More Birthday Celebrations

On Saturday morning (Brayden's actual birthday), Nana and Pa made Brayden a special birthday breakfast - M&M pancakes. He of course gobbled several up!

Then, Saturday afternoon we traveled down south to celebrate with the Cooper side of the family. Great MomMom and PopPop had the family over to their house for the afternoon to BBQ. It was a beautiful day, and we all enjoyed hanging out on Great MomMom and PopPop's new deck and watching Brayden and Brooklyn play. Brayden had a lot of fun riding his John Deere  gator (a new gift from MomMom and PopPop and Nana and Pa) around their yard, as well as, playing with his new helicopter from Great MomMom and PopPop. MomMom also made Brayden birthday cupcakes, which were a huge hit too of course!

Brayden has been all about his "special" dates with Mommy and Daddy lately! He really enjoys the one on one time with us and feels like such a big boy! So we had a few more surprise and "special" dates planned for the rest of Brayden's birthday weekend.

First, Daddy took Brayden over to Aunt Kathy and Uncle Leroy's house after church on Sunday to ride his John Deere around their big yard!

Then, Mommy and Nana took Brayden to the pool later that afternoon.

Sunday evening, Nana made a delicious birthday dinner while Brayden put together a new lego set from Aunt Jill. Then we completed the celebration with chocolate cake (Brayden's favorite) and ice of course!!! :)

We had a very fun weekend full of lots of birthday celebrations for our handsome little man!!! You are so loved!!!

Helicopter Museum

The Friday before Brayden's 4th Birthday, Daddy took off work so that we could have a special date . Brooklyn stayed with Nana and Pa, while Daddy, Mommy, and Brayden went to the Helicopter Museum in West Chester, PA.

It was a small museum, but they still had probably 20 different helicopter's to look at and several more to sit in. Brayden really enjoyed all of the buttons, switches, and gears and had so much fun pretending to fly the helicopter's!

We had such a great morning with our little four year old! We were even able to see a private airplane taking off when we left (they have an on-site private runway).

On the way home we stopped to have lunch and dessert (of course)! :) It was a wonderful end to our special date with Brayden!

Happy 4th Birthday Brayden Dillon! We love you always!!

My 30th

This is out of order, but I had to get these pictures off of my mom's phone. On July 11th, I turned the big 3-0. The day was pretty much spent moving the last of our small items (or things that we could carry on our own) out of our old house and in with my parents. All of our furniture was set to be moved the following day by Dan and his brother. It was not a big deal to me that we spent by actual birthday moving, because the following weekend we were leaving for Las Vegas, and I knew that we were going to spend one night doing something special to celebrate while we were out there. We did not actually go to closing for our old house until July 30th. However, we did not get back from Las Vegas until July 26th and still had a few minor things to touch up once we got back. Follow all that. Haha. All in all (and moving included), it was still a wonderful birthday thanks to my wonderful family who took the time to make be feel very special. 

And we did take some time to celebrate with cake too!

That's my boy ;)

To celebrate my birthday in Las Vegas, my brother, his girlfriend, Dan, and I went out to dinner and then see the Michael Jackson show. It was fun night and a great time! 

Family pic before Dan and I headed out for the evening.

Brayden's Almost Four!

First of all, I can't believe that you are almost four! Second of all, you are the sweetest, smartest, silliest, most lovable, kind, energetic, handsome four year old I know!! So for a birthday present, Dan found a John Deere Gator on Craigslist for an unbeatable price! We immediately snatched it up and Dan traveled about an hour to Maryland to pick it up. Both grandparents of course decided that they wanted to split it and give it to Brayden, which was fine with us! As long as Brayden loved it, we did not care! 

When Dan went to pick up the Gator, the nice Dad selling it also gave Dan this big boy bike for free. It needed a new back tire (hence the white), but Dan picked one up the next day at Walmart for minimal cost and tired to teach Brayden how to change it. It is amazing how things work out. The night before Dan traveled to pick up the Gator, we had just been contemplating whether or not we should spend the additional money to buy a new bike for Brayden's birthday. We were struggling with the idea of spending the extra money on a new bike, but Brayden's bike was getting pretty small for him and he was having trouble peddling. 

Of course Lil Miss could not be left out!

