New Experiences

Being a Webelos Den Leader has kept me hopping.  We went to Public Lands' Day a couple weeks ago and spent about 5 hours with the boys helping clean up.  We have 16 boys total right now and there are 3 leaders.  Last weekend we had Day Camp that lasted approximately 9 hours.  The boys are learning a lot and receiving a lot of awards and I'm proud of them for that.  I just haven't been able to do a lot with them due to being so sick.  I am more the record keeper and organizer.  I've also had the most experience in scouts so I help the rest of us follow the rules.  I haven't had the energy needed to keep up with them, but luckily the other two leaders are able and willing.  I appreciate them so much!

We have waited approximately 8 years to add another child to our family.  I've hoped for it and wished that it would come.  I didn't expect to not be able to hold down food a lot or to have it run such an emotional toll on my family.  I'm not bed ridden, but close enough.  The baby moves a lot more when I don't feel good or have been throwing up a lot.  I overdo it a lot and then am in bed for days.  Don't get me wrong, I am truly grateful for this pregnancy and the future child.  I'd have to say this has been my greatest trial to date.  When we went to the doctor last he just told me I'm one of the lucky ones who will be sick all of their pregnancy.  That wasn't what I wanted to hear.  My dehydration levels haven't been bad enough nor my cramps putting me into preterm labor so there isn't anything more they can do to help.  There are days that I completely break down, today was one of them.  I get to the point where I just want to call it quits with everything.  I'm worn out a lot, but I make it through and know that it'll only last for another 16.5 weeks.  We have learned that this child is definitely stubborn.  We went for two ultrasounds and it wouldn't cooperate at all.  They didn't get everything they needed either time, but they called it good enough.  Everything has been different from my pregnancy with Braxten.  We aren't finding out what this baby is though, even though we think we already know.  We're looking forward to the day that it gets here and in the mean time we will be happy to be able to start a new chapter in our lives.  I am scared due to the fact that it's been so long and babies have always scared me because they're so little.  I think I'm going to break them or something.  I was also induced with Braxten so I don't know what regular labor is nor would I remember because it's been so long.  It will all be worth it in the end and it keeps me going on a daily basis.

Braxten is Busy

We are so proud of Braxten.  He earned his Wolf for Scouts in only 6 months, but due to circumstances he didn't receive it until September Pack Meeting.  He worked hard to get it done quickly.  He loves Scouts and I'm happy that he does because it is important.

 Brax started playing flag football.  He's had 3 games so far.  He has improved a lot and it's fun to watch him.  At his last game he even scored a touch down in the rain.  I watched from the car because it was pouring and I didn't have a jacket or umbrella.

All I Want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth

Brax lost his fourth tooth Saturday night, of course it was the night before the primary program.  I'd been trying to get him to get it out for a while.  Both front teeth had died and were loose, but we couldn't get them out.  He'd lost the one and so Saturday night we hooked up his remote control four-wheeler to his tooth.  We'd seen it on the news.  His four-wheeler wasn't way powerful but it loosened it enough for him to be able to get it out easily after that.  The very next morning you could see the other tooth already there.  It's fun, but different to see him without his two front teeth, but I think the others will be all the way in long before Christmas.

Love that smile!

Cowley Family Reunion

Sunday evening of Labor Day weekend we headed up to Burrville for the annual Cowley family reunion.  We haven't been up there since Branden and I were engaged.  My uncle Blake's family has a house turned to a cabin, a barn, and a lot of other fun things up there.  Sunday night my parents and my dad's younger brother were in charge of dinner.  It was so good!  We had time to visit and hang out.  After that, they had a little camp fire.  They had marshmallows to roast.  We also watched a movie outside.  They popped popcorn.  It got really cold up there at night, but felt great.  We spent the night in the cabin with all the kids from my family except little Easton.  Monday we ate breakfast, played basketball, horse shoes and volleyball, went on four-wheeler rides,  went for a walk, shot skeet, and just had fun together.  After lunch they gave the jars with candy in them that we'd guessed the day before.  Most everyone went out on the motorcycles and four-wheelers.  After that we cleaned up and headed for home.  It was great to see everyone.  I'm so glad we went. 

Brax loving having punch bags!

Our morning walk with the kids.

The cute couple, Shanelle and Jordan.

Playing volleyball- we played guys on girls and had a great time.  I overdid it and got so sick to my stomach that we quit playing with one set for the girls and one for the guys.  We never finished.

