Fall Happenings..

We went to Elijay to Hillcrest Farms for some good ole apple pickin'. This has become an annual event with our good friends. At Hillcrest, you can pick your own apples, eat lunch, play on jumpies, play in the petting zoo, ride ponies, just tons of things to keep you occupied. Here are some pics to enjoy and I had to add an OLD picture of the same kids....I believe it was two years ago. Oh...I got TONS of apples....and have made 2 pies, apple sauce and have eaten an apple everyday along with sharing them with my kids. I have had the apples for a month......LOTS of apples....heehee.

Carsen turns 1

(Going to her party and riding in her new carseat....she is only 19lbs.....but we assumed the cupcake and icing would add another pound. She was itching to face forward.)



Next was Carsen's BIG celebration of turning ONE...or maybe it is an Adult celebration because we survived ONE year of being parents of TWO precious, determined little girls. However you want to look at it, it is still a wonderful celebration.
We chose to combine Carsen's birthday with Coleman's birthday (they are 5 days apart from each other.) We are very good friends with the Cooks (Coleman's parents) and knew we would be inviting the same people to the parties so we thought....why not just combine them....! And the party was SO MUCH fun and a super duper success. Below are some fun pictures of the party....












(We chose to ask guest that instead of bringing a wonderful gift, why not bring a book or dvd that can be donated to the Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta!)

Braylen turned 3!!!

(Braylen and her very best friend Georgia)

So for Braylen's big day we decided to give her a birthday party with several of her playdate friends. She was able to invite 10 kiddos. We had her party at Menchies (a local yogurt shop) and it was DELISH! They have a side party room....so each kid had their own place settings...with crayons, stickers, tatoos, and shirt with the Menchie man on it (they were able to color him with fabric markers also.) Then the lady at Menchies did a small game with them, pin the topping on Menchie and she interacted with them by helping the kids color and asked them lots of questions.....she was wonderful! After all of that...they were then able to go get their yogurt...however much they wanted with whatever topping they wanted.....YES....the kids were in HEAVEN and it was before dinner time....the parents were going to kill me....lol! After all the sugary treats were consumed...Braylen got to blow out her candle on a single cupcake and then open presents.....she got some wonderful new things to play with...! Her party was a true success and I didn't have to make or clean up a thing....how nice that was!!! Then for her REAL birthday day....Braylen and mommy made cupcakes the night before and then I brought them to school to share with her friends. We made strawberry cupcakes with strawberry icing....she literally asked for this everytime someone asked her what she wanted for her birthday....and I wasn't going to complain because if I had to choose any flavor...that would have been my pic as well!!! Can you say similar tastebuds? Anywho, so I went to her school after their lunch and all the kids sang to Braylen and then devoured their icing....I mean cupcake. It was a wonderful treat for Carsen and i to go see Braylen at school...she was also excited to see us there and share her little sister with everyone!
All in all Braylen's celebrations were great and I can't believe she is already 3. She definitely looks like a 3 year old and acts like one too but I am not so sure I am ready for these years to go any faster! Braylen is so much fun these days, really smart, and has an imagination that I envy. I love how she loves and cuddles, and I especially love how she wants to be JUST LIKE ME! (everytime I turn a corner, she is doing something that I am doing or was doing...lol.) I am very thankful for my blessings and for my Braylen....she is very special to us and will always be #1 in so many ways! Happy Birthday Booger Bear!


(About to sing Happy Birthday)


(She is my first and I love her so much)


(And yes, she is a lefty)


(Enjoying some yummy Yogurt!)

First day of preschool...

Preschool is in full swing! Braylen is going to First Baptist on M,W, & Th from 9-1. The first day she was timid....as anyone would be....but the second day she was excited to get to her classroom. Love that she is loving going to school. She is lucky to have her 3 other good girlfriends in her class....Georgia, Bella, and Tatem! On the second day of school....after I had picked her up....I asked Braylen what she learned and it was the blessing 'God our Father, repeat, Once again, repeat, Thank you for our blessings, repeat, Amen, repeat! She sang it straight to me...and I was so happy that she knew it and I knew exactly what she was singing. Isn't she so cute in the pictures below....she LOVES her packback (as she says.)




And this little booger is a mess! We are loving out time together while Braylen is at school but it is definitely not a break! She wants to play more with me since she is by herself then if I had Braylen here.....! Carsen's personality is totally starting to shine....she grunts when she wants something and definitely is persistent. She is so adorable and is very good with Braylen! She is almost 1 years old....where did the time go!?!?


Being goofy together!!! Whatever my big sis does, I want to do too!


Seriously caught this picture one afternoon. She must of come out of her room from her nap (but apparently wasn't done napping....lol)

Cuz Time....

My cousin Julie and her husband Nate along with their two girls Abigail (6) and Maddie (4) came in town at the end of last week for a couple days. They have family on both sides that live here in Georgia so it is always a trip that makes complete since to them....knock out two visits in one trip. We had a wonderful visit and wish we had more time. The girls got along SO GOOD...I just wish Carsen could have played with them.

We were at a play gym called "Catch Air"



Abigail was so very sweet to Braylen and Carsen


Cousin Love


Had to throw this one in the bunch....we were getting ready to go to the pool and she comes out of my closet in this....someone is ready for the FALL! :)


The girls minus Carsen....having a ball!

Family Beach trip 2011

Our annual beach trip was a really great time. We had an amazing place that we stayed at...thanks to mom and dad, and the husbands actually stayed the whole trip this time which made it very nice. Bodie and Braylen did very good for the most part....but we had our moments. We also enjoyed some cousin time but wish we had more....below is just a few pics of our trip


Carsen is ALWAYS a mess when she eats...


The Fun Slide at the Condo



Bath time with the cousins


They got along for the most part.....we love our Bodie!


The Bray side of the family....(mom's side...hence BRAYlen)


2nd Cousins Reagan and Braylen


So excited to be with each other


Playing in the sand but still isn't a fan of the ocean

I was first....

Time has gotten away from me, so I apologize for not keeping everyone updated. But I had to share something that is very special and is MUSIC to my ears. Carsen is saying "MAMA!" It is absolutely the sweetest thing in the world and she definitely is saying it with meaning....she calls me and looks at me or pats me on the leg when she is saying it......talk about MELT YOUR HEART. I had to share this....even though....I have so much other stuff to catch you all up on. I will find time another day to do that, but for now, I was FIRST....she said "MAMA" first! YAY :)


***Side note: she has said other babbling words...and sometimes dada but she has never referred to him as dada or the other babbling noises that she makes....it is all unclear but the MAMA....everything is PERFECTLY clear! :)