Merry Christmas

Christmas was so fun.  These four kiddos make everything so fun.  Rick worked Christmas eve so I had a tough time keeping the kids in their room until he got home.  They had fun opening their Santa presents.  Cole got a little bike, Brynnli got a new bike, and Carson got a Bobcat truck, and Brielle got a crawling doggy.  We opened presents at our house and then went over the GRandma and Grandpa Tolberts to open presents with the Freel cousins. 

Highlights of Christmas this year:
Cole sitting on Santa's lap and saying adamantely, "bike" when asked what he wanted.  Brielle cried.
Brielle LOVED the wrapping paper.
Going to the Christmas light show that we parked and walked to.  It was set to music and amazing.Brynnli: Cadence My little pony, new big girl bike, razor scooter; Cole: new big boy bike, real shopping cart, boat;Brielle: wrapping paper:)
Cute hugs between Carson and Brynnli and Cole when they opened the presents they bought eachother. 
Matching jammies courtesy of Grandma Tolbert
Letting the kids pick out gifts for kids who needed them. 
Watching how excited the kids were to look for their Elf on the Shelf Rudolph every morning in a different spot. 
Watching "Prep and landing" and the kids pretending to be elves, and watching Cole dance while watching the Elf on the Shelf movie.  He loved it.

Halloween

Loving these little guys all dressed up for Halloween. We had such a fun time trick or treating tonight.  Rick was working, so I took all four kids by myself, we lasted two hours and they all walked the whole time! Except for Brielle that is.......

Introducing Carson as "Dr. Tolbert" and Cole as a "lawnmower man" (Cole refused to be anything else)

                  Brynnli as a kitty (today) and Ariel the mermaid (at every other party)

 And Brielle as a pink baby butterfly.  She's such a cutie.  She slept for half of trick or treating and watched in amazement the other half.  Cole was super hilarious.  He wanted to eat every peice of candy and held most of it in his hand until I could pry it loose to put in his basket.  He walked the whole way and was so excited!

 While we were in Georgia visiting our best friends, we went to their church Trunk or Treat.  More on that trip later. 

Brynnli had a parade at school today.  She was too cute in her costume.  She decided at the last minute this morning that she wanted to be a kitty.....who knows.  Love her.  Happy Halloween!!!

Summer: North Carolina

I am so behind on blogging!! Since school started up, I 've been missing all the fun we had together with no school all summer.  Something about having all my kids home with me under my roof makes me feel happy.  We took a road trip up to the mountains in N.C. The kids LOVE it there.  This time Trisha and her family came, which made it even better! We had a blast at the July 4th celebration!

 

 We broke out the kiddie pool in the driveway, and had a blast!!

                                                                    Cousins

 We hiked the waterfall at Mini Haha, and did pony rides.  I was a nervous wreck at the waterfall, but it was such a good time.  Only a few falls....

       The kids favorite part of North Carolina, feeding the deer.  This one came up soo close while Carson was bringing out the corn.  The kids also loved watching the bats at night, taking walks, and Cole is still talking about Uncle Dave and the "works" (fireworks he kept setting off). 

Miss Brielle was a major trooper in the car and throughout the entire trip.  She's got quite  a few miles on her now! It was an awesome family vacation, full of all the simple things that make life wonderful.

Back to School!!!

School started yesterday, I can't believe the summer flew by so fast!

Carson started 1st Grade! Such a big kid.  He said he was a little nervous, but once we got to school he was great. He came home after school so excited to get to have an agenda!  Such a big kid.  I still can't believe I have a first grader!!

Poor Cole was devestated all morning.  Anything Carson and Brynnli did to get ready for school he did.  He got dressed and insisted on matching his brother.  He ate the same thing for breakfast, and even brushed his teeth with Carson.  When it came time to leave he ran and found his backpack and said, "me!me!"

 Brynnli started pre-Kindergarten, which is free the year before Kinergarten in Florida.  She was sooooo excited to start school.  Not scared one bit, and when we dropped her off she never looked back.  I caved in and let Cole come with me to take her to school, he insisted on bringing his backpack and when Brynnli's new teacher showed her the hook to hang her backpack up, he followed along and hung his up too.  When I picked Brynnli up from school she looked a little upset, so I asked her what was wrong and she said, "I never got to go on the bus!" They go on a field trip once a  month on the bus, and I guess she thought they went everyday.  She's too funny.

Cole was so devestated I let him do whatever he wanted (within reason) during Brielle's nap with me.  We played in the hose and jumped on our trampoline.  Love this kid.  He's so fun.  But he really missed his brother and sister!!!

Cole's 2nd Birthday

Our little Cole turned two yesterday.  He's the best.  We spent the whole day laughing.  He's so hilarious.  Rick brought home a chocolate birthday donut for Cole.  He loved it.  He's obsessed with lawnmowers. So I bought him a toy weed whacker online.  We opened it and he loved it.  Until an hour later when it died.  Cole was devestated, so we drove over to Toys R Us and found another one.  We went to Chic-fil-A for lunch and spent the rest of the day having fun.  We played, swam, Cole helped daddy mow the lawn, and had cake. 

 Cute capes made by Grandma Christensen

 Cole stats: 27 Lbs, 36 in

                      Favorite food: Pizza, cheese, peaches

Favorite toy: lawnmowers

Cole is so happy.  He loves sleeping and asks to go to bed when he's tired. So different from the other kids. He loves playing with the other two kids.  He loves holding Brielle.  He is tough, and sweet at the same time.  He loves to swim, and is really good at it with his floaties on.  He also really loves to dance. 

Words: He says lots of words, especially, "mamower", and loves his "night night" (paci) at bedtime.  He also LOVES his grandpas and his daddy. 

When we kept telling Cole it was his birthday today, he kept blowing like he was blowing out his candles.  He was too cute singing happy "day" "day" to himself too.  He is really such a joy.  Love that kid.