To Blog or Not to Blog...

That has been the question! I have sat down several times over the past month and a half and started the same blog over and over. I was just feeling overwhelmed at everything that had happened and how in the world I was going to post it in a quick and concise way. If I was a good blogger, I would update more frequently but I'm not, so I don't. Anyway. Finally, today, I decided I would get it done. Not for people who read (because there is really only like 3 people who read this!), but for me b/c this is my way of "scrapbooking" our lives.

So, since my last post a lot has gone on! Let's start with Feb! Bryson had his 4th birthday and birthday party! It was so much fun...in my opinion anyway! He decided that he wanted games at his party so we decided to make it carnival like. We set up about 10 games around the room and as the kids came in they went around and played all of the games. Games like: Ring Toss, Bean Bag Toss, Nerf Darts, Clothes pin drop, Bean Bag Tic Tac Toe and of course a Pinata! We had lots of prizes and the kids had fun. After the games we had hot dogs, Shark cupcakes and opened presents! Bryson made out like a bandit! He had a great time celebrating with his Friends!

Later in the month, we survived the dreaded four year old well visit and all of the shots that go along with it! It was a rough 30 minutes b/c Bryson and Jaden were both getting shots (Jaden was there for his 9 month appt.) but we made it out alive and both boys were well above average in height and weight as well as VERY healthy!

As March rolled around we ALL were getting a nice case of Spring Fever! We were so ready for spring break and some time off. So we planned to take a mini vacation over spring break! Bryson is into Dinosaurs right now so we thought it would be fun to go camping at Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glenrose. After spending a few days in Temple visiting family, we packed up and headed west with a van load of camping gear. I have to admit I was a little nervous how Jaden would do sleeping but he did great! We got to Glenrose on Wednesday afternoon and got our camp set up. Then we went to a cool place called Dinosaur World that had over one hundred life size dinosaur replicas. We got to walk along the mile long path looking at and reading about all of the dinosaurs! The second day we spent actually hunting for dino tracks in the Paluxy River. It was really hot outside and the water felt so good to wade around in while we looked for the tracks! Of course, that was Bryson's favorite part!

Unfortunately, our camping trip was cut a few hours short b/c Jaden started not feeling well at about 4:00 in the morning on Friday. So we VERY QUIETLY got up, put the boys in the car and packed up the whole camp, in the dark, in 30 minutes and headed home. We were home by 7:30 in the morning and spent the day relaxing and letting Jaden feel better...he had an ear infection.

The rest of March was pretty normal. Matthew had lots of track meets, I started VBS practices, Bryson started baseball practice and Jaden learned to crawl!! So for now, that's all! I'll start planning Jaden's First Birthday in a few weeks. Won't be anything big, just family, but I still try to make it special with invitations and a homemade cake, so we'll see! I can't believe that the next time I blog I'll most likely have a one year old!

Christmas, New Years and Everything since...

Wow! It has been a crazy long time since my last blog! The Christmas season is always a crazy one, in a good way that is, so I had a feeling I wouldn't be blogging during that time. BUT, I can't believe how quickly January went and I didn't blog once during the whole month! Ooops! So here is a run down of our Christmas, New Years and everything since!

This year we spent Christmas Eve and Christmas day with my family here in Allen. We continued with the tradition of going to Christmas Eve Service and then the whole family eating and spending the night at my parent's house. Christmas was so much fun for Bryson this year! He was totally into every aspect of the day: giving, Santa, food, family and of course Baby Jesus! He loved it! Jaden was such a good boy too! He was just so layed back and relaxed watching everyone opening presents! It was a great couple of days!

The day after Christmas we headed to Temple to spend a few days with Matthew's family! We had a good 3 days of more family, food and gift opening! The kids always have so much fun when they are together and this Christmas we had two new babies with us!

When we got home from Temple we quickly unpacked, washed and repacked for our annual New Year's Eve Roomie Reunion! This year we were all going to Cynda's brand spankin' new house in Oklahoma City. Josh and Lacey came to our house Thursday and then we all left Friday morning for OKC! It was great to spend a couple of days with the girls, their hubbys and kids! I love how our friendship is so simple and easy! The way it is supposed to be!

When we got home from OKC Sunday, Matthew immediately started getting ready for work on Monday. And so it began...back to the grind for us all!.

