Polar Express and Snow!

The Start of a family Tradition! This year after Thanksgiving we watched The Polar Express movie with the kids to get them ready for the train ride. Brayden is also obsessed with trains... I know typical boy right :).... so we were just beyond excited for this event. Of course the older boys (Brad and Eric and Steve) were joking around during the whole movie wondering how they were going to pull off each scene, only for us to remind them it wont be EXACTLY like the movie. :)So we started our day at 9am on Saturday for the road. Ate in Flagstaff and then went to the Fraley's Cabin to attempt to put the kids down for a nap... didn't work... they wanted to play instead, shocker! :) Before heading to the Polar Express we stopped and got Starbucks... good thing because when we got there it was SO COLD AND WINDY! waiting outside to get in the train was a killer, but we made it and the kids had a great time.

so excited for the train ride

got his ticket



drinking his hot chocolate

Anna and Daddy

yummy cookie


papa, nana and Blake


getting his ticket punched


"mom, really another picture!"



Blake getting his bell



On Sunday we woke up to Flagstaff's first snow! There was snow on the ground when we arrived but the weather forecasters didnt consider that the first snow fall of the year so yes it was windy, cold and WHITE! It was so pretty and a great ending to our little trip. We got the kids all bundled up, bought a little sled and headed to the NAU hill. The kids loved it and Blake slept in the car all nice and warm. Anna loved running and kicking the snow and Brayden was big on the sled. Only if Daddy would carrying him up the hill each time. Too bad Brayden wasnt feeling better, but he still managed to have some fun.

Disneyland!!!

The weekend before Thanksgiving we took the boys to Disneyland! It was the very first day that Disneyland was decorated for Christmas. I just love this time of year :) The trip started out with me getting sick on the first day and Brayden getting sick later that night but we made the best of it. (And good thing we are going to Disney world in Jan/Feb, so we didn't feel too bad about missing out on things)Brayden is now at the age where I would say he actually can get excited and enjoy disneyland. (and it will only get better I am sure) I only got pictures with Buzz and Mickey since all the character lines were insane and Brayden didn't understand the waiting thing when it was longer than 45 min just to see them. So we got the two favorites and saw the rest from afar :)

So Excited to see BUZZ

He walked right up and gave him a Hug.... I don't think big tough Buzz was ready for this! I think I got tears in my eyes at this point :)

The joys of being a kid :)


An hour wait to see Mickey, but we finally got to see him....Love my boys


Driving his Car.... my Car boy


See him in the front! He loved it.. and daddy was video taping with his phone :)

Teacups with papa!
Brayden was so excited to go on the rides. He LOVED the rollercoaster and teacups! (Papa Fraleys favorite too, which made him very happy that Brayden loved them just as much) Eric and I realized that after seeing all the characters how many Brayden didn't actually know. He has not seen that many movies all of them really being the Toy Story collection, Cars, Nemo, so the Disneyland parade was not that exciting for him.....it was ALL about the California Adventure parade....Brayden FILLED with EXCITEMENT when he saw Buzz, Woody, Lighting McQueen, and Mater. Even with his fever he got up and clapped and danced. Don't worry we left right after this and got our son medicine and to bed when we found out he had a fever, we just really wanted him to see this parade!
Pictures from the parade

Pumpkin Carving

Starting Family traditions..... Now that Brayden is getting older it is so exciting planning our traditions! Last night we had my parents over and Eric and I made dinner and dessert. (pumpkin spice cake :) YUM!) We got the kids Halloween pjs and grabbed the pumpkins. Much to all of our surprise we found out Eric is/was a pumpkin carving virgin!!!! My mom got a book of stencils that we chose out of, but since Eric never did one he didnt know what it was like so he goes online and finds a Buzz stencil that was so detailed! We joked that I was going to have to stay up with him till 2 so he could finish :) But it was only till 10 and it turned out great! He only had to take a couple breaks cuz his hands/fingers were killing him! Ha... BUT Brayden loved it when he saw it this morning.

Buzz Lightyear!

My Bat pumpkin

My Parents pumpkin

This is the first time Brayden has ever seen or felt inside of a pumpkin. The pictures do a great job showing you what he thought. He did ok but was not a huge fan, but it shouldnt surprise me because this is my child that asks for a fork when eating so he doesnt have to use his fingers :)

Digging in



touching it with his bare hands :)


I can take pictures all day long of these two! (If only Brayden would allow me too :)) They are just the cutest...

AND the wrestling begins :)

BUT so does the brotherly love (my heart smiles everytime I see these two smile)


so alert



Blake got you Brayden...watch out, he soon will be getting you back ;)

PRECIOUS <3

Pumpkin Patch

Pumpkins! Pumpkins! Pumpkins! This evening Eric and I took the boys to Mother Nature Farm pumpkin patch. Brayden has been eyeing all the pumpkins in the grocery stores, saying "pumpkin mommy" "pumpkin mommy", so we were both very excited to take him to get one. On the way, Eric asks Brayden what color a pumpkin is and without hesitation he says "orange!" I was shocked because for MONTHS I have been working on his colors and FINALLY it is clicking :) It was a proud moment in our car :)

Brayden got to pick out a pumpkin and decorate it with stickers. He is so funny and constantly reminds me that his pumpkin decorationg skills do not need to be perfect... He is just 2 Laura :) but anyways he places the stickers on the pumpkin all nicely and spaced out from one another.... as I try to find him more stickers I take my eye off of him for one moment... when I look up the next thing I know he has taken the stickers off his pumpkin and stacked them all on top of eachother! So needless to say we decided to skip the decorating and try the hay maze. :)


Cheese!

Yes Blake needed to have a turn :)

Brayden went right in and then asked for daddy to go with. He was doing great till like the middle of the maze and he was just done. So he climbs on the hay stack and walks along the top till he found the exit! HE IS SUCH A BOY :)



We also did face painting! ( Daddy didnt think you would sit still for this, but I said we will never know if we dont try) You did great! even though you look mad at me for taking your picture, you sat very still. And made cute faces when it tickeled your cheek :)


Finished Product :)

Lastly you went on a hay ride with me while daddy stayed with Blake and it was fun! I love cuddling with my boy!

You kept pointing to your pumpkin for every picture we tried to get of you... so this is the best we got :)

Love him... too bad you were not feeling good :(

Daddy can get you to smile :)

And Lastly, BLAKERS!!! You did amazing,just relaxing while your brother had all the fun. You are such a sweetheart and just so darn cute! Mommy needed a picture with you to show you were at a pumpkin patch too! I love this picture! You gave Daddy the greatest smile!

Cant wait for tomorrow when my parents come over for a pumpkin carving party :)