Getting better!!!

The kid's energy has picked back up and they are becoming professionals at the breathing treatments and medicines. Brayden is getting into everything and Kennan is going a little stir crazy. We watched the snow fall yesterday and it killed Kennan that I wouldn't let him go out and play...I'm a mean mommy! We can't wait for all of this to be over!!

Brayden trying on Kennan's shoes...

Doing some coloring...
Kennan admiring his work...

Meet the newest member of our family...

"Kaki the Penguin" has recently joined our family. I am all for new family members...but this guy is not welcome in my house. Want to know why?

Because it means my precious babies have to endure this...
and this...
That's right y'all...RSV has struck this house. We will spend the rest of the week confined to our home, doing breathing treatments every 4 hours, and taking lots of medicines. I am sure many hours of TV and movies will be watched, yummy snacks will be eaten, and lots of books will be read.

And this is the mommy and daddy who are sick and tired of sickness!!!

A Few Facts...

~Today is the last day to sign up to participate in the Valentine's Day Blog Gift Exchange!!! You know you want to do it!!!

~Brayden is obsessed with "driving" the car. She thinks she is so big and would sit there all day if we would let her.
~Brayden FINALLY weighs enough to turn around in her car seat!!! It only took 17 1/2 months...but that is okay. It was worth the weight (haha, get it??)...and she loves it!!!

~The last few days have been full of sunshine and warm temps. We enjoyed eating lunch and playing outside on Wednesday with some friends.

~Following along with the fact above...add in the West Texas wind and you are bound to have some snotty noses and yucky coughs to follow. Both of the kids are coughing and snotty...I am just hoping it doesn't get worse!!

~Kennan and Brayden still LOVE to play together. Kennan doesn't mind trying on some necklaces and tiaras and Brayden loves to be the passenger in Kennan's train...so everyone stays happy!

The "train"

The conductor speaking to his passenger...

~Kennan's school had a Daddy and Me night last night. Kennan and Kenny enjoyed a yummy chili dinner (Kennan's favorite was the fritos), crafts, and then they all did the hokey pokey!

~My mom got me this great Write Plate for Christmas. I have been writing notes to myself on it...I have been grumpy and in a funk lately. The bright red ribbon and "choose JOY" are a reminder for me to be joyful in any circumstance. I have a pretty blessed life and need to remember to be joyful!!!

~Both kids have dentist appointments next week. Kennan needs a check up and Brayden has a front tooth that is pretty badly chipped. Kennan's should be a piece of cake (remember this post?), but I am a little worried about Brayden's appointment. I am thinking the issue is purely cosmetic and I am not sure if I can handle her having this funky looking tooth for another 5-6 years before she loses it...it may cost us a small fortune, but hopefully they can get her tooth to look a little more normal!

~I think that is all for now! Don't forget to sign up!

Don't forget...

(I am reposting this from Monday...)

Okay blog friends...here is my idea!!!

Let's do a Valentine's Day gift exchange with blog friends. This will be a fun way to get some fun Valentine's Day goodies and maybe meet someone new through blogland. Here's how to play:

~Email me at kjrigoulot [at] yahoo [.] com and let me know that you want to participate (put something about Valentine's Day in the subject). In your email give me your address and make sure the email you are using is the one you want me to email you back with.

~Wait a few days, and then you will get an email from me with the person you have been matched up with. While you are waiting you can...

~Go to the store and purchase a few Valentine's Day goodies...candy, candles, home decor, etc. Don't spend a lot of money (maybe $5-10 TOPS). Good places to get these things might be the Dollar Spot at Target, Walmart, the Dollar Tree...I could go on and on.

~Send your box of goodies to the person I emailed you about and then wait to get yours in return!

Let's see...today is Wednesday, the 21st. I'll collect names until Friday night. On Saturday I will email you with the person's name, blog address, and address to send the goodies to. Try to get everything in the mail by the 27th so that the goodies can be enjoyed and used before and on Valentine's Day. I think this will be fun!! Please join me!!

(Disclaimer: Participants will only be people that I know...even if you "stalk" the blog and I know you, you can participate. If you don't have a blog and want to participate, that is fine too. This will ensure that your address isn't given to any "weirdos"...and I use that term in the nicest way possible!)

We all need a little LOVE...

Okay blog friends...here is my idea!!!

Let's do a Valentine's Day gift exchange with blog friends. This will be a fun way to get some fun Valentine's Day goodies and maybe meet someone new through blogland. Here's how to play:

~Email me at kjrigoulot [at] yahoo [.] com and let me know that you want to participate (put something about Valentine's Day in the subject). In your email give me your address and make sure the email you are using is the one you want me to email you back with.

~Wait a few days, and then you will get an email from me with the person you have been matched up with. While you are waiting you can...

~Go to the store and purchase a few Valentine's Day goodies...candy, candles, home decor, etc. Don't spend a lot of money (maybe $5-10 TOPS). Good places to get these things might be the Dollar Spot at Target, Walmart, the Dollar Tree...I could go on and on.

~Send your box of goodies to the person I emailed you about and then wait to get yours in return!

Let's see...today is Monday, the 19th. I'll collect names until Friday night. On Saturday I will email you with the person's name, blog address, and address to send the goodies to. Try to get everything in the mail by the 27th so that the goodies can be enjoyed and used before and on Valentine's Day.

I think this will be fun!! Please join me!!

(Disclaimer: Participants will only be people that I know...even if you "stalk" the blog and I know you, you can participate. If you don't have a blog and want to participate, that is fine too. This will ensure that your address isn't given to any "weirdos"...and I use that term in the nicest way possible!)

When all else fails...

post cute pictures of kids on the blog!!

Kennan having a personality crisis..."Am I a Power Ranger or a Knight??"

