32 reasons

Today is Gary's 32nd Birthday! And I sure LOVE him. Here are 32 reasons why:

1) He is funny

2) He is a fabulous dad

3) He is strong

4) Our babies love to fall asleep in his arms

5) I love to fall asleep in his arms

6) He works hard

7) He plays hard

8) He is adventurous

9) He is full of energy

10) He is happy

11) He loves to be outside

12) He loves his kids

13) He loves me

14) He never complains about the food I cook

15) He loves ice cream

16) He loves baseball

17) He is supportive

18) He is kind

19) He is sweet

20) He can drive all night if he has sunflower seeds

21) He can weld

22) He loves his family

23) He is protective

24) He is down to earth

25) He likes popcorn-(according to Canyon)

25) He loves to rough house with the boys

26) His smile

27) He loves music

28) He loves to travel

29) He can figure out a way to fix almost anything

30) He doesn't get stressed about much

31) He likes to watch a show-(according to Canyon)

32) He is appreciative

Christmas Day

Christmas morning in no particular order:

Gary helping Trek open a present.

Our family.

Gary checking out one of his over sized dry bags.

Trek chewing on a toy from Gram.

Trek in a box.

Gram and Canyon playing with a project in the box of projects from my mom (one of the coolest presents Canyon received).

Me in my bike helmet (I got a bike for Christmas) and the boys in my arms.

Canyon and Trek opening their stocking.

Canyon finding his basketball from Santa.

Christmas Eve

As usual we had a wonderful Christmas Eve. Lots of family and love surrounded us as we sang songs, shared gifts and ate food. Here are some of my favorite pictures.

TJ and Canyon on the Wagon singing Christmas Carols.

Me & Trek watching the festivities.

Some Shepard's and a wise man.

A mama and her sweet baby girl opening their gifts.

All the KIRKMAN cousins (1-17).

Gary and Louanne and their kids.

Building Frosty

Step 1: Roll the body for the snowman.

Step 2: Once body is assembled apply carrot for nose.

Step 3: Pose for mom.

This year Canyon abosolutely loved watching the classic movie Frosty the Snowman. So with the first snow him and Gary built a snowman. He has been delighted to look out the window and keep tabs on his frosty.

Decorating Christmas Cookies

FIVE dozen cookies, SIX bowels of frosting, TONS of candy,

&

TWO sweet toddlers made for some FABULOUS cookie decorating.The finished product.

Bannon & Canyon showing their art.

Tasting the sweetness.

Trekker's First Haircut

Not that he needed it, BUT the other boys in the house were getting hair cuts so we included him. I saved his hair (the little that was there). We are hopeful that this haircut will INSPIRE the rest of his hair to grow. He behaved perfectly and his little head is even sweeter than before.

New Tricks

STANDING

(and he is proud)

Just so I don't forget...

TREK

~He army crawls.~

~He has two teeth on the bottom. They are very cute. (However, he bites me constantly while he nurses.)~

~He enjoys wrestiling with Canyon. He thinks it's hilarious to have his brother rolling around on top of him. (He has a rug burn on the back of his head.)~

~He eats squash at Gram's house but spits it out at mine.~

~He claps.~

CANYON

~He has an amazing imagination, always wanting to make up games and go on adventures. He is so fun.~

~While doing his hair he looked in the mirror and said "I have Derrick hair." (Derrick is his very fasionable younger cousin.)~

~He didn't want to go to bed so he was pleading with Gary and I to stay up. Gary said, "We are all going to bed. What are you going to do while we are asleep?" Canyon thought about it for a minute and said "watch a little TV."~

~He is learning to sing Christmas songs and asks for them before bed.~

A Birthday Breakfast

Me and the boys took a Birthday Breakfast out to my Mama. We sang Happy Birthday, made place setting cards, and gave gifts. It was delicious and fun.

Happy Birthday, MOM!

