My first photo shoot...

as a photographer!

I had so much fun with these handsome little boys and their mom!!

Playing Catch Up

Well, its been a week since my last post. On one hand, I haven't felt like there has been much to blog about, but on the other hand there really is a lot to say! I've always been a list kind of girl, so here goes everything I think you should know!

1. We had a fabulous vacation. It was so nice to get away for awhile and enjoy the beach. The kids loved the water and I enjoyed sitting on the patio watching the water. (I'm a beachy girl but don't care to "swim" in the ocean...makes sense right?)

2. Before we came back I got to get together with some girl friends for dinner. It was so much fun to catch up with each other (and enjoy dinner without the kids!).

3. We got back last Thursday and have been trying to settle back into a routine. Kennan has been catching up with his friends and I have enjoyed visiting with all of the mommies.

At a back to school party that had a pinata. Kennan loved it!

Swimming with Mason

4. I am weaning Brayden....we are down to once a day. I can't believe this day has actually come! I remember 12 months ago thinking we would never make it this far, but am proud that we have. It has been worth it, but it's definetly time to stop. 5. On that note, I get to have a girls weekend at the end of September. YIPPEE!!!!! I haven't been a way from the kids for more than 6 hours at a time since Brayden was born. I cannot wait!
6. Kenny is into the swing of things at the church. I think he felt what it is like to be the solo pastor this weekend. A meeting and a funeral on a Saturday, and an emergency trip to the hospital to visit a member on a Sunday night. It was quite the weekend. What is ironic is that his sermon on Sunday was about interruptions and that we should take advantage of things that aren't planned to connect with people. He got to practice what he preached this weekend!

7. The kids and I have been going for walks lately...somewhere around a mile or a mile and a half around the neighborhood. It has been really good for me to get out of the house and do something active! If I keep it up maybe I can lose some of this baby weight I have been hanging onto for the last 12 months! And maybe by Christmas I can get a side by side jogging stroller!

I guess that is all, sorry to bore everyone to tears. Hopefully things will pick up soon and I will have lots of pictures to share and stories to tell!

More Vacation!

Date night! We went to the strand and did a little shopping, ate a yummy dinner, and then had some ice cream at Ben and Jerry's. It was so nice to get away for a few hours!

Brayden enjoyed the sand!
Sweet boy!
This is my little brother...and yes ladies, he is single!
Kyle, Kennan, and my dad sitting on the waves and then falling down. It was pretty funny!
Nap time!!! We never sleep with the kids in the bed with us, but this was the only way Kenny could get Brayden to sleep!
Since my spot was taken over by Brayden, I joined Kennan! This was the only nap he took the entire week!

We went to the Rainforest Cafe for lunch one day. The kids menu had a few jokes on it and Kennan thought one of them was so funny that he started making up his own jokes. This is him cracking himself up!
I attempted many times to get a picture of the kids together. This is about as good at it got.
Kennan had obviously had enough of the photo shoot...
Group shot!

We played miniature golf...

It was a little warm outside!!
We spent some time on the strand. There was a spray paint artist that was really good! My brother got one of his pictures for his souvenier/birthday present.
Kennan was in a zone while watching.

Pictures on the beach! Me with the kiddos...Kenny had already left.
My parents and brother with the kids.
And of course, on our last night there the kids got really comfortable with the water and waves...Kennan loved jumping over the waves and then running from them!
Brayden was on a mission!

We had such a great trip! But I am so worn out I feel like I need a vacation after the vacation!The kids and I are spending some time with my parents before heading back home. We miss Kenny!

VACATION!

We are having a fabulous time in Galveston! I didn't think we would have internet...but all of you faithful readers are in luck. Here is a sneak peak of some fun we are having!

On the ferry ride...

it was a windy day!!

We got a few hours of rain and look at what happened to the roads! I wonder what would happen if a hurricane came!?!
We went to the Moody Gardens Aquarium...
Kennan and my dad in the shark cage.
Introducing the newest member of our family..."Crabo" the hermit crab.
Enjoying some time at the beach...

