Kyle Brandt is 15 Months Old

All snuggley and warm in Cameron's jacket. 

Seeing Santa at Riverwoods-not too thrilled.

Oreos!

Look at those blue blue eyes!

A Caleb invention to keep him out of the cabinet.

Vacuuming!

Putting on the Santa hat.

All dressed up for church-but he wouldn't be still long enough for me to get a decent picture.

This kid just gets more and more busy every day.  And by busy I mean into EVERYTHING.  We have about used everything in the house to barricade him out of the kitchen, the stairs, the fireplace and now around the Christmas tree and the whole living room completely where the big Christmas tree is.  We put the loveseat in the doorway of the living room so he can't get in there. We didn't use all our Christmas decorations this year because he would just get into them.  Cayden was not that happy about it.  Kyle likes to vacuum but only with the hose off.  He can put on hats and loves socks!  He loves to be outside and loves to swing and slide.  I thought that he would be afraid of sliding but he loves it!  He opens drawers everywhere and cabinets that aren't locked.  We have rigged some ingenious baby proofing on the cabinets and where we can't, like the bathrooms, the doors stay shut!  He likes to take my hand when I say "let's go".  He knows how to make the signs for more, cookie, bye bye, doggie, duck, ball, and water/drink.  He says go, cocoa, ho ho ho, car, Caleb-which is bub, daddy, mommy, papa-grandpa, ah oh, baba-bottle, and mmm-moo.  He climbs on everything.  He can climb on and off the couch, the hearth, his toys, and a few days ago we caught him on top of the lamp table by dad's chair-standing up straight on it.  He didn't know how to get down.  He had an oreo for the first time and LOVED it.  His favorites are goldfish, bananas, string cheese and grits.  He has started to want to take the spoon from me and put it in his mouth.  He runs away from me when he takes something of mine and I go after him for it.  He loves to play chase.  When Connor tickles him he makes the sign for more.  He lays his head down on my shoulder and gives tight hugs.  He is loving getting the chocolate candy out of our Christmas Advent calendar.  He likes to read books with animals and loves Baby Einstein videos.  He knows what we mean when we say close the door and he will do it.  He got his second haircut a few weeks ago from my friend.  He was not as still as he was the previous time!  He still takes 2 naps a day.  I am hoping to get him to just one long one in the afternoon but he gets so tired by 11 that he has to have a short 45-60 minute nap then he has another nap around 2:30 or 3 for about an hour and half.  Unfortunately he is still in our bed.  I just can't put him in his room to cry it out.  He just cries momma momma momma and it breaks my heart.  Yes, Suzanna I know!  I am trying to move into his room for naps but he falls asleep with me on the bed that is in there and if I try to move him to his crib he wakes up every time and will not go back to sleep unless he is back with me.  He likes to hold our hands at night and does this picking thing with his nails on our nails-it is almost aggravating!  He come by it naturally though because Don said that his dad used to do that too!  Kyle loves loves loves his dad and is so excited to see him when he comes home.  He loves his brothers too and is so happy when they come home from school.  We are excited to have another Christmas with him where this time he will be much more involved.  He has been the easiest to buy for and I may have gone a bit overboard with him.

Student of the Month

 Connor was a Student of the Month for November for the second year in a row! Great job, Connor!

Ready for the MTC

On Wednesday morning we loaded up the car with Cody's luggage around 12:00 and then did the last of all the photos and hugs we could with Grandma, Granddaddy, Aunt Suzanna and her kids and Aunt Calley.  We sang Called to Serve on the way down to the MTC.  It was quite difficult to get through with out numerous tears!  On the way down we saw many families outside on the temple grounds taking their last photos.  One of those families was a friend of Cody's from high school, Ryan Garlic.  We didn't stop to say hi but it was fun to see someone we knew.  There are 3 other elders from our valley entering the MTC before Christmas.  One is going to Raleigh as well but Spanish speaking.  We dropped Cody off at the MTC at 12:30pm.  Grandma's house is about 5 minutes from the MTC.  We left her house at 12:21 and were back to her house by 12:36 after dropping him off.  It took us longer to drive to the MTC than it did to unload him and say goodbye.  After a final hug from mom, a final hug from dad and then a final final hug from mom he was off and so were we.  It was a good day with the sun shining brightly and not too cold.  We love out missionary!

Bon Voyage Breakfast

On Wednesday morning we had a special Bon Voyage breakfast for Cody.  Don went out early for Einstein bagels and we cooked up a storm.  I made grits and french toast.  Connor made bacon and sausage out on the grill.  Aunt Suzanna, Owie, and Ella, Uncle Chris and his family, and Mawmaw were able to join us and then give Cody one last round of hugs. 

Our Missionary

Tuesday night, November 27, we had family dinner of pizza from Papa John's and then got ready for Cody's setting apart. I wasn't sure if we were all supposed to be in our dress clothes but with a few phone calls we found out that it was a good idea for everyone to be dressed up.  Aunt Suzanna's family, Uncle Chris came and Mawmaw.  Aunt Anne stayed home with the kids because they were all super sick.   The stake president of Cody's singles ward was the one that set him apart. It was a very spiritual experience-other than Kyle being especially noisy and the phone rining.  Atleast it was Brigham Young that called in the middle of the blessing-the University that is.  I also made two of Cody's favorite desserts:snow tunnel cake and jello cake.  Cody had lots of phone calls and visits from friends all that day and into the evening.

Temple Square FHE

On Monday night, November 26, we went to Temple Square to see the lights.  Our first stop was City Creek mall.  Calley and Cody had been there before so they knew their way around.  We went to Cheesecake Factory for dinner and then walked across the street to see all the lights on Temple Square.  We listened to the Nativity and went inside to see the Christus.  We wondered around the grounds for a while and saw all the beautiful lights and then went over to the Conference Center for a super speedy tour.  Connor and Kyle were getting tired and wanting to go home.  It was not a very cold night thank goodness but a nice last FHE before Cody left.  

Family Photo Shoot

On Sunday November 25 Cody spoke in his singles ward.  We all went as well as Mawmaw and Grandma Penny.  Cody gave and outstanding talk, similar to the one he gave in Logandale the week before.  There were two other sister missionaries that spoke.  Afterward we had a family photo shoot in the grandma's backyard.  The top two pictures are what we used on our family Christmas cards this year.