Happy New Year!

Hope you and your family have a great and blessed New Year. Life is GREAT and I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for us this coming year.

We love daddy being home!

We are getting to use to being able to sleep late. Albert has been home more the past two weeks and we are loving it. We all sleep late and we are getting to spend some quality family time together. We slept until 9:00 this morning and then we got up and got ready and went to the movies in Rock Hill. Bricen loves going to the movies he was so excited. This was his third movie that he has been to see. First was Shrek the 3rd, Second The Bee movie and then today was Alvin and the Chipmunks. I think Bricen was more excited about being able to get popcorn with butter on it. I had gift certificates from Christmas last year so we didnt have to pay to get in and Bricen was free. So we got the largest popcorn bucket and 2 large drinks. Bricen sat in the middle with the popcorn and I wish I had taken my camera he was so funny with that big huge bucket of popcorn. We were going to go to lunch but we all ate a little too much popcorn. The movie was great and we had a lot of fun. We are at home chillin to rest up for the big night! We will all be home together tomorrow and after that reality will set in when daddy goes back to work on Wednesday. Albert starts fire training this coming weekend so it has been nice that he was able to spend sometime with us before that starts. Albert use to work a lot on the weekends but he is home a lot with us now and he will have training for the next two months. Saturdays and Sundays 8-5. Yuck (Bricen's new favorite word)

Marriage Tip!

You can get so caught up in your everyday activity it can be so hard to make time for your husband. You are so busy with your kids you always seen to put him last but if your husband is like mine he needs attention like a child too. There is a difference in leaving your kids with a sitter or with grandparents every weekend but its nice to be able to leave Bricen every once in awhile to enjoy each other. It helps our marriage so much to be able to go out to dinner and focus on just eating and talking. I can see the biggest difference. I don't know how easy it will be once we have two kids but we have been able to leave Bricen with my parents or Albert's parents to go out to dinner or to go riding and we have a ball. By the time we have a second child Bricen will be older so that might help. We normally go do something every month. Even if it just to dinner. Our parents are always begging to get him so this is time he gets to spend with them too. Our 7th wedding anniversary is coming up in May. Time sure does fly by.

Rain Rain Go Away!

We have had a great weekend spending time together. Albert helped John and Mandy move into their new house on Thursday. I went by and got Bricen after I got off work and we went and picked up everyones supper and went to the new house to see what we could do. They were moving everything in. Albert took Bricen home and then it was my turn to help so I stayed and helped unpack stuff. Friday Albert had to take John to get some new furniture they had bought and do the last minute running around. Bricen had to go with him. My mom was keeping my nephews Friday and Saturday at their house in Dallas, N.C. My brother and sister-in-law went out of town for their 10th anniversary. So when I got off work at 1 I took everyone lunch and I stayed and helped out. Bricen was great. He ran around and played with the boys toys and watch movies on Uncle Johns movie screen tv. He got a 60 in wall hung tv and its awesome. Nona brought supper so we stayed and ate and then we came home. We all slept late yesterday which was great. Then we got up and went shopping. I can't tell you the last time we all did that. As mentioned in a earlier blog Albert got me a gift card to Victoria secret and they were having a sale so we went so I could get more for my money. I got to get 4 new bras. They were buy one get one 50% off and when they are $48 that helps when you can get one half off. They are the full body coverage uplift and they are wonderful. They have padding. Yeap the first bra I have ever wore with padding. Its near the bottom and its there to help give it a boost in the upward postion. When you wear a DD padding is not normally needed so I thought this was funny but the lifting is great. My husband was so excited he took before and after pictures which I will not be posting. LOL! They also had there panties on sale buy 10 for $25 so that was wonderful too. They are normally 5 for $25. Its been along time since I have dropped that kind of money in Victoria Secret but thanks to my excited husband it was his money! Albert treated us to the Longhorn for lunch. We had a great afternoon spending time together!

