Peyton feeling the Christmas spirit

Santa Train

This last Saturday we went on a train ride. Here is Aric and the kids waiting in Santa's sleigh for the train to arrive. We rode the train for about an hour, the kids got to see Santa and a Princess read the story "The Polar Express". Besides being a little cold, it was pretty fun.

Santa did a great job. He was definitely jolly and had real beard. The kids seem to really like him. Landen told him he wanted a train for Christmas(surprise, surprise) and Peyton told him she wanted a new Barbie. Kylee doesn't seem to care yet. He handed out Teddy bear stuffed animals to all the kids. The kids are quite attached to those bears. They won't go to bed without them.

Landen with our train conductor, Tom.

Happy Birthday Grandpa

Kylee's favorite thing to do (press play to watch video)

The many faces of Peyton

I was playing with the camera and decided to try and take some candid pictures of Peyton and I. I was holding the camera so I couldn't see her face. I think these pictures really show a little of Peyton's personality. These were the pictures I got.

Oh Peyton

Lately Peyton has been waking up in the morning in just her underwear. She has told me she gets too hot when she sleeps and has to take off her pajamas. So the other night, I went in to check on her before I went to bed..... this is what I saw. LOL

I just couldn't resist taking a picture.

Halloween Costumes

Just a few photos from the Branch Trunk or Treat. Landen was Superman again. Peyton was Cinderella and Kylee was an angel. It only took a few loving taps to her hand to keep her from taking the Halo off. By the time we got to the church she had forgotten it was there and left it on all night. This was the first of many Halloween activities for us, so by the time Halloween came around...we were about Halloweened out!

Peyton's friend Whitney was Snow white. Although this might look like my costume...I had just gotten off work and didn't have time to change.

I laugh out loud every time I look at this picture. Peyton's giving us a little "what, what". Charlotte is just chillin in the background and I don't know what Whitney is doing. :)

She won this cupcake in the cake walk. Next you will see that black frosting was a bad idea...

...And the delicious black frosting

Landen picking out his black frosting cupcake

They had pumpkin bowling outside. Landen loved it. He was out doing this most of the time.

My dad so kindly handed out the candy at the trunk, while I took Peyton around to all the other cars. Landen just ran from car to car. And Grandma took Kylee around to get her own little stash.

Pumpkin Carving

And now it is Kylee's turn to get in on the action.

The end result...not too shabby. Landen and I cut out the big pumpkin. Peyton dug out the guts on the little one and Grandpa carved it.

Carving Pumpkins with Grandma & Grandpa

Carving Pumpkins

Peyton had to draw a sketch of what she wanted her Jack O Lantern face to look like. "Then Grandpa would know how to carve it right".

Halloween with Grandma & Grandpa

Halloween Gingerbread Houses

Notre Dame vs Washington Huskies

So Mike flew into Detroit last week to visit. He and Aric had the opportunity to go to the Notre Dame verses Washington Huskies football game. Apparently it was quite the game to watch. The game went into overtime with Notre Dame finally winning. Aric said actually being there was better than he ever imagined it would be! Here is a photo of them in the Stadium with the score board and "touch down Jesus" in the background. Landen and Peyton were at home impatiently awaiting uncle Mika Mike's arrival. So whenever they would ask how much longer until they got home...I would have them check the game on TV to see if it was done yet. Then they would watch for a few minutes to see if they could find them in the stands. Finally when the game was over they new it was just the three hour drive until Dad and Mike would be there. Unfortunately, it took longer than we thought so the kids had to go to bed before they got home. They were not very happy with me. Needless to say, because of the children's excitement to see Uncle Mike, he had a very early wake up call the next morning!

Cake!

This is one of Kylee's presents. A cute bear hat with gloves.

Kylee did not get messy enough for Aric...so he helped her with the cake.

She was just taking little pinches of cake. Being very neat. We had to mush her hand in it a bit then cut her a little piece from her cake to eat.

Finally done and ready for a bath!

More Birthday Party

Here are a few photos of Kylee opening presents.

And then playing with a present.

Kylee is ONE!

Kylee is officially one year old. We had a small birthday party with some of our friends the Saturday before her birthday so Aric could be there to celebrate. We had an icecream cake from DQ and opened presents. Kylee had her very own cake to dig into(more pictures to come). I thought she would be more into tearing open the presents but she wasn't all that interested. Although she had lots of help by siblings and friends trying to help open presents too. And once one toy was opened she just wanted to play. Which makes pleasing a 12 month old very easy! So my baby is one...this year went fast. The years seem to be going by a lot faster than they used to. Kylee has been walking for a month now and babbling all kinds of sentences. However at 12 months she only has three teeth! She is pretty much over baby food and just wants the real stuff. But with only her three teeth it makes difficult to eat all the food she wants. I am quite surprised at all the items she manages to gum to death so she can swallow it. Here are just a few photos. I will post more soon...there were so many I have to space them out!

Our friends at the party: Dawson, Brooke, Landen, Whitney, Peyton, Charlotte and of course Kylee!

Peyton's 1st day of Preschool

Peyton started preschool today! Well...yesterday but that was just an orientation. She seems to really like it. It is the same preschool that Landen went to. Her two best friends are also in her class, Whitney and Charlotte. Today she got to ride the bus to and from preschool and thought that was so cool. The bus she rides is quite small and each seat even has a five point seat belt for the kids. She told Landen and I tonight that "she has to ride the little bus because she is little. And when she gets big she will ride the big bus like Landen's". She is just so sweet! I can't believe she is in "school". Where does the time go?

1st Day of 1st Grade!

Nothing like mom trying to take pictures at 7:15 in the morning. Today was Landen's first day of 1st grade. He said he had a good day...but it was only a half day. Hopefully he remembers how much he enjoyed it, at 6:50 tomorrow morning.

Landen's Night at the Fair

My friend and I took our sons for a boys night out at the fair. We bought them wristbands so they could go on all the rides as many times as they wanted. Landen's favorite ride is the swings. He went on those over and over again.

The kids love this ride. It is a small track that goes around and around but they get to pick their own car and "steer". The "carnie" said Kylee could go too. So I let her.

Landen really liked this little monkey. If you gave him a quarter, the monkey would give you a high five.