August 9

Yesterday was a very exciting day for our family.

Kenny and I celebrated 7 years of marriage! To celebrate, we had a 6 hour car ride back to our home town after a FABULOUS week of vacation in Galveston. We had lunch with the kids at Chili's and even got a free desert! Then we stopped at McDonalds a few hours later for some ice cream. We topped it off with unpacking, a trip to the grocery store and a frozen pizza dinner once we got home. It probably wasn't the most romantic anniversary we've ever had, but it is a perfect example of the season of life we are in!

I love you babe!

We've come a long way in 7 years!!

August 9 was also a special day because this sweet baby turned 5 months old! He celebrated the big day by rolling over (for the very first time) on his play mat! Not sure if it was his way of rejoicing that the car ride was over or because he knew it was a special day!

Grayson enjoyed his first time at the beach!!

We love our little man. He continues to be the happiest, most easy-going baby I know. Coming up for Grayson this month: baby food!

Brayden is 3!

Our baby girl turned 3 on Monday, August 2nd. We celebrated by taking a 6 hour road trip to Galveston! (I think she's still too young to know that a car ride isn't a fun way to spend your special day.) But, before you go feeling bad for our girl, know that we celebrated her birthday all week!!

On our way down to Galveston...

We're still working on making 3 fingers...maybe she'll have it down by her 4th birthday!

She loved being sung to!

Brayden is as sweet as as can be. She is a social butterfly and cares about those around her. Brayden is very much into pretend play these days and loves her babies and the new doll house she got for her birthday. She is compassionate and will say "thank you" for just about anything.

For every ounce of sweetness, Brayden has about 10 ounces of sass. She has recently taken up posing and dancing (as seen in the picture below). It is hilarious to watch and she will perform anytime, anywhere...audience or not. Brayden talks non-stop. She falls asleep talking and wakes up continuing her conversation. Sometimes she begins a sentence without knowing how it's going to end. The other day Kennan was complaining about something and she said, "Welcome to my world." Where does she come up with these things?

Brayden loves Kennan and Grayson. She wants to be everywhere Kennan is and wants to teach Grayson everything she knows.

We love our sweet girl! She has spiced up the last 3 years of our life and I am confident that there will never be a dull moment with our Brayden around!

A Peek at our Week...

We've been relaxing...

relaxing with Grammy!

floating...

We've been visiting...

swimming at the Harbucks!

with my grandfather, Boogs!
We've experienced the great outdoors (kind of) at Cabelas...
feeding the fish!
target practice...
animal watching with Grumpy!
We've been working on our tans...and swimming...
proof that I've been in the pool!
And we've been laughing...

Grayson thought Pops was funny!

Sunday Snapshots...

Grayson's new trick is reaching for things...he caught me taking this picture!!

I can't help but think that Brayden looks like a badly-dressed tourist...

Thoughtfully blowing bubbles...

Out of the mouths of babes...

When the kids started "really" talking, Kenny and I started a journal of sorts to keep track of the funny things they say. Today (because I needed a little pick-me-up) I thought I would share a few of the faves...

*Rather than saying "Ready, set, go!" Brayden says, "Ready, sex, go!!!"

*Prayer at bedtime: God is great. Thank you for some girls like Brayden and mommy. Amen.

We found Brayden asleep like this the other night. How does this happen?!?!

*Brayden was taking off a pair of panties with flowers on them. When asked why she said, "Because they have flowers on them and flowers make me sneeze."

*"When I get older people call be Brayden Bally because I do cannon balls."

*Instead of putting on jammies, Kennan was running around the house in his underwear. When asked why he said, "I'm doing some exercises because that is a good thing to do in your underwear."

*Mom: Kennan, you have until I get my makeup on to finish getting dressed.
K: Mom, this is going to take me forever.
(Mom then had to deal with a little sister who had an accident.)
K: Thanks for buying me some time sis.

Kennan insists on sleeping with all of his "pets". Sometimes I don't know how there is room for him in the bed.

*K: Mom, do you have a breathmint?
Mom: No, Kennan I don't.
K: Well, I think I need one because my breath smells like birthday cake.

*"Mom, I just killed that bug dead with my heavy trophy made of metal. Or maybe I just broke it's thorax. Yeah, that's what I did.

