Fall Fun

There's just something about the Fall.  Don't you agree?  It's cooler, it smells good, it's pretty, it's 'back to school' time, it's Football, it's Halloween, it's the approaching Holidays, it's just "Fall".

 

I have never been to Gardner Village.  Can you believe that?  I've been seeing something about a 'Witchfest' all over Instagram.  So today we finally packed up and visited this popular event.  We borrowed our neighbor for the afternoon to come be Brooklyn's buddy and off we went!  It was a ball.  But next time I'm going alone....to shop!  Holy cow they have some cuuuuute stuff there!  

 

Excuse Brynlee, she was NOT happy about sitting on a bale of hay and smiling into the sun for my picture.  Poor girl, I kinda feel bad about this picture.  Kind of. :)

 

This week we also decided to carve pumpkins.  Last Halloween we didn't do this tradition.  We had just had a baby, I was dealing with major hormones, Roger was dealing with a very sick mom and a stressful job....and we were in no mood to carve pumpkins.  So this year we decided to let Brooklyn and Brynlee enjoy this simple activity. 

 

But of course only mom and dad get to dig out the guts.  This is what happens when one kid is an observer (see Brynlee below) and one is grossed out by the inside of the pumpkin.  Yuk, I hate to scoop out the guts, still!  And I'm almost 30!

 

We cooked scones as our treat.  Brooklyn was quite the helper - we won't mention the few that ended up in the dirt.



 

And finally enjoyed my parents fireplace.  Makes me wish we had one in our house!  I love a good fire!

 

Hope you all are enjoying the Fall season as much as we are!!

St George

In one last ditch effort to extend the summer weather we headed to St George with Roger's siblings for the weekend.  So much fun.  We started this trip once a year back when we were dating.  This is also the trip where Roger asked me 'unofficially' to marry him!!  So for obvious reasons this trip is close to my heart.  :)

 

This time, we had all the kiddos with us.  We have grown a lot in numbers since that first trip almost 7 years ago!  We hiked, we played at the playground, we swam, we talked, we watched movies, we chatted, and we ate!  What more could you ask for?!

 

Thank you thank you thank you to Rick and Kim for hosting (we stay at Kim's parents house - for free - each time)!

 

Kicking myself now for realizing I have zero, yes zero pictures of the adults.  This is what happens when we think our kids are awesome.  Haha.

 

 

Brooklyn's girl cousins - all within 2ish years of age of each other.  Between Roger and his 2 brothers we have had kids every year since the 2nd from the left child shown above.  So. Much. Fun.  Lucky girls!

 

Her teeth.  Oh my heavens do we have dental work in our future!  Our cute little 4 year old neighbor said she looked like Dracula today - I think I actually snorted out loud when I heard that one.  Soooo funny, so true!

 

 

Until next year St George!  Bring on the snow!

Happy Birthday Brynlee

This sweet angel baby of ours is turning one.  I just can't believe it.  I haven't had my fill of her yet, she's still so much a baby.  She's starting to lose some of that chunky baby weight, is soooo bald and has awesome teeth.  She's crawling, standing against everything unassisted, pulling herself to a standing position, climbing the stairs daily, and she's eating everything we eat.  We quit nursing this week, but she refuses whole milk in any form.  We can sort of trick her into chocolate milk, but only through a cup and straw.  Stubborn girl.

I can't begin to describe my emotions when it comes to Brynlee.  Her older sister has had my sole attention from birth, I was almost afraid to have more kids.  So Brynlee sort of caught me off guard.  She has been so easy.  Truly, she's so good it's almost scary.  She's an awesome eater, she slept through the night at 3 months, she puts herself to sleep without eating/binki - just her blankies....2 of them (both thanks to Aunt Whit), and she is genuinely a very content and happy girl.  She rarely cries, only when hungry or getting sleepy.

