The Hales Come for a Visit!

Kenden showing Talan how to use the VERY SLOW 4 Wheeler!


On Saturday, our good friends from Mechanicsville, Virginia, Justin, Jenny and Talan Hale came for a visit! Justin and Jeff grew up together and Justin was even in our wedding many moons ago, and it was so nice to get to see them and catch up. Talan is only 6 months younger than Kenden and they had a ball playing together outside in the heat! It was so humid and hot here on Saturday, but both boys were determined to stay outside and make us adults suffer and sweat! We took them to the park after naptime and the highlight of Talan's day was getting to ride in a different car, while the highlight of Kenden's day was not riding in a carseat on the way there (Oh, don't get your panties in a bunch, the park is right around the corner, 30 seconds away from our house)....Kenden thought he was so cool riding in the 3rd row with mommy! Talan said, "Dat was FUN!"

That night, our sitter Brianna came over and the 4 of us went to a wonderful dinner at my favorite place, One Fish, Two Fish! YUM-O!

Thanks so much for a fun visit Justin, Jenny and Talan and we hope to see you all here again really soon!

"Kenden-isms"

Conversation in the car tonight on the way home from the gym...
Kenden: "Mommy?"
Me: "Yes Kenden?"
K: "Mommy, will you pese drive fast!?"
Me: "I can't drive any faster Kenden; the policeman will give mommy a ticket."
K: "Where's da po-ese man mommy?"

Conversation AFTER Kenden got in trouble in the car upon arriving home from the gym...
K: "Don't pop my hand!!" (while crying)
Me: "Don't kick at me when I am trying to get you out of the car."
K: (to his blankie) "Blankie, I'm sorry, but I'm MAD!"

Conversation after bath tonight...
K: "Mommy, what's your first name?"
Me: "You tell me, what is my first name?"
K: "Am-mer"
Me: "Right!"
K: "What's Grammie's first name?"
Me: "Do you remember what it is?"
K: "Pam!"
Me: "Right! What about Papa?"
K: (thinking hard, but not able to come up with anything) "Papa's lazy and Grammie's crazy!" (His father taught him that!)

Happy 8th Anniversary Amber and Jeff!

Hard to believe 8 years have passed since Jeff and I got married (and we've been together for 11 years total!), but here we are on our 8th anniversary. I jokingly tell Jeff all the time that I am the only thing he hasn't traded in for a new model! It has been a great 8 years and I am looking forward to many more for sure!

Happy Memorial Day 2008! A Day at the Beach...

Playing With Mommy in the Sand....


...And in the Water!

Boy, this Stuff is COLD!!

Your Turn to get in that COLD Water Dada!

You know, I have to say that today was one of those days that I couldn't help but think to myself that life couldn't get any better. Aside from the fact that we were blessed with this beautiful weather and we live 10 minutes from the beach, we were also blessed to be born American~blessed to be free and to be protected by troops who fight daily for our freedom to live the way we do! A special shout-out and thank you to our Troops, state-side and abroad...

Jeff and I decided to take Kenden to the beach for the first time this summer, and boy, we couldn't have asked for a better day. Sunny, breezy, and about 83 degrees. AND, Kenden LOVED the beach for the first time ever. The first 2 summers were torture taking him the beach. He was really too little the first summer (8-9 months) and whined the whole time, then last summer, he whined the whole time because he HATED the sand. This year, totally different story...he didn't want to leave! It was great. He and I sat in the sand, dug holes, made sandcastles (that Kenden liked to crush) and we even played in the super COLD water! Jeff let Kenden get pummeled a few times, but Kenden took it in stride, getting a sip of juice to wash away the nasty saltwater taste, and a wipe off of the face, and he was back at it again! When we got home, he said, "Mommy, I had so much fun at da beach!" I have to say, I agree!

Happy Birthday Dear Daddy, Kelly, and Sammy! Dinner with the Jennings!

"Uh, Kenden, do you think you could hook me up with some of those Goldfish?"

See, Kaz doubles as a good place to sit and eat...

A Boy and His Dog...

ATTACK of the Large, Slobbery Dogs!!

Sunday evening, the Jennings joined us for dinner and birthday cake to celebrate Kelly and Sam's birthdays (in May) and Jeff's birthday (coming up in the next week, June 4th). I have to say that this was probably the most successful dinner we've all had, where we ALL got to sit down at the table TOGETHER and eat, rather than 2 adults at a time, while the other 2 adults watched the kids!! It was a great time. The boys had a blast playing outside in the backyard with the dogs, rocks, and other "boy" stuff, while we adults got to talk, cook the dinner, and eat shrimp! Jeff and I were most amazed at our "fraidy-dog" Kaz, who was not afraid at all! He ran around, played with the boys, and didn't seem fazed at all that Kelly and Sam were in the backyard. I guess his anti-anxiety meds are working! Yes, he really is on meds...long story. Anyway, Kelly, Sam and Blake, thanks for a great time, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you both!

The Jennings, Kelly, Sam, and "Baby" Blake (that is what Kenden calls Blake, even though Blake isn't really a "baby" anymore!)

Mommy, Daddy and Kenden

Kelly with Blake!

Mommy and Kenden!

Happy 3rd Birthday Lucas!

Going Down the Swirly Slide at the Park!

Watching Lucas Open his Presents!




What a busy weekend we had this Memorial Day weekend! On Saturday, Jeff and I took Kenden to the Virginia Aquarium in the morning. Then on Sunday at 11, Kenden and I went to our friend Lucas Gordon's 3rd Birthday Party at City View Park! It was a gorgeous day, perfect outside party weather, and Kenden had a ball playing at the park, singing the birthday song to Lucas, eating icing off Lucas's Curious George cake, and watching Lucas open his presents. I was amazed to see Kenden scoot right up to Lucas, and just watch him open each present. He never tried to help, just watched, but he totally enjoyed looking at everything Lucas received. So hard to believe that Lucas is 3 now! Happy 3rd Birthday Lucas and we wish you many more to come!