I wanted to say Rain Rain Go Away but we need it to bad. This was our last weekend before Albert starts fire training for the next two months so we were going to leave yesterday afternoon and go to Georgia. Well after what rain we had gotten up until yesterday we decided to go to Gaffney today because our 4-wheelers were going to be so muddy loading them into the trailer the trailer would have been muddy to sleep in for two nights. So Bricen went and spent the night with my parents last night. We got our stuff together and we went to dinner at Christophers in Lake Wylie. We left there and went to Alan and Jackie Abernathy's house for the YMCA Christmas party. Well it sure was a good time. It's been awhile since I have laughed that hard. They were having pick-ups but since we had a babysitter we took advantage of it and went to dinner and then took chicken wings for them to pick-up. We didnt get home until. I got up early and as I am getting out of the shower Pressley calls and says have you seen the weather I said no he said we are suppose to get a ton of rain today are ya'll sure you want to go riding. So we watched the news and when they said we were suppose to get 2 1/2 - 3 inches today we said we will pass. Albert has a waterproof outfit and he took me and bought me snowbibs that are waterproof but I dont think they would have been that waterproof. So Icalled my parents house to let them know we werent going and we would be over to pick Bricen up and while I am talking to my mom Bricen got his leg stuck in the crib at their house so we had to go flying over there to see if we could help and while on our way my dad came home and was able to help my mom getting his leg out. It scared them all pretty good. It was stuck at the knee cap. We ate breakfast with them and then headed home. We skipped church which we very seldom do unless we are out of town and I slept for 2 1/2 hours. I was hated we didnt get to go riding but it was kinda nice. I havent been feeling very well I am fighting a sinus infection and just feel crappy today especially since we didnt get in bed at a descent hour last night too. So the boys are napping and I am about to start packing up Christmas decorations. I love to put them out but I hate taking them down!

Christmas Recovery!

I am so tired of eating and we are all getting back to normal. I cleaned out Bricen's toys and his room yesterday. We had to make room for everything he had gotten. I had 2 bags of stuff to throw away and a bag to take for someone else. It's amazing how much junk one can get in their house. We are cleaning everything out. Every room, closet and cabinet will be cleaned out and all junk removed. I am in a cleaning mood. Watch out when I get this way I throw away tons. Albert wants everything cleaned out before we start tearing up our house remodeling.
John and Mandy closed on their new house today so Albert is helping them move this afternoon. They are excited to finally have room with their two babies. They have been living in a condo that is about 729 sq. ft. and their house is about 3,000 sq. ft. I hope they wont loose the babies once they get in. LOL! Have a good week and I will be posting pictures and the video of Christmas morning later on!

Merry Christmas!

Albert, Bricen and myself Christmas night at Albert's parents.

Albert's Family minus one of the twins who was asleep while we were taking pictures.

Bricen, Albert and myself Christmas morning at our house.

Papa, Nona and Bricen

Bebe, Papa and Bricen

Granna, Bricen and Gran

Bricen with his new Mack truck

Bricen getting all his goodies out of his bucket.

