Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

He Picks Up Like a Pro!

I asked Judson, "Are you picking up?" "No, Mama."

It was time to pick up. It was VERY quiet.

This is the mess to be cleaned up....

This is why it was so quiet.

49 Days Until Christmas!

I wanted to have all my Christmas shopping done early this year....But I didn't plan early enough to have the money saved up. Next year, right? Well, that still leaves this year. I needed everything to be done before December. The whole month is ALWAYS crazy! With Christmas parties and exciting visitors and baking and all the fun stuff that comes with Christmas, well, I want to be able to enjoy it and have a clean house all at the same time. So I have to have my shopping done. I hate trying to think of things to get everyone for christmas. I do not want to spend money on stuff no one wants. I do not want to buy toys that will be discarded in 20 minutes...What's the solution?



My sister and I decided to do things differently this year....Instead I am going to MAKE all of our Christmas presents...

It's gonna be a HOMEMADE CHRISTMAS! I think it will be tons of fun! Not only will it be cheaper but while we are making the gifts we will have time to think about and pray for the loved ones we are creating for. It may be a total disaster and it may never happen again but I have already bought all the material and have tons of ideas so I am committed for this year!



I would share my ideas with you but pretty much the only people that read this are the very ones we are making things for so maybe after Christmas I will put up some pictures.



But how about you all? Anyone doing things differently this year? What are some of your favorite frugal homemade gifts? If you are considering doing this let me recommend a blog to you: Sew Mama Sew. Yes it's a sewing blog but they have some really great ideas if you like sewing and even if you don't they might get your creative juices going!

Happy November, all!

Blog Exclusive!

These pictures have never been seen anywhere before! This is just for you blogger buddies. Here we have a pretty stinkin' cute spider...Thanks Aunt Angie!
The friendly 'girl' dragon....$6 at a consignment sale!

The whole crew! Little Red Riding hood,(I made the red hood and apron), dragon, spider, and Buzzy Bee, (consignment sale $4!)

Ok, so they aren't the best pictures ever......but no one else has seen them!

I don't think there is anyway I could catch you all up on everything that has happened in the past 2 months of my hiatus. I missed posting FaithLyn's birthday....It was such a busy weekend I didn't even take pictures...NOT ONE!

The older girls are taking gymnastics. They love it. It's tons of fun to watch.

Judson is talking up a storm now.....Of course I am just about the only one who can understand him, but it's a start! He is also partially potty training....I say partially because he refuses to poop in the potty. He's got the peepee down...well actually I have it down, because I take him every two hours and he pees.....But until he poops in the potty I am not even trying underwear...it's just not worth the trouble to me. I would have never started this early if it was up to me, but we spent one whole morning trying on underwear that he found from cousin Luke and then he didn't want to put on his diaper....So we compromised and he has been wearing pull-ups. Of course there were a few other signs that he might be getting ready but I WAS NOT READY!!!

Olivia is getting really close to being ready to start learning to read! She is super ready.

Anyone Out there?

I am trying to get motivated to blog again. I have lots of pictures and stories to share...maybe this new look will get me going. NO promises, though!

Happy Birthday, MIMI!!

Well Mimi, We haven't been very good at keeping this updated for you. I didn't even get it done for your birthday on Tuesday. But I hope you know that doesn't mean we love you any less. We just aren't that punctual these days. Here are all those pictures you have been waiting on so patiently! We love you and are so thankful for you! Olivia wanted to GO and tell you Happy Birthday in person. I was all for it but school has started and there is nothing to be done about it! You will have to settle for our phone calls and pictures on the web. We love you! I'd say she is fully a transplanted Texas girl now.

She loved that lunchbox, but I got word this morning that it exploded and broke....good thing I only spent $2.50 on it!

This was Elise's meet the teacher day. She was pretty pumped!

This picture makes my heart swell!

Here is Elise's desk. She is "boy trapped." There are boys sitting on either side of her.

This was FL's 2nd day of school and E's first 1/2 day! Very exciting!

Such a big girl. I went inside and had myself a good cry.

Yesterday was Olivia's first day of Preschool. She goes MWF- 1/2 day.

She made sure she wore her boots for her first day, too. She also asked to take an apple to her teacher....unfortunately we forgot as we were walking out the door.

A big girl just like her sisters.

Judson doesn't realize yet what this means for him.

She barely had time for this picture. There were friends to be made and puzzles to put together!

