More Christmas Fun!!!

This should have been posted before Christmas but I started it but didn't get the pictures put with it until just now. Oops.

We have been enjoying having our Daddy home and watching as our kids, especially Caden (he is obviously more excited since he knows what is coming), get more and more excited for the big day to arrive. We carried on with a tradition we have done in my family since I was small, except we made a gingerbread train instead of a house and I didn't spend hours on end putting the little tiny houses together for each child like my Aunt Sue used to do for us, but the kids loved it and they couldn't wait to eat the finished product.

Getting Started

Kamrie took her job of handing Caden the pieces to be put on next very seriously.


After we got over our latest bout with the flu (our second in three weeks, good thing we got the flu shots), we made Christmas cookies. We had a ball and they really turned out great. Of course the kids loved the sprinkles most of all.

Also a new and fun pastime for the two of them is finding random stuff around the house and wrapping it up and then letting Brady and I open it. I think it is adorable but we sure are going through tons of tape.

I hope everyone has a spectacular Christmas.

Mr. HO HO HO

We had our ward party a couple of weeks ago and the kids got to visit with a Special Guest. Caden talked about it all day and Kamrie caught on toward the afternoon. She doesn't really love Santa or anything large in a costume for that matter. She kept repeating, "Caden is going to talk to Santa and I am going to watch." When the time finally came Caden did great and Kamrie did a little better than expected, at least this year there were no tears.

What an Angel

A friend of mine and my new favorite hair girl cut Kamrie's hair today. It was getting pretty straggly but I wasn't sure what to do with it, because it is still so fine. I was so happy to have Jenna work her magic. Kamrie was so good...she didn't move a muscle except when Jenna asked her to, and I love it!!! She did mine too but its been done a thousand times so let's focus on who is really important.

Deck the Halls

We had so much fun decorating our tree this year!!! We were sad that Grandma and Grandpa couldn't stay to do it with us but the kids had a ball. It is great to see the excitement in their eyes when they are doing something they really love! Since we've never really had a tree before we had very few decorations...we decided not to rush out and buy a whole lot because we will be moving in the spring and Brady says that I want a "grandma tree"(one with nice decorations and colors that go together) that is no fun for the kids so we will just have to have two in our next place. I guess next year we will see where our discussion ends up, as for now this is our tree and we love everything about it...the smell, the lights, and the Christmas spirit it brings into our home. I really never knew how much I was missing not putting up our own tree.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

So Much To Be Thankful For

It seems like every post I do lately turns into a novel and not an exciting one, so really the pictures say most of it...if you aren't into the boring ramblings that have become my posts lately just look and enjoy.

We have had a wonderful Thanksgiving week!!! When my parents came to the realization that we really weren't coming home for Christmas this year they decided it had just been too long since they had seen us. They quickly made plans to come out for Thanksgiving and not so quickly made the 22 hour 15000 mile trip to see us. Since they were driving this time the arrival time was up in the air and Caden was a little thrown off by that. He kept asking if they knew how many sleeps it would be until they got here. They finally arrived while we were at church last Sunday and we were all so excited to see them again. We had a great reunion and then headed to the canal walk in the freezing cold. They loved it...I just wish it would have been warmer. There is so much I would still like to do with them here and the time to leave is almost upon us. Tuesday Grams and Gramps went to preschool with the kids and Wednesday we decided to throw my "No Christmas until Thanksgiving" rule out the window and go Christmas tree hunting. Since I'm from Idaho we normally just go out to the forest and cut down a tree but we didn't know exactly how to go about getting a real tree in Indy. Usually we go home for the entire Christmas season and don't bother with a tree of our own so it was all new to us. Brady did some searching and we found a great little tree farm and had a terrific day in the perfect tree hunting weather.

The hunt was actually pretty painless and I really think we came out with the perfect tree"(eat your heart out Andy).

My parents found one they liked so much they even took it back to Idaho in their car, crazy I know but my mom is obsessed with finding perfection in a real tree and this year I think she realized her dream for the very first time. After the tree adventures we rushed to see Bolt in 3D at the IMAX. The kids loved it and it finished out our day just right. Or so the boys thought...after the movie the ladies still had pies and cheese ball to make for the Thanksgiving festivities the next day. In spite of one minor break down during the making of the pies we finished our to dos for the evening and it all turned out great.





