Christmas presents - Pinterest style!

For Christmas this year Brandon, Natalie and I made presents for the grandmas and great grandmas!  We made reindeer, Christmas trees, and Mistletoes!

I love Pinterest for these ideas and can't wait to see what next year's presents will look like!  Next year I will make more Mistletoes though, as that one was my favorite and the one that will be hanging in our house next year!

A blank slate

It tickled a little!  :)

Preparing for Christmas

A photo journey of us getting ready for Christmas!!

He did this himself!!  :) 

Helping daddy decorate

TWINS!!

Our little snowman!

Santa Claus is coming to town!

Baby girl loves bath time!

He loves the rides at Grandma and Grandpa's mall!

Nat wanted to open presents early!

Thanksgiving

I'm playing a little catch up, I apologize!  My goal for 2014 is to be a lot better about blogging now that I am back to work full time!  I will get to those later though!

For Thanksgiving break this year Tyler stayed home.  Christ didn't go to Palm Springs for teacher's conference, so just I went and the kids went to my parent's house for the few days I was out of town.  

Bubba checking in on his sissy!

My beautiful baby girl!

While I was in Palm Springs I was so excited to be able to spend some time with Chelsea!  I miss her so much, and it was great to see her!  We even were able to go and see the Catching Fire!  Chelsea and I had been planning this since we found out that she was going to move to Vegas!  We dragged some friends along with us too!

Chelsea, Ellen, Ashley, Lotus and I at our Catching Fire

My BFF Chelsea

The kids had a great time at my parent's house, and when I got home from Palm Springs we headed up to my parent's house to spend time with them before Thanksgiving.  My parents hosted Thanksgiving this year since my dad had to work the entire week!  It was crazy!  He has been working at K-Mart so he has been putting in a lot of hours over the holidays.

Brandon and Natalie have been spending so much time together it is cute to see them laugh, and have fun together!  Brandon loves his sissy, and he loves to give her kisses!

Natalie made quite a cute turkey too, if I do say so myself!

We love our bow from Aunt Ashley!

While we were at my parent's house Bubba was able to play outside a lot!  He enjoyed walking up and down my parent's block, pushing his stroller, and riding on his car that my grandma gave him for his birthday!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas was so much fun this year!  Brandon was so excited to celebrate this year, it made Christmas that much more exciting for us as a family.  We took Brandon and Natalie to visit Santa on Monday at the Prescott mall.  That was quite an experience!  Brandon didn't want to wait in line of course, so daddy and grandma entertained Brandon will Natalie and I waited in line.  Natalie didn't have a problem waiting in line, and even loved having her picture taken with Santa.  She kept looking up at him, trying to get a good look at the game!  She didn't even cry until I went to take her away from Santa.  Then she got upset, and wanted me to put her back on his lap!

On Christmas Eve we talked with Brandon about how he had to go to bed so that way he could get lots of sleep because Santa was going to be coming that night to bring us presents!  He was so excited because all he asked Santa for was a new puzzle!  He couldn't wait, which kept him up past bed time, but that was okay!

Christmas morning Natalie and Brandon were both up around 5, 5:15, but we made them stay in bed until 6!  Finally at 6:00 Natalie wouldn't stay in bed any longer, so we went and got Brandon up.  Much to my surprise grandma was in bed with Brandon when we went in to get him.  (I didn't know at the time that he had been up since 5, and that was the only way grandma could keep him in bed!)

Brandon loved presents!  He loved them so much he helped everyone open their presents!  He got tired of opening his own presents, but as soon as it was time to open someone else's presents he was right there ready to help!

We were very blessed this year and Brandon received many clothes, books and puzzles!  Natalie got some new cups, shoes, and toys from Disneyland!  Tyler got his new video game and some movies.  I got a new computer!  I am so excited for my new laptop, and am so thankful to my parents for always providing so much for us!

We are doing Christmas with Tyler's parents on Saturday, so that will be exciting for Brandon as well!  We can't wait to see his excitement with what they get him!!  I know when we get home it will be time to go through some old toys though and find ones that we can start to give away!

We had a great Christmas up in Prescott, and were blessed to spend the day with my parents, Tyler's parents, and my Grandma Ellen and Mills.

Merry Christmas everyone!  I pray that you all had a blessed Christmas too!!

Catching Up

Sorry everyone, I know it's been a while since the last time I posted!  Things have been so busy around here for us!

On October 1 Brandon started going to school four days a week!  He LOVES it, and loves his teacher!  It does make for many long nights though, as he is pretty tired by the time he gets home at the end of the day.  I also started volleyball season October 1, so that has been hard trying to juggle him and the volleyball season.

Hanging out in Mrs. Chapman's room while mommy is talking

Moving away from the table when he was done with lunch, October 29

He loves looking for "yellow bus" on the drive to school

For Fall Break Natalie and I went on a little trip to Northern California!  We were able to go up with my mom to visit!  We were able to see many people we love!  We spent time with Bree, my grandma, great grandma, aunts, cousins, and my second grade teacher!!  I love those women, and I know each one of them helped play a very special role in who I am today!!

We love Aunt Bree (and our nephew!!)

Four Generations 

Brooke was so excited to hold Nat

Sleepy baby on the flight home!

While I was in California with Natalie, Brandon was able to have a sleep over at Grandma and Papas, and then have some special bonding time with daddy!!

CHEESE!!

This kid LOVES to eat apples!

Natalie has been growing like crazy!!  We went in for her six month appointment on Halloween, and she is now in the 98th percentile for her height!!  She is only in the 14th percent for her weight, but the doctor isn't too worried about it.  While we were there for Natalie's appointment we did confirm that Brandon might be allergic to peanuts!!  EEK!!  My next step is to get him in to an allergist so we can have him tested for that.

Boo for Trunk or Treat 

Mommy and Batman for trunk or treat

Big boy loves showering in mommy and daddy's room!

Tyler has been working hard on his grad school stuff.  He has finished his student teaching, so now he is just finishing up classes!  He is very excited to have that part behind him, and can't wait to be done with classes either.

I am sure that there is so much more to fill you in on, but that is all I have time for right now!  I am getting ready to head to Vegas for a conference, and I was at work until 9:30 last night trying to get everything ready for my sub on Monday and Tuesday!!  Our grading period ended yesterday, so I have to work on report cards while we are gone too.  I'm excited about the trip though, spending time with friends, and seeing CHELSEA!!!

Newborn, 6 months - man how time flies!!

B's funny Christmas shirt