The Nutcracker

My mom and I are taking Brennan to see The Nutcracker ballet next week. I got him some books and movies so he knows the story when we go since they don't do much talking:) To be honest, I really didn't know the whole story before reading these books with him. I think he will really be intrigued by the live performance.





I also got this Nutcracker at the craft store for him to paint while watching the movie. I think my mom ended up painting most of it:)

Christmas Happenings

I can't believe with everything "Christmas" we have been doing, I haven't posted anything. Maybe it has something to do with how busy we've been:)

One new {possibly yearly} tradition we did this year was a night time lighted Christmas parade in a town near by. It really is a great idea!

All of the floats were very pretty and festive decorated with lights. Santa is on a sleigh at the very end. These pictures aren't greatest, they're from my phone, but you can still tell how pretty it was.

We were invited by friends of the family and this is their float, Charlie's Carstar. So fun!

We have been building gingerbread houses and I'm sure there are more to come:)

Oh, and we have some trouble in our house too. This is "Ten" our elf-he is finding all kinds of things to get into and places to hang out.

Brennan really enjoys seeing what this little guy is up to each day!

Leibster Blog Award

I have received my first blog award! I received the The Leibster Blog award from Christi at The Chapters of Our Lives-thank you Christi!

The Criteria: the Liebster Blog Awad is meant to showcase bloggers who have fewer than 200 followers. This is all done in the spirit of the pay-it-forward.

The Rules: You must mention the link to the person who awarded you with the Liebster, and mention 5 other blogs with fewer than 200 followers who you think is worthy of the Liebster!

"Liebster' means 'favorite' or 'dearest' in German. This award, which originated in Germany, recognized up and coming bloggers! In accepting this award, I agree to:
Thank the person that gave me the award and link back to their blog.

* Copy and paste the award to my blog
* Reveal the 5 blogs that I have chosen to award and let them know by commenting on their blog
* Pay it forward by awarding it to bloggers they would like to honor

I am thrilled to receive this award and appreciate the kind words that were offered to me by Christi, but I think I am equally if not more excited to pass this on to some very inspiring women I have met through my journey. The five blogs I'm passing the award on to are listed below. Each of these women have had to experience the loss of a child. I know from my own experience how difficult each and every day is when one of the biggest pieces of your life is missing. Each one of these women have continued to face this new life showing their immense love for the child/children they have lost while holding on to hope for future children.

The A Team

J5

Ethiopia Makes Three

Our Rainbow After The Storm

Library Days

For the past 6 weeks we have been taking trips to the library after swim lessons. Brennan loves going to the library! We read books there and they have a "reading castle" that he sits in and looks at books, they have a great story time and puppet show offered a couple of times a year and we bring books and movies home. Recently, I found these book/animal sets. Brennan adores stuffed animals so these are perfect:)

He adores that so much that he sleeps with them:) I'm sort of a germaphobe so sometimes it bugs me that he snuggles up with these little animals that have been to other peoples houses, but he really enjoys them. And surprising enough, he doesn't mind that we have to return them. I guess he just knows it is part of the package.

Weekly trips to the library is something that Brennan really looks forward to. Swim lessons are almost over so we are going to have to set a certain time to go each week. It is so fun for him and the best part is it's free!