The Awaited Trip to Hawaii

The trip that we counted down to for 2 years has come and gone. 

Below are photos from the professional photographer John Hancock hired.  My Iphone photos are at the bottom. 

DAY 1

Of course we moms were checking our phones for videos and pics of our babes.

Thankful to have friends to hang out with at the company events! Love these ladies! The guys had a "meeting" that morning so we set up at a cabana and began our unwinding/adjusting to Hawaii time.  

DAY 2

The second day there we signed up to do a helicopter ride.  This is when things started going downhill for us.  Bradford got sick halfway through the helicopter tour- thankfully I was able to get him doggie bag opened up just in time.  

Dinner at sunset.  We ate like royalty for a week.

 After dinner chat by the fireside

DAY 3

 Wednesday we had team challenge events. They split us up into teams and ours was not so athletic so we took the more lets have fun and be funny approach- Team name: Twerkin Tigers

 Below is where I think things started to get bad for Bradford's heel but we didn't know it yet...We actually won this tug of war(the only competition we won) as they put Bradford on the back to pull the flag!  We were so pumped.

 See his right heel...a few hours later he tore his right achilles heel playing basketball.

After a trip to an urgent care he was suited up and ready for formal night.

 He was recognized for attaining President's Club two years in a row. 

 Someone missed out on dancing- NOT ME!

 Bradford gave the toast to start off the banquet.  He had everyone laughing over his bad luck in Hawaii.

 My faithful dance partner.  We live for the banquet nights.

DAY 5

 Our new reality.  I had no clue at this point that he'd be on crutches for over 2 months. Worst. Injury. Ever.

Last night in Hawaii.  

 I got up on stage and tried to learn how to be a hula dancer.  Double chin and flared nostrils- not my best view but a fun memory.

 Love this man.  Thankful for a week away with him.  

These rocks were cool- we climbed them one afternoon and marveled at God's creation.

Pics from my Iphone
Living it up in the cabana the day after he got hurt.

My two favorite things on the trip: Guava juice and Lavendar spray

Pic from helicopter tour

It was another JH trip to remember.  We really did have a great time but the days after the trip have been our most challenging yet.  Bradford had surgery after we got back.  My grandad passed away. We closed on our house and had no where to live.  MK never took a bottle while we were gone and went on a 5 day strike of nursing.  Hampton was up at least once or twice every night.  So yeah. Ever since our feet touched down in Tampa we have not slowed down.  Hints to why I haven't blogged since March!  Hopefully some pics of MK and the boys and maybe even pictures of our new house as we hope to move in on July 1st will be up soon! 

MK's Dedication

We just had the sweetest weekend. Lots of love for Mary Katherine as we dedicated her to the Lord.  All of her grandparents came into town and her godmommy flew in town too! Our church does a sweet ceremony and it was really moving to have all of her family and her godparents circled around her to pray over her.  Daddy's prayer moved me to tears as he laid his heart out there about having a girl and praying to God for guidance in raising her. 

The service was at 11:00 and then everyone headed to our house for lunch.

MK and her godparents.

The grandpas taking their afternoon naps....

MK really took to her godparents.  Will forever remember the way she connected with them on her special day.

I can't handle the sweetness in this picture. 

So thankful for a wonderful weekend celebrating our precious daughter.

Mary Katherine 3-5 months!

Wow, the months keep slipping by and before I've had time to realize it our babe is 5 months old!  Bradford and I were talking about how Little B was 5 months old when we moved to Tampa. He seemed older than that- I swear we viewed the first born so different than these last two.  I always felt like Hampton was a baby forever!!

I will forever say about this season- The days can be long but the sweetest moments happen all.day.long.  Our kids are in a sweet spot right now and for that I am grateful.  Our 4 year old is truly embracing putting others before himself- our two year old can hold it together well when he wants to throw a tantrum- and our baby is happy and finally starting to sleep again.  Holding on tight and trying not to take one second of this sweet spot for granted.  I now know that once you hit a good spot with your kids, a change is coming- teething, rolling over, sickness.  So for now I will rest in the goodness.

It is appropriate that I blog when MK is doing well.  These two have the sweetest bond.  Little B is so smitten with her.  He can be in a bad mood and as soon as he looks at her he smiles!  This was at their 4 month and 4 year old check up! (before the shots)

I got the flu for a good 8 days(so miserable) but thankfully Daddy and MK were spared and by the time the boys got the flu they had been on tamiflu already so there sick days were not bad.  Since I was nursing I couldn't take the meds(or I'd have to give her a bottle but she is still refusing a bottle) so once I was feeling better I was SO glad to get to take care of my 3 babes.  

She is a sweet sweet baby.

This was the morning of Little B's 4th birthday.

She already knows how to be escorted by a guy :)

Starting to sit up...

Sweet pink dress that  Ma C made me!

Wednesdays are our days home together and this was a fun picnic we had.  We had to cage it in so the raccoons wouldn't come for our food.

MK's first visit to Disney!

Still attempting the bottle.

Oh my little girl.  I still can't believe you are here.