just being brendan

Happy Christmas Eve

Christmas is in the air!  The kids are so excited and can't wait for the big day tomorrow.  And there are so many questions...."Are you sure Santa can get in with that "magic" key?", "Is he going to wake me up with his sleigh bells on the roof?", "What if the reindeer don't like apples?", "Does Santa like green sprinkles?".  

Today we had the Quinn Family over for our annual book exchange with the kids.  Ryan and Sydney looked so beautiful in their Christmas dresses - on their way to a Christmas party.  We managed to snap this cute shot of Ryan and Brendan.  These two can fight like brother and sister, but they can also love each other like brother and sister...it's the sweetest thing!

 

Next was cookie decorating for Santa.  The kids went a little overboard on the green sprinkles, but I think the "big guy" will like the cookies just the same.

 

 

The night ended with my favorite - a reading from daddy of "Twas the night before Christmas".  The boys listened intently and asked several questions along the way.  At the end, they were tucked in their beds and are dreaming about tomorrow morning.

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
 
 
 

 

tree #1

Brendan especially has been dying to get out the Christmas decorations....he tells Pierce every day that we are almost in the "Christmas month".  So, yesterday we finally got down the decorations, ornaments, holiday books and toys.  They had a ball going through the bins and discovering all the treasures that only make it out once a year.

 

 

And this year, since the kids are so much more aware of the Christmas holiday and celebration, I wanted to get them to an actual Christmas lot to browse trees, take in the Noble Fir scent and do something a little different than getting a tree at Target.  So, we are off....to the Christmas tree lot.....and the darn things are $120 for a 6-footer.  HELLO??  Now, when I was a kid, we went into the woods with a $5 tag and cut any tree we wanted for our living room...big or small.  We just couldn't do it so as a compromise, (and something Kyle and I had talked about anyway) we decided to let the boys get a tree for their bedroom.  Oh my, what a hit!!!  

 

Presley Sue was with us too - she didn't have much of an opinion, however.  And she ended up getting straw thrown on her by the boys....she was such a good sport.

 

 

Pierce, as always, found a reason to take off his shoes and run around barefoot.

 

YEAHHH!!  Tree #1 is from Oregon!!

 

The light choices were all red, all white or multi-colored.  Brendan had a firm opinion of multi.  Pierce wanted "donkey" lights.  We aren't sure where that came from, but we assured him that if the store had them, we would buy them.  Unfortunately, no luck on the "donkey" lights for Pierce.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 

Presley Sue

Presley Sue took her first step this morning (at 11:50am to be exact).  It was only one step, but a step none-the-less.  Is she really growing up this fast?

yeah - halloween

We hit the pumpkin patch for a pumpkin . . . . group photo of Darth Vadar, Piercey (who decided not to wear his costume for the first time in four days, but stay tuned) and the cutest little skeleton you've ever seen.

 

 

 

Brendan also had a Harvest Festival at school.  There were several booths set up for the kids:  farmer's market, arts and crafts, candy walk, bouncy houses, cookie decorating and a ton of games.

 

 

 

 

And finally...the big day of celebrating and Uncle Dave and Auntie's house, trick-or-treating around the neighborhood and EATING CANDY!!!  

We actually let the boys eat the candy when they want it and as much as they want for about one day after Halloween.  Once that day is up, the candy gets taken out of the house and is never to be seen again (because they ALWAYS get more candy then they can eat right?)....."can we have just one piece now?"...."can we have one piece after dinner?"......"please can we just have one with breakfast?".....So, the answer is YES....eat it up, because in 24 hours, it's gone.  Both boys understood, ate a very reasonable amount of candy and said goodbye at the end.  PERFECT (and no drama, plus we don't have to think about it the next day or next week)!

YEAH!...Piercey actually wore his costume for trick-or-treating.

 

Our happy skeleton and Cinderella (Auntie!!)

girl power

This weekend had "girl power" written all over it.  A number of friends and family women ran the Nike Women's Marathon or half marathon....what an experience.  From start to finish, the entire weekend was filled with fun, HILLS, lip gloss, crazy cab rides, "firsts" (yeah mom!), shopping (of course) and obviously RUNNING!!  The excitement and energy was something I'll never forget....even as I was attacking and cursing a rotten hill I thought I'd never defeat.

