Firsts:

This is the First time I have blogged in eternity! I really miss documenting the small things that make my days so memorable. So find below many other firsts that have taken place since I have last blogged:
Blake’s first day of Kindergarten happened August 20. He and Brielle walked in side by side and Brielle made sure to give him the low down on all the kindergarten happenings.
Brady had his first day of preschool- is he really old enough for preschool????
Brady slept without a bink for the first time and did not ask for it for the entire day and quickly decided he did not need his blanket either.
Blake was on crutches for the first time for a torn tendon that occurred on the first full day of Kindergarten.
Blake was getting ready for his first season of Tackle Football when he ended up on crutches so this sport will have to wait another season.
Brielle was found curled up in her bed reading a novel for the first time! Guess it is more fun to read when your eyes work appropriately.
Blake is having his first spend the night at a friend’s house. They are spending the evening at the Scott City football game- have a feeling he is going to feel right at home!
Brielle is having her first slumber party at the house with multiple friends.
Brielle is doing awesome in school- made an A in math- an entirely different story from what we went through last year in this subject!
Brielle had her first Hip Hop and Jazz class this semester and is continuing Ballet and Cheer while balancing school and friends.
Brady is talking- no it is not necessarily his first word but much more fluent- I was beginning to think he was never going to talk- by the third child you aren’t really worried about their language- the silence is really not that bad 

Whats been going on with the family?

This summer we have been busy camping, vacationing and relaxing. At the beginning of the summer we went camping with the Estes at Sam A Baker park. A few weeks later we spent the weekend at the Fishers cabin. In July we met traveled with Brad's parents to Branson to meet up with his sister and family. Most weekends were spent grilling out with the Fishers, LaFaves and Harris.

Brad and I celebrated 10 years together with him surprising me with a date to Rays and childcare provided by his parents- that he arranged!!! We completed several 5K's together and soon hopefully a half marathon.

Hope you enjoy the pics of our summer fun!

Where does time go?

So it has been since March 30th that I have last updated my blog- kinda embarrassing and kinda frustrating. Since March Brielle has completed first grade, performed in a dance recital and has joined a competetive cheer team where she has had the opportuntiy to perform at the Jackson Homecomers and will have many opportunities to travel around the state to competitions. Brielle celebrated her 8th birthday with her friends at the SEMO Rec Center where she collected her presents and later dontated them to the St Louis Children's Hospital Childs Life Department. In her free time you will find her dancing, cheering and riding her bike. Brielle is anxiously awaiting second grade where she will share her teacher with many of her best friends! Blake has played spring soccer, tball and a spur of the moment soccer tournament. He has participated in wrestling camp and basketball camp- both through Jackson High School. He was awarded camper of the day on his first day of basketball camp and camper of the week on the last day of camp. He is patiently awaiting kindergarten and in his free time you will find him riding his bike or tossing around some sort of ball. Blake celebrated his 6th birthday football style with "real" football players and an awesome Jackson Indian TeePee courtesy of Rhonda Norman!! Brady is beginning to talk more so everyone can understand him although he is still very attached to his mink (pacifier) and his silky blanket. Brady has a time keeping up with the big kids thinking that whatever they do there is no reason why he cannot participate. He loves to ride his bicyle and the gator and will kick the ball around for a bit. His all time favorite is trains and cars/trucks. Brady is getting ready for preschool and is enrolled in a soccer clinic for the fall :)

Poetry Scholar

In the winter Brielle wrote a poem for her class assignment. Ms Karnes submitted the poems to Creative Communication to be published. She informed us that we were not guaranteed to be published but that we would try. She also stated that only about 1 out of every 3 submissions is published. After submitting the paperwork I kinda forgot about it until we got the mail this afternoon...

Brielle won Top Ten Poem for the age group of K-2. She is the only 1st grader and the only student from Missouri. She won a $50 savings bond for her awesome poem.

I was quick to call Ms Karnes and confirm her winnings and the reputation of the organziation. She assured me that this was quite an accomplishment and that we should be VERY proud of her. This is quite rare!!

Way to go Brielle!!

Here is the famous poem:
My Brother and My Underwear
by Brielle Blackman
On Christmas morning I ran to the tree.
I wanted to see what was for me.
I got a glass doll and a fat skirt,
Lots of candy and a fancy shirt!
But what happened next,
Made me stare...
My brother had opened my underwear!!

Wrestling Champion

Way to go Blake! His first year competing in wrestling and he had a 6-1 winning record! This past weekend was the championship where Blake pinned his opponent in the first 10 seconds on Thursday; in the 2nd period on Friday and one the last match putting him in first place of his weight class!!! His buddies Randol McDowell and Bryce Norman also won first place in their weight classes!!

Brady's Past times

Any free minute that Brady may have is spent lining up his cars and trucks. He will then drive them through the house making the motor sounds. His all time favorite though is Brielle carrying him face out and he pretends to have a steering wheel and manuevers himself around the house.

California bound.... or not!!!

