Labor Day Weekend

We spent the whole weekend on the boat. It was fantastic, as Bradley would say! Sat. we were joined by our friends, and Bradley's Dentist, Jessica and David Raper. Mark and my parents were there too. We had a very nice time. Sunday one of Pop's friends Gary and Rebecca joined Mark, Bradley, Pop and Grandmama on the boat. They brought their jet ski and we had a blast on that. Mark and Bradley went on the tube. Pop drove and Mommy watched to make sure they didn't fall off. Then wouldn't you know it I fell off and couldn't get back on!!! What a mess! We finally got it figured out and then Bradley was brave enough to go by himself! Monday Uncle Bob, Aunt Angie, Abbey and Libby joined us on the boat. It was a very nice time. Abbey was scared to get in the water at first but soon learned to love it! Bradley rode the tube again this time being pulled by the pontoon so it didn't go nearly as fast but he still had fun. The girls were almost brave enough, next time I think they will do it. It was a very nice relaxing weekend spent with all the people I love so much!
Mark and Bradley tubing!
Pop, Grandmama, Abbey, Libby & Bradley playing Ring around the rosey in the lake!
Best buds having fun on the jet ski

1st day of School

I can't believe it is already that time of year again. Abbey started 2nd grade, Libby started Kindergarten and Bradley is still in preschool. We changed preschools this year since his old school, which we loved, would be doing the same thing they did last year. We hope that we made the right decision and that he will love school as much as he did last year. His teacher is Miss Tara and seems nice but very shy. At back to school night Bradley instantly made a friend named Pete so he was excited to go see him again! He called Mommy as soon as he got in the car to tell me about his day. Of course the only thing he remembered is playing! He is going 3 days a week this year and has to bring his lunch so hopefully that will help him get ready for next year. So far no problems!
Abbey & Libby's first day of school
All dressed and ready to go!
Chilling with his new friend Pete
Talking to Mommy telling her all about his 1st day!

Day out with the girls

Grandmama and her bundles of joy!
Bradley enjoying the Big Slide!
My Skinny minnie boy. Obviously he didn't take after me!
I love this guy more than you will ever know!

Grandmama always wants to make sure the kids are able to go back to school and say something fun they did over the summer....and to create lasting memories. So last Thursday I took the day off and we took the 3 kids to get their pictures taken and then we were supposed to go to Oceans of Fun. Well wouldn't you know it, it rained that day. So we went to Coco Beach instead. It is a new indoor water park and is a lot like Oceans of Fun only smaller and indoors! We had a blast. It is fun to watch as the kids grow to see them go on things they normally wouldn't. Libby wasn't too sure about the big slides and went up the steps a few times and back down again. Finally after watching Bradley do it a few times she got brave and did it! She loved it and I almost couldn't get her off of it! Bradley seemed to like the hot tub the most. It is pretty cool, you can swim outside and still be in the hot tub. I think Abbey liked the lazy river best but I am not sure. We all had a great day and I am sure they will talk about it at school so Grandmama's job is complete!

Pop's Father of the year Royals tickets and running the bases!

Sunday we used the tickets Pop won for being Father of the Year. It was kind of hot outside but the tickets were behind home plate in the shade...I am telling you I have been getting lucky these days! Bradley has been on the big screen I am pretty sure everytime we have been to a game this year. This was no exception....however the picture I got doesn't really show Bradley because someone threw up their arm in front of him but you can see Iggy! We had a great time and then Bradley was able to run the bases after the game. Grandmama ended up doing it with him. I knew my fat booty wasn't getting out there but Grandmama didn't mind! Iggy ran too!

My birthday

Bradley's favorite part of camping...although he is embarassed that I put this pic on here and wants me to take it off.


