Christmas with the VanIsenman's

It was finally time for the Van Allen, Isenburg, Broeckelman Christmas!!! Dragging Christmas out by a few days makes the holidays last that much longer, so its hard to complain about celebrating Christmas a few days late!! We got together with all my family on New Years Eve Eve. We declared it would be a day of games, food, and fun. And we were highly successful!!!!!  Once all the food rolled out and we made our way around the island a few times, we knew the kids were chomping at the bit to open presents! They've only seen them spilling out from under Mim's tree for an entire month!!!! So we headed downstairs and got busy!!

We let all the kids open first and then while they ran off to play, the adults could open our gifts in peace! Always so much fun!! I love shopping for my family, but watching them open their gifts is my favorite!!!

 Mimi bought all the boys these cozies at Target! Well, Wyatt picked his out on Black Friday and has worn them almost religiously all month long!!! Never too old for zip up jammies!!

 After presents and more food, it was time for games and puzzles!! Carmen San Diego, Balderdash, Meme Game, and even a spin at BeanBoozled (rotten eggs, ewwwwww!)!! My stomach hurt so bad from all the laughter, it was so great!!!!! 

It was a very Merry Christmas and well worth the wait!!!

PawPaw's Birthday

What better way to celebrate a birthday than with a Taco Fiesta with the family! So happy to celebrate you!! We love you PawPaw!!!

PawPaw's Birthday

PawPaw turned 66 today so we celebrated in style- in the backyard with a DQ ice cream cake!! Wyatt picked out the perfect cake! It was a special day celebrating how much we love our PawPaw!! We all are so very thankful for him!!

You can see why the boys love him so much? He's about as mature as they are ;-)

 Happy Birthday PawPaw! We love you!!

Arcade with Mimi

The boys are so fortunate to have Mimi and PawPaw right downstairs! They can see them and hug them everyday. Even get to go on special outings with Mimi just because!! One Saturday morning, then went to the arcade. They must've worn their lucky socks because they both won exactly what they were hoping to win- a Minecraft pig and a neon Monkey. Big dreams! ;)

Cousin Sleepover!!

 These boys love a good sleepover at Mimi and PawPaw's house! They usually eat too much junk food, stay up too late, and probably do a whole lot of things they wouldn't be allowed to do at home! But that's what makes it so special!! We are so thankful to have 4 boys who love each other so much and can't get enough time together and to have parents who adore our kiddos as much as our own!! 

Cousin sleepovers at Mimi and PawPaw's are the BEST!!!!!!

PawPaw's Birthday

My dad celebrated his 65th birthday this year! We had a nice family dinner at my parents house! The boys love celebrating anyone's birthday! They always want to know what kind of cake the birthday person wants. They were super excited to see the big delicious cake my mom made! It was a great evening spending time celebrating PawPaw!

PawPaw and his little boys! They love their PawPaw so very much!!

Boys Trip to the Lake

When I was planning my adventure to Virginia, plans turned out that all four of the boys would head to the lake with my parents for the first few days. My parents had already had their vacation planned before I got my trip booked, and while they wanted the boys there for some of the time, they still wanted to be able to relax somewhat on their vacation. So they got to go to the lake for 3.5 days!! And from what I heard, it was 3.5 days of pure FUN!!!!! These pictures are here to prove it...

My parents are just the best!!! They gave these boys a trip of a lifetime and also allowed Levi and I to have the trip that so needed without having the guilt of leaving our kiddos behind. Mom and Dad- thank you so much for always taking care of our boys, without any hesitation or boundary, and showering them with more love than we could ever imagine!! They are so lucky to have you guys! But just so you know, they're already planning next years trip....so get some rest!

Sleepover at Mimi and PawPaw's

One of the boys very favorite activities is having a sleepover at Mimi and PawPaw's house with Mason and Luke!! I'd say about every 4-6 weeks, they get the chance, and whenever they do, the cram so much fun into one evening!! They're all very lucky boys!!! 

 Sonic picnic in PawPaw's pick up!

 Blackhoof Park! 

 Morning snuggles!

Fun breakfast!

Mimi and PawPaw's Boys

Without Levi here this past year, my parents have been a HUGE help!! They are always will to take the boys to give me a breather. And its not only nice for me, but the boys would spend every second with them if I said it was ok! I know I would miss them at some point!!! I try and take the boys alone once in a while, and that always means the other gets a date with Mimi as well. And they have a sleepover there once a month or so as well! Lots of fun is always had with Mimi and PawPaw! These pictures just prove it!

 While Grant and I were at Kaleidoscope, Wyatt went to work with Mimi and then to the children's museum. 

 When Wyatt and I had our long date night/day, Grant went to work with Mimi and they played with Power Rangers, ate a Sonic picnic in the car, and Grant almost fell asleep watching Netflix.

 One sleepover night, they went to the nursery the next morning, but had to buy new hoodies because it was only 50 degrees!

I am so thankful for my parents, who take care of my kids like their own. Or actually, better when they were taking care of me, because isn't that what grandparents are supposed to do?  We love you Mimi and PawPaw!!

A Night with Mimi and PawPaw

Being by myself with the kids definitely takes its toll! It's exhausting really! But gosh, I'd never give it up or wish things to change. Well, of course, I'd wish Levi back in a heartbeat, but I'd never give up the time I spend with my boys. But that's not to say that I don't appreciate a healthy break every now and again! And thank the Lord for Mimi and PawPaw! They are so amazing, volunteering their evenings, weekends, or whenever it may be to sweep my boys away and give me some peace and quiet! Those moments for me to breathe in peace, watch TV in silence, BLOG!!!, and sleep past 7:00 (which I've never done!) But not only do I appreciate the break, the boys LOVE spending time there without me- the refer to this exciting night as a "no parents night!" and its special to them as well!!

They got to spend one fun evening being ever so spoiled! My mom texts me pictures throughout the evening, and these were just too fun not to share! 

 And I told my mom, "No buying Lego sets!!!" See how well she listens!! Grant said to not be mad at Mimi because she really wanted to buy those sets for them!

 Park time with PawPaw!

 This is SO my boys- They decided to make a cookie shop with the Valentine's cookies they decorated. Wyatt made this adorable sign to "sell" his cookies. Grant made a sign that said, "Cookies $5 each." If that doesn't sum them up perfectly I don't know what does!! 

Wyatt's cookies! 

 Grant's cookies!

Big big thank you to my parents for taking care of my boys so I can take care of me!! We love you both very much and are so thankful for all you do for us!!