Photos By Brandon....

It is no secret that Brandon "occasionally" gets a hold of my camera and takes pictures....while uploading the pics from the last couple weeks, I was well, not suprised to see there were a few more that Brandon had taken and was kind enough to include Brianna in.......they are definitely quite a pair!

Making a Christmas Chain

Brandon using his scissors

Brianna cutting the rug?????

The beginning of our Christmas chain.

Brandon cutting away.

I decided to do a project with the little ones and make a Christmas chain. I remember when my sister and I were little and would do chains either in school and/or at blue birds and how exciting it was to start the "count down to Christmas".....it always seemed like Christmas was sooooo very far away. As I look back and reflect, I just have to say I can not believe it is that time of year already again....I never believed my grandparents and parents when they said time flies when you get older, now I hear myself thinking and saying the very same things to my kids....

Thanksgiving ~ 2008

We had Thanksgiving at our house again this year. It was a little different this year, as Tanya and her kiddos didn't get to come....that was unfortunate! Norma did get to join us this year, and Bill and her spent Thanksgiving together for the first time in at least 10 years, or so I am told. Becky was able to come as well, it was nice! We did Thanksgiving "gluten-free" this year and everything was wonderful and delicious....if I say so myself :) We took time to decorate our Christmas tree as this has begun to be a bit of a tradition....I found that it is a wonderful for Great Grandma and Grandpa Hanson to enjoy and help the little ones decorate their Christmas tree.....I have a lot of found memories and them being there when we would decorate our tree and want the little ones to have those memories to cherish as well.

Mormal~2008

Carissa sporting her "50's" style

Joe & Carissa ready to go to the Mormal, dressed in a 50's theme.

Brandon, Sis, and Joe

Joe's church had it's annual formal. He belongs to the morman church and they call this formal, a Mormal :) Hey I learn something new every day ! This year the mormal was themed, so they went themed as "50's". I think they look pretty cute! Joe and Carissa both said they had a blast.

Brandon's Pre-school Picture

We got Brandon's preschool pictures today and they are SOOOO cute! I had to take a few minutes at work, scan them in and share! Hope you enjoy as much as Bill and I are!

Making Thanksgiving Turkey's

We had a "mini" Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday, kind of a "trial run" with the gluten free adjustments. It turned out really, really good and since the time changed back to Standard time, the kids were really, really tired and cranky, but it was still WAY too early to put them to bed so I decided to do an art project with them. All three of us were pleasantly surprised when Bill decided to join us as well. I will treasure these little turkeys for a lot of years. :)

Halloween

Brandon and Brianna - Mickey and Minnie Mouse

Brianna trick or treating at the Uptown in Richland

Mickey and Minnie Mouse

Trick or treating at the Uptown in Richland

Brianna trick or treating

Brandon wanted more, more, more candy

Brianna says CHEEEEESE

Mickey showing us his balloon.

Carissa - the cat witch.

Joe - the football player, Carissa the cat witch

Brandon - Mickey Mouse

Brianna - Minnie Mouse

This Halloween turned out to be a warm 70 degrees. We started the day out early by taking the kids to lunch - in their costumes already and then came home for a few minutes to see the older kids and get their plans straightened out then headed back out to the Uptown in Richland for our first trick or treating event. When we returned Carissa had gotten back from taking Cody to Prosser for his weekend trip to his dads and was getting ready to go to the trunk or treat event at Joe's church. Joe and Carissa took Brandon and Brianna to trunk or treat and then came back and went with us and the little ones around our neighborhood trick or treating. Brandon really enjoyed filling his pumpkin bucket 3x's over and we have a HUGE amount of candy we will have to slowly let them eat up. Brandon could not get enough where as Brianna was done after the trunk or treat event, she missed her nap and was very tired. It was a nice change having Bill home for Halloween and we enjoyed one another greatly.