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)!