First trip to the Zoo!

People often ask us how we like it here in Greenville and my answer still stays the same.  I love Greenville!!! I love it up here!  I love all the stuff I can go and do with Karson as he gets older, I love our downtown area, and I love the friendships I have created up here.  There are just some people that you can go without seeing them for awhile, but when the day comes y'all finally get back together its just a refreshing spirit that flows throughout the atmosphere. And it was nothing short of that the day Karson went to the zoo for the first time!!  My friend Carolyn asked me if we wanted to go enjoy the weather and take the boys to the zoo and of course I couldn't think of anything I would rather do!  Carolyn's little boy Preston was born about a month before Karson so they don't realize it yet, but I am pretty sure they are gonna be buddies growing up!  We laughed as we walked into the zoo cause we realized maybe this was just an excuse for us to get together :)  The boys may not appreciate the zoo just yet, but we appreciate each others company so why not have some fun!

We had an awesome time!!  Carolyn is one of those Mommy's that everyone dreams of.  The ones who have fun, teach their child all kinds of things, loves like no other and really don't care what other people around her think....she is creating memories!  I loved watching her interact with Preston at the Zoo.  And we even laughed a few times as she tried to interact with the monkeys to get them to talk to us!  She really is an awesome Mama!!!  She is an awesome friend to.  You won't see her without a smile on her face or without something genuinely positive to say!  Man if we could all be more like her!!!  So here was our trip to the zoo.  Oh how much fun it was!! I cannot wait to go back!

Carolyn and Preston on such a beautiful day!

trying to get the monkeys to talk to us!

Love the Giraffe and Karson does to...oh wait he loves Sophie the Giraffe!
(yes that would be the theme of his first birthday party gotta love Sophie!)

trying to get a picture of the boys!  They would rather get down and play in the mulch!

what y'all want us both to look at the same time?

Precious blue-eyed baby!!

Oh look another blue-eyed baby!

Beyond Lucky....Blessed!

Usually I find myself posting about Karson.  Mainly because that's what this blog was created for was a way for our family who is out of town to keep up with us and see how Karson is growing and changing.  Well the title of it is Journey Thru "Our" Dream...so I am kinda taking a turn today as its all about the other man in my life...my dream come true!

Brandon is one of those guys who is always full of surprises!  I can even remember when we were dating he always found the most unique ways to surprise me.  And not even on the special occasion times that you are supposed to, but just out of the blue surprises that he came up with.  We had a wedding to go to one night and after a day of hanging out with him I come home to a brand new dress laying on my bed with matching earrings!  He had to go to NY for training one year and he flew me up there cause it was my birthday weekend and we spent a couple days walking around NY.  He proposed in a Hot Air Balloon...and on top of that the ring he picked out himself...Ahhhmaazing!!  Then a few weeks before the wedding he called the florist and had an arrangement sent to my office full of the flowers I would be carrying down the aisle.  I mean seriously he's the best at surprises.  But as much as I say the word surprises it goes further than that.....It's his way of showing me out of the ordinary how much he appreciates me.  It's his way of showing me how much he loves me!  And I am so thankful he thinks like that for many reasons.

yes he picked it out and the earrings all by himself!

NY with my best friend!

We're Engaged!

I am one of those, just like many others...who if you were to ask you would say you are "Living your Dream!"  As a little girl...I always dreamed of being a wife, a mom, a nurturer, a caregiver.  I watched my mom cook supper every night and just knew one day I would be doing the same thing.  I've been babysitting for as long as I can remember.  It's just been built in me to do those kinds of things.  So now today I love nothing more than to care for my family.  Now, don't get me wrong cleaning the toilets and washing clothes isn't always fun, but I find joy in it because it means I am taking care of my family.  And it was just me and Brandon for the first 4 years where I loved nothing more than taking care of him, fixing his favorite meals and spending all my time with him.  It came easy to spend time together and do fun stuff together because that was all we had.  Then came Karson....a true blessing to us!!!  It's funny how people say I don't know what life was like before we had children.  Well I can remember crazy things Brandon and I did like movie date night in the living room on the aerobed..."drive in movie style" or playing Big Buck Hunter at Frankie's (yes the redneck side of us)  But it was all in fun and laughter!!  We have truly always loved life together.  And it didn't change when Karson came around but we just may go out to eat earlier now or carrying a baby with us walking through the mall or falls park, but he just fit right in to our life.  But being a mom is a full time job, and those who do not think it is....have never stayed at home with their children.  You can seriously find something to do all day long!!! And Karson did add a little more laundry, a little more cleaning up, a little more cooking, and yet I can still say I am living my dream...taking care of my family.