All ready to go try out the big boy bike!

We gave Brayden the bike right away (since it was included for no cost) and told Brayden about the other dad's kind actions and how Brayden needed a new bike. I think that these are wonderful ways to teach Brayden how much the kindness of (and to) others matters. 

Ironically enough, that Sunday at church, Dan was randomly picked to give away a bike to an underprivileged child in our neighborhood. Our church has been doing a Live to Give series. The first Sunday, eight bikes were purchased and randomly given to church members to then give to others in the community. Then last Sunday, $10 bills were randomly given to eight church members to then give to others in the community. These are random kind actions, and I can only hope and pray that Brayden received the message that God intended for him through this all. First being on the receiving end of a kind gift, and second giving a kind gift away.

 Now we get to the Gator. None of us could wait any longer, so this past Sunday after church (one week early), we have Brayden his John Deere Gator! To say it was a hit is an understatement! :)

And he even took sister for a ride.

And let her take a turn in the driver's seat!

More to come on his actual 4th Birthday, but Happy Birthday sweet boy! We love you!!!

Birthdays and Babies

And again....everywhere that Brooklyn goes, Brooklyn goes, Brooklyn goes, and everywhere that Brooklyn goes, her babies are sure to go!

Triplets in the dog bed! ;)

Just rocking with Baby.

One of my best friends turned 30 at the beginning of August. Her husband surprised her with this giant water slide at her 30th birthday celebration! All the grown up kids had a blast playing on the water slide, as did Brayden! He would not stop! :) And he may have shed a tear or two when the guys came to take it down at the end of the party. :(

19 months - Brooklyn

Oh this girl. You are sweet. You are sassy. You are silly. You are lovable. You are drama. You are fun. You are smart. You are animated. You are gentle. You are kind. You are a happy girl. You love your brother. And you are our Brooklyn! We love you oh so much!!!

And again, baby HAD to be in the picture and the 19 month sticker HAD to be on baby!! 

Bubba (Brayden) photo bomb! Oh handsome boy, we love you so!!!

Happy 19 Months Brooklyn!

Life at Nana and Pa's

We sold our first home, but now we have no home. Haha. So...we are living with Nana and Pa (my parents) temporarily. Honestly, we did not expect our house to sell as quickly as it did. We are still exploring our options for a new home and trying not to rush into anything. We are looking at new construction and existing homes and praying the God leads our hearts!

Brayden letting KO out back to go potty.

Brooklyn rocking Nana's "hat"

Brooklyn had a blast playing in the water on Nana and Pa's deck.

Water boy.

Tired legs. "Up Nana Up"

Sandbox and digging set up under Nana and Pa's deck.

All ready for summer Bible Study with Mommy.

Sold

On July 30th 2014, we went to settlement and sold our home! It was a bitter sweet day. Our first home, the house we lived in when we got married, the house we lived in when we had both of our babies. We are excited about our future plans, but it is still sad to leave the memories that we have made in our first home.

Brayden had a great time helping Daddy fix and touch up a few paint spots.

Of course Brooklyn wanted to get in the attic to help us pack up too.

Sold. 

Vegas - Pool time and Splash Park

Our time in Vegas always flies by, with lots of family to visit with, lots of fun things to do and see, and lots of pool time to fit in. But we love every minute of it and always have lots of fun and lots of laughs with family. Our time with all of our family out west is always too short, but the memories that we make are priceless!! 

These two loves! All ready to swim. 

Having a pool at the house we rented for the week was a HUGE hit!!

Brooklyn and Pa taking a water break by the pool.

Brooklyn loved floating and being in the water.

Brayden and Uncle B playing in the pool.

Our little water boy! Brayden just loved being in the pool!

Brayden had his own arm floats and would "swim" all around the pool by himself.

 He was even jumping in on his own and going completely underwater! Brayden loved the pool and never wanted his time in the water to end!

Brooklyn loved hanging out and relaxing in the water as well. 

She even almost fell asleep with Daddy too.

Brayden and Nana loved jumping in the water together.

The splash parks were also a HUGE hit! I wish we had some close by on the east coast. So fun!!!

Brooklyn loved, loved, loved the splash parks...

As did Brayden!

Handsome boy in his swim gear.

Until next time Vegas!!!