Happy Birthday Great Grandma!

To surprise my grandmother for her birthday, my Aunt Cathy, who lives in Indianapolis, cousin Kristin, who lives in Chicago, and my cousin Jason, who lives in Iowa all came down for the weekend. Uncle Ron, Aunt Paulette, and Amy all came over for the special occasion too!! Kristin brought her son who is just a week younger than Katelyn and her brand new little baby girl, Mallory. She was so beautiful!! It was so great to see everyone! I sure wished everyone lived closer together!!!!

Aunt Cathy reading a story to Katelyn. That girl sure LOVES books!!!

Aunt Shawna with Katelyn and Mallory!!

My cousin Kristin and I!!! I miss you! Wish you would move to KC:)

Taylan and my little short stuff. She looks so tiny next to Taylan!!

Cousin Fun!!

Camden and Katelyn got to visit with Connor, Drayton, and Zoe for a little bit on Monday night. I didn't know my sister Wendy was going to be in town. I just love my niece, Zoe. She is so good with Katelyn!! I hope they will always keep each other company as they get older!!

A trip to visit Santa

We have never put off seeing Santa so late until this year. We decided to go on a week night, thinking it would be less crowded, but we were WRONG!!! Santa started at 5:00, so we arrived at 4:30. The line was already around the store. We were in line for 45 minutes!! Popular man!! Camden did a great job reading his list to Santa. Top of the list this year was a motorcycle, jet pack so he can fly to outer space, and suction cups so he can stick to the ceiling. Hmm.. I am pretty sure that two of those things don't exist. Ouch!!!

Katelyn, not so great! I can't wait to add this to her baby book!!!

Weekend Visitors

Camden and Katelyn's Great Grandparents and his Aunt Jenny came to visit us this last weekend. They went to Manhattan, Kansas to watch the Lady Bears (Missouri State) in a basketball tournament. They stayed with us on Saturday night. We enjoyed spending time with them. I snapped this picture and I just love it. It is definitely getting printed and put in Katelyn's baby book!!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!!

Getting ready for Christmas this year was very exciting!! This has been the first year that Camden was just so excited to get ready for Christmas. He woke up at 5:30 in the morning on Saturday and the first thing he asked was, "Can we go put up the Christmas tree?" I told him we would put it up when Katelyn woke up and sure enough... he held me to it!!! He wanted to help with everything. Being in a new house, we actually had room to put things up!! I love my house at Christmas time. Something about sitting in the dark with the Christmas tree lights all aglow!! LOVE IT!!!!!

Camden is becoming quite the photographer!!! He always wants to take pictures of us. Here is a fun picture he took of Katelyn and myself:)

Missouri Mavericks Hockey

Independence just built a beautiful arena that houses the new Missouri Mavericks Hockey Team. The day after Thanksgiving, we decided to drive back to Kansas City and go to the game because my aunt, uncle and cousin were in town. I was really impressed by the arena. It is gorgeous!!! The hockey game was pretty good! I am looking forward to going back without children so I can actually "watch" the game:)

Thansgiving with the Beersman/Jackson Family

What a Thanksgiving we had this year. Our family has gotten so BIG!!! As always, we celebrate on Thanksgiving Day at Papa Billy and GG's house. Katelyn had a good time looking at all of Papa Billy's woodwork! We even got to take a beautiful reindeer home with us. It is on our fireplace!! Katelyn loved it. She also LOVED the train set!! I remember Camden spending hours playing with that thing and Katelyn loved it just the same!!

Camden has been into playing games lately! He is getting better and better with his ability to accept a loss, but it is still a work in progress. Some of his favorite games are: Sorry, Connect 4, and Guess Who. Usually on Thanksgiving, it's Cards, Cards, Cards. This year, Camden's games were a big hit!! Uncle Ryan thought he was the king of Connect 4 until he played Mark! It's nice having a kid around so you actually have an excuse to play those games again:)

Three months ago, he would have thrown his board over, thrown all the pieces across the room and screamed when he was behind, but now.... he is just pouting!! I will take it any day of the year! Camden's new anxiety medicine is making all the difference in the world with his ability to deal with everyday situations! I am so proud of him!!!

It wouldn't be Thanksgiving at Papa Billy's and GG's if we didn't play on the wood tractor. Katelyn really enjoyed it this year!! I think Danielle loved playing with her too!!

CHIEFS WIN.... What????

This was Mark on a natural high after the Chiefs VS. Steelers game. I couldn't talk for 3 days because my throat was so sore from yelling! How awesome was it to win a game at home. What could be any better than that... Oh yeah, it was a win against the Steelers!!!! YIPPEE!!!!

We have trees!!! YEAH!!!!

Just one more reason we love our new house... TREES and leaves in the fall. Well, I guess Mark didn't like the tree's so much, but Camden was in absolute heaven!!! He played in the leaves for days and days!!!

Katelyn didn't love the leaves as much as Camden did, but she had a fun time picking them up and putting them in bags.