Probably last trip of the year :(

Well, Sunday we went out in the boat for probably our last trip of the year. The boys had a great time. We tried to go fishing, but after a VERY SHORT time and a blow toad later we gave up. We soon discovered that Warren is not ready to be a fisherman and Wyatt got bored with it very quickly. Well here are a few pics from the way back to the dock.




Check out the wind blown/sunscreen look!

Warren's Aly Dart Pics

CHECK OUT ALY DART'S BLOG. SOME OF WARREN'S PICS ARE UP, ON THERE. I MAY BE A LITTLE BIASED, BUT THEY ARE TOO CUTE. HE LOOKS SO GROWN IN THE THIRD ONE. THE LINK TO HER SITE IS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF OUR BLOG. SHE REALLY DOES GREAT WORK.

Taking time to catch up............

Well, life has been a little crazy around our house lately. A stomach bug has now officially made its way through our entire house. It started with Wyatt a week ago this past Sunday. I was the lucky second person to obtain this wonderful illness on Saturday. Then on Sunday Warren christened Todd's new truck after leaving Wal-Mart. Then without fail Todd came down with it last night. Well, I am glad to say that 9 days later we are all doing much better. At least it was a short lived bug.

In the mean time we have had to have our carpets steam cleaned thanks to this bug. Which meant last Tuesday night after work we had to move all of our furniture out of our living room and then of course rearrange it on Wed. evening. The good part is that our carpet looks almost like new. I never thought a little steam could work miracles (if you had seen our carpet that had been tortured by two little boys you would understand what I mean by a MIRACLE).

Wyatt is doing good in school. He is very excited that he has been able to keep his clothes pin on the "smiley face" about 50% of the time. The other 50% his little jabber jaws cause him to have to move it or he has way more fun turnng his pencil into a space ship instead of writing tool. We're getting there after many threats and bribes (which tactic we use,just depends on the day).















His football team the mighty "Wildcats" has now won their second football game. He is very excited about this. He however told his Nana today that he liked football much more when they were just tackling the red tackling dummies (he's too funny). He is really enjoying this cooler weather, he told me he can run faster since the wind is blowing cool air.

Beware if you see him anytime soon. He got his school fundraiser and is on a mission to get the top prize. Well, at least he is a boy with a goal and on a serious mission. I told him maybe he should set his goal a little lower, but oh no he MUST sell 100 items, or so he thinks. He told me today he would just take his book, order sheet, a pen and visit every neighbor in our entire neighborhood. Now can't you see him strolling down the street as "Wyatt the door to door salesman."

As for Warren, he's doing just great now that his "tummy bug" is gone. He is just loving life and waiting for somebody to ask him to go "bye-bye in the car." There is no doubt he is his mother's son, he loves to "Go." He loves to watch the school bus come by our house in the morning or as he calls it the "B." Hey, I think it is pretty intelligent that at age 19 mos he knows what letter words start with. If he tells you "P" yes that is his term for "please." He is just too cute and growing up way to fast. He follows Wyatt every where like a lost puppy dog---it is so cute.

Well, Todd's 33rd birthday is tomorrow. I asked him how it felt to be "old," his response not that great. We are planning to cook out hot dogs this weekend. We'll try to call everyone in the next day or so, but probably will be Saturday evening around 6:00pm. Hope to see you then. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABE

Here are some of the most peaceful moments of my day!

We have BIG News!!!!!!

Well, we have some really big news as of tonight. Warren went pee on the potty for the first time---yeah. We are so excited. I know it may not happen again for a while, but I am thrilled. As many of you know we battled potty training with Wyatt for what seemed like years (ok--it was years). I just hope and pray it will be much easier this time.
We have had the potty out in the boys bathroom for about two months and occasionally Warren will sit on it, most of the time with his diaper on. Tonight he was in desperate need of a diaper change. He had walked into the bathroom and I said come here and lets take off that droopy diaper. I told him lets try sitting on the potty, so he did. He suddenly got this very serious look on his face. When he stood up there was pee in there. I was so excited I started shouting. Todd and I made a really bid deal out of it and Warren run around the house laughing and clapping he was so excited. He got a candy reward and thought he was king of the castle for about 10 minutes.

TODD'S NEW TRUCK

Todd finally got the truck of his dreams today. Well he did have to settle for a few things that he did not really care for, but over all he is tickled pink with it. I am so excited for him, he really deserves it.

