One Thousand Gifts

 Here is what our first week of June looked like:

I saw a bird sitting on our deck and took a picture through the (dirty) window and screen.

Apparently, Bradley not only likes dressing up himself, but also his stuffed animals.

This Pooh Bear did have this shirt on already, however. That has been on since Brad was a baby.

 

 Tyler enjoyed playing with a new garage-sale-find toy!

 He also enjoyed swinging and being pushed by Daddy.

 Bradley enjoyed eggs and toast for dinner one night.

I was collecting flowers for Brad on a walk, and we spotted quite a few bees collecting pollen from the clover flowers.

 

One Thousand Gifts~Two Weeks Worth

 I have been terrible about blogging regularly. So here is two weeks worth of my photos:

I'm thankful that Brad likes to draw and write. 

We definitely do not practice as much as we should, but he does fairly well when we do.

 We were thankful to have friends over one day.

Charlie and Tyler were having fun at the window.

  

My Little Ty Baby had a grocery shopping date with Mommy and he fell asleep on the way there and the whole time we were in the store.

 Brad loves dressing up and can become a firefighter while he is at pre-school.

He looks really little in this photo. :)

Brad had fun garage-saling (I don't think that's a word but I'm using it anyway) in his friend Robbie's wagon.

 

 On a blazing hot day, Mommy took Bradley and Tyler to an outdoor get-together, (while Daddy was busy with errands) so that he could have his first horse ride!

I wasn't sure about it at first, but the horse was old and lazy, and two adults were leading the horse and making sure he did not fall off.

He got to go around the ring twice.

I'm thankful Tyler is big enough to sit in the cart with Bradley now.

I love that I have grocery store pictures of them (don't be afraid- I was, but then read a blog post about a Mom who encouraged me to take them anyway!).

I do want to work on these types of photos, though. I had better composed photos than this, (a little farther away from them, right in front of them, and you could see the isles better and more of the cart and their feet) but they were blurry because I am still shy about taking photos of them in public places like stores.

I shouldn't care what other people think, though. I'll definitely look at these photos years later and cherish them!

Brad sometimes likes to ride around in the walker. :)

Ty Baby loves that he can get to things he could before.

 I have discovered that keeping a pack and play for outdoor use is wonderful for when I want to keep Tyler contained for a bit while I garden or play with Brad.

Yes, he can be on the ground next to me while I garden, but sometimes it is nice to know he is safe with some toys in the shade near me. :)

One morning, before Brad was up, Tyler practiced walking around with the shopping cart. He was doing really well with it!

 I am thankful that Brad loves to use his imagination and dress up.

He decided this was how his outfit should be one day. The vest went on first, then the dress shirt.

One Thousand Gifts

 Here is what I was thankful for last week:

Tyler crawling around and getting into trouble.

 The boys playing outside on a blanket one evening.

 Tyler watching his brother ride his tricycle on the deck while I made dinner.

 Bradley sneaking in on Tyler's picture.

 Bradley so happy to mow with Daddy.

 Bleeding heart plant my mom gave me for Mother's Day.

One Thousand Gifts

 I took a lot of pictures this past week, but most of the ones I am posting for this are of Tyler.

Here is Ty playing on a blanket in the grass.

He had fun picking the grass and playing with it.

 He has been crawling so well, so now he gets into things!

My boys love being able to ride in the shopping cart together.

Tyler quickly got the hang of using the steering wheel. :)

 

 I loved capturing Tyler crawling over to the kitchen play set and exploring.

 There is a bush on our property that is actually two bushes growing in the same spot.

We did not know this until this bush pictured here, bloomed. 

Pleasant surprise!

Although, the poor bushes are so tangled up and too large now to try and separate.

 Here is a picture of Tyler in a special spot my friend Lindsay took us to to take pics of our kids.

I loved this shale walk way.

One Thousand Gifts

 Here are some things I was thankful for last week:

My 3 year old practicing to write.

Apparently he will be left-handed.

It's "too hard" for him to use his right hand.

 A happy baby boy!

Also very proud of himself that he can finally sit up from laying down....

 ....and he can also pull himself up to standing. :)

I am thankful for bright sunshine in my kitchen during the late afternoon and evening hours.

I got Tyler giggling for this photo and I loved to hear it!

 My big boy put on a sweater that was one of my favorites for him, even though it is too small. :)

 Brad posed for this picture with Daddy before he went to play paint ball.

I told him Daddy looked like a G.I. Joe.

One Thousand Gifts

 The boys and I had a fun and full week last week.

Tyler started to eat graham crackers! He can now feed himself with finger foods. :)

(These pictures a bit out of order)

 We all had fun at mom's group, and this was where Tyler learned to eat a graham cracker.

Here is Bradley and Felicity.

She was eating a squeeze yogurt and they were a definite hit with the kids!

 I had the best brie cheese I've had yet! It was the grocery store's brand, and the flavor was perfect!

 I took this picture of Brad one night when he was having a hard time falling asleep. I like getting pictures of him with his toys, so he can look back and remember. :)

  

One day Tyler "helped" me organize his clothes and put away the ones that are too small for him

 We have had some rainy days and Tyler enjoyed looking out the window for a bit with Daddy.

One Thousand Gifts

 What I was thankful for last week:

Bradley drinking milk out of a "chocolate milk straw." 

It was a gift he got for Easter from his grandma and he enjoyed it. :)

Tyler holding on to a graham cracker (but not eating it, he did that for the first time today!).

 Tyler playing in the grass.

 Bradley practicing his B's, with his left hand because that is what he prefers.

He was reprimanded by Daddy for using his side walk chalk on the house but Daddy was also proud. :)

 It took this photo at the beginning of the week; these are our colored Easter eggs.

 And, finally, the last picture, Tyler likes to stand by himself, and now he does it leaning against Brad's bed facing out!

We're so thankful for our boys!

One Thousand Gifts

 We had a long, but wonderful week.

Taking daily photos (or trying to!) not only makes me find things to be thankful for, but also helps me see what I need to work on with taking photographs.

Such as limb chopping:

Where's Ty Baby's hand? :)

 Here Bradley and I are getting everything ready to color the Easter eggs.

 One day Bradley found a one-winged fly crawling around outside.

 Ty Baby loves playing with Brad in Brad's room.

For this photo I should have composed it better and moved that potty (I need to move it permanently- we shouldn't be letting Brad still use it:), and stuffed animal from the background.

 I'm thankful that I painted my toes quick one day(this was another day, not the same day- they were already chipped) when Brad and I were outside during Tyler's nap.

I don't do that often enough.

 For my last photo, I'm thankful that Brad has a big imagination and loves to constantly dress up and change his clothes.

This is his most favorite outfit (for now): 

His "best" (vest- underneath the shirt),

his "green shirt," and "fall down pants." 

I bought those pants at a consignment sale, they are size 6 for when he is older but he insists on wearing them at home.

Also, I wish I got his feet in this picture. I need to remember not to limb-chop in photos. :)

I'm definitely feeling thankful for my family right now. David and I are celebrating 7 years, we just had Tyler's first Easter, and it was fun for Brad this year finding eggs, I was reminded not to take life for granted. 
A woman I played sports with in high school, is now a widow and has to raise her two precious young children on her own. 
Her husband died at the very young age of 27.
It was a shock so if you are reading this can you please pray for Lissy and her young daughter and son. 
We don't know how long we have on this earth, it is good to remember that God is in control, and to cast all our anxiety and cares on Him.
 That's what I have to keep reminding myself anyway.

Also, I keep forgetting to link to Ann Voskamp in these One Thousand Gift posts, so here is her button: