What I love

What I love...

Birds chirping in the morning while I am sitting in rileys garden with my coffee and morning devotion

Smelling the air after a summer rain

Being in my cozy house when it storms outside

Hugging Bo because he loves to hug and really hugs back

Listening to the kids make new discoveries and get really excited about things

Rubbing baby lotion on Baylens plump feet

Looking at the rolls of skin Baylen has on his wrists

Rocking Baylen to sleep with his bottle and soft music, just the two of us

Walker laying on my bed at night while I read

Listening to a fan to sleep

Cozy sheets at our beach house

When I make something that is truly yummy for dinner and everyone is delighted

When my mom and dad or sisters just drop by and visit

Going to Target

Watching my kids be kids and just play and then crash

Watching Bo did in the dirt and get dirty

Ice cream in an ice cream cone

Samantha rolling around the house on roller skates

Taking pictures and having one turn out really good

Feeling Riley near me

Date nights with my hubby

Just being at home not having to rush to go anywhere

The few minutes after a workout class when you feel oh so good

Eating healthy and liking it

Feeling God near me

Watching Walker and the kids at the beach and knowing Riley is there too

Family dinners

Bedtime routine having one on one time with each child

Fruity froo froo drinks

Magazines

Organizing something

A clean house

I love

I love...bathtime watching yall get clean and putting baby lotion and Baylen and brushing his hair. Reading chaper books at night with Samantha and having girl talk and journaling with her. Singing your are my sunshine to Bo as he falls asleep. Getting water balloons ready for yall, watching you play in the sprinkler and the yard, sitting on the front porch and playing, family dinner time at the table praying and talking about our day. Watching yall eat icecream cones, watching yall make new discoveries. Just being at the house together with yall in your pjs and me with me coffee with no where to go. Going to the pool and beach. Just being with you, I just can't get enough!

Letter to my kids

Okay so I decided to write each of you a letter about what I think you will be like when you get older as a reflection of your personalities now.
Samantha, Zeppa, Pepper: I can not believe you are eight! You are spunky. You are careful and a rule follower. You want things to be fair, and will let us know when things are not fair or if someone is breaking a rule. You are sensitive and love things very deeply. You are full of energy and are bubbly. You can light up a room with your smile. You have smiling eyes too. You are shy, yet a leader. When you warm up you really shine. You are careful, yet like an adventure. I have never know someone to be so shy and cautious yet at the same time can be such a dare devil and go getter. I am so proud of how far you have come. You use to be so shy and scared to try new things, now you encourage your brothers that it will be okay and to get other there and just do it! You are an awesome soccer player, runner, bike rider and swimmer. You are definitly the competitor. You like to win, you like to win at everything. You are determined to give your best and play hard. You want everyone else to do the same. It is a bad scene when you do not win at something. You are also so creative. You are always coming up with neat crafts to do and new things to make out of just about anything. You dream up the neatest things, from recreating the zoo with popcicle sticks to molding things with clay. You love to pretend and still be a little girl with your Disney princesses, poly pockets, littlest pet shop and barbies. You love to dress up and roll around the house in your roller skates. You are a picky eater and know what you like. You are a big planner. You want everything the way you want it and you want to know the next step at all times. You love to plan for parties and be social. You love events with your friends, yet you love to be home too. You are so well adjusted and more then a could ever dream for in a daughter. You say the cutest things and are staring to do the most grown up things, like going into the library all alone and doing a long list of things that mommy asked for. You do have a temper and you can get so mad so fast. You are a force to be reckoned with! You worry, but try so hard not to. I picture you growing up being a party planner, organizer or an artist. You love to be busy go go go! I know the next few years will be so much fun as you grow and we do new things together, yet still do kid like things since you are so young at heart and have no desire to grow up too fast!

Bo Bo Bo: You are five. You are one special little boy. Today in the car I realized that you will be the class clown. You make everyone laugh, all the time. You are full of energy all day, and then crash. You have the sweetest heart of ANYONE that I know. You always say things like, I love you mommy, I just love you so much, you are so sweet to me, thank you thank you, and the list goes on and on. You love life, and appreciate every little moment of it. You smile all the time and are also so sensitive. You get your feelings hurt easily, you also love very deeply. You want to make everyone happy. You are always so kind and want to share everything that is given to you. You want to be with people and just be, yet you also are able to be so imaginitive in your play. You will play for hours and create the neatest things, I have never seen someone think like you do. You amaze me. You love to be outside. You would sleep out there if you could! You also love to eat, you are always hungry and will try and like just about everything, even though candy is your weakness. Even though you are the life of the party, you are very shy and inverted in new situations. You do the cutest thing with your mouth when you are nervous. You love to catch things, you catch frogs, lizards and crabs like it is nothing. You love to catch them to be your pet. You ask the neatest questions about animals and life in general. Your faith is so deep, you have taught be so much about what Jesus is all about. You are always thinking, your wheels just turn all the time! You are always climbing, dancing or just being silly. You laugh more then anyone I know. You are so cute and fun to be with, and give the best hugs. I see you being a vet, or and actor. Whatever you do you will be perfect at it. I look forward in watching you as you grow up be the hit of the party and the one that everyone wants to be around because you are just so fun and positive. I have a feeling that I will spend a many hours discussion with your teachers your zest for life and "having fun".

