Brandon, Squirt, & Half

I fell asleep on the chair and Squirt came out to snuggle, I think he was jealous cause half and I were content on the chair, lol, anyway Brandon was quick to join the boys and as you can tell from his tongue be a doggie too. You can see Squirt & Half hair cut the best in the first picture!

Squirt & Half Point Get Go to the Puppy Groomer

Half Pint and Squirt got groomed today and they look fabulous, squirt is still hiding, so  I can't get a picture of him.  The kids were quick to get a picture with half pint though.

Brandon's 5th Birthday Party @ Chuck E Cheese

Brandon wanted his birthday party to be held at Chuck E. Cheese. He was so excited about his birthday this year!!! Chuck E. Cheese was the perfect "oulet" for all his excitement. He even went up and hugged Chuck E. Cheese. He has grown so much over this last year! He weights 50lbs and is 43" tall - Dr. Wonjas says he is going to be a BIG boy...he is the size of a 7 year old, and he just turned 5! He will problubly surpass me by the time he's in 5th grade :( lol

We had a great time! Thank you everyone for braving the roads and coming down and celebrating Brandon's birthday with us!!!!! We love you all!

Brandon Turns 5 Years Old - Dec 11, 09

Brandon showing me how old he is.

Brianna give Brandon a birthday hug and says she loves him......so cute.

Brandon Dean Hoke ~ 5 Years old.

Brandon turned 5 on the 11th of December.  I had pre-arranged to take his birthday off at work, so I could spend the day with him.  Brianna, Brandon, Bill, and I were going to his IEP meeting at school with his teacher, going to breakfast, and then we were going to go to the Children's Museum.  Unfortunately Brandon ran a high fever and had a stomach virus since Monday night, and although he was feeling better, he was dehydrated and had a tummy ache and had WAY too many bathroom trips to go to the museum :(  We are having his Birthday Party at Chuck E. Cheese on Sunday, and he is looking forward to that!

I felt sad that we couldn't go to the museum, but we did end up letting him open his presents from our family, Gma Norma, Papa Hoke, and Uncle Andy ON his birthday, since we didn't make it to the museum.  This is the first year he has really been overly excited about his birthday, and he shows his excitement very well!  Lots of whooooo hoooo's, this is awesome, I'm 555555555555555555 YAY~  so much fun!

The collage includes his gifts he received on his birthday, check out his reactions....priceless!  He and Brianna also decided they needed some "funny face" pictures. :)

The boys are warming up to everyone.

The other night Bill was sitting at the kitchen bar, doing homework, and eating a piece of grandma's huckle berry pie (mmmmmm!). I looked over and noticed my boys carefully watching Bill, sitting just staring at him and as the fork went to his mouth, their heads would follow it up and vice versa. Bill thought they were so adorable, we even had Norma come look, they were waiting so patiently, they even later laid down close together and continued waiting patiently. They did not get a piece of pie, but they did get a doggie treat :)

At first these little boys would have nothing to do with anyone but me, I kinda liked that, but it didn't give the family a chance to enjoy them as much as I do. They are now warming up to every, well except Andy....lol - but Andy = Tippy the black lap, so I can see where that might take a little longer.

Squirt now sleeps with Carissa and Bri is usually with them. Half Pint still sleeps with Bill and I in our bed. When I'm not feeling well they stay with me, when I'm having a good day they are right there with me! I am so happy to have them as part of our family.

Thanksgiving ~ 2009

We hosted Thanksgiving Dinner at our house this year. Grandma and Mom brought the deserts, and they were delicious as usual! I started the tradition of decorating the tree on Thanksgiving the year Brandon was born. Since we live in Tri-cities we don't get to see mom, grandma, and grandpa as often as we should....and since the little kids do not see them on a daily or even weekly basis even, I wanted them to have solid memories of doing special things with their Great-Grandmother and Great-Grandfather. They have a ball decorating the tree with our family on Thanksgiving, we do it after dinner when everyone has visited a little and are full to the brim....maybe some year my dad, lynn, grandma and grandpa H will be here too! I took the opportunity to get some pics of the family with great-grandma and great grandpa, they look great, although some of the teenagers were not very cooperative. It turned out to be a great HAPPY THANKSGIVING! As a BONUS, I did not shop Black Friday, however I finished up my Christmas shopping this weekend :)

Lilly & Brianna

Lilly and Brianna decided to lay together and watch a show for quiet time, I had to take the opportunity and get a few pics. They look like bestest best friends to me :)

My New Babies!

My Dad, Lynn, & Family were gracious enough to let me have a "crochet doggie" that can sleep with me, sit with me while I crochet, and snuggle :) They actually let me have Half-Pint & Squirt. They are brothers, and depend on one another, they have not been seperated since birth. They have been an absolute joy! The boys have adopted me as their mommy, and have adopted the rest of the family as their family....they have ALOT of patience with Brandon and Brianna, and they don't bark too awfully much. No potty accidents, and boy do they snuggle!!!!!

This is the only Christmas present I need :)

Our Halloween Pumpkins ~2009

We used the pumpkins from our garden that we grew this year for our total Halloween pumpkins. Brandon and Brianna do not like the feel of the insides of the pumpkins and obviously cannot participate in the cutting/carving of the pumpkins, so with the older kids gone for the weekend, we opted to let them paint their pumpkins. They had a ball and were sooooo proud of their painted pumpkins.

Halloween 2009

Brandon was the bumble bee from transformers and Bri decided to be a cowgirl this year....they were excited to get started early this afternoon, and being it was a saturday, we just let them wear their costumes as long as they wanted.....Our trick or treating started at the Richland Uptown at 3:00 and they were done with the neighborhood and everything by 6:30....nice! Then they got their e:card from Mama Nean and danced the Zombie Zash....:) And Grandma Norma gave them Ice Age 3 i nstead of candies..... :) We ate a nice dinner, visited, I crocheted and we watched the movie. It was a great day, though I must say I missed Carissa and Cody, they opted to spend the weekend with their dad.