Snow day!

Today was a snow day for all of us teachers. :) Days like this are always fun since Chris and I both get to be home with the kiddos. Our tradition has always been to go out to breakfast on school cancellation days but since Chris perfected this yummy french toast recipe, we decided to stay in and eat at home. It was yummy!!!

Ethan is becoming pretty big stuff in his bumbo seat.

"Yah, it's a snow day!"

"This is my little old man face with no toofers"

First time in the snow this winter-Braden actually liked it this year

Tackling Daddy

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Braden was loving throwing snowballs at us

The slide was super fast today and the spill at the bottom was too much fun!

Warming up with some hot cocoa

All tuckered out

Happy 3rd Birthday Braden!

Today my baby is 3 years old! It is absolutely crazy how fast it all goes. I used to think people were so silly saying "they grow up so fast" when they have 18 plus years with their kid...well that was of course was before I was a mom. It does go way too fast and although I love every new stage they go through, I feel sad thinking about when they were younger and how it's gone forever. Tear :( I guess that's what home videos and the one million pictures I take are for....remembering every cute little stage of their lives.

Braden,
You sure make your daddy and I laugh! You are in a stage where everything that comes out of your mouth makes us smile. Maybe it's the way you say everything (a little southern, drawn out, with missing syllables) or maybe it's the volume you talk at (very LOUD), or maybe it's because every little thing you say seems so clever, so smart, and full of expression. Whatever it is, you make your daddy and I grin ear to ear watching you learn and grow.

We are so proud of you! You are such a good big brother to Ethan. When he came home and totally changed the way home was to you, it didn't even phase you. You love to get him toys, talk to him, and you always try to make him stop crying when he's sad. I know things may change when he gets a tad bigger, but for now, you love him with all of your 3 year old heart!

We are so proud of how smart you are and what a sponge you are with everything you learn. I am always amazed at how you can remember things that you haven't seen or we haven't talked about in months! I wish I had your memory. You still love letters-playing with them on the fridge, on your computer, or pointing them out in stores. You can recognize every upper and lowercase letter, you know every sound, and you can spell 3 letter words! We are most impressed with your "letters" as you call them. I LOVE that you love to learn. You love books and want us to read to you all day long, even when we are driving and can't. :) You are doing such a good job going to school with mommy each day. You are sitting the whole time at carpet time with the big kids and learning to wait your turn, listen to stories, singing songs and counting. I am so happy that you love going to "your school."

We also love that in the not so happy moments that you have your own unique, big personality that keeps your daddy and I on our toes!! You pretty much think you run the house, and on some days you do. Even on those days when I'm exhausted with asking you to follow directions multiple times and having to count to 3 to get you to do anything (in which case you yell, "don't do my numbers") I can lay down at night and know how blessed I am to have you as my son! We love you buddy!! Happy birthday!

Chris came up to preschool on his lunch and surprised Braden for his bday

Braden playing at school today

Such a big boy!

Braden's birthday party

Yesterday we celebrated Braden's birthday with a Buzz Lightyear party. He was actually obsessed with CARS all year and just recently became obsessed with "Buzz." I wonder what will be next? :) He had a great time at his party playing with family & friends, eating cake, cookies, and more cake, and of course getting tons of presents! Thank you SO much to everyone that came!! Braden is one lucky boy to have so many loved ones!!

We had a taco bar but Braden just wanted "Chips and dip" of course. :)

Getting ready to light the candles...getting a cheese out of this kid is hard these days....this is as good as it gets and I'll take it!

Braden sang right along with us...even "happy birthday to Braden!"

Enjoying cake with cousins Austin & Colton

Ethan wishing Braden a happy birthday. It's neat to think that last year at Braden's party I was pregnant with Ethan but didn't know it until a few days later. :)

The presents...oh the presents! This was a Beatles shirt

A Cars tent to go on his bed...I wonder if that will give mom some quiet time-hee hee

Some new undies!

Buzz lightyear PJS!

The boys loved this big semi

Attempt #87 for a family photo where we are all looking and not whining...better luck next time

*A few of the party-goers

Papa Scott

Matt & Lexi playing with Ethan

Carrie getting some snuggly baby time in...might be time for another! :)

Papa T enjoying Braden's new hat and guitar-Ha!

Cousin Izzie-Braden gave everyone a hug (with a little persuasion) after he opened each present...he didn't stay long, but he did it so I was proud.

Gma Cindy

Mimi

Sarah & Travis

Hugs for Papa Bob

Thanks everyone!! We had so much fun! Thanks mom for taking pictures...too bad you didn't take a self portrait so I have one of you. :)

Randoms

Braden is loving his new Cars lego set and Cars rug. He begs us to set it up and then he tears it down. What a boy!

Enjoying his new chair

A little photo session by Mommy. I have very few coordinating outfits since Braden is GIGANTIC and well...Ethan is not, so I have to take what I can get. :)

Ethan looks like he's cracking up here over a joke someone told

Now Braden thinks it's funny too...Ethan, not so much

Such sweet brothers! Braden wanted to switch seats. :)

Happy New Year!

My Loves!

Christmas at Papa T & Mimi's

Our final Christmas celebration was on the 26th. We were supposed to go to Chris' dad's in the morning but the boys ended up sick Christmas night so we ended up at the Dr. first thing in the morning. They both have nasty coughs and congestion and poor Ethan has an ear infection. After naps we decided to go on over anyways. After all, a little snot wasn't going to stop Braden from tearing into presents! Thanks Papa T & Mimi for all of our great gifts and the yummy food!

Cool-a learning book-just what Mommy likes!

Ethan was getting really good at grabbing at the tissue paper by now :

Snuggles with Papa T

Braden's new ride

* After all of that, Christmas was over! I always hate when Christmas ends because I love it so much but I think we got more than enough. Braden might disagree with me but I don't think we need any toys for awhile. :) Chris and I always joke that we are that movie, "Four Christmases" but in a good way!!

Christmas at Gma Cindy & Pop's

After we finished at our house Christmas morning, we headed up to Chris' mom's for a Christmas celebration. We always have a great time opening all of our awesome gifts and eating yummy food all day long! Thanks Gma Cindy & Pop for all of the presents and fun times...especially the win, lose, or draw!

More presents

Ethan & Gma Cindy looking at a new toy

Checking out his new kick piano for the crib :)

Christmas morning

When we got home from Spencer on Christmas Eve, we had to hurry and get all ready for Santa. Braden sprinkled his reindeer food in the yard with Daddy and we put out cookies and milk. Then we had to read the real Christmas story and get to bed so Santa's helpers (uh Mom and Dad) could get all of the presents out. The funny thing is Braden would not go to bed (big surprise). He was too excited and when you tell a kid that Santa is coming well...that means it's going to be a late night. It really reminded me of being a kid again and not wanting to go to sleep. It also made me realize that we made our parents stay up way too late on those nights. Ha!

* When Braden woke up in the morning and saw Santa's cookies gone instead of connecting that "yeah, Santa left presents for me" he started crying and said, "Santa ate all of my cookies and I'm hungry!" It was soooooooo hilarious! Only Braden would cry over that-it cracked me up!!!

Santa came!

Braden playing with Buzz and Zurg from his stocking-check out the acting in his face!

Digging in


Helping Daddy open presents

Ethan with his new pal, Scout

The boys playing Cars with Braden's new rug