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.