Why can't everyday be Saturday?

We had so much fun on Saturday! We spent the entire day as a family. We biked the Bonneville Shoreline Trail and it was surprisingly hard. I loved the trail though. It has a really pretty view, wild flowers all over and cute little benches and even a picnic table.
It's a good thing my husband is strong because I could not have pulled Brinley up all of those hills!

Then we came home and played in the water

We jumped on the tramp with the sprinkler under it (we meaning Dustin and I, Brinley wasn't a fan.)

Then we took Brinley to her first movie. We saw UP in 3-D. She loved it.

Then we saw Dustin's team (The Stampede) play their last quarter of the championship game and take home the trophy.

As promised, the new skirt and matching headband

the headband and skirt are finished.

The skirt is a little big, but that's better than being too small.
I told Brinley I wanted to go outside and take her picture, but she refused to go outside without a chair. I'm assuming it's because that's what we did in our last photo shoot.

and... the best part was, I used scraps from a purse I made so all I had to buy was elastic for the wasteband and a button for the headband making the total cost just a few cents.

I'm pretty sure this is the cutest thing I have ever seen

The other day I was doing laundry and heard talking in the other room. I went to check on Brinley and THIS is what I found. she was sitting here reading a story to her bear. She's even holding the book up so he can see the pictures.
I LOVE how she set him up on the end table so he can see.

Time for a new pool?

Brinley lives in her swimming suit now. Ahhh, we LOVE summer!
As you can see, she is not getting any better at driving her Musting OR... she has been taking lessons from Dad.

This pool was perfect for Brinley last year, but I think she has since outgrown it.

she will stand in it like this then tell us to "get in." So, we all three stand in it.

Then she tells us to "sit down." Yeah right! I think it's time for a new pool.

My mom doesn't call me Suzie for nothing/a productive day/ Suzie Homemaker

Yesterday was such a great day. First of all, I started this to do list:

Kiss Brinley more
Take my daughter to the zoo
Tell my husband I love him
Smile more
Go to the lake
Go camping
Ride my bike
Sew stuff
Cook stuff
Give someone something just because
Go to my photography class
Read more
Run farther
Work harder
Paint
Organize
Spend more time at home
Pick a date to start my private tennis lessons (taught by fabulous Lora)
Help people
Forgive
Be forgiven
Enrol Brinley and I in mommy and me gymnastics
Don't miss so many weeks at the library
Be creative
Lift heavier weights
Plan a vacation
Save more money
Buy more food storage
Actually use my food storage
Decide what I want to be when I grow up
Be more like my Mom
Be more like my Dad
Drink more water
Go back to school
Wear Sunscreen
Make a yearly Dr's appointment
Actually attend my yearly Dr.'s appointment
Write in my journal
Buy smaller pants
Fit into the smaller pants before I buy them
Choose to be happy everyday because I do believe it is a choice

Yes, this is only the beginning of my "TO DO" list, but I was excited that I actually got a few things crossed off. On top of the regular clean, do dishes, do laundry, be a mom, read to Brinley, take her to the library, play, go to work, work out... I managed to make homemade bread, homemade bow tie pasta AND a new skirt for Brinley all in one day (I'll post pictures as soon as I make some matching accessories). Yes, I don't realize that most people wouldn't post about such things, but anyone that knows me knows that this is a HUGE accomplishment for me.

Now, if only I could be this productive everyday!

Heritage Days

On Saturday I ran the Heritage days 5K

Dustin made sure he woke up my #1 fan bright and early so she could watch me run

I just so happened to run into Brady so we ran the race together.

We both finished at 28 minutes and 13 seconds. I'm pretty sure I slowed him down. Thanks for running with me though.

Then we took Brinley to watch the parade. Here she is with some random kids. Brinley is making new friends everywhere she goes! It doesn't matter if they are babies or grandparents she will carry on a conversation with anyone.

If I am ever in a parade remind me to throw more than one piece of candy at a time. Thanks.

