Happy Birthday Hubby

Today my wonderful husband turns 25! That's right. I married a younger man! Haha.

Happy Birthday Derek! I love you! May you have many more to come!

Happy Birthday G-Dub

Today is my brother-in-law Garrett's birthday!

Hope you have a wonderful day G-Dub!

I'm running...

from all the nasty germs that are out there right now. Wreaking havoc on almost all the kids in Stratton's day care and now Stratton. We had a fun filled weekend until Saturday night. Lysol, Emergen-C and bleach are my closest friends right about now.

Friday was an average day at the Williams' household. Nothing out of the ordinary. Saturday morning we all woke up. Stratton came in Derek's in my bed at around 6:30 to cuddle for a few hours. We woke up around 10am (yes that's right my 3 year old slept for 13 hours that night which is not uncommon) and Stratton greeted Derek and I with a "good morning daddy. good morning mommy." It was seriously the cutest thing ever. Saturday around noon I went and got my hair done at Concepts by Amanda. She is awesome! I highly highly recommend her. She has seriously saved my hair when it was on the brink of disaster. No more color out of a box for me anymore! Anyway, I got my hair done, went to Target and ran a few errands and then made my way back home so Derek could go get a new tattoo.

The nun is the newest addition to his arm of horrors. Haha. To be honest I'm just happy it's not another skull. He got this done all day Saturday while Stratton and I hung out at the house for a little bit with my friend Sarah who is in town from Washington State. Sarah and I have been best friends since the first day we met. Ironically we started talking to each other because we happen to sport the same ear piercing. Sarah and I have convinced each other to make lots of stupid decisions but all of them have been fun and we will never forget. She is seriously my best friend. We don't get to see each other very much anymore but we talk on the phone when we can and we video chat as much as we can. Right when we see each other it's like no time has passed since the last time we talked. I'm so happy Sarah came to visit. (She's actually bringing me lunch today too!) She especially loved getting to see Stratton and Groucho while she was here.

Grocho loved Sarah, he just went up and curled up right on her lap and started purring. It was adorable. A little after Sarah got to our house, Dale and Lisa (Derek's dad and step mom) came by and got Stratton. Around 5:30ish Sarah headed back to Cape and I made my way to Josh and Ashley's house (Derek's step brother and his wife) for Ashley's birthday party and my brother-in-law Seth's "Congratulations you got into med school" party. Stratton was sweating when I got there from playing with two other boys that were there. Around 7 Stratton and I left to go to John Hazelwood's 3rd Birthday party. My friend (and fellow blogger) Leslie had the cutest Art themed party for John. Not more than an hour after being there Stratton didn't look like he felt very well. Sure enough, I turned around as he said mom and he threw up all down the front of himself and then again on the way to the bathroom. Poor little guy was so embarrassed. Leslie was such a great help and gave us some new clothes, a towel, and  bucket for the ride home.

 Yea, the red line is the drive home. The the best road for a little guy that is sick to his stomach anyway. We made it home and he only threw up once in the truck. (in the bucket thank the Lord) I got him home and set him up in the bathroom with some pillows, a stool, and the iPad so he could watch Tom & Jerry. His favorite.

He threw up 5 times all together and only made a mess while we were at Leslie's house (sorry Les! I still owe you a towell and a new pitcher).  He acted pretty normal in between throw ups but was SUPER tired. We all wound up sleeping in the living room because I washed all of the sheet on our beds. Derek slept on the couch with Stratton for a little bit and then Derek snored so bad that Stratton climbed up in the Lazy Boy with me. Then Stratton kicked me out of the Lazy Boy and I wound up on the floor with two tiny couch pillows. Sunday Stratton was back to his normal self. We kept giving him pedialite just in case he was dehydrated. Keep Derek and I in all of your prayers that we don't get this nasty bug that is going around.

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend or at least one that was better than ours. ;)

Camping and Birthdays!

So, this is the longest I haven't blogged in some time now. For that I am truly sorry. Not really. I've kind of enjoyed this short time off from blogging to just enjoy what life is throwing at me. School is speeding up and work is slowing down. I've been making some great projects in both my classes. It's nice to have a balance of working with my hands in actual mediums like clay and online working on some really fun and great websites.

Two weekends ago Stratton and I joined my mom, dad, sister, and Marcus to go camping and work on the Ozark Trail in Steelville, Mo at the Bass River Resort. This is our 4th event that Stratton and I have been to. We had so much fun getting to spend time with the family and not to mention getting to see all our OTA friends. Stratton loves the outdoors and loves getting to spend time with the family. Here are some pictures from the weekend.
We got Stratton a new pair of rain boots. He loved them to say the least. He got to walk in the mud!

 This cute little girls name is Daisy May. Isn't she the sweetest little thing you've ever seen?

 Such a big boy in his big boots!

 My mom and Stratton giving the morning pep talk.

 

 Dennis, Kaya and Mia our OTA buddies!

 Daisy May

 Stratton and Mommy getting to ride in Grandpa's truck to see the trail.

We didn't make it to the trail before he fell asleep. Poor little guy was tuckered out.

 

 After his power nap we found a "haya stick" (like karate haya)

 Our friend Emily brought her dog Beau. He kept barking at Stratton and hid under the camper. Poor little guy.

