Brayden Turns 6...

Happy Birthday to our Brayden Bear!

At 12:05 p.m., 6 years ago on October 9, 2007, our baby boy was born. What a miracle!

 

20 Questions for Brayden @ 6

1. What is your favorite color? Blue

2. What is your favorite toy? Lego

3. What is your favorite fruit? Banana

4. What is your favorite TV show? Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

5. What is your favorite movie? The Amazing Spider-Man

6. What is your favorite thing to wear? Spider-Man shirt

7. What is your favorite animal? Giraffe

8. What is your favorite song? Spider-Man Theme Song (old one)

9. What is your favorite book? Spider-Man versus Electro 

(I am seeing a theme here.)

10. Who is your best friends? Johnny, Levi, Sammy and Sophie 

11. What is your favorite snack? Fruit Snack

12. What is your favorite drink? Capri Sun Juice

13. What is your favorite breakfast? Cereal

14. What is your favorite lunch? Cheese sandwich

15. What is your favorite dinner? Mini Hot dogs and Pizza

16. What is your favorite game? Nintendo DS Mario Kart

17. What is your favorite thing to play outside? Frisbee

18. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas

19. What do you sleep with at night? Spider-Man, Fastball and Snoopy

20. What do you want to be when you grow up? Construction Worker

On Brayden's actual birthday he had school and took pudding cups to celebrate with his classmates. For dinner he chose to go to McDonald's. He got to open a gift from Daddy & Mommy (Nintendo DS game) and from PaPa, MeMe, Uncle Mitch, Aunt Michelle, Grace and Claire.

Spider-Man Lego and iTunes gift from Prather family.

We celebrated Brayden's birthday with 4 of his friends and their families for a Lego birthday party...

Buddies - Sammy, Brayden, Levi, Jacob and Nathan

I made the Lego cake with marshmallow fondant Lego bricks.

Lots of activity going on.

 Once all the guests arrived we went outside for a relay race and to play.

I even got a couple of Dad's in on the relay.

Samantha and Evie

We ate pizza, a favorite of Brayden's, for lunch and then he was ready to open gifts.

Spider-Man tent and sleeping bag from Uncle Todd, Sam and Evie

One of Brayden's best buddies, Uncle Todd.

Adventure Bible from Daddy & Mommy

Mine Craft Lego set from FaFa & Grandma

Mickey Pook-A-Loz from Uncle John, Aunt Susie, Sammy & Stephen

Sarah, got him Angry Bird telepods.

After gifts it was "Pinata Time". Brayden had told me a couple of weeks before his birthday that he wanted a pinata at his party. I couldn't find a Lego pinata, so a pin from Pinterest helped me to make one from scratch. Pinterest helped with a lot of the ideas for the party. Thank you Pinterest friends.

Of course we finished with singing Happy Birthday to our boy.

Last but not least in our family, letting the balloons go from the party.

Another birthday celebrated for our Brayden Bear.

Brayden - This & That

Our Brayden Bear is not a fan of getting his picture taken, so it is amazing to me how many more pictures of I have of him then Sarah. If I do get Brayden to let me take his picture, I have to get it on the first try. This kid is to busy to sit and look handsome.

Having a 5 year old boy is fun and challenging all at the same time. One minute I am reminding him of what he should or shouldn't be doing and the next minute I am laughing at him because of the funny things he does and says.

For example, the other day he asked me this question...
Brayden - Did they roast marshmallows in the bible?
Mommy  - Hmmmmmm? Nope, don't remember reading about marshmallows in the bible, but the burning bush would have been a perfect place if they did.

Last night praying...
Mommy - Let's thank God tonight for loving us so much.
Brayden - Dear God, thank you for loving me so much and thank you that I get to buy french toast sticks for lunch tomorrow. Amen.

Ahhh, that's my boy. :)

Having fun with cousin Sammy.

We are going to have to watch this kid on the golf course with that swing.

Daddy took Brayden to the driving range.

Cousin Daisy, truly this boy's best friend.

Ready to fly with Delta. Maybe a pilot someday.

Playing with PaPa.

Loving gently on kitty LuLu (Todd & Samantha's cat)

Brayden is proving to have some dance moves that we know did not come from his father. On more than one occasion this boy has been showing off his moves. On this day we were at his twin friends birthday party. He broke out some robot, break dancing and ninja moves to the music. I was cracking up, but impressed by my boy's moves.

Sarah - This & That...

I can't believe that September has come and gone. It has been a good month settling into the routine of school although I told Jason the other night I miss summer. In summer you don't have to make school lunches each night and get the kids to bed on time so that they are back up early the next morning for another day of learning. Jason comforted me by telling me I only had 9 more months of this routine until summer comes around again. Thanks honey for the encouragement. Sarah and Brayden aren't complaining at all, so that is good. I guess I am still adjusting to it all, not complaining, just adjusting.

Here are some pictures of our beautiful girl, Sarah, from July, August and September that didn't make it in to any of my other posts. They show off how pretty she is and how funny she can be.

BFFs - Cayla & Sarah

BFFs again serving at Bethany's Family Fun Fest in Parsippany

Sarah is a coaster girl. She is in the front ready to ride El Toro at Six Flags.

Goofing off with Cayla, Emma and Cara.

What do I say about this? 

Sarah & Brayden love seeing their friends at our Washington Township campus.

Chocolate Zucchini Bread in the mail from MeMe. Best Day Ever!!!

Sarah has a big weekend coming up with our youth going on Fall Retreat Friday night, all day Saturday and Sunday. To say she is excited doesn't even begin to describe how she feels about this weekend. It is a huge highlight for her. The Jr. & Sr. High both get away together as a group, play games, hang out, get to know some kids that maybe they didn't before, and most importantly spend time growing in their relationship with the Lord. I can't wait to see how the weekend impacts her life and the rest of the kids in our youth.

A Quiet Day...

Last Friday I was in need of a day away from the distractions of home just to sit quietly. My girlfriend Melissa is always up for those kinds of days, especially when it means at the beach. 

After I got the kids off to school we headed to Seven Presidents Beach, just about an hour and twenty minutes away.  It was a gorgeous day, not to hot and not to cold with a nice breeze. I loved being able to share the day with my girlfriend.

Our spot. Nice and quiet.