Parent's visit

We are always super excited to have visitors come. I had mentioned to the kids that my parents were coming, but didn't make a big deal about it until the day there were scheduled to arrive. Before Brayden left for school I mentioned that they were going to be here later today. He was surprised to see them when he got of the off the bus. I don't think I have ever seen him run home so fast. He just couldn't wait to give them both a hug. Jared flew to Utah to attend his Grandmother's funeral so we just hung out Thursday evening and the kids loved to have two extra playmates. On Friday, I was able to got to school with Brayden for a bit in the morning to help in his class. I always love to go and see how he does at school. After school we took Grandma and Grandpa to the Root Beer store. They have so many different types of root beer. The kids also got a root beer candy cane made from the candy store they visited while in Colorado at the beginning of the month. 

After we went to the YMCA for Reagan's final soccer practice. Since it was her last practice and they are only 4 year olds, her coach decided to have a pizza party to celebrate their season. Reagan had a blast and was super excited to finally get her own medal.

 

On Saturday we spent the morning at Toys R Us letting the kids decide what they would like to put on their lists to Santa. Then we headed to the airport to get Jared. We grabbed a bite to eat and then it was time for Reagan's last soccer game. She really likes soccer, but loves to wave at us as she runs by. I think she has had a great time and wants to play T-ball this spring. This month our family has also been adding leaves to our thankful tree. He it is at the beginning of the month.

 

Here is a new tree that was higher off the ground so Dallin couldn't pull it off several times a day. Here are our added leaves when Grandma and Grandpa came. Some of the leaves were family members, toys, football, Disneyland, and church.

Sunday while we were getting ready for church Brayden surprised me with this hair do. He has been wanting a mo-hawk since football season, but we have family pictures coming up so I had to tell him no. I am sure I am bias, but I think he looks cute with any crazy hair cut. 

Monday Brayden went to school so while he was gone Dad helped me put together my entry bench and coat rack. I am so excited to have a place for all of our stuff to go. Now I just need to paint the entry and hang some pictures of the kids. We also took Reagan to gymnastics and dance. I think she really liked having them their to watch her.

After school we met Jared in Puyallup to go on a hike. It was pretty cold, but it was nice to get out and hike around. We went to a park that is right in the middle of town, but once you get on the hill you feel like you are far away. I wish we did stuff like this more often and not just when visitors are here. That is probably part of the reason we love visitors so much, cause we get out and see new things. Grandma and Grandpa left Tuesday morning after Brayden got on the bus. It is always hard to say goodbye to visitors, but it was nice to know we would be seeing them again in just a few weeks.   

Catching up with the kids

I am sure I am little bias, but I have the best kids. They are so much fun. I wish that I didn't have to do any housework or make dinners and I could just play with my kids all day long. Reagan loves to take pictures with my phone. I love that Dallin is giving us his "cheese face" in one, Reagan has her tongue out in another and finally we kind of all mange to pull it together for one of the pictures.

Brayden had a great time this football season playing tackle football. He loved having Jared be the coach and working hard, and making new friends. He learned a lot about the game. He got better at tackling and being a bit more aggressive, but more than anything else he loved it. He can't wait for next year. This is his trophy for completing the season, Jared got a signed football. They both had a great time. The coach that called Brayden up said, "he might not always be able to physically do what he needs to do, but he always knows. He was a true coaches kid. When asking the team what something was called he was usually the only one that knew." I am really proud of him for working hard and being such a great football player.

Dallin has been a little challenging lately. He is at the age where he loves to get into everything, he knows what he wants but doesn't know how to communicate that very well, and he has been sick with a cold. There is usually one thing that will make him smile and that is food. He loves to eat. He is a pretty big eater, and he especially loves juice and treats. We were in a hurry one morning trying to get out the door and we have left over donuts so I let him eat one while I finished getting ready. I knew he would be content for a few minutes while he ate his donut so I wasn't to worried. He was quiet the whole time, when I came down I saw that he had thoroughly enjoyed his donut. He is so funny. He loves his binkie too, especially if it is covered in chocolate frosting.

Lately, Reagan has been struggling to go to bed. She has always sang songs and talked to herself as she has fallen asleep. That was fine when she was in her own room, but now that she shares a room it can make it hard for Brayden to go to sleep and it can cause them to both start playing instead of sleeping. During football season I was able to get Reagan to bed before Brayden got home and we avoided this problem. I have had to give Reagan some rules to follow at bed time to try so we can avoid it becoming play time. On this particular night I had given her the reminder that she could only have one toy in her bed. When she went to bed she didn't have any toys. As you can see she left the room to get all the toys; which she knows not to do.  She did however follow the rule I gave her that night, of only one toy in bed. She didn't put them in her bed but rather on top of her bed. I was a little shocked when I went in to check on her, but was glad she obeyed the rule. Not sure if I should be happy she was so obedient to the rule or worried that she finds ways to do what she wants without breaking the rule. 

Reagan is playing soccer

Reagan is so excited to be playing soccer. It is finally her turn to have practice and have a game. She has to make sure she always has a water bottle for practice too, just like brother did. Here she is going to her first practice. Jared tries to be at all her practices; which I think is really special for her because she saw him always coaching at being with Brayden at his football games. 

 

Here she is at her first game, she is number 10 closest to us in the picture. Indoor soccer with 4 and 5 year-olds can be challenging, but she is having a great time. She mostly runs around and gives Jared and I thumbs up the entire time. She likes to play goalie and is really good at stopping the ball. So far she has made one goal, we were all pretty excited for her.