Reindeer Fun Run 2012

First weekend of December Uncle Bubba, Aunt Joanie and Jackson came to stay the night.

 

Jackson ran the egg nog jog race with Bradley.  Rather, I should say he left Bradley in the dust and Bradley ended up crying trying to keep up with him.  He did keep up with him and I think that was the problem.  His little legs weren't used to running as fast as his cousin who is 4 years older than him.

Santa wishing all the kids good luck.

   

Waiting for our egg nog joggers!

Jackson coming in to take second.

He won second place and got a trophy which he ended up giving to Bradley because he did so good.  Technically if Bradley ran the way he did in his age group he would have got first place.  It was mommy’s mistake for putting him in with the 9 year olds for his first race without me.

 

Bradley rounding the corner to the finish.  He saw me and Uncle Bubba and started crying.

He was like “I’m done!”  Ha-ha! I wonder where he gets that from? hmmm! I jumped in and ran with him to the finish.  I am so proud of him.  I think Mommy failed that day and not him.

The after party had tons of food and games so that made it all better.

 

Gavin is double handed with a Panera candy cane shaped bread and Ritas Italian Ice.

 

 

The awards announcements.

 

 

Santa, I would like a JET please! Says Bradley.

 

Can I pet you Santa?

Santa, can I have a toy cheetah and a jet?

gamers.

Mellow Mushroom has a mascot.  Who knew?! The kids were friendlier with him than Santa.

 

We ate pizza in the grassy area and played.  It was a wonderful morning.

 

After that we came back to the house and moved half of my home decor a mile back into the woods behind my house. For this….

    

 

  

The location was beautiful with open tall pines. However, we had to fight with shadows and the sun. It was moving every minute.

I think they will have a beautiful Christmas card.  Our weekend was so much fun having them here.  Daddy was away for work and came home that Saturday afternoon and they got to hang out with him for a  few hours before they left to head home.

Billy, Devon & the kids visit!

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About two weeks ago (like 3 days after we got home from our trip to MD/VA) Billy, Devon and the kids came to our house.  It was a short trip.  The kids always want more time with each other.  They really are great friends which is awesome to have that with your cousins.

They arrived on Thursday and we just hung out.  It was nice to have a reader in the house other than Mommy and Daddy.  Bella read them all their bed time stories every night.  The kids always love having sleepovers in the same room too.  Holden and Easton even did great together sleeping in their “baby crib” room.

On Friday we went to the Alpaca farm and the kids loved the Alpaca’s.  For some reason feeding these animals just make the kids faces light up which is why we wanted to take them to this farm in particular.  After that the older kids played outside and had so much fun flooding the backyard, making mud balls and using the slip n slide and playing water balloons. Devon and I did a little shopping this day too.

Saturday we went to two different parks and the farmers market.  We wanted to go to downtown Southern Pines and that park and Bella insisted on the castle park so we just did both.  Why not? We ordered pizza for Holden's Birthday celebration for lunch.  He turned two a few days after on Monday the 18th! Devon baked him a ooey gooey melting cake which all the kids loved. He opened gifts and then unfortunately they had to get on the road.  Brad was traveling out of town on Sunday and Billy would be traveling Monday so we all had to snap back into reality. The kids all cried.  Well Bradley was sad and more angry and as it goes with girls being emotional Bella, Madelyn and myself cried!

We miss them so much but are glad we got this special time with them (Smile)!

A Best Friend’s Birthday & One Night with Grammy

Sophia is 5!! Bradley and his girl headed off to Marbles museum on Friday compliments of the birthday girls parents.  Bradley had so much fun I heard and he was thankful to be a part of her birthday trip. 

Playing Veterinarian.  Life size stuffed animals are always a hit with kids. 

 

They ran into their friends Ava and Graham.

 

Whipping up a kitchen creation.  Bradley must be the sue chef judging by whose wearing the hat ;) and I’m sure he is making foods he does not even eat.

That was their fun filled Friday.  On Saturday morning we were supposed to head to Charlotte to my bro’s house.  We had to cancel because I wanted to keep Easton in an easier environment in case he had an explosion.  He had what looked like a stomach bug.  He is better now, Thank God, and that none of us got it after! I am happy to say that events resumed without us and Jackson responded to the alter call and made a public proclamation of his faith at 9 years old! He asked Jesus into his heart and is now lined up to be baptized sometime this spring which we plan to make it out to see.  

On Sunday my mom came to our house after she was at church in Charlotte with Jackson.  We headed straight over to see our birthday girl blow out her candles! Bradley is in the corner fingers gripping the counter like he doesn’t know how this plays out?  Or how many blows is it going to take her?  Come on just one more….. too funny!

 

When we got back to the house Grammy gave Bradley his birthday gift.  Ice Age Dinosaurs movie! He loves the characters in ICE AGE.  He cracks up at them and quotes them all the time.  He also has not lost his thrill for dinosaurs.  He loves them.   

 

Trying on there 3D glasses for movie night. 

 

Movie/Popcorn night on the couch with Grammy.  There was one catch! We don’t have a 3D TV.  We took the glasses off and watched the whole thing a little blurry.  Later we realized it came with the non 3D version in the case too.  DUH!

Bradley went to school Monday morning and Grammy had to go back home.  When Bradley got home from school he was sad Grammy was gone and said “I wish she could have stayed for more than one night!” but he gave Easton love instead. 

Coming around the corner and making him giggle!

 

Our Tiger who actually has underwear on at the moment.  I started being a tiger with him one day and now he asks for it saying “Tiger me mommy?” meaning be a tiger mommy and get me!

Last but certainly a highlight of my day.  This morning I caught Gavin naked with a lollipop he helped himself to and he was jumping off our bed onto kid table placemats shouting “extendo!”

** He’s not peeing here**

Then he decided to let himself fall backwards on the bed and he was cracking up. 

He is so sticky and dirty all the time.  No matter how much I clean this kid he finds a way to make a mess of himself.

 

A mess is what he is.  There really is no explaining this one as I have said before!

Daddy is out of town this week in Louisiana for his first week with his new job.  He will travel wherever to be an instructor.  I wont even try to explain or I would butcher it.  Right Babe? It is all stuff he was certified in when he was a PJ.  All part of what makes them bad ass and be able to rescue people.  The boys miss him and can’t wait to have him home.  We have been fortunate to have him home with us on a regular basis this year so the traveling again will take some getting used to all over.