New Year's Eve

For New Year's Brett's parents came over for the night (thank you!  thank you!) so we were able to sneak away for some fun.  We started by heading to Alderwood to run some errands.  We grabbed a quick bite at the new Anthony's Grill and I loved, loved, loved the mac-n-cheese w/shrimp and crab.  Mmm.  We had a few hours before we were meeting up with friends for dinner so we had time to watch We Bought a Zoo at the, wait for it, movie theater! We rarely see movies in the theater.  Too expensive, too little time.  The movie was fantastic.  I was a teary mess, but really enjoyed the movie as a whole.

Movie, check.  Next up, dinner and games at Brent and Lisa's.  Mark and Jen joined us for the fun and we noshed on Lisa's yummy chicken chili and cornbread.  We played some competitive rounds of Catchphrase and then headed to Jen's place to ring in the New Year.  At 12:30 a.m. we were all slowly getting sleepy so we hit the sack.  In the morning Jen treated us to a scrumptious breakfast and (I swear to you) the best cup of coffee I have ever had.  Mmm.

It was a fun way to ring in the New Year and the first time in year's that we actually celebrated out of the house.  We talked a lot through out the day of New Year's resolutions and I am still mulling over my number one.  I know that one thing I'd like to do is to really be present every day.  It's easy to get caught up in the routine and take each day for granted.  I'd like to end that now.  Well, I guess that the one.  :)  Happy New Year!

Christmas Day 2011

Whew!  These kids are full of ridiculous amounts of energy.  We were up at 7:00 a.m. opening presents.  We tried our hardest not to spoil them...and failed.  How can you not when they are SO excited?  Brooklyn would literally fake passing out after opening a good percentage of her gifts.  All of their dreams came true and we were so happy to share their crazy joy with Brett's parents.

Checking the damage on the cookies.

Too busy to look at the camera.

Eating morning treats. :)a

Still too busy.

Stocking time.

Grandma and Emmett.

The kids looking up into the tree...Uncle Kyle style.

Emmett wanted in on the fun.

BBBE.

Rootbeer!

Just a robe pose.

She was REALLY excited about the Barbie.

Checkin' things out.

Around ten we headed up to my parent's for Broughton/Bowden/Krache Christmas.  We again kicked off the festivities with food.  We love food.  Melissa chef'd up the most delicious ham and cheese croissants.  I have tried to replicate them time and time again and fail.  She must have some secret.  After we were stuffed, Santa came and filled the stockings and dropped off slippers for the whole family.  We followed that with opening presents and, guess what...yep, we were spoiled.  We opened gifts for hours and then dined on a delicious prime rib dinner.  Mmmm.

"Gift you can see from Space," from Auntie Nelle and Matt.

Our very own firestation!

A gift for Princess Brooklyn.

What?  Sparkle Cowboy Boots!  AWESOME!

She wears them every day.

Wes, using a variety of belts for a variety of purposes.

The cousins geeking out on their new computers.

A very tired Baby Emmett. 

The kids were pretty exhausted by the time we got home so we cuddled on the couch and watched a movie before heading to bed.

We are so thankful for everyone that we got to spend the Holidays with, it's cheesy but we love our families!

Christmas Eve 2011

Today we headed up to my parents for Christmas with the Broughton/Bowden/Janes/Larson clan.  We started by chowing down on delicious appetizers followed by pre-gifts (only our family would have pre-gifts!), White Elephant exchange, and then the real deal.  Again, we were spoiled.  We have so much love and generosity all around us!  We wrapped up the festivities with a delicious lasagna spread and butterscotch pie.  Mmm.  One happy tummy.  After lots of hugs, we headed back down the hill to our humble home.

Brett's parent's made the trip over to our house while we were away so we were able to eat a tasty taco dinner together and watch Christmas movies with the kiddos before heading off to bed.  The kids were full of energy and so excited for Santa to come. 

A very fun-filled family day!

Waiting patiently to open.

BBBE, eating a sock, in the hallway.

First successful stand up from sitting with no help!

What?!?

Oh, my gracious...dress-up clothes!

Emmett surfing on a present.

Scoutie and E.

Brooklyn still sorting through her new treasures.

What a braid!

Red-cheeked J-man.

Hiatus

Well, it looks like I will be taking a blog hiatus because our computer died and I am not smart enough (yet) to figure out how to blog from our iPad.  Darn technology.  So, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and will hope to be back here before the New Year!

Krache Family Christmas Ships

This weekend we headed over to Bremerton to celebrate the Holidays with the Krache/Boddy family.  We had a blast!  We arrived on Saturday just in time for the kiddos to go down for naps.  When they woke up we got them all ready for the family to arrive.  We were so happy to see all of the Krache/Boddy family members that were able to make it.  We dined on clam chowder down on the bulkhead while waiting for the Christmas Ships (organized by the Bremerton yacht club) to roll by.  And roll by they did!  So. Many. Boats. The kids loved it.  It was the first time they were actually able to enjoy the festivities as Brett has been scheduled to work in the past.  Everyone headed up to the house after to warm up and watch the kids open their presents.  It was way past our kids bedtimes when everyone left so we cuddled them up and they were out.