Bricen woke up saying Happy Holidays. We had to correct him and tell him that our family says Merry Christmas! He got in bed with us a little after 7:00. He didn't remember at first that Santa had came. He sat straight up in the bed and said Santa's coming. We laughed and said he has already been here. So we got up and went to see what Santa had left. He got in the den and he didnt know what to think. Santa had brought him the Cars garage and left most of his toys in there so all he could see was that garage and the shake and go race track which was outside of the tent. It was like he was in shock. Once he looked in the tent he saw his new Mack truck and he went crazy. He could have cared less about anything else but that truck. He wanted it put together. He got the cars pop up tent, shake and go race track with 5 race cars, mega blok mack truck, mega blok matter gas station, t-ball set, soccer goals with a ball, pump and cones, spiderman pop up game, candy land castle game, Diego's medical backpack, and a basket that has Bricen's Big Rigs on it for the car. We used cute buckets for our stockings and he had the Bee Movie coloring book, candy, gum, Shrek 3 and the donkey beanie baby, race cars, and a flashlight.
Santa was good to me and Albert as well. Albert got a coleman portable grill with a griddle for pancakes, 2 cots and a bucket full of Cds and goodies. Albert has that enclosed trailer and we are stocking it. So Santa knew just what to get him this year.
I got a gift card to Home Depot. I never thought that I would be excited about getting something like that but its for remodeling our house. I am very excited about getting to choose what we want. We have never gotten to do this before. We lived in my grandfathers farmhouse for 5 years before we bought the house we are in now. I got a pair of boots that I had picked out. They are my pink cowboy boots. They are brown and the tops are pink. I love them!! I also got a very sizeable gift card to Victoria Secret. Wonder what I can buy from there? Something that might help me get pregnant? Ha. I need new bras. Yeah!
We went outside to see if the reindeer had eaten their carrots and boy had they ever. A jingle bell fell off one of the reindeer and was laying on the side walk and a must have fell out of Santa's sleigh. It was a little blue 4-wheeler. Bricen thought that was so cool that he had fallen out of the sleigh.

After we opened presents we had my parents, Albert's parent and my grandparents some over for breakfast. We started this Bricen's first Christmas and we have been doing it ever since. This is like his time with just them and they love coming and seeing what Santa brought. Bricen had his picture made with everyone and then everyone was off and running to the next house. We had to clean up from breakfast and start fixing stuff we had to take to Albert's parents for supper. We left and were at my parents at 12:00 to do Christmas with my grandparents and Uncles, Aunts and Cousins. We got home at 3:00 grab our stuff for Albert's parents and back out the door we went. We went over there to visit Albert's cousins that live way off that were here visiting for Christmas. We ate dinner over there and we got home around 7:30. Boy were we tired. Bricen had not had a nap all day and was really tired. He had been telling up since about 11:30 that morning he was tired. We let him play and then he got his bath and to bed he went. Although I had to go in and rock him to get him calmed down to go to sleep. He told us he was done with bed he wanted to play with his new toys. Bricen has always been a child you just put him in his bed and he goes to sleep on his own. We started that when we came home from the hospital so it is very unusual for us to have to rock him. We had a GREAT Christmas. Just very busy! Hope you all had one as well!

The Night Before Christmas!

We got home about 8:00 from Papa and Nona's. We had a lot to do before we could go to bed. Bricen had a letter in the mailbox from Santa that we read. Then he got his bath and we put his Christmas PJs on. We had carrots to leave on the sidewalk for the reindeer. Cookies and Milk to leave out for Santa. He told Elfie bye because he would be going back with Santa to the North Pole until next year. Then we headed to the bedroom to read the Night Before Christmas and The Real Christmas Story. Bricen was wound up and didn't want to settle down to go to sleep. So it took him a good little while to fall asleep. I had to go to my parents to get Albert's presents. They were to big to hide so I took them there. I got home and we put out Santa. We had fun getting everything put up. We didn't wrap a thing. Last year we wrapped and he was so interested in one thing he didn't want to unwrap the rest. Santa never wrapped when we were little so Bricen's Santa doesn't wrap either.
Then we had to pick up everything and get ready for breakfast so we wouldn't have that much to do in the morning. We went to bed about 1:30 and we were so excited about him getting up we couldn't go to sleep and we didn't sleep well.

