We went. We saw. We WERE conquered!

Picture it. A nice  stroll up to the mountains to cut down a fresh Christmas tree. Some may say 2 hours is a long ride to cut down a tree but there just seems to be a sweet story with cutting down your own Christmas tree. A memory that my kids will tell their kids about.
The morning started off fantastic. Both kids were happy and in good moods. Mckinley slept for about 45  minutes up and Brax played on the iPad and practiced his songs for the Christmas Pageant (I've heard them so many times I could be one of the Wisemen next Sunday!). Mckinley woke up and it was down hill from there. Almost there even Braxton asked "Why can't we just stop at one of the those little shops on the side of the road and get our tree?"
Once we arrived we ventured off to find the perfect tree. We found it and jumped back in the car to do some Christmas shopping. So we thought.
My kids were not having it. I made it into one store and decided it was time to go home. Mckinley cried the whole way and Braxton whined, sang, asked questions, said he was hungry, wanted a drink, and said he was tired.
We came straight in, gave baths, and had both babies in bed by 7:30.
Now I sit. I look around my house and see all the laundry that needs to be washed, clothes that need to be folded, floors that need to be swept, decorations that need to go up, and groceries that need to be bought and wander "was today worth it?".  And the only word that comes to mind is ABSOLUTELY.

Thankful

I've said it before. Of all the wonderful things I have in my life I'm most thankful that my children have each other. I've never really taken a poll as to why people have children and keep having them but from personal experience I know that the main reason we decided to have more than one child is because we didn't want anyone growing up "all alone". I can't begin to imagine my life without siblings. Growing up with a brother and a sister was fun but now that I'm an adult I just can't picture life without one of them.
Brandon and I love being parents. We love watching our babies grow and make discoveries. I love hearing them and listening to them interact. I always knew that I would like to be the mommy of  a little boy and a little girl but after I had Braxton more than anything I wanted him to have someone to grow up with.
As hectic as things get sometimes more than anything I like to just sit in the middle of the floor and have both of them around me playing with each other.
Brax brought home a ton of projects and things he'd done at school last week. I was looking through them and came across a paper turkey. The belly of the turkey said "Braxton is thankful for......" and each of it's feathers Brax had written something he was thankful for. One of his teachers had come behind him and written really tiny at the bottom what he was trying to write. He sounded out each of the words and I was impressed with that. But these are the things he wrote. "Fmly" (family), "Fd" (food), Hse (house), bdrm (bedroom), and Mnle (sister Mckinley). I stood in the kitchen for the longest time just holding that turkey and reading it, and rereading it. I was so happy that he felt that way. Of all the things he has, he included his sister.
And that's what I'm Thankful for today!

The Most ____________ Time of the Year

You fill in the blank. It all depends on the day around here. It's been a CRAZY month and all I can say is thank goodness it's November. Truly one of my most favorite months of the year.
Because of where we used to live we never really got to experience the Trick or Treat thing. We had one neighbor on our street that ever participated and they weren't ever home when we went to their door. Last year I had class and so I couldn't go with Braxton when we took him to dad's neighborhood. This year we were really looking forward to celebrating our first Halloween in our new house and experiencing the thrill of Trick or Treating.
Mckinley went as a lion just like her big brother did his first Halloween and Braxton graciously agreed to go as a dragon again this year since I didn't get to see him dressed up last year.
We had so much fun.

What a Difference!

Hardly can believe it's the same baby! Look at her.....

She's Walking Away

We have a little walker in the house. She started taking a few steps almost immediately after her birthday. She would take a few steps and fall and just crawl to get to where she was going. Now she'll actually walk and if she falls she gets back up and finishes walking.

Silly Girl!

I can honestly say our baby girl did not have a good weekend. If you'd look in her mouth you'd see why. 2 molars are coming in, one on each side. I did catch a glimpse of our happy girl this morning. She loved sitting in a big chair. I did think about the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving where Snoopy has it out with the chair because the one she was sitting in kept trying to fold up.
Anyways hope you had a great weekend. On to another work week!

"ONE"derful

 Can not believe it's been a year since we met this little girl!

                            Enjoying some watermelon

                            Cupcakes for our cupcake

                             "So you want me to do what?"


Yesterday we celebrated our baby girl turning one. Mckinley didn't get a nap yesterday and she was still quite the hostess. She would let anybody hold her and was up after everyone was gone until about 10pm. I was able to get some great pictures. I know she'll love hearing all about her first birthday some day.
Thanks to everyone who came, helped out, or sent birthday wishes her way.