Up to our eyeballs in cookies!

This is why I can't stay on a diet! No,not really that's all me:)

We worked on Christmas cookies last weekend.

Alexis was a great helper this year!

My dad did his part of cookie making(Spritz Cookies)

The kids were amazed at grandpa making cookies

They both loved sprinkling.

The kids wanted the cookies with extra sugar! See those green ones! That was all Brayden:) He tipped the container upside down!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas:)

On Saturday all the Christmas stuff came out . We cleaned up the house and then set up some lights. Pumba is helping out Jason.

Alexis helped Jason put up the stockings.

Saturday afternoon we went into town to pick out our Christmas tree.

Jason found the perfect tree this year. The kids were big helpers.

Brayden wanted to be a gift under the tree.

He also helped Jason carry his and Alexis' tree to Grandpas truck.

We went home and set up the trees in holders. Then we were off to Aunt Kelly's house. Lyndie was home for the Thanksgiving holiday. We had so much fun! The kids were snowboarding on the PlayStation and also played guitar on the guitar hero. Jason and I also played the guitar hero. Fun times. We also got to talk to Adam on Skype. It was fun to see him again. We had some yummy dinner. Thanks for all the fun:)

On Sunday we put the lights on the trees and decorated them. We have been busy getting ready for Christmas. I have my cards ready I just need to address them and get them in the mail:)

Here is the kids tree. We decided since we finished the basement we should decorate a little bit down there also. The kids were able to decorate this one all by themselves:)

Another week has past by...

Last weekend was the weekend for starting the Christmas baking. We spent all afternoon Saturday working on them. We ended up with about 1000 turtles. On Sunday afternoon we worked on dipping the pretzels in almond bark and sprinkles. Alexis helped us dip them. Mmmm they both turned out very yummy.


Tuesday I brought Brayden into the doctor because he had a fever and has had ick for a week or two. She took one look in his ear and said oh! Ear infection, I was very surprised at that because he really hasn't had many of those. Maybe only one? So now he is on meds and still coughing but hopefully the infection will be gone soon. He hasn't complained of any pain in his ears just stomach and throat. We hung out with Abigail the first part of the week. Alexis was off of school from Wednesday until tomorrow. Abigail is starting to roll on her side. It's so fun to see her learning different things.

Alexis came home from school as a pilgrim. Her class made these hats for a Thanksgiving feast they had.

She also came home with Curly the bear. Which every child in the class will eventually bring home with them. We were suppose to write up a story of what we did with him and take a few pictures.

We had a fun Thanksgiving dinner at my cousins house in the city. We ate to much but it was all so good:) A few of us did manage to get out of the house and take a walk. Which made us feel better about the pie we would be eating!

Bella is doing well. She has finally started to fill out and you can't feel her backbones anymore sticking out. Pumba is still not to sure about her. They will chase after each other playing. But then Pumba will jump on top of her and bite her! Tami says in a few weeks we will be able to declaw and spay her so that might help a little? We will see!

We hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving, now onto Christmas...

Our week

Monday-Alexis went to bed with a sore throat

Tuesday-I got a call from the nurse saying Alexis had been in twice with throat pain but she had no fever. Luckily I was still in town picking up Brayden from preschool. So I picked her up a little early from school and me and the four kids made a trip to the doctor. The doctor did a strep test and everything came back fine. She also looked in Braydens mouth and said his was red also and looks like it would be painful. She said it was just a virus so medicine wouldn't do anything for it. While we were there I decided it was time to get Alexis' flu shot. So I did some bribing and there were only a few tears shed. Alexis decided it wasn't as bad as she thought it would be. When we got home I gave her a couple books I had been saving for her. She was very happy with that.

Wednesday-Work, Work, Work

Thursday-The kids are both still not feeling the best. Brayden actually seems a little worse. But no fever, just the cold. More work:)

Today-I got Alexis on the bus and then Brayden, Mom and I drove up to the cities for Brayden's 2nd Echo. We were able to get right in and were only there for a little over an hour. The doctor said everything looked fine, except they needed to look at one spot. A little while later she said everything looked fine and she wouldn't need to see him for a year. She also gave the OK to take him off of his aspirin. Yeah!!!:) When we got there Brayden was weighed and measured. In the last 2 months since he was there, he gained 2 pounds and 1 inch! Wow, she said he is now in the 25th percentile in both height and weight! I don't think he has ever been up to the 25th percentile. I am so relieved to have this behind us for now. Now he just needs to stay healthy and away from the Kawasaki Disease. At least I know what to look for now! After we left the doctor we did some shopping at the MOA and ate a yummy lunch. Then we went to see my friend Andrea for just a few minutes to exchange some clothes, then to do some more shopping. Brayden was so good today! no whining or complaining! He crashed in the car on the way to target so we cut our shopping a little short. He was coughing quite a bit this afternoon also. Hopefully he is able to sleep well tonight. So much fun we had today. Alexis was picked up by Aunt Kelly from school. I haven't talked to them but it sounds like(from Jason) they are having a fun outing of there own. She might even have a sleep over, we will see.

