NC Fun

Greetings from NC! We have been here for almost two week now. It is good to be back home, and the kids love all the outdoor space to run around and be free! Unfortunately, Tyler was unable to come with us on this trip because of work. I have never been away from him for so long, and I am missing him! Here are a few pictures of the kids and their fun so far.

They were having a great time helping Mi-mi in the garden, and before I knew it Addy was eating dirt. Yum!

Then Daws made this contraption out of some pipes my dad had in his shed. He was pretty happy with the results.

I cringed when Addy started playing in the mud, but I decided to let her do it anyway. I was glad I did bc her and Dawson had a blast playing in the hose together.

Sprayed in the face!

I had my 24th birthday a few days after I got here, and Tyler surprised me by sending roses. They are so pretty! Thanks babe!

This is a very random pic of me, but I decided to post it bc it is the only pic I have that shows my belly. I am abt 23 weeks along here.

Last Saturday the weather was beautiful and warm so I took the kids to the beach. Savannah and Andrew came with us, and my best friend, Kathleen, her new husband, Scott, and her nephews and niece came along too. The kids absolutely loved it!!

I'm looking rough, but I just had to post a pic of me and my BFF.

Addy eating sand, and my beautiful sister, Savannah.

Dawson was absolutely drenched my this point.

Hopefully I will have some more NC updates soon!

Ok, I know it has been a long, long, time since I have been on here. I think that is mostly because I have been putting off uploading all my photos. But I decided that lots has happened and I can put up pictures next time. This time I will just update and share some thoughts.
We moved in with Tyler's parents on January 24th. We have been busy getting adjusted to that. I will admit that at first I struggled. Not because Tyler's family is hard to live with, but because having a very mischievous  3-year-old and a very active 1-year-old living in someone else's house was stressful! I was always worried they were going to break something or be too loud. Anyway, I am finally figuring out my routine, ways to keep the kids entertained, out of trouble, and out of Uncle Carson's things. One thing that I at first thought was a trial but turned out to be a blessing was my time. When I lived in Harrisville, in my own home, own  community, and near all my friends, I always has something to do, somewhere to go, something to clean. There was just always something that I felt needed to be done. When I moved here all of that changed. I didn't have all the errands to run, as many meals to cook, as much space to clean, or as many people to visit. I started to feel bored and panicky. But one day as I played with my children and saw how happy they were to have me just be with them, I realized more free time is a blessing. I get to spend more precious moments with them, and be a bigger influence in their lives. I think that was on thing living here is supposed to teach me. How to be more patient with my children, and how to play with them and enjoy them more. I have always tried to do that, but this experience has taught me that I wasn't as good a that as I thought I was.
So on top of my stress with moving, I had a couple other trials come into my life at about the same time. There were a few days where I just didn't know how I could make it through the day, but somehow I did. Not well though. Finally I realized that I had a loving Heavenly Father just waiting to help me, and I wasn't really relying o him. Once I fully relied on him, and put my trust in him, things started to turn around. I felt more peace, which transcended into all the other areas of my life, and I really learned how trials can make us stronger if we use Heavenly Father to help us through them. Today I was thinking about how blessed Tyler and I are! Yes trials come as well as blessings, but those trials make me appreciate the blessing so much much more. Anyway, today I was feeling so thankful and happy, and had the feeling I should write down my feeling so I wouldn't forget them!
In other news, I am 21 weeks pregnant and we found out we are having another little BOY!! We are so excited! Dawson wants to name him "Buzz" after Buzz Lightyear, and says he is going to teach him how to ride a bike. Oh just melt my heart, why don't you, Dawson. I told Dawson he can call the baby Buzz if he wants to but his official name will be Tyler Brooks, and we will call him Brooks. 
I will post pictures of the kids next time and give updates on them:)