Happy (early) Father's Day

Jason has a conference in Louisville, KY, the boys are going on vacation at Grandma and Grandpa's, and I am heading to help Bethany with the new baby for the next week. Since we are all going to be scattered around the midwest over Father's Day weekend, we went ahead and celebrated tonight.

First up, dinner. Brayden chose, and prepared, the meal- mini pizzas.
Next up, gifts for Daddy. He got new clothes, but was most excited about Guitar Hero Metallica- his favorite game, his favorite band- what a perfect combination!

Finally, after dinner the family enjoyed a cookie cake- Daddy's favorite!

Happy Father's Day 2009- From our family to yours.

Mother's Day 2009

For everything that can go "wrong" in life, there are 2 little people in my world that make everything right (and one "big" person...). These would be my 2 little miracles that give each and everyday so much meaning--- and what a wonderful way to celebrate them/me/us/our family, than to have a day fully devoted to being a Mother.

Brayden kept saying "this is the best Mother's Day EVER" all day today, and I would have to agree! Sure, the very first one a mom ever has is great, and there is something special about each one, but today, having my oldest "baby" old enough to understand, care, and be so passionate about it (while getting his baby brother on board), was really neat.

My day started with being given a present from Brayden, that he was so proud of. He made me a little bag with his hand prints on it. When I asked what the bag could be used for, he told me that he made it for me to use as a grocery bag, and "even though it's small, you can still use it... it can fit cheese, or something about that size". That boy cracks me up!!

He then announced that he had brought me breakfast in bed-even though I was already in the shower. What did he bring me, you ask?? Why, celery and dill dip, of course! What else would any mom want for a Mother's Day breakfast in bed (errrr, shower)?? Mmmmmm!

Then it was off to church- where Jason was in the nursery, and I had to teach children's chapel for the first time.

Here we are on our way to church:

Afterward, we headed to brunch at Flat Top Grill- one of my favorite restaurants (well, one of my favorite kid friendly, instant gratification, eating establishments anyway!).

This afternoon, Brayden and I made a trip to a local nursery and bought flowers to plant in the front yard. Upon coming home we weeded, trimmed, and planted together.

Once Rhylan woke up from his nap, we all 4 played together in the back yard, and then grilled out burgers for the boys to have for dinner.

The boys running in the back yard.

Playing on the swing set

The boys eating their burgers for dinner

....... And Rhylan being a Goofball

All in all a wonderful day. I can't imagine my life without these two perfect and precious little boys to call me "Mommy" (as annoyed as I may get hearing it being said incessantly some days!). This is what happiness is!!

Easter Day

The Atkisson Family Easter, much like we have made most holiday traditions, was very low key and relaxed.... just the way we like it. With a baby (ok, toddler) and nap schedules, we still need to be pretty flexible, so maybe "tradition" is a term that should be still used rather loosely- but we have certain things that we try to stick to, just what time of day they may fall tends vary a bit from year to year.... this too shall pass in the next couple of years.

Our morning started with a visit from the Easter Bunny, and the boys getting their baskets full of gifts and an egg hunt at home. Well, actually, the Bunny went a little overboard this year, and the gifts didn't actually fit in the baskets, so maybe I should be honest and admit that they got their couch full of gifts vs. their baskets... but that's beside the point, right?

We were kind of surprised at how much Rhylan understood about the whole thing this year. He actually looked for the eggs and put them in his basket, and would run looking for the next one while delightfully squealing "EGG, EGG". It was so cute.

Here are a couple of pictures of them hunting for eggs here at home, and a quick video of when they first come into the great room and saw what the Bunny had left for them.

Then it was off to church for us. After the service they had an Egg Hunt for the kids there as well, which was really cute. It was broken up by age group, to keep it a bit more fair. Hopefully I will have a few more pictures of Brayden from a friend to add here in a couple of days. I couldn't be two places at once, so I couldn't get a picture of him hunting :(.

Here is Rhylan with some of the other children under 3:

And here they are checking out their loot:

This afternoon, while Rhylan took his nap, Brayden and I had a play date with some good friends that it had been far too long since either of us had gotten together with. It was so nice to sit and relax with my "mommy friend" while our boys got to play together. A wonderful afternoon.

When we got home, we made our traditional Easter Breakfast (see I told you "traditions" have to be flexible, but they can still be traditions. LOL.) for dinner..... Easter Bunny Pancakes. As always, quite the hit.

Happy Easter 2009.

Halloween Portrait

Our little "monsters" all ready for Halloween 2008

Halloween.... it is finally over!

November is now here, and another year of Halloween festivities is just a memory.... until next year.

This past Tuesday, we met up with other members of my Mom's Group at another nursing home to have the children visit the residents. This was the first time that we had ever visited this home, and I think I will be arranging visits there again next year. (I organize the nursing home visits every year- it is just something that really means a lot to me.)

Here are 4 of our group's newest members getting ready to go on the Trick or Treat Parade.

Halloween Day Brayden had his class party at school, and wanted Rhylan (aka "Bubby") and me to join him. He decided to give the Fireman Costume a rest for that party, and instead dressed up as a Ghostbuster.

On our way home from his school, I had to stop at the store to pick up something- he was in luck, the grocery store was doing a "Monster Walk", so he was able to participate in that. Then we got home and got ready for trick or treating. We went with a couple of friends (and ran into a couple more!) to the recreation center and then to a local church.

It was a busy Halloween season, but Brayden really enjoyed it this year- and we had a lot of fun watching him having so much fun with all of the activities that he participated in.

I am not a fan of using this blog as a venue to draw attention to ailments or complaining. But, this is just too darn weird not to share!!

Our Halloween evening had actually not gone as planned, and we ended up at convenient care. When we went to get Brayden changed for the night, we noticed that he had HUGE welts on his legs. He had also had a reaction to a tattoo on his face (a picture of the tattoo can be seen in my post from the other day- the last picture, where he is with a couple of friends). It had started turning red around the tattoo, so I removed it with a little baby oil and a cotton ball a couple of days ago. The next day it was really red. The doctor noticed it when we were in for Rhylan's check up and said to keep an eye on it and come back in if it got any more red, inflammed, or any fever. Well, it was more red when I picked him up from school yesterday. So, we went to convenient care to play it safe before he was around anymore kids during trick or treating- and they really had no answers for us, other than he "probably" was allergic to some unknown thing, and again, if it gets worse to come back to the doctor.

This morning the welts were larger, and all over his body, his face looked worse, and he was running a low grade fever.... so, back we went. The doctor that we saw today was absolutely stumped! He called him a "dermatological mess". He is thinking that the welts are possibly severe hives, and the face is (as I suspect) a reaction to the tattoo, that he equated to a severe 2nd degree burn, that has become infected. It is weird though, because where the tattoo actually was is fine, it is the area around it that is affected- it looks like a rug burn, and then redness around that. (In the clear spot, you can clearly see the outline of the pumpkin shape that had been there- weird!) He isn't sure if the welts and the face are connected to one another, and doesn't know why they would be, but at the same time has no answers for them individually either. He prescribed a couple of different things, and we are keeping our fingers crossed that they work, and that Brayden is more comfortable soon. Poor little guy- Leave it to our family to have some crazy ailment that can't be figured out!

Halloween Festivities.... so far

We have only made it to October 28th, and already have had several Halloween festivities. The fun all started last week at the annual Halloween Party hosted by the Mom's group I am in. The kids all dressed up and played in a big, open gym that our group rents out. Everyone looked so cute. After lunch, some of us went to lunch at Brayden's favorite restaurant (aka- "Chinese Noodle Restaurant). I am sure you can imagine the expressions on several faces in the place when 5 moms came walking in with 6 children 4 and under AND 5 infants in car seats!! The "big kids" got to sit at their own table, and were very well behaved.