January sure did fly by! I don't even know what all we did b/c it went so fast! All I do know is that we had several days of the month where atleast one person in the house was sick! Bryson had the stomach bug, Jaden had strep (the youngest patient his dr. has ever had to have strep) and Matthew and I both suffered with congestion and nose issues! We did have a nice snow storm during the month too and the boys enjoyed playing in the rare North Texas snow!

Track season has started up and Matthew's Saturdays are starting to be consumed with track meets so we decided to be spontaneous this past Saturday (it was 75 degrees...today it was 16 degrees) and take the boys to the Zoo! We hopped on the train and spent the afternoon looking at all of the animals and being amazed at how smart our Bryson has become!

Today, we were home ALL day! The roads are covered in ice and schools were cancelled today and tomorrow. It's nice that we are all here together but it would be nice if we could get out and do some things as a family! Oh well, games and movies it will be!

Well, that is just about it for the last couple of months! I am in the process of planning Bryson's 4th Birthday Party! It is in about a week and a half! I'm sure I'll blog about it! Until then...

Christmas and The Cross...

Christmas. I love Christmas! I'm not going to lie, some of my favorite things about Christmas really have nothing to do with the "real meaning of the season." I love spending time with family, watching Bryson as he gets so excited over shopping and making presents for other people. I love the lights and the smells and of course I LOVE the music! BUT, that said, I will say that what I love MOST about Christmas is that it is NOT my favorite holiday. I love that I know that it DOES NOT END with the BABY JESUS. I know that for 33 years a Man traveled on this earth healing, teaching, and praying. Then, HE DIED. Then, HE ROSE! (Easter has always been my fav!) I think so many times people forget that Christmas is just the beginning. The story doesn't stop with a cute baby in a manger with a bunch of strangers and animals starring at him! There is so much more!

At our church we do a musical every year called Christmas Celebration. The first half of the musical is choral, traditional Christmas music. The second half, however, is the WHOLE story of the life of Christ! Birth, Life, Death, and Resurrection. Did you know that people, church going people, have been offended by the fact that we would mention the CROSS at Christmas! (Really, a person asked, "are you doing that cross stuff again, if so I don't need tickets.")

Anyway, all that to say, Christmas is about the Cross! Without the CROSS it would just be a good story!

One of my favorite songs in the musical this year is called Underneath the Tree! Here is a video of the song I found! Great song!

http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=FMMBMNNU

Let the Holiday Season Begin!!

I love this time of year! I love the lights, I love the food : ), I love the decorations and I LOVE the smells! I am one of those annoying people that can't wait for Thanksgiving week so that I can decorate for Christmas...mind you I've already been listening to Christmas music for a month! It's not that I don't love Thanksgiving b/c I do, it's just Christmas makes me so happy... especially since I've had kids!

Our family has some awesome traditions this time of year and I love getting to do things with my kids that I remember doing as a kid! Of course, we have started some new traditions also and one of those traditions is quickly becoming my favorite and we are doing it tomorrow night! We call this our Progressive Tree Decorating Dinner! We start at Jansen/Crystals house with appetizers. We all munch on chips and dip while decorating their tree! Then, we move to our house! This year I'm making a big pot of chili and we will decorate my tree and then eat our main course! Finally, we head to Mom/Dad's house. They have the biggest tree, by far, so it takes quite a bit longer to do theirs! Here, we have our dessert and finish up the tree decorating! It is just a really fun thing and the kids get a kick out of decorating everyone's trees. I'll post some pics after the big event! : )

Well, I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! We had a great time visiting with family and eating LOTS of AMAZING food! We even had a special visitor come to remind the kids to be on their VERY best behavior over the next month. Here are a few pics of that special visit!

Happy 6 Months Jaden Dane!

We love you SOOOOO much and could not imagine out lives without you!

Fast and Furious October!

October was FULL of lots of fun here in the Bush household! Football, pumpkin patch, State Fair, soccer games, addition of a new little baby (our beautiful neice Delaney Jaymes), groundbreaking for our children's building at church and Halloween. It has been an action packed month that seems to have flown by so fast I have to look at pictures to believe things even happened!

Matthew: Freshman football season is over and all 3 teams ended with GREAT records, including one that was undefeated! He is now practing with the varsity team as they get ready to enter the first round of the playoffs! He is only about 8 or 9 lbs from his goal weight and is looking pretty stinkin' good if you ask me!

