Well, Brady is off with both cameras and I haven't downloaded anything off of them in the past couple months so I have no pictures to post, but I have a chance for once for an update, so figured with or without pictures I ought to at least quickly update. We all had a very merry Christmas! Wow, that was a long time ago, but it was great! Nice and relaxed here at home. Tayson got a skateboard from Santa, and Camden got a remote control car that worked for all of 20 minutes and then it began to smoke and we've spent the last month and a half in contact back and forth with the company, and in the end, they have no replacement so they are sending him a refund. He was sad at first (he was SO EXCITED about getting this rc truck and now its kaput! I explained we could buy a new one and he thought about it, but was afraid it also wouldn't work because after reading reviews sounds like there has been many problems. Then he realized he could buy almost anything his heart desired with the refund he'll be getting, so he's got all kinds of ideas in his little four year, almost five year old "big" head. There may be a new kind of r/c car mixed in there, but we'll see. Tayson turned 7 years old shortly after Christmas! WOW where has the time gone. He is excited to know that he will be turning 8 this year! He's been waiting so long for it. :) He still LOVES first grade and is reading like crazy, and finds math way too easy. We are searching for a challenge for him so he doesn't get bored in school. :O) Camden turns the big 5 next week and BOY is he excited! He's most excited about finally being able to start kindergarten in the fall, he's been begging to since last summer, and is more than ready! We are doing just family fun activities for both boys birthdays since they had birthday parties with friends last year. They are happy with it, Tayson chose ice skating and had a blast. Camden is still trying to decide still.
The boys had their first snow skiing experience in January and absolutely LOVED IT! It is so nice living where the snow generally isn't, but then being able to drive 1 1/2 -2 hours and find snow when we do want it. Both boys did AWESOME and loved their lessons, and now think they are pros. :) Brady had a chance to snowboard again for the first time in years and spend some time with Tayson on the slopes while Cam had a blast in a 2nd lesson. We paid for group lessons and Camden somehow lucked out with private in the morning, and double private in the afternoon (just him and two instructors). He LOVED the attention. Baylee and I hung out in the lodge where we could see the slopes perfectly and watch the boys. Baylee LOVED it because she had free reign of a huge lodge and because of the not so great weather conditions, it was virtually empty so she could run and do whatever she wanted. Made for a very happy girl all 8 hours, and a very happy mommy. :)
Brady has a busy month, currently enjoying CSM for a few more days, where he will also present research twice (he's put a lot of hard work into this), and then he just found out last week he has a class he has to teach in Florida next week which means another presentation to prepare. In the midst of all this he is busily studying for his GCS test in March! He is working so hard and being an awesome dad and husband on top of it all. We are SO PROUD of him, but definitely looking forward to the test being over. Its hard to go back into the studying mode when you've been out of school and test taking for so long. He's doing great, and in the process of training for his next marathon on top of it all. I told him I would support him and cheer him on this time around, but not planning to join him. It took a toll on the kiddos last time to do it together, so felt it would be better if one of us was uninjured and capable of playing soccer, etc with the boys on saturdays while the other trained. I was more than happy to be the one to volunteer. :)
Brady gets another awesome opportunity as his coworkers have put a team together and will be running Hood to Coast in August! He's really looking forward to that, and hoping to complete another triathlon this summer too. SHEESH!
Baylee is growing like crazy and is now almost 21 months old. She is a joy for the most part, but definitely knows how to let you know when she's upset. She's got quite the scream when she's mad and she is definitely a stubborn little girl when she wants to be, but oh so sweet when she wants to be too. She is talking up a storm and repeats EVERYTHING you say (the boys didn't do this nearly as much, so we really have to watch what we say sometimes, but its hilarious when she totally catches you off guard and you don't think she's listening and then she starts repeating what you are saying while she's busily playing with her toys.
Everyone is healthy finally after Brady and I dealt with strep throat last week and Tayson ended up with an infected finger. We had 3 out of 5 on antibiotics and I wondered if we were going to make it 5 for 5 all at the same time, but fortunately Cam and Baylee held strong to their health and we are grateful for that. Other than that, we've had a pretty healthy winter thus far and are very grateful!
Well, that's about it for now. We are looking forward to some family adventures/trips this spring/summer, family reunions, etc. We will take things one day at a time in the meantime as we strive to get through the stresses ahead this next month. :) I'll try to get some pics up when I have the camera back.
This was taken over thanksgiving, but it is what Tayson LOVES to do when he goes to papa's house. where we just got back from on Tuesday. The kids and I went out for a week and a half over Tayson's spring break. I just didn't take many pictures, so you get a pic from the previous trip instead. 
Baylee's latest thing is begging to put on her swimsuit/s almost every day and walking around the house with them on all day, even if its freezing in the house. This time however she thought tights would be a nice addition to her head/face apparently and she got quite the kick out of it. 
Tayson was awarded the Principal's/specialist award for this last term at school. He was nominated by his teacher. We were pretty proud of him and he was excited himself when he realized he was getting the award. 
Cousins and best buddies! they LOVE playing together.
Tayson's skatepark birthday cake
Tayson and Camden outside playing in water today. haha, 2nd day since we got back from Utah and the weather is beautiful (maybe 60 degrees) and they think its summer suddenly (compared to the snow we got in Utah last week and the torrential downpours we've had hear in the weeks prior. Can't blame them. They werent' so thrilled though once they got drenched. :) 
Miss Baylee enjoying the great weather. She is SO READY for spring/summer! She has a love for the outdoors just like her brothers! 
