Part 4: Blue Ridge Parkway

Since Brad was given a week and a half off, we tried to take advantage. Other than camping, we decided to take a day trip to the Shenandoah Valley and drive part of the Blue Ridge Parkway. It turned out to be the perfect time to see all of the changing leaves. We packed a picnic lunch and got to enjoy a little bit of the park outside of the car. Turns out to be a great spot for camping too (if you do not mind the bears!!)

Here are some shots of the changing colors, not the best, but you get the idea. It was a beautiful drive, especially when both kiddos decided to take a nap the last 1/2 hour through the park and most of the way home!

Part 3: Fall Festival

While camping, they were hosting a Fall Festival at the Plantation. They had llamas, goats, pigs, tractors, an old fashioned log mill, homemade corn bread, cotton picking and of course pumpkins. What a great way to spend the morning!

The next day before we left there was a pumpkin patch right down the road so we took the kids to pick out their own pumpkins. Miss A had a great time running around trying to find the right one.

Ahh, the good ol' photo shoot, this is as good as it gets with 2 kiddos always on the go....

We love fall!!

Part 2: Camping

Finally! All of the searching and stressing about the right camper and perfect truck (all while Brad was away mind you) came into fruition this past weekend. As much as Brad and I have been camping, doing this by ourselves + two kiddos was a sight to see, but for some reason worked out just fine! Enjoying a quiet night bundled by the fire, kids asleep soundly with a drink in hand makes for a perfect trip! Enjoy a few pic's of our weekend at Chippokes Plantation State Park.

Our camping spot.

A view of how crazy it is inside of the camper (it rained when we first got there, but turned into a beautiful weekend).

Luckily we found a fun playground and visited that twice a day. Mr. B enjoyed taste testing all of the tire ground cover....yum..... Miss A enjoyed every moment with Daddy.

Playing outdoors!

Brad and his mad fire building skills....look how organized!

Of course the reward for a great fire....SMORES!

Off camping again this weekend, hopefully it goes as smooth as last weekend!

More posts to come.....

Daddy's Home: Part 1

Brad got home a little less than 2 weeks ago. All is right with the world now that he is home! Of course the big day for him to arrive went about as smooth as it could have with 2 OVER tired children, but totally worth it! I did not manage to capture the reunion on camera because #1- I forgot to bring the camera with me to the flight line #2 Even if I had the camera I was in a crazy search for someone to take Miss A and hold her from not running up to every jet and #3 Trying to protect Mr B's ears from the jets was enough of a workout to make my arms sore for 2 days. Watching all the 8 jets land, taxi up, shut down and the guys climb out of their jets, wives and kiddos anxiously awaiting the reunion, priceless. To see the older kiddos sprint up to their Dad's and give them the biggest hugs, I hope makes the time away worth the work and effort! I would do it over again in a heartbeat! Miss A said 'I love you Daddy' in a sweet and chocked-up kind of way I think I counted 15 times in a short 30 minutes. MELTED my heart. I had no idea what her reaction would be, but I think I can say without a doubt, she missed her Daddy and was glad to have him home (just like her Mommy!) Brad got back into the swing of things around the house, messing with the yard, fixing things, and making desserts with Miss A!

If you ever wondered how to get every bit of cake mix off of the mixer, just ask Miss A and she will show you!

Enjoy a fun moment between Miss A and her Daddy, such a big helper!

More of our time with Daddy to come......

I just love this girl.....

The Big ONE

Mr. B-

Happy Birthday sweet, sweet boy! Gosh, I could count the number of times you have had a bad day on two hands you are that sweet. So full of laughter and calm I am not sure you are truly my kid. You weigh in at 22.13 and are 28 inches tall. I won the worst mother of the year award according the the nurses for having your doctors apt on your birthday because of the 4 shots to follow. You did awesome though, so no damper was put on your day!

You are getting around on your hands and knees still. You are attempting to walk on your own while holding onto something but your top goes much faster than your toes. We will continue to work on that, do not worry. Your voice is still as deep as ever which makes me giggle every time I hear you babble.

You started your day with blueberry pancakes and bananas, anything food is your favorite. You love your milk, which makes me so happy!! You enjoy books as much as your sister which makes my heart melt. You will crawl into the playroom, set yourself up by the bookshelf and go through each book, one by one.

You enjoy being outside, crunching leaves, eating leaves, pulling up the grass and digging into the dirt. Such a boy!

You were not sure about the whole cupcake idea at first, but once you smashed the whole thing onto your plate, you tasted it and off to the races you went! Too funny to watch you kiddo.

It did not take you long to figure out how to tear open your presents.

Ahh, what would we do without Skype. We get to talk to Daddy almost everyday, you smile and start telling him stories as soon as you see him. How fun he was able to 'spend' sometime with you on your day! You got to show him your fun hammer you love hitting on everything.

Happy Birthday to my bright, fun-loving little boy I am blessed to call my own, I love you!

EIGHT......

My sister-in-law who is a MUCH better blogger than I and more creative tagged me in this post from her blog. I have never participated in any of these before, but I always love reading when other people do. What is fun about my blogger world is most of my blogger friends, even though we are all worlds apart, have crossed paths and most likely will again. One of the downfalls and perks of our lives I suppose. SO, here is my first attempt at joining a little bit of the 'outside' blogger world.

My 8 Questions?

