Alphabet Puzzle

Since it's turned so cold outside I bought a warm winter hat for Bracken. He hasn't wanted to take it off his head since. I had to take a picture of him with three of his favorite things: his hat, his blue blanket, and his ABC puzzle. He'd been sitting in the living room putting this puzzle together and dumping it out over and over again for 45 minutes when I finally took these pictures. He knows most of the names of the letters and when he finishes putting the puzzle together we sing the ABC song by switching off between Bracken and I about every other letter. Then he says "dump it out!" and starts all over. I can't believe how fast he learns. What a fun little man!

Pumpkin Festival

Bracken and I went to the Pumpkin Festival this morning with our friends Melissa and Jairus. The boys had so much fun! They painted pumpkins, went pumpkin bowling, decorated pumpkin cookies, tried to eat donuts from a string, spit pumpkin seeds (Bracken thought this was great. He was like, "Really mom, it's okay to spit right now? You're always telling me not to.), jumped in a bouncy house and had to be pulled out when their turn was over because they were having so much fun, got little kits to make a wooden helicopter and boat and more! It was totally worth $5.

Bracken and Jairus are so lucky to have each other for friends. They love to get out of the house and run, play throw rocks, chase balls, and jump in mud puddles together. It works out great for me too, because I get to hang out with Melissa at the same time.

On the left: It didn't take Bracken long to just grab his donut. The lady the string off for him and he carried it around for 45 minutes just licking the sugar off. When he finally figured out he could actually eat his donut, it quickly disappeared.

Visit to Vegas

My little sister Sarah, Bracken and I went to visit Linsy in their new home in Vegas. Sarah was such a big help and it was fun to have her along. Kylie crawls all over the place and even took her first steps while we were there. She and Bracken had a great time together.

Sarah insisted we needed to go swimming. It was cold! We didn't last in the pool very long and just played on the stone animals nearby.

Kylie Brynn and Linsy

Bracken loves watching Signing Time. He commandeered Kylie's baby rocker as his easy chair whenever we let him watch signing time.

Not the greatest picture but we had a memorable moment here. We drove into Vegas to see the Bellagio gardens and water show. While we were waiting for the water show to start, Bracken was watching the ducks. He got a little too excited and threw his water bottle in the water. As soon as it was out of his hands he wanted it back and was really upset upset that we couldn't get it back. He wouldn't stop crying until we told him that he was nice to share his water bottle with the ducks. This became his favorite story to tell for the next month or so. "Water bottle all gone, quackies, water show! Water, Wow!" Repeated over and over to anyone who'd listen. We're just hoping he doesn't decide to share whatever he's holding the next time he sees ducks...unless it's bread.
Linsy, Kylie, Bracken and Kira with a 900 pound pumpkin in the background.

Thanks for letting us come visit Linsy and Caleb! We had a great time playing, fixing and eating yummy food, and just spending time with you. Come see us soon.