Looking back to my birthday and Father's Day

After all of the hoopla with my mom's birthday and new job, only a few days later I had a birthday. I used to get much more excited about my birthday than I do now. It's not that I'm freaked about getting older. The 30's aren't so bad. I'm in a good stage right now, so I don't have an issue with turning another year older. I'm sure I won't feel the same once I'm in my "late" 30's, but for now, I'm good! Anyway, I think the whole deal just isn't as exciting as it used to be because, by the time my birthday comes around, I'm pooped out. There is so much going on around here between mid-May and mid-June. The girls have end of grade testing/finals, school lets out, Mother's Day, Nicholas' birthday, my mom's birthday, Father's Day. It's a lot! Plus, I really do enjoy spending our money on stuff for the kids over stuff for myself. I can't usually even think of things that I'd like to have but I can always come up with things I'd like to buy for the kids!

This year, in honor of my birthday, we had a relaxing day. We went to the pool for awhile early in the day. For dinner, we went to one of my favorite restaurants, Salsaritas, and then to Rivergate to watch our church band rock out in the plaza. It was a good time!

Father's Day was the day after my birthday this year. I decided to take some pictures of the kids for daddy. Originally, all 4 of the kids were supposed to be in the pictures, but we just couldn't seem to coordinate it with everyone's schedule in time for me to have the pictures printed before Father's Day. I ended up only getting the two little ones in the pictures. I plan to re-do it sometime soon with everyone.

Mom's Big News!

After all of Nicholas' birthday festivities, it was time to move on to the next celebration. My mom has been coming to Charlotte for Nicholas' birthday for the past two years, which means she's been with us for her birthday too (my mom's is 6/13). We celebrated by taking mom to PF Changs, her favorite restaurant, and then having more cake and a few presents. It was a nice, relaxing day.

Another reason that my mom was in Charlotte was to interview with the team the runs the Sunrise facility in Greenville, SC. My mom had applied for a transfer to this location and, since she was in town, we set up a time for her to interview on Monday morning. Mom's meeting went really well and within an few hours of leaving, she had a formal offer letter! Saying goodbye at the end of the day wasn't as tough because I knew it wouldn't be long before we won't have to do it anymore.

I was/am really excited. My mom was mostly in shock for awhile--I don't think she could belive that this was all really happeneing. Now that it's sunk in, I think my mom is mostly terrified. This is going to be a big change, but I know she'll do great. This type of adjustment is always tough, but she's a tough woman and will get through this time of transition just fine.

Early last week, the fam and I went to Greenville to check out some housing options and, while we were there, we did some exploring. I have to say, Greenville is a really cool city! I was super impressed. The city is really hilly. From many different locations, you can see mountains. It also has a downtown/Main Street that reminds me of downtown Ann Arbor. The street is heavily tree lined and there are all sorts of cool shops, restaurants, pubs, etc. There is also a river that cuts through the city. Where the river and Main Street intersect, there is a really neat park called Falls Park along the river. There are waterfalls, a suspension bridge that is WAY high, places to walk along the river, little amphitheaters, a neat area for kids to play in this waterfall area. I can't wait to explore more once my mom lives in Greenville. I figure it will be even easier then because I won't have to factor in driving home time at the end of the day if I don't want to. Yeah!

Nicholas Allen's First 3 Years

Here are some pictures of Nicholas' first three years. What a difference 3 years makes!!!

June 9, 2006. Happy birth day Nicholas!

In Hawaii, getting ready for his first trip to the beach.

Sporting his very first pair of crocs and showing off some real attitude. We've gone through so many pairs since then!

Swimming in Key Largo with Daddy

Nicholas with his soccer coaches

Happy 3rd Birthday!

Happy 3rd Birthday Nicholas!

While we were in Ohio saying goodbye to Grandpa Bradds, on June 9 my baby boy celebrated his 3rd birthday! This time has gone by so quickly. He's growing up and changing way too fast for his mama!

Our original birthday plan was to have a family day with cake and a few presents on Nicholas' actual birthday. Then, the following morning, Grandma was to fly into Charlotte and we had a birthday party planned for Thursday. Since we ended up in Ohio, we decided to make the day special by taking him to Young's Dairy where he could play, pet the animals and have ice cream. We also planned a little get together of family to celebrate. Of course, I made him a cake and he got a ton of new toys. He loved it!

We drove home on Wednesday night and had the party with his friend on Thursday as originally planned. He got to swim with his friends, have another birthday cake and got a second ton of presents, plus a battery powered four wheeler from Grandma. By the time it was all said and done, Nicholas' little birthday had turned into a birthday extravaganza! The good thing about this is that I don't feel AT ALL guilty telling him NO when he begs me for a new toy every time we go to Target.

In honor of my little man's 3rd birthday, here are 3 things I adore about Nicholas:

1. The way he'll say "I missed you, mama" whenever I'm away and come back or if he hasn't seen me in awhile. Sometimes I'll go to get him up in the morning and he'll say it. I love it!!! I also love that when I say "I love you" to him, he'll reply with "I love you too."

2. He is such a ham. Nicholas loves attention. If he does something and get a laugh out of it, he'll keep doing it over and over. It's because of this that we get to hear "are you kidding me, mom/Bubba (Amanda)/etc."

3. His smile, and how his eyes light up when he smiles and laughs.

Grandpa Bradds

When I posted my last update (nearly a month ago again!), I had recommitted myself to updating my blog again on a somewhat regular basis. However, the very next day, we got the call we'd unfortunately been anticipating. Keith's grandfather was only given hours to live by hospice. Keith and I had been going back and forth on when we should go up to Ohio--should we see him before he died or go for the funeral? We really wanted to give grandpa the chance to meet Avery but we also really wanted to be there to support Keith's mom and honor grandpa at his funeral. I left the decision up to Keith. Up until the point when we got the phone call, Keith had thought that we'd just go up for his funeral. However, after talking to his mom that Saturday, Keith decided that he wanted to head up in the hopes that we'd get to see grandpa and say goodbye before he passed and still be there for the funeral.


So, my Saturday went from what I'd anticipated to be a relaxing day by the pool to a chaotic mess of organizing, packing, and driving. It is no easy task taking this show on the road, let me tell you! I think we left home around 7 pm and made it to Keith's mom's house a bit after 2 am. Even though a road trip is rough and barely getting any sleep is rougher (up early with the kids on Sat., finally got to sleep around 3:30am, and then up again for the day around 8am), this is far and away my prefered way to travel! I would so sacrifice my sleep for a QUIET car ride where the kids sleep. Oh, it is so worth it!!!!!


Much to our amazement, grandpa woke up on Sunday doing much better then anyone anticipated. We went to spend some time with him and introduce Avery. Grandpa couldn't talk but I believe he knew who we were. He really enjoyed Avery. He held her hand and spent a lot of time looking at her and touching her. It was really sweet. We were very glad that we made the decision to head up to Ohio when we did so that we were able to see grandpa a few more times.


Grandpa passed away on Tuesday, June 9, right before Nicholas' birthday party. When we were visiting him on Monday, Nicholas told grandpa that he wanted him to come to his party. We later joked that grandpa wanted to come to the party and this was the only way he'd be able to make it! As sad as it was to say goodbye, it was really what was best for grandpa. He's done suffering now and at home with the Lord!

4 Generations--The girls and Nicholas (he was only a few weeks old!) with Keith, Keith's mom and Grandma and Grandpa Bradds