Train Ride & A Santa Trial Run!

Brandon and I are looking for a new couch. Our couches upstairs in our family room we have had for 11 years now! They are becoming a safety hazard and I want them gone! I LOVE them and will miss them...they are the most comfortable and good looking couches I have ever seen! This time around I want a sectional so we can fit all 7 of us together on one couch! And when our family is here to visit we can seat ALL of the adults when it's movie time! (Well, we might have to squeeze in together but I want one that will fit 7-10 people, including the ottoman) We are still trying to find "the one" and Brandon is still not seeing my way yet (he wants one that reclines and I say that's what the ottoman is for. I don't want to have a rolly polly ugly reclining couch!) So the hunt is still on, so we decided to visit the Old Cannery in Sumner. That's where I got my living room set and really like the no-pressure people there! We were surprised to see them having train rides and Santa so even thought the twins were with my parents we thought a trial run Santa visit would be good for Brady. As you can see...he didn't care too much for him! Thankfully, we did get a good picture this weekend for the real visit!

Slacking....Again!

Well, I have been so bad about updating the blog in November. We have been SO busy going back and forth to the west side. Both Brandon and I are so tired of living life this way. The kids are getting a bit annoyed with it but seem to snap out of it when they see Great-Grandparents, Grandparents, Auntie's and Uncles!!! We love being with them all as well but the packing, un-packing, laundry, driving, eating out, no schedule is getting old, really old. Hopefully, with the new year will come change. Not sure how or what but it's coming!

The kids and I just spent a week and a half on the west side. We went over the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and just got home today! We weren't planning to stay that long but Brady got very sick and is still trying to get better. He had the croup that became pneumonia and an ear infection and then the past few days he has been throwing up. He hasn't since this morning and has gotten his appetite some what back now. I am praying that is the last of that because I can handle the worst poopy diaper but when it comes to blood and throw-up I can't handle it. Brandon is not here so I told the kids no blood or throw up until Daddy is here! I sure hope they listen!

We had a great Thanksgiving! Yummy food, family, friends and just being together, hanging out! Later on that night Christina and I went to North Bend and started Christmas shopping at the outlet mall at midnight on "Black Friday"...we did it last year too and we are making it a tradition. So much fun! Armed with caffeine we are ready to go! Thanks to her brother, Nick we were sneaky in Gymboree...while we shopped he stood in line for us for 50 minutes! What a guy ;) We just hopped in line when it was our turn. I am thinking we should included him into our tradition every year!!! He was handy to have around!

Well, I will stop rambling and get to the pictures you all come to see anyway...check out the next post! (oh, Brandon and I went to see Blind Side...SUCH A GOOD MOVIE!!! A MUST see!!!)

Practice

I was playing around tonight with my new backdrop and lighting and I happen to have 4 adorable and willing models! (would have had 5 adorable models but Mommy put Brady to bed first! And the reason why there is not an individual one of Lorelai is because I got the excuse, "The light hurts my eyes mommy, maybe tomorrow I can try!")

Thankful

With Thanksgiving just a few days away and the seemingly, never-ending battle over picky kids at any mealtime, I have been trying to get the girls (two in particular) to be thankful for any food at our table. We have it so easy compared to so many people!!! I know I am guilty too, of thinking I have less than what I think I should. But the reality is, we are blessed beyond measure! I need to be better at showing my kids that we have more than we need and that God provides for us. I am trying to teach them that we should be truly happy for what we do have and not to be concerned about what it is we think we should to have. In these teaching moments I know that children get it more than what they let on or what we think they do but they are also just children and have a hard time wrapping their mind around things as well. Here is a little "play-by-play" conversation I was having with the girls earlier this week.



Reagan: "Ewwww...I don't want that for lunch!"

Mom: "Reagan, you need to eat it....Do you know how many children would be thankful to have that for lunch. Some children don't get to eat every meal like you do and when they do eat it isn't something as tasty as what you have!"

Makenna: "Yeah, Reagan....some kids don't even have a home or bed to sleep in and not even a Gamma Judy blanket!"

Lorelai: "NO GAMMA JUDY BLANKET? That is so bad, Mom!!!" Everyone has to have a Gamma Judy blanket, I love mine!"



So sweet! I was trying to get them to be thankful for food but I am thankful that after the conversation they are thankful for something....their Gamma Judy blankets!

Brady on the combine tractor!

Totally unplanned but when I saw this huge combine I knew Brady should have his picture taken with it! While I was taking pictures of our friends Brandon was showing Brady the tractor and a couple of trucks that were near by. He was so sad to leave it behind but I told him it wouldn't fit in his room! :(

The Gregg Family

We love this family!!! I am so honored to have been able to take photos of them today! To see more you can go to my photography blog ~ http://aubreywhitephotography.blogspot.com/ The sun was very bright today so hopefully this week we can do "take two" on a cloudy day!

TRICK-OR-TREAT

It was a busy fun night! We had pizza with the Gregg's and then went trick-or-treating then we all come back to the house and ate pumpkin pie and had some laughs! It was so nice to have an extra hour of sleep after such a fun night! These kids were quick! It was hard to capture a good picture (as you can see there really isn't one since they were running from house to house)!