On January 9th Kimberly informed me that Wendy and I were going to be receiving tickets in the mail to come see her in Los Angeles. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!! Wendy and I decided that we would throw her a baby shower on March 14. It seemed the perfect date since we would be leaving out on the Thursday before and returning the Tuesday after and that would encompass Brad's spring break so that getting the kids to their designated places would be easier. I should have known when the big snow hit and took his spring break away that the count down to seeing Kimberly was going to be a challenge. I continued with the count down 64 days... 30 days.. 10 days... 2 days...! I talked with Kimberlys' mom frequently to work out the flights and the Wednesday prior to leaving we printed off the boarding pass while she talked me thru it on the phone- all seemed to be going good. I packed my bags after the kids went to bed and was finished by 11p.m. I gladly set the alarm for 5 a.m. and went to bed. At exactly 12:35 my travel plans were shot- Brady threw up!! I had my fingers crossed that this was a one time event and then 30 minutes later the event reoccurred again. This pattern went on for 14 hours before the doctors informed me to go ahead to St Francis to be sure he wasn't dehydrated. We were at the hospital for 4 hours and one bag of fluids before returning home. I was hopeful since his 30 minute pattern had broke that we were over the main event. Unfortunatley I was wrong- the pattern was more sporadic. Between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. Saturday morning he threw up 5 times- how does this happen when you are not taking in any foods/ drinks???? I called the on call doctor who instructed me to meet him at SE hospital and to plan on him being admitted. We were in a room by 11 with an iv and a sleepy baby!!! He stayed subdued through Sunday when at 10 pm the night nurse finally said we were free to go only to wake to him throwing up Monday morning and nasty diapers!!!! I swear I was ready to put him on the street corner-! He has finally come around- 3 days after coming home- a little today and had a smile when he woke this morning- yeah it is about time!! Now that he is slowly becoming his self again I will keep him and hope that this bug moves out of our house- he is not welcome!!!!

Brad's Race

All of Brad's work has paid off- he received recognition for finishing the race with the fastest time this past Saturday. Way to go Brad! We are proud of you!

Blake's First Soccer Game of 2009

The first game of the year brought a victory of 2-0!! Way to go team!!

Brady's First B-day party invite!!

Brady had fun at Luke's 3rd birthday party. They celebrated at Class Act with lots of fun gymnastic activities.

First Wrestling Match of the 2009

Blake won victorisly 17 to 4! Way to go Blake- keep up the hard work!!

Daddy daughter dance

Gram came over before the big event to get the princess dolled up because Brad had the privelege of taking his princess to the Daddy Daughter dance at the Arena Bldg. He was lucky to be able to double date with two of his friends and their dates. The princesses had the opportunity to make tiaras, decorate cookies and dance with their prince. I think fun was had by all!

Shoe Shopping

Cost of 4 pairs of shoes= $80
2 begging children and 1 screaming toddler= $8 for migrane medicine
3 happy children with the shoes they want= priceless!

Never a dull moment....

So Brad dropped the kids off at the gym at ten til 7 on Friday morning. I met him at the door and brought the kids to the locker room so I could finish getting ready. They were sitting on the bench nice and quiet until Heather (yes you are at fault lol) decided she needed a hug from each of them and then she left for work. They then decided to check on the "grandmas in the pool" and weigh themselves on the scale. I went to reign them in and told them to sit on the bench that I was almost done- next thing I know I hear Blake crying that he can't get out and Brady is laughing and Brielle is slightly panicked. Yes Brady locked Blake in the locker. Brielle is swearing she knows the exact 4 digits that Brady punched in to lock the locker while the entire time I am laughing of the chaos happening on a typically quiet morning!! So I left them in the chaos and ran to the front counter to get the master (i was pretty tempted to keep running out the front door never to go back...)I unlocked Blake and sentenced them to the bench AGAIN!! Next time Brad says he has to get to work early I am going to take that as my cue to sleep in and take the kids to school myself :)

Always and Forever!!

Saturday night Brad and I celebrated V-day with several other couples at Creative Edge where we were treated like royality and entertained like celebrities. As we entered the venue we had our picture taken and then were whisked away to our balony seats where we had a beautiful frame awaiting us. We were catered to by Tractors and enjoyed a 4 course meal before being entertained with a Newlyweds Game all before hitting the bars. I am looking forward to reliving the night with bradley next year :)

T.E.R.R.I.F.I.C. KID

Brielle was honored with a TERRIFIC Kid award on Tuesday at school. She had decided on some habits to improve and was successful at meeting her goal. She was awarded a certificate and gift certificates to the bowling alley and dinner- way to go Brielle!

Amore!

The day began like any other Friday- 5:30 at the gym w/ a bff; meet brad after for the exchange of children; and off to work. I was able to go to Brielle's valentines party at 2 and then to the boys at 3:00. I collected the children and headed home where I was suprised by a dozen pink roses!!! What a way to end the day! or at least begin the evening of a run, laundry and cleaning...
thank you brad- i love you!!