Today I was driving in the car with Aidan and explaining to him how blinkers and lane changes work. He finally put it together that when you want to go one way one blinker goes on, and if you want to go the other way the other blinker goes on. Then he said in a proud voice, "I am smart... D.R.T.... smart!" (As in D.R.T. is how you spell it, in case you didn't pick up on that.) The kid makes me laugh!
Here are some pictures of the kids ringing in the New Year (a couple hours early but don't tell them that!)
Pots and Pans...
Party Poppers...
Brinn, Jackson, and Elli!
As for us adults, we counted down the New Year, celebrated with a kiss, and we were in bed by 12:05! What partiers! Oh well, there's always next year! So here is to 2010!
Why is it that I can look EVERYWHERE for 4 minutes for my toothpaste to finally break down and use the kids (yuck)
and literally 15 seconds after I am done brushing I see my toothpaste sitting there right in front of my face???
This year we had a great Christmas!
Here are the kids waiting to go out and see what Santa left them...
Aidan got a Razor!
This is where I should be posting the picture of Brinn opening her big Santa gift but instead I am posting this because of all her gifts she got this year her fingernail polish and pack of gum were her favorites. GO figure. I tried to have her give them to me so she could open some other gifts but she told me, "No Mom, you loose it."
Some happy and spoiled little kids. Thanks Grandma's and Grandpa's, aunts, uncles and cousins for such a fun Christmas.
My favorite gift was that we had David home for Christmas Eve and almost all of Christmas day! I'll take that any day!
My little brother Austin received his mission call a few days before Christmas and will be going to...
...MACEIO BRAZIL! We are so excited for him and so proud of him... although we will miss him while he is gone for the next 2 years. It seems crazy to think that Aidan will be 6, Brinn 4, and little Baby Boy 2 by the time he gets back. 
Congrats Austin!
Still Catching Up...
Little Brinn proudly displaying her artwork...
If you will notice, Brinn's clothes are backwards and inside out. That is because Brinn is Little Miss I Do It! Most recently she wants to pick out her own outfits... and if I pick one out she does not approve of she will be sure to let me know... "That not cute Mom." But when she approves... "How cute," or "Cute shirt Mom" in the most over-exaggerated tone possible.
And yes, this was mid-November, and yes, it was warm enough for my kids to be running around in summer clothes. At the time I was ready for the cold... and now that it's here I am looking forward to the warm spring weather. 
This girl keeps us on the go... Always. I think the phrase we use often with her is, "She is going to give us a run for our money." So much attitude and personality but so so so much fun!
Still Catching up...
Aidan finished his soccer season back in November...
At the end of each game the parents make a tunnel for all the players to run though. (I think sometimes the kids look more forward to this than the game itself.) Here is Aidan going through his last tunnel of the season. So what that he scored a goal for the other team that day... doesn't seem to bother him a bit...(Just how I like it!) 
Here he is with Coach Matt... obviously you can see the excitement in his face from receiving his first trophy!
Still Catching Up...
While in Washington I got to visit with one of my best friends, Kathleen, and her cute family. We have not seen each other in 3 years so it was great to visit again and let the kids play... after all Aidan and Mia do have an arranged marriage.
Brinn was IN LOVE with Ella...
Aidan and Mia spent their time playing "Temple" and "Marriage" and no this was not instigated by us although made us very proud!
Lance and David played "Daddy Daycare" while Kathleen and I hit up New Moon...
Kathleen, Lance, and kids...
Brinn and Maddi playing house...
Aidan and Mia playing "trick-or-treat"
Aidan and Mia dancing (Love the action shot!) In fact all 4 kids joined in on the fun and still weeks later my kids will chant, "Go Mia, go Mia, it's your birthday." or "Go Maddi, Go Maddi, GO." 
What a fun time! Thanks again for letting us stay. Hopefully it won't be another 3 years before we can see each other again!
