Favorite Photos Friday

Extra Clean!

Just when I thought that my duties for the night were almost done Gage decided to get back in the bathtub.... with Hunter....pajamas and all!

With Spring comes the MUD!

On Saturday Hunter decided to do a little "exploring" and this is what he looked like after a good explore! To set the scene, Brylie and I were playing 'Go Fish' (her new favorite card game...we get about 50 games in per day...seriously she can't get enough of it!) and Gage was taking a nap when Hunter decided to go outside and enjoy the nice weather. He knows the rules about where he can and can't go so I don't worry about him much. I checked on him a few times and he was just playing in the backyard and throwing sticks up into the trees. The last time I looked out he was on his way back to the house carrying his boots, crying and COVERED in mud! I went running out and he told me he had gotten stuck in the mud and had to take his boots off and he is "so, so sorry!" Of course I grabbed my camera as I headed out the door! A mess like this had to be captured on film! You would not believe the amount of mud that boy had on him. (and the amount that made it into the house!) The clothes miraculously washed up but the boots got thrown away! Luckily he had gotten 2 years use out of them and they were quite worn. Oh, the joys of Spring!

Favorite Photo Friday

We spent the day with my Grandpa yesterday, as it would have been my Grandma's 87th birthday. Grandpa loves having the kids come over and still gets down on the floor and plays with them. I captured this great snapshot of Hunter snuggling with Great Grandpa. At 90 years old he is in great health, other than having trouble hearing. I'm hoping these great genes have been passed down to me! We love you Grandpa!

Magna Doodle Art

Hunter came upstairs yesterday with his magna doodle and said, "I drew the most perfect picture of you mom!" Don't ya just love how your kids see you! LOL

My Grandma

Last Sunday at ten minutes after midnight my grandma went to be with the Lord. This was quite unexpected as she had just come down with a cough on Thursday and went to the doctor on Friday only to find out that it was viral and had to "run it's course". Well, her lungs ended up filling up with fluid and her weak heart couldn't take it. She was 11 days short of her 87th birthday. She left behind my 90 year old grandpa whom she had been married to for 64 years. So this is going to be a tribute to her. Growing up 1/2 mile from my grandparents I have hundreds of wonderful memories of our times together. During the summer my brothers, sister, and I would ride our bikes to their house on a daily basis. (We lived out in the country on a gravel road that wasn't traveled much) There was always a fresh baked treat waiting for us when we got there. At Grandma's we enjoyed games like 'hide the thimble', 'old maid', board games of all sorts, card games, you name it! The TV was never turned on and she never left us to put a load of laundry in or tend to her chores. While we were there it was all about us and we always felt top priority. We talked this week about how we feel grandma was put on this earth to be a grandma. She took so much pride in her job and loved us dearly. This passed down to my children who had the same love for her. As soon as we arrived at her house Brylie would start saying "I'm hungry" because she knew that some time during the visit we would be served something yummy. My grandma was the best cook! The toys at grandpa and grandma's house consisted of things like old coffee cans and empty spools of thread. My kids had so much fun with these things. After a visit I often wondered why I spend so much money on toys for my kids!! I think those things were so fun because of where they were at, Great Grandpa and Grandma's house. I am so thankful for so many years with my Grandma and the relationship that my kids had with her. She will be terrible missed.

Favorite Photo Friday

I'm not sure what sport Gage is playing, but he seems to be prepared for anything!

Strawberry Shortcake Party

The weekend was full of fun, food, family, and presents! We all had a great time celebrating Brylie's 4th birthday. Because our house isn't big enough to fit both families at the same time, we had two parties. On Saturday night my family joined us for the fun and on Sunday Robb's family came to celebrate. We were partied out! Here are some of the moments captured on film. Brylie was waiting patiently for her cake to get done baking. :) I had a lot of "help" from Hunter and Brylie with the cake. It was a strawberry cake with strawberry frosting and we added some sprinkles and candy hearts just in case there wasn't enough sugar in there already. :) "Is it time for the party yet?" Yum...the food! We served sub sandwiches, veggies, chips and baked beans. I like to keep it simple. Here's Gage enjoying the party blowers. As you can see he wasn't able to keep his shirt clean for long! Brylie got so many fun, girly things! She scored some beautiful outfits from Gymboree, some fun craft items, jewelry, hair accessories, and some shopping money. Little girls are so fun! This is always a favorite part for the kids. Brylie smiled like this through the whole song! Can't you tell these boys are really into the Strawberry Shortcake theme!! These are my nephews Kyle, Alec and Brandon. All that partying made us tired!

