We're Ready Santa!

We had a great evening tonight! It is SNOWING! So, tomorrow the kids should wake up to a white Christmas morning! After dinner, Allen bathed the kids and I got them dressed in their pjs. Then, we loaded up the car and drove around looking at Christmas lights. Poor Brookelyn fell asleep on the way home, but Mr. Braedyn was awake so Allen took him for a run through all the whirling, swirling snow. Needless to say he LOVED it. Once back inside, with Brookelyn awake, we set out the cookies and milk for Santa and the broccoli for his reindeer. Here are the kids:

Once we took these pictures Brookelyn announced it was bedtime, so she didn't even get to open the present we had saved out for them. But, oh well--that just means more presents tomorrow! Can't wait! I am sure Brookelyn will be up with the sun!

Christmas Cookies

Today Brookelyn and I made cookies for Santa; we want this to become a tradition. Together, we picked out the cookie recipe--sugar cookies that look like candy canes. They turned out great, and taste even better! (I might add this is my FIRST time baking cookies from scratch, so I was a little worried.)
Here is baker Brookelyn unwrapping the butter (outfit courtesy of Auntie B):
And, here we are rolling out the dough:

TaDa...

Something tells me Santa will gobble them up!

Best Gift EVER...

As soon as I walked into Brookelyn's classroom to prep for her class Christmas party, Brookelyn announced loudly that she had a present for Allen and I. (All of you who know Brookelyn know that she LOVES a present like no man, woman, or child I have met before--even if it isn't for her.) She insisted that I open it immediately, but I was able to pacify her with many promises of getting her big girl mattress later in the afternoon.

She brought it up several times throughout today, but I was so proud of her that she was able to keep a secret and manage to wait until Allen got home for us to open it together. Inside was the BEST present I have ever gotten (and I know Allen agrees)--a little nesting doll set of Baby Jesus, Mary, and Joesph. She was so proud that she helped her teacher, Ms. Cathy make it and glue it together. Baby Jesus rests on the bottom, Mary sits on top of him, and Joesph goes over her--such a happy little nested family together. It reminded me of our family (sure we really need two Baby Jesus' but close enough) and how thankful I am for the place we are at right now. I know that each year I will unpack these little nesting dolls and think back to this place in our lives with a smile!
Here are a few pictures from the party--it is always hard to take them since I am coordinating everything:

This is Brookelyn making her snowman ornament--the "smile" you see is driving me crazy these days. I don't know why she insists on channeling Garth from Wayne's World?!

Here she is with all her little classmates. We were about to play Christmas Bingo.

Yum-reindeer cupcakes! Hey, I bought the cupcakes at Walmart, but the kids had fun decorating them! I was obviously not in charge of the juice you see pictured because I am not sure what mother in her right mind (I am giving the mommy who bought these a break because she is pregnant with two kids under three and a half, so she probably isn't in her right mind) would purchase juice in GLASS bottles with NO straws!

Here is a better shot of the cupcakes and the juice, which she later spilled in her car seat (don't tell Allen because we spent almost two hours cleaning out the car on Sunday)! It really was a fun party--Merry Christmas!!

Santa Pictures

Well, we took the kids to get their picture taken with Santa, and here it is...
I guess it speaks for itself!

Our Tiny Dancer

When we got home this afternoon from gymnastics Brookelyn wanted to dance. So, I put on her "ballerina music" and she was in the zone. She danced for probably 30 minutes! Here is a short video of her in action (remember you have to go to the blog to see the video):

First SNOW!

This morning I got a text from Allen saying that it was SNOWING! I rushed to the window and sure enough, it was POURING SNOW!! I rushed around getting the kids' raincoats, boots, and hats so we could head outside. This is the FIRST time the kids have EVER seen snow!

Here is Miss Brookelyn, checking out the snow from the front porch:
Braedyn immediately rushed out and started playing in the snow like a pro:

Brookelyn was really cold--after all mommy didn't put any clothes on them (I was scared it would stop snowing), so they only had their pjs on:

Here they are together. As you can see Braedyn is already pitching a fit because I told them it was time to come inside. The fit lasted at least 45 minutes after we came back in!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had such a wonderful time in Arkansas! Brookelyn and Braedyn loved playing with Uncle David, cooking with Gramma, and loving on Grampa!

Here's Brookelyn and Grampa:

And here are the kids helping Gramma cook--they LOVED cooking!!

We took the kids to Fayetteville, and couldn't pass up some Razorback photo opps:

When Daddy and Uncle David went to the Razorback basketball game, Gramma and Grampa brought over a picnic dinner:

Braedyn loved swinging on Gramma and Grampa's swing:

And, Brookelyn loved sweeping:

A little cuddle time with Gramma:

And, Uncle David was nice enough to let the kids help him put up his tree:

Thanks Grampa, Gramma, and Uncle David for an absolutely AMAZING Thanksgiving! We love you!

TODDLER TANTRUMS!

