Kasaundra, & Brad
Brad and I are heading towards 12 years of marriage. We have faced so many things together it's hard to believe we are still together some times. He puts up with a lot but on the other side so do I. I think that is part of marriage. I love him and would never change him for anything in the world (most of the time.) We are still on the family farm and growing as a couple and family.
Vanessa (10)
I know the minute she sees I put 10 she is going to tell me in should be 11 because her birthday is only a little over 2 weeks away. But I want to keep her little as long as I can. Plus I'm the mom so that is my right!! Vanessa is growing so fast. She really is growing into an amazing young woman! She loves school (I know that didn't come from me so I guess she really is more Brad in a lot of ways!) She enjoys reading and math. Her and Baylie fight like sisters so over Christmas break this last year we added a room and she moved into her own room. She loves having her own space and not having to share with her sister. We just finished her room in the last couple of weeks. I will take pictures when she gets it clean and post them. It is so her!! Bright and fun!! Vanessa is doing orchestra this year in school and is learning to play the bass. I told her she was tall enough to play the bass or one of the larger instruments so she decided she would try it instead of the violin. So far she is really enjoying it. Vanessa is helping on the farm here and there. She milks a couple times a month. I wouldn't say she loves it like Baylie but she doesn't mind it either. She is more our girly girl!! I keep telling her it doesn't matter if she likes being at the farm or not this is our life and she has to work at the farm just like all of our kids will have to. I think she is starting to enjoy it more then she says because we don't have to force her to go any more.
Baylielynn (9)
I am the only one that calls her Baylielynn any more she goes by Baylie. Not that I'm that surprised because she has always liked Baylie. It has grown on me over the years and her name really does fit her. She is our little pixie, plus she is more me then I think Brad or I were prepared for. She can be the most loving person and also very aggressive. She hates being told what to do and will fight you the whole way. (I told you she really is more me then Brad.) She enjoys school but I really think it is more the social part of school. She does enjoy reading but it has to be her idea pretty much like everything else. But I really wouldn't have her any other way. I have always told Brad if we could only have 2 kids on our own at least we got one of each of us!! Baylie loves the farm and enjoys going with Brad. She keeps telling us that when she grows up she is going to live and work on the farm. We keep asking her what she is going to do if her husband doesn't want to be on the farm? She just tells us that she won't marry them if they don't want to be on the farm. I always laugh and think if only love was that easy. But then to a 9 year old it really is!!
Brayden (3)
Brayden is our little miracle. I will probably always think of him like that. Because he was the greatest unselfish gift anyone has ever given us. Brayden was placed with us when he was one day old and has been a blessing in our home even before he was born. Every day I thank Heavenly Father for our beautiful and loving birth mother. We love her dearly for the gift she gave us. We do know our birth father and we did get the chance to meet him several times. And we are also grateful to him for letting us raise and be Brayden's parents. I just pray everyday that we can live up to this gift.
Brayden is nonstop go which I am told is normal for a little boy. He has broken more things in our house then both of our girls put together. But I still love him. (I keep telling people that I wasn't build to be a boys mom, but it is all said in fun. I wouldn't change him for a girl ever!!) He has had some health problems and he will face some for the rest of his life. He is a fighter and doesn't let anything hold him back or stop him. He just deals with it and moves on. He is such an inspiration to me and our family. He is changing and growing so fast. He changes a little everyday. We are working on potty changing and that has been a fun experience. My girls were hard but he might win this one! He loves mickey mouse, movies, cars, animals, and cartoons! He also enjoys going to the farm at least once he gets there, but he has to put up a fight before he gets there. But give him another couple months and then he will want to be with his dad at the farm. Every afternoon he will come to me and ask "Where's dad?" and then before I can answer him he'll say "At the farm!" I think he just likes to remind me that he knows.
We really are blessed in so many ways it's hard to believe! I look back over the years and I can see Heavenly Fathers hand in everything that we have faced and over came. I love my family!! Brad and I are two of the most luckiest people in the world. First to find each other and then to have been blessed with our three amazing children. I know we always wanted a big family but I wouldn't change the family we have for a dozen kids.
I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!