Let's see - rockin' highlights:  Aunt Cheryl was running her 39th marathon (and that is not a typo!!)...yes 39th.  Mom completed her very FIRST marathon, Tex completed her very first 1/2 marathon, I was away from all three of my children for the very first time, Dayna missed soccer games two weekends in a row to be with us, Kirsten "PRed" big time, and the list goes on.

Here's most of our gang:

 

MOM'S FIRST MARATHON!!!  This is the first night we arrived and went to dinner.  Mom stayed cool, calm and collected the whole time before the race and completely kicked ass during the race.  With her sub-5:30 time, I couldn't be more proud of her and couldn't be more excited that her first marathon was such a great experience.  WAY TO GO MOM!!!....YOU ROCK!

Tex and I:  This was Tex's first 1/2 marathon - and also happened to be the longest distance she'd ever ran before.  She did amazing....She denies she will get the "itch" for more, but you runners out there know what I'm talking about...she won't be able to help it.

 

 

On the main corner in Union Square is Niketown (this is also the starting line for the race).  Covering one entire side of the building was a list of all 22,000+ runner's names....so of course I had to take a picture of  my own name right?

 

These would be our "you go girl", "run like a girl", princess crown rings that were part of our attire the whole weekend.  

This race also had the most "signage" I've ever seen actually on the course!  Some favorites:

Run Like a Girl

Eat Chocolate Like a Girl

Skinny Jeans Ahead

Sing Like a Girl

Climb Like a Girl

Chocolate Mile Ahead

Thanks girls for such a great weekend!  I hope we can all get in again next year!

playdate with Benny and Zoe

The kids and I went to Benny and Zoe's house the other day to play and have lunch.  It was a beautiful day and the kids all had a great time.

The cutest couple yet!  Benny is a month older than Miss Presley and they are so darn cute together.

Such an angel that Benny!

Big sister Zoe - she took care of the babies the entire time we were there.  

first week of school...

Brendan just had his first week of school for the new 2009 - 2010 school year.  He was okay going to school, however, it was hard to go back after a week of beach camp.  He actually asked me if I could "sign him up for beach camp again this week".  I had to explain that beach camp will come again NEXT summer.

So with this school year will come new friends, more computer class, Spanish class perhaps, a new teacher....oh, and a new Batman backpack!!

 

 

and for a special treat.....a fireman carry by daddy out to the car.

 

....the camera was already out and Miss Presley just looked so cute - couldn't resist a shot of her also.

beach camp

This week Brendan was out of school so we signed him up for the Mini Hammerheads beach camp in Manhattan Beach.  His friend Charlie was attending also, so it was nice he'd have a buddy there.  He was great at the drop off on Monday and has been so excited ever since.  Today is the last day and it's "carnival" day....lots of games, toys, snacks and a great way to burn energy!!!

Here's a snapshot of his first day....and actually, I should have taken a shot of his return that first day.  He was covered in sand, wet from head to toe and completely exhausted.  He looked like a real beach bum (and a big boy).

big bear

This last weekend we spent a couple days in Big Bear.  I had never been before and found it very beautiful and peaceful.  The cabin was right on the lake and waking up with that view was quite a sight. 

Most importantly, the kids had an amazing time!  Brendan found a wonderful friend in Charlie - they spent time collecting sticks, killing bugs, playing video games, missing their "girlfriends" (as we caught them chatting about it) and playing until their little four year old bodies couldn't take it any longer.

This would be Auntie P and her "girls".  These two little ones absolutely love their Auntie P.

Uncle Jack and his adorable children - Alex and Ian.

Miss Presley and her very chunky legs...happy as can be.  Look at those knees!

"Naked" Abby:  she spent most of her time naked over the weekend.  And if she wasn't naked she was usually wearing someone else's clothes....gotta love a girl who loves clothes!

Mr. Pierce - 

And what would a weekend in the wilderness be without roasting Marshmallows? ..

 

happy 4th big brother brendan

Yesterday Brendan turned four.  OH MY GOSH!!  We started the day with karate class and then some quality time with Kaiya who shares the same birthday as Brendan.  In the evening, the whole family came over to celebrate with a Spiderman ice cream cake.  I think the day was perfect according to Brendan....laughing, smiling, opening gifts and turning four!  Such a big boy!

.... and last week, Miss Presley had her seven month birthday.  She does a lot of smiling these days and it's so precious.

Here is one of my favorite pictures from our fourth of July weekend in Oregon. Kyle had to work, so the kids and I made the trip together to visit great-grandpa and the rest of the family.  I have so many stories and so many other pictures to get through and edit, but here's a favorite....