November Update

Sorry it has been so long since I last posted, but between a little boy that still does not sleep through the night, troubles uploading to blogger, a family vacation to Southern California over Thanksgiving, and my brother and his wife visiting us, I just have not made the time :o).

So below are some updates of The McKinstrys!!!

First up during our trip to San Diego over Thanksgiving Baylor got to meet Bruce's Grandmother AKA Oma. We were so delighted to introduce her to her newest great grandchild, making Baylor her 6th! We arrived on Saturday evening and left out Monday afternoon to go to Newport Beach. While in San Diego Oma took our family, Uncle Jerry, Aunt Denise, Cousin Brent and his kids Blake and Jordan out for a Thanksgiving Breakfast that was wonderful and the kids all behaved so wonderfully! We had a wonderful time as always in California and hope to go back soon. Especially since Bruce's parents now have a place just down from Oma's condo and best of all it's FREE!!! Thanks grandma and grandpa McKinstry for letting us stay there.

All the boys with Oma, I think Brayden stole Oma's heart this time. He was such a little charmer! They had been asking for nearly a month to go visit and pray nightly for there Oma, so it was so wonderful to be with her again. We love you Oma!!!

On Sunday evening we had dinner with our good friends the Denton's. We had a wonderful time and it was great to get the kids together again. The boys love their two little blue eyed beauties Julia and Jenna. Thanks for a wonderful meal Denton family!

After leaving San Diego we headed to Newport Beach and stayed at the Marriott's Newport Beach Villas for 3 additional days and headed back bright and early to Arizona on Thanksgiving morning. Surprisingly the traffic was wonderful and we arrived at home around 3pm, just in time to go over for Thanksgiving with our dear friend The Musgrave's. We had a wonderful meal and it so great to be with such great friends, they have invited us to be with them on Christmas this year. Thanks Musgrave family!!! Sorry my camera battery died just after we left San Diego, so no pictures, but trust me we had a fabulous time.

The day after Thanksgiving my brother and his wife April arrived to stay with us until Sunday morning. We had a wonderful time as it had been 8 months since we had seen them. Of course they were excited to meet their newest nephew! Maybe they will add a little girl to our family soon. We laughed and said after time with 3 wild boys, they may decide to wait a little longer:o). Danny said if he thought he would have a girl, then no problem, however he's probably thinking of all the pay backs he would get if he was blessed with a BOY!!!

Bennett getting ready to bowl, he has decided this is his new favorite thing to do with his Daddy, and is already planning their next adventure there.

We took the boys bowling after lunch. They have been wanting to go bowl for quite some time however every time we try to take them the leagues are there and no lanes are open. Luckily the day after Thanksgiving proved to be the perfect day and we had a wonderful time. The Musgrave family joined us as well with their two of their three boys, Quinn and Andrew. Colin was at Knottsberry Farm in California. Yes our other friends with 3 boys!!! We have lots of fun and laughs together.

One happy little boy!!!

Three cheers for Bennett

Brayden was asleep when we first arrived, but as soon as he woke up he was ready to get in on the action.

He was so funny to watch and his little ball would go so slowly down the lane. One time it even stopped and the lady there had to walk down and retrieve it :o). In this picture he was jumping up and down in excitement.

Uncle Danny and Aunt April gave Baylor his first pair of overalls. He is show here proudly wearing them, he looked so cute in them! Baylor cooing and taking to us

The three boys just before church on Sunday morning and just before Danny and April left. We are sad to see them go, but will see you all again real soon. Daddy also got a little help from Uncle Danny installing a new sink and mommy had fun shopping with April! I also forgot we took Danny and April to see the Christmas lights at our church on Saturday night and had a great time doing that as well.

We are looking forward to seeing you both again real soon.

The kiddos with Uncle Danny and Aunt April What a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday we had, we have so much to be thankful for!!!

More Birthday Celebration

Bennett turns 5!!!November 1st, our first born son turned 5!!! It's hard to believe that 5 years have passed since we had our first baby. Bennett was due December 5th of 2002 and I casually said during my pregnancy that it would be nice to have a baby born on my mother's birthday 11/2. God had definitely heard my request and granted it with Bennett arriving 5 weeks early at 6 lbs. 13oz. and was very healthy besides a case of jaundice that lasted close to one month and reflux that lasted for 15 months. His birthday is very special being that it is just the day before my mother's birthday and each year as we celebrate his birthday I think of my mother and feel as if we are celebrating her birthday as well. God is good, coincidence, I think not.For dinner we asked Bennett where he wanted to go eat and he choose Rubio's Mexican Grill!!!

Yummy, one of our favorite places to eat. After dinner he and Brayden wanted to go get slushy's, so we headed to QT's for a Sour Green Apple slushy.