If You're Happy and You Know It....

Today, Kenden was in his bed for naptime but was still not asleep yet. He has a habit of getting in bed for nap, then taking a poo and not being able to fall asleep (who would!?). After 30 minutes of being in there and not sleeping, I decided to go in and check on him. As I came down the hall, I could hear that he was singing and clapping his hands. When I walked in, he was singing "When you're happy and you know it clap you hands!" It was so sweet. I started to sing with him, and he said, "Do da 'HOORAY' part mama!" So we did If You're Happy and You Know it Shout HOORAY! I just love that kid...so adorable....

Happy Mother's Day!

Here's to all the moms out there on their special day! A very special thanks to my mom for all the mess I put her through...she managed not to kill me in my younger years and I am sure she is LOVING it now that my own son is "handing it to me" on a daily basis! And a super special thanks to my Gran, who raised such a great gal, AKA my mom!! And another super, duper special thanks to my hubby, because without him, I would not have my wonderful son, whom I have the distinct pleasure of being a mom to! Kenden, I love you "to the moon and back"...you have made me a better person (although I know I have my days) and I love being your mom. You are a gift in every sense of the word, a blessing...

We Will Always Love You, CLB....

What a whirlwind this past week has been...I feel as if I have written about it so much this week, since I was updating all our wonderful friends and family via email about the condition of my sister-in-law Carrie and her little, sweet baby, Connor. Just as a recap, in the course of a week, Carrie found out her AFP levels in her blood were positive Tuesday (called the Quad-Screening Test), the baby was diagnosed with Spina Bifida (and we found out he was a HE) on Friday May 2nd, 3 days after that, she got an amniocentesis and confirmation that the baby's condition was worsening on Monday May 5th, and baby Connor went to Heaven on this past Friday May 9th. To read more about all the events, please read my sister-in-law's blog, which you can get to from the link on this page, Baby Breeden, Kenden's Cousin-to-Be.

I just want to let Tim and Carrie know that we love them and will support them unconditionally through this tough and trying time. I want to thank our wonderful friends and family for the love, prayers and support they've given all of us. And lastly, I want to tell my sweet nephew Connor Liam Breeden, how loved he is, even though he is in Heaven. I know he is free now, truly free of all that would have ailed him. My mind's eye will always have a vision of an adorable, curly blonde haired boy, running on legs that work, playing with Kenden....I will miss not seeing that in THIS life, but I know another life awaits us after this one here on Earth. So, Connor Liam, we will always love you....you have touched so many, and may we learn from this, from you, to accept others who are "different" and be compassionate and more loving, and to live life with gusto and no regrets....

Bittersweet News for My Brother and his Wife...

I will make this very brief, as most of you have been contacted in some way, shape, or form regarding the outcome of the further testing my sister in law Carrie had to undergo yesterday. The ultrasound that was done showed that their baby does have Spina Bifida starting at the sacrum (very low on the spine above the tailbone) and goes up 5 vertebrae. I could go into a lot more detail, but quite honestly, I am emotionally exhausted and it really doesn't matter (the further detail)...we just need prayer and lots of it. The good news is that they did see the baby moving and that the baby is a little boy.

All I can ask is that you continue to keep Tim, Carrie, Baby Boy Breeden, and all the rest of the Breeden/Sneed (Carrie's family) in your prayers. Tim and Carrie have a long road ahead of them with further testing and then having to make decisions from there...please feel free to visit the blog Carrie is keeping by either clicking the link on my blog (Kenden's cousin to be) or going to www.babybreeden.blogspot.com and you can leave them messages or just stay updated on everything that is happening. Thank you to those of you who've been in touch with me in some form or another to express your well wishes and concern. Love you all...

Disney Dreams Spring Program at The Goddard School! Kenden's First School Performance!

"Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, it's home from work we go!"




Trying to keep his hat on his head! It was VERY windy today!

Today was the annual Spring Program at Goddard called Disney Dreams. Each class at Goddard, from the babies on up, had a production number where they got to sing a song from a Disney Movie. "Cute" is not a strong enough word to describe the kids' performances! They all did a wonderful job singing and dancing. Jeff and I could not stop laughing. Kenden's class sang "Heigh-Ho" from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and Kenden was a dwarf, complete with hat. It was SO windy today and he worked very hard to keep his hat on his head!

Cheetos for Breakfast??!!

Anyone who knows Kenden, knows what a picky eater he is. He won't eat any of the following items: pizza, bread, french fries, eggs, any veggie...and the list goes on. But what he does love is salty food that is crunchy and one of his favorites is Baked Cheetos and this stuff called Pirate's Booty, which is sort of like a baked cheeto...he calls these "arrrr's" because that is what a Pirate says, "Arrrrr"! Every morning, without fail, the child will ask me for some "arrr's" for breakfast, and every morning, I have to tell him, "Honey, we don't eat 'arr's' for breakfast!" I then proceed to list what he CAN have....

Which brings me to today...we went to My Gym for his little class, and we always start off sitting in a circle and each child says his or her name. Today, they were asked to tell their names and their favorite breakfast food. Kenden was the last to go and he sat quietly, listening to each child say their name and food, which were NORMAL breakfast foods. Then his turn came, and he announced, "My name is Kenden and I like CHEETOS"!! I could have died...all the other moms gasped and a few were laughing and said, "well your secret is out!" and I was laughing and saying, "I do NOT feed this child cheetos for breakfast"! It was hysterical!! I guess all the moms think I feed him cheetos for breakfast...I know Kenden wishes I would.....