My so sweet little laid back baby boy has morphed into a tantrum throwing toddler! He is super dramatic and very good at making a loud scene--much better than his big sister was at his age! This afternoon when he grabbed their little play phone and realized it wasn't charged, he LOST his mind. Here is his initial reaction:



I picked him up, rocked him, tried to distract him, promised we could charge it, but NOTHING worked. So I sat him back on the floor and walked into the other room so he wouldn't have an audience. SIX MINUTES later he was still at it. Here he is take two:



Again, I picked him up, kissed him, and tried to love on him, but he was MAD-MAD-MAD! So again, I walked away thinking he would at least get tired. But no, not my stubborn child. Here he is SEVEN MINUTES later:

Whoever has taken my sweet angel, please kindly return him, and take this creature back to wherever he came from! (By the way, I got him to stop by offering him a drink of my Taco Bueno soda--thank goodness for small miracles!)

Happy Fall!

Here is Brookelyn's fall picture from school:

She is doing so well in school and has really learned a lot already this year. Today, they had their feast (or "beast" as Brookelyn called it the other day) where each child brings something to share with their classmates. When I picked her up this afternoon she went through what each child brought and exactly what she ate (and what she didn't like). They have also been collecting milk jugs to build an igloo with--she can't wait to sit inside it. It is hard to believe that she will be going to school four days a week next year...where does the time go?!

The Bottle Fairy Visits

After Braedyn's 18 month check up yesterday, the doctor explained that we needed to get him off the bottle sooner rather than later to help with his weight. He is still only in the 10th percentile for weight as compared to his 55th percentile for height. She thinks he is getting too full on milk and then not wanting to eat his meals. So, last night the Bottle Fairy, a nice princess who takes bottles from big boys and girls to babies who need them, came to visit us. She has been to see us before, when Brookelyn was 18 months old. I explained to him the bottle fairy was coming to take his bottles to babies and that he was a big boy who didn't need them anymore. He shook his head yes that he understood, and thoroughly enjoyed packing all his bottles up:Here he is waving goodbye to all his bottles:And, then he carried the bag outside to put on the front porch:Here we are waving bye-bye one last time--he does look a little sad here. Maybe it was setting in:After that we bathed the kids and put them to bed with no milk for anyone. Allen put Braedyn down and after a few "milk" signs and a bit of whimpering Braedyn went right down and slept through the night. When I kissed Brookelyn good night she asked if the Bottle Fairy brought presents for big sisters too. Luckily, I have a stash and in the morning both babies got surprises! Brookelyn got some craft projects:And Braedyn got a Spiderman thermos. Can you tell he wasn't thrilled?

He made it out the door and off to school with NO bottle and managed to eat a pancake, sausage, and cheerios! Yea Braedyn!!

Brookelyn's School Performance

Last night we went and saw Brookelyn's school music performance. She sang beautifully! Here are a couple of pictures from the show:

And, here is our little trouble maker (can you see the sticky sucker running down his chin)?! Daddy had to take him out of the church for a breather!

Marathon Picture

Finally, I had a chance to scan in Allen and I's picture from the marathon. This picture was taken right after we crossed the finish line and received our medals and warming blankets (remember is was about 35 degrees outside)!

Happy Halloween!

We had a great Halloween Day! After the gym this morning, we had a wonderful lunch at On the Border, and then took the kids to the Halloween Family Expo. They got to see Ronald McDonald, trick or treat, jump on a huge bounce house, and just have a great time! Then we headed home for some rest time before trick or treating. The kids got up and carved pumpkins with Allen, and then I gave them baths while he ran to Sonic to get them corn dogs (their first time tasting one). After corndogs, the kids put on their costumes and we hit the streets. Trick or treating in our neighborhood was amazing--there were so many kids running around, and the houses were all decorated super scarily! Check out the pictures of one house in the slide show--crazy scary (which means Braedyn LOVED it)! After chowing down our black Taco Bell tacos (piled the kids in the car), we headed home, and the kids are OUT! Now time to watch the DVRed Hog game!!

Check out the slide show:

Halloween Fun at School

Today was Brookelyn's Halloween party at school! She got to wear her Ariel costume to school, and the mommies got to come sit in on their chapel time and watch their costume parade. It was SO much fun! Here is Ariel on her way to chapel:
And, here is Ariel sitting in chapel:

And, here is Ariel walking in the parade:

Later this afternoon, all the mommies came back up to school, and we had the Halloween Party! It was so much fun! Here is Brookelyn and her best friend, Riley, working on their craft:

And, here is Brookelyn showing off her eye ball cupcake that she made:

These were the examples I made--don't they look cute? The kids loved them!

And, here is the peanut gallery--Braedyn and Riley's little sister, Morgan. They were all eyes during the party! These are the little treats I made for Brookelyn's teachers. They are supposed to look like owls:

When we got home Brookelyn went through her goodie bag and found these scary teeth:

And, Braedyn got to enjoy an eye ball cupcake of his own:

It was a great afternoon!