Wordless Wednesday from Laurel Falls

“[Thanksgiving] I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge—”- 1 Corinthians 1:4-5

Wordless Wednesday

One more bubble bath as a six year old!

Wordless Wednesday

What will our next two year old look like?  What will he look like in four years?

Time passes too quickly!

Braden Knows Where We Are

This past weekend Reid and I traveled - ALONE - to Charleston to attend an engagement party for his cousin.



We called the boys on Friday night to tell them good night. When Reid was on the phone with Braden, this was the conversation...



Reid: Braden, we made it. We're finally here. Do you know where we are?

Braden: Yes.

Reid: Well, where are we?

Braden: Dad! You're at the place where you were going!



Too funny!

Braden - He tells it like it is...

I can't believe I am going to write this on my Blog, but, I figure, life is too short to withhold a few laughs from my friends and family. Therefore, please know that I am sharing this for you! Don't you feel loved?!?

Okay. So, Easter Sunday I am busy getting ready for church. Of course, I didn't purchase a new outfit to wear. I figured I would simply wear something I already had. I put on a nice (I thought!) two piece pants suit to wear to the service.

After putting on my make-up and fixing my hear, I walked down the hallway to grab my purse, and head out to the van. As I am walking down the hallway, thinking I look pretty fine, Braden says to me, "Mommy, are you going to wear your pajamas to church?"

Shock and horror. Shock and dismay. Shock and a reality check... I turned to Franklin, my visual son, "Franklin, does my outfit look like pajamas?"

He got the "deer-in-headlights" look, and then hesitantly answered, "Well, kind-of."

Back to my bedroom. Back to the closet. Back to the basics...my black pants, and my black blazer...on Easter Sunday. It was this day I realized I did need to go shopping a purchase a few clothing items for myself.



This week...

Well, as you know our life is busy. I tried to cut some corners on Monday because we had to be somewhere early that morning. I skipped taking a shower because I'd taken one the day before, and figured I could "go one more day." (I don't do this often, but I thought I could make it one day! Geez! Please don't think I have bad personal hygiene!)

So, Monday night I was reading a story to Braden. He was snuggled up beside me listening to my soothing voice. After I finished the book, Braden said, "Mommy, did you take a bath today?"

This time I got the "deer-in-headlights" look. I sheepishly answer, "Ummmm, I'm not sure. Why?"

Braden just scooted away from me and said, "'Cause you smell bad."

It was this day I realized there would be no more skipping showers for me!

There you have it. My honest son is calling me to a higher standard. His desire is to have a mother who doesn't wear clothing that looks like pajamas out in public, and one who smells like she has taken a shower within the past 24 hours. That's not too much to ask for, is it? Gee whiz!

If you are looking for a nice pajama-looking pants suit, please come check out our next Yard Sale...

Finally...

Last week, Reid had to travel out-of-town for a business trip. He was gone for two nights. On the second night we were having dinner.

Braden asked, "Mommy, is Daddy coming home tonight?"
"No, sweetheart, he's not."
"Mommy, is Daddy EVER coming home?"

My heart melted that he had missed his Daddy so much after just one night away. He was longing for his Daddy to come home. So precious!

Moles - Count 'Em

Last night Braden was fascinated with moles.



Because he is sick, I'm willing to let him do the things he feels like doing. He "felt like" counting my moles! He counted all of mine on my neck, face, and head - Yuck! I was mortified to learn there are ELEVEN! I could have lived the remainder of my life without this information, but now I know!



As I was laughing at the fact there are ELEVEN moles on my head - I laughed even harder when Braden finished counting the ones on Reid. He has TWELVE!



We are one "moley" couple!

He Is Exhausted

I came down the stairs smiling listening to the boys sing the praise song, "He is exalted, the King is exalted on high, I will praise him."

However, as I stepped down the stairs, I realized Weston and Braden were singing, "He is exhausted, the King is exhausted on high..."

I was so tired that night, but I came down the hall singing. Reid started laughing at me and said, "Did you just sing 'He is exhausted?"

Oh, my, I did... I need sleep...

Mom, I Have Plans Today

On October 31st, Braden woke up and said, "Mom, I have plans today. I am going on a hayride!"

Braden's preschool was having a hayride for all of the children. Since his preschool is at the entrance of our neighborhood, the other three boys and I walked down for the ride. The school generously offered to let all of the boys go on the ride. At the end, everyone received a pumpkin!

Braden was thrilled to have all of us there with him. However, the hayride around the parking lot offered different scenery than your "traditional" hayride. Here is what we viewed as we rode on the hay-bales. How our world has changed!

Coke, anyone??

Spiderman (Braden) is FOUR!

We have something to celebrate! Braden is four years old!


Braden and fourteen of his favorite Spider-friends helped him celebrate his birthday in a Special Spider Way!

We started the party with some Spider-fun! All of the Spider-friends had to go on a Scavenger Hunt for Spider-food...what spiders really eat! The boys hid lots of plastic bugs and critters for the Spider-friends to find on the driveway! The kids had fun hunting for the bugs and the gigantic spiders!

After the Scavenger Hunt for Spider-food, the Spider-friends had to hunt through the leaf pile for a HUGE ANT! All of the boys took turns hunting for it! The leaf pile was a huge hit with the kids!

Before the big day, Mason, Franklin and Weston built a Spider Web Obstacle for all of the Spider-friends to walk through. Franklin was the BIG BAD SPIDER who would catch the kids if their feet hit the string! The boys had so much fun planning this game!

It was time for Pin the Spider on the Web... The Spider-friends had to stick their spider into the BIG WEB! I think I confused Jacob with the name b/c when his Mom came to get him, he told her we played "Pin the Spider on the Donkey!" Too funny!

So much Spider-fun, but it was time for Spider-food! I made Spiderweb Cupcakes (I was kind-of proud of my creativity! Creativity on a budget!) However, somehow we missed getting a picture of Braden blowing out his candles! He did have a special cupcake with FOUR candles on it! He loved the attention!

After Spider-food, it was time for Spiderman to open his gifts! He received many fun toys and lots of Spiderman gear. I think Spiderman will be his favorite Superhero for quite some time!

The highlight of the day was the Spiderman Silly String War! All of the Dad's were the "Bad Guys!" All of the boys were the Spiderman Super Heros armed with their Silly String Web Slingers! It was so funny to see Ted running from all the kids, Bruce trying to save himself by hiding in a tree, and an onslaught of boys catching Reid! Hilarious! Truthfully, I think the Dads enjoyed it as much as the Spider-friends!

When the Spiderman Silly String War was almost over, Kaitlyn lured Rhonda out of the house. The children were all convinced she was a "bad guy" because she was an adult. They got her good! (Sorry friend - it really was your daughter's doing! I am completely innocent!)

Finally, it was time for the Spider-friends to take a swing at the Spiderman Pinata. All of the younger ones took a turn with the bat! However, as we moved up in age, it didn't take long for the candy to tumble to the ground! The pictures of Mason and Franklin hitting the pinata show them pummeling the pinata once it was empty!

After busting the pinata comes the best part; eating the candy! Jacob is holding his mouth open because he is tasting "Spiderman Pop Rocks" for the first time! Yum-yum!





My sweet Braden! I can't believe you are now four-years old! It is hard to believe you entered the world just four short years ago! I am so privileged to be your Mom. You bring such joy and happiness into my world! I am thankful for you, my precious Spiderman son!