Are you ready???

First off, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

We have been so busy having fun with Family and Friends I haven't had time to blog. So here you get it all at once. Our last couple weeks have flown by. I can't believe that it is January already. I will start off with what we continued to do throughout December(make yummy cookies) and these ones were my favorite:) Mmmm, they were so good!

The Tuesday before Christmas was Braydens preschool celebration. He again decided to be shy and not sing, just hung his head low and listened. He did ring his bells once:)

Here he is coloring baby Jesus in the manger

and eating cookies with Riley after a few projects.

Christmas Eve we spent at my parents home with my family

Alexis, Brayden and Nicholas enjoyed playing in the extra large box. Who needs Christmas presents!

Nicholas getting under the tree to get a present

Nathan enjoyed sitting on top of Alexis gift

Alexis received a stable from grandma and grandpa. She is in heaven:)

A few of Braydens gifts

Grandpa caught a truck with Braydens new fishing pole

The next morning was that special day when Santa came to our house. The kids were very happy to see they were on the good list this year. On a side note Alexis keeps asking how Santa makes all these toys. Or if he buys them from the store?

Our gifts to the kids. Bean bag chairs for their rooms. The kids love to sit in them.

After all the fun of opening our presents we were off to church and then back down to grandma and grandpa's house to play outside. The kids played on the little hill in the front yard.

Jason showed Nicholas how to fly and then how to roll backwards down the hill.

Grandpa and Brian took Alexis and Nicholas for a snowmobile ride.

After all the snow fun we were off to Amy and Tom's house for Christmas celebration with Jason's family. Alexis helped Amy open her gift before she left for work.

Brayden and Alexis got these pillows from their Aunt Jeni's family in California

There was lots of fun in the basement. We had our own band playing.

Lyndie and Michael

Erin, Michael and Alexis

Jason feeding Michael

Later on in the week Jason and I took the kids sledding. The kids had a blast...

Oh yes and we did too

Snow angels

Self portraits:

We made it all the way down without falling out

Then we built a snowman in my parents front yard

I think we are caught up now.

We celebrated New Years last night with Tami and Ryan and all the kids. We were in bed by 10:30:) didn't quite make it to the new year! We don't have any plans for the weekend. We both have to work tomorrow.

Now I am just working on my New Years Resolution:

Eating better

Exercise

So far so good!

We are still here:) I will update soon.

Snow Fun

It has been snowing here all week. Yesterday we were able to get out in it and go for a walk down to see grandma. Jason had my vehicle because his is in the shop. So, I put Abigail in her ergo and I pulled Riley and Brayden in the sled(talk about a work out!)

Today, my dad and Jason went to pick up the snowmobiles. The kids were all giddy with excitment! They couldn't wait to go for a ride. Here they are all bundled up on the sleds:

Jason and Alexis

Dad and Brayden

Christmas surprise!

On Saturday Aunt Kelly picked up the kids and surprised them with their early Christmas presents.

They started out at chucky cheese to eat some pizza and play a few games. Then they were off to the Xcel center for the Disney on Ice show. I was told only few details(which mainly was about food). Popcorn, Pizza, cotton candy, pop. Oh yes Alexis came home with a flounder hat and was talking about Ariel and Peter Pan. Brayden liked the crocodile. On their way home they picked up Mitch from the ski hill and then enjoyed more food from KFC:) This is the only picture I have right now. Hopefully I will get a few more soon;)

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you Aunt Kelly! The kids are so blessed to have your family in their lives!

Oh and Jason and I took advantage of our night alone and went to see a movie-Four Christmases. It was pretty good, a good laugh anyways.

Cookie making at school

Yesterday Alexis' kindergarten class had parents come in to help them make cut out cookies. Brayden had preschool so this was the perfect opportunity for me to go help.

When I got there all the kids were eating breakfast. After they ate they all went to the rug on the floor. All of them have their spot, it was wonderful to see all of them listen so well, they were very quiet.


Two parents were in charge of six kids. We had to roll out the dough have the kids take turns using their cookie cutters to cut out the cookies and then put them on the huge cookie sheet. All the kids made about six cookies, then it was time to sprinkle them with sugar.

The kids then walked their cookie sheets down the long hall around the corner and down that long hall. We made it to the kitchen without any cookies falling on the ground:)

Once we got there the ladies in the kitchen talked about the things they use to cook up lunch. They got a tour of the big walk in freezer and cooler. Then the ladies put their cookies in the oven.

Alexis brought them home from school and we enjoyed them for a late snack:)

This and That

I can't believe that Abigail is this big already. I put her on her stomach this week and this is what happened. Up on her elbows with her head high. It didn't last that long but how cute is she:) and drooling all over! We also started potty training Riley(actually last week) but this week he is really getting it. He is doing awesome with no accidents at our house:)

The cats again!

The kitten is getting her personality. She comes out more and isn't as scared as before. She is definately not afraid of pumba. She goes right up to him and pounces ontop of him. They have been playing under our door at night. We see pumbas paw coming under it. He loves to eat her food.

These pictures were a couple weeks ago. One of the first times Bella went up to Pumba. Pumba is getting ready to hit Bella with his paw...

Here is comes watch out Bella!

This was last week. Bella chases everything. Including little pieces of paper or whatever is on the floor.

Come and get me little kitten...

Pounce!

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.