Captain America on the Throne

Max likes to wear his super hero costumes 24 hours a day. Hence the picture below.

Hitchhiker

Lewis figured out that he can get a fee ride to go around the block.... little cheater!

And She's Off!

I came home from work the other day and my baby girl was riding her two wheeler... sans training wheels. She has been after me for quite awhile to take her training wheels off and to teach her how to ride like a "big kid". Turns out she didn't need much teaching. After preschool last Tuesday (at the Bradshaw's), Megan (friend, neighbor, part-time preschool teacher) and Kinley (Megan's daughter) got Madison up on Kinley's bike (no training wheels) and away she went.

Madison came home from preschool assuring Kerrin that she could now ride a bike without training wheels. Kerrin, being cautiously optimistic, required a sampling of Madison's new abilities before she would agree to remove her own training wheels. Well, needless to say, Madison rides like a pro... over bumps, making sharp turns, starting, stopping, the whole deal. Of course she does have a few scrapes and bruises to show for her efforts, but they haven't slowed her down one bit. She loves riding her bike and seems almost fearless (that part worries me a little bit).

Way to go Madison... I am so proud of you.

Lewis Turns 2!

Lewis's 2nd birthday was quite an event. My dad did a dinosaur birthday cake with a volcano that he put dry ice in to make lava. It was awesome. The kids had a lot of fun and Lewis loved opening up his presents.Lewis and Max with cousins Bailey and Lucy.
Madison with cousins (Hannah, Emma, Madison, Alex)

Funk

So far, this month has proven to be a tough one for Ute fans. Please make it stop. Ouch.

Hiking

My brother Sean asked us and my mom to go on a hike up Millcreek Canyon, it was a lot of fun. Madison filled her backpack with rocks to paint when she got home and Max couldn't wait to stop to eat his treats. Lewis just came along for the ride!











Lewis was so tired from being carried!

Halloween

Halloween was a blast this year. The kids loved it. I promise Lewis never ran into anything!

Getting Pumpkins

We went to Wheeler Farm to pick out pumpkins this year. The tickets came with a wagon ride and a hay maze. It was a lot of fun.

Family Christmas Photos

Family Christmas Photos
A couple weeks ago Kerrin, Madison, and I had our first family photo shoot. You see, we needed a photo for our Christmas card and we knew that Chad had some skill with a camera, so we snagged Chad and headed off into the winter wonderland of Holladay to snap some pics.

Click the following link to view the pics:

http://brantandkerrin.com/family_pics/

Muchos Merriment

It has been about a month, almost to the day, since my last post. What an eventful month it has been. Thanksgiving was great at Dad and Mom (or Grandpa and Grandma) Paulsen's. It was the first Thanksgiving that was exclusively for the Grant and Kristin posse (minus Ben and Kira who were in Arizona) and it was a lot of fun. A rousing success, if I do say so myself (and I do).

The day after Thanksgiving Leslie shopping bonanza was, once again, a hit. Although Kerrin and I were, more or less, spectators this year (Our Christmas, Birthday, Anniversary, Valetine's Day, Ground Hog's Day, etc. gift to one another is a new bathroom). Madison enjoyed the shopping/spectating spree. She, pretty much, slept the entire day in my arms or in Kerrin's snugli. I think she enjoyed the "being held" time.

Yesterday was the Leslie Family Christmas party. Dinner at Dad and Mom (Gran and Papa) Leslie's house, then off to the Conference Center Christmas Devotional, and then back to Gran and Papa's for a white elephant gift exchange. Kerrin made out like a bandit as the gift exchange yielded her a Christmas candy dish (Kerrin is a dish fiend) and, by default, a nice purple gem earing and necklace set (which I won and promptly handed over to Kerrin; my days of wearing dangly earrings and necklaces are behind me - surprise, surprise).

Madison enjoyed herself after shedding her borrowed purple fleece PJ's. She was happy as a clam hanging out in just her diaper (she leaked through her diaper twice last night soiling all of the clothes we had brought for her. The purple fleece PJ's were provided compliments of cousin Emma and Alex). The fleece PJ's had turned Madison into a hot, and uncomfortable, little mama (Madison inherited her dad's thermostat). Thankfully she found comfort after we relieved her of the steam inducing jammie's.

Madison is enjoying the Holiday Season, very much like her dad and mom. We are grateful to be spending our first Christmas together as a family of three. This is our first Christmas in our own house. We have so much to be thankful for. Our little family has been given so much. We look forward to this Christmas Season and the memories that will be created while celebrating the birth of our Savior.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE PAULSEN FAMILY!

Madison's Baby Blessing

Madison was blessed in Sacrament meeting today and it was a wonderful experience for the whole family. Madison has already brought so much joy into our family and is such an incredible person. Her little presence has made (and will continue to make) such a huge impact on those around her; especially her parents. The Spirit was strong surrounding today's events.

Later in the evening (aka when church is over) the family came over to our home for dinner. We weren't quite sure that 22 people would fit into our living room and kitchen, but were pleasantly surprised to find out that they did (and quite comfortably too). What a great gift it is to be part of such a wonderful and loving family unit.

It has been an amazing day celebrating the young life of our little girl.

We're One Month Old!

Madison turned one month old yesterday which means that Kerrin and I are both one month old parents now. What an incredible month it has been. And even though Madison is still little, she is growing fast.

Sleeping Through The Night?

Madison, mom, and dad were all able to enjoy about 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep Saturday night (Is this what it means to sleep like a baby? I was beginning to wonder). We were hoping that this would turn into a trend... Not yet. Last night we got about 4.5 hours before infant hunger prevailed.

The Paulsen family has arrived

The beginning of blogging as we know it (for the Paulsen's, anyway). Madison Kimberly was born 9.26.05.

Check out her first movie:

http://www.brantandkerrin.com