A Bulldozer Birthday Party for Kip

On Sunday, our sweet Kipton Lee turned four years old.

 It is so hard to believe. We started our Sunday like all others and got everyone ready and headed to church. My husband and I with Kipton before we left for church. Kipton loves going to church.

After church we came home, ate lunch, and waited for family and friends to arrive. The boys were anxious for everyone to come to our house for a visit. When we have visitors, it's a special day for the boys. 

One of Kipton's favorite things is tractors and bulldozers. My dad has a bulldozer and so he has grown up loving to take rides, and play with small bulldozers.We had a lady make this cake and she did an awesome job. She is an older lady who has been making cakes for YEARS, and she still only charges $10 for a cake. She said she had extra batter left from making this cake, so she just made him another one too. 

Normally, I am not one to go all out for birthday parties and think we need the best cake and the best decorations. This was a real treat! I thought she was just going to make a sheet cake and put bulldozers on it. I was so surprised and of course the birthday boy LOVED it!

We had all of our family there (minus a few), and a set of brothers that our boys like to play with. They had the best time and everyone enjoyed the fellowship. Karson (black shirt) singing to his brother. I thought this picture was just soo sweet. He LOVES him so much.

Look at that face. So thankful and blessed.

Kipton was so excited for presents as well. 

I have to tell you about Kipton and his love for country music. 

He LOVES to sing and tap his foot like a country singer. My parents got him a guitar and microphone so he can really bring his singing to life. He loves for me to put on country songs and he will sing along. He loves Jason Aldean, Eric Church, Luke Bryan, and Blake Shelton. Most of the time he also wants to wear his jeans, belt, cowboy hat, and cowboy boots, but he had been playing outside and we didn't have the chance to dress him up as well. 

I'm sure this will keep him busy. 

It was a great birthday party. The kids just played and the adults talked and watched the kids enjoy. The boys were tired by the end of the night, and I captured this picture of Kevin with the boys watching Legos.

Watching your children enjoy a day is just so special. I hope I never forget this 4th birthday.

Kipton Lee 3.5

A little update on Kipton today. His 3 year birthday was in July and we just had his well visit this week. (I'm a little late) He is 34 pounds which is 64% in weight and 60% in height so he is real proportional. Here are some facts about our second born boy.

He LOVES Karson and acts totally different when he is away from him. 

He is busy and loves to make messes. He loves being outside and has become quite into hunting this season so far. Kipton is my early riser where I am greeted by him each morning around 7am in my bed. He always wants a warm milk. We normally talk, sit by the fire, and drink our milk/coffee.

He is the best shopper. Never complains or wants to leave. Loves to be at the mall. 

A complete class clown. Always wanting to make us laugh. 

Loves hot chocolate and asks for it as soon as he sees a Starbucks. He doesn't eat any vegtables so I have to hid them in  meals. 

He wants to be just like daddy and when Kevin tells him he's beautiful like his mommy he gets mad because he wants to look like daddy (which he does not)

Kipton is very tall. He is very loving and hugs and gives kisses many times throughout the day. 

We love you Kipton! I can't believe you are already 3.5. Time is moving so fast.

DIY Fall Pictures

It's no secret that in our economy you need to stretch and save your money. This is especially true with just one income. I love pictures of my boys, but a photographer comes with a hefty price tag that I'm just not willing to pay. I would rather spend that money on our house or save it. So, we bought a professional camera about 4 years ago when Karson was born. It has been worth every penny. 

I love outdoor pictures. Especially fall pictures in the country. These were taken in our backyard near our chicken house. It was so fun to make the boys laugh and get their smiles. 

Enjoy!

Karson Bradley - 4.5 years old

Kipton Lee - 3 years old

Thank you GOD for these wonderful gifts. 

Kiptons Friend

Kipton has the cutest little girlfriend at the babysitters house. He loves her and from what Jamie says she is pretty crazy over him. She follows him around all over her house. Look at her playing with her hair by him. O my goodness!!!

What blonde hair they both have. How sweet!! 

Hard Times

I am so thankful for hard times in a way. They are really good eye openers. I have been so down on myself for the past 3 weeks for taking a long term teaching job. I have a huge mom guilt. Then the 3rd week into school, Kipton begins a nasty virus. In true Kipton form it can't just be a virus that we can get over at home it has to be the full blown event. We ended up in the hospital last Saturday night for diharia and a high fever. He was dehydrated and needed fluids. I guess God was telling me. "Hey! Your upset about a silly job away from the boys, it could be way worse. " then he showed me how bad I really could have it. 

I wish this weekend never happened but it did. It's over now and Kipton is much better. I am thankful for great doctors and a city close to our home that provides good care. (Even though I don't like lots of residents swarming our room)

Kipton and I were able to cuddle, talk, sing, and sleep together. Even though he was sick he was so sweet and so good. 

After 24 hours of fluids we were able to leave. However, while in the hospital the doctors heard a heart murmur on him. In his 3 1/2 years of life we have never been told this. Of course I was hysterical but after lots of talks with the doctors and an additional visit with the pediatrician we have learned lots. Thankfully he has the "not serious" heart murmur. Some doctors can't even hear it at all but some can. We are following up with a cardiologist just to be 100% sure it's nothing more. 

Even with these hard times Kiptons spirits were always high. He lives for his brother. I had held it together pretty good through the hospital stay until Karson called my phone and he wanted to talk to Kipton. I couldn't hear what Karson was telling him but I could hear Kipton reply I miss you too buddy. Then said I love you too. It was so evident that they love each other and they were both so concerned about the other. I am so thankful for their close brother bond. 