Now my next project for the weekend is to print out my Christmas letter and get my cards made up. Sounds like we will be making a few Christmas turtles this weekend also.

Family Night

Last Thursday night we had a fun Family Fun night for Braydens Preschool. There are only 12 kids in his class with 2 teachers. He loves going and can't wait to go back! It was fun to see him playing with the other kids and the interaction. Although he refused to sing or dance with the other kids when they were singing as a group. Alexis was so excited to go see her old teachers.

I am getting forgetful in my older age:) I forgot my camera. So I only took these shots from my cell phone camera.
Brayden writing on a calender

Princess Alexis

Coloring and cutting at the art table

Singing and dancing-notice Brayden just standing there in the red

More singing-Alexis remembered this song from last year.

Ohh Brayden is an Aligater:)

David and Alexis were in preschool together last year. They were having fun!

A finished project- the kids made turkeys

On Friday we also had Family Night at Alexis school. It was crazy busy there so I never got my camera out. But Alexis had a blast. Brayden had a little fever and a stomach ache that afternoon so he stayed home with Grandma until Dad got home.

Lazy Saturday

My little Bella loves her mama:)

We had a very lazy day today. Alexis had gymnastics in the morning because she had missed it on Thursday. Brayden had his preschool family night that night and she wanted to go to that instead. I will post pictures of that when I get a chance. I went to my friends book party which she had booked from my party. We all met back up at home by 1:00 and we decided to just vege out for the day and have a movie night. We are all in different stages of an icky cold so we thought it would be best. We had fun, we watched Dr. Doolittle 3 something we had never seen, it was on cable. We also had popcorn. Here are some pics from our afternoon:

Bella found a warm spot in the sun and Pumba still isn't quite sure about this little thing running around taking up his space. They are at the stage of smelling noses Pumba hisses and Bella tries to hiss back and Bella could really care less:) Pumba usually just walks away but keeps an eye on her!

Pumba sleeping on the couch earlier

Pumba never lays by my legs I think he is a bit jealous that little Bella wants to be on top of me:) Even right now as I type this she is on my lap:)(Edited to add picture which is at the top)

Pumba again notice we are all relaxing very well! Just what we needed.

Jason and Brayden watching the Gophers. Alexis took these last three pictures.

A new addition:)

Isn't she cute:)

So, a couple weeks ago there were 4 or 5 kittens running around at my parents house and hiding under their deck. They wouldn't even come out. We fed them a few times. This last weekend it was very cold, windy, snowy. Sad to say there was only one left and I just couldn't let her go to kitty heaven. We spent the weekend with my dad's sisters and one of them said they would take her home and give her a place to live.

However today when my friend brought her to her vet clinic and checked her out it was a little more than my Aunt wanted to pay and yes I kindof got attached to this little kitten. So needless to say we are the proud parents of a little girl. Not quite sure of a name yet. Maybe Bella, possibly Cali(for calico cat).

Mom and Dad you can lift your jaws back up:) It will be ok:)

Here she is: She is actually calico grey, orange and white

Trick or Treat

Friday was a very busy but fun day. The kids were so excited to put on their costumes and celebrate the day. We started out the day by bringing Brayden to the doctor. Nothing too serious. He had 4 spider bites on his fingers that were/are infected. His doctor put him on meds and we are hoping that will help out. I also decided that it would be a good time to do his flu shot since his big sister wasn't there to scare him. I can't wait for her to get hers(NOT)! She is going to scream going in and coming out:(

I dressed the kids up in their costumes(Brayden, Riley and Abigail)
Here's our turtle:

I dug out Alexis pumpkin costume she wore and put it on Abigail. It brought back many memories:)

and we picked up grandma for a little help. We were on our way to the doc, lunch and then to Alexis school for a parade of all the kids. They had the kids walk in with their teachers(Alexis is the white Unicorn)

We sat by Laura and her daycare kids(the ones I watch once in awhile)

Around 5:00 we were on our way to a couple houses around our neighborhood and my parents and then we were going to drop Riley and Abigail off at there house

but we decided to go trick or treating together in town. So we found a newer neighborhood and walked up and down the street. We had a great time. The boys did really good until the way back. Their little legs were getting tired so we ended up carrying them. Everyone enjoyed their night and ended it with a few treats.

Our last stop was Aunt Kelly's. Here she is saying "wow this is heavy!" They ended up with quite a bit of candy(It's really good too:)) We are all enjoying it!

The kids also decided that they wanted S'mores to eat so we stopped by for a campfire at grandma and grandpas. Brayden fell asleep almost right away. Alexis enjoyed her S'more:)