Brax played basketball with anyone he could.  He played with Grandma, Grandpa, cousins, uncle Noel, Branden, and anyone else that will play him.

Branden and I pulled up right before Brax's first shot.  He was shooting a shot gun, it kicked back and got him in the cheek.  He had a nice little bruise.  After that, Branden helped him and it only got him in the shoulder after that.

Mud Lake

Every Labor Day weekend is the annual Cowley Family Reunion.  It is so much fun!  I decided that no matter how I felt I was going this year.  We headed up on Friday, but took it really slow.  We stopped a few times and made it a fun trip.  That night we worked on our house in Venice and then went to bed.  The next morning Branden helped my mom cut some tree branches.  My mom invited the other grandkids over and they decided to dig in the sand box to finish up the other kids already started project.  After that they decided to start a waterfall and fill the lake.  It was cool for us, but the kids had a great time.  They were all covered in mud from head to toe.  I only got final pictures of Easton, but the rest were even worse than him.  They played out there for about 5 hours.  We sprayed them off outside and then they all got in the bath tub, girls in one and boys in the other.  My mom's floor was also covered in mud.  It was cheap, but messy fun!

Branden is 35

For Branden's birthday this year I decided to let Branden decide what he wanted to do.  Normally I try to throw him a party or do something way special, but he doesn't seem to like what I come up with.  He had the day off so we started the day out just hanging out at home.  After a little while he decided he wanted to go to Lowe's and Home Depot to look at different things for the yard.  We did buy a new weed whacker, which we were in need of.  We then headed grocery shopping.  We got home and put stuff away, ate lunch, and went to finish our shopping.  For his birthday cake I also let him choose.  He isn't a fan of cake, so we had pies.  I made a strawberry cheesecake, 2 banana cream pies, and a double chocolate pie.  The chocolate pie was at Brax's request.

We have a friend who shares a similar birthday with Branden.  They were born the same year just a day apart.  We've been wanting to do something together so we decided to go out to dinner to celebrate their birthdays.  It was a lot of fun!  We tried going to Olive Garden, but since it was a Friday there was a 30-40 minute wait.  We then decided to head to Red Robin.  I've only been there once before so I didn't mind.  Brax tried onion rings for the first time and Brielle tried cheese sticks for the first time.  The Buell's picked the onion rings and we picked the cheese sticks.  The food was really good and our waitress did a good job in serving us.  Towards the end of our meal Branden pointed out a family from Glenwood right behind us.  It was part of the Rickenbach family so we talked to them a little bit too.

Brielle's first cheese stick

Branden and Brandon

Love Brax's face

Brielle and Brax both downed the cheese sticks and onion rings.

 After dinner we headed back to the house for dessert and games.  Branden had invited some other friends over for the night as well.  We played Apples to Apples and the kids played together.  I hope that everyone had fun, I know we did.    It was fun to celebrate Branden's birthday and I'm glad that he had fun.

Simon loved the banana cream pie.

Abbie is a day older than Branden and he makes sure to let her know that!

Back to School

Brax has been letting his hair grow out all summer.  He wouldn't let me cut it until school started.  Last Monday he finally let me cut it and I love his new look!

BEFORE

AFTER

Brax started school on Wednesday, August 15th.  I drove him to school at his request.  I can't believe that he is already in the 3rd grade.  I did have a hard time dropping him off this year because he's been there for me all summer.  If I haven't felt well, which happens a lot during this pregnancy, he'd take care of me.  A lot of days he'd prepare breakfast and lunch for us.  He needed to return to school though.  He was so excited he wanted to leave at 8:15 am and school doesn't start until 9.  He was also up and ready to go by 6 am.  He's such a funny kid!  I let him pick out his school shoes again this year.  They are lightweight and meant for sports.  They are also some fun colors. 

THE SHOES

THE CLASSROOM

DAY 2-I love the colors of this outfit!

 Every year before school starts I get Brax into the eye doctor.  This year was no different.  His prescription bumped up which means he's even closer to legally blind.  Now he's only 1.5 points in the right eye and 1.75 in the left from legally blind.  It's okay though.  They say that kid's eyes change a lot until they hit their teenage years when they're more stable.  The doctor is hopeful that his "lazy eye" will continue to get better.  His new glasses are awesome!  He didn't get them until after the second day of school had ended, but he has them and loves them.  He also pointed out things he could see now with the new ones. 

The new glasses.