Braden's 3rd Birthday Party

It's so hard to believe that my first baby is 3 already!!

Braden loves being the center of attention, so he really enjoyed when we all sang happy birthday to him.
Papa Larsen was a big help with the kids. Look at Sienna pigging out on her cupcake. Sooo cute.

The Dahm family came to celebrate with us. Here is Braden with Mia.

Our friends Jeremy, Shannon and Riley Miller.

It was so great to have Heather and Jackson here!

The kids cousin's Logan and Reannan with Braden and Harrison hanging out with Papa playing Wack A Mole.

Uncle Brian help Logan get some air and make a basket.

Pics on Braden's actual Birthday

Here are a few pics from Braden's actual birthday January 22nd, 2008.  Aunt Bina(Christina) and Harrison came from Phoenix and Heather and Jackson came from San Fran to celebrate his special day.  We took the kids to a great park to play then to Red Robin for dinner.  

The "Great Snow Storm" 08

Around the Holidays Portland got records amounts of snow over the span of a few weeks.  It was beautiful, but after being stuck in our homes for weeks we were kind of happy to see it go.  We did try and enjoy it while it lasted.  The kids had a great time right in our back yard and neighborhood since we got about two feet of snow in our area.  The roads were pretty bad, so thank goodness we could walk to a grocery store and more importantly Starbucks!!  

Our neighborhood...

Mommy and Sienna happy about being warm at Starbucks!!

Cheers!  Here we are at Starbucks enjoying coffee and hot chocolate.  

Hot Chocolate makes Sienna happy!!

more snow pics...

Our backyard....
Braden and I tried to make a snow man, but the snow was too powdery.  So, we just made a very short one.  It was fun anyway.  
This is behind the homes in our neighborhood.  Kids would come here to sled down this hill.  This day it was snowing too hard and again the snow was too powdery and wasn't packed enough.  Here is Braden trying to make a snow ball to throw at me. 

Christmas 08

Here are a few pics from Christmas at home in Sherwood.   It was so nice not to have to worry about traveling this year!! We braved the snow and crazy roads for Christmas Eve service then it was home to put the kids down to sleep, so Santa could come.  Papa Larsen drove up to spend Christmas day with us.  The last pic is of us just hanging out watching Braden make some baskets with his new basket ball set.  We had a very special Christmas with our little family!!

Thanksgiving 08

We spent Thanksgiving in Florida enjoying spending time with Grandma Joyce, Charlie, Aunt Angie and Elana.  It was so exciting for the kids because Grandma surprised them with an early Christmas.  They looked so darn cute in their new Christmas outfits!  We didn't do a whole lot while in Fla, but we did take a trip to Gatorland.  The kids loved it!  Also, on our last day we went to breakfast at the Old Mill restaurant in DeLeon Springs and then to Daytona to let the kids play on the beach.  

Trip to Lee Farm's for our Pumpkins

This was our first year going to Lee Farm and it will definitely be an annual event.  They had so much for the kids to do from pony rides to a petting zoo, a hay maze, a hay ride and even some fair rides.  And of course the kids picked out two  perfect pumpkins.  We had a great time.  

Aunt Christina and Harrison came to visit Sept 08

During their visit we took Sienna and Harrison to the Children's Museum then for a walk along the water front(Braden was in Eugene with Dad for the Duck game).  Then we ended the day at The Screen Door in E. Portland for some good ol SouthernFood.  What a perfect ending to a great day!
Playing some sweet music for mom.

more pics of Christina and Harrison's visit

The kids playing in the backyard.  
In the Dig at the Children's Museum
Sienna tried so hard to get into water and ended up in this bucket.

 I think the favorite part of the Museum was the water area.  Kids do love water.  

Like Father like son

Braden wanted me to leave him alone to go potty and when I went in to check on him I found him like this.  When I asked him what he was doing he said, "I'm just reading".  Thank goodness I was able to catch this in a photo.  I laughed so hard!

My boys resting on the couch.

Mom and Braden's date night to the Circus

Aug and Sep 08 pics of the kids

The kids with the new pup Coco
Go Noles!  So funny, looks like Sienna is about to do the Seminole chop.
Brian and Braden at the Duck Game.  They spent a couple boys weekends going  down for the games.  Braden loves going to the Duck Games spending time with dad and papa.  He's really good at chanting "Go Ducks Go".

While the boys were away Sienna and I enjoyed some girl time.  We went shopping and spent the day downtown Portland watching the Dragon Boat races and enjoying the gorgeous weather.