But that's where I admire Brandon even more!!  Cause here's what he has gotten good at.....realizing that I need a break and being willing to help me take that break.  Any mom that is in my shoes is probably just like me.  I can go and go and go and do and do and do, and at the end of the day maybe be tired but still happy because it's what I was called to do!  I absolutely LOVE caring for my family in the best way I know how.  But what Brandon realized was if I didn't take time for myself I will eventually get burned out.  And some moms may think I am ridiculous and y'all never take a break.  I have to say I was there to!!!  Karson is only 10 months old and I went months giving myself away daily but never giving time to myself in return.  It's how we were fashioned.  We can go on forever and not need recognition and still survive and thrive.  (we are pretty awesome like that, right?!?).....Yet also.....that's wearing on ourselves in ways we do not realize.

So Brandon comes in with his surprising self and schedules me a massage one day (while he keeps the baby), or one day he comes home and says go get your toes done....And the ultimate surprise was my recent trip to NYC!  I am telling you what, he has always been full of surprises but being a mama now I kinda put the fun on the back burner because I have family to tend to and if I do not do it, nobody will do it! And I don't like leaving my family at home ever knowing I am having fun somewhere without them.  Brandon has gotten SO good as realizing I need that time....and MAKING me take that time.  I know sounds crazy he has to "make" me, but its true!  And it's just a challenge to other moms out there and husbands out there.....give them that break.  It does not have to be NYC by no means, but that night out with the girls, date night that he plans for y'all, the trip to starbucks and he watches the babies, let them go get their toes done, go get a massage, spend a day at the spa, let them go take a bath for an hour not even be bothered!! And moms.....Accept the Offer!!!  I promise its gonna be okay while you are gone, I promise everything is gonna still be there when you get back, and I promise you don't realize how much you need it....but when you get home you realize how refreshed and renewed your spirit is.  It's okay to be worn out, tired, fatigued....in fact we go and go for so long we don't even realize its that bad til we break! This hit me big time when I went to NY.  I was so excited that Brandon had surprised me with this trip, and I was even more excited to pay my mom back for all those years she had done and done for me and take her with me.  And I have to say we had an awesome time.

 I missed my boys so much while I was gone...there is nothing I love more than the time I spend with them laughing, playing in the front yard, going on walks....but the renewed mind and spirit I had coming back into the house was worth leaving them for a short time!!!  Be willing to take time for yourself, because its not being selfish at all! It's you refreshing yourself to be able to keep doing what you love to do in the end and thats take care of your family!

My favorite times are being with my boys!! 

What a difference a year can make!!

I can remember bringing in the New Year 2011 with Brandon at the Bi-Lo Center celebrating with our church Redemption and just thinking about all the year had to hold.  Birthdays, Anniversaries, the normal stuff and then many many first!  Birth of our First son, First Mother's Day, First Father's Day, First holidays with a new family member, and oh just how exciting it all sounded on that night.  We had so much to look forward to!  But no thought that night could have ever prepared me for those moments that I got to experience!