Baylen Bay Bay: You are one. Can't believe it. You are so smart. You are always trying to really figure things out. I can see your brain really thinking and wondering about everything you come in contact with. You are sweet, cuddly and so easy going. You love to be close to people and just take your time. You are so handsome and full of life and love. You are careful, yet not afraid. You love to climb, like your brother and love to eat. I see you being our brain of the family and being a doctor and taking care of us like we are taking care of you right now.

Bo news

Bo learned to dive into the pool today, he is so proud. Of course Samantha was not liking him having any attenion so she refused to watch. Baylen loves to just sit and watch people, with the most curious look on his face, wish I knew what that boy was thinking! Samantha and I had a fun girl talk tonight. We made a secret handshake and she asked if we could have girl talk everynight forever...I can only hope. Good day today, Walker enjoyed day 12 on the beach. Love to watch him in the ocean ride the waves. Yummy CJ's pizza...mmm good, had a pizza party watching scooby doo. Fun times on Jordan Lane.

Beautiful day

Another great day. Beautiful skys pure blue and a nice cool breeze, and it is June at the beach! I love St. Simons Island. It is great to be at home away from home. Really looked at my kids today and realized Samantha is a true Brodrick, Bo is a true Carley and Baylen is me! That is who he looks like, it is so neat to watch him. At the pool today he just sat on his knees and watched people walk by. I wonder sometimes what goes on in that little head of his. He does the funniest thing with his mouth. Bo I am so proud of you you swam back and forth in the pool. I loved seeing your little head bob up and down. Nothing like you looking at me, trusting that I will be there to catch you when you swim to me. Sam, you did so good with your headstands in the water and look so cute in your one piece sweet ruffle bathing suit. Loved sitting on the beach today with mom and dad and just listening to the ocean. It was so realxing and perfect. Loved having lunch with my awesome husband at Brogans and bringing home Sam and Bo fudge. Saw a youth on the beach and had a great time talking about our dogs that had passed and how they were watching over us now. A blessed day. Ending with sitting on the porch with Samantha and doing fun picture searches. Love it!

summer fun

Baylen your hair has gotten so blonde. Had so much fun today with you kiddos at the pool and beach. Daddy surprised us today and showed up at the beach house. It was amazing! He walked in and really blew us away! What a great family I have. Love nights at the beach with my family. Loved eating Fried Shrimp at the beach house after a fun day. Bo you make me laugh so much. You were yelling out of the golf cart today funny things at Samantha. Baylen you ate out of a bowl today and were so proud of yourself. Samantha you are so fun to work puzzles with. I rode yall today on the bike to the grocery store, quite an adventure! Bo you have quite the angry temper, you can have outburst so fast. Baylen you loved crawling through the pool today, I love it when you poke out your bottom lip like an old toothless man. Sam you had so much fun surfing the waves today!

Beach Fun

Blogging from the beach! I have had the best week ever, the only thing that could make it perfect is if Riley and Daddy were here! The weather has been beautiful, the kids are perfect and it has been fun being with mom and dad and Walker. I can not believe we have been here at the beach house for 10 days. Some things I love...

Baylens Blonde hair and his cool tan he is getting

Samantha on her Bike barefoot and in a bikini with her cute little self

Bo playing in the front yard with sticks and talking to himself

Walker surfing the waves and how he closes his eyes as he basks in the sun

Baylen sitting on the beach really focusing on the buckets and shovels and what he can do to make all of it work, you can see his little brain ticking!

Samantha working puzzles at the kitchen table.

Bo wanting to go to the pier to get his prize, he picked a devil head with worms this year and Sam got a bird in a bird cage.

Mom and dad loving Walker now.

Taking Riley to the beach and putting her ashes in three places to remember her,

Eating dinner each night as a family

Going to the beach in the am in the golf cart and riding our bikes to the pool in the afternoon

Bo and Sam collecting their pool bands on their arms each day and just walking up to the pool worker and they recognized them

Bo saying he use to know how to ride a bike but he lost his skills, Samantha doing 11 tricks on her bike and doing a bike show.

Baylen playing with Sam and Bo with a yelling game on the golf cart.

