Dear Rain,

....and winter, and cold (for california) weather. I like you in small doses. And i'll be honest, I'm over you. More importantly, I think i've already learned a valuable lesson from you....I thought I was decently patient, but apparently I have a loooong way to go, and much to learn. Hopefully I learn before baby #3 makes it's grand entrance!

****During prayers tonight Carson said "Thank you that it's so beautiful in California where we live and not raining. And bless that we won't laugh at people who live where it rains a lot, but that we'll feel sad for them." Prayers don't get more sincere.

The Big Day

Christmas was magical this year. Not only because my kids are the BEST ages, but because we caught Santa. But don't worry, he didn't see us.
We were quiet as a mouse as we watched Santa go about his business through the stairs. We saw him taking a rest, putting lots of presents under the tree as he talked about Carson and Brynlee, eating the muffin and milk we left out for him, and even declaring his love for burritos....I can only guess he must have been coming directly from Tiajuana.
The kids were mesmorized. I woke Brynlee up at 6:00 to tell her that I thought I heard him and she immediately popped up and said, "Me too, can we can go look at him?" It was hilarious. Carson was a little more nervous because he didn't want Santa to get even the littlist peek at him so he was very careful!!! Once he left we were ready for business.....
We woke up at my parents house this year, and everyone was in town.
It was a busy day, but SO fun!!!
Brynlee's highlight was her chest of dress-ups. She's learned all the right poses and everything. Have I ever mentioned how much I love having a girl.
And both the kids, were sent on a scavenger hunt for their final present. A John deere tractor. It's the ONLY thing Carson really wanted and when he didn't see it under the tree he was totally bummed. But I knew if I put it under the tree he wouldn't open anything else....so he had to wait.
I always wanted one of these suckers when I was little, so it was pretty fun to see how excited it made the kids, especially Carson!!!!
Then it was off to the Browns. Have I ever mentioned that they live only a mile from my parents? Therefore all holidays are anything but mellow and relaxing. Nonetheless we are so grateful that we get to see so much family all the time and especially that we get to spend holidays with everyone and have 20 meals :)
Since everyone was in town this year we also had our annual Browns vs. Andersons football game. The jury is still out on who won, or should I say who deserved to win, but we'll just leave it at that.
The rest of the week I did a horrible job at taking pictures, but Keri's family stayed in town and we played and played and played. We LOVE when our cousins are here. That, combined with the holidays made for a darn good end to 2009.

Walking in our Winter Wonderland

Our December came and went waaaay to fast like most do. If I could create the calendar for the year it would include 3 months of December and the rest Summer months. And yes, all three of those Christmas months would be be filled with all things Christmas....inlcuding, but not limited to: Christmas music (yes, I am one of those annoying people who play it for 2 months straight and am still not sick of it), Christmas cards- the only month I actually check my mail on a regular basis...honestly where's the fun in the daily and never ending bills, Christmas parties, peppermint ice cream- oh for the love of sweet, sweet peppermint ice cream, cinnamon bread, endless treats on the counter, good food, lots of candy cane hot chocolate, and nice people. (everyone is so much happier!!!!)

But since we are limited to one december month, (except in our home November is more or less a christmas month) we soaked up all the fun we possibly could for one holiday season, and sadly said goodbye until next year.

One of the seasons less exciting yet usually entertaining activities, of attempting the perfect family pictures. It's a good thing i'm writing this 2 months late because at this point i'm remembering these sessions fondly, when really, when is trying to get more the one person looking at the camera at once ever fun? Never!!!!
But it's all about the memories.....
Then we move on to one of our most favorite traditions...Christmas eve parties. We started with the big Anderson party which was luckily moved to the 23rd, so there were no partying conflicts. We LOVE our family parties!!!!
Brynlee realized she had a special place in her heart for her Great Grandma Anderson and couldn't get enough. I thought it was quite possibly one of the most tender and cute things ever, so hopefully Grandma wasn't feeling to smothered :)

What else can you do during the annual talent portion of the program? As if (whoa major clueless flashback:) Nope we listened intently the whole time, but I did love spending time with some of my cousins.

