Cheerleading Banquet

Bailee's cheer coaches put on a little "banquet" for the the girls and their families. We got to go bowling and eat pizza & cake. Then the girls did one last cheer before they were all presented with trophies and medals. We had a good time!

O Christmas Tree...

The Friday after Thanksgiving is the day the Christmas tree goes up in our house. Usually putting the tree together and getting the lights on is Friday's project and decorating the tree is Saturday's project. This year however we were able to get it all done on Friday, and the best part is that Mom hardly had to do any of it! Dad and the kids got the tree put together, Dad put the lights on and Bailee, Braden, Brikelle and my nephew Skyler decorated the tree that night. In our house wherever the kids put the ornaments on the tree is where they stay...Mom and Dad don't redecorate once the kids are in bed. Brikelle decided that this year it is her duty to rearrange the ornaments everyday! I have awesome memories as a kid of my family decorating our "Charlie Brown" Christmas tree and I hope my kids will always remember and cherish their memories of us decorating our Christmas tree.

This is Brikelle's best friend, his name is "Baby Santa"

Christmas PJ's

It's our little family tradition to give the kids their Christmas PJ's on Thanksgiving night...this way they can wear them and enjoy them through the Christmas season. It's something we started when Bailee was a baby and has been a fun tradition for us. Last year was the first year we wrapped them...that made it even more exciting! We love PJ's!

Turkey Toast & Thanksgiving

Bailee came home from the last day of school before Thanksgiving with a "Turkey Toast" recipe that they had made in class. We didn't have (and couldn't find at the store) a turkey shape cookie cutter so we improvised and the kids made some Turkey Toast the morning before Thanksgiving!

We had a nice Thanksgiving dinner this year at my brother's house. We spent the afternoon with my brother, my sister-in-law and my nephews and enjoyed a delicious turkey dinner!

CHEER

Bailee was old enough to do cheer this year, so of course she chose that over playing soccer. I'll be honest, Alan and I weren't too fond of the idea in the beginning! Bailee did AWESOME!!! She worked so hard and really became quite the good little cheerleader. I am so impressed with Bailee and all the girls on her cheer squad...they learned so many cheers so fast and remembered every single one! And apparently Bailee became a cheer coach at recess! Some of the teachers from school would tell us that Bailee and a friend that was also on her squad would teach cheers to a group of girls everyday and then do the cheers for the teachers out there! Between cheer and soccer we definitely were crazy busy but it was fun...we're just happy to be done for now!

SOCCER

This was Braden's first soccer season. It was...interesting, fun, funny, frustrating. His team was young (4-6 year olds...only one 6 year old...the rest were 4 and 5). Braden did awesome during practices but during games he wouldn't do what we knew he was capable of. I think it was a good experience for him though and he definitely got his exercise! The first game his team (The Tigers) won was also the last game of the season. Braden and EVERY kid on his team played awesome that last game...every one of them was really into it. Either it finally clicked with all of them, or they were all excited that it was the last game of the season! Whatever it was, it was a good way to end the season!

"Oh Deer"

Last year at this time when Brikelle was 21 months old, she learned to say the phrase "oh dear". She would put her hands up to her cheeks and say "oh dear". Now at 2 1/2 years old she will still say it once in awhile. How could I not get her this sweat outfit when I saw it?!