We had a great Christmas this year. Chad and I bought ourselves our new camera and Brynn got a million new toys and clothes. We don't buy her toys very often throughout the year, so we tend to go a little crazy for her birthday and Christmas. Chad called me from the store one night asking if I thought Brynn was big enough for a bike... she's only two and a half!! He was really excited to make her Christmas special this year.

Santa brought Brynn her pack-pack, since she was such a good girl this year!! She opened a few of her presents and then we handed her one from Santa. She was SO EXCITED!! Here are a few pictures from Christmas morning:

Christmas Cookies

This year, I had planned to make a few different types of cookies for Christmas and of course, nothing went as planned.

I ran out of time for everything. I was so wrapped up in work this year, I didn't realize how fast time flew by. I did a lot of my shopping on Christmas Eve and should have spent a lot more time at home with Chad and Brynn over the holidays. I promise I won't let it happen again next year!!

While I was working on my last minute shopping, Chad made the cookies. (Thank you Babe!!) Chad made the awesome sugar cookies first and then attempted chocolate chip cookies. I have no idea what the heck happened with the chocolate chip cookies... I'll just reitterate that the sugar cookies were amazing!!

We all had a blast decorating the cookies, Brynn did about 80% of them herself. She kept putting all of the sprinkles in one spot!!

Santa Cause

Brynn calls him "Santa" or "Santa Cause". This year, she kept telling us that she wanted a "pack-pack" (back pack) for Christmas, so we told her that if she wanted one, and if she was good (meaning that if she was nice and she listened to Mommy, Daddy and Brenda, at daycare), Santa might bring her one. She had to be the one to ask him for it though.

The first time we went to see Santa (at Bass Pro Shops!!), there was a three hour wait, so we left. The next weekend, we went to breakfast with GGMa and GGPa for GGPa's birthday. We invited them to come along with us to try to meet Santa again. We ended up getting to BPS about an hour and a half early, so we colored pictures and stood at the very front of the line while GGMa and GGPa did some shopping.

Brynn did a great job when she finally met him. She seemed a little scared at first, so I held her while she told Santa what she wanted, but I told her that he couldn't hear what she said, so she had to sit on his lap and tell him. She gave him a hug, told him "Merry Kissmas" and said "thanks".

Here are a few pictures that we took that day!!











Maybe next year we can get her to smile for the camera? :)

My Famous Mom

Click HERE to watch my Mom when she was on tv!!

New Camera - Merry Christmas To Us!!

We bought a new camera tonight as a Christmas gift to ourselves. We've been wanting to get a digital SLR for a long time, so tonight I was really excited that we actually left a store with one. It's AMAZING.

Nikon D5000 with an 18-55 lens that came with the camera and then we also spent the extra money to get an additional lens that is a 55-200.

I am really happy with it. We haven't had much to take pictures of yet, but stay tuned. I swear, I'll be posting more!!

Night Out!!

For our anniversary, Chad and I decided to go to Howl At The Moon. I have a friend who lives in Texas who has mentioned several times on Facebook that it's an awesome place to go, so we decided to check it out. They had just opened one in Scottsdale the previous weekend. We were only there for about an hour but we had fun.

The day of our anniversary, I went online and signed up for their mailing club or whatever, and about a week later, I received an e-mail saying that I won a happy hour party for 100 people!!

Well, Friday night, we had the party and about 30 people showed up. WE HAD A BLAST!! Here's a picture that our friend Jeannie took of us!!

I Love You!!

My family always says "I Love You" in sign language. It's just one of those things that we've always done. I'm not quite sure how it started, but we've done it since I was little. We've been trying to teach Brynn how to do it for a while and usually she has her own version that she does, but she's finally getting the hang of how you're supposed to do it.

This is the best picture that I've been able to get so far:

Dingle Bells

We've been trying to teach Brynnie how to sing Jingle Bells and she keeps singing "Dingle Bells, Dingle Bells, Dingle Bells, Dingle Bells oh all da wayeeeeeeeeeeee-yuh". Then she just goes on and on and on making up her own words and sometimes adds "dingle bells" back in there somewhere.

Oh and then she tells Chad it's his turn and he sings "Jingle Bells, Batman smells...." and she says "No way Daddy!!".

I love my little family. :)

Hair Tut

This was a mobile upload from a couple months ago when we got Brynn's hair cut at the salon. I thought it was a great picture!! She looks like such a big girl!!

Oops!

She fell backwards into her "Pull-Pup" box!!

Big Smile

Daddy On Little Chairs

This is where Brynn told her Daddy he should sit when we were at her doctor's appointment on Monday.

Super Bean!

This is a picture that Bri took when she was out here visiting a while ago and I love it. It makes her seem like she's super speedy. :)

Volumizing

This is what happened when she tried to comb her hair this morning.

Two Year Checkup

Today Brynn had her two year checkup. It's not my fault she's late. I had called their office a couple weeks before her birthday and had asked if she was up to date on her shots and if there was any reason for us to come in. I was told that we didn't need to come in.

Well, about a month ago, we took Brynn to the doctor because I was being a paranoid mom. It turns out she had a cold and that we were behind on a shot. Ugh.

Today, she got that shot. She keeps telling us "That girl put soap on my leeeg (leg). My leeeg hurts." She must think that the wipe that they used to clean her leg was soap and water or something. Silly girl!! She did great, she only cried for a couple minutes.

She weighs 28.4 pounds and is 34" tall. He mentioned that she's a little short for her age. What?! She seems like a giant to us.

Man, we love this kid.

Brownie Mix

Chad made some yummy brownies tonight and Bean got to lick the spoon... I'd say she liked it!! :)

Brynn's Eyes

We took Brynn for a follow up visit for her eyes on Wednesday and she's doing great!! For this appointment, they actually dialated her eyes, so she was having a lot of problems focusing on EVERYTHING. He said that she's doing really well and is really happy with how she is doing. We don't have to go back until February!!

A few weeks ago, I had to go to the eye doctor for an exam, so Chad and Brynn came with me. While we were there, Brynn wanted to try some glasses on. So cute!!

Troll

This is what happens when Chad gives Brynn a bath:

Manners, Funny Conversations and Words

Tonight on our way home from Target, we were trying to teach Brynn to say "You're welcome" or "You are welcome".

Me: You

Brynn: You

Me: Are

Brynn: Are

Chad: Welcome

Brynn: Thanks!!

***

Brynn also knows that my nickname for Chad is "Babe". On Saturday night, we were in the van and Chad turned on the light to show me something. A few seconds later, Brynn chimed in and said "Babe! Turn off the light!!".

***

Brynn's language:

Vitamins = Vitamints
Contacts = Tontacts
Glasses = Gasses
Sweatshirt = Fetshirt
Couch = Towch (She can say couch, but she likes Towch better.)
Cover me up = Tubble me up or tubble me out
Green = Geen

***

Nicknames for the dogs:

Allie = Al. