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I just LOVE this picture. Don't get me wrong I love to see their adorable faces but there's something about them in this picture. When I saw it on the computer after I downloaded it I thought about how neat it would be to get them to do this 5, 10, 15.....years from now until I have pictures of my children walking with their children (now I'm starting to cry!!!) and then framing them in progression. Great in theory but I wonder how hard it will be to get a 16 year old and a 14 year old (plus possibly one more that would be around 11) to do this......IMPOSSIBLE unless I'm promising a car!!!!!
By the way they are both walking towards a friend of mines little girl!!! No fighting over her broke out.....this time!

Baby #3

No I'm not pregnant!!! We are just talking about 'if' we have another......but as my ob/gyn told me it's a good idea not to wait too much longer. So I am praying about this and need to keep praying. In the meantime, Jared would like a baby born in the Fall and I want to keep with the Springtime (to be practical I do have A LOT of clothes for boys born then). I need everyone who reads this to give me their opinion on Fall vs. Spring born babies. I do have Brayden who I have to take to school so one big worry for me is taking a 3 month old out in -20 degree weather!

Thanks for your input!

Prayer Request

So I went to my cousins blogs and found some headings regarding prayer requests (note: I will add them to my list of prayers). This gave me the same idea about a family I don't know but Jared does (he works with this womans husband).

About a month ago Jared told me about a woman who has cancer and she has two small children. Of course I felt bad for the family but when he brought home a picture of their little family it just stopped my heart. Her name is Jill Thompson she has been married to her husband Greg for 8 years and they have two little girls. Her first daughter was born within a few months of Brayden (Jared remembers having dinner with Greg and talking about the idea of going from a family of 2 to a family of 3). When she was pregnant for her second child (who just turned 1 on September 4th) her doctor found a tumor in her kidney. She was diagnosed with kidney cancer and has been undergoing medical treatment to fight tumors in her kidney, lymph nodes, lungs, liver and abdomen.

I want to help this woman whom I don't know but feel a sort of bond with since our children were born so close together. The only way I know how to help is to pray like crazy for their family and to ask whoever reads this to also pray for them.

According to the family updates on a site called Caring Bridge Jill is showing improvement. They have a strong faith in God. Please keep this family in your prayers, she is too young and has a husband and two babies that need her so much.

Brayden's 1st Field Trip

Brayden had his first school field trip this past Thursday and I am lucky enough to have great friends to watch Camden so I could chaperone. I really thought a lot about if I should go or not but decided this year I would go (there's only 2) and then next year I wouldn't (we'll see!!!!)

I'm so glad that I went because that morning I heard about moms that couldn't go crying while they dropped their little ones off. And as we loaded onto the bus (it was a 20 minute ride away) I understood because if I wouldn't have gone I don't think I could've sent him alone without having an anxiety attack. Funny thing is that morning I remember thinking this is no big deal and I shouldn't be going because all he'll do is want me to carry him. I didn't expect to get emotional (just tears in the eyes no one could see if they weren't looking) after all we've been to the zoo, beach, nature centers, etc....lots in his 3 1/2 years; but this was different. Seeing him sitting there in those HUGE bus seats looking out the window reminded me that my baby is growing up and soon I won't be there and that makes me sad. In theory I do want him to be independent and ask him all the time why he can't do more for himself (he's not even close to dressing himself!), but when it comes right down to it I am going to have A LOT of trouble when he does want the main ties cut! I joke with him and tell him he'll always be my baby....only I'm not really joking!

By the way he did great on the field trip to the nature center. He never once asked me to carry him and as you can see from the picture he even raised his hand (of course I don't think he knew why he was doing it other than he saw other kids with their hands up). His next field trip is in the spring and I think Jared is going to try to take a day off so he can go next time.

DO NOT FEED THE BEARS!!!!

So we went to the Minnesota Zoo since Jared hadn't seen the new exhibit. It gets you up close and personal with 3 grizzly bears. There is nothing between you and them except a VERY strong glass made up of about seven layers. The kids and I have been there a few times this summer but this is the first real close encounter we had. It was so neat and the kids were never scared at all.

More from the Jersey Shore

Here are a couple of my other favorite pictures. The first to me just shows Jared's devotion and happiness when it comes to his children. Camden looks like he's eyeing a seagull that he wants to go after but Jared has this huge smile on his face and it's all about his baby boy. The other picture is Jared and Brayden in action. Jared was throwing Brayden around in the air (we won't mention that there was lightning and thunder in the distance and I was throwing all of our stuff together so we could get off the beach and back to safety while he played). Brayden couldn't love his daddy more and this picture shows how safe and happy he feels with him, I love and cherish that look. Because Jared loves me and the kids with his whole heart and wears that on his sleeve is why I can forgive him for letting me do all the packing while he played on the beach with his boys......besides we did get back to the house safely, soaked but safe!

First Day of School

My little man is growing up so quickly, I try to remind myself of this everyday and hope it helps me put things into perspective. Most of the time it doesn't and I still take things for granted and just try to get through the day without going insane! This is one day I took in as much as I could and hope it will be burned into my brain and heart forever. I didn't get all 'emotional' so I guess some might say I was heartless (my words), but my heart was bursting with pride and I knew I had to hide any anxiety I felt about leaving him. He was in a safe and comfortable place (he goes to preschool at our church, the attached school goes to 8th grade). Three long hours later I went to pick him up where he beamed at me and stood up and said to anyone who would listen 'that's my mommy' and then jumped into my arms. The lump in my throat was huge!

He has been to school three times now and he loves it. His 'report' slip that I get every time has comments on it that my boy is 'happy, joyful, talkative, listens well, and enjoys playing with all the kids in his class'. Yesterday he was waiting for his lunch and was saying como te llamas. WHAT?!?!?! When I asked him what he said he replied very matter of factly, "I'm asking you what your name is". I ran to his stack of papers from school and sure enough there is a paper with Spanish words and translations on it. He had Spanish for the first time that day for 20 minutes. I took Spanish for a whole semester in high school and I didn't even know what he said!

Camden is a totally different child when his big brother is in school too. He is quiet, calm and less reactive. He takes in what's around him instead of just watching his brother. I see a lot of Brayden in him when it's just the two of us.

So I didn't cry, but I knew this was the best thing for us and that Brayden (and me) needed this. Besides he's only going two days a week......we'll see what happens when he starts kindergarten!!!!! Then I'll be the mom following the school bus with big sunglasses on so no one sees how red and puffy my eyes are!