The End of a Great Year

Another year has passed, it's just crazy. Has time always went by this fast and I am just noticing it so much more now that I have children? Anyway, here we are the last day of the year. Not sure what I am really suppose to write about but I feel like I should blog about something and since I never got around to writing our Christmas letter this will be our year in review. :)

2009 was a somewhat uneventful year for us...which can definitely be a good thing after some of the crazy years we have had! I have been more than happy to still be home with the kids and although it wasn't by our choosing, I think it has been a huge blessing. Of course there are some days where I wish that I could get up (brush my teeth and maybe even shower) and get out of this crazy house and talk to adults, but for the most part I love being home. I love that I am able to hug and kiss my kids all day long. I love playing with them and teaching them new things. I love being the person who gets to be part of every new thing they do.

Matt has been very busy this year with work and school. He will be finishing his MBA in May and I don't know who will be more happy! :) It has been a long 4 years...what will we do with all our free time as a family!? He's still working for 3M and is absolutely loving it, although he is ready to start something a little different (within the company.) Hopefully after May good things happen and he gets his wish! I'm sad to report there was no deer shot this Fall but of course the "guy time" was a much needed break.

Alexa has had a busy year also. She started Preschool this Fall and although she was by far the youngest kid there she fit right in...and she LOVES it. She has made a lot of new friends and we have completely ran out of fridge space to hang all her works of art. :) This past Summer she learned to ride her big girl bike and write her name, she amazes us daily with the things she learns and comes up with. She is the silliest, funniest girl we know.

Braden is growing up way too fast of course. He turned 1 in August and shortly after started walking. Now he is running around the house talking and laughing constantly. He loves following his big sister around and doing what she does (not always a good thing!) :) He continues to be a huge Mama's boy and loves anything that has to do with climbing, yelling, and getting messy!

I started this blog right after the new years last year to keep family updated and "record" our life so someday our kids can look back on it. Little did I know how much I would love blogging and all the wonderful people I would meet. Thank you to all the awesome ladies I have met (many in real life!) and all your comments, laughs, support and prayers...it honestly means so much to me! I can't wait for another year of getting to know you all more!! :)

Although 2009 was a great year, we are looking forward to the new year and what it holds. I hope you all have a wonderful year as well, filled with health, wealth and many blessings!

Everyone have a happy and safe New Years!!

3 Hours and 100 Tokens Later...

And we finally had enough tickets to get ourselves this baby...

Yup, that's right. That bracelet is a beauty I tell ya, it even lights up!! Don't you just love Chuck E. Cheese's?

Oh wait, I don't.
I used to...until they poisoned me.
Or maybe they didn't, I don't know.
But I haven't felt good since we left there.
I even tried not to touch anything.
Just kidding....kinda.

Anyway, back to the kids, huh?

Alexa was pretty pumped the whole way there. Every place we passed she would ask, "Is that Chuck E. Cheese's?" No really, it was super cute the first 184 times....after that, not so much.

We finally got there and she was off.

Running
Jumping
Climbing
Hanging...

And riding motorcycles with Daddy.

By far the highlight of the night....my baby girl, yes MY baby girl walking right on up the Ski Ball (although it wasn't actually called that, what the heck??) ramp and throwing the balls in the highest numbered holes. Anything for some tickets. She is a girl after my heart!

(Too bad there's sensors that can tell when you do that so you don't actually get the points, dang those game makers for thinking ahead!) :)

Brado had a blast too.
Anything that lights up is a WOW to him.
Matt and I took turns chasing him around the whole place.
I think he needs his own game room at home! :)

Playing peek-a-boo was the best part though.
I know he's mine and all, but geez he's a cutie!

So that was our day at Chuck E. Cheese's.
Getting sick was worth watching the kiddies have some fun with Daddy while he is on vacation!

Wordless Wednesday

Of Course

With the hundreds of new toys, games, books etc. the kids have gotten over the past week, why would it really surprise me that this box is what has been played with the most?

Christmas Review

Holy crazy, long, fun, busy, tiring, awesome week!

The result...my house is a complete disaster, but totally worth it! Besides it's slowly getting put back together, we said our last good-byes to the tree today and tossed it over the edge of the deck. Now all we need is a little tiny addition to the house to store the massive amounts of stuff the kids got and we'll be all set. (Ummm Santa, is there any way I could get just one more thing???)

We started our festivities with looking at lights. We took the kids to Phalen Park where they have a road around the lake you can drive through with tons of lights. The kids were lovin it! We let them sit up front so they could see better (shhhh, we were only going about 1 mph anyway) and Braden kept hitting his head on the front window because he was so excited.

Then it was back home for loads of gift wrapping. Alexa was a huge help, she wrapped up her old shoes and Braden's tractor. I think she figured they could both use some practice, maybe? :)

We also did tons of baking. And by baking I mean making stuff that didn't actually have to be baked, unless you count the break and bake cookies we made for Santa.

Matt's early Christmas present - Braden falling asleep on his lap. It was adorable, and I was in no way incredibly jealous...nope, not at all! :)

Christmas Eve

Opening presents on Christmas morning.

And more presents...all day long.

Christmas 2009 was perfect.

The kids had a blast, we spent lots of time with all our families, we almost made it through half the church service (B just couldn't do it) and we stuffed ourselves full of way too much good food. And I managed to host our first Christmas Eve AND Christmas Day without ruining anything! :)

My Santa Babies!! :)

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

New Friends and Great Memories

Friday night Matt and I went to a Christmas party hosted by MckMama. Yes, both Matt and I. And you know what...I am pretty sure he had just as fun as I did...no lie! Of course he was a little hesitant at first about the whole bloggy friend thing but being such a great sport he said he would go anyway. We had an awesome time. I already knew a few girls there but considering a lot of people (especially the guys) were meeting each other for the first time, it felt like we all had been friends forever. Or at least awhile.

There was massive amounts of desserts, wine, sparkling juice, awesome live music, tons of laughter, many funny stories and great memories.

So you want to see all the great memories we had? Yeah, me too. Unfortunately I was having too much fun and forgot to take pictures. I got one. I didn't even get one of the group shots but hopefully I can get them from some of the other girls that did.

Here is the one shot I got. Me with my friends Sarah and Jolene and my new awesome friend Mama M. Her Bestie Tara was there too and everyone loved her. (Hi Tara!!) :)

And look, we all must have got the wear a black sweater memo. :)

I think we decided that MckMama needed to have us all over once a month...or a couple times a year...or at least an annual Christmas party.

Thanks Jennifer for the awesome party!