A new Start...again!

It seems like we do this every year at this time, but hopefully this is the last time. We went to church on Sunday. I know, shock, shock! We went to Rachel's school/church and had a great morning. Last week, Nick and I attended a christian school open house to see what it was about. And, while we were touring and meeting all these nice people and then listening to the presentation, I was so convicted that we are raising our children without church! So, we made the decision, went and had smooth sailing. Two of Rachel's friends were in her class, so she wasn't alone. Bradley walked in and waved and started playing, so after instructing the two older women about the importance of Bay, I left. They have the nursery system where they give you a number and then flash it on a small screen at the front of the sanctuary if your child needs you. I looked at the screen the entire morning, but thankfully, didn't see either number during the sermon. When I went to get Bradley after church, he was so glad to see me and came running toward me and kept looking back at the teachers with a sad look, like they had kept him there against his will. So, it was a successful beginning that I pray lasts!

Visiting Gramma

Bradley loved looking at the "pish" in the pond

Rachel loves climbing around the pond

Gram is working hard

Rachel loves Sarafina

Last Thursday, we surprised Gramma with a visit. It had been awhile since we'd seen her, so we made the trip to Snellville. She was surprised but glad to see us. Since it was nearing the lunch hour, she was already downstairs watching Divorce Court with another friend. We went out into the courtyard to see the fish in the small pond, which the kids LOVE doing. Rachel and Bradley loved getting as close to the edge as possible and standing on the little rocks that surround the water. This made Gramma very nervous, though, and she kept saying, "get down off that" or "you're gonna fall in..." After a small walk around the path, Bradley put her to work and had her pushing him on her walker. Gramma insisted that she didn't mind, but I'm betting that 30 extra pounds on her light little walker was quite strenuous. We went back inside when Gramma was concerned that it might be time for lunch and also, I think the kids were making her nervous, being so near the little pond. So, we hung out in the tv room with Gram and her friend for a few more minutes. Then, we headed to nana and pop's for lunch and play time. The kids were so excited to be there and play with all their special toys. Neither one wanted to eat lunch because they were so excited. We played on the playground and then took a walk all the way around the back of the property. It was a beautiful, warm day and lots of fun!

Lovely girls

A few weeks ago, we were visiting nana and pop and of course, spending time on the playground. I thought this was such a cute picture of nana, Sarafina and Rachel. They all look like they're having a great time and all 3 have such pretty faces!

Honk, Honk!

That is something that Bradley likes to say while he very gently squeezes my nose. It's really cute and he does it when we're playing or he's climbing all over me, he'll just reach up, barely touch my nose and say, "honk, honk". It always makes me laugh.

So....

The other night, me, Bradley and Rachel were playing with the fridge magnets. We were all sitting on the floor and having a good ole time. Rachel started spelling words with the letter magnets and perhaps I wasn't paying as much attention to Bradley as I had been. He was standing behind me and I think he wanted me to acknowledge that he was back there, but I wasn't thinking, and I didn't. All of a sudden I felt some very cold fluid on my back. Bradley had decided to spit his apple juice on my back. It was cold and gross. I grabbed Bradley and popped his butt and said, "NO! we don't spit! YUCK!" I was giving him one of my meanest mommy looks and he had an almost sad look on his face like his lips could turn down at any moment and he could start crying, but then he reached up, gently squeezed my nose and said, "honk, honk!"
Rachel immediately started laughing and I'm sorry to say I couldn't contain my chuckles either. Bradley obviously was trying to take a little "heat" off him and it worked. Silly little boy!

I love Kroger!

I don't know if it's the area where we live or what, but I have very pleasant shopping experiences at both Kroger and Publix. The people are so friendly and accommodating. Today, when Bradley and I ran in Kroger to get some groceries, we accidentally picked the loudest, squeakiest, messed-up-wheel car buggy. Once we were in the produce section, I was too lazy to go back and get another buggy. But, as we continued to the deli, I realized the cart was so obnoxious that we wouldn't be able to use it. So, I was about to walk/screech us back to the door, and a nice Kroger employee saw/heard me and volunteered to go get another buggy for us. I told her she didn't have to, but she insisted, so we sat still and waited. It took her a little while, but that was because she was kind enough to get paper towels and wipe off all the dew that was on the new buggy. I was so appreciative of all this. So, I transferred my groceries over to the new, identical buggy and then moved Bradley over. He absolutely lost it! He is the kind of kid who really does not like change once he's settled somewhere. So, the crying and angry tears began. I knew it was annoying for all the other shoppers, but I was just going to ignore him. He usually gets over things after a few minutes if he can just work it out on his own and in his own loud way. But, the kind Kroger employees really wanted to help. The deli lady wanted to know if he could have a piece of cheese, which I told her she could offer if she wanted. (But, I knew that he would probably not accept or want it.) Bradley didn't want the cheese, so she offered him a sucker that she had in a basket from Halloween. He didn't want this either. Then, the previous employee who was kind enough to get us a new, identical buggy, shows up with a Kroger balloon. Bradley didn't want that either. I tried to thank them over all the screams and tears and said that I was sure he would get over it after a little while. So, we strolled away and the tears finally stopped after he got distracted when I ran into my friend's mom. I just thought, how nice that these people wanted to help make Bradley happy, even if it was a futile effort! I just love Kroger!!

Bostwick Days 2008

Saturday was our annual Bostwick Days Parade and it was lots of fun! This year, the horses/mules got to be BEFORE all the 200 tractors, so it was alot less waiting and much more fun. Papa, Bradley and his friend, Ronnie, drove Pat and Kate in the parade while me, Rachel, Tommy, Thomas, nana, pop and 2 other little boys rode in the back. It was a fun day with lots of greasy food, fun slides and bounce things, farm animals, and the parade. We came home early in the afternoon and everyone laid down and rested. It was a really fun day!

Happy Halloween!!

Rachel and her friends enjoying their yummy snacks

Bradley had a great time playing with the classroom toys

this was a game where the kids passed the pumpkin

and then got a piece of candy

Ready to trick or treat!!!

a beautiful angel and a sweet little lion

trick or treat!

our buckets are full!!

Halloween was lots of fun with Rachel's class party that morning and then a restful afternoon, followed by a chili dinner with the grandparents and then trick-or-treating in a nearby neighborhood. It was a really fun day! I always enjoy watching Rachel interact with her friends. The parents put on the Harvest party and it had some great snacks, a cute craft and a game with candy prizes. Trick or treating was a blast in a small, flat neighborhood with just the right amount of houses and tons of candy! We took gege and nana with us, and the men stayed home. Rachel LOVED being a beautiful angel and leading the way to each "open" house...if the lights were off on the front porches, the houses were "closed". Bradley didn't care anything about walking between the houses, but loved saying "trick or treat", and as the night went on, he just said, "treat". Both pumpkin buckets were nearly filled when we finished, so we got in the car and headed home to show daddy, papa and pop. Bradley wouldn't eat any of his candy and didn't want anyone to touch his bucket or his candy until we got home. Rachel picked out special pieces of candy to eat on the way home and a couple when she got home. We had plenty of sugar and a great Halloween!!!