First Day of School

Wyatt went back to school today and had a great day. Mrs. Coronado is so sweet and Wyatt just loves her.

Now is he a stud or what?

The real life "Message in a Bottle"

This is a friend of mine that I have know since I was five years old. This is such an amazing and sweet story! Just thought I would share it with everyone!

Message in a bottle comes full circle

A simply written note tossed into the ocean 20 years ago by Angie Fulcher Goodwin, left, then 10 years old, and found five years later by Thomas McGrath, right, of Tipperary, Ireland, has fostered a life-long pen pal friendship. The two met for the first time Tuesday in Atlantic. (Helen Outland photo)

NEWS-TIMES
Published: Wednesday, August 20, 2008 3:08 PM EDT
HELEN OUTLAND

ATLANTIC — A reunion 20 years in the making took place in Atlantic Tuesday afternoon when Thomas McGrath from Tipperary, Ireland, and Angie Fulcher Goodwin of Atlantic met face to face after years of writing letters.

Their friendship had come full circle. As a 10-year old, Mrs. Goodwin, who is now 30, sent a message in a bottle, that Mr. McGrath retrieved five years later in Ireland. The two corresponded, but it wasn’t until this week that they met, a surprise visit Mr. McGrath planned in order to meet his American pen pal.

Mr. McGrath arrived in Carteret County Monday night, and traveled Down East the next day.

The story of their friendship began on April 4, 1988, Mrs. Goodwin along with her sister Stephanie and best friend Megan Kimry decided to put a message in a bottle and launch it into the ocean from the shores of Core Banks.

Mrs. Goodwin’s parents, Mike and Ann Fulcher, have a camp on the banks and were on one a family outings when the girls came up with the idea of a message in a bottle.

“We took a glass bottle and put the letter in it,” Mr. Fulcher said. “We waited for the outgoing tide and the girls threw it overboard.”

According to Mr. Fulcher, the next morning they found the bottle washed up on the shore and once again it was thrown into the Atlantic Ocean. They watched it disappear over the horizon.

On a beautiful June morning five years and 5,000 miles later, the bottle washed up. This time it was on Dingle Beach on the western most tip of Ireland.

“I had gone to the beach early for a walk,” Mr. McGrath, now 53 years old, said with his soft Irish brogue. “It was about 8:30 a.m., and as I walked the beach I spotted this bottle about 200 yards ahead.”

Mr. McGrath said the beach, near his Tipperary home, is pristine and clean, so it was unusual to find any debris along the shore. He retrieved the bottle and to his delight saw a note inside.

“The top was rusted shut to the glass bottle and being impatient, I broke the bottle to retrieve the note,” he said. “You can imagine my surprise when I read the note and saw the date it was put to sea.”

In the practiced print of a child, Mrs. Goodwin introduced herself, her sister and her friend.

“Our names are Angie, Megan and Stephanie,” the note read. She wrote the date, where they were from and “would you please right back.” She included her phone number and her address.

The note and the miracle of it ever reaching the Irish shore touched Mr. McGrath, who started corresponding.

“I am so glad I was the one who found it.” he said. “The most beautiful friendship evolved from it, and I am so glad I am here today to meet Angie face to face and to give her a big surprise. My heart is full. I am nervous, and I am excited.”

Mr. McGrath said he knew Mrs. Goodwin was married and now had two children.

“It would be all but impossible for her to reach Ireland with two small babies,” he said. “I wanted us to meet while we could. So, I have come here.”

The surprise was a success. Mrs. Godwin works as a nurse at Carteret Clinic for Adolescents & Children in Morehead City.

Having no idea the surprise awaiting her, she rushed to return to her parent’s home in Atlantic to pick up her children, where they stay while she works. A traffic jam in Beaufort had her running late and frustrated. As she exited her car, her parents met her in the yard telling her there was someone there to meet her. They directed her to their neighbor’s yard across the street on Core Sound where Mr. McGrath stood waiting. As she approached Mr. McGrath, she recognized him and her body straightened and her mouth opened.

“I know you!” she squealed as she rushed to her long-time pen pal. “I know you from your pictures!”

As the pair hugged and began talking, Mr. McGrath presented Angie with a copy of the letter she had sent so many years before. He also showed her the framed original, but said it was his to keep.

