Neeley Family Blog

Every year since Brayden has been born, we have walked and participated in the March of Dimes walk here in Portland. It means so much to us as a family to help raise money for this organization. They do research to help stop the progressing rate at which premature births happen. March of Dimes helps families with costs and resources if they have a premature baby. They just do so much good. Brayden is now almost 3 and half. He has met and exceeded all of his milestones! He is healthy and we are so blessed and thankful that our very premature baby has grown into a little man. Here are a few pictures of him when he was in the hospital. And finally getting to go home!!!!! It is crazy to look back at these and remember that he was so small! The triumphs that Brad and I faced were enormous. I don't think we will go through a more trying time in our lives. I cannot begin to explain the emotions associated with having a baby (let alone your first) at only 26 weeks. You have all the thoug...

Brad & I decided to have any evening out with the boys on Saturday. I worked an early shift (which does not usually happen) so we had the evening together. Brad found this black light miniature golf place in the Vancouver, Washington mall. We decided it would be fun for all of us. Brock thought this was a slide and kept running back to it and scooting down it :)! Man he loves slides!!!!!!!!!!! The boys when we were all done. All of us got a hole in one, except Brad :(. Brayden really is a good little golfer! The kiddie playland is right outside of this golf area so we made a pit stop there as well. The boys went nuts running and climbing on anything they could!

Today, the boys began their swim lessons at the new pool at our community center. It is really a nice pool and took a long time to build. Brad decided it would be good to sign them up for lessons as soon as it opened. Brayden of course, was very excited about this. He kept asking about it each day until they began. Brock's class is first and I go into the pool with him to hold him and really it is more water awareness for him. Well, let's just say that he did not enjoy his lesson! He grabbed onto me as tight as he could and cried and whined the whole time. He did similar things at Disney World when we went back in September, but soon got over it after a couple times. I suspect this will be similar. Here are a few photos from our time in the pool. Brad and Brayden waited for his class to start (after Brock's). He and daddy took a few photos of him playing around before. Brayden loved his class!!! He is the only boy in the class with 3 girls- it is too cute! He listened very ...

Okay, this one is for uncle Eric and Aunt Jenn.... I think they feel left out of our trip posts because we did not get that many pictures together (not one single family picture with all of us). So here are a few from an afternoon at the playground near the Neeley Grandparents house. Brock loved going up and down the slide! Uncle Eric was jumping on the bridge with Brayden (that's why Brayden's face looks a little funny). Brayden ran and climbed on everything he could :) We all got muddy out on the soccer field. Uncle Eric was trying to teach Brad and Brayden some of his killer soccer moves!

We had a busy day for Valentine's, but a good day none the less. The boys and I had a good morning of our normal breakfast and cartoons on the Disney channel. Brad ran out and got some last minute Valentine's for all of us (this is a tradition now-being last minute). In the early afternoon, we made a trip to Auntie Brittany's & Uncle Tony's house to exchange Valentine's with Grammie and Grandpa. Then Brad and I got to ditch the boys there to grab a little adult time together! We got some lunch and saw a matinee showing of "Taken." It was a really good movie and a nice time together for a little bit. Afterwards, we picked up the boys and I headed to work for the evening while Brad and the boys went home. Here are some pictures of them at Auntie's house for Valentine's Day... all in red :) They are just too cute! (I know I say this a lot but it is true!)

Yes, folks we have had more snow fall here in Oregon. About 2 weeks ago they boys were able to build a big snowman while I was at work and the snow fell. This time the snow stuck together and was perfect snowman material! Brad, Brayden and Brock had a blast. Brad broke off some branches from my tree (Not really happy about that) to use as arms for Mr. Snowman. He also brought out one of his scarves to go around his neck. They used rocks for eyes, a nose and the mouth. Mr. Snowman really did look good for a few days and then the rain washed him away :( Oh well, it was fun while it lasted. And this time it did not keep us from going anywhere or require us to use the chains! And afterwards they enjoyed some nice hot chocolate!!!!!! YUM!

This is is the last entry on our trip (which now was over a month ago)! We made a trip into downtown Charlotte to visit Discovery Place. We wanted to see the city and got a good view from our journey in on the road. Discovery Place is a science museum. They had a circus theme there when we went and so we got to walk the tight wire and do jumps! It was a lot of fun! The boys enjoyed the kids area with all kinds of toys and a water feature. We also got to see many different fish in their aquariums and even an indoor tornado! It was so much fun on our last day. The next day it was time to say good-bye and head back home to Oregon! Bye Grandma Carol and & Grandpa Brian we had a blast! We hope to visit again... bye North Carolina!