Zoo Lights 2009

A few years ago we started a new tradition with Geoff's side of the family of going to the Zoo Lights. Geoff's parents have a zoo pass, that gets all the grandkids and one adult in free so we all get to go for the admission price of one adult. It's such a fun night.Here's the picture of our family. It was so cold, that by the time we made it home we had snow flurries out in Battle Ground.

Here's Bryn, all bundled up. She had on a long sleeve onsies, sleeper pj's, a blanket sleeper, scarf, hat and blanket. I think she was warm enough, because she never really fussed.

Geoff and I in front of the Gingerbread house.

Here's the group we went with. Tom, Ava, Nicole, Papa, Nana, Jen, Geoff, Aunt Rhonda, Kaylyn, Bryn and Hayden. I love this picture. Good family shot.

Kaylyn and Ava. Little buddies and cousins.

Ava, Hayden, Kaylyn and Geoff over by the bugs.

Here's Hayden with the Tiger. (They have matching scarfs!) Kaylyn was so scared, so Hayden ran right over to get a picture with him to show her he wasn't scarey.

Aunt Rhonda, Geoff and Nicole.

Papa and Nana with all the grandkids. I think this should be their Christmas cards next year!

Me with my two older kiddos. Brynley was all tucked into her stroller, so I didn't get her out in the cold. It was about 30 degress when we left at 9pm.

One little word....MAMA

Just had to post....Brynley said Mama tonight for the first time. It was darling, but what really made it true and not just babble was when she said it as I was leaving the room and she was looking up the stairs for me! It's about time since she's been saying Dadda for about 4 months. I've been waiting patiently! That was a wonderful Christmas gift you gave me.

Santa Claus is coming to town

We went to the mall to have the kids visit with Santa. This has been the same Santa for the last 6 years and he's the sweetest man. I look forward to seeing and talking with him every year. He's a smart Santa (not that Santa wouldn't be) but he makes sure the kids tell him what they want when I can hear and he talks to them about school. Brynley did good on Santas lap for this picture, but when they tried to take another, she started screaming.

Here's the picture of all the grandkids on his lap and proof that Brynley was crying by this point.

Deck the Halls....

The house is all decorated, so all that's left to do is finish the shopping and wrap gifts. I love this time of year and I love our house all decorated for the holidays.

Geoff didn't want to climb up on the top of the roof this year, so we decorated the porch more and put lights in the upstairs windows.

The front porch I did a little different this year, with glitter snowflakes hanging from the ceiling and lights around the poles. I love it. It feels like a winter wonderland.

The 'family' tree in the family room. This tree is the tree with the color lights, kids handmade ornaments and the ornaments from Geoff and my childhood. Notice Oreo, or kitty, stretched out by the fire.

This is 'my' tree in the living room. I decorate this one with white lights (my favorite) red, white and silver balls and snowflakes/snowman ornaments. Under this tree we put the extended family gifts. I just haven't wrapped any yet!

Our family after decorating the tree. The kids couldn't decorate it quick enough. They were pulling out ornaments before the last ones were hung. Brynley even helped do her two new ones for her first Christmas!

Oh....aren't they cute!

New Moon

I took my Mom for her birthday to see New Moon opening night. We didn't want to wait outside in the freezing cold, so we bought tickets to see Twilight at 9pm and then we went right into New Moon into reserved seats. It was such a fun night. We meet up with some of my friends and saw lot more people we knew there. It was a very late night (not getting home till almost 4am), but it was worth it. Can't wait till Eclipse comes out in June to do it all over again!

My Mom and I.

My Mom, myself, Jenn, Mindy and Jen. ( Mindy calls us her Jen's because all her bestfriends are Jennifer's. It's kinda funny!)

Yearly Family Pictures

We went and took our yearly family photos. Everyone in the family HATES to do pictures, but me, so I only get us all in formal pictures once a year. I have to make it good and get alot of photos, to satisfy myself! There are many more, but I won't post all of them :)

We went to Lewisville again this year.

Myself and Geoff. Nov. 2009

Hayden (7 years), Brynley (9 months), Kaylyn (4 1/2 years)

This ended up being one of my favorites. I blew this one up and framed it.

Of the people who have seen these photos, this has been their favorite pose.

The BIG 9

Brynley turned 9 months on Thanksgiving. I just took her in for her check-up and here is her stats......15lbs 6oz. (4th percentile, she's a tiny one), 27.5 inches (30th percentile) and her head circumfrence is in the 70th percentile. She now has 5 teeth and is up on all fours doing the rocking back in forth so it won't be long before she'll be crawling and we'll really be in trouble! We can't wait to spend her first Holiday Season with her.