“I never expected this,” she said softly as she held the original. “Even when we threw the bottle into the ocean I thought someone in Ocracoke or Hatteras might pick it up, but I never expected it to make Ireland. Today is so amazing. It is so special that the bottle, and our letters after that, have meant so much to Thomas that he would come here today.”

According to Mr. McGrath, a retired purchasing contractor, scientist in Ireland had shown him the ocean currents in which the bottle had traveled to reach Dingle Beach. In the five-year trip it had avoided any number of events that could have destroyed it.

“It was meant for me to find the bottle,” he said.

The note in the bottle is a Fulcher family tradition. Over the years more bottles were put to sea, but none crossed the ocean. It is a tradition that will be carried on. Mrs. Goodwin’s children, daughter Riley, 8, and son Bodie, 3, have already sent their own bottles to sea.

“You see what a wonderful thing can happen,” she told the children as she showed them the note and introduced them to the man who found it.

As he stood eating his very first, freshly picked fig, Mr. McGrath reflected on the ocean and the beauty of Carteret County.

“This is a magnificent place,” he said as he looked out over the sound. “It would take very little for me to come live here. Everywhere I have been, I have been treated with exceptional kindness and it has touched my heart.”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/26314841#26314841

Thought we would share some pics from our weekend!

He is just too cute...I know I am a little partial, but come on!

I can't believe how big he looks in this pic, but then again he did turn 18 months this weekend!

Wyatt, Warren and I had a chance to tour this cool stealth Army Protype boat at Cedar Island this weekend. Isaiah Smith is in charge on this boat and got permission to bring it in to the ferry terminal. Wyatt thought this was pretty awesome. The guy on board when we went gave Wyatt a grand tour and let him sit in the seats and touch some of the equipement. This was totally cool!

This was also really cool. Angie, Riley and Bodie brought this octupus that Buddy caught earlier today over to Granny's house for the boys to see. Of course the boy in Wyatt said he just had to hold it!. Oh, yes Warren was dying to touch it!

Is this not the sweetest pic ever! Grandaddy does love his little boys!

Hail to the Wildcats

Wyatt is loving him some football, he has found his sport I believe. He waits all day until it is time to get dressed for practice. This is so different than when he played soccer, we practically had to shove him out on the field then. Now he is ready to go, minus the running before practice. He is usally the last one to make it back to the starting point after the lap around the baseball field. Oh, well he has short legs, we have to give the guy a break.

Oh, by the way mom gets a little excited at practice......

Hattie and Taylor's 4th Birthday Party

Today we went to Hattie and Taylor's grandparents house to help them celebrate their 4th birthday. We had a great time! In Wyatt's words, "It was awesome." I think that just about sums it up. They had a clown painting faces and tying balloon animals, much to my surprise the boys were not scared of her at all. Wyatt and Warren both let her paint their faces. He are a few pics from their fun day.

Fun in the Sun at Cape Lookout!

Today after church we went over to the Cape. It was such a beautiful day. We threw anchor over by the marsh just before we got to the lighthouse and had a picnic on board the boat (this is much nicer than sand all in the food). Todd just had to get a line in the water and yes the wildlife officer had to stop and check him for his license. Oh, thank goodness he decided to bring his wallet along that contained his license. After a quick meal of fried chicken, strawberries and egg salad sandwiches we were on our way to the beach.


Wyatt and Warren had a blast as you can tell. Todd got so close to the ponies that we thought he was trying to take them for a ride.
Warren was trying to wash his feet off in the bucket, but was not quite as graceful in doing so as everyone else. Note all of the sand in his hair combined with a lot of sunscreen. This made for a great bath time when we got home. After washing his hair for the third time during the same bath his head was free of sand and sunscreen. I hope you get as much amusement out of this video as we have. It still is not as funny as being there. This did not go on for just a few moments, this was repeated attempts at getting his feet in the bucket. Yes he did finally get his feet in the bucket.
Wyatt got to be first mate on the way back to the dock and is very proud of his first solo captaining endeavor.

We are back from Vacation, but not because we want to be..........