On November 2, he wanted to go to Build-A-Bear workshop and make a bear with money Grandaddy and Martha had given him. He decided on a Koala bear and named it Robin Koala. I guess since Auntie Robin had just left, the name was fresh in his mind and he thought it was the perfect name.

Brayden got a small Polar Bear and he named his Polo. I think Bennett has 5 from Build-a-Bear and Brayden has 4, and Baylor already has one too!!!

Happy Birthday Bennett and Grammy Angel(that's what the boys call my mom :o))

Auntie Robin visits and Halloween

Baylor in Auntie Robin's arms just after her arrival here in Arizona Friday morning!!! We were looking so forward to our visit with her, as it had been 7 long months since we had seen her. Auntie Robin was looking forward to getting her hands on her newest nephew :o). Baylor quickly found himself comfortable on Auntie Robin's shoulder. It was also so nice for mommy and daddy because it gave us a chance to get some things done without having to hold little man. I guess now that she has returned home, work around the house will go on hold again :o).

At the sand pumpkin patch (LOL), only in Arizona would you go to a sand pumpkin patch!!! On Sunday our church had a fall festival fund raiser for the school called Rocktober fest and we had a great time there despite the very warm temps. (close to 95 degrees)

Bennett and Brayden on the train at the festival Sunday.

Monday morning Aunt Robin, Mommy, Brayden, and Baylor (Bennett was in pre-school) went to our Mommy and Me fall party.

Mommy and Baylor at the party(notice mommies red nose, the other mommies were talking to mommy and Aunt Robin about her leaving the next day and mommy was already getting upset just thinking about it. Look out Tuesday morning it's not going to be pretty :o( )

Brayden at the party, he decided to dress up as The Thing. He was having snack and eating worms and dirt(pudding, crushed Oreo's and gummy worms Yummy!!!)

Auntie Robin brought a Haunted House craft to do with the boys on Monday afternoon. The boys are always ready for craft time, I guess they get it honest from mommy and Auntie Robin.

Brayden fussing about taking his photo with his art project, so Aunt Robin jumped on the floor with him :o). We also went to Bennett's karate class that afternoon, he was excited to show Aunt Robin his skills!

Monday evening we decided to celebrate Bennett's 5th birthday since Aunt Robin was here (his actual b-day is 11/1). We did a whole spooky theme with ghost chips, mummy's in the blanket, ghost plates, pomegranate juice (for blood) his still asking for more pomegranate juice, and Aunt Robin made cupcakes with the boys, so we decorated them as Monster cupcakes! What a fun night.

Bennett opening his gifts. He received a Nintendo DS, clothes, pirate puzzle, and gift card to Target.

Baylor at the party, taking it all in. His little Monster pumpkin :o).

Bennett's one eyed Monster cupcake.

Brayden creating his Monster cupcake creation, he was the one who had the ides of Monster cupcakes, and was looking forward to this project. Thanks Aunt Robin for making cupcakes with us!!!

Daddy's Monster cupcake, yes we even got daddy in on the action.

And Mommy and Aunt Robin's Monster cupcakes. They were quite yummy and so moist, my weakness is b-day cake/cupcakes. :o)

We also carved our pumpkin and the boys decided on a pirate skull and crossbones. Whew, what a busy fun filled day, we were not looking forward to the day coming to an end because it meant the next day we had to let Auntie Robin go back home Boo hoo.

Mommy, Brayden, Bennett, Aunt Robin and Baylor just before taking Aunt Robin to the airport. Again notice mommies red eyes and nose from crying the blues. Oh so sad to see my sister leave and still crying as I sit here and type. She was so amazing and such a big help, in addition to just enjoying her visit with us. She would make the boys beds, get them dressed and ready, empty dish washer, start, dry and fold laundry, make food and clean up after meals, hold baby and quite cries. Oh how I wish we were closer for my own sake as well as the boys being able to spend time with their cousins who they miss dearly. I'm sure the post partum blues don't help the matter much, but I'm feeling particularly sad and home sick.

Halloween night Brayden wanted to wear Venom, Baylor a cute little pumpkin, and Bennett was The Incredible Hulk. We spent the evening at our church, for a performance from the Children of Hope choir . They were amazing. The choir is made up of of children who have been orphaned, abandoned and robbed of their childhoods because of poverty, civil unrest, and preventable diseases. What a privilege to get to see them.

After the performance, we went to the parking lot for our first annual Trunk or Treating. We sponsored a car, and had a good time handing out candy and seeing all the kids. The boys especially liked giving the candy out and saying Happy Halloween. Baylor slept through it all.

Bennett as The Hulk, he actually looked quite scary, and some of the little girls from his class were really frightened. Just like a boy to scare the girls :o).

Sweet baby Baylor, he looked so adorable in his costume. I'll post our Birthday boys pictures tomorrow, whew this one got long! Anyway tomorrow would have been my mother's Birthday, so it is still a very special day! Enjoy the pictures.