Fenced in!

I am so excited that we have a FULLY fenced back yard! I know it may not sound that exciting, but to a homeowner with small children that like to escape, it's a dream come true!!! My dad, Derek and my little brother worked hard for 5 different Saturdays over the last couple months and got it done. It is exactly what I wanted and I'm so grateful for all their hard work. My dad is amazing and planned it all out. We would have had to pay a fortune to have someone install it for us!!

No more little kids cutting through our yard to get the the neighborhood park!! As you can see, half of our yard was already fenced from the neighbors. It was nice that we only had to do two sides!

Lots of help!

Welcome Home!

(I had this post done a long time ago but just noticed that it never posted so I will post it now :) )

My brother came home from his mission on October 16th. We all went to the airport to get him. Mason had missed uncle Ike so much. Reese was 4 months when he left and Maddox wasn't even a thought! We are so HAPPY to have him back! It was a long two years, but really it went by fast (for me at least). It's been fun seeing him everyday and being with him again. He seems to be adjusting well!!

Waiting patiently!

Seeing him for the first time in 2 years! So exciting!

Trying to figure out how to go and hug him. Dang rope!

Maddox LOVES him so much!

He's been home for 3 months now and we are so happy he's back!!!!

Bye Bye Binky

Reese's new year's resolution was to kick the binky habit. Okay, it was actually my resolution but she would have kept it till she was 20 if I didn't step in. It actually wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be. We did it cold turkey. She went to bed perfect the first night and the next day when we talked about it, she laughed and said "no more binky mommy". Mason was almost two when I threw all of his away, so I was really worried that she wouldn't give it up as easy. I'm so glad she did, and now I just have one baby with a binky!!

My favorite.

I love how Maddox gets into Reese's pink chair to watch TV. It makes me smile every time I catch him doing it. Today he was even reading a book. I seriously can't believe he'll be one in a couple weeks. Please excuse the dirty pink chair. It's disgusting but they love it.

Basketball!

Mason had his first basketball practice tonight. I don't know who was more excited, Mason or Derek! Derek got the bargain of the year, he found Mason a pair of Jordan basketball shoes for $20! I'm really excited to go to his games (which are every Saturday starting the 16th). I hope he enjoys it, he needs to get out this energy!!!

Happy Boy

I love how long Maddox's hair is getting! I told Derek there is no way we are cutting it any time soon. He made me with Mason, so I want to keep Maddox's long for awhile. Until someone calls him a little girl, then I'll have to!

Catch up

So I'm not sure if this is catching up or starting over! I have been so lame at blogging lately. Since we have moved into our own house, I don't get on the computer nearly as much as I did when we were staying at my mom's! Right now I am home from church with a sick baby and Derek took the others to classes so I feel like I have a break. I've been meaning to put Christmas pictures up, so here they are! It was a "magical" Christmas this year because Santa brought a Wii. Mason has been asking for one since he was 2. It was really exciting to see the joy in his eyes!!

Can you see Mason's shiner under his eye? That sweet little face next to him took a hammer (toy) and smack him has hard as she could. Poor Mason. She beats the crap out of him all the time and he just takes it. But in her defense (although there shouldn't be) he teases her like you wouldn't believe. Someday they won't fight...right?

Santa doesn't know when to stop when it comes to their stockings. They are always jammed packed!!

6 am and anxiously waiting to see what Santa brought! I love this picture!

Santa brought Reesie a Leapster 2. It's pink and she loves it!

Happy boy! Not only does he love it, but Derek and I are having a kick out of it too!! Santa brought me Wii fit and the Biggest Loser game to go with it. Hopefully I can lose all the weight that I gained from the last 3 months.

Maddox was very happy that morning. He got the little people farm and a Winnie the Pooh ride on toy. He was happy just drinking his juicey!

We are very grateful for our beautiful children and the joy they bring to our lives. It just wouldn't be the same with them!!

Family Pics

My brother in-law was so nice and came over and took some pictures of the kids with his nice camera. They turned out so great! He edited some and I think he did an amazing job. I suppose having cute kids helps :)

Christmas Lights

I have had so much fun decorating for Christmas in our new house. The kids were very helpful and loved decorating the tree. We were lucky enough to put up the outdoor lights while the little ones were naping and while Mason was with my sister. It made it so much easier!

All Better!

It may not look like it, but Maddox is considered all better! He had his last CT scan on the 28th of October. We saw the Dr right after the scan. He told me that everything looks good and that there should be nothing else we need to do from this point on. He then shows me the scan. I about fell to the floor! Can you see that indent and the crack in the upper right part of the skull (the upside y is normal growth plates)? I couldn't believe it. Seriously, it just looks terrible. I am so thankful that it wasn't worse then it was. Underneath the skull is what they are concerned about and everything underneath is perfect, you can't even tell that there is crack. It's cool to have this picture, but scary that he still has a crack in his skull!