Shooter Guns

Brayden has a love for "shooter guns". I tried for the first few years to not expose him to them, but I gave up. Now Reagan thinks they are pretty sweet too.

Brayden is 3

It is really sad to me that I haven't posted in my blog for a long time, really since Reagan was born. I am really going to try and do better. It is also sad that I haven't posted about having Reagan, but I can post about Brayden's birthday...I do love my children equally.
I can't believe that Brayden is 3, it has gone by so fast. I am amazed at all he can do. He can go potty like a big boy, he sleeps in his big boy bed, he eats breakfast without a bib and rarely gets dirty, he can also make mommy a treat, gets his own treat by climbing up the pantry shelves when I forget to shut the door all the way, and he can catch a fish with his bare hands.
Brayden has been talking about his birthday for about 2 months. He has a little confusion about his birthday. He thinks the cake is called "birthday party". So most days when he would describe his party he would tell me what kind of cake he wanted. Up until about a month before his birthday he would tell me he wanted a pink cake with a Jesus candle on it. Not sure where he got the Jesus candle. Every once in a while he would describe what he wanted for his birthday. He would say, "I want everyone to hide and then when I come in, yell surprise." He comes up with the funniest things sometimes. Luckily, he has been into fire trucks and we decided on a fire truck cake. We had a small birthday party to celebrate Brayden' turning three. We had the Wester's and Hardy join us for a BBQ dinner. The kids had a great time playing outside while the hamburgers were cooking. After dinner we had the fire truck cake that I decorated myself. It was a lot of fun and I didn't even mind that I was up until 1 decorating it. Brayden was super excited and throughout the day he was caught sneaking a few bites. By the time the party came we were missing most of the B and a little of the R in his name, we were also missing frosting from the window and the ladder. I finally got smart and moved the cake on top of the fridge. When Brayden woke up from his nap and didn't see his cake he said, "Where is my birthday party?" I am happy to say that Brayden didn't try to grab the candle this year, so we didn't have to attend to any burns.After we had cake Brayden opened presents. He was more than excited to open the biggest present first. He couldn't look at the camera for once second while I tried to get a picture. He was more than excited to find an excavator tractor or as he put it, "It's my very own excavator!" He also loved the dump trucks, construction hat, ball, airplane, Kid's National Geographic magazine subscription, and the paddle balls.

Christmas 2009

We had a wonderful Christmas. We took advantage of not have a bowl game and did some really fun things together as a family. We made a Gingerbread Train, rode the little train at the mall to see all the pretty lights, slept underneath the tree, and made lots of holiday treats. Christmas morning Brayden was pretty excited by all his gifts, especially his bulldozer and his Thomas the Train. Here he is later in the day still riding his Thomas the Train.

Going Fishing

Visit to Boise - September

Two days after family left from visiting for Reagan's blessing I was heading to Boise. I didn't realize until we were driving to the airport that it was 9-9-09; which was kinda weird, I didn't know if I really liked that I was flying on that date. We had an early flight and as always felt like we were scrambling to get out of the house on time. I was glad that Jared was able to get a gate assist and help me to the gate. Both flights went as well as I could have hoped; it wasn't easy, but it could have been a lot worse. As we got of the first flight (we had to change planes in Salt Lake) I put Brayden in his monkey backpack and leash so I could keep him close. It was so nice having him attached and not having to chase after him or worry about him getting lost in the crowd of people. It was so funny as we got off the plane I had Brayden go in front of me, we were the last ones off the plane so when we got to the front of the plane I wasn't expecting to see so many people, but they were all waiting for their gate checked bags.  Brayden walked right through the crowd saying, “excuse me everybody”. He got a lot of laughs. He has such a good nature. We arrived in Boise and my dad was waiting there for us. Brayden was so excited to see him. We drove out to their house and Brayden took a nap as the rest of us waited for Hailey, Kira, and Cole to arrive later that day. 

The main reason for the visit back to Boise was to be with Libby when she received her endowment in the Boise Idaho Temple. It was so wonderful to all be together as a family in the Temple. I love my family so much. . I am so proud of Libby and the wonderful, strong, loving person she is. Brayden adores her and I know Reagan will too. It was a great day!After the Temple we took a few pictures and headed back home for a dinner. Joining us at the Temple were Aunt Kathy and Gail Wester. 

I was so thankful that Aunt Teresa and our good friend Pat Wilde were willing to help us by watching our little ones. Lucky for them the kids were awesome. Brayden and Kira slept until 5 and the babies took their bottles like champs. They were spoiled while we were gone. That evening we also watched the CU game. They were playing Toledo and unfortunately got beat. I really hope we pull it together, cause I really like it here in Colorado.

The kids had a blast watching movies before bed while eating popcorn of course.

They also loved being outside any chance they could be. They have such a great time with grandpa outside. They have a blast no matter what they are doing. Even if they are just walking down to get the mail. Brayden really doesn't walk anywhere, it is more of a run.

We have been in Boise for almost a week and we finally got around to riding the horses. I have always wanted Brayden to be able to ride the horses, but we haven’t been at my parents during nice weather since his has been old enough. So we Brayden was pretty excited when he got to final get on a horse. He loves going out with Grandpa to do the chores and feed the horses, but today was a very special day when he got to get on a horse. Brayden had a big smile on his face while he rode the horse. He rode Blue and a few days later rode Maggie. He thinks it is awesome to ride on them.

Reagan even made it out a few times. Check out the rolls on her arms and those cheeks. She is still a little chunk.

She still does a lot of sleeping.

We roasted marshmallows in my mom and dad’s smoke chimney. The kids thought that was a lot of fun too. Brayden was in awe and he got to eat marshmallows. 

I am grateful Reagan is such a great baby, and makes it easy to be able to do so many fun things with Brayden.

It is so nice being at home and having so much help with the kids. While in Boise I always try to see friends. I was able to get to see Biggie play in his football game. It was a lot of work taking both kids, especially because all Brayden wanted to do was play on the playground. I am glad we went we were able to see them for a few minutes. I am amazed at how big their kids are getting. 

 It is also nice because I can get my hair cut and see old friends without having to find a babysitter. Stephanie cut my hair while I visited, she cut about 4 inches off. It will be nice to have a short hair cut that is easy and cute for the winter. I also had an evening where I met up with Rachel and her girls, Emily and her kids, and Natalie Dalos for dinner. It was so good to see all of them and catch up. It really made me miss Boise and the friends that I have there. I was also grateful for the friends I have made in Colorado too. 

Elitch Garden

A few weeks after Reagan was born, the football team had a day at Elitch Garden. Reagan and I stayed home and Jared and Brayden had a great time. Here are some of the fun rides and things they got to do.

Reagan 1 month

Reagan has been a great baby. She has battled a little bit of diaper rash, but she is such a good baby. She is so calm and even tempered. She is such a sweet little one. She makes some awesome noises when she sleeps that sounds like she is a dinosaur. We cal her our little raptor.