I asked Judson if he liked his time with just Mommy. He does. I pulled him around the block in the wagon and then we went to the little park at the corner of our block and played on the swings and slide. Then we came home and did the dishes and just cuddled some. When I asked him if he missed his sisters he let me know he was doing just fine with out them! I am enjoying our time together. But he HAS had several time-outs. I guess there is a down side to getting all of Mommy's attention!

Big Boy 2 yr. old!

It's so hard to believe my little man is no longer a baby! This little guy brings so much laughter and fun to our family. His little face speaks more loudly than any words! You can always tell how he is feeling or what he is thinking by his face. It is so expressive. That is probably part of the reason he is holding back on actual words. He doesn't need them!

Since Olivia had pancakes for breakfast Judson wanted them too!
Poor guy. His birthday fell right in the middle of VBS. I figured this is the last year I can get away with out doing something special for the cake..... He got the hang of blowing out the candles by lunch time! He did it all by himself.

He liked it even though it wasn't shaped like anything!

Opening gifts.

He liked them.

Off to do some work with his new tool box.


This little man is a testimony to the faithfulness of God in our family. Months before we knew he was on his way, the girls prayed for a baby brother. They prayed faithfully, with great assurance. Our Father did not disappoint. He has so many ladies taking care of him. He is charmer too! He has two settings: Happy-Not Happy. He did, of course, inherit the Bragdon Stare. They all got that. I can't imagine our family without him. This school year, with Olivia starting preschool, Judson will get some good one-on-one time with his Mama. I haven't taken the time to read with him like I did the others and I am so excited to make up some lost time. And since we have a rule that once you start Preschool you don't have to take a nap, Olivia will get some good time with Mama in the afternoons. Next year it will just me and Judson....

Good grief. Raising a little boy to love and fear the Lord seems like a HUGE task. I don't have the slightest clue where to even begin. This little guy has a wonderful sense of adventure. The girls love having another man around the house. Judson has become the resident bug picker-upper. He loves to help. He helps me unload the dishwasher. I pray that his loving, helpful spirit will go with him always. It is my hope and faithful prayer that he will love others above himself and always go out of his way to help those in need. I also pray that God will grant us the wisdom and grace to help him reach his marriage day with a purity that seems almost impossible for men to accomplish in this sex-saturated world.

Father, I place Him in your ultimate care. Reach his heart and grow him in your love and understanding. Give him a thirst for your truth and a wisdom to seek you! Thank you for giving me enough room in my heart and home for this precious work of Your hands!

Our Big 4 yr. Old OLIVIA!

I figured I had better get these pictures up before Judson's Birthday tomorrow.

It is hard to believe that our little ball of fire is 4. She will be starting Preschool this fall with Mrs. Cathy. It doesn't seem right. Three mornings a week I will home with only one child! I knew that this was coming but I am just not ready for it!

Olivia asked for pancakes for breakfast.

She asked for a castle cake. That was the best I could do. Thankfully, she was satisfied.

For her special Birthday Lunch she picked corn dogs, french fries, and pink Lemonade.

We had a little party game. Olivia won.

We had some cake.



And Olivia tried out her present. In our house if you get outside toys you get to ride them inside on your birthday, but only the birthday girl or boy!

This child has caused us great concern from the moment she came into this world! She has fought us tooth and nail to be in charge. She has brought more joy and laughter into our house, not to mention questions, than I thought possible.

She wins the hearts of who ever she is with. Her personality and sweet, deceptively innocent, smile has taken more than one heart captive. She is full of life and love for others. She isn't afraid to tell you what she thinks and she is the loudest child I know!

I love this girl more than any words can express. She goes to sleep loud and wakes up loud. You can not ever forget she is around! She does everything at breakneck speed and only slows down if she is made to- And usually to observe the wreckage she has left in her wake!

She is so eager to learn and help. She is tons of fun and has one of the best belly laughs around! I find it a great honor to call myself Olivia's Mom. We soak up all the drama we can from every situation possible. We get each other. I love her so much and am looking forward to seeing how God grows her this year. I am thankful for her outgoing personality, her courage, and her love for others.

Thank you, Lord that Miss Olivia is in our care. Help us to love her with Your love and teacher her to others in the same way.

For Aunt Angie

Here are some picks from our trip to Nana and Papa's

Can you see that Papa let Judson drive! He LOVED it!

So did Olivia!

We got lots of good time with Memaw Crabb!

