Nails!

One thing my mom and I try to do when she comes into town is to go get our nails done! This time we took Keira and she LOVED it!!! Keira sat very tall and very still the entire time! She loved to pick out the color and they even added a white snowflake for Christmas!

Thanks Nana!

School Christmas Parties

This year Tyler's school held their annual Jingle Jog. The kindergartners and the 1st graders were together and they were so cute dancing and singing. They ended by "jogging" around the field to catch the elf!

After the Jingle Jog we went back into his classroom to build gingerbread houses. My mom was able to come with me and we had a great time! I think Ty used most of the frosting container on his! I wasn't at his table but the little I saw he ate more than he decorated with!!

Keira also had a party that my mom and I attended. The 3 and 4 year olds went around stations where they made a jingle bell necklace, decorated goodie bags, played a game, and read a Christmas story. The party ended with a gift exchange.

Merry Christmas!

Cookies, bars, and brownies...oh my!! My mom loves to bake, from scratch! And every Christmas she gets all the cookie books out and goes to town!!

The kids LOVE to help her!

They love to be the testers!

They love to decorate the cookies too!

Me, Tyler, my dad, Keira, my mom, Brian and my dad's mom, Grandma Cottrill. It was a pleasure to have my Grandma stay with us this Christmas!

Same picture...just with my brother, Travis in it!!! So glad he was able to be with us too!!

Merry Christmas!

We hope everyone had a great Christmas! We had a wonderful Christmas filled with making cookies, visits from family and friends, church service, and of course, Santa!

SANTA CAME!

Stockings first....Keira wasn't quite ready!! Tyler on the other hand....:)

Tyler had to learn to ride his bike without training wheels before he got a scooter. He is doing such a great job on his bike and the scooter was at the top of his Santa list this year. Thanks Aunt Shannon!!

I didn't take too many pictures when everyone was opening their gifts. The kids made out like bandits and LOVED all their gifts! Thanks everyone!

Keira & Indie

Indie, our cat, doesn't like too many people...mainly just me. However, Keira has a way with animals and has developed a great relationship with Indie. Keira loves to pet, carry (Indie doesn't care for it much though), and now read to Indie! Keira grabs a huge fairy tale book and sits with Indie while she makes up a story. She is also great at showing Indie the pages (there are no pictures) and even turns Indie's head towards the book if Indie decides to not pay attention.

Thanksgiving Weekend

Ty loved that he had 4 days off from school....

Clone Troopers attacking!!

Gilbert Farmers Market's petting zoo

The kids and I had dinner at my Aunt Shelly's house on Saturday. Great-Grandma Cottrill was down for Thanksgiving and it was good to see her....Ty loved the Reddi Wip!!

Thanksgiving

We celebrated Thanksgiving with Brian's sister Brooke & her family at Brooke's in laws house in Queen Creek! It was a great time to spend with family and eat some good food!!!

Brian holding Quinn, Brooke's 1 year old! Loving the face!

Keira "helped" Quinn open his present!!

Isn't he cute?!?!

Yummy turkey leg! A tradition in our house...Ty gets a leg!

Monkey face from Keira makes the day perfect!!!

Bikes!

My birthday gift from Brian and the kids was a bike! Tyler is doing such a great job riding his bike and while Keira is still working on getting her princess bike to go without mommy's help, it is great to be able to ride as a family!

Cowboy flag football season comes to an end...

Tyler's fall flag football season has come to an end! While our team developed individually and as a team, we lost our second tournament game on Saturday! It is a lot to ask 5-6 year olds to play back to back so I think our players were okay with going home...not so much for our coach!

Warm up time!

Coach John and Brian during game.

Half time...

Finally a good action shot of Tyler running the ball!!!

Tyler's Cowboys helmet for a good job! He also got an MVP plaque for never missing a game or practice!!!

Happy Halloween!

We had a great Halloween! Brian's sister, Brooke, her husband, Dave and their son, Quinn, came out for a very quick but fun trip!

Brian had his work cut out for him this year with the pumpkins since Keira picked a challenging Sleeping Beauty design. Luckily, Ty picked a Yoda head and arms he just stuck in.

This year Ty dressed up as a Clone Trooper from Star Wars, Keira was Cinderella (sans the crown or jewels since she wasn't interested in wearing them!) and Brian was the Grim Reaper.

Dave and a little shark...oh...it's Quinn!!!

Keira was done trick or treating early so she came back to the house and passed out candy with Uncle Dave and me! This was my first year I stayed home to pass out candy. I always feel bad when we go out and the houses are dark because they are out too. So, little did I know how much candy I would need. We went through 10 bags and I had to bring down some dum-dums from our pantry!!!

Marley Farms

During fall break the kids and I went to Marley Farms with my Aunt Shelly and Aunt Chris. The farm has goats, donkeys, cows, kangaroos, tortoise, lamas, deer, pigs, and more.

Tyler and Aunt Chris feeding a Zonkey (zebra and donkey)!

Tyler found a tortoise hiding out in the shade.

Keira loved to brush the goats and followed them around the yard.

One of Ty's favorite animals on the farm, the deer.

Aunt Shelly & the kids feeding the goats.

Pumpkin Patch

I love Fall! I love the beginning of the Holiday Season and when the weather starts to cool down. Well...this year the weather hasn't cooled down much but we are getting ready for Halloween & enjoying pumpkin patches at the farm. This past weekend we met up with our friends Telle & Chad and their adorable daughter, Kaylee, at Schnepf Farms.

Keira was SO excited to ride the pony. Ty didn't want to ride at first but decided to give it a try and loved it too!!!

Keira showing Kaylee (in pink) the goats.

Down a very dusty slide!

Down a very long and dusty slide!

The kids are very excited to carve pumpkins. They have already decided what they are going to do and can't wait to get started!

Growing Up Too Fast

Ty's school pictures came home yesterday...He is growing SO fast!!!

Kindergarten pic on the left. 1st grade pic on the right!

Cooler Weather

It is starting to cool down a bit here in AZ and we are enjoying it!

Keira playing at the park in our neighborhood. She picked her outfit out all by herself! I think she looks like Punky Brewster but I guess it is just one more way Keira 'lets her sparkle out!'

Brian took Tyler's traning wheels off his bike. Ty is doing pretty good and Daddy is getting a workout too!

Naps

Keira has not taken a nap for awhile. However, last week she took one almost everyday. We would be playing or watching TV and the next thing I know she is asleep on the couch. She must be in another growth spurt!!