Winter Break

I didn't know it was possible to pack so much fun into just a few weeks! The week after Christmas my brothers Brian and Steven were here. We spent the entire week over at my parents house hangin' out, playing games, and eating tons of great food. Brayden and Tawny loved playing with Tyler and Jordan. The best was watching Tyler and Brayden "wrestle". Brayden was making such an effort to play softly and not hurt Tyler. I loved seeing him show so much concern. It made a Mommy proud.

The following week was just me and the kids and we made the best of it. We had picnics in the park, friends over to play, rode bikes all over the neighborhood, watched tons of funny movies, baked treats together, visited daddy at work, went to the Children's Museum in Phoenix, and so much more.

Greg was busy working, but we still wanted to see him so one day we took a picnic out to the farm and ate lunch with him. Afterwards Brayden and Tawny rode with Daddy for a while.

These pictures are all of the Phoenix Science Museum, We went with the Sotos and we all had so much fun, the mommies included. It started out with this HUGE three-story tree house. We spend almost an hour exploring and having fun up there.

This was the racing room. There were realistic toys for them to climb on, as well as 3-4 huge racing tracks for little cars made out of PVC pipes.

The Ball Room. There was a little market where the kids could go shopping for food, then pay for it at the register. Then they could take the food to the adjoining kitchen and "cook" what they had bought. This was one of Tawny's favorite rooms.
The noodle forrest. Hundreds and hundreds of pool noodles suspended from the ceiling. Enough said.
Arts and crafts

The Car Wash

Things I Love...

...the way Tawny says except: "Ba-cept"
...watching Brayden play with his cousins Tyler and Jordan. He was so patient and cautious, always watching to make sure they didn't get hurt, and pretty good about sharing
...the way Ethan sucks on his lips. He makes the cutest fishy face.
...everything about my husband. He's thoughtful, considerate and loving. Seven years together and it just keeps getting better.
...Tawny on Christmas morning. She'd pick up each present and say "Whose is this is?" So cute.
...how Brayden find pure joy in every little thing.
...that all my kids have naturally happy dispositions. Laughter is always just a heartbeat away in our home.
...watching my kids learn and grow. Brayden learned to ride a bike. Tawny learned to button up a shirt. Their joy in accomplishing a new task is so incredible to witness.
...for family: husband, children, mother, father, brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, grandparents. My life wouldn't be complete without all of you! I love you all!

Merry Christmas in Pics

Posing in front of the Tree

Ornaments

Christmas Jammies

Reading the Christmas Story

Santa came!
My Super Heros!

The Bike (you'll see more of this later)

I love the excitement on his face

Such a sweet moment

Gift from Elaine. Thanks!

These are called Plasma Cars. The kids love them

Video of the kids on their plasma cars

Ethan's present. This should actually be my present since it keeps him entertained so well

Brayden riding his bike all by himself! He figured it out so fast. We never even put training wheels on it.He was so proud of himself!

We had a great Christmas. How about you?

Catch Up- Picture Edition

What a busy month so far! I'll just use pics to highlight what's happened.

We decorated the tree...

Brayden had his Kindergarten Christmas program. He did awesome! His favorite song was "I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas"

Brayden's teacher Ms. Conrad. She's incredible and Brayden loves her.

Brayden visited Santa. Tawny isn't pictured because she wouldn't go within 20 feet of him. Oh-well. Maybe next year.

But she did write him a letter. The first thing she asked for was new boots for Mommy. I don't want to disappoint her so we may have to make it happen. Only for her though...

Tonight we decorated gingerbread houses.

Tawny's was....interesting....

Ethan is getting so big! And even cuter (is that possible?)

One of my favorite places to be.

Thanks

This year for Thanksgiving we did a "thanks" tree and a "giving tree". Every day in November we each wrote on separate leaves something we are thankful for and some act of service we gave. We did just the thanks tree last year and I loved the addition of the giving tree because I think the best way we can show our gratitude to our Heavenly Father for all he has given us is by serving others. The kids really enjoyed filling our trees with leaves. I loved watching them actively search for ways to serve. I think this may become a tradition.

What am I thankful for most? My family.