Going throught he DQ in the golf cart to get ice cream

Using our coupon book for fun stuff

Running with Baylen in the am while he drinks his bottle and I push the stroller

Going to the library and checking our books and movies

Chill time while Baylen naps with the kids, doing art work and resting together

the list could go on and on, but these are just a few of the things that I love about being at the beach. Samantha, you are so cute, I love you toothless smile and your personality. You are spunky, sweet and so smart. Bo, I love your creativity (you set you books up with figures with them) you always play alone and have something awesome cooked up! You are so cute and fun, and constantly "on". Baylen there is something about your sweet little smile that melts mommies heart. I wish I could just freeze you in time. You love just being. You are so sweet and I love you so much! I love your little toes and your little nose, and your big chubby thighs...

Beach trip

Having an amazing time at the beach with the kids. We have been in St. Simons for a week now. We have a nice little pattern going. I run with Baylen in the am with his bottle. Just thirty minutes. I love to look down at his chubby legs in the stroller. Then I come in and Bo and Sam eat breakfast. We go to the beach at ten with Bo Bay Sam and Walker. Walker has been so much fun to watch at the beach. We have been taking the golf cart. It is so fun. We went through the DQ in the golf cart. We have also gone to the pool in the afternoon in the bike, Sam you have gotten so good at the bike! I pull Bo and Baylen. Sam you ride your Bike in the am while MeMe walks and you go to see Ms. Ann. We have rest time from 1-3 and then head to the pool. Rest time is fun, we play. I love to sleep with yall at night. It is so cozy here to sleep. I am missing Riley so much! It still just hits me like a ton of bricks. Walker is so sweet, I just miss my pie. Walker you watch the kids like a hawk. you are such a nervous ninny. Sam you are doing tricks on your bike. It is so fun to ride home after a big day. We work puzzles, do art work and read books. Walker is so great here. I love every minute of being at the beach. Bo you said you use to know how to ride your bike but you lost your skills. I have the best family ever, I love you so much!

catching up

If I have not said it yet...Bo you are so funny! Samantha, I always have a hard time when it is your last day of school, not becasue school is out, but you are a year older! How could you be done with Kindergarten, first grade and now second? Yall three are perfect.Bo you sleep with us every night. Baylen you wake up a few times needing your passy, and Sam sometimes you will wonder in. Bo you are always showing off at partys. You love to wear your boots. Daddy really made my day when he said I was a great mom, you are a great dad daddy! Bo you pat me all of the time and say I hold you you always want to be with me. I am so thankful for a supportive family that loves eachother so much. Sometimes Bo you will just come out of your room like at 10:30 and just sit with us like it is no big deal. You say, hi five mommmy. I love it when yall want to play dress up and when you want to include the dogs! We had so much fun going to Harris Shoals Park and playing on the playground and in the creek. It is so fun just watching yall. Sam you have gotten so good at riding your bike! You love to go on bike rides after dinner. We go behind the Waltons house a lot and yall ride in that parking lot. I love to lay with yall and just watch a movie. Bo says, don't close your eyes mommy. I love to watch Bo in the yard with his tool belt and boots on. Bo you dress up in Walkers Spiderman costum thinking you can fly. You also use to say, to infinity and beyond! Sam you love to read to walker and Bo on your bed. Bo and sam yall have been playing together so well. Baylen you just watch in amazement!
I love to watch yall fly kites. Bo you are so huggy. You always hug me and say you love me! Bo you get in boots and stand on your bed and play the guitar. Sam I love our alone time, We like to do art stuff. I love that I am responsible for yall, Bo I loved watching you at the preschool run down the hall when you would see me. Sam you would love to wear a bracelt of mine to go to school. You also want kisses on your hands to go into school. You would earn stickers in first grade with no tears. Yall also loved to go to PTA meetings with me. We had fun going to the strawberry patch and family fun day at the Oconee county library. Yall also love the little things, like mommy being mysery reader or just planning for your birthday parties. I love to watch you and the dogs sleep. So peaceful. I also love to watch you play outside. Bo today you said to me (talking about daddy) I am so glad you married that guy! Bo, you dig in the dirt and it is amazing. Your carry dead lizards and just love it! We had the tummy bug and you had upset tummy and did not make it to the potty. You said if daddy knew he would slap your booty and put a diaper on you! I love our new fence and the flowers blooming. A few weeks we took the kids to the circus and it was so much fun! Nothing was better then a beautiful day, sitting in front yard with bubbles, sprinkler, Watching the kids play, the dogs chill . I miss Riley but we made a memory garden today that I love so much, now she is still with us outside. Bo at preschool you fell on your nose. We also love to go to tennis matches and track meets, and bo's t-ball games. Bo you still love to get decorations for every holiday. It is so fun to watch you walk out of the store with your new loot. Baylen you are so close to walking. Sam you played awesome in your last Soccer came with church leauge. Bo you said daddy was not surpressed, when you meant surprised. Also, Bo you love for me to read to you and sing you are my sunshine.