Christmas with Papa and Nona

We hung around the house today for the most part. Albert slept late which he never gets to do. He didn't get up until 10:30. Bricen and I played with his new toys he got last night. We made cookies for Santa. Albert and Bricen had a few errands to run so I cleaned the house up so it would be clean for tomorrow. We left for Papa and Nona's house (Albert's parents) around 3:30. We were suppose to have been there at 3:00 but Bricen was still asleep and he was tired so we let him wake up on his own.
We got to Nona and Papa's and Max and Emma were pacing the floor. They were ready to open presents. So we gathered in the den and it was crazy. I dont really know what everyone else got because it was very overwhelming. Bricen got a blue Ford truck (like his daddy's) with as he calls it a horsey trailer with 2 4-wheelers to go in the back. Every trailer has a 4-wheeler in it if it belongs to him. He got the game Lucky Ducks, 2 new books, a dvd to help him learn his letters, a Clover Eaglet sweat shirt jacket that is really soft, a camo pullover with a matching hat and a bunch of stuff in his stockin. He got a big grave digger truck and a little John Deere airplane from Uncle Doug, Aunt Jana, Max and Emma. Uncle John, Aunty Mandy, Walter and Wyatt gave him 3 new shirts. Once Bricen opened up the truck and trailer we had a hard time getting him interested in opening up his other presents. We should have saved the truck for last.
After we opened presents we had pick-ups and the kids got to play with their new toys.

Christmas with Gran and Granna

We went to Sunday School and Church. After church we went through the Wendy's drive thru and came home and ate lunch. Albert and Bricen both took naps while I ran around getting stuff together to go to my parents and I went to the grocery store for all our food for everything and everywhere we are going.
We went over to my parents around 4:00. We opened presents with the boys and wow was is wild. Sullivan is 3, Bricen is 2 and Addison is 1. So they had a ball. They all got different stuff so we said next year they would all get the same thing because they were fighting over each others stuff. They had a lot of fun. Bricen got a big truck that holds a lot of matchbox cars and trucks, a scooter, a travel magic water doodle and a pirate ship playset.
My grandparents Papa and Bebe came for supper. Albert sat in the kitchen with the boys and let them eat and watch Frosty the Snowman to help calm them down. After supper Papa and Bebe did Christmas with Robbie, Kristen and the boys because they are not able to be with us on Christmas. They also gave Bricen one of his Christmas presents too. They all got big trucks and they were wound up again running all around the house with their trucks. We took lots of pictures and they had a lot of fun.
My mom is going to have her hands full come the first of the year. Kristen is going back to work. She got a job at Crowders Creek Middle school as a guidence counselor. She hasn't worked since Sullivan was born all most 4 years ago. My mom will have all 3 boys everyday. So Gran and Granna's house will be very lively! Wow
We are home until 2:30 and then we go to Nona and Papa's (Albert's parents) to do Christmas with them. Its Christmas Eve and Bricen is so excited that Santa will be here tonight. He is having fun this morning playing with his new toys he got last night.

McAdenville

Friday morning Albert stayed home with Bricen and I went to work. I went and had my manicure, pedicure and eye brow wax at Carmen and Carmen that afternoon. I ran some errands and then I took my seniors from the YMCA to see the Real Christmas Story at Narroway Theater in Fort Mill. It was awesome. We had a great time. Bricen got to spend the whole day with his daddy. The got out to go to lunch and that was the first time Bricen had been out of the house since Monday. He is feeling so much better and very rested.
Saturday morning Albert and Bricen went Christmas shopping and off to work I went. I had to run around and put flyers out and a few signs. I had a listing appointment at 1:30 and my dad went with me and I got the listing! We left there and ran to Shelby to pick up Bricen's pictures with Santa that we had made at the park. We came home and we got my mom, Albert and Bricen and we took my parents to dinner at the City Tavern. This was our treat for my mom keeping our little man while we work. We left there and we went to McAdenville. We waited in line for a little while but it was well worth it. Bricen had a ball. We had a lot of fun. It took us about an hour to go through but Bricen was so good.

Restful Week!

