Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Jedi Braden

I love playing with Photoshop although I really don't know the tricks of the trade. Most things I alter are obviously fake to anyone who looks at them - or at least I thought so! While creating Braden's Star Wars birthday invitation I quickly doctored his sucker photo to include a lblue ight saber. The image didn't make it on the invitation but I printed a copy to show Braden. He loved the photo and played with it for for a few minutes before coming to me timidly and asking (somewhat confused), "Mom - can you, um, get me, um, my REAL blue light saber ?"


Jedi Braden


The invitation I had fun creating.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Its Curtains for Me!

Decorato-phobe that I am, I was finally brave enough to put up (and by that I mean ask Aaron to put up) cutains in our bedroom. We learned that one of our windows is hung on a pretty significant slant and had to break some hanging rules in order to attach to studs but overall it was great fun and I really enjoy having them. In about 3 months I will be brave enough to add pictures to the walls!


First Snow Fall

Aaron has been telling Braden that his birthday would come after it snowed. Well then I guess Braden can finally turn 4!

Braden and Tyler having a snowball fight.

My Cute Kids

Isn't it funny how cute your kids can be togehter UNTIL you get out your camera? Here was my attempt to capture Braden and Cailin at play.


The Halloween Buzz

We won the Buzz war! Braden was Buzz for every Halloween event he attended - and there were a TON. I had no idea we would be asking so much of that pooor little costume!

We started off festivities by attending a library program. Braden got to dress up as a chainsaw guy for one song. When the lead singer askied Braden how it was - he said "too long."


Next we attended Boo atht eZoo. It was insanely busy last year so we got there bright and early - ready to deal with the crowds. This year, however, the only real line we waited in was to get into the park! Hooray for threatening storms that don't deliver but scare everyone else away!

The empty zoo!

Our adorable Zebra or White Tiger - however you choose to see it.

Boo at the Zoo is so fun that even Santa breaks away to attend.

At a farm celebration, Braden jumped in a bounce house and played games. We had some excellent apple cider, the best kettle corn ever (Aaron even ate it - and if you know how much he hates mixing salty and sweet you KNOW it was good) and some fun garlic fries. Braden sat on Aaron's shoulders to watch "The Great Pumpkin" until Cailin turned into a pumpkin and it was time to go home.

At the ward Halloween party we sat by the Bowers and Braden had fun doing a cake walk and trick or treating. Everyone else had fun borrowing his buzz gun.

As I dropped Braden off for his preschool Halloween party I shed a few tears. He is growing up so quickly. Near the end of their time parents were invited to see a song and dance? performance. Braden did a great job of making faces on queue but no one did a better job of rattling their bones than Tyler.

On the Friday night before Halloween we attended a Gymboree party. Cailin went as an observer but in the end she had a much fun as anyone. She loved watching the kids in costume and did her best to dance to the music while Braden did crafts and ran around on the equipment.

Braden with his favorite teacher - Heather and her pirate boys.

At the aquarium Braden LOVED their haunted rainforest with its dark alleys and strobe light graveyard. We walked thru it over and over again until someone finally told us he could make a ghost sucker at their ship area. After that we listened to some fun stories a few times and watched the ray feeding. The octopus was even feeling festive - climbing down and up his glass a few times for us to see.

Halloween night we all went trick or treating with the Nelsons (Elijah, Enoch and Noah), Wikers (Alex, Jacob and Spencer) and Bowers (Jack). The kids had a ton of fun running as fast as they could from house to house until there was a casualty and were required to just walk quickly. The other boys Braden's age eventually got too tired to walk but Braden's only complaint was that his arms weren't strong enough to hold his candy bag after an hour and a half. ANd as if that weren't enough fun - the Nelsons invited us over for Texas Roadhouse takeout and games and Bradengot to stay up 3 hours past his bedtime! As we walked hom he told me that it wad been the best day ever!

The trick or treaters - Buzz Braden, Pirate Enoch, Knight Noah, Race Car Driver Elijah, GI Joe Alex and Jack the Dinosaur.

The fun run before the fall!

Monday, November 2, 2009

Paul's Party

I have a new coworker that I am really excited about. I have to admit that it is partly that he is Jewish and doesn't mind covering call on Christmas - but more than that - he is an excellent worker, easy to get along with and does a great job of helping bring us all together at the office. Most recently he brought everyone together for his 50th birthday party. It was a really nice evening. Everyone took turns holding Cailin so it was an EASY night for me and Aaron. And spending time with my coworkers has made my upcoming transition back to work less dreadful. Thanks, Paul!