Bubba Chi Chi

Carly came up with the nickname "Bubba Chi Chi" for Brad and it has stuck! I don't know where she came up with it, maybe the chubby cheeks? He loves wrestling with Mac as long as he is on the top if Mac rolls on top of him and stays for more than 10 seconds Brad starts screaming. The days are over when someone can take something from Brad and he will be ok with it. He lets you know now that he is not ok with that. He has one tooth and is walking behind his walker. He is so happy always and will smile at you as long as you don't try to take him from mom or dad.

We love ya Bubba Chi Chi!

Jolly Jumping

After a week of rain we were desperate for some energy burning/out-of-the-house activities so we went to Jolly Jumps with some friends. Mac thought it was the greatest thing in the world. He ask me all the time if we can go again. He loved going down the slide with me but eventually (thankfully) he did it on his own. He was tired and took a nice nap afterward.

Mother Goose Play

Carly did a great job in her Mother Goose Play! The kids get to request which part they would want the most and Carly requested the same rhyme Anna did when she was in Kindergarten (I think they must really like each other though often it seems they don't.) She did the rhyme "To Market, To Market." They also sang a couple of songs after the play. Way to go Cars! Mac wasn't super impressed by Mother Goose and had to eat treats through the whole thing to be quiet.

Carly and Iliana saying their part.

Love the girl getting caught with her finger up her nose! :)

WSU Game

On New Year's Eve we got to go to the WSU basketball game with my family. Our last hurrah before heading back to California. They are lots of fun and Waldo plays with the kids a lot. Mac was in heaven watching basketball and giving Waldo the rock.

Our wonderful babysitters. Brad sat with them through the whole game! Amazing!

All the kids got baby wildcats. I was happy for the kids but mourning inside that we would have MORE stuffed animals in our house. In a few months I will secretly throw them out and no one will even know. I guess I can't really say stuff like that now because Anna reads the blog. I am sure she is going to have a talk with me after this. :)

Brock taught me the gangsta way of making a "W."

Four Wheeler + Snow Storm = FUN

We had sooo much fun with the four wheeler after the snow storm. The kids loved going around the field in the tube. We even went up and down the street with the sleds.

You can't really tell from this picture but it is McKay on the sled. He and Ryan stayed out after the rest of us were too freezing to go on and took each other for rides.

Mac loved riding the 'motorcycle.' He didn't want to ride on the tube though. Also, he HATED wearing all those clothes! He felt so restricted in a coat, hat, gloves, etc. He's a California boy - I have a hard time ever getting him to wear a jacket.

Anna wanted to keep going and going and going and going...

Everyone kept laughing at my head scarf but it was all in the name of warmth!!

Mac and dad on the motorcycle.

Christmas!

Christmas day was great! Here are a few pics that captured the fun! New Christmas dresses from Grandma and Grandpa Thompsen.

Mac got a new Lightning McQueen car and a Thomas the Train - that is all he cared about.

Grandma and Grandma T (they had their nice quiet home transformed into a circus for over a week!)

Brad lovin' it all!

Checking out the first loot from Santa! The kids got roller skates from Santa and we went to my parent's church gym several times to practice. It was perfect because it is carpet! They both improved a lot!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve has always been a favorite day for me. I have wonderful memories of going to my Grandma McAllister's house and being with family on Christmas Eve. I have very vivid memories of when I was seven and the Christmas dress I got from my Grandma. Now Anna is seven and going to Grandma Mac's too! These pictures are out of order but here is a small Christmas miracle... ALL kids smiling and looking at the camera in their new jammies!!!

Carly was Mary and Tate was Joseph. Brad was baby Jesus and was surprisingly ok about it. So cute when Mary and Joseph played peek-a-boo to keep baby Jesus happy!

Mac was a sheep for about 5 seconds then he just wanted to ride around on McKay's back.

Mary riding on the donkey (Adam) to Bethlehem.

Sydney and Anna were Angels.

Grandma Mac with Brad.

Not quite sure what Brad was doing in this picture. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for ANOTHER wonderful/magical Christmas Eve.

First Fun in the SnOw!

Our trip to Utah was quite an adventure. We ended up staying the night in St. George because of a storm. The kids had a great time staying in a hotel. A hotel room with four kids was interesting (to say the least) but eventually we all went to sleep. We ate at restaurant right next to our hotel because Anna flipped out when she saw the sign that said they serve ribs. It was our lucky night because it was also a sports grill AND it was all-you-can-eat ribs night! We ate ribs and watched the Cougs win their bowl game. First thing we did was play in the snow from the storm that derailed us a bit! McKay was the lucky winner of "adult snow supervisor." Mac wasn't too sure about the snow and was the first to come inside but I think his gear weighed more than he did!

It wasn't good snowman/snowball building snow but the kids did have fun throwing snow at each other.

Me taking pictures from inside the warm house.

Opening Presents with the Barlows

Before we left for Utah we opened presents with the Barlows. Lucky we did because we needed all the warm clothes we got! Thanks! Also, Amazing Kate gave us some scrapbooks for the boys for Christmas - can you say priceless?!? She made a scrapbook for each of the girls and had our name for Christmas so she is incredible and did one for each of the boys! Words cannot express my gratitude Kate - thank you sooo much!

Brad meets Bradley

Brad and Bradley finally got to meet! Brad wasn't too sure about the whole experience (see below) but we're sure they will be best buds when they are a little older.

I can see some family resemblance!

Brad telling Bradley "let's do this again sometime."