Christmas 2010

Merry Christmas (a day late) everyone!! We had a wonderful Christmas even though we didn't get to see all of the family that we had hoped because of possible snow.

We started out celebrating Christmas with our small group on Wednesday night. We had lots of good food and enjoyed spending time together. We have the most AMAZING group of friends! Matt, Brayden, and I are incredibly blessed to be part of this group!

The boys (Brayden, John, and Brian) watching a movie together.

Thursday was spent doing things around the house and getting last minute gifts. Matt & I also went to Brayden's class party at school.

Friday, we all slept in and hung out together. I even took a nap while Brayden was napping!! I haven't done this in a LONG time! It felt so nice!! We all went to church together for Christmas Eve service then Matt's parents arrived. We had a nice dinner together and Brayden put out cookies for Santa and carrots for Rudolph before going to bed.

Brayden carried Santa's cookies to the fireplace all by himself! He was so proud!

Christmas morning, we all got up to see what Santa brought Brayden. Brayden got a new train (Percy), play dough, Color Wonder paint, and The Letter Factory movie.


Of course, he was most excited about the train!! After Uncle John and Aunt Dana arrived, we had Christmas breakfast then opened gifts! Brayden got 2 new train sets, a soccer goal, a Elmo Potty book, big boy underware, several cars, and Sir Topham Hatt's car (from Thomas).

My parents & grandmother were supposed to come after lunch, but because no one knew if/when it was going to snow, they opted to stay at home. After Brayden's nap, we opened the gifts from my parents. Brayden got a tricylce and another train set!


About 9pm it started to snow and didn't stop until after lunch today!! We got a total of about 6". It was a great packing snow so we made a snowman this afternoon! Brayden also helped Matt clear the sidewalk and driveway today.

Our house in the snow. The tree in the front yard had at least 50 robins in it before we came outside. They were LOVING all of the berries left on the tree!
Brayden did not enjoy the snow while the snow was still falling.
Can't say I really blame him though...it was COLD!!

Helping clear the sidewalk with Daddy!

Our snowman :)

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Fun

I figured I should go ahead & post about some of our pre-Christmas activities before it is spring!

Our first Christmas activity (after the Christmas parade and decorating the house) was to decorate gingerbread houses! Brayden really enjoyed this task and ate about as much candy as he put on the house!

Just getting started decorating the house

John had to stop for a M & M break :)

Brian got a little help from Caroline

John jumping off the kangaroo climber. Brayden was the first one to scale to this height and jump. Of course, everyone else had to follow suit! It is actually sort of high...about 3 feet! Sorry Amy!!

Matt & I ready to go to the BE &K Christmas Party. Thanks to my friend Jill, I had a great dress and jewelry to wear!

This past weekend we hosted Matt's extended family for our annual Christmas celebration. We always have a great time hanging out with the family. They are all CRAZY and make things so much fun! Plus the food is always great!

Sid and Brayden playing with the trains. Overall, they played very well together and got along great! Sid just turned 3 in early November, so the boys are right at 1 year apart in age.

Oma & Opa watching the boys do something.

Brayden, Ron, and Sid

Matt, Ron, and Sandy - getting ready to eat dinner

Opening gifts! Brayden and Sid both got Leapfrog readers and books!!

Benny & Teresa (BB and Nana) I never get a photo of them together,
so I figured I would take the opportunity while I could!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! I will return after Christmas...hopefully!

Four Years

Four years ago today we welcomed our first son into this world as an angel. Four years ago today my world changed forever. Four years ago today I began grieving for the son that I would never get to see grow into a joyful little boy that his little brother is now.

I am thankful every day that God chose me to be Taylor's mother.

Taylor Benjamin, I will love you forever.
Love ,
Mommy

Catching Up

It seems like November flew by in the blink of an eye! We have been super busy this past month. Here is an update of what we have been up to.

Early in November, we went to the last NCSU home football game of the season!

Tailgating at the last home NCSU football game of 2010!

Playing beanbags (cornhole) with Miss Emma at the tailgate!

Possibly the coolest 2 year old in the world! Notice how often
the hat & glasses show up in the photos.

The following weekend, we went to the Raleigh Christmas parade with Amy & John!

The boys had a blast!!

John was all bundled up waiting on the parade to start!

Once the parade started coming by, Brayden was very into it. Especially when the fire truck came by at the end!

Giant shopping cart...Goodness Grows in NC! This thing was HUGE!!

Giant balloon that they had trouble controlling right in front of us.
Brayden LOVES for us to clear out the garage and get the cornhole boards out. He loves to play "beanbag" and it will keep him occupied for a pretty long time! When the weather was chilly, but not cold, the garage was pretty warm, so it wasn't bad to hang out there for a while....now however, it is COLD in the garage! No more beanbags for a while!!

Concentrating on the "game"

Classic Brayden lookChilling with Uncle John and Aunt Dana (wearing Uncle John's glasses) at Thanksgiving

My little Indian

So as you can see, we have been very busy! Brayden is growing so quickly and talking so much more these days (when the mood strikes). He loves to play with his friends and for the most part, they all share toys well.

One funny story is that Brayden can't (won't) say "Thomas" as in Thomas the Tank Engine. He says "Bodis". I have been working with him when we are riding in the car about saying words correctly. I will say "T-T-Thomas" and Brayden will repeat "T-T-Bodis". I think he CAN say the word correctly, but just doesn't WANT to! He can clearly say the "T" sound though!

Happy Halloween 2010

On Saturday, we spent some time playing baseball...I am scared of what type of athlete he will turn into one day. The kid can throw a ball (baseball or football) better than I can and he can kick a football & soccer ball VERY well! We are working on swinging & hitting a baseball as well as catching!

Then we carved a pumpkin with Brayden. He had already done this a few weeks ago with Grammie & Paw, but that pumpkin had since gone bad so we carved another one. Brayden enjoyed helping to get all of the "guts" out and then played in the driveway while I did the rest of the carving.

Running & jumping was a great entertainment during the boring phase of pumpkin carving!

On Sunday, our small group came over & we all (even the couples without kids) went trick or treating in the neighborhood.

My little elephant! Luckily, he loves the costume so we didn't have a fight about putting it on!

Monkey (Brian), Buzz Lightyear (John), and Elephant (Brayden)Our first house...Corey & Jill from our small group along with Corey's parents & another couple from church who live next to Corey & Jill. Jill had made special age appropriate goody bags for the boys...so sweet of her to day that for them!This was not a planned photo...the kids did this on their own! SO CUTE!Some of the houses that we went to had gone ALL out with their decorations & Brayden got a bit scared. Can't say I blame him at some of the houses!

We all just enjoyed hanging out & watching the kids have fun! Then we came back to our house for pizza and football.

The kids eating dinner after trick or treating

We had planned on Skyping our friends, Caleb, Adrienne, and Ben, who are in PNG, during the game but things didn't work out :(

The kids were super cute in their costumes and were all really well behaved!

Happy Halloween!