I was watching TV last night and I could hear someone talking but could not figure out if it was Cameron playing in his bed or else Braxton and Dakota in their room. Braxton and Dakota go straight to sleep every night since they have exerted much energy all day long, but this time it was them. I went into their room and they were talking and laughing. I almost told them to stop talking and get to sleep, but I was taken back to my childhood and spending hours on end talking with my sisters as we sat in bed. I think my sisters are by far one of my greatest blessings, and I was so happy to see my boys enjoying each other so much.

I proceeded to ask them what they were talking about and my heart was so full as they said, "We were just discussing all the ways to get to the North Pole: there is a sled, a plane, a car, a rocket, a horse, a cow, and maybe even a chicken, but definitely you can get there with a sled". I am so impressed everyday with the innocence of childhood, but this really hit me. They were talking about Santa the whole time and it took me their whole story to figure it out.

I hope their nighttime conversations always stay this innocent, someday I know they will be talking of girls and playground behaviors they see that I don't approve of, but for now I love that they need to discuss all the ways to get to the North Pole. :)

Hardware Ranch

My parents and sister always have the week after Christmas off from work, so we decided to take the kids and go see the elk at Hardware Ranch. It was a very pleasant day, not too cold. We bundled up everyone and had a great time. The boys (5) were a little wild standing in line, but overall it was a lot of fun. Braxton, Jake, Dakota, Denim, and Cameron
Looking over the edge of the wagon we rode on.

Their favorite part was after when we slid down the hill on our bums where bored kids had made sledding hills.



The whole crew--Dakota, Geana, Cameron, Mom, Denim, Tara, Kiley, Carerra, Braxton, Dad, and Jake.

I just have to add a funny thing Dakota said the other day--I love to remember these. He was playing the PlayStation and couldn't figure out one part he said "Mom, we have a little situation". What do you mean?, I asked. "I cant figure out what to do next". If that is considered a situation, then I can handle it!

Christmas Back Track

Christmas was a lot of fun at our house this year. All three of the boys were very excited and anticipated it all month long. They tried so hard to be good, and kept changing their minds on what they wanted as usual. They all got what they asked for and more. Same with Shane and I. We always get spoiled by each other and by our parents. Shane got himself a new spotting scope and I got a new dress and new clothes (those were from each other, but we really bought them for ourselves). The boys got new gaming chairs, bakugan toys, Lego's, knex, golf set, and the list goes on. I guess they must have been good because Santa went crazy :) Cameron and Shane reading. Cam is obsessed with reading, and I hope he grows up to be a great reader, it is a great quality to have.
Dakota showing off his bakugan set. They were so excited to each get 6.

"Mom there are presents all the way from the tree to the couch!!" That was Braxton's reaction first thing in the morning. Shane insists on opening presents in the dark, so we always wake the kids up, this year we waited until 6:45, because Braxton gets anxiety if awakened to early for something exciting. He was so proud of himself, he said after we were all done "Mom I didn't even get sick this year. Hopefully he has outgrown that! (I kind of doubt it though, he got sick just two weeks earlier because he thought one of his friends was moving, turns out he was just going on a vacation)

This is the golf set that Cam got and loves.

More funny (or not so funny) boys!

Dakota and Cameron were fighting in the car. Dakota was freaking out about Cam touching him and saying the same thing over and over. Finally Shane and I told Dakota he was going to have to ignore Cam, he started to cry and say he could not ignore him.

In pipes Braxton, "Dakota it is easy to ignore people, I ignore Mom and Dad all the time!"