We like to refer to this little hike as the Bragdon Death March. We are carrying on a grand tradition. It used to be called the Clark Death March. Good Times. This beautiful shady path is how it started out.This is how it ended up. There were a few leeches involved too. And we were all quite possibly closer to heat stroke than this Momma likes to admit. But look there....I did admit it. And on the internet where anyone who want to can see it. That little rock was the only shade to be had.

This is the only picture of Youth Camp I will be posting. Most of you don't know the kids in our Youth group and they don't read my blog so I will spare you. We had a WONDERFUL time. This right before we left to come home. Only the third time I put on make-up that week.

So many things I SHOULD be doing.....but in the true spirit of procrastination:

Here are Elise's Preschool Graduation pictures.

Mrs. Cathy and EliseSuch a big girl!

She loves her Daddy!

Proud of our Sister!

Here are all the table mates!

We leave for our family vacation tomorrow! Tomorrow also happens to be Cow Appreciation day at Chick-fil-A! We spent a good part of today making our outfits. If you dress like a cow you get a free combo. If you make an effort you get a free entree. Tomorrow we might happen to drive past one on our way to our vacation destination right about lunch time. We might even find one around dinner time, too! But we haven't mapped it out or anything!

Now I guess we better get our packing done! Happy July! Try to stay cool. I said TRY!

Life is Movin' Along

I have been terribly remiss in my blog posting. But that's life. I am trying hard to be faithful to the job the Lord has given me. The computer can be a terrible distraction in my line of work as Wife and Mom.

But I have lots of pictures to upload.

-We had Elise's Pre-K graduation.
-Youth Camp- SO FUN!
-Some backyard pool time!

Maybe I will actually get those pictures uploaded soon, but maybe not.

I have to make sure I am living life instead of worrying about recording it all. I would much rather participate!

HAPPY SUMMER!

Famous Last Words...

There are lots of famous last words....

Frankly my dear, I don't give a da*n- Rhett Butler

Rosebud... -Citizen Kane

Et tu, Brute? -Julius Ceasar

Let's Roll! -Todd Beamer

It is finished. -Jesus Christ

There are also some infamous last words.....

like

It will only take me a few hours. --Me

I will be done by the time FaithLyn gets home from school.... -Also ME

And with those words I began my painting project.

The girls have been waiting for me to paint their room for two whole years. I woke up Thursday last week and decided to just do it. I had all the stuff and it's a small room. I could do it in one morning, no problem!


So I started painting. The paint was ok while it was wet. I knew it would dry darker....but I was not expecting my green to be ARMY green! GROSS. It was like Mossy Oak with out the Oak! It was A.W.F.U.L!

So, I took a trip to Lowes and spent about $50 bucks on some wash to try and lighten up the nastiness. And about 5 hours later and one major meltdown later I realized all I had to do was to add some left over white paint to the green and I did. I started painting coat #3 at about 9 pm that night.

And ONLY 36 hours later I was finished with this room. I am not in love with the color but it is WAY better than Army green. All the walls are one color and it works.

Sheesh!

Ode to Our Moms

We have been incredibly blessed by our mothers. Dan and I lived worlds apart growing up. I grew up on a farm where my Mom took me with her in the tractor to help Dad out by plowing. Dan grew up in the military. Both of our Moms made hard choices. Diana moved a LOT and kept such a wonderful warm home and a magical sense of normal for her family in all those different places. My Mom lived on a farm and it was our life. In the summers we all put in long hard hours but my Mom would then come home and prepare a meal for us and do laundry and somehow managed to keep the house clean.

Both Moms faced challenges I can only imagine. Both Moms taught us to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Both of our mothers showed us the self-sacrificing love that is so like the love of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Both put in lots of long hours of worry, work, and tons of laundry with very little thanks. And neither of them expected thanks for the hours of prayer, labor and sleepless nights.

Every year that I am a mother I appreciate the love of our mothers a little more. I see a little more clearly the path that they so lovingly and dedicatedly walked. I am blessed to walk the same road. It's tough. But it is the most wonderful kind of tired you will ever experience.

I am not sure I would like to compare myself as a mother to our own mothers. There is no comaparison. I am so thankful to have such faithful friends, prayer warriors, advice givers, encouragers, and lovers of my children in not just MY mother but my sweet Mother-in-Law as well. I have been doubly blessed. I am praying the same for my children.

I pray that the Lord will encourage me on this journey to never let good enough be enough. May I always love my children more than myself, and help me, Lord, not to resent their every minute of the day need of me. Rather allow me to embrace it and loose myself in it so that these precious blessings might find themselves in You. In reality I ask only to be the kind of mother that our Moms were for us!