Happy 3rd Birthday Holden!

Our precious Holden turned 3 years old today!  Those three years have flown by!  Even though he is three, I still look at him and think of him as my baby.  At three years old Holden weighs 34 lbs (70%) and is 38 1/4 in. tall (70%).  His speech and language has just recently boomed!  He talks all the time and is quite understandable.  Some of his favorites are:  wrestling/fighting/playing with Jaxson, playing Wii, jumping on his trampoline, doing puzzles, reading books, drinking juice and milk, eating pizza, chicken and rice casserole, and mac and cheese.  He is such a funny kid and is always surprising us with what he says.  He is also a VERY loving and cuddly kid.  He never turns down a chance for me to hold/cuddle with him.  He is still in love with his special burp rag, which is starting to look more like a rag after three years since he’s not big on letting me wash it 🙂  He is such a special boy to us and we love him sooooo much!  Happy Birthday Holdie!

Magnatiles

Magnatiles are one of our new favorite toys!  They are too cool to keep a secret.  There are different shapes (triangles, small squares, large squares) and they are magnatized.  You can build pretty much anything with them.  They are a bit pricey, but they are totally worth it!

 

Christmas 2012

We were able to spend Christmas morning at home this year.  The boys were excited to see that Santa liked the cookies and milk that they left out for him.

Merry Christmas!

Ohhh. . . gum 🙂

The boys are ready to see what Santa put in their stockings.

Holden likes his new books.

His favorite place to be. . . on his trampoline.

Playing with their new Magnatiles (the best toy ever!)

The boys built a tall Magnatile tower.

Jaxson concentrating on building his tunnel.

You can even use them as a car ramp.

Jaxson’s Magnatile masterpiece.

Christmas With Papa Mike & Nana Pam

A couple of weeks ago we traveled up to Eldora for the Buckley Family Christmas.  It is always so nice to see all of the extended family and enjoy some wonderful food 🙂  We then headed over to Mom and Mike’s where we had Christmas with them.  We all must have been good boys and girls again this year, as we were very spoiled 🙂

Holden got a kick out of wearing Nana Pam’s glasses.

Holden gave Great Grandma her new calendar.

Jaxson’s a poser in Uncle Brandon’s cowboy boots.

Patiently waiting to open his presents.

Holden had to try on Uncle Brandon’s boots too.

Papa Mike had to read to Holden.

Alexandria had fun opening her Dora tent.

Everyone had to play in the new tent, even Nana Pam!

2 kids playing with the new toys 🙂

All Aboard The Polar Express!

Brad and I took the boys up to the Boone Scenic Valley Railroad to ride the Polar Express train.  It was pretty cute.  Along our ride to the North Pole, we got to enjoy hot chocolate and cookies while dressed in our pajamas.  We also had fun singing Christmas carols.  Once we got to the North Pole, we picked up Santa Claus and he gave each child a bell.  The boys thought it was pretty neat that they got to ride on a train and see Santa 🙂

Love these boys! Holden isn’t too excited because we had to wake him up from a nice nap, but he really did have fun.

Jaxson enjoying his hot chocolate.

Thank you for the bell Santa!

 

Happy Birthday Brady!

Our nephew, Brady, turned 4 a few weeks ago.  He had a very fun dinosaur birthday party.

Happy Birthday Brady!

Winter Christmas 2012

We had our Winter Family Christmas on Sunday at the farm.  We all started off by surprising Dad at his church and attending the service with him.  He was pleasantly surprised 🙂  We then headed out to the farm where we enjoyed some present opening and some chili.  If we had known that it was going to be sunny and 60+ degrees, we would have grilled.  The kids had fun playing outside with all of Brandon and Jess’ critters and on Brandon’s toys.

Holdie loves his Papa Choo Choo

Alexandria and Holden helping Aunt Jess give all of the dogs their treats.

The boys had a blast riding on Brandon’s newest toy.

Happy 80th Birthday Grandma!

On Sunday, we had a surprise 80th birthday party for my grandma in Eldora.  We’ve been planning this for a few months now and I think we pulled it off.  My Aunt Patty picked Grandma up to take her “out to lunch.”  Grandma knew something was up, but she didn’t know what.  Patty brought her to the party where 40 of her family members were waiting to surprise her.  She walked in and immediately started to cry, which we expected.  Happy 80th Birthday Grandma!   I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful or loving grandma.  We love you so much and are so blessed to be your grandchildren 🙂

SURPRISE!

Happy Birthday Grandma!

Holden was just a little excited about Great Grandma’s birthday cake.

Grandma with 5 of her 6 kids. My Uncle Randy was stuck in the hospital 😦

Grandma with a lot of her grandchildren.

Grandma with her great grandchildren.

The great grandchildren being silly 🙂

Grandma with her brother, Jerry, his wife, Nancy, and their daugher, Julie.

Grandma with her 95 year old brother-in-law, Dale

Aunt Marilyn reading a poem to Grandma and of course she was crying 🙂

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving!  We went up to Gowrie and spent the day with the Cathcarts and Karl and Lisa.  Kris prepared a fabulous traditional Thanksgiving dinner.  It was a nice, fun and relaxing day.  That afternoon, the boys and I headed over to Hubbard to see some of my family at my mom’s house.  Later that night, my good friend Jill and her husband, Eric, came out to visit for a little bit, which was very nice.  Thank you Hauans for coming to see us!  On Friday, the boys and I and Alexandria headed back home to watch the Hawkeye/Nebraska game, which Brad was at.  Yeah, it really wasn’t worth watching, but I think Brad still had fun at the final game of the season.

Grandma’s little Thanksgiving helper.

Mason showing off his big blue eyes!

Mapping out their Black Friday plan of attack.

Jaxson and Holden loved playing with Mason.

Holden sporting an ice cream mustache.

Holden and Alexandria had fun playing farm at Nana Pam’s.

 

 

 

 

 

Demolition Has Begun

Well, after several months of waiting. . . construction has begun.  The guys were here last week digging the big holes and filling them with concrete.  Today they were back to get rid of the deck.  Tomorrow they are going to frame up the addition.  Let the fun begin!

Miah and Jaxson standing in two of the three holes.

These are some big holes!