full heart

my heart is full.

full of love and gratitude

for our wonderful family, friends and the savior.

we have been given

an outpouring of love

this christmas season.

******************

white christmas

our dreams of a white christmas came

a little later than expected,

but better late than never.

it started snowing at about 8:00 last night

and continued through the night.

we got about 6".

church was canceled because of the storm,

so we decided to make the most of it.

lots of playing in the snow

and building snowmen.

did you have a white christmas?

magical time of year

"at this magical time of year,

we hope you will all find the time to believe.

it is then that you will discover

the magic and joy that the true meaning of christmas brings.

we love you all and hope you have a very merry christmas.

the kulbacki's"

our Christmas Eve (night) will consist of

polar express

caramel popcorn

board games

and

christmas stories

what will you be doing for Christmas Eve?

traditions

making and decorating gingerbread houses

has been a tradition in our family for many years

but, i didn't know if we would be able to find the time this year.

yesterday after therapy i had a few extra minutes, so i hurried

and mixed up a batch of gingerbread dough,

pressed it into the mold,

and popped it in the oven.

today after therapy and and a few errands,

we had time to make the icing and

decorate our houses.

braxton made 8 reindeer,

ethan made santa's sleigh,

kaden put up the lights,

and landon had fun licking his fingers.

what a great tradition.

what traditions do you have?

santa's lap

yesterday i took kaden & landon to see santa.

i wasn't sure how it would go,

landon isn't good about going to just anyone

and last year, he cried.

as soon as landon sees santa he starts yelling and waving,

"SANTA...SANTA...SANTA..."

over and over until santa looked at him and waved.

he was super excited.

"i sit on santa's lap mom?"

it only took a couple of minutes and it was our turn.

i told kaden to let landon go first because i wasn't sure how

long his excitement would last,

but he ran right over to santa, hopped onto his lap, and started talking.

it was adorable. i wish i had my video camera.

kaden hopped up on santa's other leg and couldn't stop smiling.

kaden tells me exactly how many days are left

until Christmas on a daily basis.

excitement is definitely filling the rooms of our house.

what is filling your rooms?

12 years today

(lyrics to the song SMILE by Uncle Kracker)

You're better than the best
I'm lucky just to linger in your light
Cooler than the flip-side of my pillow (that's right)
Completely unaware
Nothing can compare to where you send me
Let's me know that it's okay (yea, it's okay)
And the moments when my good times start to fade

You make me smile like a sun, Fall outta bed
Sing like a bird, Dizzy in my head
Spin like a record, Crazy on a Sunday night
You make me dance like fool, Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold, Buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
Oh, you make me smile

Even when you're gone
Somehow you come along

just like a flower pokin through the sidewalk crack
And just like that
You steal away the rain
And just like that

Don't know how I lived without you
'Cuz everytime that I get around you
I see the best of me inside your eyes
You make me smile
You make me dance like fool, Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold, Buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
Oh, you make me smile

see Evan, it is your fault that I dance like a fool.

You are amazing and I love you.

thanks for making me SMILE everyday.

fall fun

today the boys didn't have school,

so for a little fall fun...

we raked our leaves into a great big pile

and we JUMPED & PLAYED in them.

the boys had so much fun,

maybe we'll do it again tomorrow.

what did you do for fun today?

mmm...mmm...good

i love baking during the holidays.

there is something about cooking up delicious goodies,

smelling the wonderful aromas that fill every room,

and of course the occasional taste testing.

what's cookin' in this kitchen?

caramels

almond roca

chocolate & carmel covered pretzels

turtles

pumpkin chocolate chip brownies

cheesecake bites

so tell me what's cookin in your kitchen?

dear santa

i have FOUR very excited boys

that can't wait for christmas

so they are writing you a letter

and sending their love.

From:

a very BLESSED mom

that has everything she needs for christmas,

FULL hands & a HAPPY heart!

it's beginning

to look a lot like christmas

we've put up the tree

turned on the christmas music

and started baking.

we love christmas!

so we plan to enjoy every minute of the

holiday season.

have you decorated yet?

so blessed

turkey and ham

mashed potatoes and gravy

homemade rolls

raspberry and pecan pie

a thanksgiving full of YUMMY food.

WOW am I full!

not only from all the wonderful food

but from our many many BLESSINGS.

the last few months,

we have reflected a lot on how BLESSED we are

we have so much to be thankful for.

