Merry Christmas!

Hope your Christmas was as wonderful and as blessed as ours!

Making Christmas Cookies

Every year, we go over to Grandma Cindy's to make and decorate Christmas cookies with all of the Childress cousins! It is SO much fun (and so much of a mess). Each family gets to bring a plate of cookies home to enjoy when it is all done!

Visiting Santa Claus

The kids went to visit with Santa Claus on Saturday, December 13th, in Larchwood at Santa Claus Days. Benjamin was very brave, even telling Santa that he wanted a tool box so he could have tools just like Daddy's. Andraya was a little more quiet. She took the picture with no problem, but then she couldn't quite muster up the courage to tell him what she wanted. She had to whisper it in Mom's ear, and then Mommy had to tell Santa that she wants an American Girl Doll. Ryan, who wasn't feeling that good anyway, just wanted to get back into Mommy's arms!!! We'll see on Christmas if they all get what they want - they have been pretty good this year!

Happy 1st Birthday Ryan!

Ryan turned 1 on November 27th (Thanksgiving). We celebrated with the Bahnson family on Thanksgiving and the Childress family on December 6th. His big sister Andraya helped pick out the "birthday theme" for her lovable little brother - Sesame Street!!! She thought the Sesame Street babies were so cute in their diapers, just like her little brother! We had so much fun celebrating our wonderful little Ryan!

Future American Idol or Dancing with the Stars winners?

Have fun watching my little stars! You might want to go to the bottom of my blog and pause the music that is already playing, because you'll definitely want to hear this!!!

Andraya - 4 1/2, Benjamin - 2 1/2 and Ryan -1 (just turned on November 27)

Go Wildcats!

Well, the kids and I ventured to the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls on November 21st and 22nd to watch the Class 1A State Football Championships. The kids were so excited to go stay in a hotel with Uncle Brady (he drove & stayed with us) and go watch the Wildcats play football! Even though the Wildcats lost 0-3 to Emmetsburg (what a game, though), the kids and I had a blast! Most of the cousins were at the game to hang out with, and Aunt Tracy made Tshirts for everyone to wear - very cool! We were very proud of the Wildcats and of Uncle Jeremy & Uncle Koury, who are both coaches. While it was a very fun weekend, it was also very exhausting, especially the ride home!!!

Fun in the Leaves!

Fall Fun!

Football games, soccer games and trick-or-treating at Lake Pahoja for Oktoberfest! Fall brings so much fun! After hearing that both of her brothers were going to be cows, Draya decided that she would be their "COW"girl! Aren't they cute!

Fall Pictures

Now that we are a few weeks into Fall, Preschool and Harvest are both in full swing! Draya had fun wearing her Dora PJs to school for Pajama Day (during Homecoming week), and Benjamin loved combining beans with Seth (notice his new boots and the combine in his hand)!

Childress Cousins

Grandma Cindy and Grandpa Dan always buy new Halloween shirts for the Childress cousins. Here are all 10 of them (#11 is coming in February to Tracy & Kris).

Ryan, Benjamin, Bryson, Micah, Jackson

Haley, Randi, Andraya, Kennedy, Jordyn

It's official - Harvest is here!

Well, as it says in the title, Harvest is officially here! Seth started with the beans on Friday night (26th). With 3 little ones at home, I have a feeling it's going to be the longest harvest yet! Oh well. I brought the kids out Saturday night and we all got to ride around with Dad a little bit. Draya and Ryan both got a little antsy after awhile, but I think Ben was in combine heaven!

* You probably noticed Andraya's new haircut. She decided she wanted it short when she took a chunk out of it herself the other day (third time she's done this)! Thank goodness we have Aunt Jamee to "fix" it!

We love Sesame Street Live!

Ryan

Ryan - my little blondie! He is just the sweetest little thing ever! He's 10-months old now and has been crawling for a couple of weeks now! He is into EVERYTHING! He loves being outside, especially when he can watch his big sister and brother playing. When he's inside, he LOVES watching Bear in the Big Blue House. He's so funny too - he has the cutest little laugh and smile. He totally melts your heart!

Benjamin

Benjamin is now 2 1/2 and has totally turned into a Daddy's boy! I think he would live with Daddy out in a tractor if he could. He's in for a real treat now that Harvest is going to start - I'm sure I will not be able to get him out of the combine when we start bringing supper out to Seth. He is learning so much everyday - he copies everything his sister says (which annoys her sometimes, but isn't that what little brothers are supposed to do???) He's definitely a 2-year old...constantly causing mischief. I try to discipline him, but he's so darn cute with those long eyelashes!

Andraya

Andraya is now 4 1/2 and has just started preschool at West Lyon. She LOVES it! She always has a lot to share when she gets home. She loves circle time and going outside on the playground where she almost always plays on the swings. Her new favorite thing to do is "create" things with paper, scissors and tape. She absolutely loves reading books and is really starting to enjoy coloring (it took awhile, but now you can find her doing it most nights). The other thing she absolutely loves is playing dress-up - Princesses, Abby Cadabby, Minnie Mouse, a cowgirl, etc.

Snaps Soccer

Andraya started her first season of soccer, and it has been quite an adventure! She is on an Under-6 girl's team that is coached by her aunt Tracy. Her team, Snaps, consists of her and 9 other little girls. Her cousins Kennedy and Randi are also on her team. We have now played 4 games and Andraya continues to improve with each one. While she is not the most aggressive player on the team, she will now at least "follow the pack" and manage to kick the ball 3-4 times during the game. By the end of the season, she will probably be scoring all of the goals (Ha!)