Date night....

I took my boys out on a date to dinner and a play the week before Christmas. We went to the Mt Baker Theatre and saw "We danced our best for Him". It was a wonderful play based on the nativity story through dance and music. Ben and Brayden surprised me with 3 roses at the play that they bought themselves. The are so thoughtful and do such wonderful things for me! I've never had two boys fighting for who gets to open my door for me! I will keep the flowers forever so I can always remember our wonderful night together.

So I caved....

I know, I know she won the battle of the earrings! But really after two boys I was pretty excited myself :) I thought she would back out once we got there but she was SO brave. I told her she could pick out which ones she wanted but she went right for the biggest rock! I told her we had to go smaller so they are small sparkly flowers. She never even flinched when they pierced them all she said was "can I see a mirror?" No tears just thrilled to have her earrings!!
I have to say she looks adorable and so grown up!!! :)

Makenna....

So after my post about her getting kick out of Sunday school I thought I better write about how stinkin' cute she is too!!
She is talking so well it is really unbelievable. She went from a few words put together to full on sentences. So she is saying the funniest and cutest stuff right now.
At night after we are done with praying and singing she wants to "talk" and she says "Mommy talk about my babies" which means she wants to talk about the pretend babies we saw in store that she wants for Christmas. And she'll talk about how they like to play ring around the rosy, hide and seek, and they like to sing and dance. And she says, "I'm a good mommy". She could go on and on about babies! The other topic is "Mommy talk about my earrings" my little Makenna wants her ears pierced! Everytime I tell her we have to go shopping she asks, "for my earrings?" I would get them pierced if I didn't think after one she would be dead set against getting the other one! And then until age 5 she only has one earring!
So what promted me to write all this is what she said yesterday when I was walking out of her room at nap time. She said "Mom guess what?" and I said, "what Makenna" and she said, "I'm just so proud of you" How cute is that? She is growing and changing so much it is unreal to me. I'm so thankful for her and all she adds to our family and Makenna I'm so proud of you too!!

Our family tree....

So the picking of the family Christmas tree this year took place where we went last year. Where you walk around pick your tree and then they cut it down for you! Simple concept except for when it was as cold as it was! I'm pretty sure we picked the first tree we saw that wasn't too big!! Brandon pointed to one and I said "Yep, that's perfect!" I can't even tell you with words how cold it was!! Here I am trying to create this memory with the kids that they will remember forever in sub zero weather and about 2 minutes into the tree hunt Brayden says, "Mom this family time is so over! When can we go get the donuts?" Yeah so the highlight for Brayden is when we went into the warm restaurant to eat!! I don't blame him :)

The excitement on her face says it all....

Ben, Brayden, and Grace hiding amoung the trees :)......

We are thankful....

Our thankful tree! I started this last year where every day we each have to write something we are thankful for on a leaf and add it to the tree. And anyone who comes over before they leave I ask them to write on a leaf too! So here are just a few of my favorite leaves this year

"I am thankful that Jesus gave me a great brother" Brayden
"I am thankful for the house that You provided for us" Ben
"I am thankful for Brayden and his sincere, silly, and spunky spirit that enriches my life each day" Mom
"I am thankful for how much of a blessing my children are" Dad
"I am thankful for my brothers talents that You gave him" Ben
"I am thankful for our parents that are always so willing to help us" Nicole
"I am thankful to have such a wonderful and giving family to spend this day with" Jessa
"I am thankful to have such a great teacher" Brayden (just had to include this one :) )
"I am thankful for Ben and his kind, compassionate, and giving heart that blesses me
daily" Mom
"I am thankful for my beautiful wife Nicole" Brandon (just had to include this one too!)


This is just a little art project that turned out cute. They traced their hands and then in each finger wrote something they are thankful God created them to be.
I am thankful God.....
1. made me smart
2. made me good at football
3. made me kind
4. made me loving
5. made me good at baseball
Ben age 8

1. made me good at math
2. made me nice to others
3. made me a good basketball player
4. made me a good receiver
Brayden age 5

1. made me playful
2. made me a good listener
3. made me helpful
4. made me beautiful
Makenna age 2