End of the Year... A LOT going on!!!

Well this is going to be a long post my friends, so please bare with me! Once again another year has come and gone! But this one has extra meaning to me! Of course most of it having to do with my son Brayden! I can't believe we just celebrated his 1 year birthday!!! This little man of mine has truly made my heart go soft! I love him more than words could ever express. I want to be a better person because of him. I love more, because of him. I cry more, because of him. And I laugh more, because of him. He is my little ray of sunshine just when I need it most! This last year has truly been a joy with him in my life and having a family with Gary. I love being a wife and a mother and I just feel lucky to be both and have 2 wonderful boys in my life!

Well not only did Brayden turn 1 this month but we also celebrated his first Christmas. So it was a double treat this month! And did he ever enjoy it! We started out on Christmas eve morning and headed over to Gary's dads house. Brayden loves Gary's sisters. They got him a new tricycle and he loved trying it out. It's so fun to see him trying new things and checking every little detail out. After Gary's dads house we went to Gary's grandma's house. We opened up some gifts and my nephews were there in rare form. So I snapped quite a few shots on the camera. They were modeling for me in front of the tree and totally cracking me up. That evening Gary and I did some Christmas shopping for ourselves and we bought a new cabinet for our bathroom and a new area rug for our living room. So much better and way more cozy with the rug! I love it.

Christmas morning we have Christmas at Gary's moms house. My father-n-law makes us breakfast and all the kids get to open up gifts. And oh what a mess they made! It was so fun though and Brayden loved his new toys! He doesn't quite get the whole unwrapping part yet but he loved it once it was opened and ready to play with.

This year we had special visitors! My dad and Lynn came into town to celebrate Brayden's firsts with us. They got in Christmas afternoon and we headed over to my moms house for dinner. We had YUMMY Italian food, Brayden got to open more gifts, and we played games and had a really great time! Besides Brayden being totally afraid of Santa this year... his first Christmas was a lot of fun!

Dec. 26th! Brayden turned 1! We had a big birthday party for him! Thank you to everyone who came and celebrated with us! THANK YOU to everyone who helped set up, tear down, and clean up! Brayden is very lucky to have all of you in his life. The love I feel for him when all his family and friends are around him, I KNOW he has got to know it and feel it too! We had a great time and he got so many fun toys and a lot of really cute outfits!!! Our little 2 bedroom condo is now busting at the seams! :) But it's so fun seeing him learning how to use everything and how quickly he his able to pick up on things. GREAT learning tools, a lot of the toys these days! I love it!

My dad and Lynn stayed until today. :( Brayden kept looking out the window for them and standing at the door as if they would be right back. Kind of sad... but we know we will see them soon again! We enjoy our time with them!

So here you go with lots and lots of pictures... again bare with me or just skim through if you want!

Happy New Year to all of you and may God bless you through this year and always!!!

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Fun w/Grammy

Last week my mom took Brayden to Children's Museum so I could work on a Birthday gift for my hubby! From the picutes you can see the fun they had! Thanks mom!!!

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New Camera Photoshoot

Ready... SAY CHEESE!!! If you know me at all you know I LOVE to take pictures! It's really one of my biggest passions. I take pictures I think at every function or heck even if there is nothing to take pictures for I am still taking pictures. For Christmas this year my dad and Lynn bought me a new camera. I LOVE IT!

My poor family has to endure the never ending flash in their eyes!

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December Fun

I love this time of year! From Halloween on is just so much fun with all the celebrations. I love the crazy hectic life of spending time with so much family and the hustle and bustle in the stores and on the roads. I love the decorations and spending countless hours driving around looking at lights. And of course with Brayden this year has made it so much more special! He is such a joy in our life! These past few weeks we have been getting ready for Christmas. Brayden loved helping daddy and mama decorate the tree. He loves the lights and anything with bells on it. Yes he loves to try and rip everything off to, but I have had my share of peaceful, no kid Christmas'. I am loving this new, don't take your eyes of your kid around the christmas tree ever!

Last night we went downtown for the Parade of Lights. I have grown up going to this parade and have so many special memories. So we took Brayden so he could have his own to. It was pretty cold last night, but not the worst I have been in. We got all bundled up and brought hot cocoa and lots of blankets. It was perfect. Some of Gary's family came along and my mom, sister, and Rick. It was so cute, everytime the marching bands would go by Brayden would start dancing. I think he really liked it and loved seeing all the colorful floats. He only got scared one time and that was when someone in costume came right up to him and try to shake his hand. He is not so much into anyone in costume. We had a great night anyhow.

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