Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

I already wrote a little about Christmas but here are some pictures to go with it. I got a big surprise this year for Christmas. I normally try and convince Craig for us not to exchange gifts between us because he has a tendency to go overboard and I'm too cheap for extravagent things and it's just not my love language to receive gifts, but he never agrees and this year he went way overboard and upgraded my camera to one with interchangable lenses and the whole kit and caboodle. He knew one day I would like to have one, but I never asked and I was willing to wait for the "right time" I have to be careful what I talk about around him because he's always so eager to deliver. I don't have a picture of the moment, but the crazy guy had the video camera rigged behind the plant sticking out just enough to capture the moment. I shrieked more at the fact when I found out I was being taped and how dumb I looked than about the camera. I quite honestly was overwhelmed to say much and my personality wants to know how to work it all right now and not have to learn. I'm not a good student when it comes to technical stuff and like to keep my world simple in that area, but over time I'll learn it and the excitement will kick in more once I learn all the techniques. It has free classes that came with it so a student I must learn to be. The part that does excite me is all the moments I'll be able to capture of my children once I learn it. So a great big thank you honey for my new toy!!!!

Bradley was so proud to give us the gifts that he bought for us at the Awana store. They earn Awana bucks for doing different things and the last day before Christmas they were able to purchase gifts for the whole family. He bought daddy a screwdrive, me a candle and Alayna a little toy. So sweet!

Mommy and her girl

Look what Bradley bought me YEAH!!!

A megazord....can you tell he's excited!!!

Daddy reading the Christmas Story

One of our last days as a family of 4!!

Snuggle buddies!!

Our Christmas Tree

Boot kickin, cowgirl fun!! Gramma & Alayna

The whole gang on Christmas Day Night

Dave, Hamilton, Sue, Alexander, Madeline, Bradley, Heidi, Craig, Alayna, Gramma Cathy, & Gramma Dennice

Sue, Me and Mom before the big day!!Two little mischievious friends

Bradley, Alayna, & Alexander having dinner together

My Hamilton

My sweetheart gave me earrings for Christmas. You melt my heart little one!! Daddy took him shopping and he picked them out himself.
Still very sleepy eyed

I love my new bunny with my name on it!!!

Daddy's girl for sure

Our New Little Blessing has arrived

We are please and excited to announce the early arrival of our new little bundle of joy!! We finally settled on a name because we couldn't leave the hospital without one HA!! Laura Elizabeth Boyer.....LauraBeth for short. We are in baby wonderland over here and I've been lazy about getting to blogging, but figured I'd at least get a header picture up and post more later. I was more concerned about getting all the photos we've taken so far on our picasa web sight. I couldn't find a backround I liked and the coloring is off in the picture, but oh well.....I'm not going to fuss too much right now. I didn't even get her dolled up for this one, but I know Sue you'll appreciate the bow! HA! We are loving having our new little peanut home. She is just perfect and so petite and such a little sweetheart. We are still obviously in the honeymoon phase and so far she isn't too demanding other than just needing to be fed every 3 hours on average and then goes right back to sleep. It's so funny how we can just stare at her forever and she doesn't do anything different. Every little stretch and twist and funny face is something to make a big deal about. Alayna hasn't given her the time of day too much and Bradley is in love with her and loves to hold her and touch her face. We are being spoiled rotten over here with having my mom, and Craig's mom helping out with everything. Other than a few quick trips to work Craigs been able to be here too which has been so nice.

Bradley's Christmas Breakfast Party

Alayna and I went to Bradley's last day of school for 2008 christmas breakfast party. We were able to stay through the breakfast and made it through the craft, but quickly had to escape as the eruptions took place and she went bizerko because it was clean up time and the glitter was taken away. That's a story in itself!!! Needless to say we enjoyed the time while it lasted.

Christmas Concert

Bradley had his Christmas concert at school last week and did such a good job!! He was so animated with all the little actions and sung his little heart out!! He kept waving and smiling and stifling yawns at the same time. So cute!! We videoed it, but weren't close enough to get good camera shots. Here were all the handsome boys in his class before the concert.

Coolwhip, Cantaloupe and my friend Jake

This was one of the moments that just tickled me to the core and can't believe this little girl. I left her downstairs to watch Barney while I went upstairs to get ready. I came down the front stairs and peeped over the couch to see no Alayna and all was quiet. I then heard some chatter and tiptoed up the back stairs to the playroom and there she was sitting at her table with a bowl of cantaloupe and a thing of whipped cream talking to her lizard "Jake" They looked like two little best friends the way she was chattering to him. She didn't even see me so I sat watching and listening. "Mmmm, Jake, you want some cream?" and she'd dip her finger in it and put some in his mouth and said "is that good cream Jake?" and on and on. I slipped back downstairs to grab the camera and took this one and then she noticed me. AHA!! caught in the act!! "Look, mommy...I feed Jake some cream." Oh, I love this baby!! She knows just what she wants and knows exactly how to get it. I can just imagine her little mind going into the fridge knowing I wasn't around to catch her and then sneak up to the playroom to indulge. It was after the fact that I thought...shoot, I should have videoed it on my camera when she wasn't looking and then took the pictures. Priceless!!

