4th of July Weekend

We had a fun filled 4th of July weekend! We started with swimming in the fun pool at Uncle Rick & Aunt Cami's housing area on Friday. Being a holiday weekend we expected the pool to be packed. We were pleasantly surprised to find only a handful of people there...much more enjoyable that way! On Saturday we had a BBQ at our house with Uncle Rick and family. Alan got to use his brand new grill that he came home to (it was his belated Father's Day/welcome home gift!). After the BBQ we enjoyed a yummy dessert provided by Aunt Cami and a firework show put on by the "men". We started with sparklers. I helped Brikelle with hers and had to keep her from trying to touch the sparkler as it was going. As soon as the sparkler was done burning she grabbed the hot part and I wasn't quick enough to stop her. Needless to say, she burned her hand and has a nice looking blister on her finger. She was so upset and it took awhile to calm her. Once she calmed down we started the fireworks and at first Brikelle liked them and thought they were cool, but once they started getting loud she wasn't very fond of them. Eventually she started crying so Mom and Brikelle watched from Dad's truck. That satisfied her for a bit but then she was done and wanted to go inside. Once she was settled watching her Blue's Clues movie, I was able to go out and watch the rest of the show! On Sunday we enjoyed some super yummy Smores...the pictures speak for themselves! We hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend too!

Happy Birthday America!

Welcome Home Daddy!!!

Thursday July 2nd was a very special day at our house...Daddy came home!!! The kids were so excited and anxiously waited and waited. At about 10:30 a.m. there was a knock on the door...Bailee's face in the picture below says it all! What an awesome feeling it is to once again be reunited with the man I love and see how happy and excited our beautiful children were to have their daddy back at last. Brikelle ran to Alan and knew exactly who he was (Alan didn't think she would want much to do with him, but she proved him wrong!). And although he won't admit it, I saw his eyes get a bit watery as he picked up his baby girl (we don't have to talk about my eyes, after all this is about Alan...) Bailee kept saying all day "I just can't believe Dad is actually home." Braden told me "Mom, I'm so glad Dad is home now so everything can be normal again." After Alan had been gone for about a month Braden told me "Mom, I just wish Dad could come back home so everything can be normal again." That's coming from a 5 year old...talk about a lump in the throat! All day Brikelle kept coming up to me saying "Mommy, that daddy?" I guess she just wanted to make sure she really had the right daddy at her house! We are thrilled to be a family of 5 again and are quickly getting back into the swing of things. And what better way to celebrate than the 4th of July weekend!

Thank you for your service Alan. We love you and are so happy you are home safe and sound!

Monday Makings

OK so we've been on "vacation" from Monday Makings but we had a very important one to do this week. And actually we made it on Wednesday but I couldn't name it Wednesday Makings...that just doesn't sound right! The kids made daddy a Welcome Home sign. They are sooo excited (as am I)!

Bailee got to put on the word WELCOME

Braden got to put on the word HOME

Brikelle got to put on the word DAD

Then we added their hand prints and some pictures they made and colored

And it turned out as cute as can be!

I think dad will be thrilled!

Keeping Kool

The kids had hours of fun the other day on the slip-n-slide. Oh to be a kid again! Brikelle even figured out how to slide on her knees...sort of. She loved it! They all loved it! Time for a new slip-n-slide though...this is the one we got last year and it ended up with a hole. But now we have an excuse to get the newer, bigger, fancier kind!

That's gotta taste good!

Lovin' Braden's face!

Wait, I thought I only had 3...

After a hard day playing on the slip-n-slide what better place to take a nap than in the tub!

Daddy's Day

Dear Dad,
I love you a lot! Thank you for being my dad. When you get home I'm going to give you a big huge hug and a big huge kiss! I can't wait 'til you get home!
Love,
Bailee

Dear Dad,
I love you and I miss you so much and I want you to come home. I love you Daddy!
Love,
Braden


I love you Daddy! I'm going to give you lots of hugs and kisses when you get home!
Love,
Brikelle

Happy Father's Day to the bestest husband ever! I love you!!!

And a Happy Father's Day to my dad and to all the wonderful dad's out there that I know!

Quote for the Day

This is the best quote of the day...speaking to Brikelle as she is standing on something she shouldn't be. "You be careful young lady." Her reply..."I not lady, I Kelle." I LOVE it!!!

Simple Things I Love...

Here are some things that I have loved about the week...

That Bailee came home from school with a cute little caterpillar and her and her friend were happy and willing to make one for Braden and Brikelle
That Braden's AB/CD shirt from when he was 2 is now a night shirt for Brikelle

That Brikelle can entertain herself so easily while mom takes longer than she should on the computer,

and then say "Mommy, I make mess"

That Bailee and Braden think I'm the best mom ever for letting them have a "slumber party" in our upstairs room 2 nights in a row,

and that Bailee is such a good little reader and will read to her brother and sister when I ask her to

Don't forget that sometimes it's the little things in life that make life worth living. Take time to enjoy the simple things...they may be the best memories ever!