Merry Christmas

Brinley was so much fun on Christmas this year. We woke her up at about 8:00 and actually didn't finish opening presents at my Mom's house until about 8:00 that night.

Cookies for Santa

On Wednesday night Brinley stayed up until about 10:00 making cookies for Santa.

The true meaning of Christmas

Just a few minutes ago a little voice said to me, "Sit down, let's talk."  So, I sat down and said, "What do you want to talk about?"  The little voice said, "Baby Jesus, the son.  He slept on the hay huh?"  So, we talked about baby Jesus and Mary riding the donkey and the little voice said, "That was berry (very) fun huh?  I want to ride it."

Brinley, thanks for helping me remember the true meaning of Christmas!

Celebrating Life

A different kind of Christmas

The other night I bent down to plug our tree lights in and noticed something well... different.  Two purple heart shaped bracelets were hanging from my tree.  I left them there.  So cute!

Time out for Dinner

The other day I was making my bed when Brinley came up to me and said, "Mom, let's have dinner."  I turned around to see that she had been busy setting a table for two.  So, I stopped making the bed and sat down to have "dinner" with my little girl.  As for the menu we had goldfish, fruit snack and a side of skittles.

Brinley's First Snowman

Life is better this way

Before I had Brinley I was really picky about how I did things.  All of the presents under my tree were wrapped perfectly and I made sure all of the wrapping paper matched.  I'm kind of embarrassed to say this, but at one point I thought all of the wrapping paper had to match my tree ornaments and my tree ornaments had to mach my living room.  Things are a little different this year.  Here is a present I placed in the very front of my tree for everyone to see, it's a very special present wrapped by Brinley herself to her dad.  I must say, life really is better this way. 

It's Winter

Our little family had so much fun playing in the snow this weekend.  We got the 4-wheeler out and pulled each other on the sled. 

Baby it's Cold Outside

Three times a week I wake up somewhere in the 5:00 hour and go running with my friend Chelsea.  As most of you know, last week was WELL below freezing, especially that early in the morning.  We got about a mile or so into our run, looked at each other and realized or eyelashes were completly frosted over (mine melted when I ran inside to get the camera).  Does this mean we're crazy?  I think so.

Confessions of a not so new mom

Quite often new moms struggle with life for a few months. It's completely normal for them to feel like they don't know what they're doing or how to take care of a child. To be honest with you, this has always been weird to me. When I had Brinley I didn't struggle at all with being a mom. I loved every second of it and I never felt like I didn't know what to do. If she cried she was either hungry, wanted me to hold her or needed a diaper change. No, it wasn't always easy, but I just never felt like I didn't know what I was doing... until a few months ago. Here is the truth, I have no idea what I'm doing. I have no idea how to discipline and I certainly have no clue how to potty train. I never know if I'm making the right choice or if there even is a right way of doing things and suddenly being a good mom isn't as easy as heating up a bottle anymore. I struggle with decisions everyday, regarding work, the hours I work and what we do with the time we do have at home and is it really better to take time for yourself and if so why do I feel so guilty when I do it? And how much time is too much time? If my house is clean, but I put Brinley to bed without reading to her does that make me a bad mom? I was quietly thinking all of this while I did my hair the other day and Brinley was just playing in the bathtub. Out of nowhere, as if she read my mind she said, "You're a bad mom." If broke my heart! Here I was beating myself up and she just confirmed it. I AM a bad mom. I CAN'T do it all. I have no idea how to balance all of this... Then a few minutes later I watched her play with her baby. I watcher her rock her and kiss her and hug her and love her. I watched her comfort her when she "bonked her head." and then I thought, she learned that from someone, she learned that from ME. Although it is beyond me how some people can have clean clothes, clean dishes AND clean kids all at the same time, I love this little girl more than anything in the whole world and that should  count for something. After all, love is the greatest gift.

Christmas Time '09

We FINALLY had a night home so we were able to decorate our tree. Brinley had a blast and loved puting and entire box of pinecones on two branches.  The tree looks horible and it's honestly the worst tree we have ever had, but as soon as we plugged the lights in it looked beautiful.

Fondue/Gingerbread house/National Lampoons Christmas Party

Every year Dustin and I make it a point to watch National Lampoons Christmas Vacation with my parents.
This year we decided to make a party out of it.  I thought Brinley would love making Gingerbread houses, but she was more interested in filling her house with candy.

Trend Setter?

What can I say?  She's got her own sense of style.

Live Nativity

We took Brinley to the live Nativity she called it the "babytivity"  She loved the baby donkey!

In Honor of Grandpa

On Saturday we did or traditional tree cutting.  This year we went to Idaho and it was a lot harder to find a good tree than usual.  Normally we cut our tree in Wyoming.

Brinley had so much fun playing in the snow.

Troy thought he found the perfect tee, but it ended up being some sort of a shrub or something.

Our tree is far from perfect, but I don't even care.  I love being able to carry on this tradition with my family.

What I love about the long shirt trend

When Brinley's dresses get to small she wears them as shirts.

Thanksgiving

Here is a picture of all the kids on Thanksgiving.
I just love Karson's face.  Kids are the best!

and... snowball fight!!!!

Growing Up

My Mom gave Brinley a haircut.  I think it looks adorable on her, but don't you think it makes her look older?  Maybe it's not the haircut, maybe it's just the fact that she is growing up and I just refuse to look at

it that way.

And classic grumpy Brinley.  Ahh, she makes me laugh.