We got some sleep and got up early the next morning to continue with more food preps for the big meal. We had tons of good food and great company and just like always the meal was over way to fast for all the preparation. Thanks to the Heiners for having us over and being such wonderful hosts. It couldn't have been a better Thanksgiving away from home. My parents offered their babysitting while we went shopping the next day and then they had to cut their trip short due to an incoming storm and my dad's new found ability to worry more than my mom. We were sad to see them go but we were so grateful they came to spend the holiday with us. While they were here we made turkeys with our hand prints and wrote what we were thankful for on the feathers. It is always uplifting to sit and think about how much we have been blessed with. I loved seeing what everyone was thankful for and the joy that came from realizing how truly blessed we are. It has been way too long since we have spent Thanksgiving together...thank you both for everything you gave up to be here and I hope you had as much fun as we did. We love you!!!

More pics from the Tree Farm

The Results Are In

Today was the day!!! Brady got off school early to be there for the big announcement. There was some debate over taking the kids or not and we finally decided we would leave them with a friend and watch the DVD with them later. It was a great ultrasound!!! Right at the beginning we found out we are having another little GIRL!!! We are so excited and just can't wait to meet her. The ultrasound technician was really fun and the baby was awake and moving around a ton...even sucking her fingers and crossing her legs just like Caden did in his ultrasound. We decided right away that she is already adorable and couldn't wait to share some pictures with you all.

Isn't she adorable?

No question...It really is a girl

P.S. from the last post

I should have posted these pictures with the last post but I had to wait until Brady got home to take them. I have been meaning to have him take some for a while and I just keep forgetting. So here they are for all of you that have been asking for the belly pictures. Enjoy.

18 weeks!!! Almost halfway.

I wasn't going to do one of the bare belly but I'm sure someday I will want to look back at it. (This shot is Caden's handiwork...he is getting pretty good with a camera.

And here is the best one!!! When I was done she walked over to where I had been, posed, and said take my picture. I love that her shirt is all the way over her head. I promise none of my poses looked like that.

The Big Gender Question

I wanted to post a little note to let everyone know we will be having our ultrasound on Friday the 14th. We are hoping our little bundle will not be too private so we can see just what the future holds for us...will it be the crazy, move every minute, never ending excitement and fun of another little Caden or the adorable, drama-filled, finger nail painting preciousness of another little Kamrie. Either way we are excited to find out and put a gender with this little one we are waiting for. Caden is voting for a boy and still wants to name him Jack and Kamrie wants a girl. Let me know what your vote is...I will be back in a couple of days with the news, assuming he or she isn't hiding.

Halloween Excitement

We have had so much fun the past couple of weeks preparing for Halloween and enjoying all the festivities. Grandpa Robbins was here on business and took some shots of the kids in their costumes. They weren't totally cooperative but I think they are still the most adorable Peter Pan and Tinker Bell around. After all the fun with Grandpa, we had the Ward Trunk or Treat except the forecast was unfavorable so instead of a Trunk or Treat it was more of a Table or Treat in the gym. It was a little crowded but the kids still had a good time getting treats and running around with their friends after the structured event was over.

Next was our annual pumpkin carving FHE. The kids had a great time playing in the pumpkin "guts" and despite a little frustration here and there, Brady and I had a good time carving. After it was all over, Brady decided next year we should do the good old fashioned triangle faces so that Caden can help with the cutting.

Busy at work

SPOOKY!!!

Finally after all the waiting and anticipation...Halloween Night arrived!!! It was a beautiful day and a gorgeous night for Trick or Treating. I got the kids all dressed up AGAIN (I don't remember Halloween lasting this long when I was a kid) and when daddy got home we embarked on our adventure. We didn't even need jackets this year (definitely my kind of Halloween). It seemed like we walked forever but I guess that's just because Kamrie has tiny legs and insisted on walking every step of the way because we never actually left our little housing complex. When we got home we admired our loot and basked in the fun of it all. I think I like Halloween more now than I did as a kid...there is something about watching my little ones all dressed up with excitement oozing out of their adorable little bodies.

The kids favorite house by far...it was even mentioned during Kamrie's prayers that night. Thanks guys for loving our kids, they sure love you.