Happy 4th Birthday Nats!

Natalie celebrated her 4th birthday on Tuesday and we had a blast. We started the morning off with homemade donuts at Natalie's request (ok, as homemade as they get. I love those refrigerated biscuits. They have so many uses).That evening Brett came home a little early from work to start the festivities. Natalie spoiled her surprise by hearing Brett drive up in his truck. She ran out the door before I could stop her and saw in the back of the truck. . .
. . .a new bike, just for her. She was so excited about it that she even forgot to put her shoes on and started riding around in her socks. She jumped right on and started peddling, only to find out that she didn't know how to stop. She was telling the bike to "stop" and it just wasn't listening until she hit the grass. Luckily she didn't fall. We were able to quickly explain to her how to use her brakes and then she was off like a pro (with training wheels of course).

For dinner Natalie requested RIBS! What four year old asks for ribs for dinner? And then rice and carrots? Don't most four year old want pizza or mac and cheese or something like that? We weren't complaining though I guess. Ribs are a delicacy around here. You can see in the following pictures just how much we enjoyed dinner. . .Tanner's favorite part of the meal was chewing on the bones after we got all the meat off.

Bailey and Mom still working on dinner. We always seem to be the last two at the table.
For Natalie's cake she specifically asked for Strawberry Cake. Here is Natalie waiting to blow out her candles. We told her to make a wish, so she put her hands together and said "I wish that. . .". We stopped her just in time and let her know of the tradition of not telling your wish or it won't come true. Who made that silly rule, I don't know. But we are passing on the tradition for some reason. Natalie with her birthday card and hair things from Grandma and Grandpa Bruschke
A card from Great-grandma Betty and Wayne
The card she got from Grandma and Grandpa Higham
And finally the coloring books that she got from Grandma and Grandpa Bruschke. Somehow I didn't get a pictures of the Cinderella doll and Polly Pockets that she got, but she had a great birthday and loved everything that she got.

Build a Bear

For Christmas Grandma and Grandpa Bruschke got the kids "Build a Bear" Gift Certificates. It was a first for all of us, so we enlisted the help of my sisters Becky and Liz and boy was I glad that they were there. There definitely has to be a one-to-one ratio of adult to kid when you go. Bailey, Spencer and Natalie
Bailey washing her teddy
Spencer washing his penguin
Natalie washing her bunny with the help of Becky
Bailey (and Liz) picking out what clothes she wanted for her teddy
And finally Spencer with his penguin. Somehow I didn't get the kids with their finished products. Each stuffed animal was fully outfited from head to toe. Bailey's bear was a bride, Natalie's bunny had a cute top with a skirt and Spencer's was spiderman. The kids loved the experienced and I loved that the cost didn't come out of my pocket (my-oh-my are those expensive stuffed animals!). Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!

Pure Chaos?

This is a picture that I forgot to add from the holidays.  This is breakfast one morning.  I am adding it so you can maybe get a glimpse of the chaos of our holidays.  At most points during the week we had these 11 kids together, all 6 years and under.  At some point we also added two more to the mix.  Pure chaos?  To say the least!

Left to right: Hailey, Wesley, Daniel, Morgan, Dallin, Natalie, Tanner, Spencer, Bailey, Morgan and Kelsie.

Christmas Fun

Christmas was a lot of fun this year.  With Brett being gone for the month of December for work, the kids and I spend much of our time at Grandma and Grandpa Higham's house.  Brett was able to make it home on Christmas Eve, just in time for the festivities to begin.

Christmas Eve tradition of opening one present that Santa somehow brings early.  Wonder what it will be?  Pajamas of course.  Can't sleep in old pajamas on Christmas Eve!

Dad and Natalie

Spencer's pure excitement in this picture is awesome.

Natalie with her new pajamas

And Bailey with hers.

Grandpa Higham reading "How the Grinch Stole Christmas". . .

And everyone listening intently.

My sister Liz and Daniel Yee

My bro Jimmy with Christi and Tori (that is Michael in the background)

Spencer digging for gold.  I was trying to get a picture  of Liz and Daniel who were behind him and didn't even realize what was going on until my sister Tami asked if I was trying to catch Spencer in the act.

Christmas morning waiting to go see what Santa brought.

The group that stayed at Grandma and Grandpas house on Christmas Eve.

Our families stockings

Natalie showing of the new toothbrush she got.

Bailey with her new Buzz Lightyear and a candycane.

And Spencer going through his stocking.

The rest of these pictures are just randoms taken throughout the week during the holidays.  It was so fun to be with family and just relax.  I can't wait until next Christmas when we can do it all over again!

Brett sound asleep with Tanner's binky in his mouth.  He had a few long weeks before Christmas (some 18 hour days) and was greatful for a couple of days of rest before heading back to Northern California.

Tanner and Dallin loved to use eachothers cups.  They were constantly switching with one another.

Jimmy's wife Christi and baby Tori

Many late nights were spend playing the classic game of Spoons.  Our family is a little too competitive for this game (i.e. bent spoons, bleeding cuts, black eyes, etc.), but it was way fun regardless. 

And Tami couldn't be happier to get a spoon.  She did incredibly well, even with here big belly getting in the way.

O Christmas Tree

Because Spencer still wasn't feeling great from his surgery when we decorated the family tree, we let him have his own tree in his room to decorate.  He was soo proud of himself and the work that he did.  He had to show everyone that came to the house "his" tree.

Annual Trip to Fashion Island

(You will have to excuse me as I try to catch up on December.  I am going to try to get back into the blogging world, and if I don't do it now, it's not ever going to happen.)

We were able to go to Fashion Island with the Yee's and Becky (my little sis) the first Monday of December.  It is only our second year doing it, but I think it is a tradition we will continue to have.  It is just fun to start out the season with family and being out around all the fun decorations.

The Bruschke Family

Tanner boy all warm and snuggly

Rachel and Brett

Bailey, Spencer and Natalie.  We took about 10 pictures of them together and this is the best we could get.

Bailey and Rachel

Spencer being silly and waiting for the water to shoot him in the face.

Sarah and Morgan (thought this picture was too cute not to include)

Bailey showing off her wet leg.  It is part of the tradition to have her fall in the koi pond (No matter how hard we try to avoid it).

Becky and Bailey