Happy 3rd Birthday Brooksie!

For Brooks' Birthday we had a few friends over for a Thomas Extravaganza Party!!

We played trains, watched Thomas and the Day of the Deisels (while eating popcorn ofcourse) took turns driving around on Thomas, played in the Thomas tent, painted Thomas pictures, played trains some more, ate lunch, and decorated Thomas Cookies!! Then on his actual Birth-Day we opened lots of Thomas presents, ate some cake, and played video games with Dad!

I realize these pictures are completely out of order, but you get the idea.

A.J. was loving driving Thomas around.

Carver had tons of FUN with all the trains!

pretty sure Brooks didn't even take one bite....oh well.

lunch time

Zoey enjoying the new Thomas book.

Thomas cookies!

New Cars 2 video game from Dad.

Watching Day of the Deisels, while playing on the amazing track Dad laid out for them.

painting Thomas pictures.

Brooksie the artist.

Zoey always having a laughing good time, no matter what!

Climbing around inside the new Thomas tent!!

Where's Brooksie?

Brooks told Zoey it was time to take a nap, and she LOVES to play along!

He seriously can't get enough TRAIN TIME!

The obviously home-made cake...awaiting the suprise train that was going to show up right before we lit the candles. Brooks kept bringing me trains to put on the cake all day long....and singing "Happy Birthday to me" ALL DAY.

Stanley arrived!!

All the grandparents were "there" singing right along, technology is so amazing.

Love this Boy.

S'mores

Our lovely friends, the Taylors, invited us out to their house for some s'mores. It was a perfect night to hang out around the fire, and the kids loved it too!

No, Zoey is NOT really on fire.

Christmas in Crazy Town

21 Andersons in 1 house!

Luckily the weather was very mild and we were able to get out of the house as often as we wanted.

We visited the dairy farm where Stephen worked as a young boy, the kids loved it!

Brooks kept asking if we could go back and see the cows.
We took this picture right after the boys finished climbing that extremely tall stack of hay to our left, and hoisted all the kids up there too.

Christmas morning, Santa came!

After Christmas service, so glad I got to be a part of the choir, it really made my day!

Iconic picture taking spot in Idaho Falls.

handsome fellas.

So the plane ride home was turning out to be the plane ride from H.E.L.L.....there was nothing I could do to get Zoey to stop screaming. I had her asleep 4 different times but she was so uncomfortable (her ears must have really been hurting) she just wouldn't keep her eyes closed, or her mouth. So after attempting all I could do to get her to sleep I gave up and let her climb around the very last row we had taken all for ourselves and had a photo shoot- it was making her smile and she sounds so cute when she says "cheeeeese".

enjoying her in flight snack and beverage

pretending to be asleep on top of my feet

This was her all time favorite spot during the flight

Brooks was so tired when we got to Dallas (about 11:30pm) he hitched a ride on Dad's bag so he wouldn't have to walk. Smart little guy.

I'm excited for a simple, quiet, private Christmas next year (hopefully in a land far far away).

So much to be THANKFUL for.

I am so thankful for my adorable, energetic, obnoxious, loving little family.

I am SO THANKFUL for this HOT guy that goes to work everyday for us, who puts up with me getting a little more CraZy everyday, and who loves me enough to dance with me!

These two are the BEST and I'm so thankful to be their daughter.

I'm thankful for my BEAUTIFUL SISTER who is such a good example to me and has such a loving heart.

I'm so thankful for TIME we get to spend together.

Ryan and Courtland were truly missed.

I'm thankful that my little guy and my mom are seriously BEST BUDS.

I'm so thankful for my FEISTY little Zoey monster and her adorable kisses and her outward love towards her big brother.

I'm thankful for my Brooksy who is so very smart and loves to learn, and who always thinks of his little sister and NEVER wants her to be left out.

I'm SO thankful for these two and all their hard work while they were here.

They helped to

1. prime and paint the vaulted entry and upstairs hallway

2. install a new dishwasher

3. install a new kitchen sink and faucet

4. replace two bathroom faucets

5. replace a toilet seat cover

5. change out light-bulbs all over the place

6. fix the garage door openers

7. install a new microwave

8. install a new oven (which required moving an existing cabinet)

9. repair the jetted tub

Not much of a vacation but they did get to eat at Pei Wei and In-n-Out (their favorite places) while they were here. I can't be more grateful for my hard-working self-less family.

And I'm SO THANKFUL that I was able to have a successful Thanksgiving dinner at MY house. The menu was all fresh ingredients, nothing from a can (except the cranberry sauce).

I'm so thankful that my family puts up with me. I love you!!