Big boy bed

Graysen has officially graduated from a crib to a big boy bed.  I know it feels like he should have done this  a long time ago, but I was afraid to interrupt his good sleeping habbits and wanted to hold out as long as I could.  Alas, he finally is just too big too fit in the crib anymore and can climb out anyway, so we figured it was time.

Grandma and Grandpa came down and helped us get the bed and set it up for him.  Graysen was so excited to finally have a big bed like sister, and I think McKenna was equally excited for him.  When it was all set up we put his cool truck sheets on from Grandma and Granpa and his new big soft pillow that Grandma made for him which he loves, and his bed set and he was one happy camper.

He layed down on it and and him and Kenna both laid together on it and played.  McKenna also got a new bed set to match Graysen's bed stuff.  Needless to say we had two really excited kids for the night.  I was really nervous that Graysen wouldn't go to bed so easy and would come out a lot.  I was pleasantely surprised when he went to bed just fine and was even excited to go to bed.  He even slept in for me which rarely happens. 

I would have bought it a lot sooner if I knew he would have reacted so well to it.  you never know though, so can't really plan for it. I think it was one of those things that when they are ready for it you just know and they will adjust and do well because it is time.  You can't rush it or force it, kinda like potty training, you just have to wait until their ready.  That is next on the list and something I am not looking forward to it, but i know when he is ready he will let me know.

My kids are just growing up too fast and it makes me so sad in a way to know that  these times I can never go back to with them except for memoreis of course.  I know that there are so many good things that come with each stage in life and I do look forward to it but is just seems like it is going too fast and I am not ready for it.  I want them to stay my little babies forever. 

It just gives me more incentive to treasure each moment and live in each moment so it doesn't pass me by. I know in each milestone my kids experience I have these same feelings and emotions, so sorry if I am broken record but it never fails to hit me the same way each time. 

Love my angels and am excited to see what comes next.

It's that time of the year again

We have developed a yearly tradition of going to see Santa and the Riverfront Carousel.  It is really fun to be able to do this with the kids each year.  They love it, and I must say the Santa there is pretty close to looking like the real deal as you can get.

We went with some friends this year, and it was really fun.  I was a little worried that the kids would freak out while sitting on Santa's lap, but suprisingly they both did really well and smiled big for me and even talked to Santa and told him what they wanted.  Score for getting both kids to cooperate and actually like Santa instead of crying. 

We took pictures with Santa and then they got to ride the carousel a couple of times.  Graysen doesn't like the horses that go up and down, so we had to find one that was stationary so that he would ride it and have fun. 

I love seeing the joy on their faces when we get to do fun things like this.  It makes all the trials and tough things that come with parenting so worth it, and actually get a precious moment you can feel like you are doing something right.

We talked with them after though about what Christmas is really all about.  It is nice and fun that we can see Santa and get presents, but we need to remember the true meaning of Christmas and they knew that it was to remember the Saviour and to celebrate his birth.  I am glad that through all the worldly things that they know what is really important and I hope it sticks with them.

It's all about the music

McKenna had her very first winter program at school.  She was so excited to be perform and to have Graysen and Grandma and I were all coming.
She really wanted to wear her red sweater and her santa hair bows, she said it would be so cute.
They all came out on the bleachers and McKenna was so cute.  She waved and was so excited to see us there in the audience.

They sang lots of cute Christmas songs which I got all on video.  It is so fun to be able to go to school things like this and to be able to watch my daughter grow up and enjoy all these wonderful things with her.  Even though it wasn't this huge production, I was so happy to be able to see her and listen to her sing these songs and do sign language, even if it was only for 10 minutes.
She is just getting so big and I am enjoying every minute of it.

Thanksgiving

We celebrated Thanksgiving with Travis parents and brother up in Beaverton again this year.  It is so nice to have family so close to be able to enjoy the holidays with.  Maybe when I actually have my own house I will host Thanksgiving at my house :) Travis' mom always does such a nice job with Thanksgiving.  All the food was delicious and the table looked beautiful!                                                                                          

We had a relaxing morning, Grandpa made pancakes and we watched the movie "Brave" which I really liked. The kids read books with Grandma and played toys with Grandpa.  They are the best toys for my children :)

Tyler came over just before dinner and we ate to our hearts content.  Graysen was overdue for a nap, so he wasn't in the best of spirits, but we all had a good time.  We went around the table and said what we were all grateful for.  It is so nice to be reminded of the things that are the most important and to give thanks for all our many blessings.  Kenna was grateful for Jesus and for our family, and Graysen said sister and mom and dad.  It was good to here everyone's thoughts.

