Sunday, November 30, 2008

Two times gifted... Two smiles.... two times a blessing!!

This Christmas Bradyn is old enough to get what Christmas is really about, well sort of. if any of you have been to our house, my children don't go without.. They have a "toy room" FULL as well as a bedroom that is full of toys, books, cars, Trains, Trains, oh and track for the trains :). Mommy and Daddy (the tetes uncles and grandmas and grandpas are guilty as well) have always gotten whatever they have asked for and never made them wait till an important day, like a birthday or Christmas. We have been working on changing this habit NOW!! anyways Both my boys birthdays have recently past, and we have TONS of unopened gifts sitting in storage. one because we have no room for them, and two because they were overwhelmed by all the NEW things they had gotten we took away the unopened ones and they never noticed. (we did this last year and those gifts still sit in storage too) this year after birthday season I tried to take the gifts back and get store credit, but all the stores have changed their return policy's and no one would take them back without a gift receipt. GREAT! so back to storage they went. Not really sure what we would do, maybe regift them next year? (to them not someone else haha) they would never know.
Fast forward to this past weekend, we were walking out of Walmart and there was a big army truck parked right outside, which of course caught Bradyns eyes. he is all about Army "stuff" because both his Tete's and an uncle are all in the Army. So we stopped to see why it was there. They were collecting new toys, for the kids who have one or both parents serving overseas in the military. We explained to Bradyn that some kids were really sad because this Christmas morning there parents weren't going to be there with them. he asked why, and so we went on to explain that they were in Iraq fighting the bad guys for all of us. a concept that is somewhat familiar in his little mind, as his own Tete is leaving for Iraq in a week. He said oh and off we went. as I thought about how difficult this Christmas is going to be for us, With Lindsay freshly in Iraq, I couldn't help but think of my own kids, and how horrible it would be if Bill or I weren't able to be with them on Christmas morning. Im SO grateful for our troops and all the sacrifices they make for us!! I couldn't stop thinking about this organization. On the way home that day, I started to rethink about all these unopened toys we have just sitting there. I turned to Bradyn and told him wouldnt it be great to give all those toys we have to the kids whos parents are at war, and he said yes how about one for them and one for me... lol sweet kid was going to try to barter with me.... I explained that he had plently of toys and really these kids would be SO happy to have them. so he said ok and then asked if he could go to war too.... I was like No honey only Army men and women go to war.(forgive me if you are in a diffrent branch of the military, in our house all of you are Army Men) lots of Bad guys are there, and you need to have special school for that. so he asked me "When I get bigger mommy Im going to war" I laughed and said Im praying you dont!!! When we returned with our gifts, we made a big deal about How great it is to be able to be doing this. so he was very excited to place the presents in the boxes for the kids. His Tete Lindsay happened to be home this weekend visiting one last time before she ships out to Iraq next week. with Lindsay's help they carried the presents, and he walked away very proud of himself!! and Mommy and Daddy were just as proud our little guy wanted to share his toys with the sad boys and girls!

(forgive me if you are about to see a gift one of you may have LOVING gave one of our boys!!! Just know you have blessed twice with the same gifts!!!!!)

Bradyn in the Car piled high with toys and his Tete Lindsay and Jay






I know not all of us can afford gifts this year, so I encourage you to go here http://www.letssaythanks.com/AllDesigns.aspx to this site and write a quick thank you to our soilders gone at war. little notes like these from "home" keep them going

Friday, November 28, 2008

Titus beats to his own drum

Titus has ALWAYS done things to his own tune.. but this time, I cant help but laugh every time I look at him and he grins his sweet smile back at me. I love the kid so much but these days he is looking really funny..... He is 14.5 months old, and up untill a month or so ago, he was toothless... yes my one year old didnt have a tooth in his head, dont worry he didnt go hungry, he knew how to gum anything you put in front of him, even beff Jerky.
Last month his little top right fang tooth came poping through, and I kept thinking ok the rest HAVE to pop through now, they all looked as if they were right there for months now, but surely my kid wouldnt only get a fang tooth right? well I was wrong, we had this one little fang for weeks. I wish I stopped and took a picture of his one lone tooth.... :( poor Titus doesnt get his picture taken very often I need to get better at that! anyways long story short he finally poped his two bottom middle teeth. and he had this crooked smile. then his Very loving big brother was jumping with him in his crib (during nap time non the less) and helped his right front tooth pop through, of course with blood and bruises to show for it. Well now my child looks even funnier... one BIG front tooth just makes the whole smile super lop sidded :) Good thing he is cute no matter what!! :)



(and yes the cut/bruise under his eye is also from his VERY loving big brother)

Thursday, November 27, 2008

I have so much to be thankful for!

-I have the most amazing Heavenly father who loves me and YOU no matter what!!
-I have the a Love, who loves me for me
-I have these two pretty amazing, Handsome Boys who have thaught me a whole new world of love I never knew exsisted
-I have the greatest parents a girl could ask for
-I have 6 of the craziest, fun, did I say crazy?! Siblings... I dont know a world without chaos because of them :)
-I have the most beautiful (if I do say so myself) nieces and nephews around
-I have some BEAUTIFUL friends both inside and out!
-We have a house over our heads
-We have our health
-We have Bills Job that provides us all we could ever want!

I could really go on and on because truely Im BLESSED!!!!! God has seriously blessed me more then I can even explain. Im so Thankful, for each and every one of you reading our blog, and following our little family! May God bless you and be with you on this beautiful Thanksgiving day!

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

November 18th @ 5:59am

My Dearest Bradyn Boy

Bradyn Boy, Im not sure how its possible you have gone from this,
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To this
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in just three short years! your growing up so fast right before my eyes, yet I dont see it till I look back on pictures. Your turning into such a fun silly KID, not my young toddler anymore. your now going to school and love it, your so independant not needing your daddy and I nearly as much! Im a little sad at that, but happy your learning and growing!!! Your a Great big brother (when you want to be) and your brother adores you! Im so greatful to be your mommy, you have brought so much joy and laughter to my heart!! I love you son, more then I will ever be able to tell you!! Happy Happy Birthday
Love Mommy!