Can't forget the Grandma

So in looking at my last couple posts I noticed there aren't any pictures of my mom and of course she was here also to love on her grandkids. Sorry Mom! But as a mom she knows we are always overlooked!!!

Grandma, Grandpa, Brayden and Camden 'shoved' into the train at Mall of America's amusement park.

Brayden was a bat for Halloween, even though he said he wasn't!?!? Camden was a dragon.

Grandpa's Love

We are VERY lucky in that they have two sets of attentive, encouraging, spoiling (I always have to 'reprogram' my children after grandparents leave!) loving grandparents. But this post is dedicated to a man who by choice loves my children unconditionally and doesn't have a 'biological' reason to. Stan is a wonderful Grandpa to my children and we are lucky to have him in our lives. We love you Stan!

Apple Orchard

So this happened about a month ago....actually a little over! But I just downloaded them and found some cute ones that I had to post. So here they are.....better late than never I suppose!

Showing Cam how to 'twist' and pull the apples.

In the second picture I love the way Camden is looking at his brother......I don't know what Brayden was saying to him but it doesn't matter, Camden thinks the sun rises and sets with his big brother. Overall these two love each other and will make each other laugh those adorable belly laughs, I pray every day that they stay this way forever!

We couldn't keep apples away from this baby the whole time we were in the orchard. Brayden doesn't like apples at all! Amazing how these two have COMPLETELY different tastes, and I don't remember doing anything different with either!! Of course we fought diaper rash for awhile after this! Anytime you get an apple from the fridge (or any food from anywhere for that matter) he's right at your heels....it's a little freaky how he just comes out of nowhere!

No Title Needed

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.