Top 10 activities in December

December was a busy month. Here are our top 10 things we did:

1. The girls and I went to see the Nutcracker. It was a fun girls date and the girls loved it.

2.  Macie had her first piano recital. She did a great job and was happy that grandma and grandpa Bradley and Tyson and Morgan could be there. It was a fun night.

3.  Here are the kids in their Christmas outfits this year. I just love these kids and their matching outfits!

 

4.  Addie had her first ever dance recital. She did an AWESOME job and was the only one in her class that knew the whole dance and didn't make any mistakes! She also loved that she got to wear a little makeup for it!

5.  Pixar came to a local mall this year and set up "An Adventure to Santa" House. We were lucky enough to get tickets and were able to go and fly to the North Pole and visit Santa in a private room with just us. It was a magical experience for all and the girls even got a red ribbon from Santa himself that he took off of one his presents to match the ribbons in the girls hair. It was a very special night!

 6. Addie also had her school play and winter performance. She did great

 7.The kids loved the new village display that Geoff and I set up this year. We added a fun train that went around the whole thing. It was so fun!

 8.We went to Bass Pro Shop and were able to see Santa and ride on the carousel. The 2 little ones loved it the second time around and even did it all by themselves.

9. We went to the Gaylord Hotel to check out their indoor lights and river walk. It was so much fun and so pretty all decked out.

 Grandma was even nice enough to get the kids balloon animals. They loved them and the clown that did them was amazing at his job!

10. We made gingerbread houses when G and G were in town. All of the kids made one and they all were so creative. The older did their houses all on their own. I was very impressed and excited all at the same time.

Here is Camden with his final result. He actually did really well and didn't eat to much candy along the way!

Camden turns 3!

 This cute little guy turned 3 on December 16th. We just love our boy. He is so fun, crazy, messy, happy, crazy, master destroyer, tower builder, car and train lover, crazy, and all boy! He definitely gives me a run for my money. He is fearless when it comes to jumping off of things, or doing slides, or climbing or anything that little boys do. Yet, he is so scared of dogs, loud noises, new things and anything that has to do with change. He is a complete momma's boy and homebody. He loves to be home and really doesn't last very long if we go out and about, especially to other's peoples houses. We are lucky if we can stay somewhere longer than 2 hours without him crying to go home. He gives the best hugs and kisses and is the BEST brother (when he isn't destroying). He has such a love for Brynlee and their relationship is really one of my favorite things to watch. We love our boy and can't imagine life without him.

 Here he is opening is first present. I love this picture!!! He just saw what was inside and he is soooo happy. It is a Thomas the Train dvd.

 And here he is showing me his new show.  (don't mind the undies...this is how this kid rolls and we are just at home, so I don't care)

 A t-ball game to play outside. He loves it.

 A Thomas the Train play set. He is so excited!! He has been asking for trains for a long time!

 trying to get it open and check it out.

 Checking out his cupcakes and candles. He has been singing happy birthday to you all day and practicing blowing out his candles. It was pretty fun hearing him all day.

When it came time to blow out his candles, he covered his mouth and said, "no, I can't. It's to scawee." And he absolutely refused to do it. So, the girls blew them out for him. Funny kid. Happy birthday to our sweet little man! Love you buddy.

Ugly Leggings Party

For the last few years, I have been wanting to host an Ugly Leggings Party. This year, I decided that it was going to happen, so I made sure to plan ahead. It was a blast. The rule was that EVERYONE had to wear a pair of ugly leggings. Guys and gals. The guys were allowed to wear shorts over theirs. It was a super fun night, full of talking, games, food, and laughs. It is going to become a yearly tradition. Can't wait to host it again next year!!

 All of the guys and their ugly leggings.

 All of the girls and their ugly leggings.

A close up of Geoff and I's ugly leggings this year. If you look closely at Geoff's his has pictures of women's faces on them. SO funny. And mine are from the little girl section at Target and have ugly looking man ponies on them flying in clouds.

Decorating the tree

I LOVE Christmas time. It usually can't start soon enough. And this year was no different. It was still the week before Thanksgiving and I had already starting decorating. The kids were super excited as well, so the tree didn't take to long to go up after I had started some of the other décor. All of the kids were really wanting to help this year, which was great. The twins did great helping and the older girls did great letting them help. We only had ornament casualty while decorating so I will call it a win!!

 Here is Camden handing Addie an ornament.

 Addie putting it on the tree. (She had just gotten home from dance class, hence the leotard)

 Me trying to find Camden an ornament that wouldn't break to put on the tree.

 Brynlee putting her ornament from Grandpa Bradley on the tree.

 Macie putting her ornament from Grandpa Bradley on the tree.

 Camden putting his on the tree

 And Showing dad what his looks like.

Say cheese. Love love these kids and all of the fun memories that we get to make with them. Life is great.

Brynlee turns 2!

This little girl is so cute, happy, spunky, sassy, funny, sweet and cuddly, and a whole lot of stuff in between. We are so grateful for her in ours lives. She brings us so much joy and happiness. I just can't even believe that she is 2!! Where has the time gone? She and Camden are bff's. Addie has claimed her as "her" baby and puppy. I continually hear, "come on puppy" as Brynlee follows her, crawling on the ground and barking. She knows how to get her way, but gives the BEST hugs and snuggles it is hard to ever stay mad. She has the best stank face ever and uses it all of the time. But also knows how to charm her way into anyone's heart. We just love this girl and know that she was meant to be ours.

 Whenever you tell her she looks cute, she sticks out her tummy really far like this....as if that is cuter or something??

 Me trying to get a cute pic of her. Pose!

 Those eyes. How they grasp all of my attention.

 She is just so very cute. Love her to pieces.

 Getting ready to open her presents. I am pretty sure the other kids are more excited than she is. haha

 Say cheese Bryn Bryn.

 Opening her gifts.

 "OHHH" a  purse and makeup and dress up shoes.

She is such a girly girl. Trying on her cute new shoes. Happy Birthday baby girl.

Haloween 2014

Halloween this year was fun. The kids were all old enough to actually enjoy it and we didn't have to use a stroller. It was great. A few days before Halloween, we carved our pumpkins. The girls did one together and the twins did one together.

 

 Here is Macie telling Camden how you carve a pumpkin.

Dad cutting the top off so the kids could dive in and clean it out.

 Brynlee being cute and staying out of trouble.

 Camden showing me his "awesome" pumpkin.

 The twins pumpkin consisted of us putting in a bunch of "Mr. Potatoe head type" faces. THey had fun with it and told me where to place them all. It also kept them busy for some time, which is always a plus.

 "Gutting" the pumpkin. This is perhaps my favorite part of pumpkin carving. The looks on the kids faces are hilarious. And they always seem to forget how gooey it is. Makes me laugh every single time.

 Camden and Bryn having a turn at the guts. They didn't like it to much and once or twice in the pumpkin was enough for them both.

 The girls carving the big pumpkin. Looks like we forgot to take a picture of the finished products this year. Oops.

Happy Halloween, from the Barnum kids. Addie was a witch this year, Brynlee was the bumblebee, Camden we were lucky to even get an outfit on, and he is a basketball player, and Macie is a Volleyball Player.