Sunday morning was Christmas with the Krache's!  Santa came and filled the stockings and we opened presents.  We were spoiled rotten!  We were all ready for naps when we finished.  When we woke up we went for a crisp winter walk to the "rootbeer store" aka Dairy Queen.  Jameson is obsessed with rootbeer after accidentally tasting it at Christmas.  It's not that we are against our kids drinking pop, we just don't have it in the house.  So, after that first taste...it's all he wants...and all he talks about.  So, we walked to Dairy Queen for rootbeer.  When we got back to the house we loaded up in the car for a Christmas light tour organized by Captain Papa Krache.  We saw some amazing houses!  Thanks for the tour Papa.

Monday we packed up all our goodies (the car was packed!) and headed back home.  I can't say it enough, we were so spoiled!  Another great Holiday weekend.

Waitin' for the Xmas ships.

Bundled and waiting.

Santa Emmett and Brett.

Pouting...they are taking sooo long.  :)

Huggin' Each-udder

This year we gave all creative freedom to our kids when it came to decorating the tree.  This turned in to quite the experience.  As expected there were branches FULL of ornaments, some with none and no ornaments on the top.  I promised to not rearrange their creation so instead I bought a box of glass ball ornaments to try and balance out the proportions a bit.  Jameson assisted while Brooklyn was in school.  I noticed immediately that he was hanging the balls in pairs.  I let it slide for a bit, but then decided I needed to know why.  His response, "Mom, they are hugging each-udder."  He stated it as if it was completely obvious.  Not sure why I didn't pick up on it sooner.

Mood-lighting finished tree.

In bright light.

In Emmett-proof baby cage!

Where's the little Buh Cuter?

Jameson is a goofball, this we have established.  Lately he has even starting using his own language, well, more individual words.  The first, and my favorite, is "buh cuter."  Any guesses?  The computer.  He is always looking for my iPad to play the firefighter game or watch the Elf on the Shelf movie.  It goes a little something like this, "Mom, where is the buh cuter?  Mooooommmm, can I please play the firefigher game on the buh-cuter?"  While I should probably be concerned of some speech impediment, I also can't help but giggle and think he is absolutely adorable. 

Word #2: gotfor.  Yes, gotfor.  Let me use it in a sentence.  I gotfor my Spiderman car in the house.  I gotfor flush the toilet.  Forgot.  I know, I know, probably a sign of dyslexia or something.  Or, maybe he is just getting his words mixed up.  Just so you don't call CPS, we do correct him and he does sometimes say forgot. 

I know there is a handful of other words I am gotforing but I just can't think of them right now.  I'll get back when I can remember the rest...

Pre-K Christmas Party

Today I was fortunate enough to attend Brooklyn's Pre-K Christmas party.  One hour of complete and utter chaos.  I can say that each time I visit her classroom I am astonished at her teacher's patience and commitment.  I could barely make it through the hour.  So much snot, coughing, yelling and, well, mass chaos.  Point in case for why I wouldn't make it through the day as a preschool/pre-k teacher.  Actually, the kids are so darn cute I think I could get used to all the snot.  Anyhoo, back to the party.  We decorated cookies (aka licked frosting off spoons), made paper bag/hand-print eared reindeer, and sang some songs.  A pretty good party!  Only took a few pictures because the environment wasn't safe for a camera. :)

My chapped-lip cheeser.

Just a "normal" pose with her buddy Shane.

  

BFC 2011

Each year Broughton's near and far gather in the month of December to eat a bunch of food and prank call those who are running late.  Oh, and celebrate Christmas.  This year we hosted and deemed it an ugly sweater party because who doesn't love an ugly sweater party!?!  We were so happy when almost everyone (uh-hum, Jake) put some effort in to their sweaters.  It was a great day, a great party and a great family!  Tried to capture everyone's looks but somehow only got the ones below...

Jameson excited to open his first presents of the season!

Brooklyn equally excited.

Spoiled rotten.

Sweet, sweet outfits.

Love Jameson's headband.

Uncle "Santa" Dale

Mom in a homemade number.

Grandma and Papa.

Santa Emmett.

The evening winner, Uncle Gregg.

Cousin "Arizona Christmas" Kyla.

Some Hobo in a much too large shirt aka my Dad.  :)

Yep, that's Brett. One lucky woman.

Matt, stowaway Brooklyn and Auntie Nelle.

Switched sides to show off the "nuts".

Dale and Geralyn keepin' it casual.

Mom & Dad

Dale and Conner

Miya and Conner

The Host and Hostess.

Wes and Melissa.  Dude, sweeeeet.

The Bowden Family

Aunt Laurie and Uncle Scott

BBBE trying on Wes' sweet wig.

So scary.

There we are!  Merry Chritmas!