And last but certainly not least, round one of the always entertaining nativity. I figure if we do it enough, one of these years my kids will truly start to understand the true meaning of Christmas, but for now, there enthusiasm to dress up like a shepherd is pretty cute.

And the 24th.... The Brown family Christmas eve party with e.v.e.r.y.o.n.e there!!! Which has not happened in all the years that we've been married, so we LOVED seeing everyone! Here's the whole gang in all our glory!
The now annual rendetion of the 12 days of Christmas performed by some of the Brown boys. I dare to bet that until you've seen this number, you haven't seen the song properly sung with the right amount of energy.
Nativity #2....and dang cute!
Brynlee also realized that she had a special place in her heart for her cousin Brooklyn, after Brooklyn gave her a baby stroller for the cousin gift exchange. Then to top it off with a cherry, she brought her tiny little dog and let Brynlee push her around on the strollers maiden voyage! According to a two year old, life does not get much better.

The Signs Align

Instead of facing a blog where i'm about 2 million posts behind, i've ignored it. But no more. New Year, New blog devotion. Serious this time!

Some day i'll catch up, but not now.

Over the last few months i've had the occasional freaking out tendency to overlook all the symptoms and positive pregnancy tests, and question whether or not I was actually pregnant, all because i didn't yet have the confirmation from the good ole' obgyn. Call me a little paranoid and medically dependent.

But the signs were all confirmed f.i.n.a.l.l.y. Apparantly the throwing up, huge chestal increase, smell sensitivity, and belly fat, weren't just in my mind. And it's a good thing to otherwise I would have no explanation as to why this week I:

a) drove way out of my way to get 2 tacos from jack in the box (i don't even think what's inside can be considered meat, but they were great)

b) cried uncontrobally on 2 t.v watching occasions that really truly didn't warrant even misty eyes.

but the results are in, i'm due the middle of june (further along than I thought) and having another girl. SO excited!!!! But don't take me gambling, because I would have bet anyone that it was a boy.

Brynlee is beyond thrilled....and Carson's only response when opening the present that told them the sex- "oh dang it." and that was that!

Merry Merry

The Christmas decor is up...and i'm a happy christmas bound camper. Just wanted to share the good news. Now if only 7-11 will start selling the candy cane hot chocolate the season will really be in full swing.

I promise i'll do my best to be a better blogger too. There's my written goal, cause if you write a goal it's more likely to happen right? I've just been so tired lately.....really really really abnormally tired...take that for what you will :)

Good Night!

Trick Or Treat

These pictures are really out of order, but really does anyone care? Nope, didn't think so! But maybe some day i'll fix it.

Halloween kept with our traditional dinner of dinner in a pumpkin with our families, followed by trick-or-treating with some of our best friends and ending with an unhealthy amount of sugar consumption and two pooped out kids.




The A-team, Carson and Finn had endless amounts of energy and could have kept going as long as the candy kept coming. They were having a crazy fun time

Team Chill- Milla, Brynlee and Thomas were more my style, collecting a sufficient amount of candy and then hopping in the wagon, eating their favorites, and enjoying the ride.

The kids all looked seriously adorable....the cutest i've ever seen. Carson & Brynlee got tons of candy, enough to make mom happy for a while, so chalk that up to a Halloween success.....let the countdown to x-mas begin :)

Pre-Halloweeny fun

Pumpkin patches, cookie decorating, trunk-or-treat, and carving parties oh my! The days before halloween were busy and fun and hopefully all the pictures adequately represent the fun we had & I can keep the commentary to a minimum, with all the blog catching up I have to do!

We loved spending time with the Blake's in the OC for the day and ending at the pumpkin patch!!!!!
(Just a side note since my kids don't look at this blog nor can they read....isn't this tractor cute? They just might be getting something similar for x-mas this year, and Carson just might have accidently stumbled upon it in my parents garage apparently hiding not so good, and I just might have been super bummed but hopefully did enough to make him forget about it...sad story huh :( )



Costumes take 1 for the ward trunk or treat.....
We are so loving every holiday with these too!!!