It was...

Made for her with love by a grandma that isn't even hers. It became her very best friend almost instantly!

It found it's way in the bathtub

It napped everywhere she napped....Even in front of the front door!

She never let it get too far out of reach!

And always covered her head when she would fall asleep.

We lost her best friend over the weekend in Kansas City at the Great Wolf Lodge and it has been devastating for both of us. She feel like she lost her best friend and I feel like a part of her is missing. I only knew her with this filthy lovie attached to her hand and I miss that for her.

She found her Mr. Monkey yesterday to help her get through last night but that is all he was good for. One night! Tonight she is struggling because she knows her Best Friend is still gone and I know that it's never coming back.

It was her very best friend and she tried so hard to take good care of it.

What I would give for more pictures of a little girl and her lovie because clearly I didn't take enough. She hasn't had a bottle for over 5 months now and I don't have one single picture of her and her best friend as a little lady! Oh how it makes me sad!

Then there was 1

Once upon a Summer there were 3 Bressler Children.

Then this one

was off to 3rd Grade

and

this one

was off to 1st grade

and

Then there was 1

One little girl that entered the world and changed our hearts forever.

One little girl that made Marshmallows out of her brothers..

One little girl with the bluest of eyes.

One little girl who is strong willed and independent.

One little girl who has a laugh that will melt the coldest of hearts.

One little girl who would rather be dirty than clean.

One little girl who sure is lonesome without her brothers at home.

One little girl who has changed this Mama of little boys forever.

One little girl ready for her own adventures all by her big girl self.

Then there was 1!

Change isn't always fun

and this week has been less than fun for this little boy.

We decided that some fun needed to happen for him on Friday so with a little bit of help from his good friend Tucker we put a few smiles on his face.

And for a moment in time he was the happiest kid on the planet.

Reece,

You make me smile, you make me laugh, you make me cry, and you break my heart. I hate that you have to struggle so hard and that this week of school has been less than fun for you. Hang in there my Reecester Piecer you are gonna make it and together we are going to take it on and make it the best school year ever.

Thanks for being the bravest kid I know!

I love you to the moon and back, to infinity and beyond, and forever and ever!

Love,

Your Mommy

When did my babies turn into boys?

And so it begins!

Another year of school is underway and yesterday was a tough day to get through. I keep thinking that every year it's going to be easier on the first day of school but for some reason it always seems to be the opposite. It just gets harder and I dislike it more with each passing year.

We managed to make it up, breakfast eaten, teeth brushed and dressed with 30 minutes to kill before we had to leave for school. The boys were nervous but excited and I was happy for them but sad for Ellee and I because I knew it was going to be a lonesome day.

He is no longer a baby and hardly even a little boy but nearly a young man and as I took this picture, I wondered when did this happen? 3rd grade seemed so far away a few years ago but we are now living what use to be the future and how I really wish I could turn back time and live in the past.

And this one, wasn't he just at home with me all day everyday yesterday? I remember his first day of preschool when I could hear him crying for me all the way down the hall screaming "don't leave me mama, don't leave me" and now he is in first grade and ready to take it on like he's been doing it forever. When did this baby of mine turn into a boy ready to conquer it like a champ?

No longer is he on the same hall that he has always been on since he started school but now on the "upper class" hall. When did he decided that taking pictures of him by his classroom door was uncool? When did he get to big to give me a hug and tell me that he loves me? When did this happen?

Oh Reece, you look so grown up standing there by your first grade door. I am so glad that you still don't mind me taking pictures of you and I'm glad that you still give me a hug and tell me you love me without wondering who is around to hear. You have come so far since that first day of preschool!!

And this Bean walks around that school like she owns the place where everyone knows her by name and wants to carry her around. She loves to wonder the halls and she knows exactly where her brothers are and how to get to them.

Oh Please El Bean don't you grow any faster because the day I have to leave you will surely be a bigger disaster.

It's a good thing all the teachers know me by now because they all know that on the first day of school I will be the one walking the halls dropping off my babies with tears streaming down my cheeks. Walking away knowing that they will spend more time at that school with people who could never love them like I do is one of the hardest things I have to do as their mama and I don't like it....I don't like it not one little bit.

When did my babies turn into boys?

9 years and halfway there!

9 years ago today they told me I was now the Mommy of a beautiful baby boy.

9 years ago today I remember looking at you and thinking to myself I don't know how to be a Mommy, but I guess him and I are going to figure this thing out together.

9 years ago today they placed this 7 lb 13 oz boy in my arms and I realized at that very moment that my life would never be the same.

9 years ago today they placed you in my arms and you slipped right into my heart.

9 years ago today I never dreamed it would go by so fast.
9 Years ago today I never dreamed that the little feet I loved to look at would soon be wearing baseball cleats and walking out the door with a bat bag bigger than he was filled to so full the zipper would hardly close.

9 Years ago today I never dreamed that I would be the proudest Mom on the planet when you take your place on the mound, behind the plate or in the field.

9 Years ago today I never dreamed that I would be watching my little boy live out his childhood dreams and watching them all come true for him.

9 Years ago today I never dreamed that your little baby feet would be taking you places where you no longer walked beside me and held my hand but walked in front of me yelling "Mom I'm pitching tonight" and "Mom did you see that strike out to pitch a no hitter".

These are the days I would never dream of missing!

9 Years ago today we welcomed you with open arms and today I realized for the first time that we are half way to the day when you will walk out of my door to a world that is bigger than you and I can ever imagine. I can't wait to see where your road takes you but until that day comes I sure hope the next 9 years go slower than the first and that you always know no matter where you go or what you do I will always be your biggest fan.

I love you to the moon, to infinity and beyond, forever and ever!

Now back to our regular scheduled long overdue vacation blogging

Day 2



We left Rochester at 5:30 Saturday morning and headed for the Wisconsin Dells where we would spend the next week.



It really wouldn't be a complete trip to Wisconisn if we didn't get to see Uncle Bro play basketball. Our first stop a 3 v 3 tournament.



We learned that Uncle Bro still takes this sport just as serious as he did in college!

The boys were in Heaven getting to spend sometime playing basketball with one of the people they look up to the most I am sure he loved playing basketball with 2 nephews that did a good job of getting on his nerves during vacation.

Caden paid his money and got in the 3 point shooting contest and Pa, as always was one of his biggest fans.

We couldn't check into our Condo at Green Mountain Village until Sunday so we spent the night at the Ho-Chunk Casino and Hotel where they boys couldn't wait to go swimming and for the most part had the pool all to themselves.

Maama and Pa enjoyed watching and Ellee enjoyed every minute with her favorite person in the world.

And this is a face we have come to know and grown to love. She is the girl who puts up with my brother, follows him around to most of his basketball tournament and pretty much just fits perfectly into just about every part of his life. Chelsea we sure do love ya and we appreciate you taking such good care of bro.

Day 2 was complete, basketball tournament didn't turn out as Bro would have liked it too, but as always it was fun for us to watch him play and talk to Caden about the trips we made to watch him play college ball