Monster Truck: So Cool It's Scary.

Bracken's big gift from Santa was a

MONSTER TRUCK

that drives super fast and kind of freaks them out a bit.

But, it's still a ton of fun.

 Cornered by MONSTER TRUCK!

 At least everyone is getting some good exercise!

(seriously, I should have bought one of these years ago)

 Bracken tries to step on MONSTER TRUCK!

 MONSTER TRUCK goes one way,

and they go the other...

 Making peace with MONSTER TRUCK.

 Hooray for beautiful Christmas weather!!

Holiday Fun Part Two

Santa has come!!

 Not sure what is going on with the lighting

in some of these photos... it must be

the magic of the season.

 BOOF! POW! BAM! BOOM!

 Think she likes it a little bit?

 He was ready to dig in!!

 The two special things on her list were

rocking chair and Lion King...

captured in one photo.

 "Take them out! Take them out!"

Bracken can be very demanding.

 His very own Ford F150 "Monster Ruck!!"

(just like PaPa Dave's truck except this one

is orange with ridiculously large wheels)

 Checking out his new Spider-Man, Batman

and Super-Man books from his stocking.

We had a wonderful Christmas

at home and hope you did, too!

Holiday Fun Part One

A few days before Christmas we traveled

south to visit PaPa Kenny & Grammie Carla

and celebrate with everyone.

 A cute shot of 3 out of the 5 grandkids...

Carly, Calvin, Reagan and the back of Drew's head.

 Hanging out before the gift exchange

with Aunt Laura and Uncle Matt.

 Reagan and Bracken open the first gifts...

 Carly and Reagan enjoying a

princess book by the fire.

 PaPa Kenny has his hands full!

 Calvin, happy to have a peaceful moment,

reads quietly before bed :)

Thankful

So much to be thankful for...

for the Thanksgiving holiday we traveled

to quad cities so that Reagan and Stella

could roll around on pillows for an hour!

It was really sweet to watch...

 Stella surprising Reagan

 Great Grandma Judy reads a copy of

"The Night Before Christmas"

from when PaPa Dave was a little boy...

 Reagan's letter to Santa was intense.

(and very creative)

She asked for only two things:

1) Rocking Chair

2) The Lion King

Bracken had no interest in coloring (as usual).

 Licking the envelope.

 Building tents in the living room was pretty cool!

 Such a manly man...

 Uno is a new favorite!

(for Cinderella, too)

Halloween Parade, Monkeys and a Tree!

Reagan's School held their yearly

Halloween Parade around the block..

the 4's class were Gumball Machines!

 (of course the hat came off immediately ;)

 Always in a princess gown..

 They were both napping when I heard a commotion...

I came up the stairs and saw both of them

jumping like monkeys in his crib.

They thought it was pretty hilarious.
(upon second look I notice that he just happens
to be wearing a Curious George shirt...how fitting!)

 Going into combat any day now,
so you've got to be prepared!

 On this day Reagan assured me that

she didn't need a nap...

Our Christmas Tree!!

 The kids crawled underneath to look up at the lights...

(I remember doing this with my brother
and sister when I was a kid, too...

you should try it if you haven't,
it's pretty cool)

 Up close and personal with the tree

(while munching an apple).

 Actually sitting quiet in the chair

looking at "Monster Rucks"!

(this doesn't happen often)

 Our attempt at christmas cookies.

(courtesy of GG and PaPa)

Not sure what is going on with the hot dogs,

but the cookies were a delicious mess!!

Trick or Treat!

We did some serious trick-or-treating this year.

We thought we might just go down the street and back

and found ourselves (sprinting) all over the neighborhood.

The kids brought home quite the stash of candy...

(we are still working our way through it!)

Me and my lil' sailor!

 Rapunzel sprinted out the door

and began her quest for candy.

 Silly Daddy.

 We actually got out of the house about 10 minutes

before the "official" start time for trick-or-treating.

So, like any good parent we made the kids

sit on the curb and wait it out.

 Just being goofy.

 Popeye was a hit! He was thrilled not

to be stuck in a wagon like last year...

 He really has the look down, doesn't he?

...on to the next house! 

 The major benefit to Reagan about Halloween

this year was that she scored another

princess gown to add to her collection.