Happy 7th Birthday Bradley!

On the 19th Bradley turned the big boy age of 7.  It was on a school day Wednesday so we kept it pretty simple and fun but just celebrated his amazing life thus far and all our sweet Bradley Bear is to us in this world. 

 

The table was decorated for him . 

 

It’s too early for pictures mom!! Breakfast before school.  Easton actually stole his birthday chair from him but Bradley did not mind.  He is so kind to his youngest brother. 

 

Daddy actually had an early work day that morning and late coming home so it was just the four of us.  He went to school and I brought him Cake Pops in the afternoon for his class. 

His teacher was so sweet and called him up and talked about how I must have felt when he was a born and I held him in my arms.  He was tickled but also embarrassed to have the spotlight on him since he is so modest and shy. She told the class he was good luck since he had red hair. 

All the kids loved them and the boys were so excited to get to go into Bradley’s class and have Cake Pops.  Gavin says he wants to go to big kid school like Bradley. 

 

Later that day when he got home from school after homework, Liz and the kids popped on over with Sonic food and to celebrate with us.  Sonic hot dogs was this Birthday kids request. 

Next was singing, wishing and cupcake time.  I froze my batter and icing and made more of the same kind he had for his party. 

His face still melts my heart just like when he was a baby. 

Ha-ha- he is trying to figure out the trick sparkler candles. 

Thanks for the great picture Bradley- how you looked and all or even wanted to take it!! Sheesh.  I love him but he is already getting to be a boy set in his own ways, he thinks he understands the world and will tell you all about it. He admits that he is “hard to handle” sometimes too.  But most of all he is a great hard working amazing boy.  We could not be more lucky, privileged or blessed to be called his parents. 

He got some cool new shirts from Sophia and family opened a gift from his brothers.  A Lego Movie book and movie.  Brad and I got him a Batman game for the PS3.  That was all Brad’s idea of course.  He is really into playing Batman in his downtime after school, sports, chores and homework with Brad. 

 

Thank Heaven for our Bradley Bear who is SEVEN! 

Our prayer as he gets older is for him to continue to do good in school, make the right choices as he has been doing.  We pray he continues to love Jesus and want to seek him like he does now and that he will continue to grow in the giftedness that God gave him.  That he will know he is always loved by his Lord and his whole family.  We pray he will be humble and never prideful but assertive and strong and never too shy or meek.  He knows that God has created him to work and be strong and conquer, to never give up and to just love!

We love you Bradley and loved celebrating your special day with you as you turned seven!

Mommy’s Birthday!

October 12th I officially entered the beginning of the end! I know it sounds so doom and gloom but really I turned 29! This is my last year in my twenties.  Boo hoo to getting older.  I sure do hope I can make it great and it did start off that way with all my handsome guys.  It was a Saturday smack dab in the middle of Halloween month so what else do you do but go to the pumpkin patch! The boys had so much fun and they could have jumped and slid all day, me too!

Posing. 

  

Love his sweet little smiles!

Could this be more hilarious!?

Hey Bradley, can you help a brother out and give me a butt push!

Having a moment for who knows what!

Pure joy that makes my heart smile!

 

After we did the slide, the bounce and played in the playground we picked our pumpkins.

This picture is special since Gavin is making a “this pumpkin is heavy” face and Easton is pouting because he sees the hay ride going around again without him on it. Since kids his age don’t understand time he kept thinking he missed it every time but we saved it for last.

 

Our happy boy finally sitting on that hay ride!!

After naps & dinner it was time for candles and cake! I am blocking Easton quickly from grabbing the candles.

 

I had a super blessed birthday.  Thank you Lord for all my years and all the ones to come. I am thankful for this life and loves he has given me.

I love my guys! 

Easton’s 2nd Birthday in Maryland

This past Saturday we trekked our way up north to Maryland.  When I say “we” I mean, myself and the boys alone.  A trip I have done several times before but it had been a while and every time I question my judgment and am convinced “Why Yes, Emily, you certainly are crazy!” Brad flew out to Tampa for work the day before and I just wanted to go to see family since like I said we did not have school holding us back.  Part of Christmas is about family and no one at all had a plan to see each other.  It was sad to me to ship gifts or be alone so off we went.

We finally arrived there at 4:30 when we left at 9 am.  We added two hours onto the trip because after seeing a large house fire while driving it reminded me I left my space heater on so I opted to be safe no matter what the cost or annoyance it caused and I drove home to unplug it.  Five minutes from the house Liz finally told me she did still have out spare key.  It was a little late since we were already there but I will remember that next time. She ended up using that spare key to sneak cookies into my house for when we got home.  A nice treat when coming home to a food barren house. 

 

Our first night we spent with Andrew, Jen and the girls.

We watched Home Alone and drank hot chocolate.  Bradley is my child who does not like it but Gavin loves it and Easton just drinks it cooler and thinks it is chocolate milk.

We exchanged our Christmas gifts with them.  Of course, Uncle Andrew kept it golf themed for at least one gift ;)

Gavin picked out this bracelet all on his own for Livi.  it has a boys and a girl charm to represent the two of them.  Adoring cousins.

We always draw names with between the kids and are normally together.  Well, I guess I didn't think of it or thought someone else didn't have a gift either.  Well, I was wrong to not think this process out clearly.  Bradley ended up getting his feelings hurt really bad saying “where is my gift?” The answer to that is Jackson has his gift in Charlotte and we are not all together and exchanging at the same time.  It was not a case of him being selfish or anything.  He is going through a phase of being the oldest brother and being unappreciated or thinking life is unfair.  Every child with siblings goes through this and feels this way at times.  We are working on it though to make our big boy know he is so very much loved!

Uncle Andrew did the coolest thing.  he snuck away and wrapped up Bradley a gift. A “Caps Kids” baseball cap.  Bradley cherishes it and he felt better after that! 

He is the most handsome little man with his Daddy’s strong features.

Easton got birthday gifts too. 

The next morning Aunt Jen made the kids and the Birthday Boy, sprinkled pancakes.

Looking unsure about being 2 so early in the morning. He does great at blowing out candles though.

After this we went to church and got some party supplies and headed to Great Grandmas house.

These kids weren’t monkeying around.  It was pizza time!

Time for ice cream cake.

He was so thrilled.  Happy Birthday Easty Bubbas. “Little Easty Bubbas today is your day.  Little Easty Bubbas, it’s your Birthday! Little Easty Bubbas we love you, Little Easty Bubbas today you’re TWO!” I sung him this song all day to the beat of “I’m a little tea pot.”

As soon as he was done with the candles he started sucking his thumb.  Sheesh! That may be a hard habit to break as he is doing it a lot lately.

Love this toddler.  He is a joy!

 

How many kids can you get around GG’s table.  Well, 10 exactly! If only a table could talk.  This one has lots of memories to share.

 

The craziness and aftermath of the ice cream. We played pin the tail on the donkey and the kids each got a balloon.

 

My cousin Natalie and her little boy Nicholas even came later to wish Easton a Happy Birthday.  These two are only 1 week apart.

 

It was a perfect day of celebrating for Easton.  More of our Maryland trip to come….