 Stratton kept mooching all of Emily's buffalo dip and chips.

 The sky was SO pretty that day. It was beautiful outside.

 The dogs obviously didn't mind the good weather. This is Oreo, another OTA doggy.

 Uncle Marcus and Stratton played baseball in the awesome weather.

I enjoyed the lovely weather as well as the AWESOME twizzlers that were left in the camper. 

They're SO good. They're even off brand too!

 

 Stratton kept trying to do hand stands like Kaya.

 Casey enjoying some apple cider. So lady like.

 Stratton found Grandpa's grabber and decided he had to pick everything up with the grabber instead of his hands.

  The silent auction and the raffle are one of my favorite parts of the weekend.

 Marcus and my dad waiting to get in line for the awesome food! They had the best stuffed peppers I have had in a while.

 These were all the prizes for the raffle. Of course there are the banana savers. One of the long running jokes of the OTA are these "famous" banana savers. Nobody wants them.

 Dennis enjoying a cold one on a cool day.

 Mia, Dennis, and Kaya before the raffle.

 Sisterly love!

 The OTA was given $10,000 this year from REI. They have always been so generous to the OTA.

 Stratton and Casey enjoying the awesome dinner.

 

 Our good friend Paul Corley receiving his Red Jacket for 25 OTA outings. GO PAUL!

 

 This girl brought the coolest camera I have seen in quite some time.

 It doesn't get much cooler than this.

 There's always a kids raffle too which is a mess to keep the kids back but it's fun for them because eventually all of them get something.

 The band that plays every year is always SO good. We really enjoy listening to them and Stratton loves to dance.

 

 You can tell by the size of the people around the fire how big the flame actually is.

 Poor Sage always gets worn out at these events.

 Sunday morning was cool and crisp but beautiful none the less. The fog was just starting to rise, the horses greeted us at the fence and the roosters crowed in the background. Oh how nice it would be to wake up to this every morning.

 The trusty camper.

 Yes, among all those pillows and blankets there is a snuggly little boy in there named Stratton.

 Marcus giving us a morning jam session.

  My dad is known for making breakfast Sunday morning for everyone. He makes the best breakfast.

 

 Casey and Marcus early morning...being goofy. 

Me and Stratton ready for the day. Well at least I was, he was still pretty sleepy.

  My mom found a spider on the trail yesterday and stuffed it in her backpack.

 This thing was enormous.

 

 

 They also found a giant caterpillar on the trail as well.

  This is one of the friendly OTA dogs, Krazo. (Ozark backwards). Isn't he so cute! My mom and dad almost took him home with them when he was first found by some people working on the trail.

This last weekend we celebrated 3 years of life and 25 years of life. Stratton, my pride and joy, turned 3 the same day that I turned 25. What a weekend it was! We had a lovely party at our house with lots of friends and family. We are so blessed to have such a great group of people that love us so much. Here are some pictures from this weekend.

The Whole Family :)

Lauren and Casey prepping

Alex smoking ribs

Brotherly Love. Derek and Garrett throwing the pig skin around

Marcus looking Manly

This is why I love Marcus. Because he signs my birthday card like this...

Casey enjoying some bugs...and a cup cake.

The Brennan Women

  The Brennan Women + Derek (the dork)

Me and Lauren showing some love

My sister made these beautiful treats!

Aww so cute!

Stratton loves playing washers. He cupped it this toss if you can't tell. 

My dad and his favorite cat Groucho.

My friend Leslie's little boy John. Isn't he the cutest!

  My lovely birthday cake!

Grandpa Dale and Grandma Lisa got Stratton a motorcycle!

Grandpa Dale showing Stratton how to work the motorcycle

 

 Action shot of Stratton. I love this picture.

Such a big boy showing off his Harley

  Stratton and John giving each other high fives. It was so cute!

Isn't he just too cute!

Uncle Garrett and Aunt Stephie!

Poor Payne. This was right after I stepped on his little hand. I felt so bad.

John riding the hog.

Lauren and the Birthday Boy

Aunt Casey and Stratton

My sweet little niece Cobie. She loved all the magnets on our fridge.

Our friends John, Leslie and Daniel came for the party!

  My grandma Marge and grandpa John

My mom and Groucho in his lovely red sweater.

Cobie loved Groucho

  Derek being manly and grilling some dogs (hot dogs that is)

  Grandma Brenda got Stratton a bike!

Lauren and Alex got Stratton a hokey game!

 

 

Stratton got MONEY!

Derek trying on Stratton's helmet. He is such a dork.

Love this picture too.

  Stratton loved all his spider man  toys.

Stratton's birthday cake! With SPIDER MAN!

Notice the little hand touching my cake.

Blowing out ALL those candles!

The birthday kids!

  This is why I love my husband so much.

Me and Grandma B

Grandma Lisa, Cobie, Ashley

Grandma Brenda and Grandpa Jim

  All the Great Grandma's. Grandma Mona, Grandma B, & Grandma Marge.

All of Stratton's grandma's. Grandma Mona, Grandma Brenda, Grandma Marge, Grandma B, Grandma Kathie, and Grandma Lisa.

Sisterly love.

Me and Les.

Besties.

And last but not least Groucho being his lovely self.