Brynlee healed a part of my heart I refused to acknowledge was still hurting.  When Brynlee was delivered at almost 8 pounds, chunky and healthy (and screaming mad by the way) - I was so grateful knowing we had made it to 39 weeks.  That she wouldn't have to go through the trials her sister went through.  That she could grow and develop on her own timeline vs what medicine 'says' she has to do.  I think I knew in my heart from the beginning that the second baby/pregnancy would be just fine, but to have her in my arms brought it full circle for me.  I got to be the mom instead of the medical mom/nurse.  I got to bring her home when I went home.  I got to snuggle her fuzzy head right away instead of waiting weeks to hold her for the first time.  (I still occassinally hug Brooklyn randomly just because I can.  She gets annoyed, but I can't help myself, I'm making up for lost time all these years later! Ha! :)

Brynlee would make anyone want to have kids.  So would Brooklyn, but Brynlee is just so chill.  I wonder if this gentleness, calmness and easy-going nature of hers will stick around into adulthood?  Brooklyn is fiesty, Brynlee is simply content.  And these two girls of ours will be great friends I think.  I hope so!  Brooklyn still can get Brynlee to laugh anytime she wants, the rest of us have to really work at it.

A year has flown by!  I've told Roger multiple times I haven't had my fill of Brynlee yet.  She still feels so much like a baby to me.  She's definitely growing and learning new things everyday, but she has turned into a bit of a cuddler and for sure is a mama's girl.  Oh how I love her, goofy teeth and all!



Dear Brynlee,

What to say on such a special day?  You are a joy, you make us so proud!  You joined our family during an incredible rough time in our lives, especially for your Dad.  You were a bright spot during an intense time of sadness for this family.  The heavens blessed us with you as they welcomed your Grandma Susan just a short 3 months later....you were the last grandbaby she saw born - you will forever be our reminder of her, with Susan as your middle name.  A year seems so long, yet so short.  Can it really have gone this fast?  You make it so easy to be a parent.  Your happy, smiley and playful personality is so fun.  We love you so incredibly much.  This family would not be complete without you.  Happy Birthday sweet girl!

Love, Mom





Celebrating on her birthday at the Hogle Zoo and Rock Creek Pizza........

Notice Brynlee stuffing her face - she could have cared less about the animals, haha.  That's our big girl!

How did we go from such a little peanut to a 1 year old so darn fast?!  Love this girl!

Preschool

Could someone please tell me how in the world my baby is old enough to be in Preschool??!

Brooklyn started school this last week.  And LOVED it.  And to be honest so did I.  She is so curious and busy, so interested in what I'm doing all day -- it's nice to have her attention focused and directed by someone that can do it formally.

She is also a bit shy by nature and tends to gravitate to the older kids and adults vs kids her own age.  She has always been an observant little girl.  Always.  So content to step back and watch before jumping in and participating.  I'm hoping school will help bring her out of her bubble.

She sure is cute.  And so stinking little - it blew me away that I dropped her off at a real elementary school!  How fun is that?  She's has a classroom and everything.

My heartstrings were tugged as Roger and I walked to the car after dropping her off.  This is only the beginning of the school years.  I sure was proud of our pretty little auburn haired, blue eyed, 3 year old.  Call me biased, but she sure is a cute little thing.  Even with her pink polka dot backpack that is as big as she is!   

Brooklyn started school on Roger's birthday, so we had to get a picture of the birthday boy with his oldest daughter, right?!  Love them both!  Rog sure is good looking (again, call me biased). :)

Miss Brynlee and I run our errands together while her big sister is off growing up....and then we look forward to picking Brooklyn up and hearing about her day!  Brooklyn obviously has enjoyed the first two days of school - notice the backpack she's still wearing??  Won't take it off.  It was a battle to get it off her to get her buckled in her carseat.  So funny.

Congrats to a successful start to the schoolyear Brooklyn!  So proud that there were no tears and tons of smiles this week!  But don't grow up too fast okay, you'll always be my itty bitty baby!  Love you!

Summer

Summer is just so busy.  I cannot for the life of me keep up on blogging.  But I want to have documentation - it's so fun to look back on the memories.  So here is my so random, in no particular order, of the fun we've had this summer......it includes hiking, Lake Powell and Bear Lake with my family, date nights, Demolotion Derby, Lagoon Day, and more.......

I need to post about Brooklyn's first day of preschool (cannot believe she's that old already!) and Brynlee's progress (she's almost 1!).  I'll work on that another day, haha! :)