Happy Birthday Brylie!!

It was 4 years ago today at my prenatal checkup when Dr. Benson told me that this was probably going to be the day that we would meet our second child. I was dilated to a 3+ and had been having false labor pains for about 3 weeks so to hear him say that I was close got me very excited! It was 9:00 in the morning and he told me to go home and if contractions started and continued consistently for over 2 hours to call him. Robb decided to go over to the farm and get some work done before the big event and Hunter (who was 19 months old) and I took it easy at home. I layed him down for a nap at about 1:00 and decided to take a rest myself. At 3:30 I woke up to my first contraction. It was much stronger than my first ones with Hunter so I definitely took note. After 2 more equally painful ones I called Robb and he came right home. They started 5 minutes apart and were not letting up. After an hour of painful contractions we called Dr. Benson and he told us to wait another hour and to come in if they were still coming consistently. At about 5:00 we decided it was time to take Hunter over to Robb's sister and brother-in-laws house and head to the hospital. I arrived at the hospital at about 6:15 and was dilated to a 5 and things were moving quickly. After going through one delivery without medication I was determined to take advantage of the epidural this time around, so they administered that about an hour after we got there. I was in heaven!! I went from intense pain to NO pain at all! I couldn't believe that I had passed up that miracle drug the first time around. Anyway, after being told for about 3 months that we were expecting a boy and were planning on Hudson Robb for the name, our little Brylie Ann came into the world at 9:45 pm in front of Daddy, Grandma Pat, Grandma Corinne and our good friend Val, who had volunteered to get some pictures for us right after the birth. Brylie was the most beautiful little girl with wide open blue eyes and a very content, easy going personality from the very beginning. After 6 grandsons she was the first granddaughter for my mom so she gladly volunteered to go to the store the next day and purchase some pink. We had only packed blue. Grandma over did it to say the least! :) Brylie is still the only girl on my side of the family and she continues to get a lot of pink stuff regularly from Grandma Pat! Brylie has been a wonderful blessing from day one. On March 10, 1993 Robb's dad went to be with the Lord after a very unexpected farm accident and 9 years later the Lord brought true joy on that same day. She is my princess, my pride and joy, and my precious, precious daughter. I am so thankful for this blessing that was given to us four years ago. We are going to be partying tonight and tomorrow night so I will post pictures of the Strawberry Shortcake party on Monday! Have a great weekend!

Favorite Photo Friday

Where is Summer???

Okay, I know I have been a major slacker lately when it comes to blogging...please don't beat me with a wet noodle. I am in a rut with this winter weather that just won't end! I see the forecast that says 47 degrees by the weekend, but I am very skeptical. Yesterday was cold, today is cold, tomorrow will more than likely be cold. No, I am usually not this pessimistic, but like I say, I am in a rut. The kids are getting stir crazy and have been fighting more than usual lately and I am about to go nuts! I go to bed at night and dream about summer and I wake up smiling...until I look out the window and see the HUGE snow piles in our front yard. Oh, to dig out the capri's, sandals, sand toys, bikes, picnic basket....ahhh the list goes on and on. Until then, I will try to lift my head up and try to enjoy the remainder of winter because when it is 95 degrees and muggy in July, I will wish for this again....well, maybe not. Here is a picture taken of Brylie 2 days ago. She came out of her room wearing her swim suit and asked, "Mom, when is summer?" I guess I'm not the only one wishing for summer!

Favorite Photo Friday