Christmas Eve Morning Photo Shoot

With my new phone, I love that I can take "selfies." I don't have very many pictures of me and the boys because I'm always the one taking the pictures; however, with my new phone I have the option to take our photos, so while the boys and I were waiting for Brandon to get home from lifting weights we thought we would take some photos! Merry Christmas!

It's hard getting two toddlers to smile at the same time

Our Christmas

We were headed back to Laurens for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, so we thought we would celebrate our little family Christmas on Monday, December 23 and have Santa arrive at our house the morning of Christmas Eve.

In late afternoon we opened our gifts and carried on our tradition of making snicker doodle cookies and having soup for supper. Then on our way up to bed we made sure to set out cookies and milk for Santa--oh and carrots for the reindeer. We also had to say our good-byes to our elf, Zon.

This year's Christmas festivities were so much fun because Brody actually understood the concept of setting out cookies for Santa, opening gifts, and celebrating Jesus's birthday. Brandon and I really enjoyed the Christmas season this year, and I am very sad to see it go. 

Our tree with all the presents! What a wonderful time of year!

 

 

I made the boys an ABC book of family memories

They both got giant superhero's-- Quote from Brody, "This is something I have been waiting for my whole life!"

Making our cookies for Santa!

Brayden actually got to help this year, so much fun!

 

My potato soup--yum yum!

Setting out our cookies--right by the chimney

Saying goodbye to Zon

Their gifts from Santa the next morning: Thomas blankets, John Deere Tractors, and spider-man cups

It's a Hawkeye Weekend!

For my mother-in-law and father-in-law, for Christmas, we bought them a weekend to Iowa City to see a Hawkeye basketball game. Since this was going to be their Christmas present, we decided to go the weekend before Christmas. On Saturday, December 21, we loaded up the van and headed to Iowa City. On Saturday, when we got there we had a nice lunch at Steak'n Shake. For as long as Brandon and I have been together, every time we go to Iowa City we have to eat at least one meal at Steak'n Shake. What's better than burgers and ice cream?? Yum yum!!! After lunch we headed over to the mall for some last minute Christmas shopping, and let the boys play at the play area for about 2 hours--just to tire them out a bit. Then we headed back to our hotel for a nice relaxing night while enjoying some Papa John's Pizza!

On Sunday we woke up to 8 inches of snow!! It was beginning to look a lot like Christmas that morning! After breakfast and after Brandon and Bill dug the van out of a snow bank, we headed to cheer on the Hawks at Carver Hawkeye Arena! The boys had a blast watching the basketball game and seeing Herky! After the basketball game, and of course a Hawkeye victory, Brandon and I took his parents to see the Iowa Athletic Hall of Fame. While Brandon, Bill, and Cheryl, caught up on their Hawkeye history, I took the boys to the third floor to play some basketball before our long trip home. Once the boys started getting sleepy we thought it would be a great opportunity to head home.

We had a nice little weekend away enjoying family, shopping, and Hawkeye basketball!

Hanging out in the backseat with my Bro Bro

Hats from Steak'n Shake

Brody calls it his "cooker" hat

Get Go taking the boys on an escalator ride---they did this about 10 times!

This is what we woke up to on Sunday morning--8 inches!

High 5 for Herky!

Playing some basketball at the Hall of Fame

Bye-Bye Nursery and Hello Big Boy Room

Both of our boys have slept in mine and Brandon's room since they were born. There was about a six month stretch when Brody slept in his own room, but then Brandon and I went on vacation and when we got back old habits fell into place. Brody had slept on the floor next to our bed, and Brayden has slept in his pack' n 'play since he was born.

Brandon and I decided that it was time to put them in their own room, so part of their Christmas present from us was to remodel their room, so bye-bye baby nursery and hello big boy room! I had "before" pictures on my old phone, but once again they didn't transfer over. The baby nursery had baby yellow walls with an accent wall of a baby green color. Then we had a border around the room with zoo animals. The crib, that my parents bought as a baby gift for Brody, had never been slept in. Instead of using it for a place to sleep, it has always been used as a laundry basket. So thanks mom and dad for the giant laundry basket for the past three years! (This is one thing Brandon and I miss since the remodel...now we actually have to put their clothes away)





Wall number one done--the boys were so excited!

 

My little helper!

 

Our "before" picture of our laundry basket

The "after" picture- now a toddler bed

Another Christmas present from us--a T.V.

Again, another present from us- Thomas blankets for their bed

Photo Shoot

 

A few weeks ago, Brandon and I updated our phones and got the iPhone 5c. Since my pictures from my previous phone did not transfer over, I needed to add some pictures to my phone. I just so happened to run across these two cuties to take some pictures.

Brody's 3rd Birthday Weekend

I'm a little slow at posting this, but since I'm on Christmas break this week my plan is to get caught back up on my blog.

Brody's 3rd birthday was on Saturday, December 7. We had a great weekend full of activities for him. The morning of his birthday Brayden and I sang happy birthday to him and he just loved it! This is the first year that he was excited about his birthday and fully understood the whole birthday concept, so it was a lot of fun--not only for him but for Brandon and I as well! Later that day, Brandon and I took him to his first movie at the theater. We went and saw Frozen. He just loved it!! He loved the movie, the popcorn, and the candy. It was a lot of fun for Brandon and I watch his reactions to everything. We were also joined by our friends the McClains! I also have to thank my friend Bridget for watching Brayden, so Brandon and I both could enjoy Brody's first movie experience. Later that night we took Brody out to see the Christmas lights at Kennedy Park. He loves going around and to see Christmas lights, and he also saw Santa out that who wished him a happy birthday!  I wish I could share my pictures from his special day, but I got a new phone recently and they didn't transfer the pictures over.

On Sunday we met with our family over in Storm Lake and celebrated Brody's birthday at King's Pointe Waterpark. After fun at the waterpark we headed to Pizza Hut for lunch, cake, and presents. Brody of course had to have a Thomas themed birthday.

Here are pictures from all the fun at Brody's birthday party!

Mommy and "Murray" (my sister Hilary) trying to get Brody's goggles on

My Dad and Grandma Mary observing everyone while they swim

Daddy and Brayden on the slide

 

Murrary and Brayden

Aubrey's turn!

Get Go and the birthday boy

Mommy and Brayden

Whooo! Go Kaleb!

Kris and Kayson

 

Mason and Brayden

Lunch at Pizza Hut- Angie, Grandma Cheryl, Daddy and Mommy

 

Yum Yum!!

Make a wish!

 

 

 

 

Opening his fire truck from Mommy and Daddy

 

Add caption

Grandma Cheryl, Get Go, Aunt Jenny, and the birthday boy

 

The birthday boy, Nana, Great Grandma Mary, Zoe, Aunt Murrary, and Uncle Mason
Brody is excited about his new coat from Nana and Zoe!

Little brother enjoy Brody's toys while he takes a nap--Superman!

Toy Story boxing gloves from the Taylor family--He is so serious!

 

Enjoying his bowling game from Aunt Jenny

Showing off his new outfit from Grandma Cheryl and Get Go

 

Paging Doctor Brody-- his doctor kit from Grandma Cheryl and Get Go