The day Karson was born what a memory!!  What an awesome experience to have with Brandon and to go through together.  But the memories from that day are overwhelming.  That first cry, first time you hold him in your arms, first prayer as a family, first time talking to Karson, first family picture (yeah I'm big on pictures!) first bath, first night together.  Truly just an experience that you can't even explain or put into words!  (And they automatically prepare you to be a close family because they give you this really small room to stay in while at the hospital so you get pretty tight! :)

And then to celebrate your first mothers day and first fathers day.  Things that you have celebrated with your parents for years and now its your turn.  But I can also remember sitting back and saying....is this really happening?  Oh how I long to be the best mom to my precious child! And can it be that Mother's Day is one of my favorite times now....yeah I think so! Not a day to pamper mommy....but for me it was a reminder as to why I do all I do.  It helped me to realize I take care of my husband and my sweet baby because I LOVE to.  It's what I was born to do (if you ask me!) And although it takes quite the energy out of me to do all that I want to for them it's also the gift God has given me.  And may I never take a day for granted that I take care of them because it's my calling!! And to see my family honor me was just a small reminder to me that everything I do whether seen or done behind closed doors for them is all absolutely worth it!!  Becoming a mom has showed me more of my worth and why I am here and I am so honored to have this as a new roll!  

And then to honor Brandon on Father's Day!  I know for a fact Karson will grow up wanting to be just like his daddy!  A warrior, a leader, someone our family can count on, disciplined, determined, dedicated!  He's the whole package....what an awesome example Karson has to follow and look up to!

Our first summer together going to the beach spending time with family and friends.  New family traditions. His first time out to the dove field, his first thanksgiving, first time out to the land, his first christmas! 

 So many memories from this year that I will forever cherish.  And pictures are a great reminder that we will all look back on someday, but the memories I have stored up I will always remember!  This year was AMAZING!  Just a true blessing that I am so thankful for!  

But I know I can close and still say....THE BEST IS YET TO COME!!!!  So we welcome in 2012 with open arms, open heart, and open direction to what God has in store for us! 

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

 Ephesians 3:20-21

Karson's First Christmas

Another first in our life with Karson!  Enjoying the christmas holiday.  Getting older anyone could probably agree it just becomes another holiday, with the same traditions, and almost like making sure we do everything we have always done every year!  But this year brought some new enjoyment and excitement with Karson.

I put up our christmas tree right before Thanksgiving because I knew we would be traveling and I wanted to enjoy it when we got back from Sumter.  I loved it this year as I decorated it a little more off the fact that we have a little one in the family.  Then Karson and I made his first christmas ornament to go on the tree.  He was not so excited about me painting his hand and foot to put on the ornament but you gotta do what you gotta do right :)

We decided to take him to Riverbank Zoo to look at all the lights.  We left one day after Brandon got off work and went to get supper and then headed to the zoo.  Of course he is not at the age to really appreciate it and talk back to us but he loves staring at lights so we figured it would be something we could all enjoy together.  And I am sure now we will go back next year and he will be saying "lights, lights, lights!"

He got his first pair of Christmas pajamas to wear christmas night (which I must say were adorable!) and although he didn't realize what was going on Christmas morning we were filled with joy having him with us! We started our morning just like we do every morning playing in the bed and laughing with one another.  

He of course loved playing with the wrapping paper, boxes, and anything unusual for children to play with!  

  

But that didn't stop him from being spoiled rotten by all of his grandparents, aunts, and uncles!  He got quite the mix of toys to bring back home with us. We started at my parents house that morning and then made our way to Brandon's parents house.  Where Karson was finally getting the hang of this?!?....Oh no not so much...still just enjoying the paper!

Yep...I think I'll eat this!

The last gift Karson opened was a lifetime hunting and fishing license from his Grandpa and a wooden gun that his grandpa had carved and painted himself.  Needless to say, Karson's Daddy was pretty excited about this (and one day Karson will be to!)

Oh yeah and Uncle Michael got a gun from Aunt JoJo....these boys had a good christmas!

Another wonderful holiday making lasting memories with my precious family!!!  What a year 2011 has been and what a blessing God has given us in our son Karson Clay Kinder! 

"Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen." 1 Timothy 1:17