Last Friday, our Mom's group took the kiddos trick or treating at the county nursing home. This is an event that I coordinate every year- the joy that it brings to the residents just really touches my heart!

Then that night, Brayden's school had a Halloween Party with games and dinner. I got some good action shots of him playing some games, but my camera died, so I had to use my phone, so the quality isn't the greatest. He did a great job at all of the games, but the bean bag toss (like the Grand Prize Game from Bozo Show) he did really well. The teachers were all commenting on how impressed they were, and had him do it several times to show fellow teachers. He got the bean bag in the sequential bowls every time on the first toss!

Saturday night we went to the Planetarium with some friends. The kids loved it!! After the show, we all went out to dinner, and then back to their house for a little while. Brayden spent the night there, and had a blast. They had actually set up a tent in the family room for the kids to sleep in!!

As you can see, we have certainly been keeping busy. Jason has been out of town for work quite a bit lately, which only adds to the chaos (he is in New Hampshire as I type this!). Brayden is getting quite excited for the actual Halloween day to come- although I don't know how he will know the difference!! We still have trick or treating at another nursing home and his class party, then Halloween night. He hasn't decided yet if he wants to go door to door, or to an inside trick or treating party at the recreation center in a neighboring town.

Today Rhylan is 4 months old! I can't believe how quickly time has flown (why couldn't 4 months have passed so quickly during my pregnancy?!?!). He goes to the doctor tomorrow for his well baby check- I am quite curious to see what he weighs/measures in at!

Some Big Shoes to Fill

Jason is off at a baseball tournament again today, and Brayden and I were trying to think of things we could do for Father's Day for him when he gets home tonight. (Getting a gift is rather difficult since I am not allowed to drive since my OB still has me considered a risk of losing consciousness.)

So, I asked Brayden if he wanted to make something for Daddy, and he said "No, I want to dress like Daddy". I just laughed at him, but he was a persistent little bugger that he wanted to dress in Daddy's clothes and take a picture to give to him. Here is the result of our efforts:

Happy (Late) Birthday to Me!

My birthday present got delivered today!! After 6 weeks of being on order, I am so happy to have my new La Z Boy rocker/recliner! I know it doesn't seem like a big deal, but I can't even tell you how much I have had wanted one or for how long, and Jason decided to get it for my birthday/anniversary. This is going to be the perfect addition to our home for our upcoming sleepless nights, nursing, etc. It is so comfortable, I haven't gotten out of it all night. I think the genuine smile on my face shows how happy and excited I am.

Yeah, ignore the wires and various devices attached to me- it is just the heart monitor and my Zofran Pump. I come as a whole package deal these days :)!

Our Easter

We had a low key Easter this year. Our friend, Rob, had his son, Austin, visiting for the weekend, so we shared the holiday with them. Brayden and Austin get along so well and love spending time together, so it worked out well. On Saturday the boys decorated eggs together.
Brayden spent the night at Austin's on Saturday night. While the boys were there, the "Easter Bunny" visited our house to hide all of the eggs that they had decorated, and leave them each a basket of goodies. They both really enjoyed their baskets- Brayden especially loved the fact that the Easter Bunny must have known how much he has been wanting the Jack's Big Music Show CD. He was so excited to see it in his basket! He also got a 2 CD set of Disney's Greatest Hits, 2 computer games (Dora and Finding Nemo), Play Doh, Bubbles, and of course candy!

After all of the eggs had been found, the boys enjoyed breakfast of Easter Bunny Pancakes. Mommy enjoyed the fact that they LOVED them, and she was able to make them the night before and just reheat them! (Also the fact that pancakes don't make any smells in the kitchen since I am still having a rough time with the HG!)

After breakfast we went to church for Easter Mass, of course. After the service they had an appetizer buffet. What started out with him wanting a muffin, resulted in Brayden finding out that Brie is his new favorite cheese. It was so funny to see this 3 year old, sipping on punch, and requesting "More Brie with crackers and grapes please".

Hope everyone had an enjoyable Easter this year!