(I have to brag on my boy for a minute...)
Kenny was reading a story and read about a duck who needed 3 weeks to heal. Kennan thought about it for a minute and said, "Dad, that would be 21 days." What?!?! How does he know that? And he wasn't even prompted or asked. I think he's ready for kindergarten!!

This little guy isn't say much yet, but you better believe we listen when he does!!

4 months!

Grayson is 4 months old today! The time is flying by and we are loving our little man!

Grayson is so easy-going and laid back. He is full of smiles and giggles (especially for his big brother!)

Nicknames we have for the little guy...Gray-man, G-man, Squeaks (he squeaks a lot!), Gray-in (that's what Kennan like to call him). At this point, Grayson answers to anything!

He has been sucking on his hands/chewing on his fingers A LOT in the last few days. I bravely stuck my finger in his mouth and didn't feel any teeth trying to poke through just yet...

Grayson loves to go on walks, especially in the evening with his daddy. He used to fall asleep during them, but now he stays awake and enjoys checking out the surroundings.

We pulled out the exersaucer for Grayson the other day and he liked it (for a very short period of time).

Actually, I think Brayden liked it a little more...

Grayson continues to be the most excellent sleeper. He takes 3 good naps a day (at least 2 hours each) and goes to bed between 10 and 11pm and wakes up between 7 and 8am.

At last check (7-7-10) Grayson was 14 lbs 8 oz...with clothes and a diaper on. We go for his 4 month check up on the 19th and I am curious to see how much he will weigh then! He is still nursing during the day every 3-4 hours (which can wear a momma out!). I am thinking the doctor is going to suggest solid foods at the appointment. Not sure I am ready for that!
Grayson loves to rub blankets and burp cloths (clean...most of the time) between his fingers and on his cheek when he is sleepy. It's the cutest thing!

Brayden and Kennan adore Grayson. They include him in everything and love to try and figure out what he is "saying" when he talks to us. Here they are blasting off into space in their spaceship. (Yes, Kennan is sticking his tongue out at me.)

We love our little man!

A Walk...

Tonight we went for a walk and enjoyed cool temperatures and watched a storm roll in. The kids were concerned we were too far from home in case it started to rain...but we made it home dry!

Grayson enjoyed the walk from the comfort of the double stroller...

Brayden directed traffic...

And Kennan practiced his jumping...

Hints from Jennifer

Today has been one of those days. But, throughout the course of the day I have learned a few important things I would like to share with you, my lovely blog readers.

Problem: The children colored on the painted, textured walls with orange and blue crayons.
How to avoid the problem: Don't give your children crayons.
How to solve the problem: WD-40 and a clean cloth. Rub until the crayon marks are gone. Then rub greasy WD-40 off with a damp cloth. (Test the WD-40 on a small spot before rubbing all over the wall to make sure it doesn't damage the paint.) It was fine on my walls.

Problem: A large yellow/orange stain on hubby's white dress shirt.
How to avoid the problem: Don't put a vitamin in your pocket and forget to take it and then throw it in the wash. Or, check hubby's pockets before washing.
How to solve the problem: Spray shirt with stain remover and then wash. Do not dry. Set shirt out in the sun and the stain magically disappears! (I have to thank Alisa for this one. She taught me this trick while we were at Seminary and this was my first time to put it to use!!!!)

Problem: High-content sugar mixture burned into the ceramic cook top.
How to avoid the problem: Don't leave high-content sugar mixtures unattended on the cook top because they will boil over. If this occurs, wipe it off immediately (without burning yourself). Don't leave it to sit overnight.
How to solve the problem: I'm still working on this one, but the problem was lessened incredibly by soaking a paper towel in vinegar and setting it over the stain. I was able to wipe most of it away with the vinegar and a razor-blade type scraper. Now the hubby is puttin' his back into it to get the rest off (we hope).

There you have it. Lessons I have learned today (and it's only 4:42 CST).
What tips do you have to share?

Happy 4th of July!!

Tonight we went with some friends to shoot off fireworks.
I'll let you see for yourselves how my children felt about them...

I think next year we will stay home and watch them on TV!
What did you do to celebrate this year?