Brady's First Day...

Ok, so apparently I've been on a blogging break...I've tried, but just couldn't get myself together enough to take the time to write down some stories of our life lately!! So here I am, documenting Brady's first day of school. In October. Late October. Almost November. But it's about to be documented!!

Can my baby boy really be in his last year of preschool before he starts Kindergarten? He tells me all the time how ready he is for Kg...how much fun he will have....and how he things maybe he really is 5 instead of just 4. Big boy...

Brady has been looking forward to being in the "upstairs class" where you don't even need your nap mat at school! He was BESIDE himself excited to get to class on the first day - woke up extra early with a huge grin on his face and bounced out of bed. I took him to school that morning - usually it is Monica or Donny who take and pick up while I'm at work. It was so fun to be a part of my baby's first day of school...and yes, I cried on the way out. Mostly because June Paul (director since we've been going there) greeted Brady at the door with a big hug and looked up at me and said, "Kendra - he's supposed to be LITTLE!" Oh dear. She was right. My baby isn't little anymore and there is no stopping his growth rate now. So I guess I'll embrace my big boy Brady and soak up every moment I can! I treasure this little guy more than he could ever know!

Cute little Claire Stone walked in with buddy Brady

June Paul (right before she had to make that tear bringing statement!!)
Cousin Pic! So thankful these guys are at school together - Donny and Monica car pool with the kids
Mrs. Parkey and Mrs. Hembree (Nathy to me - she was a GOOD friend in college!)
Buddy Bryson Burgess - they were sitting next to each other at first, but chatty buddies that they are, I think they were reassigned to different seats by the end of the day!

Labor Day Fun....

This is what we call "getting caught up on the blog"...so here we go! And, yes, once again the design is "under construction"...I figure a blog design is like hair - so easy to change and there are periods where it's just not the cutest as you try to get to a new "style" so if anyone actually reads these anymore, that's why its crazy looking!

Both the Vaughn families took a trip out West to be with Nana and Papa over Labor Day weekend this year. This was the first time we had all been together in Littlefield since way before Donny's dad's stroke. It was good to be there - there is something so sweet about being at your grandparents house, playing in the house where your Dad played, running around outside and seeing the things he saw when he was growing up. Our kids LOVE being there and we are so thankful!

The "Lubbock Vaughns" (Donny's older brother and his family) were able to join us in shifts as their schedule allowed, which meant we got to meet Laura's new little baby, Lily Ann! We were all pretty much smitten with her from the first moment we saw her for sure! Laura is walking the challenging road of single parenthood - she has great support from her parents and sisters, but no matter how you slice it, it's a hard road to have to travel down. We admire her courage and her determination to do the best for her baby girl. Love them!

The 3 Vaughn Men and the Parents! A picture like this hasn't happened in a LONG time...

Fun Memory - we had "family church" the weekend we were there, but it ended up being Kelly and I with the kids. We had praise music playing and kids playing toy instruments. Loved it!

Papa's mom, Granny, has been in the local nursing home up the road from Nana and Papa's house - we went to visit her. She asked us to sing (we did it!), she met Lily, and we had fun chatting with Granny.
A Vaughn Family gathering is not complete without a "Pizza and Sonic" meal, right?

THIS is the life!!

I really love snuggling with sweet little punkins like this one!
Aunt Toni took the kids on a "rope walk" around the neighborhood...she sensed they needed some fresh air - she was right! And everyone had a ball!

My oldest is in LOVE with babies. He sure loved snuggling with little Lily!

Kelly and I decided we did NOT want to be called "Great Aunt K...", so we changed our names to "Great Kelly" and "Great Kendra"!

Blessings!