Brayden's Birthday Bash!!

Yesterday we celebrated Brayden's 1st Birthday since he was sick on the originally scheduled party date. We had a great time celebrating Brayden's birthday with some great family & friends. We had almost 40 people there including 3 of Brayden's great-grandparents & 9 kids!!

We are so blessed to have so many people that wanted to share in the special day with us! Thank you all for being great friends!!

Brayden's Great-Grandpa (Papa). Brayden hasn't seen Papa since the 4th of July & he kept walking over to him & wanting to sit with Papa! To cute!!


Close ups of each cake. I actually made both cakes & the little decorations that are on the cakes. I sort of enjoyed it...I think :) I was rather proud of myself for pulling off the grand idea I had in my head!

Our good friend from church, Jennifer, made these cute cupcakes for the kids! Thanks Jennifer! You are awesome!!

Brayden enjoying one of Jennifer's cupcakes!

Some of our friends from church (the Westfalls & Simpsons + Ben who's parents are just out of this photo)


Nothing better than some balloon play the morning after a big party! Brayden was actually scared of the balloons on Saturday, but by Sunday morning he realized that they could be great fun & spent about 1 hr Sunday morning running around the living room pulling 3 balloons behind him :)

I wish I had gotten photos of everyone that was there! I REALLY need to get better at taking photos at this important events!! If you have any photos from Brayden's party, PLEASE send them to me when you get a chance!

Happy Halloween!!

While we were at the beach with our small group, we dressed the kids up and went Trick or Treating in the house.

SuperMan (or Super Brayden!)

Trying out his costume a few weeks before Halloween


One person went to each room & then the kids went around to each bedroom & knocked on the doors saying "Trick or Treat" (or something like that). They got Spider cupcakes, Owl lollipop/suckers (made from moonpies), tatoos, candy, Teddy Grahams, Pumpkin Peeps. The kids had a great time, but I think the parents had an even better time.

Brian (Tigger), Ben (Fireman), Brayden (Superman), and John (Bear)

Ben's ready to Trick or Treat!Brian, Brayden, & John talking about all of the treats they are hoping to get!

Small Group Beach Retreat - Fall 2009

This past weekend we headed off to the beach with our small group from church. In all there were 16 adults and 4 kids (all under age 2). Our friends Caleb & Adrienne were able to get a HUGE, SUPER NICE house for us to stay in. Each family had their own bedroom & bathroom. Plus there were 2 living room areas, a huge kitchen & dining room, porch, pool (closed for the season), hot tub, and outdoor kitchen area. We are talking REALLY nice place!!

The Living Room

Our Bedroom

View from our bedroom window

God's Beautiful Sunset at Holden Beach

One of the guys in our group, Chris, is an amazing cook. He did all of the cooking for us & we had some very scruptious meals! Plus Caleb's parents came along to help out with the kids so that we could all have some time without the kids.

We had a great time of fellowship, studying God's Word and hanging out together.

From the bottom: Jennifer & Greg Westfall, David & Amy Matzer, Jill & Corey Simpson, Chris, Brian, & Kristin Ertel, Caleb, Adrienne, & Ben Weir, Joe, John, & Amy Toomey, Matt, Brayden & I

Sick Days

Poor Brayden has been sick almost every day since his birthday.

I got the ever dreaded call from daycare on Thursday (Oct 22). Brayden had a fever & I needed to pick him up. Brayden ran a fever all weekend through Sunday afternoon. We had to cancel his big birthday party & his photo session on Sunday. Finally on Sunday, I decided that enough was enough...the fever wasn't going away & the poor baby just felt awful at times. We went to the Dr. & found out that he had Roseola. By Monday, Brayden was feeling much better, but he had to stay out of daycare again. He was fever free all day on Monday, but then Monday night the fever came back. Thankfully, my parents were able to come keep him on Tuesday so that both Matt & I could work. He was fever free all day Tuesday & was finally able to go back to daycare on Wednesday after being out since Thursday afternoon.

Then on Friday, I again got a call from daycare. Brayden was just not acting like himself & was very fussy. Matt went & got him (he was going to get him a little early anyway). Brayden was fine by the time I got home & we thought that he had been fussy because he is cutting 2 upper molars. We headed off to the beach & then on Saturday afternoon, Brayden got a fever again. The fever was low grade so I really still thought it was the teething. But on Sunday, the fever got much higher. I ended up taking him back to the Dr. yesterday. This time he has a double ear infection!!! and is now on antibiotic but was able to go back to daycare today.

We have been super lucky that he has been so healthy since being in daycare. This is really only the 2nd time he has been sick. Hopefully this is the end of Brayden being sick. It is no fun having a sick baby on your hands.