8 is GREAT!

We had so much fun this Thanksgiving! Our city has had a 5K and 1 mile family fun run for the past 3 years on Thanksgiving morning. So this year we decided to go and do the 1 mile fun run. We walked most of the time but it was a great way to start the day! It was a pretty chilly morning. Even Lauren & Brynlie got their own racing numbers. Alyssa and Kohler waiting for the race to start. Here we are. Kohler's missing from the photo, he's actually standing next to Alyssa (oops). Here we come, crossing the finish line. We sprinted the last stretch. It was fun because everyone was cheering us on (even though we were almost last place)! Kohler, coming across the finish line. Hanna found an injured Monarch Butterfly and decided to bring it home to live in her fairy garden. This year we had Thanskgiving with our good friends, The Becksteads and Tukes. It was so much fun. It was also really nice to split up the meal 3 ways. It didn't seem like such a chore. Getting ready to...

This year Lauren turned 4 and had her very first birthday party. She was so excited about her birthday. Every time we went to the store she'd add things to her "birthday list". It was nice because all I had to say was "put it on your list" and then she'd put it back and we could keep walking. By the time it was her birthday, her list was miles long! She was so excited to have a party and have her friends come to play. We had a princess party. We started by making crowns. Then we pulled out the balloons. It's amazing what entertainment a package of balloons can bring! Playing with balloons. Then we made candy necklaces and dressed up like princesses. Here is everyone dressed up. Of course princesses need to go to the ball! So we did a little dancing. We also tried to walk with a book balanced on our head. We had some pretty graceful princesses there. Here's the princess cupcakes. Yummy! Opening presents! Lauren had a great time and now she has her...

For Veterans Day we decided to go to the Zoo-- us and everyone else in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area! It was very crowded and we had to park about a mile away but we still had a great time. Brynlie & Kohler outside the new Koala exhibit. They were really cute, they looked like stuffed animals. Looking at the Wallabies. Climbing trees. I love this picture! Sweet Lauren. Resting in the stroller. The Zoo has a carousel and every time we go, the kids want to ride it. So this time I FINALLY let them. Kohler Brynlie. She wasn't sure about the ride. As soon as it started, she said, "Down." Alyssa. Lauren was so happy! She's so cute. It was a tiring but fun day out with the kids.

This month starts our crazy holiday season where we celebrate three birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years all within two months! This past week was Brynlie's birthday! She's the baby of the family and I can't believe she's already 2! When she was born I thought, "When she's 2, Hanna will be 12, Kamary will be 10 and Alyssa will be getting ready to be baptized, Kohler will be in school and Lauren will be 4!" I couldn't imagine it...and now here we are. It's crazy how fast time flies and how quickly they grow up. We love Brynlie and enjoy her fun personality every day! She finally has the present unwrapping thing down. She didn't need any help from siblings this year and she let them know it! Grandma & Grandpa Wheeler gave her a stuffed monkey. She really loved it. She calls every mammal a monkey. She has started calling the dog "pooch-monkey". It's really cute. Cuddling with the monkey. Opening more presents. Si...