Brinley's Birthday Party

What's a party without a little football?

More football

Brinley had so much fun opening her presents! Her Grandpa gave her this car and we told her not to open it because she still had more presents to open so she drove it in the box.

Birthday cake is Brinley's favorite thing! Actually, she asks for it for breakfast most days.

We bought Brinley a little Mustang for her birthday. She LOVES it and it's so fun to watch her drive it. She crashes into everything!

My New Favorite Things

Yesterday was Dustin's Birthday. Happy Birthday Husband. So, I took him on a date. We ate at Elements and the food was SO GOOD! Then we went to the Summer Fest and for Dustin's Birthday he bought me a Cale and Co. hat (I know I'm a spoiled brat since it wasn't my birthday it was his) these hats are so cute! Then we watched 17 Again and laughed the entire time. These are my 3 new favorite things so, if you haven't eaten at Elements, seen 17 Again and you don't own a Cale and Co. hat you are missing out.

Our Beautiful Little Two Year Old

June 15, 2009

Dear Brinley,

I can’t believe I am sitting down to write you a letter on your second Birthday! It seems like just the other day you were that tiny little baby with skinny legs and fuzz on your ears.

I’m trying so hard to remember all of the important little details in your life because it seems like the days go by too quickly now. I remember how excited I was when I found out I was finally going to be a mom. I remember how excited I was when I found out I was going to have a little girl. I remember how anxious I was to meet you and how when I finally did meet you it was like I already knew you. I remember how that moment changed my entire life and how I went into the hospital one person and a few hours later I was someone completely different. I remember a feeling of relief when I found out you were healthy and perfect. I remember our first days together and how much they mean to me. I remember you had trouble breathing sometimes and I specifically remember the time you quit breathing for minutes and it felt like hours and I remember how shock overtook my body and I was completely overwhelmed with fear. I remember learning that every single second you are in my life is a blessing and I will never take that for granted. I remember you really didn’t like your Grandma and now you love her. I remember the first time you started saying Mom. I remember the first time you rolled over. I remember the first time you crawled and the first time you walked. And although I am so sad that all of these exciting times in your life are now just memories I am so excited to watch you grow and see what the future holds for you.

You are such a fun little girl. I can’t believe how quickly you pick up on things and how much you are learning. You have been counting to ten and spelling your name for months now.

The other day I explained to you that you were going to have a birthday and that you were going to be two years old and given that Birthday cake and ice-cream are your favorite thing in the whole world I asked you want kind of cake you wanted. Your response was, “ a pee pee cake.” So I said, “No Brinley, a birthday cake… you can have a pink one, or a green, one or one with flowers on it, or and Elmo cake.” So, I posed the question again, “What kind of cake do you want?” This time you said, “a poo poo one.” I laughed about it, but didn’t say anything. A few hours later when Dad came home he asked you what kind of cake you wanted for your birthday. This time you said, “a potty one.” You are so funny and you make us laugh everyday!

You are such a beautiful, smart, little girl and I can’t imagine my life without you.

Happy Birthday Brinley Behl!

Love,
Mom

Silly Girls

Brinley's little friend Pyper came to play with her the other day. Dustin and I just sat there and watched them the entire time. They were so funny!

They played so hard that when Pyper left and we went to put PJ's on Brinley she was covered in sweat.

:)

Just a couple pictures of our beautiful, happy, perfect little girl. Aren't we lucky?

Girl Wears

We have been working on wearing big girl underwear. Brinley calls them her "girl wears." Yesterday she wore them all morning without any accidents. Here she is showing off her cute pink ones. After I took these pictures she said, "No more Mom! That's enough!"

Our Anniversary

For our anniversary, we stayed in Salt Lake, ate at the Melting Pot where we ate so much food and still had so much leftover, went to the Gateway, watched Angels and Demons, had the pool all to ourselves and swam until 1:30 in the morning.