THANK YOU for touching our lives

whether it was for a single moment

or several years,

we are GRATEFUL for you.

you've got mail

tonight for family night

the boys wrote a letter to their

grandma and grandpa kulbacki.

signed, sealed, delivered (in a couple of days)

and for dessert, Ethan made us cookies

mmm..mmm..good.

duke vs boston college

we spent our saturday at the duke football game.

it was an exciting game,

it kept us on the edge of our seats,

(during the 4th quarter)

unfortunately duke lost.

lego's lego's & more lego's

a visit to the lego store

was "lego heaven" for kaden.

his eyes get BIG

his excitement goes WILD

and his hands can't help but BUILD!

the first thing he asks when we leave

"mom, when can we go back."

what do your kids love?

just hangin' out

things kaden and landon love (right now)

while we are just hangin' out.

watching toy story 3

playing hide and go seek.

throwing the football.

kicking the soccer ball.

building with lego's.

i just love hangin' out with these two.

they have such fun personalities

and if i might say so...

they are so darn HANDSOME!

happy halloween

knock, knock.

ring, ring.

TRICK or TREAT.

very few tricks.

lots of treats.

Halloween was so fun this year.

LOVED

the boys costumes.

the joy in their eyes.

the smiles.

and of course the candy smeared faces.

Landon was the funnest to watch this year.

once he knew that if he said trick or treat...out came a treat

he was all for walking and trucking along with his brothers.

he kept going and going and going

until suddenly he dropped.

sending a very happy halloween to all of you.

what did you do?

quarter 'til five

our day started early.

we dropped Evan off at the airport at 5.

he will spend his Halloween in San Francisco.

Landon has said goodbye too many times lately.

since we were already up for the day,

we headed to IHOP

for their free scary face pancakes.

went to our ward TRUNK OR TREAT.

enjoyed donuts & apple cider

and of course plenty of candy.

october update

Life has been a little crazy lately.

GOOD CRAZY.

My Dad and Mom came to visit for a month.

Evan and I went to Chicago.

Did some major remodeling.

**********

Highlights of my Dad and Mom's visit:

Having their helping hands.

Remodeling.

NC State Fair.

Halloween dinner.

Seeing the boys spend time with their grandparents.

Duke Chapel.

Farmers Market.

Evan winning our Thanksgiving dinner.

(I won it last year and Evan won it this year. Turkey shoot.)

Kaden made a plan to make Grandpa & Grandma stay.

While laying in bed one night, Kaden said "Mom,

I have an idea....we can put grandpa & grandma in a chair and

tie them up, then they can't leave." (cutest thing ever)

**********

Highlights of CHICAGO.

Navy Pier.

Wrigley Field.

Soldier Field.

Magnificent Mile.

Millennium Park.

Broadway show.

We ate so much DELICIOUS food.

Chicago style pizza at Giordano's. (yum-o)

Potbelly's.

Portillos.

Garrett Gourmet Popcorn. (amazing)

Kaden @ five

INTERVIEW:

What is your favorite color?

“Blue”

What is your favorite movie?

“Planet 51”

What is your favorite song?

“you make me dance like a fool..., you know that one?”

(Smile by Uncle Kracker)

What is your favorite sport?

“Football”

What is your favorite snack/treat?

“Umm...my favorite snack is...pretzels.”

If you could live anywhere where would it be?

“here”

Why? “because we are living here.”

What is your favorite drink?

“Lets see...my favorite drink is...sprite.”

If you could do anything for a whole day what would it be?

“That’s easy, I would go to the lego store and buy all the legos.”

What is your favorite thing to do?

“uhh, two things are my favorite, playing with legos and playing the x-box.”

Who is your best friend?

“Asa” (a neighbor)

What do you want to be when you grow up?

“A doctor.”

chicken pox + lego's

Good news NO SCHOOL for a week.

Bad news lots of ITCHING & CHICKEN POX.

Braxton has the chicken pox even though he has all his immunizations.

********

Kaden turns 5 on Wednesday, so we celebrated yesterday.

Even though Kaden knew we would be celebrating his birthday, he insisted on having a surprise party, so Evan took him for a little walk around the block and came back in.

**SURPRISE**

We all jumped out.

(Me, the boys, and my parents...no one else could come since Braxton had chicken pox)

For his cake, I made several little lego brownie bites and put them in the shape of a 5.

We built the CITY OF KADEN out of lego candies.

He received lots of NEW LEGO'S and couldn't have been happier.

He has played day & night with them since he got them.

labor day weekend.

Are you ready for some football?

We took all the boys and went to the football game on Saturday.

There was a lot of pre-game activities going on, so of course we joined in on the fun.

There was...

face painting.

a bounce house.

cotton candy.

mini-golf.

The boys had so much fun!

Braxton was involved in every play.

Ethan thought the touchdowns were the best part.

Kaden loved cheering.

(seriously hilarious, I have never seen so much enthusiasm)

Landon loved shaking his pom-pom.

At half-time they had fireworks.

(Landon watched them without crying.)

GO DUKE!

********************

We spent Monday at Duke Gardens with friends.

We had a picnic.

played football & soccer.

and fed the fish.

We had such a wonderful time.

It was a great labor day weekend and I hope you had a great one too.