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!

Halloween-Oct 2010

Halloween 2010 Fun!

We had such a great Halloween celebration. We went to Denton and let the kids trunk-r-treat with Grandpa Russell and Grandma Jeanette, Erin and Family! It was a little cold outside, but the kids had a blast.

sarah-our sleeping fairy princess

Cousins-Kaden, Raelee, Jeremy, Madyson, & Sarah

Daddy and kids

Daddy and our little Butterfly

Sarah's Princess Hair

Poor Sarah fell the day before and broke one of her new front teeth(crowns) and we had to rush her into the dentist. Unfortunately they had to pull it out because there wasn't enough tooth left to connect the crown too anymore. But she's still smiling and is just so happy about the $1 she found under her pillow the next morning!

Grandma Cook was here!

What a treat it was to have my mom(Grandma Cook) here for a week! We had such a wonderful time together and enjoyed all the fun experiences with her. Here's a glimpse of our week...

Oct 8th, Friday-picked her up from the airport...girls were already asleep, but when we pulled into the garage Kaden came running out to greet her and didn't stop talking that night until he hit his pillow. It was so cute.

Saturday-Time Out For Women (http://deseretbook.com/tofw) My sister, Liz, found us a couple of tickets from a lady who couldn't make it from Oklahoma City. So even thought it was "sold out" we got to go and enjoy a wonderful time together.

Monday-Kaden was out of school this day for Teacher Day and so he got to stay home and play with us. We went to play at the mall and had such a fun time shopping and eating together. The kids all got to ride the carousel horses with grandma. They all loved it, even Mady going for her first time.

Tuesday-Sarah and Kaden both had school this day so mom, Mady and I did a little shopping together. We went to Joann's fabric store to get a pattern for a dress for Sarah...we never got to sew it, but Mom did several mendings for me...well for Brandon, Kaden and Sarah. Thank you Mom!

Wednesday-Kaden had school. Sarah had dance. She was so happy to have grandma Cook come watch...and after we went shopping at the mall and Sarah got to try on like 6 Christmas dresses and Grandma got her the perfect one. Can't wait for those pics! Then we picked up Kaden from school and headed to the pumpkin patches in Flowermound. We had sooo much fun with everyone!

The kids loved all the jump houses...even Mady

Mady watching the pony rides

Hay ride

Kaden loved riding the pony...he was so happy!

Sarah got on too, although she wasn't going to at first.

Sarah and Grandma after dance

Thursday-TEXAS STATE FAIR 2010 What else can I say? We had so much fun for 7 whole hours at the fair...daddy joined us for the last 2 or so. Mom really enjoyed herself too and I think will be back again for that.

Mady with her ice cream push up pop

Grandma and Kaden

Kaden and Sarah with the HUGE snow cones...after they had already eaten their icecreams!

So precious! Jeremy and Sarah watching the pig races.

Daddy and Mady...oh and Grandma Jeanette

Friday-We took my mom out to McKinney to see Brandon's park that is finally complete! Yeah...it is so awesome! The kids just never want to leave every time we go.

Saturday-Well we finally had to say goodbye after such and amazing week!

We miss you Grandma Cook and can't wait to see you in December "when Santa Claus comes." -Sarah

1st Camping Trip in Texas

Ray Roberts Lake, Sept 17-18

Well, I survived my first camping trip in Texas...barely. Really it was so much fun and very memorable...just very very humid, even at night, which is what I really wasn't used to. We really enjoyed ourselves though, especially the kids. Kaden was in heaven and just didn't stop for one second. We had good food, except for the pineapple upside down cake that Brandon burnt. I was proud the next morning when I successfully baked cinnamon rolls in the mini-dutch oven. They were delicious. We have misplaced our tent that is large enough for all of us and all our stuff, so thankfully Brandon's aunt and uncle had donated some gear to us and we had a spare. However we all didn't fit in it. So the girls and I slept in it, Kaden slept with Grandma and Brandon slept outside our tent on a tarp, under the stars. It worked out fine. We cleaned up in the morning and headed to take a dip in the lake. That was wonderful. The water was so refreshing. We had a wonderful time with Brandon's mom and sister Erin's family.

New Posts...keep reading

I just posted a couple of new posts but they are before and after the last post, so just keep reading and you'll catch them all. Here's the latest about us...

Brandon is currently trying to finish up the park in McKinney...hopefully just a week or so to go, if the rain will ever stop. We'll see what's in store for him next. He is still the cub scout master and enjoys working the boys. I think he looks forward to coming home to see the kids as much as they do. I love seeing his face when he walks in the door and they all shout "DADDY!"

I am staying busy at home as usual...just love the time with girls. We have way too much fun. I joined a local stamp club and am way excited to start that this month. I got to teach the 7-8 year olds at church until last month, when they put me in as the senior primary pianist. Miss my class, but so happy to be back at the piano again. Trying to get fit and stay healthy. It's going fairly well this time around.

Life is moving right along and we're taking it one day at a time, enjoying all the memories!

Here the photos from Kaden's 5th Birthday! We had such a great time celebrating! We went to Gatti Town where he played and played and played. He love the bumper cars so much. It was so much fun to watch his face. He received way too many gifts from all the family...but he loved them all and says Thank you!

Kaden got a new scooter from the Wale's so all the kids played outside...including Madyson.

Kaden on his bumper car.

Dad(Brandon) was out working late so couldn't make the cake like usual, so mom and Grandma tried to pull it off. We did pretty good if you ask me. It's a motorcycle.

Standing in line for the bumper cars.