Bryson: He has been very interested in planning his future lately. He has decided that he is going to be a football/basketball coach and a church teacher! : ) He is going to live in McKinney and Jaden and I can come visit anytime we want! (I'm sure Daddy can too!) Soccer season is wrapping up with only 3 more games to go and then we will take a break until spring when T-Ball starts! I am soooo excited! I LOVE baseball and can't wait to watch him play! I think he will love it too!

Jaden: He is a rolling machine! He is constantly moving and skooching to get where he wants to go! He loves playing with anything that makes noise and can sit up for a about 5 or so seconds by himself before he tips over. I really do believe that he is going to be our musical child! He responds to music so much more than Bryson does or ever did! He "sings" all the time and loves it when anyone...especially big brother...sings to him!

Me: Same ol' Same ol'! Getting excited that the holiday season is coming! I love this time of year! I love Christmas music and I love all of the smells of this time of year! ( I know I'm weird!) I'm just proud of myself for only letting a month go by before I blogged again!

Well, that's all I got for ya today! Enjoy our month in pictures!

Happy Homecoming!

Jaden watching Uncle Jake play football!

Pumpkin Patch

State Fair with Big Tex!

Children's Building groundbreaking at church.

Halloween!

Fall Fun

Happy Fall! Football Season is in full swing here at the Bush house and we are loving it! Bryson is at the age now that he loves going and actually watching the game and Jaden is very easy this year! He just "hangs out" in his Bjorn most of the game occasionally taking a break to nurse here and there. We do go to 2 or 3 games a week between Thursday night and Friday night so by the time Saturday gets here and Bryson's soccer game is over, we are all ready to CRASH!! I decided after last post it is much easier to sum up what is going on in our house if I break it down by person. Since most people that read this are family and close friends I thought I'd keep it simple! So here we go...

Matthew: School is going well. He is working 7 days a week right now so we have to make a lot of our time that he is home! His freshman football teams are doing great! Lots of Ws! The varsity team is also doing great! They are undefeated going into game 6 tonight! All of us have been living a healthier lifestyle the last 12 weeks and Matthew is doing great! I'm not allowed to post any numbers or pictures of him b/c he wants it to be a surprise when we get to see his family. But let me just say that he is doing REALLY well!

Bryson: Loves Soccer! Got a Black Eye! Had to buy size 5 clothes! Favorite color is Green! Has an imagination like no other! This kid has really come into his own over the last few months! He is such a big boy and he is so smart! He loves to learn about anything and will ask a million questions until his brain just can't take anymore! I am so glad that I am getting to be home with him during these years before he starts school because I love seeing his mind at work! Bryson loves to play outside and spends no less than 2 hours a day outside in the backyard by himself digging, climbing, building, whatever he can find to do! (this does not count the time when we are all outside playing!)

Jaden: Jaden is a growing boy! He is pushing 18lbs and is over 26 inches long! He started solid foods and loves everything I give him! Unfortunately he has had a pretty bad ear infection that needed 2 rounds of antibiotics to get rid of...and today I'm thinking it might be back! He is a very happy baby and last night and today he has been a little fussy and not wanting to eat really well....that is huge for this baby! He also rolled over yesterday for the first time! Now, some of you might be thinking, "he just now rolled over?" Well, you see, I have chubby boys, and it takes a lot for these boys to muster up the strength to roll all of that chubbiness over! Bryson didn't do it until he was almost 6 months old! LOL Anyway! He is a big ball of cuteness and is the most happy, laid back little boy you will ever meet!

Me: Well, things are going great! I am doing a women's Bible study and MOPs this year so that gives me a little adult time here and there which is nice! I'm doing some experimenting when it comes to cooking and baking to fit some of our favorites into our new lifestyle! I have been running again and getting ready to do atleast one 5K this fall...I would like to do more but we'll see. I, too, have lost a good bit of weight over the last several weeks and am hoping to be really close to my goal by Christmas time! I only have about 20 lbs to go which is great considering where I came from! : )

Well, there you have it! Our lives summed up! I'll end with a few pics and possibly a video! Enjoy!

The Black Eye

Sweet Boy 4 months Old

Brothers Playing

Art Project
Sweet Boys eating!