my kids as they are, it's just as exciting to watch them grow and go through the new stages and phases with them. It never stops amazing me how fast they grow. So I tell myself more these days to just stop and enjoy more precious moments.

We were playing her new Dora game

Momma, take a picture of me looking at my cupcakes.....so funny!

She was so sweet to share her lollipop with Laura

Bradley and Alayna had a cupcake together when he got home from school

Sarah, her best little girlfriend came over after dinner to have some birthday cake.

Make a big wish Alayna!!

Labor Day Weekend

We so had been craving to get away for another camping weekend to our new favorite spot we happened across this past spring. Northbend Park is our new home away from home. It brings back the memories of childhood of going to the lake every weekend. It sure would be great to pack up the gear every weekend and go, but reality is when you don't have a lake home to go to it's not always that easy to just do that. So when we do get to go, it is special and cherished time with friends and/or family. As this particular weekend was approaching we just were too tired and unmotivated to pull a trip together and all the spots were taken anyway. As that week approached we talked about it a little bit and said we'd watch the site for cancellations and if there was one and it was in a prime spot we'd maybe consider. Before we knew it it was Friday. I happened to be looking at the site and seen that one spot was available. I was just getting ready to call Craig and he beat me to it and called me to tell me the same thing. CRAZY!! I was like...are you kidding me? I love when that happens. Out of 200+ sites it was one of the ones that we had written down to keep our eye on for our next trip. We feel like the Lord was smiling upon us at that moment. We decided to go for it so he quickly reserved the spot. I have never so quickly put together a camping trip in my life. It couldn't have gone more smoothly. The kids were so excited, but yet they stayed clear while tornado momma ripped roared through the house to pull it together. We were packed and on the road by 2:00. So we got there early and got set up in record time. We were even able to hit the lake and enjoy a swim before the sun went down. I just sat in the water so thankful soaking it all in thanking the Lord for that moment and the incredible weekend I knew it would be. We really needed a weekend away to reconnect and sometimes when you are in the moment it's like "wow, I needed this even more than I thought I did" If I could sum it up in one word it would be simply peaceful. I love the moments of just sitting back and watching my family interact when they don't even know that I am just as much as being right in the middle of it all. To watch Bradley and Craig fish for hours did my heart good. To sit and watch the kids paired off in different ways whether it be Bradley and Alayna, or Bradley and Laura, or Alayna and Laura, it did my heart good. Family naps did my heart, body and mind good. Sitting with Craig whether we were talking, whether we were watching the kids or whether we were just sitting quietly did my heart good. Sitting by the water in the black of night watching for shooting stars or waking up first thing in the morning and sitting by the water and watching the calm water refreshed me. As I'm writing this I'm thinking...Ooooo how I'm ready to go back. Camping with 3 little ones can definitely be busy, but when you are in an environment that they love and there is nothing but nature to entertain them, they just seem more content. Yes, I'd have to agree....this is definitely our new home away from home.

It just don't get no better than this.

This was priceless watching Laura so fascinated by Bradley blowing bubbles.

All packed up and on the road

Catching minnows

Catching butterflies

Alayna was trying to get Laura to be silly with her, but Laura just wasn't in the mood for it.

This was a priceless moment of coming up on Alayna standing on the picnic table trying to catch a butterfly in the screen tent. She was so excited when she caught it. She kept letting it go so she could catch it again.

The boys did alot of wood whittling and it was so peaceful watching them do their work. Bradley made two sticks and carved the word LOVE in each one and surprised me and Alayna but giving us each one. Here Craig was making a knife out of wood. It was our anniversary weekend so he also surprised me by carving me a heart out of the end of a tree. It was so sweet....I'll keep it forever.

Bradley loves doing anything with sticks and wood.

Breakfast was underway.

It was just so peaceful. We love this place!!

Silly kid.....plopped down in the stroller so I had to catch the moment....he didn't even care. Hmmm....maybe I'll send it in for his picture board at school.

Right when Bradley got up he hit the lake and had to go fishing and he caught a little guy right away. You could see the water right from our site.

Laura wasn't too impressed!

I so enjoyed these sweet times of just floating with my babies.

Daddy and Bradley got to spend alot of time fishing together. It's Bradley's favorite thing to do and makes the whole camping experience for him. They caught a big catfish and a couple of shell crackers that they cooked up and ate for dinner that night.