A weekend of celebration

Aidan's football team had the honor to play in the state football playoffs last weekend. It just happened to be on his birthday. I don't think if you had told him in July when football started, that he would be playing football on his birthday...he probably would think you were crazy. Chosen by the state as one of the top 8-6 year old teams, they were invited to play in a state tournament against the best of the best. Because of the temps being as cold as they have, we have had to practice inside. The team we played is an "all star" team from their region in Macon and only play with 8 boys on the field (which in my opinion is not football...you play with 11 boys in football). Anyways, we wanted coaches on the field and to have that, we had to drop down to 8 players. Huge difference for our boys. We ended up loosing the game, but the second play of the game this happened......

Yes, that would be Aidan scoring a touchdown on this birthday. Even though he rushed for over a 100 yards, they came up short. No person could have given him a better birthday present, than to score a touchdown. We are so proud of how hard he has worked. Mommy is sure glad she doesn't have to sit over 8 hours a week at football. I think the girls think the same thing! Until next year.....
Aidan and his shirt. Can you find Dawson Co. Aidan thought it was pretty cool that they were at the top.

The Kudlas family isn't doing any formal birthday parties anymore (at least for a few years), so this is what Aidan chose to do after we had lunch at O Charlies.

This time with family is so precious. I don't want to waste it with silly parties and lots of gifts. These memories they will hold so much more!
Carsyn even got to bowl this year with a little help from Daddy and Grammie.

When we got home, he opened gifts from the fam.

And ate the requested oreo icecream cake.

What an awesome weekend filled with lots of memories.

Happy 7th Birthday Aidan!

Interview with a 7 year old

Before we start the interview, Aidan insists on looking at the questions and answers from last year. He was denyed access..so the interview begins...Mommy (M)-What is your favorite color?

Aidan (A)- Yellow

M-Why?

A-Because I like Michigan and it is better than black.

M-What is your favorite food?

A-Your mac and cheese with hotdogs and peas in it.

M-What food do you dislike?

A-Grilled kabbobs, because of the huge onions.

M-(Not known to Aidan, but I hate the onions too! I only put them on there to help season the meat.)

M-What do you want to be when you grow up?

A-Football player is what I am thinking about in college.

M-What about after?

A-Teacher

M-Where?

A-1st grade at Coal Mountain.

M- Wow, you have really thought about that. What college do you want to go to?

A-GA State

M-WHAT?

A-Well, because they had a first year football team this year and they were awful and I can make them better.

M-And?

A-Of course, Michigan.

M-What do you like about school?

A-Math and special projects.

M-(They are traveling around the world learning about Chirstmas in other countries.)

M-What do you like to do at home and with your sisters?

A-Playing with my football characters and finding Jackson (this is our "elf on a shelf"). I also like to play soccer with my sisters.

M-If you could take a trip anywhere, where would it be?

A-To Germany, because it has been a long time since I got to go there and see Alex.

M-Tell me about Upstreet at church. What do you like about it?

A- It is fun, because I got Cailen for a small group leader again and we learn lots of things about the bible and about giving to others like this summer we raised money for Haiti.

Like I say every year, this boy amazes us everyday. His determination, drive and love for life inspires us! God has blessed us and we are blessed to be this boy's mommy and daddy!

My baby at 7

Happy Happy Happy Birthday to our 7 year old,

Aidan Bradley!

Love you little man!

It was a cold one!

We have finally started to thaw from our trip to Michigan. You may be thinking, "Yeah, but it is really cold here right now." Not even close. After living here almost 10 years, I can not handle Michigan cold temps. It was about 26 everyday, and the windchill was in the teens. This is unusually cold for Thanksgiving, but nevertheless, WOW it was bitterly cold. Day 1-3 of our vacation, we went to my parents in SC where I found this sweet pea.

The girls and I drove to Michigan with my brother and mom. Day 4-8 we spend somewhere different every night visiting people or wonderful hotels. The girls were GREAT. I never once pulled out the DVD player while traveling. They were my dream girls while on this trip. It made up for how tired I was! Here is our Thanksgiving table in Michigan (before dinner), graciously hosted by my cousin Ben and his wife Jesse and their 3 children children. We had 30 people at dinner. Lots of memories, lots of laughs!

I woke up with my cousin Karen and went black friday shopping and it was snowing. By midmorning it looked like this.

Our main reason for going to MI was to attend my cousin Daniel's wedding. Here is his bride Shelby and her father walking her down the isle.

The wedding was in our old stomping ground of Kalamazoo, MI. It is always so great to go back and see old friends. Here is Uncle Drew dancing with Carsyn.

Our last day, we went and had a nice lunch with Grandma Janet and Grandpa Kudlas (and watch MI football get beat).