Please pray that Kips heart continues to grow in the right way. 

Kipton turns 3!

Kipton turned 3 years old this past Saturday, July 20th. We had a fun little party with just family and a few friends. Unfortunatley, I used my big camera and I'm not able to upload the pictures onto my computer just yet. We have lost our laptop to a crash, and are working on getting things switched back to our desktop computer. So for now, I thought I would take time to update on Kipton Lee.

Kipton is for sure the 2nd child. He is not scared of anything, and wants to do everything that his big brother Karson does. He sometimes wants to like the same things as Karson (fishing, hunting, camo clothes) but I just really don't think he TRULY does like those things. I can say he does like anything to do with construction work. Bulldozers, Escavators, Trains, Cars, Trucks, that sorta thing.

Here is a little about our little Kipton:

-He likes to play outside. (sandbox, swing like a big boy, slide, jump on the trampoline)

-He does NOT like to get his head wet, therefore swimming has been an adjustment but I feel like getting more and more into the summer he is getting much better. He wears that little puddle jumper and goes swimming on his own.

-He is strong willed! Just this morning we were going to the park. He wanted to wear hot/winter orange socks, and I had picked out short white socks to go with his shoes. He threw a HUGE fit. Thankfully, he is easy to calm down and after talking through it, he wore the socks I had picked.

-He has moved into Karson's 3-5 year old class at church and no longer in the nursery. He thinks he's big stuff especially since I am teaching in that class every other month. He did so great last week. I was nervous he wouldn't sit through the lesson but he did great. Probably one of the best in the class because it was so new to him and he was just taking it all in.

- He does not care who leaves. If I go out and leave them with my parents he has never cried. He never cries going into church. He has been my easy child as far as the seperation part is concerned. His brother on the other hand. Not so much.

-Kipton wakes up around 7:30 every morning and requests a "warm" milk. I do still warm up his milk for 35 seconds in  his cup in the microwave. haha sounds silly but I just still do it. He never request warm milk except for the first cup in the morning. It's like his coffee :) He wakes me up and says "mommy get me my warm milk and get you your coffee". It's cute!

-Kipton is not much of a napper. This is super strange to me because Karson is 4 years old and STILL takes a 2/3 hour nap every single day. Kipton does have to lay down at 1:30 just like Karson, but most of the time he just talks or plays in his room. I have taken all toys out besides books just to make sure that wasn't the reason he wasn't napping. Nope. He still doesn't nap. So he normally takes all of his books out of the basket and just rests with his stuffed animals and talks to them. He normally stays in the room until 3 and then I let him come out. Which is pretty good if you ask me for someone that is not willing to nap anymore. I'll take it :)

-He still has a little blanket he sleeps with, but the attachment is really fading. Sometimes he doesn't even ask for it in his bed but I just always keep it in there.

-Kipton loves dress up. Karson did/does not. He loves to be a deer, baby Jaguar, hunter, cowboy. On this partciular day he was wanting to be a cowboy and I was giving him a horsey ride. Karson captured the moment. :) Brothers are good for that.

-Kipton is an animal lover. He loves our dogs and I will find him all throughout the house petting and talking to the dogs. He LOVES the chickens and loves going to check on them. Normally in the 3-4pm range when Karson is still asleep we will go out and check on the chickens together. He helps me feed and talks to them.

-Kipton just recently wanted to try riding Karson's big boy bike instead of a tricycle. It was no problem for him and he never looked back to the tri cycyles. Since he kinda took over Karson's bike, my parents gave Karson another big bike they had saved for him. He LOVES it and everyone is happy. This morning we went to the park to ride bikes since our house isn't the best place. They had a blast and Kipton rode so well.

-The boys rode their bikes and I got to run. Thankful to be able to do that again since the car wreck. It felt super good and all was well. They kept me going pretty fast too!

-Kipton is just a funny child with a HUGE personality. He does all kinds of funny things and talks really well for his age. He is constantly telling me "I just accidently messed up my room" or "I just accidently bit Karson". We have been trying to teach them the difference between an accident and on purpose.

-Kipton will be staying home with momma this fall again. I did put Karson in the little 3 year old class at preschool, but I have decided not to put Kipton in. For many reasons, but I am so happy and thankful to get another year with just him on 3 mornings a week. We normally go grocery shopping, go to the library, Target, run errands, that sorta thing.

-I love you Kipton. You are so fun, and we are so thankful to have you in our home. You are such an handsome guy and you will sweep some lady up with your charm someday. Boy you can lay it on thick when you are in trouble.

Happy 3rd Birthday!

Days of Kipton with a cast....

Well, we have 1 more week with this nice NEON green cast. I will be so thankful to see that cast go, and see his arm again. I will say, he has not complained 1 single time. It has shocked me to say the least. 

I mean....what broken arm are you even talking about MOM?

We have been staying busy outside. The boys liked the baby pool this time, but now they are over it. They are wanting to actually SWIM. 

Kipton is the most thoughtful child, as is Karson. He was pouring water on my feet because he said "Mommy are you getting hot? Let me cool you down"

Watching him work so hard to get the water in the bucket and carry it to me with a broken arm was just too sweet. He is always thinking of me. 

Taking a minute to relax, drink some warm milk (per request), and watch a "little show" 

Kipton,

You have taken the broken arm like a champ! Mommy is so thankful to have a boy as sweet as you.

I am also even more thankful to have two healthy boys, who just have to deal with little broken bones and not any serious health issues. We are so blessed to have you and your brother.