Awwww

I put Trek in Canyons bed this morning while I loaded up the car. They absolutely enjoyed each others company. Canyon yelled out of his room, "Mama, Trek's my best friend." I melted and my heart grew a little bigger.

Decorating for Christmas

Placing the Star.

Trek getting a feel.

Admiring his work.

Gary fixing an old ornament.

Gary. Moriah. Canyon. Trek. (I didn't make them)

One of my favorites.

Canyon helping Trekker place an ornament on the tree. Canyon felt like he should wear gloves to decorate the Christmas tree.

Meeting Santa

Canyon & Trek both met Santa at Gary's work Christmas Party. It was all Canyon could talk about leading up to the day. When asked what he would tell Santa he wanted he replied "a basketball." When the moment finally got closer he was nervous and told Gary that he didn't want to go see Santa. We bribed him and told him we would send Trek in first to try it out. He thought that was a good idea and agreed to sit on Santa's lap. Trek was perfect and sweet and memorized by the big white beard. Canyon was shy and quiet (unusual for him). And graciously asked Santa for "a basketball."

(Canyon will certainty have a basketball under the tree this year)

December so far...

Canyon and I assembled a Ginger Bread House (much harder than I thought)

Canyon and I baked some butterscotch/pecan cookies

I finished knitting my first hat

Trek and Canyon got to start their first Advent Calendar

Today I am THANKFUL...

...that every day of my life...

I have always had a warm bed to sleep in

YYYYY
I have always had food in my belly
YYYYY
and I have always been surronded by love

YYYYY

Just so I don't forget...

~Canyon~

While canning tomatoes Canyon was helping me rinse the stock pot and said, "mama you are a good cooker."

After waking up from a nap Canyon said to his Daddy, "Gary I need something for my mouth (aka: I am hungry)."

Grabbing one of the CD's he got from his McDonald's Happy Meal he said to me "Put this Rock -n- Roll on so I can shake my little bum." (I am still laughing now).

Wobbling in from outside with his underwear and pants around his ankles he said to me with pride "Mom, I peed backwards outside." (I am not sure what this means).

~TREK~

He has learned to tattle... If Canyon comes to close and Trek is nervous he will scream at the top of his lungs (this startles Canyon).

He STILL laughs and laughs at just about everything Canyon does.

He scoots on his bum, backwards on our wood floors. This makes him proud.

He STILL loves to cuddle.

He dry heaves the squash baby food I made for him.

He has started to babble. His favorite thing to say is "ma-ma-ma-ma-ma" or "mummmm." This melts my heart.

Side by Side

I love to see these two together!

Because it's been 12 years with out cancer...

SHE has been around to do all of this...

...and more.

And I am so THANKFUL!

I love you mama! I am grateful everyday for the happiness you bring to my life and for every moment I share with you.

Ha Ha...

I got this funny in the mail from Skye today. Thanks for the laugh!

Halloween

Inspired by a book from Auntie Skye the kiddos were mummy's for Halloween. And they were precious! Canyon loved dressing up and Trek enjoyed having a few extra things to chew on. This was Canyon's first year TRICK-or-TREATING. His first stop was Gram's house where he received a completely edible apple man, a baseball bear and some cookies. Trek got a soft teddy bear (thanks mom). Then we headed to our church party where cars were lined up ready to load the kids bags with CANDY. At first Canyon was a little shy, but by the end of the TRUNK-or-TREAT he was reaching into there bowls to grab his own (I am still trying to figure out how to get rid of all the candy). We finished our night at Grandma & Grandpa Kirkman's house where there were green finger cookies and a house full of cousins. All the kids were cute, cute, cute. Can't wait for next year!

This Years Pumpkins

Me and the boys walking the path of the PUMPKIN PATCH

Posing for a pic at the P.P.

Bannon & Canyon enjoying the ride

Our pumpkins adorned with SNOW!

Trek & Canyon carving the pumpkin

Canyon's Scary face

My Scary Face