Brandon's 7!!!

I cannot believe that Brandon is 7 years old now. It doesn't seem possible. Thursday, April 23 he celebrated the big S-E-V-E-N! We started the day getting donuts for breakfast before school and I asked him if he felt 7 yet, he told me no. I told him he wasn't born until 6:38pm so maybe he would later in the day. He is so funny! Then we made a Sonic run after school and he got a slush before we took him to eat supper at his favorite Mexican restaurant, Casa Soto. We asked if he wanted them to sing to him and he said no. I wasn't surprised, he gets embarrassed easily. After supper we came home for him to open gifts and eat his chocolate cookie cake that I made for him. He got a junior set of Nike golf clubs from mom and dad, a Legos Indiana Jones set from Mimi and Pappy and when we celebrated with Nana and Grandad last week he received Legos Indiana Jones for the Wii. We will celebrate with Papa and Grantee soon!
Instead of a "traditional" birthday party, like at our house or a facility with running water, he asked to go camping with some boy scout buddies! It was originally supposed to be 5 boys but because of last minute commitments it was 3 but they had a great time! Ryan asked if the younger boys and I wanted to join them and I politely said no thanks! This was Brandon's party and his brothers weren't going to intrude. The only downside to me not going is the lack of pictures that were taken. I sent the camera with Ryan instructing him SEVERAL, and I mean several, times to take pictures. Well he remembered Sunday when they stopped by the visitor's center and snapped some then. Between Friday night and Sunday, they all rode their bikes and hiked and goofed off around camp but we just have to picture it in our heads! I am so happy that he had a good time though. While enjoying the great outdoors, they of course ate like kings since Ryan cooked, with ribs and fried potatoes and peach cobbler and cinnamon rolls and his famous mountain man breakfast. I have to say THAT is one thing I missed and being out in the fresh air.
So we have a 7 year old now. We could not be more proud of you Brandon or love you any more. You are such a joy and we are blessed to be your parents!

Going home

I haven't posted an update on Rick, my stepdad, in awhile but I am thrilled beyond measure to report that he will be going home either this Friday or a week from Wednesday!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Praise God! He got a pass to go home both yesterday and today and he absolutely loved it!!! My mom said that he slept most of the time but that is what she expected and he looked so peaceful. You could tell he hadn't slept that well in the eight weeks. Yes, it has been eight weeks that he and my mom have been cooped up in a hospital room missing quality time with each other and their kids and grandkids. I am so happy for both of them that he gets to come home very soon! When he comes home he will have outpatient physical therapy three times a day and need constant monitoring. Between the Norman firemen and my stepsister and me this summer we can take over the 3 1/2 days a week while my mom is working. Continued prayers are welcome because things could change at any minute. God is great!

On another note, Brandon turned the big 7 on Thursday! I will post pictures very soon. In lieu of a traditional birthday party he opted to go camping with friends. The younger boys and I did not join them but I will post a full report or as much as I can pull out of him soon!

Announcing...

Baby K #4 is on the way!!!!!!

Yes, that is right...baby #4! I cannot say this was planned, in fact, it wasn't in OUR plans but it must be in God's. I am trusting Him because if I don't then I start stressing. Brandon is totally excited and praying for a sister. He has told everyone and I mean everyone that he is "going to have a sister this time." Ryan is holding out for another boy. I would love a girl but I also love being the mom of boys, they are so fun and easy! The younger boys don't know about the baby, or at least we haven't told them.
This pregnancy so far has been so different then I was with all three of the boys (which leads me to tease Ryan that we are having a girl!) I have been sick as a dog and am now on my fifth medication. I went to the doc Friday and had lost 10 pounds in the four weeks since I had been there. Ryan's been quite the trooper with taking over laundry, the house and supper on top of his paying job. As of today I am 10 weeks and 6 days and my due date is November 9. We will find out the gender of the baby in 7 weeks, which is the beginning of June!
Here is a sneak peek at baby K #4. This was taken Friday at the doctor...

catching up!!

So many things going on at the Kelley household!!! Britton is now mobile on TWO FEET!! People look at me like I'm crazy when I say that with such a huge smile on my face but the boy is almost 17 months old and weighs more than Blaine. Since he began walking it has been more like a jog and has discovered that he can get places even faster now than crawling so he rarely does. The only downside to this is that I believe Blaine was accustomed to Britton being slower than him as a crawler so he could beat him to a toy and since he had it first it was his until he finished. Now Britton is pretty speedy and sometimes beats Blaine to a certain toy...not a pretty situation. My days consist of refereeing more than anything now. That being said I couldn't be happier that Britton is walking, he is such a big boy and becoming more of a happy guy!

Unfortunately I haven't been able to snap a good picture of Britton walking. This one is blurry but that is because is running with a toy away from Blaine.

a recent picture of "serious Britton!"

Now to Blaine....he is POTTY TRAINED!!!!!!!!!!!! I am telling you this has been a great week for the two youngest Kelley boys!! I couldn't be more proud of him! A good friend of mine gave me a book to potty train in 3 days. With Blaine it took 5 but that was fine with me. He had the idea it just hadn't really clicked yet. Well he has been accident free for a couple of days and I am so happy to just have one child in diapers! I didn't take any pics of him on the potty but here is a recent picture of him. He is my sweetheart and tells me all day, every day "I love you mom!" I LOVE IT!!

Aunt LaFreda sent the boys temporary tattoos and this was the first time Blaine had ever had one. He liked it for the first couple of minutes and then he wanted it off. He kept trying to brush it off when he wasn't glaring down at it! It was hilarious!

And last but certainly not least, Brandon!! Brandon has a birthday this month, on the 23rd and he will turn 7. I am having a hard time with it but he most definitely isn't. He loves to remind me that when he turns 7 he will only be three years from turning 10. fantastic. Anywho, this weekend the Cub Scouts had their annual Pinewood Derby races. Since Brandon is a Tiger Cub and this is his first year in Cub Scouts he never has done this before but Ryan, being an Eagle Scout is no stranger to Pinewood Derby races. Brandon and his dad worked very hard on his car....cutting it out, sanding it, wood filling it, drilling weight in it to reach the maximum weight limit and painting it! It looked great! Saturday was the big event and Brandon was excited! Each Tiger Cub faced each other and then the winner from each den (Wolves, Bears, etc.) faced off. Brandon beat three of his fellow Tigers but then lost. He took it very well. He had a blast and I was so proud of him!! He is such a nice boy!!

Brandon (the one in the hat) lining his car up on the track

And they're off!! (Brandon's car is the blue and white one!)