K'nex Dragondrop Rollercoaster!

Tayloran wanted this so bad for Christmas. It's age range was 9+. It came with an instruction booklet like I have never seen with a kid's toy. Ryan thought he's had it put together in no time! I'll have to ask him again how long it took. I think if truthful, it was 6-8 hours. I can't remember if they started it before they went out in the snow or after! It is pretty cool. Definitely a parent/child toy.

Tayloran, RYan, & Briggs with the rollercoaster!

He had these parts left over! It works, though. I guess that's what counts!

Snow & Ice 09

Addisyn & Braelyn had such a good time. This was Braelyn's first time out in the snow.

The girls with their snowballs. I think they were planning on getting their Dad, but decided that maybe that wouldn't be a good idea! He had worked for 1 1/2 hours and had no luck at getting the vehicles out!

Braelyn - doesn't this picture just show every ounce of her personality?

The girls and "their" hill!

sunday pix

Daddy getting in some extra time with Briggs. The BIT tourn. is going on this week. Ryan left at 8am yesterday morning and got home at midnight! It will be like that all week! The tourn. doesn't end until Sat! UGH!!!!!!!!!!! It will be a really long week for all of us. Briggs loves playing with Daddy. However, when he's hungry or tired, he NEEDS his mommy!

Daddy did manage to have him drift off. He likes to watch football, but it seems to put him to sleep!

A 6 month old foot!

Brae & Addisyn took a nap in their Rose Petal Cottage! They looked so cute all cuddled up.

More pix of Briggs

He loves this baseball toy that he got for Christmas! He thinks he is such a big boy sitting up.

Playing with his football pillow~

He likes to sit in his seat when we are all in the kitchen eating!

Big sister Avery

Briggs 6 months

Briggs turned 6 months old on Sunday. He has been such a great joy to all of us. He is the center of all of our worlds! I'm not so sure that's a good thing. THe girls love, love, love him! Ryan and I - knowing how fast they grow up - try not to take one day forgranted! Briggs can light up a room with his smile. He is RARELY grouchy. He is really starting to talk and has learned to squeal.

Briggs loves to:
* pull hair
* roll everywhere
* play in his jumparoo
* play in his exersaucer
* eat food - except peaches ( I was holding him while eating a sandwich. I brough it to my mouth and I noticed his was open, too!
* have his paci
* hold his Illini blankie
* play with his new toys
* sit up and play
* have someone talk to him

Tayloran's bball game!

Noel - the Casey's dog

RYan and I think that Noel would be the perfect dog for Gpa Max!!! Noel loves to watch what happens at Casey's. As a puppy, we would always catch her with her head under the fence. She would just stay there - watching what was happening at Casey's. Since she has to be on a chain when she's outside ( to prevent her from escaping under the fence) she sits up on the pool deck and watches. Since it has turned frigid, she's discovered that she can sit in our bedroom and watch the scene next door! She can sit there for a long time - just watching!!!

Briggs - Santa Baby

Ryan's sister had got this Santa outfit for Briggs when he was born. I stuck in a closet and forgot about it! I was glad when she reminded me at Christmas. I went home and dressed him up! His Daddy was appologizing to him the whole time. He thought it was mean of me to dress him up. He kept reminding me that he wasn't a doll to play dress up with. He thinks I should have this out of my system with all of the girls!!!

New Years - AGAIN

Uncle Speedy's first time to meet Briggs! Addisyn just thinks he is the greatest! She managed to get in everyone's picture! She thinks she is really cool - she was born on Uncle Speedy's bday!!!!!

Here's the band - Speedy on drums ( can't believe he got RYan to give them up), RYan on guitar, TOdd - the groupie in back, and Jared - who sang and sang and sang! He was good. THe adults were just happy to not have to listen to Mississippi Queen!!!!!

Jared is really getting into it!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so sorry that his bride to be missed the fun! She had to work early the next day!!!

More New Years Eve

Samantha had a new flip! It is going to be on my list of things I'd like to have! You can take video and then plug it into your usb port! Pretty cool! Here we are playing Partini! It was fun!

THe girls miss Uncle Speedy so much! When Tayloran and Avery were little, we saw him almost every weekend!!!

Braelyn was finally making up with Uncle Speedy by about midnight!!!

This is Jared - Uncle Speedy's brother - who the girls have adopted as another uncle! He and Speedy were Avery's first visitors when we came home from the hosptial! It looks like Tayloran might have been pestering him!!!! Jared is getting married in a few short months! The girls were hitting him up for an invite so they could come and dance at the wedding!

New Years Eve

Our great friend, Speedy and his family came back into Illinois after Christmas. We ended up meeting up with him back at the house of other good friends - todd and samantha! We all had such a great time. We've celebrated New YEars before together. S&T fixed a great dinner of ribs, stuffed mushrooms, and we had a ton of finger foods!!! Those are my absolute favorite!!!! After stuffing our faces, we played board games, and then chased the kids of the Rockband! At about 3:30 am we started winding it down and thought that we might need to get our kids to bed! Yes, all of the girls were still up and GOING STRONG at 3:30 am!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We finally got to bed at 4! It was ruff getting up the next day at 8 when Briggs was ready to go! Thanks Todd and Sam for having us. It was so much fun! I hope you guys come visit us soon!!!

Braelyn, Ryan, and Briggs on his first New Years Eve

Tayloran, Mason, Addisyn & Avery playing rockband!!!

Briggs and his big sister Addisyn

Braelyn - you just never know ..........