Snow! Snow! Snow!

One of the best things about going to Nate's parents cabin for Christmas was all of the snow. It snowed over a foot just in the two days that we were there. We would go out to play, go in to warm up, go out to play...Santa brought Brady a new sled and his favorite thing to do with it was to walk down the road and collect big chunks of snow! We brought Cooper to the cabin as well and I think that he loved the snow even more than Brady!

A cozy Christmas!

Nate and I decided to do something unusual this year for Christmas. Instead of moving at a dead run to get to all of our destinations, we headed up to McCall to spend Christmas just the three of us. I wasn't sure how well I would like this arrangement, being that I am pretty used to the chaotic holiday scene, but we had a lot of fun! As the snow came down, we made a fire and snuggled in for Christmas Eve. We watched Rudolph and Polar Express. Brady danced around like a maniac to the song "Hot Chocolate" from Polar Express!


Brady opening his traditonal Christmas jammies!

His first glimpse of the tree surrounded by presents!

Our "mini" tree!

Brady and mommy wrestling in our new jammies!

Happy Birthday Nate!

We recently celebrated Nate's 30th birthday. I find it hard to believe that time has gone by this quickly. We aren't kids anymore!! Not that there is anything wrong with thirty or any age for that matter...We just have to officially admit that we are grown ups. Nate is not one to want a big celebration, but he did have a few small requests. We invited his brothers Jake and Jeff out for dinner and bowling. Nate had a really great time. There aren't many people Nate would rather spend time with than his brothers. The next day on his actual birthday Brady and I baked him brownies. He also requested a meal that is not one of my favorites, but being that it was his special day, I gave in and made "weiner wraps"!!!!

"Wooly Mannoths"

When Brady and I went out to play in the snow last week I showed him how to make snow angels. He decided that instead of snow angels, he was going to make "Wooly Mannoths" (Brady's way of pronouncing Mammoth)! He and Nate just recently watched the movie "Ice Age", so he has taken an interest in "Wooly Mannoths"...This kid is funny!!

Let it snow!

Petting the REAL reindeer!!

Brady talking with Santa!






Brady and Mommy all bundled up!

Brady with Grandma Cathy and Pa

We had so much fun! Brady and I along with Gramdma Cathy, Pa Tracy, and Great Grandma Sheila went to the Botanical Garden for the Winter Garden-A-Glow. It was the first time I had gone, and we had a great time! Brady was able to sit on Santa's lap for the first time. He also got to see and pet a real reindeer!

Big Boy Bed

Brady has always loved his crib. Because of that, Nate and I were in no hurry to get him a regular bed. When he turned three we decided that it was time to make the switch. We prepared ourselves for a rough transition and we were pleasantly surprised. Brady LOVES his new big boy bed (as you can see in the pictures)! I can't believe how fast time flies...

Pumpkin Patch Trip 2008

All of the kids enjoying their halloween suckers!

Brady having the time of his life on the tractor ride!

Izzy & me crashing at the bottom of the slide

Brady in the bouncy house

This fall we were able to load all of the kids up and go out to the "Linder Farms" pumpkin patch. Tara and I have started a tradition of taking Brady and Harmoni to a pumpkin patch each year, but we had never been to "Linder Farms". The best part about this year is that we were able to bring Izzy. Brady's good buddies Isaac & Anna also got to go along with us. They did it all! They went through a maze made out of bales of hay slid down the bouncy slide, rode behind a tractor, ate homemade donughts, and last but not least got to pick their own pumpkins! I think Brady had a lot of fun! It is so important to create traditions like this. I hope that someday we can look back and remember how much fun we had on this chilly fall day!

"Endergy"

We recently switched Brady from a crib to his "big boy" bed. Ever since we did that, he has been sleeping in until about 8:30. This morning I was still in bed when he wandered into our room. He crawled in and we snuggled for a little bit. The moments before falling asleep or when he has just woken up are the best ones for getting him to chat. He likes to talk about anything and everything. We talk about daddy, his friends, Cooper and Maggie, or whatever happens to be on his mind. Today we talked about how much he likes to sleep in his new bed and how comfy it is. He said that sleeping in his new bed gives him "endergy". He said that eating gives him "endergy" too...

Halloween Party

Izzy eating dinner before all of fun began

The cupcake Isaac made to take home to Mike

Harmoni with her butterfly cheek courtesy of Amber!

Isaac after a blue raspberry tootsie pop!

Brady enjoying his candy and punch at the same time!

Happy Halloween! A few days before it was time to head out trick-or-treating we had a little party at our house. Brady and I had some of our favorite people (Tara, Jeff, Harmoni, Izzy, Amber and Isaac) come over to help us decorate cupcakes and eat lots of candy. The cupcakes turned out great, but the highlight of the evening was the dance party in the middle of my living room. I turned on some fast, upbeat kids music and they all went crazy! I was especially impressed with Isaacs crazy break-dancing abilities!

Family Time

Daddy & Brady Jumping off the tree stump!

Cooper is literally smiling!

Brady studying the old tree stumps

Nate and I recently took a week of vacation. We headed up to the mountains for a little bit of family time. It is so easy to get caught up in our busy schedules, that I often forget how much we all really enjoy being together! While up in McCall we decided to go do a little exploring. We took Brady and Cooper to "Little Payette" lake. Brady was in awe of all the dirt, mud, and gnarly tree stumps. Cooper was just happy to be in the outdoors. After that, we went a little farther up towards Yellow Pine and found a creek. Cooper jumped right in for a swim and Brady spent nearly an hour just tossing rocks into the water. I love, love, love my family!

Brady & Isaac's Zoo Adventure!

A few weeks back, I took Brady and Isaac on a trip to Zoo Boise. They had opened up their new "African Safari" exhibit and I thought they would love seeing the lions and the giraffes. That was great, but there were two other things that really made it an adventure for the boys. First of all, they got to ride the Merry-Go-Round which they both loved. Secondly, they got to witness the Snow Leopard getting a little feisty! When we went up to look at her, one of the zookeepers was there talking to another family. She said that with the weather getting cooler, the Snow Leopard was feeling hyper. The boys didn't quite know what to think. When they got close to the glass, she would hiss and show off her huge canines! After a little while, they realized that she was not going to hurt them, so they became totally entertained. Brady is still talking about it!

Brady and the Texas Longhorn

For a while now he has been interested in animals. Every week or so we make a trip to Target so that he can get a new animal figurine to add to his collection. His most favorite animal is his "Texas Longhorn". I don't know why, but he loves it! He remembers seeing them when he went to the fair this summer. We have looked them up on the internet. I guess the funniest thing about it is just hearing his little three year old voice say "Texas Longhorn"!