Kennan's footprints...how cool is that?
Yeah! Daddy is here now!

It will be awhile...

before my next post. The kids and I have been visiting my family this weekend and Kenny stayed in Pampa. We were able to celebrate my grandfather's 80th birthday on Saturday and my brother's 21st birthday today. We are heading to Galveston tomorrow morning for a week!! V.A.C.A.T.I.O.N!! I cannot wait to get there and relax on the beach! Kenny will meet us there on Wednesday and spend a few days before going back to Pampa.

Speaking of Kenny, we celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary on Saturday. It was a bummer that we weren't able to celebrate it together but we do get to go out on a date while in Galveston. It has been an amazing 5 years with a lot exciting adventures, changes, and challenges. I love Kenny more and more everyday and am so glad that God placed in him in life. I love you babe!

When we get back to Pampa I will do a better anniversary post with lots of pictures from the past, as well as some good V.A.C.A.T.I.O.N pictures. Stay tuned!

More Birthday!!

We had a great birthday celebration! Here is a picture play by play of the day!

Hanging out in the backyard. We had the tables decorated with red tablecloths and black construction paper dots. Each table also had a red plastic pot with sunflowers. A closer view of the tables.

We played pin the spot on the ladybug...

Brayden was really good at the game!
We played a "Guess how many candies are in the jar" game. My dad won!

Kennan's guess... "A Lot"
Jackson got second place and we let him have all the candy!
The kids eating dinner. My grandfather cooked up a YUMMY brisket, Kenny grilled some BBQ chicken and hot dogs, my mom made some potato salad, and we had watermelon and baked beans.
The cupcakes!!!
Mason and Kennan enjoying their cupcakes.

With the birthday girl! She got her own cake...
Brayden got a lot of fun presents! This isn't a great picture but our neighbor, Connie, made Brayden this adorable tutu and a onesie with her name and a cupcake on it. Connie also blogged about it so you can click on this to see a better picture. Thanks Connie!!!! Little did she know that I had been wanting a tutu for when we get Brayden's first birthday pictures taken.
Brayden got this cute little ladybug that she immediately grabbed and kissed!!!
All of the family that was at the party...Cousins, grandparents, great grandparents, aunts, and uncles...it was a great party!!!!

And finally, let me offer a small piece of advice.

When going to your daughter (or son's) 1 year well visit, remember to check the diaper bag carefully for a pacifier. Especially when your daughter (or son) uses one to help fall asleep or to recover from 4 shots!!! Also make sure the nurse doesn't poke your child in the foot with the needle she just used to give the shot. Because it will really. hurt.the.baby. Also, make sure the nurse doesn't wipe the foot with an alcohol pad because that is the first thing she grabs. Because it will hurt.the.baby.even.more.

A pacifier is also crucial when you are getting blood drawn from her (or his) arm for a lead test and some other blood work. All of the other waiting room guests will appreciate the pacifier, especially if there is a 20 minute wait time between the shots and blood work.

If by chance you forget the pacifier, leave one parent with the screaming, crying, inconsolable baby while the other runs (don't walk) to Wal Mart which is right next door to the doctor's office. (Disclaimer: While you are running down the aisles, you will probably get some funny looks.) While you are in the baby area, grab a snack to go along with the pacifier because you feel so sorry for your sweet baby who is crying and screaming because of all of the pokes. Run to the self checkout and pay for your 2 items while you wipe the sweat off the back of your neck because it is only 100 degrees outside (and because running down the aisles of Wal Mart is all of the exercise you have had in awhile).

Head back to the doctor's office where you are greeted by your sad baby and rather frustrated spouse. Tear open the package of pacifiers and hand the cute pink (or blue) one to your daughter (or son) only to see her (or his) eyes on the box of snacks you grabbed for her (or him). Laugh because if you knew all it would take to calm down your baby was a snack, you could have given her (or him) the bag of cheerios that was in the diaper bag the entire time. The End.