December

I am not sure where December went, but I will try to provide a little update through pictures.  Of course we started December off looking for the perfect Christmas tree! 

Searching for the perfect tree!

We found it!

Once we got the tree home it was time to decorate it.  The only help I got was from Kellan.  Thanks buddy! 

Kellan decorating

Kellan decorating the tree

Braydon did want to wear his Santa hat off course

Finally came some snow.  The boys all headed outside and had a blast.

Excited to finally be outside!

Playing in the snow

Making his first Gingerbread house with Grandma Marcia

Gingerbread house is done!

Of course I made the boys help me make Christmas cookies.  They both got to stir up their own batch...they helped make them from scratch, cut them out and of course frost and sprinkle.  The hardest part is telling them they can't eat the dough until we are all done (they are definitely my children)!

more sprinkles!

decorating cookies!

Playing in the snow!

We also got to celebrate Great Grandma Dar's birthday. 

A visit to see Great Grandma Dar on her birthday

Napping with his giraffe on the couch!

After visiting Great Grandma Dar we ran into Santa Claus in the hallway.  Both boys were really excited to see him, but Braydon pushed Kellan in front of him to go talk to him.  Kellan of course jumped right into his arms and told him what we wanted (we are not sure what he asked for, but he told him something). Braydon told Santa from a safe distance what he wanted.

Seeing Santa

Braydon telling Santa what he wanted from afar!

This year Braydon had a Christmas Program at his school.  He was pretty excited.  He knows all about the Christmas story and baby Jesus.  They even sang some songs and Braydon was more than a willing participant. 

Braydon singing during his Christmas program at school

Braydon's preschool class

Playing with glasses at the eye doctor...Braydon said he wanted to look like Charlie!

Kellan doing whatever big brother is doing!

The weekend before Christmas we got to have Charlie and Tyson spend all day with us!  We had a lot of fun playing with them and Braydon loved having his cousins have a "sleep over" at our house. The Monday before Christmas we headed to Bass Pro shop for something to do.  We took the kids bowling, they had a blast!  Braydon and Kellan have never gone before, but they picked it up quickly.  Tyson and Charlie of course are old pros!  We even got to sit on Santa's lap one more time to make sure he knew exactly what they wanted! 

Playing with Charlie at Bass Pro Shop

Playing with Tyson at the bass pro shop!

Next up Christmas!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is always a busy, but fun holiday.  Lots of time with family and of course lots of good food.  This year I let the boys help me with some baking.  We made pies, puppy chow and lots of other fun desserts.  They both pull there little step stools up to the counter and get equipped with their wooden spoons.  Their real purpose with this is not to help me, but to get to lick the spoon when we are all done. 

Wednesday night we usually head to Perry, but this year Kellan got sick.  So we stayed home and made sure the boys were feeling well enough to go to Thanksgiving.  We started out at Grandma Marcia's house filled with lots of kids, people and food.  Kellan decided right away it was time for a nap, so he missed pretty much the whole meal! 

Braydon eating with the Ferneding kids

Ryan teaching the kids a card game

Next up was the Lundstroms Thanksgiving.  We made it time for card games and to watch the hawks play basketball.  We even had some extra visitors this year, the Colorado Lundstroms made it back. 

My niece Lila

Charlie, Ava, Braydon and Kellan watching some cartoons in Grandma Pat's room

Kellan & Charlie cruising around on the plasma car!

Charlie even lost a tooth

On the Friday after Thanksgiving, we usually go to Perry to watch the lighted parade and go see Santa Claus.  This year, Braydon was sick.  The poor kid was on the couch for about 2 days and couldn't go see Santa Claus.  He was understanding, so we took the other kids.  All Braydon wanted to know was what float was Santa riding on. 

Watching the parade

watching the parade

Ava telling with Santa what she wants for Christmas

Kellan playing catch with his balloon and Santa

Charlie and Santa

Kellan checking out Santa

TJ explaining stuff to Santa

Kellan sitting with Santa a second time! 

It was a crazy Thanksgiving with lots of kids getting sick, but we are healthy and ready for Christmas now!

Football!

More sports for Braydon, why not?  This time, we signed him up for football...really 3 and 4 year olds playing football, not sure how this was going to work.  So we signed Ryan up to be the coach.  He goes to the coaches meeting and they show him all these different plays to run, he couldn't believe it!  We will be lucky to have them snap the ball correctly.  

Lucky for us, Braydon loved it.  I was a little difficult for him to share his Dad, but he did great! 

Braydon has the center

Coach Ryan

Braydon ready to be the quaterback

Giving me the thumbs up!

Braydon the big lineman ready to block

Can I play yet?

running for a touchdown!

Braydon patiently waiting with Coach to go into the game!

Of course there needs to be a picture of Braydon's cheering section!

Although we were hesitant at first, I am glad he did it.  Kellan and Braydon still practice "down, set, hike" and then they tackle dad! Next up...basketball season in January.

Halloween!

Quick catch up on Halloween for us.  The last couple of years we have gone to the same pumpkin patch.  This year was no different, there were animals, horse rides, lots of fun bounce houses, corn maze (that we could not get out of) and of course searching for the perfect pumpkins.

Kellan was getting tired of looking

Kellan thought he would take a break.

Braydon found his

Kellan thought the chickens were very entertaining

How tall is Braydon?

Kellan not impressed with the measuring stick

Time to carve the pumpkins...which meant, me cutting and Ryan scooping out the insides.  I thought for sure Kellan would like this part, but he refused to put his hand anywhere near it!

Wrigley was there to help!

corn maze

playing in the corn

The night before Halloween we had trick or treating in Urbandale.  Braydon was going to be a ghost and he was a great ghost  (It was just extremely difficult to keep his eye holes where they belong)!  Kellan jumped right into the bear costume (I was worried he wouldn't wear it, but he love it).  The only problem was when he walked, his head was so heavy he would lean and almost fall over! 
They had a great time trick or treating.  The first house they went to, the lady asked, what candy do you want?  Braydon responded with, my mom likes m&ms so I will get those!  The lady said, but what do you like?  He said I don't like chocolate!  Great it looks like his mom sent him out to get her candy!


The boys also liked sitting on the front step handing out candy too.  Kellan even handed some out from his own bucket!

On Halloween night Perry had their trick or treating.  You can go to all the businesses downtown and get lots of good stuff.  It is usually pretty fun because you see lots of people and it is really easy to just want a few blocks.

After that we headed to Papa's house, where Braydon & Kellan handed out candy.