Happy Birthday Kate!

Happy Birthday Kate! Thank you for allowing us to
celebrate your special day with you!

Tonight's Game

Brayden adores Chandler. At the end of every baseball game, he cannot wait to run on the field to see his big brother. This photo captures it all. My beautiful boys, hugging, completely excited like they hadn't seen eachother in days...and totally covered in dirt.

I thank God for them everyday. Who wouldn't with these two faces!?!?

This isn't Goodbye....

Last night, we all said good bye to our dear friend Amy who is moving in about a week.

Amy,
I feel so blessed that I got to know you....I am so grateful for this past year.
As you can see the photos, we were so lucky to share alot of fun times together.
Thank you for who you are. A wonderful friend and mother, with a deep love of Christ and others- thanking you for sharing yourself with us. Looking forward to many years of keeping in touch! I will think of you everytime I wear my bracelet, thank you and love you.

And Happy 29th Birthday to Steph!

Love, Melissa

Strawberries, Yum!!

Today we went to Chiles Orchard to pick strawberries. It was so beautiful out, it was a perfect day to go! Despite Brayden getting lotion in his eye on the way, we had a great time....Not sure if you can tell in the photos, his eye would not stop watering! The boys picked alot of strawberries and got to play with thier friends! Yum!

Girls Day in Richmond

Yesterday, myself and 3 friends spent the entire day in Richmond...our trip was a send off gift for our dear friend Amy who will be moving soon.

The morning started with a glass of Orange Juice and Champagne, then on the drive bagels and fresh fruit- then we went to Kings Dominion! It was the opening day for the Dominator, so we rode that first. We had a really great time - we rode about 6 crazy coasters. We packed a picnic lunch outside the park, it was like a feast! After Kings Dominion, we had dinner on the patio at the Cheesecake Factory (where we ran into my sister, how crazy!)

The entire day was alot of fun, mainly just because we were together, with conversation never stopping, spending time with wonderful Christian friends and amazing mothers.

These women mean so much to me, though I know I am not the best at showing it. They help me and love me in every way, from parenting to how to cook, I am so blessed.

I hope it was a good day for Amy. That she knows how much she is loved. I wish her, Adam and the boys happiness, luck and love....When a friend leaves, you wish you could just wrap your arms around them for a long time, but....no worries, because I know the Lord will, around this amazing family, and He will never let go.

I get to see Amy Monday night, so no tears yet!

Love you all, Melissa

Fun in the Backyard

Today we had some friends over to play! We had a really good time. It was so nice to visit with girlfriends. The kids got along so well, we were actually all able to chat some! The kids were hilarious on the two jeeps and motorcycle, we came really close to a couple of crashes- but we ended up accident free! Brayden truly enjoyed his time with his friends, he was a little sad when they left. But luckily, Chandler had a half day, because of field day- so he got home shortly after and cheered Bray right up!

Chandler also had a baseball game today. He played the entire game on 2nd base, he did a great job. He played against one of his best friends...so that made him a little nervous. Not to mention, his friend was the pitcher, and hit Chandler right in his wrist! But Chandler handled it very well.

Now off to sleep, time for some rest!

Melissa

I love you Chad!

Chad has sent me an awesome gift the past two fridays...they have come via fed ex. It
has been so exciting!! They have both been something I really wanted and I had no idea he even knew. I am still in amazement from today's! Chad is so good to me, good at loving me ...thinking of creative ways to thank me...figuring out thoughtful ways of letting me know how much he appreciates me- I am so lucky!

Chad,

I wanted to tell you how lucky the boys and I are to have you.

Not a day goes by that I don't thank the Lord for you. You are my soulmate and best friend.
You know me better then anyone in the world, you are my rock. Thank you for all you do for us daily. This family is so blessed to have you. We love you very much.

Sometimes I think you are almost to good to be true!

Love you Babe,
Melissa

A day at the park...

Today was a beautiful day, so we skipped the gym and went to the park! We had a great time playing and...eating! The boys were all very good!

Huge thank you to my friend Heather for bringing Brayden new shorts, during our time of need! He truly hates to be a mess....and also a BIG thank you to Kim for making my blog look so nice.... Love, Melissa

We found "A" caterpillar...