For my birthday we went camping. My Friend Mark, Bradley and I went to Knob Noster so we would be close to the state fair. It was so weird. The weather was PERFECT. I mean it almost felt like God wanted me to have an amazing birthday so he made the weather JUST for me!!! We got there kind of late on Friday night so we set up the tent and put Bradley to bed and then Mark and I stayed up and talked and drank a few beers. It is August and we were cold! We didn't bring sweatshirts or anything so we covered up with towels. It was kind of funny. The next day, my actual birthday, Mark had to help his dad so Bradley and I went to the state fair. It was again perfect weather. We did have a few raindrops but nothing to even make us flinch. We watched some shows, learned some fire safety, fed the animals and bought a few things. Then we headed back to the campsite. Bradley fell asleep on the way home which was kind of a bummer because he didn't get to enjoy the fire or smores or anything that goes along with camping. He must have been tired because he slept the whole night! Mark and I made smores but were really tired from being up most the night before (there was a racoon that had NO fear in our stuff all night). So we called it a night early and good thing we did because Bradley woke up at the crack of dawn ready for the day. I got up with him and tried to get the fire going again but being a girl wasn't too successful...so we had to wait for Mark to get up. He was able to get it going....thanks to Bradley and him finding some small sticks...which made Bradley say...and I am quoting here "boys have to do everything while girls just get to sit and relax" yep that is how it goes. I mean who went and got all the food, all the camping stuff together, made sure we had clothes and pillows and blankets and bug spray. It is funny that at such a young age boys already feel this way. And Mark did not say anything to make him say something like this. Oh well, I guess some things never change! We had a really good time but we had to hurry up and pack up because our tickets Dad won for being Father of the Year were Sunday so we had to get home for that. But I think we will start camping more often. I loved it and love that you can just hang out and not feel bad doing nothing!

Bradley's 5th Birthday!

For Bradley's actual Birthday I took the day off. We went and got his pictures taken and then out to breakfast. Then we picked up Isabelle and Sabrina and went to Blue Springs Beach. It was great. The kids all got along and had a good time. We finished off the day with Pizza Street.
Then I had a garage sale for the next 4 days. It was A LOT of work. I thought I would just sit there and do stuff for his party but it was a lot more work then I thought it would be and we were exhausted. At night I would work on the party. By the time Sunday came we were so tired and of course it was the hottest day of the year. We got most of it together minutes before people started coming. Almost everyone invited came which was a shock. But of course I invited too many people thinking not everyone would come. I tried so hard to have this party organized and thought out. I even had some of my friends without kids come to help out in the booths. Well of course things didn't go as planned. The clown was late (he showed up at the wrong house) and he was good but an hour was definitely too long for kids that age. I think 30 min. would have been perfect. But anyway. Then they all ran out to play the carnival games and I guess I didn't explain to my helpers that they get a prize no matter what so now i have enough prizes to have 2 more "normal" parties and I feel like so many of the kids went home with hardly anything in their bags. We had cotton candy and snow cones which we forgot to hand out. So...needless to say with all my planning that I thought I did it still turned out to be CRAZY. Hopefully the kids had fun though. Everyone said I spent way too much money so I think next year I will try to keep it smaller....maybe just invite Bradley's friends instead of my friends. I think Bradley had a good time though so that was what was important to me. I love him so much. I felt like I had neglected him for most of the month so although I love birthday parties I am glad it is over and now we can just look back at it. My parents and my friend Mark helped out so much...I can't thank them enough.

July 08

SO it is already July and my BABY is about to turn 5!!! I can't believe it. I used to hate when people would say time flies but come on....5 years ago I gave birth....it just doesn't seem real.

Well I have good news. The house is rented. They move in on the 28th. Bradley and I have been staying at the house on an air mattress. It has been fun but I guess yesterday he told Grandmama that he was ready to move back home. He had enough of living with mommy and he missed Pop and Grandmama. So....his life really is messed up. Instead of a mom I am more like a grandma that he goes and stays with for a week....but he is excited to get back home. It hurt my feelings but at least he isn't afraid to express how he is feeling!

We are getting ready for his big birthday party. It is a carnival theme and I have been spending so much time on it. His parties are always over the top but this one is getting out of control I think. I am trying so hard to make sure this is organized and run smoothly since all his past parties have been crazy messes. We will see how it goes.

We spent the 4th of July at our family freinds' house,John and Vicki. Then my good friend from HS Laurie was in town so we stopped by her house. Then went on the boat to watch fireworks. The next day another one of my good freinds was in town from St. Louis, Heather, so we took them on the boat. It was a very nice weekend.