Hey everyone, we arrived home from our summer vacation this evening. We went on what seemed like a whirl wind vacation. Due to Todd just starting his new job the only weekend we could go was July 4th. As crazy as that seems we did it. We left after Todd got home from work Thursday evening and arrived in Williamsburg, VA about 10:30pm that night. The boys really did great traveling considering (Thank GOD for DVD players in cars). We were up bright and early the next morning (thanks to Warren) and headed off to Water Country. We had a blast there. Wyatt surprised us by climbing up this cargo net to slide down a rather large yellow tube water slide. After a fun filled day at Water Country we headed back to the hotel for baths and off to dinner at oh yes Wyatt and my favorite...OLIVE GARDEN. I ate so much salad and bread sticks I thought I would pop, and that does not include the seafood alfredo. The next day we were yes up again very early thanks to Mr. Warren, but that was ok. We had a big day planned for Busch gardens. We were there just as the park opened (we have never done that before). We had a great day until about 5:00pm when it started to sprinkle and then became a down pour. Of course Nana had wished for rain so some of the people would leave the park. Nana...don't forget that saying "Be careful what you wish for." Well, needless to say, we waited for quite sometime for the rain to stop, but it did not. We ended up leaving and heading for the hotel, but not before we picked up an endangered WHITE TIGER. Don't be too afraid he is a friendly little fellow. Well, after a quick in the hotel room dinner. We were off to bed, because now we have to face the drive home. I just really don't like leaving from a vacation. I never have. You have all that anticipation and it really ends to quickly. I don't think it would matter if I stayed for 2 days or 10. Well, here we are back home. Things went well on our drive home today. We stopped to see Aunt Judy and Uncle Dunk, but they were not home. The boys did really well. Warren took a good nap and "Tom and Jerry" kept Wyatt occupied. Well, now it is off to bed because tomorrow it is back the the "OLD GRIND" as my Mama would say.

Our Summer So Far......Has been Great!

Hey everyone! Well, we are enjoying our summer so far. We have had a lot of fun playing in the hose this summer. We have not had as many boat or beach trips as we would like since Todd has had to work every Saturday since he started his new job (but, we are not complaining, those overtime checks will be nice).
Wyatt is excited that we are leaving next week for Virginia. We have a whirlwind trip planned for Busch Gardens and Water Country. I think we must be crazy to be heading there for the 4th of July. We would not have chosen that weekend, except Todd does not have any leave yet. He probably will not have any leave until this fall, so we are going to brave the crowds next weekend. The way I figure it is that it is busy there no matter when you go, so bring on the crowds.
I hope that everyone is enjoying there summer as much as we are. Warren loves to be outside as you can tell by some of the pictures. He loves to play in the hose and will squirt water right in his face and just keep on going.
They are both growing up too fast.....You can flip through this blog and see them grow up right before your eyes. It really goes just that fast.

God Bless You and come back to visit us often here at the Bridgers Bunch.

Wyatt is now Famous

Much to our surprise last Friday evening we received several phone calls telling us Wyatt had made it in the Cartert County News-Times. His Daddy rushed out the door to the store for one of these papers, but when he returned he had not one paper, but four. Sure enough there was our Wyatt all smiles and being honored for reading so many books in the Accelerated Reader program at his school. We are so proud of Wyatt.

When we told Wyatt that he was in the paper and he is now famous he asked, "Does that mean I get a limousine now." Then at church on Sunday the preacher congratulated him on his achievement in front of the congregation and Wyatt said, "Oh, it was nothing." Such a modest child (Ha)!

School is out for the "SUMMER"

Wyatt is very excited that school is out for the summer. I can't lie I am pretty excited that school is out also. On Sunday we had Graduate Sunday at our church and Wyatt was pretty excited to be honored as a Kindergarten Graduate.
Wyatt received his Kindergarten diploma today at his class party. He also received the Accelerated Reader Excellence award and another AR award. He read over 50 AR books this year. We are so proud of him and he is very proud of himself.We had a pizza party in his class to celebrate all of their accomplishments this year.



***************I cleaned out his book bag last night and started to cry as I saw all of the things from his classroom that were there since he started school. It is so hard for me to believe that he is done with kindergarten. Well, he is excited about summer, but is anxious about what next year will bring.

*****************Here are some pictures of Wyatt's class and Graduate Sunday.Some of the pictures are of Wyatt's shirt for the last day of school. The front says "School is out for the SUMMER" and on the back is his class picture. Wyatt helped me create this cute shirt.

~~~~~Well we hope everyone has a great SUMMER BREAK~~~~~