James McKay Dutcher(new nephew/cousin)

Born: March 15th, 2011

Weight: 8 lbs

Length: 19 inch

Parents: Liz & Danny Dutcher

Get to go to Utah

WOO HOO!!

Madyson and I get to take a little trip next month to Utah. Chris and Karlie are getting married April 8th! I am so excited that I get to be there for their special day. Wish the rest of the family could make it too...next time we go hopefully. Also, can't wait to see my new little nephew that should be here any day, second. Liz was due yesterday, March 13th!

(photo taken by Heather Allen: heatherallenphotography.com)

Moving along

We enjoyed celebrating Grandma Jeanette's 50th and cousin Chase's 1st birthday over the weekend! Here are a few shots from the party. I made Jeanette's cake and Brandon helped me get it in the dish and ice it. It turned out great!

Aunt Maria & Chase ("big" 1 year old)

Sarah & Raelee

Grandma & cake

The kids got to have a balloon from the decorations and Kaden's flew away...

He got another one and was much happier.

Little Mady cheesing it with her cupcake.

We have a secure contract now on our home. We are soooo excited and hope all goes well with the loan now. We close April 15th!

Life!

Just took the pictures off my camera from the last two months and there are soooo many cute ones. This is my favorite! It's from Brandon's birthday(Fri, Jan 28th..he turned 28!)... hopefully I can get some more on here soon!

Life is just cruising along for us. We've had some ups and downs in the last couple of months, but we are anxious and excited about the future. We have been looking at homes for about a month. We made an offer on one at the beginning of Feb and it fell through. We have found another one that we like. We made three offers before they accepted, so we are rolling with that process now and it is crazy but exciting! Here is a link to the home: http://www.mlsfinder.com/tx_ntreis/kw_92/index.cfm?action=listing_detail&property_id=11550309&searchkey=76f8411a-aeec-fc84-b998-18e855f3a333&npp=32&sr=1

We hope all goes well and that we can move into our new home towards the end of April. Brandon is working a lot and trying to get ready for the GMAT that is on March 26th! The kids and I are staying busy as well and loving the warmer weather. Kaden and Sarah ask me almost every day if the pool is warm enough yet. We spend a lot of time at the park. It is just a beautiful time of year hear in Texas.

catch up...

****Life has been, well, busy I guess...just haven't had the time to sit at the computer and catch up on things...and of coarse since life has been busy, there is a lot to catch up on, which makes it even more difficult. Anyway, I need to post about our Christmas trip still and our trip to Kansas for Brandon's cousin's wedding. Those are the major events that have happened in the past couple of months...oh not to mention:

-Madyson is going potty some now

-Madyson started climbing out of her crib, which led to not going to sleep very well...ah! We took off the side rail and she is staying in bed better, but has now started to come into our bed around 5 am. She has NEVER slept with us her entire life at all, unlike the other two. It is an adjustment that we're all still working on.

-Madyson climbing up the piano, yep up on the keys...she likes to play the piano with her feet.

-Madyson climbing on the end tables and jumping onto the couch

So if you haven't gathered already, Madyson has entered the toddler phase of her life...she won't be two until June!

-Sarah amazing me everyday with her very intellectual self...("Mom, did you know that the sun was a great big star?"..."Mom, did you know that there are rocks on the moon?" ...Mom, why this?, why that?, why?, why?, why?) Mom: "Sarah, why do you always have to ask so may questions?" Sarah: "Cause that's how Heavenly Father made me."

-One day I was trying to help Kaden get a snack after school...he is always starving when he gets home. Sarah was trying to get my attention...Mom: "Sarah, I'm getting something for Kaden right now, can you just be patient please and then I'll help you?" Sarah: "Mom, Heavenly Father didn't make me patient!" (Yes, she is still just 3 years old.)

Kaden is happy and doing just great with all that life has to offer a little 5 year old. He has handled the all-day Kindergarten very well, but he does get worn out after those long weeks and looks forward to the weekends. He is also staying an extra hour after school once a week for some tutoring with his reading.

We are currently trying to buy a home...very exciting, but still in the works. We'll keep you posted on all of it! Brandon has recently registered to take the GMAT at the end of March. He would like to start his MBA part time in the fall at UT-Dallas. Hopefully he gets in. We feel like it's a great fit for him and he'll be able to continue working, so hopefully it works out.

Hopefully I'll get the pics posted soon!

Christmas in Maryland 2010...so much fun!

We had a great trip to Maryland for Christmas. We were able to arrive Christmas Eve and spent Christmas with my grandparents, my mom, sister and her family. We had such a great time visiting so many of my family that we hadn't seen since we were married back there in July 2004. We were able to go back and attend the temple, see the lights at the visitors center, and take the older kids downtown to the capital. I will journal more as I post the photos.

The drive was really great! The kids did awesome and it was absolutely perfect weather in such a beautiful part of the country.

The Brenda Cook family...(Chris and his kids were unable to come...we missed them)

Brandon, Maria, Kaden, Brenda, Mady, Sarah, Liz, Danny & David

Sarah just opened her unicorn pillow pet

Sarah on the road trip...she was so much fun;)

My grandmother and mom, Brenda

My Grandparents (Leslie and Jean Cook)..love them so much!

We got to go back to the temple we were married in...so beautiful, wonderful feelings!

Madyson loved getting into Grandma Cook's purse...here she is under the kitchen counter trying to find some "bum" (gum).

Kaden and Sarah watching cartoons

Kaden and Jared Monn(my cousin's son) at the Christmas Party.

Madyson at the Cook Family Christmas Party

Madyson and David loved the bucket of blocks at Great Grandmom's

Kaden was in love with this train set...(there are so many memories for me as a child in this exact room. It hasn't changed at all...same couch too.)

Sarah and Grandma making rolls for Christmas dinner

Daddy and Kaden putting his new United States puzzle together

Mady really was so great during the trip...she got tired on the last day and just wanted to be home, but other than that she was super!

Our little place...we decorated even though we were out of town.

This is my grandparents home...in the woods of New Windsor, MD

Merry Christmas to all & a Happy New Year!

Well, we've had a very eventful month and so I haven't had much time to update...so I will post photos from Thanksgiving and other stuff asap. We are moved and mostly settled, but are on the hunt for something else back in Frisco. We have had a wonderful Christmas celebration with Brandon's parents and sister Erin over the weekend. The kids had a blast. We met at Fuddrucker's Friday night for dinner, went to see The Colony Firehouse lights and then went to Grandma's & Grandpa's to open gifts...and have a slumber party. Yep, we all spent the night, played games and stayed up late. It was soooo much fun! Saturday we had a delicious breakfast and went to the movie together. Saturday night the kids got to sleep over again so that Mom & Dad could go have a fun time at Brandon's work party, which included a hotel room! It was lots of fun for us...thanks mom and dad for helping out!

We are sooo excited that on Thursday we'll be heading to Maryland for Christmas with Grandma Cook, Liz, Danny and David...not to mention all the relatives back east. So I'll be telling more about that next year! Until then, have a very Merry Christmas! Love to all!