The kid's new favorite hiding spot...except Brayden hasn't quite gotten the "completely hide so no one can find me" part.
Peek-a-boo!
Brayden seems to feel that the tutu looks better pulled up to her chest...perhaps she is trying to bring back the Steve Urkel look?
Sweet boy with a side smile...
Is my baby girl really old enough for pigtails?
I am not sure what is going on in this one...but her eyes crack me up every time!
Trying to sit on the 3 inch tall plastic chair...

"Does this chair make my bottom look big?"

The after pigtails look...

Bath time!

I love this little man!

After going back through I realize there are WAY more pictures of Brayden than Kennan in this post. I guess that is because she is doing some really funny/cute/silly things lately. I am sure I will make up for it another time!!!

Something to blog about...

Lately, I have felt like there hasn't been much to say on the ol' blog. But tonight Kennan gave me some blogging material. (Background to the story: Kennan lost a privilege and we were discussing why.)

Me: I'm sorry that you chose not to obey. Because I had to ask you too many times, you have lost that privilege.
Kennan: I only have to obey God and Jesus.
Me: I realize that. It is very important to obey the things God and Jesus say. Did you know that the Bible is the word of God? In the Bible, it also tells us that we should listen and obey our parents too.
K: Not my Bible. It says I only have to obey God and Jesus.
Me: Okay, we'll discuss this with you father in the morning.

Good thing Kenny is a pastor! Maybe he can talk to Kennan about this one better than me!!!

Here is my smart boy with his "treasures"

(aka:rocks found in the alley on the way to feed some horses down the street) Just for grins...here is our little diva (Watch out Paris Hilton!)
And tonight Brayden was obsessed with going over to the potty, trying to take off her pants and saying "tee tee" over and over again. I finally gave in and put her on there to sit. It only lasted 5 seconds and then she wanted to get off...and then back on...and then back off!

What do you think?

I was checking out my Yahoo homepage this morning and came across this clip. (I can't figure out how to bring the clip to my blog, so you will just have to click on the link)

What do you think??

A Fun Game

This is for all you Settlers of Catan fans out there...this is a game created by the same people who did Settlers. My dad loves this book and got this game for a post-Christmas present. Kenny and I liked it so much we got it too! You should play it! It's pretty fun!
Here is the product description from Amazon: "Players join together to help build Kingsbridge Cathedral. Using your workmen and resources, you must wisely deploy assets to overcome unexpected difficulties and shortages to prove yourself the greatest builder of them all! Will your efforts be recognized when the Great Cathedral at Kingsbridge is complete?"

Christmas!!

Disclaimer: Because I am so far behind and have so much to say, I am only going to share Christmas Eve and Christmas morning pictures. Maybe later I will get around to sharing some pictures from our 10 days back home with family!!

This was the first year, in our 5 years of marriage, that we have spent Christmas Eve at our house. Which also makes it the first year that Santa has visited our home on Christmas morning, instead of at one of our parent's homes. We were able to start some of our own traditions, "help Santa out"on Christmas Eve, and wake up in our own beds on Christmas morning. (Grandparents-don't get me wrong, we always had a great time at your homes...but this year was special for us!!) Because Kenny is the solo pastor at the church, he led services on Christmas Eve...two of them to be exact. The first was a 5:00 service that was family-friendly. Children were encouraged to dress up as characters from the Christmas story (Kennan was a shepherd and Brayden was a star). Kenny sat on the steps of the church and told the Christmas story and as each character was named, the kids came forward to listen to the rest of the story with Kenny. It was a wonderful time and I am hoping this becomes a new tradition for the church. After that, we went over to the home of a family from the church to join in their Christmas Eve meal and gift exchange. We had a lot of fun and were glad to share that time with friends...I don't think I would have enjoyed being home that evening without anyone to celebrate with! Later on, we went back home, put on jammies, set out cookies for Santa, and read The Night Before Christmas. The kids fell asleep pretty quick and Kenny was off to church for the 11:00 service. Santa and I got down to work and then I finished packing so we could head back to DFW on Christmas morning. Christmas morning came pretty quick and the kids had a great time opening their presents and playing with them. After presents we had breakfast, got dressed, and loaded up the car to head to DFW to celebrate more with family. All in all, we had 5 "Christmases" and the kids were pros at opening gifts by then!! Okay, enough of the holiday replay...here are some pictures and updates on the kids.

Kennan is now 3 1/2 years old (45 1/2 months to be exact). He is going to be...dare I say it...4 in March. I cannot believe it!! He is as sweet as can be, has an exellent memory, and a kind heart. He loves dressing up and pretending to be different people...anything from a Power Ranger to a knight to a doctor. He adores Brayden, and for the most part is very patient and gentle with her. He likes to dance and sing, and most recently has taken to telling stories (in a creative, good way!). Here is our big boy on Christmas Eve. Brayden is now 17 months old. She continues to amaze us with her curiousness and ability to do just about everything we tell her not too. She is always smiling and adores her big brother. She is a singer and a dancer and likes to shake her groove thing whenever she gets the chance. Brayden is very stong-willed and most recently, has enjoyed yelling "no mama" when getting her diaper changed. Her is our sweet girl on Christmas Eve.

Santa came!!

Brayden trying to wake Kennan up on Christmas morning. His response, "But I'm just too tired".

Merry Christmas!

Star Wars toys from Santa...

an easel from mom and dad.

A rock and roll pony from Santa...

a xylophone from mom and dad.

Here are some bonus pictures, just for reading the entire post!

Brayden got some dress up stuff from my parents. Here she is modeling...what you can't tell from the picture is that she was shaking her hips during this picture!!

Enjoying lunch at our new picnic table!!

Thanks for reading! Hope everyone had a great Christmas and start to the New Year!