"Fooky Witch"

Brikelle has been our earliest talker and is quite the little chatter box...a lot of people don't know that though because she doesn't talk much around other people. She can say anything and everything! She has the cutest little voice! A lot of words that start with an S she replaces with an F for some reason. The other day as I got our Halloween decorations out I found these witch fingers. Brikelle thinks they are great and every time she wears them she says "I'm a Fooky Witch". So this Halloween there won't be any Spooky Witches at our house, but I'm pretty sure we just may have some Fooky Witches around!

An Angel in Heaven

Today September 25, 2009 my beautiful niece Chelsi and her husband Andrew became parents to a perfect little angel, Rikki Lynne. Rikki Lynne will forever be Chelsi and Andrew's guardian angel and what special parents they are to have been choosen to give Rikki the perfect little body she needed. Rikki Lynne has two parents who love her deeply as well as many, many other family members who love her...what a blessing she is. Chelsi and Andrew, I love you and pray that you will both find the peace and comfort you need to help you through this difficult time. Pray often and remember you have many family members who love you and who share in your sorrow. All My Love, Kristi

A Good Day in Kindergarten

No words, just the picture will do...

Never Forget

May we never forget those who lost their lives on 9/11 and thank you to those that have served and/or who are currently serving our country. I AM PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!

Our Weekend

I love when Alan has a four day weekend! This Labor Day weekend we managed to keep ourselves busy. On Friday Alan experienced with me what it's like to have just one child during the day! Once we got our Bailee and Braden to school, we stopped for a quick breakfast and then took the opportunity to do some driving around...we're always looking for areas to put on our list of places to consider buying in. One of our favorite things to do last school year was to go have lunch with Bailee and her class. We would try to go anytime Alan had a Friday off. So we also took the opportunity on Friday to have lunch with Braden and Bailee for the first time this school year. Braden's lunch is first so we decided to eat with him for the first time and then we sat with Bailee for a bit when it was her lunch. Bailee is always so happy whenever we show up for lunch. Braden was happy to see us but I learned when he got home that day that maybe he was a little disappointed we showed up! I asked him if it made him happy and if it surprised him that we came for lunch and his reply was "yeah but I really wanted to sit at the fun table with my class. I didn't want to sit at the boring table by the window." Well... He is taking this school stuff seriously! Will that stop us from showing up for lunch? NOPE!!! Saturday Bailee started cheer and Braden started soccer. It's going to be a busy season but I think it will be fun. Sunday morning we left town for a family "field trip" and an overnighter. We enjoyed the day at the Museum of Life and Science, eating dinner at The Cheesecake Factory, swimming in a cold pool, warming up in the hot tub and going back to The Cheesecake Factory for dessert. Unfortunately Braden woke up this morning not feeling well so after getting ready and having our breakfast at the hotel, we headed back home. It was a good weekend and it was fun to get away even if it was just for a day.

The cloud maker was Brikelle's favorite thing

Bailee and Braden in space!

This was way cool...hard to explain but way cool!

The butterfly exhibit was Mom's favorite thing...I could have spent hours in there.

Our beautiful butterfly!

Getting ready to leave the hotel...Braden is looking miserable.

She looked like a little secretary sitting at the desk!

Mary and Joseph

Bailee and Braden can get quite creative when they play. On Sunday they were playing Mary and Joseph. Bailee even drew Braden a beard to wear! Oh how I love these kids!!!

Kindergarten Man!

Although Braden thought this day would never come, it did...he is now a Kindergartener!!! Braden has waited for this day forever and was so excited this morning to finally get his turn to go to school. He did great. He told me this morning while he was getting ready "I know I go to school now but I still believe in God and Jesus." Smart kid huh?! Try telling him they want to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance. Oh he cracks me up with the things he says! The walk down to his class seemed like forever to him and once we were finally in his class he told me he wasn't nervous. The first thing he did was hug his teacher (this boy is all about hugs). I stayed for a few minutes to help get him settled and take some pictures. He was fine with my leaving and I actually did great leaving him! Dry eyes for this mom...is that bad?!?! I was very anxious for school to get out though so I could hear about his day. He loved it and is ready to go back tomorrow. He looked like such a big boy with his too big of a back pack! Man, they grow fast... I think he's going to have a great year and we are so thankful for him getting a fun, bubbly, energetic teacher that does a lot of up and moving around...that's exactly what Braden needs! He is now laying on the couch watching a movie and I gave him orders that he COULD NOT fall asleep! Yea for school and yea for all day Kindergarten!!!


All ready and so excited!

He has the same smile his dad has!

Jacket weather this morning...sweet!

Bailee likes being a big sister...they're holding hands if you can't tell!

Found his name!

Ready to learn

Thumbs up for a good day. Isn't he so enthusiastic?!

His first day gift

and a treat...yum!