Brayden has been playing his Discovery Toys Bug game like crazy lately so everytime we see a bug, we try to use it as a learning tool...last night we found a caterpillar on the porch! He was so excited! He enjoyed holding him, as long as they didn't climb on his shirt....Before, we knew it, there were TWO Caterpillars! Brayden was screaming with excitement! So, because we were having a Caterpillar party....a THIRD one arrived!So, Brayden decided, that they all had to meet his caterpillar from his game.....And now, they all are living in our bug cage. Brayden is carrying them with him everywhere he goes...He keeps singing..."i am the Bug Daddy, i am the Bug Daddy....!" So, cute!!

We got to see Elmo, Grover, Oscar...

I wanted to show you all the soccer outfit we got for Bray in Mexico...he love it.
Doesn't he look adorable....like a real soccer boy (that's what he calls himself..)



Saturday we got to go with the Winn Family to Sesame Street Live.
Brayden loved it!
He enjoyed dancing to the music. Chandler didn't think it was to bad either!



I also wanted to show you a pillow that my good friend made me, isnt it adorable!
She is one of the most creative, thoughtful people I know!



Okay, love you all- Melissa

Happy Mother's Day!

I wanted to wish you all a happy mother's day! So many of you are amazing, teaching me new things everyday...so with that I hope you all had the wonderful day you deserve, I love you and thank you.

Mother's Day for me was very special-a quiet day of relaxation, counting my blessings, prayer and reflection.

Happy Mother's Day to my mother, and a thank you to all you for your prayers.

We're Back....

We had a really great time in Mexico but we are happy to be home...we all really missed our little Brayden. Our week was very eventful...I have no idea where to begin..so I thought I would make a list of ten highlights...here they are:

1. The plane to Cancun was delayed by about 45 min due to mechanical issues...once we got in the air, a woman on the flight had a seizure! I just sat in my seat in prayer...but all ended up okay!
2. Chandler celebrated Cinco de Mayo with a bang, literally- he bumped into someone else in the wave pool and ended up with a black eye!
3. We ate a cactus and drank out of coconuts
4. We got to hold a parrot and a tucan (chandlers favorite animal!)
5.We got to swim with 2 dolphins, Padme and Leia, it was alot of fun.
6. We snorkeled and went tubing...the fish were huge!
7. We kayaked, we had our own lake all by ourselves...we really enjoyed it!
8.We walked across a huge floating bridge...that was scary...
9. We did a little shopping at Playa del Carmen, where Chandler learned how to bargain..he got his first pair of Oakley sunglasses like daddies, I got a bag made out of wrappers... its really cool..and we all had a scoop of ice cream to cool off, it was $31.00 or 310.00 pesos!!
10. We went to Xe-Ha and Tulum...it was really neat to learn and walk the land of the Mayans

So now we are home! We got Chandler out the door with little sleep at 6:30am, for his field trip to Williamsburg. I picked Brayden up at about 7:30am. Now, Chandler has ball at 6pm! Clare said Brayden did fine, he was well loved and taken care of ...we are so thankful to them for keeping Bray all week, this trip wouldn't have been possible without them. We are so blessed to have such good friends. The quality time away with Chandler was needed, he is growing up so fast...I want to make as many memories as possible...and we did!! Love you all.

Chandler's Baseball Game!

Chandler had a great game on majors today....1st inning, nobody was able to hit, a couple had walked....Chandler was up to bat and cracked it into the outfield, he got two boys in!!! He also made it home himself...(actually a total of 3 times home in the entire game!) We were so excited that he got to start, let alone play on 2nd base and to top it if, they kept him in the entire game!

Chandler stayed very aware, had alot of great plays and most of all, he had alot of fun. I am so proud of him! Every game may not go as well (though I pray they do!), but this is one we definitely won't forget!

Great Friends and Grandparents Day

Today was friends and grandparents day at Chandler's School. His great grandmother Gail, his grandma P, Chris Winn and myself were there. First we got to see a little bit of the school play that premieres in two weeks, next we all had lunch, then we got a tour of the school and last we
played Jeopardy in his classroom on their new smart board...adults vs. children...the children won of course! We had a good day with him and his was grateful for all his visitors. We are so blessed to be able to send him to such a great school.

So tomorrow eve we are off to Mexico, leaving little Bray behind...in very capable hands. Huge thank you to Chris and Clare for watching Bray. Their friendship means the world to us, not sure what I would do with out you...(hope we are still good friends when we return! HEHEHE) We love you both and cannot thank you enough.

Oh, and I just added a prayer list to my blog.....