1. Where were you born? and your parents? what is your ancestry?

I was born in Springfield, Illinois as well as my father, but my mother was born in Inglewood California. My ancestry follows me to Mexico from my Dad's side and Ireland on my Mom's. We do not know who my Grandma's parents were (she was adopted), so when I watch the show 'Who do you think you are', makes me want to really research and find out where I came from.

2. What is your least favorite memory from those awkward high school days?

I was in an algebra class with my older brother and in front of the entire class he begins to yell at me for not climbing on top of our roof (why was he on our roof anyway?) to tell him his girlfriend called the house the previous night.....seriously Aaron?? To top it off, all of the kids were Juniors and I was only a piddly Sophomore.....talk about humiliation! In hind site, he was the one making a fool of himself and got sent to the office, but still, in the moment, totally awkward!!

3. Grab your favorite photo you have ever taken. Tell us why it's your favorite.

Just the beginning....

4. What song instantly picks you up and makes your day go even better?

"Lord, I Lift Your Name on High' by Petra.

5. How did you & your husband meet? Tell us the love story!

Aww young love.... When I was a Junior in high school I was dating a boy named Dave. Dave had a best friend named Brad. After Dave dumped me, I started talking to Brad more and more. Realizing Brad could not ask me out from the 'underline code of best friends', I asked him out. While Brad went to the academy, I chose to stay home to go to college, so we are part of the 2% club (for all of you academy people). Together for 13 years, married almost 8, and 2 kids later. To be continued....

6. What is your favorite snack?

Warm cookies fresh out of the oven with a cold glass of milk.

7. What was your first concert? Tell us what you remember about it!

New Kids on the Block!! I remember being SO excited to be able to 'see' those cute boys. My cousins and I sang, screamed, jumped up and down. I remember not having a voice the next day or being able to hear very well.

8. What makes you the happiest?

Simple moments of playing in the playroom with Brad, Miss A and Mr. B. In our lives, sharing those moments come by sparingly so I cherish them when I get them!! (We miss you Daddy!)

I am not going to tag anyone specifically because looking through my list of friends, they are either busy with newborns, about to move, in the process of moving or I know they will not do this....so you all are spared =-) Your welcome! BUT, if you would like to participate, just copy these questions and I would love to know your answers!

My 8 Questions?

1. Where were you born? and your parents? what is your ancestry?

2. What is your least favorite memory from those awkward high school days?

3. Grab your favorite photo you have ever taken. Tell us why it's your favorite.

4. What song instantly picks you up and makes your day go even better?

5. How did you & your husband meet? Tell us the love story!

6. What is your favorite snack?

7. What was your first concert? Tell us what you remember about it!

8. What makes you the happiest?

Daddy, look, I'm a Big Kid Now!

This has been an exciting day for us. I know Miss A is only 2 and the thought of putting her into pre-school this early was a decision for us. How wonderful we found one that has a 2 day program. I am so glad we choose to go with it. Her teachers, Mrs. Dent and Mrs. Hughes are superb. Her classroom looks like SO much fun!!

Here are just a few pictures of our exciting day, we hope you enjoy them.

Enjoying all the fun things to do, color, puzzles, and riding the 'BIG' boat as Miss A says.

Singing a prayer before snack. Pretty exciting, they have a tradition at the school to serve ice cream with sprinkles on the first day! Miss A enjoyed every. last. drop!

We are off on the beginning of MANY school adventures, can not wait to see what the future holds for our big girl!

Mom Moment

Do you ever have those moments where you come across something and think, I do not remember putting that there?

Well I had a HUGE moment like that tonight. As I was changing Mr. B before putting him to bed tonight, I come across a link shaped like the letter 'E' IN his pooped filled diaper. Yes, I said IN his diaper. I took a picture of it because really, how often do we come across things like this?!? I even thought for a mere second that I would post it because who would believe me without a picture. BUT, my judgement got the better of me (your welcome) and I decided on a 'clean' picture of links so any non-mother would know what I am talking about.

I can not tell you how quickly I went from confusion "Am I looking at a link?"

To worry "It is not possible for my child to have swallowed that and have it come out the other end...right? and if he was able to swallow that and digest it, does he have any internal damage?"

To reality, "I can not believe I managed to put a diaper on Mr. B with a link inside of it and him not complain the whole time or me feel it while carrying him around."

Oh I think these kids are in trouble these next few months until Brad gets home!

Sorry kids in advance for future 'Mom moments' that could possibly harm, irritate, or annoy you! I do try my best!

Love Mom.

Odds n Ends...

Just a few pictures of what has been going on in our days. Potty training , I am not a huge fan. If there was someone I could hire to accomplish this task for me with my child, I would pay, I mean pay BIG (any takers)! Miss A loves running around in these ENORMOUS plastic training undies. She makes me laugh every time she moves because you can hear all of it with those things! Who thought of these?!?

Mr. B and Bailey have become chums now as she upgraded to the 'one for me, one for you'' club.

Aww, just too sweet. Did not last long before Miss A took the pen out of Mr. B's hand and threw it across the room.

Oh yeah, we bought a camper a few weeks ago. This has been a should we? shouldn't we? pop-up? hard sided? discussion in our house for a looong time......, we settled on this and love it! As you can tell the kiddos are having fun in it already. We of course have not camped in it yet because you kind of need a bigger vehicle than a Mazda or Mini van to pull this thing. Good thing our Mazda is sold, so let the truck shopping begin!