Zoo

We went to the zoo and had such an amazing time. It was the perfect day! It was so fun to be with the kids and daddy and just being together. We had such a great time watching the gorriallas and the pandas. Bo loved the snakes and getting a prize at the end at the shop. Samantha loved checking off animals that she saw and Baylen loved to eat! It was the perfect day finished off with Happy Meals! Love you guys!

last day of school

School is out for Samantha. I had fun going to her school today to play four square, watch her hula hoop in the talent show and just be with her. I can't believe she will be in the third grade. Baylen has started to do this new thing with his mouth. He opens it so wide when you is excited about something. He gets laughing so hard when the kids do funny things. He loves to eat. Today is the first day of Summer for all three...what will we do today...pick strawberries, go to the library and shopping for daddy's birthday!

May notes

Okay, so I have decided to change some things up a bit. I originally did this blog for a journal for myself to keep up with memories of the kids, but now I want to share it with everyone. I apologize if past letters seem silly, just love my kids! Also, I was rigid about only posting on the day of Samantha Bo and Baylens birthdays each month, but I am changing that. With Riley passing away, which I can not believe happened the night of my last blog...I have learned no to be so rigid. I will post maybe everyday, twice a day, not few a few days. I will still post pics of kids on the last day of the month, but will blog as I feel moved. These first two weeks of May have been a blur for me. Our sweet Riley passed away Thursday night April 28th, we found out April 29th, it was a Friday, morning of the Royal Wedding, and Samantha's Slumber party. The day is a blur for me. I have put together a scrapbook and memory book that includes memories from her life and journals that others have written to me, and I have written these past two weeks. I have learned a lot about myself. For one, I love deep. I grieve deep. I have learned that I am not in control like I so often think I am, and that my faith had to endure a little work. I have discovered, cried, realized, worried, guilt tripped, read, talked, prayed and the list goes on and on....I have come to many conclusions but the main one is that we should live in the moment, count our blessings and be content with just being.

In the midst of Riley passing that Friday I spent basically the whole day with her not wanting to let go. Then I did have to to plan for eight little girls to come to our house for a birthday party. The next day was off to t-ball and soccer and then Baylens first birthday on Sunday. He had a Very Hungry Caterpillar Party. Monday and Tuesday just went by and then we celebrated Samantha's eighth birthday. Then Bo graduated from pre-k that Friday. An emotional 7 days to say the least. We got through it, I was there, but not there. We are not sure what did happen to Riley, she had pancrintitis, but not sure that is what got her. I do know it was her time, it was not my time for it to be her time, but that is just one of the many lessons I have learned in this process. Walker is grieving her loss to as he wears her collar around and leaves her food each night.

April memories

April has been a very busy month. The birthday rush is about to begin! I did a fun photo shoot of Riley and Bo outside. She really seems to be slowing down these days. Her cushings does not seem to be getting much better, but it has only been two months on the meds. I am worried about her. She seems tired, yet content. Baylen is about to be one and I can not believe it. Bo is about to graduate from preschool and I can not believe that! He had so much fun at his easter egg hunt at school. He is all about celebrations. Samantha is posing here with her littlest pet shop collection. Samantha won an award at shcool for most improved. SHe is always bringing home different awards, I am very proud of her. Bo you are always wearing rain boot and move very slow, but we can all learn from that! The weather is awesome lately I love to have the windows up and just being home with yall. Bo you often talk to yourself. Baylen you are still not walking but have cut two more teeth. You are a daddy's boy, you scurry up him when you think I am about to put you to bed. You are so happy and jump in your bed and love Bo and Sam. You are getting a lot of hair and have the sweetest look about you. You just watch them play in the front yard on tap on the dogs, Bo you are still decorating, did not want to take St. Pat's down or stop drinking snarfmuckle. Bo you got a shot for your birthday, wow great. The nurse came in, yanked your pants down and you said excuse me! We went to the shot store, which is the family dollar where you pick a little toy when you get shots, it is amazing the things you remember. You picked an army man. Samantha we went to Barrow for Science night. You love these kind of nights, so fun! Bo found a new word he likes, nasty. He says thats nasty all the time. When he saw Aaron the other day he said, Aaron you smell so good you smell like the carwash. You are always asking me "is that a good idea". I can not beleive you are still asking me in April when the Halloween store will open, wow. You love that place. I have a funny lizard story to tell, you buried a dead one, then dug it up and brought it to me and told me not to worry because it was going to rise from the dead. I guess you have been listening to the easter story, kinda! You love to bury things and bugs. You put it in your room and wanted to keep it there. I don't love anything more then being on the front porch watching yall play, looking at the green grass, with Riley and Walker lying beside me. The air smells so good, the weather feels so good. The sky is so blue, it does not get better then that! I love our new yard. It is perfect!