Adriauna's 15 birthday!

Adriauna is now 15 years old! I can't believe that she will be taking drivers ed this year and next year she will be 16 and driving!! Anyways, we celebrated her birthday with our usual big family birthday party. She requested pulled pork sandwiches for dinner and for dessert she had 2 requests......cream puffs and red velvet cake! I have never made red velvet cake so when my brother Kell offered to make it for her party, I took him up on it right away! Boy am I glad I did too because it was a huge hit. People even commented that it was the best they had ever had! I wish I had a picture that did the cake any justice because it was beautiful! We are so blessed to have so much family show up to our birthday celebrations:-)

Adriauna's red velvet cake!

Cream Puffs!

Christmas 2011

Christmas 2011-

We are truly blessed!

Our kids Christmas morning before church

Ethan loves his Spider Man shirt and getting his picture taken as well!

Brandon looking like he is a little confused about all this Christmas stuff. He was really tired and did not make it through all the present opening.

Adriauna and her giant jar of giant pickles. They are bigger than they look in this picture actually.

Brooke and Kami with Daddy!

Our family on Christmas Eve at my brother Kell's house

All the Bean grandkids (Miranda, Brandon, Adriauna, Ethan, Kami, Alexa, Brooke and Hannah)

The finished Ginger Bread House

The kids called me in the living room and I found them in this line. They set up the chairs so that they look like they are in Santa's sleigh with the reign deer in front. I just added Brandon to the back and took a picure!

Christmas Tree

Yesterday our home was filled with Christmas spirit as we listened to Christmas music and put up our tree and decorations! The kids' excitement really made this unforgettable. This year Brooke got to really join in with the decorating and has been talking about Santa all the time. She cracks me up at night while tucking her in bed she will say " I not scared a Santa anymore!" She has a bit of Santa anxiety as well as the other little ones. Of course when we went to the Holiday party at Mike's work where Santa and Mrs. Clause were there, she said "I scared a Santa" with her eyes so wide. Ethan was especially proud saying "Mom, take a picture of me decorating the tree!" and Kami had all of her ornaments on first, carefully selecting the perfect spot for each one. After she was done with her ornaments, she helped put up the other random ornaments. Adriauna hugged on Brandon and put up her ornaments. She is really growing up fast and although we had to pry her from her room to join us in the decorating, you could tell she really enjoyed our family tradition of decorating the tree together:-) What a wonderful evening!

Halloween 2011

The Grandparents came over to our house on Halloween to be able to share the experience of watching the kids trick or treat. It was a beautiful evening so the kids got to stay out a long time which in turn led to way too much candy.

Kamryn, Ethan and Brooke helped Grandma Julie fill up the pumpkin leaf bags

We met up with the next door neighbors and enjoyed their company while our kids trick or treated with each other

Kami as"Robin" (costume courtesy of Grandma Julie)

Brandon as a chicken (previously worn by Ethan when he was this age)

Ethan as "Batman" (again costume by Grandma Julie)

Brooke as "Super Kitty"( costume by Grandma Julie and previously worn by Kami)

Trunk or Treat

A bunch of us at church get together for a Trunk or Treat where everyone decorates the trunks of their vehicles and pass out candy

Bean Pumpkin Carving! 2011

We all got together for our annual "Bean Family Pumpkin Carving" this year. I always enjoy this tradition and it is another good reason to get the big family together. It was fun to see the different pumpkins that were carved. I have to say though, we sure missed my niece Alexa who has gone off to college. She was not able to join us this year and she always enjoys the carving.

Adriauna with her cousin Miranda

Mike, Brandon and Kamryn

Adriauna

Mike, Ethan and my brother Adriel

The finished pumpkins

Painting Pumpkins:-)

As if pumpkins weren't exciting enough, Grandma Julie came over with pumpkins and paint for the kids. They had a blast painting pumpkins and spending time with Grandma:-)

Kami's, Ethan's,Ethan's, Grandma's,Adriauna's, Kami's and Brooke's

Adriauna and Kami

Grandma and Ethan

Brooke