Christmas Morning 2010

This Christmas was our first spent by ourselves. Aaron's family went to Neola to be with his sister so we just decided to stay home and do Christmas with just our little family. (not going to lie, I really had to talk Aaron into it, and he still is mad about it).

And our annual tradition of new PJ's on Christmas Eve:

I thought it was really funny that before Mylee opened her new PJ's I realized that she was wearing the same ones that we had gotten her last year. Yeap she is still in 3-6 month clothes. So I thought it would be fun to post last years picture and the one I took of her this year in the same PJs.....

Had to share this picture of Mylee playing with the tree ornaments.

And now for Christmas morning:

Aaron talking to his mom on the phone and thanking her for the gifts.

Our Christmas Card

It's really hard to see since they are really small but I just had to throw it into our blog:

Annual Brendle Bowl-off

This has become a fun tradition in my family. We usually try and do it Christmas Eve but with my sister living in Utah and spending most Christmas with Aaron's family we have to do it whenever it works for everyone. This year we did it the weekend before Christmas and held our little family Christmas then.

I am proud to say that Aaron and I won the bowl-off and took home the trophy this year. Yes there is a trophy (Aaron took an old bowling trophy from when he was a kid and turned it into the Brendle Bowl-off award. Yeah he's cool like that!)

The little boys loves playing on the games while we bowled.

Daddy helping Austin bowl

It was really fun this year watching the kids bowl and have fun at the bowling alley. It brought back a lot of memories for me. My dad actually owned Statelite Lanes when I was little (I remember cleaning it to earn an allowance) Dad sold it when I was in 1st grade. Funny thing is I don't think much has changed except the automatic scoring.

Had to post this picture of Mylee and Khloee admiring each others Gymboree outfits. :)

The Day-to-Day happenings...

I just have a bunch of random pictures I thought I'd share from the past month:

I love having a girl I can get all dressed up and put pigtails in her hair.....Mylee doesn't like it so much. :)
It takes me a while to get her ready and only 2 seconds for Mylee to get her shoes off and hair pulled out. I still haven't found that other hair bow she pulled out.

Grandma Jan brought over some chocolates for Austin and Mylee...and Mylee really enjoyed it!

I have been really busy lately with my photography and so I have to spend most of my days editing. Basically I have to let the kids trash my office while I work so I can get stuff done. Well Mylee found my baby gift stash (I buy things like baby shoes and outfits to keep on hand for baby gifts)...she thought she hit the jackpot with all the cute baby shoes.

The kids LOVE bath time!

Enjoying some playtime with daddy (Mylee was a little scared - but Austin Loved it)

I was really worried about Austin's 2 back teeth, they looked like they are rotting (I was upset because we are pretty good about brushing his teeth) I took him into the dentist and he said they weren't rotting but they were just discolored. Most likely he said that Austin had a really high fever when he was cutting those teeth and so it caused them to look that way. But the dentist wasn't worried since they are just baby teeth. Austin did pretty well, I thought he would cry. He loved the Toy Story tooth brush he got.

Austin loves his trains, and he likes to make everything into a train. I thought it was really cute when he took his chairs and made his own little train for him and Mylee.

This little tool bench is what Austin got for Christmas last year, sad thing is I just barely opened it up so he could play with it....I know I am a bad mother.

Happy Turkey Day! 2010

Just had to post some pics of the kids in their Thanksgiving outfits.
I made Mylee's little leg warmers, Love them! They matched her shirt so perfect, she is just so tiny that they are really baggy on her.

Fall

I love how we cut down of our trees in our front yard, but we end up with everyone leaves in our front yard. :p

Guess I should be happy it kept the kids entertained this afternoon.

Let them be Little....

I don't even know how to start this post....you would think I am pregnant because I am so emotional right now (FYI - I am not pregnant) - I think it's just because I have had a rough day today and I am very sleep deprived. But I felt a strong need to get on our family blog and do a quick post.

My session I had scheduled for tonight totally bailed on me so I decided to dress up my cute kiddos and take them to the alleyway when Aaron got off work so I could do my annual photo. Don't know if anyone remembers but I take a specific picture every year, and I had yet to take one this year.

Here is the very first one I took: This is 2 years ago (I wanna cry, look at how little Austin is)


This one was taken last year right before Mylee was born: I love how Austin is looking up at Aaron


And this one way taken tonight:


And because I am so emotional I am totally in tears right now- I can't believe how fast my babies are growing up. I don't want them to grow up. I just want them to stay little.

This just reminds me of one of my favorite songs:

Let Them Be Little
(Billy Dean)

I can remember when you fit in the palm of my hand
Felt so good in it, no bigger than a minute
How it amazes me, you're changing with every blink
Faster than a flower blooms they grow up all too soon

So let them be little 'cause they're only that way for a while
Give them hope, give them praise, give them love every day
Let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle
Oh just let them be little

I've never felt so much in one little tender touch
I live for those kisses, prayers and your wishes
Now that you're teaching me things only a child can see
Every night while we're on our knees all I ask is please

Let them be little 'cause they're only that way for a while
Give them hope, give them praise, give them love every day
Let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle
Oh just let them be little

So innocent, a precious soul, you turn around
It's time to let them go

So let them be little 'cause they're only that way for a while
Give them hope, give them praise, give them love every day
Let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle
Oh just let them be little

Let them be little

Yes I am still crying...actually bawling my eyes out right now. I love that song, it is exactly how I am feeling right now.

I don't want Austin to grow up because he probably won't let his mommy give him kisses all day long.
And I don't want Mylee to grow up because she probably won't give me her amazing, heartfelt hugs every 5 minutes.
I love their giggles, and their innocent smiles.
I love tucking them in bed, I love waking up to their morning chats over the baby monitor.
I love hearing their bare feet run across the wood floor as they chase each other while squealing!
I love that they still need me around.
And most of all I love that they love me unconditionally! :)

I am so very bless to be their mommy, I can't believe Heavenly Father picked me to raise these two AMAZING spirits. I am lucky!

Family Portraits 2010

Wow....I am falling so far behind on my blogging. I lost my computer for week because of a virus and so I got far behind in my work so all of my personal things got put on hold - which includes this blog. I just wanted to hurry and post our family pictures we got done last week. My wonderful friend and fellow photog (Jennifer Hill) was sweet enough to take these for me, my kids were horrible during the session and we only got a few smiles so I have been trying to photoshop to get a picture of everyone smiling. If you want a glimpse into what a real session is like with my kids check out this blog post I put on my photo website. So thanks Jenni for being so understanding and patient with my kiddos! :)

Now that I have them edited I need help trying to pick one out for our Christmas Card:






















Which one is your favorite????