Mary

Tatums Class at church last night performed a little play to help illustrate for them, well, the obvious story that had been told. Her teacher told me that Tatum had originally been cast as "The Designated Baby Holder", but then quickly got promoted to Mary as her awesome baby holding skills were displayed. So the night ended with Tatum putting on quite a performance and Im sure, stealing the hearts of all who experienced this unforgettable play (the other kids and her teacher). Is it just me being her mother or does anyone else see her name in lights?

When Mom's Away, the Kids and Dad Will Play.

Bryna and her Mom went to Gilroy today to do some much needed
Christmast shopping, leaving the kids and I to fend for ourselves. So
the kids and I decided to go have some fun today. We pack up the car
and carved are way through the holliday shopping trafic to find
ourselves at My Museum. The kids were off and running as soon as we
pulled up. They played hard for about 2 hours, then we skipped over to
Taco Bell for a Lunch brake, and then back to My Museum to finish off
the day.

Monday Night Football

Are you ready for some Football?

We sure were. Our first Monday Night Football game, and it sure didn't
disappoint. Thanks Sam for the great seats. I knew your Monterey
mafia hook ups would pay off.

Guess Who?

I'll give you a clue. Im related to both of them (okay THATS scary!) Oh what fun we had again at our good friends the Gaily's Annual Christmas Party! I have not laughed so hard in all my life as when I saw this dynamic duo cruise through the Gaily's Doors last night! Of course Nate has been the annual chosen Santa, but this year, his sidekick "Buddy" (The Will Ferrell Addition) joined him (okay okay its Riley). My kids had not the slightest clue, but made friends quickly with Santa again after given a present and a candy cane from Buddy. The night was jam packed with Food, friends, a gift exchange, of course an unforgettable visit from Santa, and of course lots of laughs. Thanks for another great night Aaron and Adrienne!

Christmas Cookies!!

mmmm...a very yummy tradition. My mom hosted this year and the kids had a blast as always. The day included cookie decorating, a warm soup and cornbread lunch, a long rainy walk with Ken, and concluded with my mom reading the kids "The Night Before Christmas". A great time! Christmas this year is even more magical than it has ever been (especially for Tatum) It is so fun to watch. She remembers everything from last year, so its NOT a challenge to get her excited! Christmas is definitely on our minds at all times. Oh to be a kid.

Tree Time

A Home Depot Steal of a deal at 39.99! Every year I say that I want to go cut down our tree in some far away rustic logger community or something, but we always end back at the old Depot. Once we get it home and decorated though, its always festive enough for me.

2 Beds

We have now officially reached the crib-less level in childhood! In these past couple of weeks both kids have graduated into bigger and much better sleeping arrangements. Tatum first took the plunge from toddler bed into her very own antique white iron bed that was a birthday gift from Ma and Papa (I had been looking for one for awhile, and Ma with her magic auction and flea market know how found one!) She looks like such a little Princess sleeping in it. Brady on the other hand decided pretty much on his own that he was ready to move after having a nightmare that a "Crocodile was in his Crib". The Big Boy bed seemed like a much better option than having to sleep with a crocodile I guess (: So that's that-both a sleeping beautifully.

Gymnastics!

Pumpkin Patch!

One of our favorite traditions (:

Movie Madness

Took Brady to his first movie (And Tatums first 3-d Movie!) The other night. The theatre was playing Toy Story 2 in 3-D so we seized the opportunity! It was a pretty big deal. Riley and I were cracking up the entire time watching our kids wearing huge 3-d glasses and not moving an inch as they were both in a perpetual state of shock and awe over the gigantic screen, gigantic glasses, and gigantic toy characters popping out at them. Downright hilarious fun!

Tatums Birthday!

Sorry..a bit behind on the posts!

Tatums Puppy Dog 4 Year Old B-day Party... We had a great time celebrating Tatums big #4 the way she wanted it-all about dogs! She's growing up to be quite the independent woman and is never short of surprises. How we love our girl..

The Face

My mom sent me some pics recently of when her and her new husband Ken took the kiddos to the fair. Of course she noted Tatums face in the chicken pic-and for those of you who know Tatum well, you know that this is her classic "Im so excited right now that Im a bit embarrassed about how excited I am" look. Usually this look is associated with holding or petting some type of animal, or if she does an awesome job at something and knows it. Its by far my favorite Tatum expression. I see it often, but Im so glad we caught it on camera! (good job mom)

What the?

No this is NOT our new dog. Just a pic that Tatum stealthily downloaded onto my iphone without my knowledge. Of course this would be her pic. She thought it was pretty hilarious too (: This girl is a wiz kid.

