A Scary World

I'm sure you're all aware of this, but we live in a scary world. I read today in the news about a woman who was randomly beaten by a group of 16 and 17 year old girls. The woman was mentally disabled and was sitting outside on her stoop when the attack happened. My first thought when I read it was what is wrong with those girls?? Why is there so much violence and hatred and anger in our world today? What in the world made them believe it was ok to attack an innocent person just for the fun of it? I honestly believe it's because we live in a world where a lot of people don't know God and choose not to live their lives devoted to him. People have no morals or conscious.

It hurts my heart more than I can even put into words. It makes me want to cling to the Holy Spirit like I've never done before. It makes me wonder how much longer our world can live like this. It makes me worry for my sweet precious child who will grow up in it. It makes me want to be the best parent I can be, one who teaches and talks about God with him on a daily basis, one who teaches him what it means to be kind and to value other people. It makes me want to live my life as an example to him of how to love God wholeheartedly and how to be kind.

He is such a sweet child. If I hurt myself and say ow, he says "I'm sorry Mommy". If Bentley gets hurt, he says "You okay Bent?". I hope he keeps that compassionate spirit and continues to sympathize with people when they are hurting. It's all I can hope and pray for in this scary world.

Bentley Turns 1 & a Football Game

This weekend was fabulous! Friday night we took Brayden to the high school football game. He loved it of course! His favorite part was the band. He seriously sat in a trance barely even blinking for the entire half-time show. He also enjoyed the football game part. He didn't care that we got slaughtered. :) We didn't stay very long, but we'll probably be going back.

Saturday was Bentley's birthday. We went and got her a birthday gift and then went to hang out at Brooke's until party time. The party was so much fun. It was just family (which was a lot of people!) and they grilled burgers and had cake and ice cream. Brayden rode 4-wheelers and visited the chickens and horses.

Here is a self-portrait of me and the birthday girl:

 Brayden also took our picture because he's obsessed with using the camera:

One of just the birthday girl (she did put on clothes for her party):

Here's her party setup:

Now, this kid loves to eat! I don't know of anything she'd turn her nose up at. So I knew she would go to town on her cake & she didn't prove me wrong:

I love this baby girl so much. I hope she grows up to love me as much as I love her! :)

I'm Back!

I've decided to start blogging again! I'm not really sure why I stopped. I think it's because I let alot of time pass where I didn't blog and then I was like it's been too long now, why even start back? I also have a tendency to feel like my blog is so plain and insignificant compared to the other blogs I read where they have cute backgrounds and giveaways and do fun crafts with their kids and make great recipes. I'm not sure who would want to read my blog when they have those better ones to choose from. However, one night I stumbled back upon my blog and I started to read it . . . and I started to laugh and I cried and I remembered how precious my sweet boy was when he was that little. Then I realized, what does it matter if no one reads my blog or thinks it's cute or thinks I'm supermom because I was doing this blog for me and my family to look back on and remember. I didn't start the blog to impress anyone or prove that I am a great mom. I just started it to document our lives. When Brayden is 5, I want to be able to look back and remember all the funny, sweet, special things he did when he was 2. So, that's what inspired me to resume blogging and hopefully I can keep it up this time.

Soooo, where to start?! The last time I blogged was in August of 2011 and Brayden had just started walking. Now he's talking without ceasing, running at full speed all the time, and going to preschool 3 days a week. I'll spare you a recap of the past year. :) I'll just get you up to speed on what we've been doing lately. This summer we went to the beach with my family and had a blast. Brayden loves my mom and sister. So much so that when we're all together he always chooses my mom over me. Which means that when we go on vacation with her, I don't get to spend much time with him. He had a blast!

 Then last weekend, Tyler, Brayden, and I went to the beach with his brother and sister-in-law, Aaron and Jessica. I loved it! Brayden and I were together by ourselves for alot of the time and I enjoyed it so much. It's also such a great time of year to go to the beach because there are no crowds!

As for our daily lives, Brayden started preschool a couple of weeks ago and he goes three mornings a week. Here's his first day:

Then he stays with Brooke those 3 afternoons and the other 2 days of the week and loves it! He also is talking so well. Sometimes we wish he wasn't talking so well because he literally never stops! He does make us laugh alot with all the hilarious things he says.

 

My sweet niece Bentley turns 1 this Saturday!! How crazy is that?! The last time I blogged she wasn't even born yet! I never knew you could love another child as much as you love your own, but I love her so much.

 

I learned how to crochet last winter and I made several family members scarves for Christmas. I'm also finishing up a blanket for Bentley for her birthday so I'll post a picture when I'm done with it. I'm ready to start it back up because it's really fun to start with a simple skein of yarn and finish with something beautiful.

 

Everything else is going great and we are beyond blessed!