Our too short of visit with the Branch Family!

Our much too short of a visit with the Branch family! They all came up to Washington to welcome the newest member of the family, Jacque's little girl Neah! So we took the chance to go see all of them! They've got babies popping out all over the place so we were in heaven! Megan had her baby Liam with her who was 2 weeks old and Ashley had Max along who was 2 months old :) And Lyndee who was finally kid free had her time consumed with little people lol

Lyndee and Makenna

Uncle Tom and the boys watching football!

Makenna and adorable Max!

Ashley was so good about letting Makenna take over on her sweet boy!

Lyndee, Sandy, Makenna, and Max

Ben and Max. My boys were just as excited over this little bundle as me and Makenna were!

Isn't he just sweet?

Max is saying here, "Sooo...just throwing this out there...but when is the chick in the pink shirt giving me back to my momma???"

Makenna turns 5!

Not sure how we got here but my sweet girl is 5!

Our gift to her was horse riding lessons....

She was a natural! Enjoyed each and every moment! I've never seen someone more in their element than she was this day!

A fairy birthday party

Makenna and her bestest friend Haylee!

The most beautiful fairies in the world!

Happy Birthday Makenna!

Oh what an amazing girl we have to celebrate! I love your generous heart and the piles of pictures you draw for your dad and me each day. You are such a gift from the Lord! I love how you nurture each of us when we are sad or sick. You are the first one to help and the first one to tell me I'm beautiful when I'm having a rough day. You are the beautiful one sweetie...inside and out! God sees the beauty within our hearts and thats the love and beauty that shines through you each and every day Makenna!

Happy Birthday to my favorite little girl! xoxox 

Our 'stay'cation and BIG news....

My mom kept our kids after our Portland trip. We came home completely kid-free which we found is fun for about 2 days and then what??? lol.

Drinks and appetizers with a view of the ocean... it was splendid!

A walk at the boardwalk

A very relaxing week for us! But we missed our kids like crazy!! It made us realize that we need to take up some hobbies when the kids leave the house because right now they are our hobby! It also made us realize that we need to take time to reconnect more often. It had been 9 years since we last had a kid free weekend! Surprising enough I did not end up pregnant with all our alone time...

 that ended up taking place in November instead :)

Yep we're pregnant :)

party in Portland....

Came to Portland to celebrate these two amazing people....Seriously such an amazing weekend!

Made our way to downtown to Nike Town...

Lots of posing and pictures taking place....

Shortly after this posing picture was taken is when we were told by an employee it is illegal to take pictures in Nike Town! Who knew??? Kids first broke the law under my supervision!

Lunch in downtown

Grandma with kiddos

For the wedding the attire was to wear a hat, boa, wig. So this is what I was able to get the boys to do other than a baseball hat!

Scott embraced the wig idea to the fullest! And here was born the Jamaican accent that lasted the entire weekend!

Sometimes it's better to just not ask lol

As amazing as Portland and all the activities that we did were, I have to say that the family time we had was priceless. With my mom, brothers, new sister, and my cousins. We never really have uninterrupted time and I found this to be the best part. I hadn't had the time I'd wanted with Brooke, my new sister. And I so enjoyed just being able to hang out from breakfast to the late hours making memories with her! It was a great trip and such a wonderful reason to come together to celebrate!

Brayden turns 8....

The party....

Batting cages....Jensen, Chase, Brayden, Kobey, Ben

Pizza after and pirate names assigned

Pirate music and making their bandanas

My first official pirate cake. Ok, to others this might not seem like a big baking feat but trust me it's HUGE!

The finished bandanas

Our pirate flag...ready for our treasure hunt!

arrrr....the treasure map

I think we found something matey!

Oh Brayden how you brighten each of our days! Our family hit the gold mine with you:) You make us laugh with your quick sense of humor, your accents from far away lands, and quirky ways of doing things. You are loving, kind, and a friend to SO many. You will find the one spot on the couch that your bum will fit into and cuddle yourself into it! You just love to be touching someone...anyone! Just a cuddly, warm, and nurturing kid who we are blessed to call our son! You truly are such a gift to this family in SO many ways! We love you buddy, Happy 8th Birthday!