Just get em a box!

As the Christmas packages started arriving I think the boys were more excited about the box than what was in it! They had "snow storms" in the living room with all the peanuts. I guess it still holds true that you can buy all sorts of expensive things but in the end they end up liking the box the best!

Bubble Love

This kids loves bubbles!!!!

Leaves are falling

The boys had fun raking the leaves in the backyard and even more fun playing in them!

Zoovember

The day before Thanksgiving was beautiful so we made a trip to the zoo. The kids had a great time playing on the playground and all the animals were out, including a few I brought with me!

Turkey Time

Preston's school celebrated Thanksgiving with a Thanksgiving Feast. It was a great feast and I got to sit by the cutest pilgrim around!

Happy Birthday Preston

Preston celebrated his 7th birthday in November. We were planning a party when he changed his mind and decided he wanted to spend the day with his dad instead of having a party. They started the day with breakfast followed by a busy day at Frontier City. We had dinner at his favorite restaurant, Sumo where he finished with some fried ice cream! I love that he chose to spend his special day with his dad.

Things we love about Preston:

He loves to make us laugh
You can always count on a great expression when he's taking a picture
He had tons of energy and is always on the go!
He loves gymnastics and has taught himself how to do a back handspring and back flip
He is a great singer and loves to sing in primary
He loves to spy and is always sneaking around the house hiding
He is a wonderful big brother

Happy Birthday Preston, We love you!!!!!

Fall Break Adventure

For Fall Break in October we decided to take a last minute trip to Great Wolf Lodge. It was our first visit and we had so much fun. The kids couldn't get enough of the water park. Since it was the week before Halloween and they also got to trick or treat around the lodge. We finished our trip off by staying the night with some old friends who live in the area. We hadn't seen them in over five years and it was so much fun to catch up. I think the kids had as much fun with them as they did at the lodge.

Thanks for sharing your home with us Johnsons!

Last Campout

Madyson had her last mother, daughter camp out for girl scouts in October. We have had a blast every year and this camp out was the best yet. There was good food and lots of fun. Madyson won the archery contest and I got my first bulls eye. We had a mother-daughter look a like contest (still need to find the pics) that we placed 2nd in. She has been a great troop the last few years that was made up of some fantastic people. We had a wonderful girls weekend!

Halloween Fun

So I have finally gotten the hang of Halloween with my kids. It usually goes something like this:

We go to the store and after changing their minds about 50 times they pick a costume. We come home and they beg to wear them and I say why not, might as well get as much use as possible. Halloween comes and I'm ready to get them all dressed up in their cute costumes but no one wants to wear them anymore, so out comes the dress up box and it's a free for all.

This year was no different. Everyone picked whatever they wanted on Halloween and off we went. Unfortunately Austin had a migraine so he stayed behind. The other kids had a blast and Brayden figured out what Halloween was all about. At every house we went to he had to chat with whoever answered the door. He tried to tell them all about his costume and candy. He was one friendly little train!

Say What

Brayden's brain is apparently working faster than his mouth! The last two days, he will start to say something and then can't get it out. All day long I hear "mom, umm, umm, umm, umm, mom" before he can finally get it out. He has also started saying "what" when I tell him something and he will ask "what" 4 or 5 times even when I have answered him. Two is such an amazing age and it is so fun to see how cute he is as his little personality continues to emerge!

Complete Sentences

About 3 weeks ago (I know, I haven't blogged in a while) it hit me that Brayden wasn't just using 2 or 3 words anymore, but speaking in complete sentences. Another one of those milestones that make me want to smile & cry at the same time. He has also started to pronounce words better and the kids don't like it! Here are a few of the changes we have noticed:

Ma-ma (Madyson) is now Mashon
Pe-pe (Preston) is now Preshon
Aut-aut (Austin) is now Aushin
she she (horse) is now hoshe
hit ball (golf) is now golf hit

The kids don't like his big boy pronunciation of their names and ask him to call them by the old ones before they will do what he is asking. He has always called me mom but is now calling me mommy, that one I won't complain about!

Some of our other favorite words right now are:

pie man (spider man)
nilk (milk)
ca ca (tractor)
dump dump (trampoline)
pidow (pillow)
lah (yeah) and usually it's lah-sure
pidow (pillow)

He has also picked up a few phrases that aren't so great. When he gets frustrated he will stomp his foot and say "cap" his version of crap. He also loves "what heck" and does it in a very high voice. When he doesn't like something he is told he will exclaim "fine!"

Just more reminders that he's turning into a little boy way too fast!

Baby Toys

I got out some of Brayden's baby toys to get rid of them and he found this one. I think he had more fun playing with it now then he ever did as a baby!

Let It Rain

The kids love to jump on the trampoline and they love it even more when it's raining so the were excited when it started to pour on us the other day!

Another First

Brayden started school (Mother's Day Out) last week. He was very excited to use his py man (Spider Man backpack). I was expecting a big scene when I left but he gave me a kiss goodbye and started coloring. He did great the first day but did not want to leave his classroom when it was time to go do other activities. I guess he figured that's where I left him so he better stay there. He had a great day and even napped at school.

The day I had expected came on his second day. Before we left he kept saying "no school mom, no Ashley (his teacher)." When it was time for me to go he fell apart and started screaming and crying and when I picked him up they said he hadn't napped that day. Hopefully the days to come will be more like the first day of school!

I think he is beginning to chew on his fingers when he is nervous

Hide and Seek

The kids love to play hide and see and find some pretty good places to hide. Madyson's hiding spot on our last round wins the title of most creative hiding place!

Cute Boys!

I love to see my boys hanging out together!

Little Farmer

I was cleaning out Brayden's closet and found his Halloween costume from last year. Last Halloween he wanted nothing to do with it but we finally got a little use out of it. He begged to put it on and wore it around the rest of the afternoon. What a cute little farmer!

Fort Fun

There's nothing as fun as having lunch in your backyard fort! The kids built a fort one afternoon and they played outside for the next three hours, it was a beautiful day!