Ambers Baby Shower

One of my oldest and best friends is due with her first baby (it's a BOY) in Jan. and I wanted to throw her a baby shower. We didn't do anything over the top cutesie or baby (and if you know Amber that is not her style anyway), but we had a good time. I served a light lunch of turkey wraps, pasta salad, deviled eggs and apple crisp ala mode for dessert. I made for her a diaper cake (with baby plaque), a well wishes wall hanging and the decorations she could take home and use because they were baby onsies on a clothes line. It was a fun day and I think she enjoyed just relaxing. (Take advantage of that now....)

Mindy, Amber and I. We have a picture like this at all the large events in our lives, such as graduation, weddings and baby showers. These girls have been my best friends for almost 18 years!

Amber 32 weeks......and counting!

HALLOWEEN 2009

For Halloween this year, Geoff had to work, so my Mom and I took the kids to the mall to trick or treat and then around our neighborhood. They had a blast and got their buckets full of candy.

Here's the three of them before the mall. Notice where the kids feet are so that Brynley doesn't slip on the hardwood floors :0)
Hayden was Bumblebee from Transformers. He received the most complements this year.

Kaylyn was a beautiful Snow White. We curled her hair but it's so fine so within and hour it was straight again. Oh and she got to wear her high heels!

My little pumpkin. This was Kaylyn's costume her first Halloween and I just love it, so I was excited to use it again.

This is them Halloween night in our neighborhood.

8 months!

Yes I'm about 2 weeks behind, but Brynley is 8 months!

Pumpkin, Pumpkin Round and Fat....

Turn into a Jack-o-Latern just like that!

So much fun!

Brynley playing in her first pumpkin. She loved it and wanted to eat the pumpkin guts.

Kaylyn was a little timid to stick her hand in hers. She only would use the scoop.

Hayden just digs right in and offers to do everyone elses also.

The kids sitting behind their pumpkins.

Hayden's melting pumpkin, my boo pumpkin, Kaylyn's kitty pumpkin and Brynleys smiley pumpkin. Geoff has a pumpkin that is puking out it's insides and we can't lite it till Halloween night when we pull the insides out of it's mouth, but he did pick a green pumpkin this year to make it look more sick.

Disney On Ice

I couldn't decide if I was going to take the kids to Disney on Ice this year, but as soon as I started seeing the commercials on tv, I knew I'd regret it if we didn't. (We've gone the last 5 years, so I didn't want to break tradition.) I went online and found with the schools coupon book I could still buy discount tickets, so I did, only 2 days before the show. I decided it would be fun to surprise them. When Hayden got home from school he was going nuts wanting to know where we were going. We went to dinner at Wendy's first (and teased him that it was his surprise....too bad we eat there too often and he knew it wasn't!). So I had them start guessing. Hayden guessed the Great Wolf Lodge ( I wish!), a Coldplay Concert (again I wish!) or a Movie. Kaylyn guessed we were taking her to the scarey store (Party City, which doesn't make sense because I know she's terrified of that place.) When we pulled up to the Rose Garden to park, Hayden guessed it when he saw all the girls in princess dresses walking in. They were so excited, but Hayden did mention he'd rather see a Blazer Game. I guess that's a sign of his age :(

The Lion King. My Favorite Disney Movie.

Kaylyn finally agreed to put on her Aurora Halloween Costume from last year. She was such a cute princess.

Lightning McQueen from Cars!

My Mom with a very happy Brynley. She did great for her first Ice performance. It held her attention till the intermission, then she was tired and took a nap.

Poor Kaylyn started feeling sick at intermission and by the end was feverish and lethargic. She still loved it though and Hayden loved the Cars show. The next morning she was feeling fine and wanting to go back.

Off to the Patch....

Our annual trip to the pumpkin patch was perfect this year. There was no crowds and it wasn't raining. We had a blast. Kaylyn had been asking all year when we passed by the street it's on, when we'd get to back, so she was very very happy to be there, again. I love this tradition. I always get some of my favorite pictures at the pumpkin patch :)

My babies! Brynley was so excited to be there for her first trip, she kept squeeling with delight.

Daddy and his kids.

Washing the pumpkins is a family affair. Geoff picked a green pumpkin, since he makes them sick and puking.

Brynley's first time at a petting zoo. She loved this goat. He loved her until she started pulling his hair.

Kaylyn on the hay pyramid.

I love this picture. Something so cute about catching them by surprise.

The pumpkins. Hayden picked the largest....again.

Some nice lady took our picture on the hay pyramid.