Day Out with Thomas: The Go Go Thomas Tour 2013 {Giveaway}

April 23, 2013 By 14 Comments
Day Out with Thomas- The Go Go Thomas Tour 2012

For our third year, we are heading to Day Out with Thomas at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga, TN.  The theme this year is "The Go Go Thomas Tour 2013" and we are looking forward to a fun family afternoon together.  This is one of our favorite family events each year.  There is so much to see & do so we usually set aside several hours to attend and we still don't see everything.  The highlight of the day is, of course, riding Thomas the Train.  Bella was 3 months old the first time we attended Day Out with Thomas.  The event is extremely family-friendly whether you have itty bitty babies or older children.  It is stroller accessible and they even have stroller parking for while you are on the train.  The folks at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum seriously know how to accommodate families and they do it well. Day Out with Thomas Activities There is always plenty of entertainment starting with the Imagination Station where children can play with … [Read more...]

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On Losing Kolby – One Year Later

April 12, 2013 By 6 Comments
Balloons for Kolby Jason Clayton

Today marks one year since we lost Kolby Jason Clayton.  I had not planned to write anything, but as usual, I woke up and just poured out anyways. I knew from the first phone call that it was bad. Very bad. The phone calls after that one just got worse. The doctors and trauma surgeons couldn’t give us hope. Our hope was in the Lord and sometimes, His answers aren’t the ones we want. When they took him back to surgery, I prayed for my phone not to ring. I knew the quicker it rang, the worse it would be, so I willed that phone not ring. Then, it did. And it wasn’t good. And it happened again and again. Until my dad called and finally said, “I’m sorry hun, he’s not going to make it.” I was standing in the kitchen and Justin was at the sink. I knew there was a chair behind me, but I totally missed it as I hit the floor. Dad & I made the decision to go on the hospital. I didn’t know if I could handle it, but I knew that my mom didn’t need to drive home. As Dad … [Read more...]

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Our Little T-Ball Player {Wordless Wednesday}

April 10, 2013 By 21 Comments
Tball Tbears Bryson 2013

Bryson is playing t-ball this year and it's be so fun to watch him practice.  He spends quite a bit of time rolling around on the ground after missing a ball and I'm guaranteed at least one good laugh at each practice.  Our last practice was yesterday and games start next week.  He actually cooperated for some photos yesterday which is so rare that I can't remember the last time it happened.  I am beyond happy with these, so I thought I would share! … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bryson, Family Happenings, Wordless Wednesday

Family, Friends, & Jesus… and Baby B3 {Weekend Recap}

April 3, 2013 By 8 Comments
Baby #3 Announcement

Whew, what a weekend! It was a busy weekend full of family, friends, and Jesus. And I am still recovering from it three days later, haha. Justin's family came in from out of town for his baptism, so we spent Saturday with them. We blew up our new Hydro Rush Inflatable Water Park, even though it was too cool for water. The kids enjoyed playing on it dry! That night, we grilled hamburgers & hotdogs and celebrated our niece, Alix's, 11th birthday, which blows my mind. She had just turned 2 when Justin & I started dating! Alix & Sidney, our nephew, spent the night with us so Bryson & Bella were over the moon about that. Sunday morning, we attended Sunday School at church. Our families joined us for worship service and Justin's baptism. We were thrilled to have them all with us!  I walked to the front pew with Bryson and Bella so we could see Justin's baptism.  When they asked our family to stand, I turned to see the people we loved smiling from ear-to-ear, so proud … [Read more...]

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Bryson’s First T-Ball Practice

March 16, 2013 By 1 Comment
T-Ball Practice

Friday was an absolutely beautiful day.  The kids & I played outside for several hours during the day, soaking up the sunshine, mixing the water and dirt to make mud, swinging, and just enjoying the day. I had planned to take the kids to the playground.  Sippy cups in hand, a new book to read, diapers packed, we headed out the door.  As Bryson stepped outside, he looked around and said, “You know mom, we could just play outside at our house.”  Well, why didn’t I think of that?  It’s funny how we want to give to our children, how I wanted to take him to a playground, and he was content to stay at home and play in our own backyard.  So that is exactly what we did.  I sat on the back patio and dove into a new book – 7 by Jen Hatmaker, while the kids and the dogs played happily.  I pushed Bella in the swing and she squealed “high, mama, high!” and the asked me to do the “helicopter” so she could spin around and around.  I watched as Bryson ran out some of … [Read more...]

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On TTC Baby #3

February 28, 2013 By 2 Comments
Family 2 Logo

Is it weird to tell people you are trying to conceive?  I'm not sure, but then again, natural acts like baby-making and breastfeeding are not topics that embarrass me.  Justin and I decided we would have two children.  Two was our number.  Then, Bryson was born and I realized how much I love being a mom.  I cried during my pregnancy with Bella, because I knew it could possibly be my last.  We've decided to try for a third child now.  We won't totally close the door on more children down the road, but we both think that three is our number. We were praying for a November baby.  Bryson's birthday is in December and Bella's is in January.  It looks like we are out this month though, so no November baby for us.  Bryson and Bella were both conceived on the first try which I know is completely unusual, but I had high hopes that it would happen quickly again.  It did not and while I'm definitely disappointed, I am praying God's will and asking for peace with His timing. Justin … [Read more...]

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Yo Gabba Gabba! Live! Get the Sillies Out! Tour Review

February 23, 2013 By 8 Comments
Yo Gabba Gabba! Live! Get the Sillies Out! Tour

On Wednesday night, we had the great pleasure to attend the Yo Gabba Gabba! Live!: Get the Sillies Out! Tour in Huntsville, AL at the Von Braun Center Concert Hall.  Having never been to anything like this, I had no idea what to expect.  My hopes were high for a great family nigh with my husband and kids and let me tell y'all- I was not let down.  We arrived about 30 minutes before the show and there was confetti everywhere outside the concert hall.  That was my first clue that it was going to be a fun night!  I picked up our tickets then we waited for them to allow everyone in the concert hall.  We walked in to floors covered with confetti and saw this: We were very happy with our seats.  Our kids were extremely well behaved and I knew the night was going to go smooth.  That was a relief!  The lights were dimmed, the speakers began to boom, DJ Lance appeared, and then confetti fell from the sky.  The show started with a bang! All of the characters joined DJ Lance on … [Read more...]

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Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE!: Get the Sillies Out! Tour is Coming to Hunstville

February 15, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Yo Gabba Gabba Live Tour Logo

We have big plans for next week including taking the kids to their second live show. If you remember, they went to their first live show last year. We were supposed to attend together as a family, but then I broke my leg & ankle and could no longer go with them. I was so bummed about it, so I'm looking forward to the Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE!: Get the Sillies Out! Tour even more now!     YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE! GET THE SILLIES OUT! Tour in Huntsville, AL on Feb. 20th   The sillies are crazy little creatures that live inside of us and need to be shaken out! DJ Lance Rock and everyone’s favorite cast of colorful characters are calling all fans to get ready to jump, shake and shimmy them out at the new live tour Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE!: Get the Sillies Out!. Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE!: Get The Sillies Out! tour will visit more than 50 cities across the U.S. in 2013.  Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE! is touring in support of their first national beverage launch, a new line of … [Read more...]

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