Tison turns 4......Happy Birthday Son!!!

(I took this picture last year and it is one of my favorites of his sweet face)

("BUDDIES")

(His 2nd Birthday)

Tison's 1st bed

(Finishing his Birthday Cake on his 1st birthday)

(Daddy and Tison)

(Nicole and Tison)

(Michelle and Tison)

(SLEEPING at the hospital)

(The day after he was born)

I can't believe that another year has gone by! Today this little man turns 4.

He has brought so much JOY to all of our lives. The day he was born the girls were so excited to have a new little baby brother. They both "mama'd him. As these past 4 years have gone by he has truly shown us what a "little man" he is. He is the biggest helper in the world. Always wanting to help me with chores around the house and wanting to do everything Daddy does. He told us a few weeks ago that he wanted a black suit just like Daddy's for church. So this morning before church he will be opening his very first black suit (He has always had a little coat to wear, but never a suit) :). Tison is such a wonderful and caring "big brother" to his "little brother" Blaine. He shares everything with him and makes sure he is okay. Over the past year they have really become "BUDS". I hope they always will be. Tison has the "BIGGEST" and "SWEETEST" heart. He loves to tell me that I am pretty or beautiful every once in a while. What mother wouldn't love that coming from her little man? I just LOVE everything about him. He has such a fun loving personality and a GREAT sense of humor. He loves to play and laugh. Not a day goes by that he doesn't bring a smile to all of our faces.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TISON

We ALL love you!

So Much to Tell...

It has been well over a year now since my last blog post, but I am going to start back again within the next week. It took me a while after having Blaine (our 4th child) to get back into a nice organized routine. I feel like I am finally getting there, 2 years later....is that sad? :) There is so much to tell about from our first garden, to our new patio, our summer vacation, our return to school, and some home renovations. I will be back after labor day with a new post. I am helping a friend with her wedding on Saturday and my thoughts and time are focused on that right now. Then Tison will be turning 4 on Sunday....I can't believe it........so I'm having to get things ready for his little birthday celebration. I hope everyone has a WONDERFUL and SAFE Labor Day weekend!
Love,
Gladys :)

Pablo, Tiana and Family

We were also lucky to have Tiana and Pablo Driaza with there 2 beautiful children come and visit. We had a delicious barbeque meal that Paul prepared and a wonderful dessert that my dear friend Anne-Marie made for all of us. We had such a fun time reconnecting. It had been quite a few years since we have seen each other. Thank you Tiana and Pablo for taking the time out of your vacation to come and see us. We had so much fun!

Coey and Mia-their adorable children!
Nicole, Michelle, Coey, Tison, and Mia
Anne-Marie (my very best friend of 16 years) and my son Blaine. Her husband Chris was sick and could not be with us that night. We missed you Chris!
GOOD FRIENDS-nothings better!!

My good lookin' chef! Thank you for the meal Paul....it was DELICIOUS!!!

My beautiful friend with her dessert masterpiece which we finished off at breakfast the next morning.......mmmmm good! Thank you Anne-Marie!

Pablo and Tiana, we can't wait to hang out again soon. Hurry and come back to Florida!

Heidi, Lincoln, Paige, and Kloe Russell

(Heidi and Me at Mimi's Cafe enjoying a very YUMMY breakfast. We were lucky enough to have some girl time while Paul watched the kids. I have to be married to one of the greatest men on this earth. He can really do anything, anything he wants and is always so willing to watch the kids so I can have some time for myself ....every once in a while. I love him with all my heart-Thank you-Paul!!)

We were so lucky this month to have a visit from a dear friend who I miss living by so very much. Heidi came with her 3 beautiful children to spend a day and night with us. It was a real treat. We had lots of FUN! The last time Heidi and Matt were able to come and visit us was almost 4 years ago. We missed visiting with Matt this time around, but hope to make a trip up to see them in the near future. All of the children had such a fun time together. Licoln kept on asking Heidi if they could stay another day and Paige was HILARIOUS.....just so full of life and so outgoing. She kept on making these little excited squealing sounds. We had a little picnic planned for them and went to a park nearby our home to eat. We enjoyed visiting while the kids played!

Lincoln, Nicole, Michelle, and Paige

Little Kloe....so photogenic!
Lincoln...being his fun and silly little self. He is such a sweet boy!

Tison pushing Michelle on the swing!

Paige pushing Tison on the swing.

Poor Blaine rubbing those eyes. There were so many nats around that evening. You can see one sitting on his right cheek. Poor boy!

So sweet! Paige and Michelle holding hands.

Paige showing us her chocolate brownie filled hands and mouth. Her expressions cracked me up while they were here. What a beauty!

Paul told them bedtime stories that night. Tison is laying down right behind Paige.

Thank you my beautiful friend for such a great time. You always bring such happiness with you. Miss you and love you!

COUSIN'S CAMP 2009

ELISE, AUDREY, NICOLE, CAMILLE, MICHELLE, and TISON(barely in the left hand corner)

Each year my husbands side of the family does something called "Cousins Camp". This was the 2nd year of it with this group of girls. This year we were lucky enough to have them all stay with us for a couple of days in July and I was able to plan a fun time for them. Paul and I love all our nieces and nephews so much. We have 26 nieces and nephews on his side of the family, plus a grand niece and another grand niece/nephew that is on the way. And on my side of the family we have 1 nephew and 1 niece and another niece/nephew on the way. We were so grateful for the time we had with 3 of our nieces over cousins camp. It gave us an opportunity to get to know them better. We hope they come back again soon!

DAY 1

Three of these sweet girls arrived at our home. They played dress up and did a little modeling show. We decorated some aprons for a craft project. They played outside in our playhouse and on the slide. They had a chicken nugget smiley face lunch. They had swim time at the Solomon's Monday evening and played in the castle with the Solomon's grandson, Landon. Wherever the girls were Tison was. He enjoyed his cousins too!

"OUR BEAUTIFUL BUNCH"

"IS IT TIME FOR BED YET? WE NEED OUR BEAUTY SLEEP."

MAKING APRONS AND PLAYING OUTSIDE!

BLAINE JOINING IN ON THE FUN

SWIMMING AT THE SOLOMON'S HOME AND SOME CASTLE FUN.

THANK YOU DENNIS AND EDIE!

DAY 2
They woke up very happy and excited the next morning. We had a fun filled day planned. They had a "YUMMY" Dunkin Donuts breakfast and then we got ready and went to the Science Center where they played in a hurricane wind tunnel, slid down intenstinal walls and stood in a nasal cavity, made their own potato head faces, Tison drove them on a jeep Safari through Potato Head land, and then collected oranges on a little orange farm. They were very hard workers. My brother Chris came down to visit as well while going to audition for American Idol. They all had a blast! When we got back from the Science Center they had popcorn and watched "Bed Time Stories"....LOVE that movie!

"SPA NIGHT"

COUSINS CAMP '09

Tuesday evening I did a spa night and ice cream sundae night with the girls. We painted our toe nails and wore our bath robes. I did glacial mud masks on them and cucumbers for their eyes. They had so much fun and felt very pampered. :) I think you can tell which feet are mine, but can you tell which feet are my girls feet? I think one of them is very obvious.....Nicole and I have the same feet.

LOVE THE PICTURE OF THE GIRLS AND THE ONES OF TISON AND BLAINE JOINING IN ON THE FUN!

"COUSINS FOREVER"
Wednesday morning we did another craft where we made hair bows out of flowers and then they had lunch and I drove to drop them off.....BITTERSWEET!