Bricen has had an upper respitory infection so we have been in since Monday. He stayed home with his daddy on Monday and we ended up taking him to the urgent care on Monday afternoon. He was coughing so bad and nothing would give him relieve. Bricen and I have been in since we got home on Monday. He and I both have gotten lots of needed rest. He and I are always on the go. We haven't known what to do with ourselves. We have been real lazy and watched a lot of TV and movies. He is doing so much better. We are so glad. We want him well for Christmas. He missed his last two days of school before his Christmas break so he was unable to go to his party. It was Jesus' birthday party. I thought that was really a cute idea. He has missed seeing all his friends.
We missed being able to go to Bryson City NC to do the Polar Express with April, Champ and Chloe. We were really disappointed but you have to do what you gotta do to get your kids well. April's cousin was going to go and meet her there with her child so our tickets would be used and she wouldnt have to go by herself. We had a free room at Harris Casino courtesy of April's mom. She got us a free comp room. I hate we missed that. Hope you guys had fun!
Today is my last day at home being lazy. Albert will be home a little later on and I have a few things I need to go do for work. I am trying to get the house clean today as well. I have done a little all week but today will be all the house work. Albert will be home with Bricen tomorrow. I have floor duty at the real estate office and then I am going to Carmen and Carmen where Alicia Howard works to have a peppermint manicure, pedicure and a eyebrow wax. My boys got me a gift certificate last year for Christmas and it is soon to expire so I will be going to get pampered before Christmas. I can't wait.
Bricen and I have had a good week. We have gotten some stuff done that I needed for Christmas presents.

Elizabethtown, North Carolina

Albert's grandmother, aunt and uncle leave in Elizabethtown NC and we went there this weekend to do Christmas with them. After we had supper and opened our presents we took the kids up to the fire station so they could have fun playing on the fire trucks. As you will see Bricen had a ball. He was able to sit on 1929 Model A Fire Truck that was restored. It sure was pretty. The boys were able to run around like we were on a playground. They got to play in all the trucks- front and back, blow horns (they were really loud inside the building), and they got to dress up in the firemens gear. The firemen were really nice and they got to take home a goodie bag.

On Sunday before we left everyone was sitting around visting. Bricen wanted to wash dishes. He stood on a stool and washed dishes for about 45 minutes. This was great entertainment. I think I will let him wash dishes more oftern.

Hollywild Zoo- Christmas Lights!

We went with the Clover YMCA to Inman, SC to the Hollywild Zoo to see the thousands of Christmas lights and animals. We first went to Fats in Gaffney to eat an early supper and then off to Hollywild we went. Bricen was so excited that we were riding on a school bus. I took his carseat and he had to ride in it. If you remember school buses don't have seat belts but I was not about to take this child on a bus where he could run freely. So the carseat worked great. This was Bricen's 3rd year going. He enjoyed it more this year than ever. He loved feeding the animals. He thought that was the coolest thing and I was grossed out by all the slober these small animals can produce. I washed his hands several times with a wipe and then handsanitizer. The goats wanted to eat his clothes and he thought that was really funny. Since he went in the fence with the goats his feet had lots of goat poop on them. He enjoyed seeing all the animals and sliding down the inflatable slide. I put him in his PJs and he fell fast asleep on his way home. We had a great time!

Santa is Coming!

This is the Santa that Bricen got to eat lunch with at the Clover YMCA. He crawled up on Santa's lap and rather than saying I want.... He said Santa I just pooped in my pants. I thought Santa was going to fall out. He was laughing so hard. Santa really chuckled! Santa told Bricen you didn't have to tell me. I already knew!

Christmas is almost here!

We have been so busy since Thanksgiving. Its so hard to believe in 2 weeks Christmas will be here. I hate that I haven't found the time to blog. Things have been crazy. We had a great Thanksgiving. We went to the McGills for lunch and we were home the rest of the day. Meredith and Lauren came and ate dinner with us. We had a great weekend. Albert was home with us on Friday. He went riding with the guys on Saturday and Bricen and I ran around with my mom. Sunday we went to church and then to Portrait Innovations to have the pictures made for my parents Christmas cards. The weekend was just not long enough.

I decorated my tree that next week as a stress reliever after a bad week at work. I have not pulled out all my Christmas decorations. I am just not in the mood for decorating.

We have a lot going on but so does everyone else right? We are looking forward to go to the Hollywild Zoo to see the Christmas lights, The Polar Express train ride in the mountains, and all our family gatherings.

I will try to write more often.