Blake went and got a hat from Doug's suitcase after he had gone to bed and put it on. He fell asleep and this is how we found him!
Doug and I tried to help Robin out the last day we were there by cleaning up. Doug did the kitchen clean-up. In case you want to know, this is what happens when you fill the dishwasher with dawn instead of cascade. I have no idea what he was thinking- it was a mess of bubbles requiring a shop vac and several rinse cycles!!!
"All I want for Independence Day is my two front teeth, my two front teeth, yes my two front teeth!"
Briley had her first experience on the kneeboard. Doug held on to the back of it to steady her and she did great. She wasn't scared at all.
Braden tried tubing with his cousin, Ashlynn. He went very slow but did great!
All the cousins in Pawpaw's boat!
On a side note, I just have to say boys will be boys! I am still learning what it means to have very energetic boys that run and climb everywhere, but today, after I was finished getting ready for work, Braden said Mom, I have something to show you! He then proceeded to carry a sleeping mat/bag thing to the top of the landing, climb on, and slide down the stairs! It cracked me up so I took a video with my camera to share. It is bad quality but you get the idea. This had him entertained for quite a while and when Briley got home from school, she joined in the fun!
Doug and the kids gave me cards, flowers, a gift card to Wallyworld, a handmade sugar scrub for my hands and feet, and an awesome cake picked out by Braden! I have to admit, I liked it too! Braden was so excited to give it to me that he couldn't hold the secret in! He finally said to Doug, "Can we give mom her cake yet??!!" By that point, Doug gave up trying to wait so we got to enjoy that starting yesterday! It was yummy! 
I love my sweet family! Oh, and Doug made me an awesome dinner tonight too so kudos to you babe! You outdid yourself. Too bad every day can't be Mother's Day! I was spoiled!
Well, it was a slightly emotional day for me a few weeks ago when we took apart the crib. We knew it was time to move Blake to a big bed since he was climbing out of his crib, and also because it was time to separate Briley and Braden, but I had no idea that I would feel so melancholy about the whole thing! I actually had tears in my eyes as I untied the bumper pad for the last time. Don't get me wrong, I am NOT sad that we are done having babies, just that my babies are so big now! I was remembering the countless nights of seeing each one of my three kids sleeping in that bed, watching them as they breathed and seeing how peaceful they were. I remember marveling at how much more of the bed they would take up as they got bigger or laughing and calling Doug in to see what cute position they had fallen asleep in or what animal they had fallen asleep on. It was and is an end of an era. It was a very physically and emotionally challenging era for me (my family and friends can attest for that as you have been there countless times for me to spill it all out on the phone to you!) but it was also a precious time. I am so very blessed to have three wonderful, healthy, happy children. They have given us such joy over the last 6 and a half years. I guess now we will have a different type of memories to look forward to, but no more babies to put in the crib. . .sigh . . . I wouldn't trade those sleepless nights for anything! Well, okay, maybe that's an overstatement, but you moms know what I mean:)
On a lighter note, the first week was interesting in the bunk beds. Of course Blake did not stay in the bed, and used the bedrail to climb on to get closer up to Braden and the top bunk so we had to take the rail off. He hasn't fallen out of the bed and is doing much better staying in. Twice I have found him on the top bunk during the day and have made sure he knows not to do that again but we will see. Sometimes the temptation is too much I guess. Braden has loved the top bunk and even makes his bed in the morning! Actually, he has now opted to sleep on TOP of the covers and put a small blanket over him. He says it is too hard to make. I can't blame him! I guess that's fine for now!
It is fun to have a "boy" room now. We moved Briley and Braden in together when we had Blake. We had always planned on the boys sharing a room but wanted to wait until Blake was old enough to handle it. So once he started climbing out of his crib, we decided it was time. The first week I was kicking myself thinking, "why did I do this?" as I put Blake BACK into his bed countless times and tried to get him to go back to sleep after waking at 6am, but now it is going much better. We bought the boys a train table for their room (great deal on Craig's list) as a sort of "welcome to your new boy room" present and they are loving it. Blake watches everything Braden does and copies it. He even wants to be "Spi-man" - Spiderman in "blake". So cute! Who knew boys could be so fun?!