Two little monkeys

Oh these two are something else!! They can fight and irritate each other like no ones business, but can be equally if not more sweet with each other. When Alayna gets up in the morning there are only two people on her mind....daddy & Bradley. Of course not me, the one who carried her for 9 months and is there for every little demand. She's usually up before Bradley and wants to go right in and wake him up and pounce all over him and he'll welcome her from a sound sleep with "Hi, baby!" and rubs her cheek. Sniff, sniff, makes a momma want to cry. This particular time I said "don't move, let me get the camera!" Had to capture it just once anyway!! The gap between them is quickly closing in and I find them off playing more and more. They love chasing each other around the island or through the dining room and around to the kitchen. Round and round they'll go. They love to wrestle on the couch together too. I hope as they get older they'll be little confidants even though they are brother and sister. I pray they'll always have a special bond.

Christmas at the Triple R Ranch

It was called "Christmas in the Country" and how cozy is that. It was a little chilly so we weren't sure how long we would last, but there were many opportunities to escape the cold. They had a few fires set up along the way to warm up and different buildings you could go into to do different things. We had dinner out there and a place where the kids could do a little craft and pony rides and this separate horse for just pictures and we ended the night with a hayride. Right before Bradley got on the horse he poked his eye so he went from crying to trying to smile for the picture so he's got a laugh/cry going on. It was a very quaint old fashioned night.

Santa Time

It was so great!! We didn't have to even leave our house this year to see Santa Claus!! He came to us and no waiting in long lines..... Yeah!! The neighborhood Home Association hosted a little Christmas thing right in the field next to our house. It wasn't a party but they set up a big white tent and had hot chocolate and goodies for anyone that wanted to stop by. Bradley went out and then after Alayna woke up from her nap we took her out so. She looks a little unsure, but didn't cry. For the next few days she would look into the field and ask about Santa. She wasn't quite sure where he went.

Christmas decorating Time

This was all done the week before Thanksgiving this year as I was feeling a little overly ambitious at the time. Can't believe for one minute that it's been up for almost a month already. Hello? Where does the time go?

Alayna had more fun playing with all the balls and was thankful this year she didn't undo the tree faster than we could decorate it like last year. She's looking a little sleepy and dazed though.

Bradley was excited to put the star on this year!! He remembered from last year. By next year I'm sure it will be a fight between the two.

Mmmm...these are the best times!! Am I jealous? Of course!!

Thanksgiving

Crystal, Aaron, Ryan, and Gramma Dennice all came to spend Thanksgiving with us and the kids had a great time catching up and playing. The boys don't get to see each other very often, but they are like 2 little brothers when they are together.

Psst....I have a secret to tell you!!

Being silly with Uncle Aaron

Gramma Dennice bought the boys matching jammies and they thought that was pretty cool. Although, you wouldn't know it by the pathetic look on Bradley's face.....Stinker!!

Aunt Crystal is all fun!!! Uh oh, until all 3 jumped on her and she wasn't so sure about that anymore:)

Storytime with Gramma

Bradley had a thanksgiving feast at his school and was it ever a feast. It was the full deal with all the fixings. It was an amazing the spread they put on for the families. Craig, Alayna & I joined in on the fun.

Out on the playground after

The Big countdown!!!!

Just thought I'd get a quick post in this morning since I'm not sure I'll post the rest of the month. I may sneak some in one here and there. Sure there is lots to talk and blog about, but I may wait until after the new year when I have major news to share. The birth of our still sort of nameless baby. We have about 2 or 3 combinations that I'm sure we'll hash out until the very end just like with the other two. Sorry, it's just our weird style of doing it just like everyone has their baby pregnancy quirks right!?!? Some of you drive us all crazy and don't even find out what the baby is until the birth (Crazy) OR you don't tell people you are pregnant until 12 weeks (that's insane!!) Or you keep the name a secret totally until the very end (huh) So phooey on all of you!!!!! Anyway, as if I don't have 1 million and 1 things to do or think about today I'm feeling a little restless and impatient this morning. It's so close and won't even say it seems so far away because it's so not, but I'm ready for my mommie to come see me and spoil me and I'm ready to see the sweet little face of my brand new baby girl and snuggle her, and I'm ready for Bradley and Alayna to meet their new little sister and love on her and I'm ready to already be recovered and for all the new beginning adjustments to be over for everyone and I'm ready to put on my running shoes and run as free as the wind. AHHHHH!!!!! I was being funny with Bradley the other day and asked him if he thought momma could handle having 3 kids because I just knew that his answer would humor me. When I need a good laugh because I love to laugh you know....I just have to ask him an off the wall question. So he said "of course you can because when you have the baby your tummy will be as skinny as new again" Bless his heart! Not what I thought he'd say, but it did make me laugh.

So I believe we are down to 23 days until the big day!!!! January 2nd at 7:30am for those that don't know, but most of you do by now.

Well, as my arm is being pulled off to once again go and play playdoh (Alayna's little addiction in life) I'm going to go love on the little one I do have.