It was a tiring trip, but so worth it. 4 more weeks and we head back for another wedding.
After driving all night, the girls and I arrived home just in time to help finish Aidan's cake for his football banquet. It turned out pretty cute and was a huge hit.

A continuation...

To explain more on Aidan's football season...
This newspaper article was posted in the paper last week while we were in MI.

We are so proud of our little man. Praying for his safety and for the teams safety as they travel into Atlanta this weekend to play some difficult state ranked teams.

Good luck TIGERS!

Champs

As most of you have seen on facebook...Congrats to the Champs! Not only have they exceeded expectations, but made history in Dawson County. More to come later...but for now here are a couple pics from that day. The girls and I are off to Michigan for the week. Have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving!

Play on

It has happened! We are so thrilled for Aidan and his team. MANY people said they couldn't do it...not even one game. They proved them all wrong. With a little faith and determination in these little boys, anything can happen! Good luck boys! We are so proud of you!

The annual trip

Our annual trip to Kinsey's Farm. Love this place and LOVE the pictures I get of the kids here!

Interview with a 5 year old

I decided to ask Brenna the same questions as last year to see how much the answers have changed. Surprisingly, many of them have not changed. Check out here to see last years interview. Her personality has not changed since I carried her for 9 months. Her spirited, always moving, never a dull moment, wants to be on her own time little girl is still the same.

Mommy (M)-What is your favorite color?

Brenna (B)- Pink

M-What do you want to be when you grow up?

B-A ballet dancer.

M-What is your favorite thing to do at school?

B-Play on the playground. (You think this will still be her favorite in high school?)

M-What is your favorite thing to do at church?

B-Eat snacks. (They do always have good snacks at BBCC)

M-What do you learn about at church?

B-Moses and stuff.

M-What is your favorite food?

B-Mac and cheese and peanut butter and jelly, but not in the bread, in the wrap.

M-What makes you happy?

B-Mommy and Daddy. (She really can be sweet!)

M-I know you like jokes. Can you tell me a good joke?

B-Why did the chicken cross the road? (Yes, this is the same from last year.)

M-Why

B-He didn't make it across the road because he was hit by a car.

M-HA HA!

M-What are you looking forward most to being 5?

B-Being at Aidan's school (she already is, but has been looking forward to that since she was 2) and riding a bike without training wheels.

We love this girl! Today in my ladies bible study I was asked to picture my children in 10 years and what kind of relationship I would like to have with them. It scares me to think that she will be 15 one day and learning how to drive! I have no doubt in the world that she will be a wonderful young lady, still making her Mommy and Daddy so proud!

Birthday girl

Happy 5th Birthday to our Brenna Caroline!

"Higher"

Carsyn says, "Higher!"

Apples

We were so excited to go apple picking this year because I finally found an orchard that grows MacIntosh in Georgia. It is a common apple grown up north, but because of our warm temps it is hard to grow down here. That was all that was grown at our family orchard in Michigan and I have missed baking without them for the last 9 years. Until now...this is the orchard that we have gone to for blueberries and cherries this year. I would TOTALLY recommend the extra drive to Blue Ridge to check it out. NO extra hidden fees in the tractor ride and no other silly attractions, just a good ole 3 generation family farm with an awesome orchards and general store. Check them out at Mercier Orchards.

They grow dwarf trees at this orchard. No "Johnny appleseed" trees. This was they can grow more trees and more apples are produced. Also a great thing about this is that your children can pick the apples and you don't have to do all the work. Here is a delicious mac waiting to be picked.

I think Carsyn ate 5 herself. They were huge and delicious!

Both bags we picked are gone and now we have to go back.

1st day for #3

I realized I never put a picture of Carsyn on her first day of school (which was nearly a month ago). Opps! She is going 2 days a week from 9-12pm to the same pre-school that I sent the other two to. Her fabulous teacher, Ms Christy is one brave women to teach 7- 2 year olds. She of course is loving school and loves her friend. I was so proud of her for being awarded the Godly Character award for Love on the second week of school. It was presented in front of the school at chapel time. How can you not love this girl when you see this smile.....

Just the two of us

Aidan and I had the house to ourselves this weekend. The girls headed off to South Carolina with Brad to go to my parents house. Brad ran an adventure mudrun race on Saturday morning with my brother and dad. We had lots of fun back home. Friday night Aidan made a fort in our bedroom.....

Saturday morning he had a game in Hiawassee up in the mountains. What about this view from their high school stadium? Amazing!
Can you find my son? Number 10? No that's because even though he rushed for over 150 yards that day and scored 1 touchdown, they always had 3 boys all over Aidan. He spend many minutes under the pile. I am so proud of how he is overcoming his anxiety!

The rest of the day we spent in Helen. We ate lunch down by the river and enjoyed window shopping, listening to music and buying some fun goodies.

I love times like these. With his 7th birthday quickly approaching, I know times like these are going to be few in the future.

I love this boy!