Great Grandma Clara

I must report the good with the bad. After a super long, fantastic life, Jon's Great Grandma from Ohio died at 102 years old. Imagine all the things she saw in her lifetime...

This picture was taken two years ago at her 100th birthday.

I actually considered it...

So a couple weekends ago, I was doing stuff around the house and I actually had this thought..."I could have another kid." I caught myself off guard for a second. This was the first time I've said that in 15 months. Not that I ever thought or said that we were done having kids, but I had no desire to think or plan on the next. Adapting to mommy hood has been challenging. I'm a selfish being that likes to think she has it all under control.

I even clicked on a link in a JcPenney e-mail to take a peek at baby bedding. Eek! (Isn't this bedding cute though! Thought the little bird was sweet.)

You know I've ALWAYS been thinking about names. Just making some mental notes. Want to hear a few I've tossed around? Shhh, don't tell anyone how sick I am. I must incorporate "Bray"...my maiden name. 99.9% set on Brayden Michael for a boy. I like Braylen and Braydie for girls, but I have a cousin with a wonderful Braylen and Jon has a cousin with a fantastic boy named Brady. Brainstorming.... Braylee Joy (Lee is my mom's middle name)...Kyndell or Kendall Joy...Kennedy Joy (too presidential)...Rylee Joy...still thinking...

Enough of all that! For the record, I AM NOT PREGNANT AND I AM NOT TRYING TO BE! I love taking my little white pill every night. My whole point was to say that being Rea's mom is getting easier...life is getting easier. She communicates with me, gets herself around, discovers something new everyday. I always knew we would have more kids. I just wasn't in a crazy rush.

So, stay tuned and maybe one day this will be an announcement instead of a random thought! :)

Welcome to the world, little Lexi!

While on our vacation at the beach, I got a text that read "water broke" from my friend Ryane. She had been in her classroom with her first grade students when it happened.

So sure enough while we were away our good friends, Ryane and Phil, had their baby girl 4 weeks early. Alexandra Grace came quickly and only weighed in at 5. something lbs. As soon as we got back in to town, we went to love on her. Tiny little thing with dark spiky hair...kinda reminded me of Rea's when she was first born.

First couple of weeks she had to fight off a bladder infection and figure out the new things in life, but now she is a wonderfully, precious little thing. Loooove her!

Alabama Vacation

Here they are! Get a snack and get comfy. Too many memories and too many good pics....had a hard time deleting. Fantastic vacation!

Nice Reward

It has been a long two weeks. Last week was FILLED with hosting fantastic events....a breakfast brunch for a wonderful friend, our young couples small group, a Shaklee meeting, and a women's Bible study. It was fun, but I needed a week to catch up. Well, Jon got super sick this past weekend and I had a big church volunteer meeting Monday night. Rea and I woke up sick Tuesday and we've had the funk all week! Although I am super behind on my house, church, family, and mom responsibilities, they will have to wait until next week.

The reward.....Today my man and I are taking a break for a marriage retreat at the Hyatt at Coconut Point with a bunch of couples from our church, the Florida vs. Tennessee game Saturday, and then to Lakeland on Sunday for Abigail's 4th birthday lunch! Another fabulously busy weekend!

The light at the end of the tunnel.....my great in-laws came back to Florida this week. So, I'm hoping they'll host a play date with Rea next week while I spend some time catching up.

Off to catch some rays with a foofoo drink in my hand........

Getting ready for another trip....

This just tickles me every time. She just loves getting in the suitcase. I would get her out and she would crawl right back in. Even after it was filled, she wanted to be right on top.

Click on image to enlarge

4th of July 2009

Yes, it's September and I'm blogging about July. I am on a roll now...catching up quickly. This particular weekend was filled with such great people and memories that I could not skip over it.

We went over to Lakeland with mom, Jonathon, kids and dad came up later. Julie and Nate had plans with some friends so we watched the girls Saturday night. We went to THE COOLEST park (it was even free) and dinner at Firehouse Subs. Once we were back at the house and the fireworks started , I took the kids who weren't scared of the noise outside to watch the 360 degree firework show. (Side note...I don't really like fireworks...never have...they're too loud.) Anyway, I am so glad I seized the moment! It was a "you had to be there" moment, but one I will NEVER forget. As you will see in the video below, the three big kids, Brie, Ethan, and Jaden, sat on the car in awe and excitement over the variety of fireworks. At one point, I was holding little, but so big, Ja. I marveled at his enthusiasm over the overpriced and way too loud bursts of fire. He couldn't turn his head fast enough to see the surrounding entertainment. "Look...look...woah...that was huge...I like that one...did you see that one...wow...that one is my favorite...no that one is...AWESOME...so cool...what happens if they hit the moon?" I spent the next 15 minutes watching fireworks through the eyes of a 4 year old and I will never watch them again in the same way.

I was overwhelmed with gratitude for the experience because I may never have that opportunity again. His life has been disrupted at times over the past year and there is great uncertainty where this coming year will take him. I will probably never be able to comfortably hold him in my arms and experience July 4th in the same way...priceless to me.

We went to church the next day and then celebrated Ethan's 8th birthday!!!

At the Park on July 4th

Click on image to enlarge it.

Family Photo

Family photo taken while in Lakeland....went to church with Nate, Julie, & girls.

They have such a great church! Rea did SOOO well in her little class!

Reagan's 1st Birthday Party

Well....here it is! The pictures from the big day. It was a very windy day since we were down by the water. This interfered with our cutesy decorations and some other logistical things. On the other hand, it definitely made the June heat bearable. The day was filled with water fun, pinata, adorable cookies on a stick, fabulous little girl gifts, and memories. Overall, it was a fantastic day because it was filled with so many people that we love dearly. Jonathan and I couldn't choose any other group of family and friends to love and support our baby girl. They are authentic, quality, priceless. Words cannot express how grateful we are for them.

Fun Fantastic Fotography

Click on the image to enlarge it.

Clueless + Frustrated = Lack of Posting

I made a video of the pictures from Rea's 1st birthday in Picasa and I was going to post it, but it won't let me or I don't know what I'm doing! I'm frustrated that I spent that much time on it and now I can't get it to work.

Therefore, I have been avoiding the beloved blog.....