Kitchen Helpers

Heres the scene almost every night in our house before Riley comes home. The kids all up in my cooking dinner business-and lovin it! Tatum is the constant stirrer, mixer, measurer, and Brady usually sticks with cracking any eggs that need cracking, dish washing duty and taste testing. ( It makes me feel pretty good I must say when my only taste tester responds with "mmmm Yuuuumy Mommy! More please!") I think they might hang on to their jobs for awhile.

Lefty?

I think he might take after mom on this one. Looks like my son too may be of the elite (:

Untitled from bryna ramones on Vimeo.

The 4th

Good times this year celebrating the 4th. Spreckels literally turned into red white and blue kid land and was bumping with live music, BBQ smoke and waving flags. We attended the lil home town parade at noon (the highlight of course being the candy thrown from every automobile involved), enjoyed the festivities, and at night headed over to the Holdridge's for a little BBQ and low key fireworks. We were feeling very patriotic by the day's end.

KIDS CAMP!

got a cowboy hat

s' more face

So this past month or so (okay way more), I've been busy planning our annual Children's Ministries 3rd-5th grade Kids Camp! Woo Hoo! The camp is held every year in the Santa Cruz Mountains. These camps are so much fun (to plan and attend!). This years camp was called appropriately "Camp I AM", as it was all on the 7 I AM Statements of Christ (in the Gospels)-so it was great-All about Jesus! I must say that I don't spend too much time talking about our involvement in Children's Ministry, because, well, most people just want to see pics of the kiddos... but we are having so much fun doing it once again! Here's some pics of Brady (the kids both attended as well-they were loved on a LOT by the elementary girls to say the least!), and Ill have to post some of Tatum soon (she's been singing Pharaoh Pharaoh and the Bazooka Bubblegum song ever since we got home!). But it was a great time. Next on the agenda: "God's Wacky World Camp Out Adventure", which is a lil day camp for our younger guys in the church! (Tatum will get to be an actual "camper" at this one!) Fun summer times...

I have the greatest family

Jammin

A little Jam Session with Papa over @ there house this weekend...this boy loves music!! Maybe he inherited the mad music skills Papa Genes....how cool would that be?

Yard Work Part ...?

Grass! Now the front and back yards are twins. Riley slaved until 9:30 putting this stuff in. Next: a couple fences, flowers and a lot of weed pulling! Ugh.

Oh the endless face washing.

..Gotta love him though!!

Paying Up

Caught Riley going out the door to deliver a 12 pack of Pepsi's to the neighbor girl. Apparently Riley lost in a fierce game of horse, and owed her. Yeah, she's 9. Pretty sad Ry, pretty sad.

Tatums bright Idea

Today Tatum came up with a pretty great concept...or business rather (quite the entrepreneur I must say). I think it all is stemming from whenever we are out in public, and Tatum sees a dog, walking with its owner. My little animal fanatic will always ask (and I have tried to divert her MANY a time from it, especially when the dog is all snagled toothed and one-snap-away-from-killing-a-child-looking) but she will always ask her very specific line of questions as she passes by (very slowly) : 

"Is your dog friendly?"...then whatever the answer, she will follow with "Is he used to little kids?"  Many times, to her dismay (and the owner is either telling her the truth or also trying to divert) the owner will say, "Oh, no, he is not really used to kids." At that point Tatum without a doubt walks sadly away, knowing that the option to pet the animal is no longer possible. Yesterday, a similiar story occured.

 So today she came up with the "used-to-ing  Center". This is a place, as Tatum clearly explained it to me, that Dogs go, and learn how to get used to little kids. She said that all dogs should go there. In her mind this is the answer that would make the world all make sense. Brilliant.

Gardening

She loves it...

Giants

We are never going back to bleacher seats again after this night! Riley somehow scored the luxury seats of the San Francisco Giants Owner (a member at Cypress of course), so we headed up to San Fran to watch the Giants battle the Dodgers on Tuesday night. There's just nothin like a good ol' baseball game in my opinion. Popcorn, hot dogs, The National Anthem, 7th inning stretch, and of course singing "take me out to The Ball game" at the top of our lungs. Great times.

Happy Birthday Riley!!

Happy Birthday to the best husband and dad on the block. You make life so much happier for all us us, and a lot more interesting!
Hope you feel loved on your day (because you are).

Whoops

Somebody found moms lipstick. They think they are soooo funny...

Yard Work Part 2

Rileys Parents came up this past week to help (okay more like DO) more work in the yard! The guys started on the deck, and Sandi and I completed the veggie garden! Of course it was a wopping 96 degrees as the guys were sweating buckets and Sandi and I were knee deep in compost, but it was fun. The kids had fun too getting in the action, and of course took more than a few slip and slide breaks!