More videos...

As we were setting up the toy Nativity scene in the playroom (another advent calendar activity) I began explaining to Braden that God sent an angel to tell the shepherds that the baby Jesus had been born. He replied with this:

(evidently he learned this from a Christmas video; another reason why I mute all the commercials during football games)

Here is another version of "Party in the USA" by Braden for all his fans:

Christmas Pictures...

With Bryce's travel schedule this month; I decided that 8:00 a.m. on a Sunday morning was as good a time as any to try and get a family Christmas picture. We set-up the tri-pod and here are the results. I am proud to say the process was relatively painless and we chose and edited the pictures and had our Christmas cards ordered by 9:00 a.m. Feel free to vote for your favorites...

Advent calendar activities continue...

As soon as Braden wakes up in the morning he asks if he can open the next day on the advent calendar. I have to admit that sometimes I fear my chosen activities won't live up to the anticipation. So far this has not been a problem.

On Saturday, the Christmas parade was cancelled, so I did a quick switch and added "Go Tribe football game." Braden corrected me and said, "Mama, today is the Go Tribe PLAYOFF football game." I stand corrected.

We had fun watching the game with the Simone and Ritner families and the Tribe rolled again... semi-finals here we come!
Day 4 - Christmas Cookies

Coleman really enjoyed the sprinkles...

Some videos

Here are some videos that will probably be good blackmail for these boys someday... that's the purpose of videotaping them at this age right?!?!

Party in the USA:

Gingerbread House:

Jumping with Tigger:

Indoor Baseball Fun:

Christmastime

We are enjoying the Christmas season here at the house. Braden put ALL the Christmas ornaments on the tree this year by himself. It took him over an hour, but the boy loves to "work" and "do projects." I tried not to do to much rearranging once he had finished.Not bad...

Coleman got in on the fun. He didn't exactly get the concept: throwing the ball ornaments and taking the ornaments he liked off the tree. After some coaching from Braden he did stuff a couple ornaments into the center of the tree.This year for our Advent calendar(it is a magnet nativity scene thing) we added a Christmas activity for each day. When we come down for breakfast Braden runs to the calendar to see what we will get to do that day. Dec 1 was to make our gingerbread house... Braden again took over all the decorating; with Coleman as his assistant.

Happy Thanksgiving

We enjoyed Thanksgiving Day in VA Beach. Lots of food, football, and family.

Our attempt at a picture of the boys before we drove down to the beach. Braden made the turkey hat at school.

The kids table... real china ... risky...

Go Tribe!

We had to pry Braden away from the last home Tribe football game of the season. The Tribe won the first round of the playoffs 38-0, but the rest of the playoffs will be played away.

Braden prayed last night for more home Tribe football games. We have explained to him that we will be able to watch them on TV, but he insists that its not the same. (he's right)

We do have all the home Basketball games to look forward to... Go Tribe!

Braden goes to the Dentist

I am embarassed to admit that I took pictures of this; I did miss the opportunity to get a shot of Coleman and Braden in the chair together, but during that episode I was too busy protecting all the dental devices from Coleman's grasp. Braden did great and he now likes to tell everyone that he has 20 teeth.

Jess and Hawley's Wedding!

Congratulations to Jess and Hawley! What an amazing celebration...

Coleman Batting

Coleman now wants in on all the fun. Here he is taking some batting practice. Yes we play baseball in our family room; with a very soft ball ... this will not last much longer as they now can hit some pretty impressive line drives.

27

What a season! Braden can now recite the entire Yankees batting order and their starting pitchers and closer. I believe that an ESPN analyst said it best last night: "The Yankees are the best franchise is all of sports world wide." And yes I look a little tired in these pictures ... World Series Champions = sleep deprivation.

Halloween 2009

We had a great Halloween here at the house. The Pearson, Garrison, Ritner, Ellis, and Cook families joined us for dinner and some very lively Trick-or-Treating around the neighborhood.

Our Tribe football player and referee...

(from front left: Addy Ritner, Coleman, Peter Cook, Braden, Cara Ellis, Jax Ritner, Caroline Cook, Reece Ellis, Yeardley Pearson, Gillian Garrison, Si Garrison)Braden and Addy

Braden and YeardleyTrick-or-treating ... I am pretty sure Braden is trying to enforce the "No running" rule here.

Coleman loved Trick-or-treating... he went to every house, but definitely wanted to start eating the candy as soon as it was given to him.

We descended on houses with force...