After dinner Graysen went down for a short nap and then we went to see a movie.  Grandma and Grandpa took the kids to see "wreck it ralph" which they really loved. They actually sat through the whole movie.  The  rest of us went to see "Breaking Dawn part 11." I liked it a lot.  The whole baby part was really fake and dumb, but the rest of it was really good.

We came back and put the kids down for bed and then just hung out.  It was a fun day filled with great food,   good company, and lots of love and thanksgiving.

Pumpkin Patch

I love that we have made it a tradition to go to the lake view pumpkin patch every year with grandma and grandpa Allen.  This year Aunt Mel and Connor and Kennedy came with us too which was fun.  We went a little earlier this year than last and I am glad we did because the pumpkins were beautiful and there were so many to choose from.

The kids had a blast riding the train and picking out their own pumpkins.  It was fun to see them wondering through the pumpkins to find the perfect one.

Of course we couldn't pass by the giant haystack's without climbing all over them, so they did. They went all the way to the top and thought it was the coolest thing.

 The kids played with grandma and in the wheelbarrow while they waited to take the boat across the lake with our pumpkins to pay and do other activities.  The boat ride was fun because there was dragons and sharks that would pop out of the water.  I love how they get so excited over even the smallest of things.

McKenna has been riding the barrel train every year, but this year Graysen got to ride too.  It was fun to see them having so much fun and being able to do so many fun things together now.  They are great friends and play so well together and look out for each other,  I love it!

We went out for ice cream later at McDonald's which the kids couldn't have been happier about.
 It was a really fun time and I am glad that we can make traditions that the kids can remember and look forward to every year.  Hopefully we will have many more trips to the pumpkin patch in the years to come.

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Silver falls

For one last hurrah before the summer ends and McKenna starts school, we decided to go to Silver Falls with Grandma and Grandpa Allen.  I haven't been there in forever so I was excited to take the kids there.  Travis of course was too busy to be able to come with us (dang law school), but we still had lots of fun.
We drove down and had a nice picnic lunch and played with the football and baseball bat a little bit, the kids were loving it and we hadn't even gotten to the best part yet.

 McKenna was really excited to go hiking since she hasn't really been that often.  We started down the trail and saw the beautiful falls.

 This was when we were behind the waterfalls.  McKenna and Graysen loved the waterfall and were sold on Grandma's idea that it was a Giant's way of taking a shower.

  They explored the little caves that were behind the waterfall and McKenna bumped her head on one of the jagged rocks upon exploring which was not so much fun.

  They both did really well hiking though and exploring.  When we were about to go back up McKenna asks "I thought we were going to go hiking," and I said to her we are, this is what hiking is and she just kind of looked at me like no one said I was going to have to walk up hill this far.  She was a trooper though and made it all the way to the top.  Graysen had to be carried for the most part, but he was still really good.
It was nice to go back there again, and it was just as beautiful as I remember it being.

We played with bubbles back at the top and then the kids played in the cold water for a little bit before we headed home.  It was  a really fun day and we are so glad we got to do something fun and memorable to end the summer with.  The only thing that would have made it better was if Travis was there.  I love my family and love spending time with them.

Jogathon

McKenna's school had their first ever jog-a-thon to raise money for this year.  We got to go and cheer McKenna on as she ran as many laps as she could in 30 minutes.  She ran 7 laps, I was so proud of her!  She did so good and even though she was tired, she never stopped.

I loved cheering her on and see that even at this young age she was determined and kept pushing through even when it was hard.  She was dead tired at the end, but she did a fantastic job. She was smiling at the end.

  I am so proud of her and so happy that she loves school and that I get to watch her do all these fun things.  I love having a kid in school, it is amazing to watch her learn and grow so much. I love my girl!

 It was really cute too because Graysen kept saying "go Kenna go" whenever she came around.  He was so excited to see his big sister running.  When we were going to leave he said "I want sister mom." He looks up to his big sister so much and she sets such a good example to him and is such a great big sister.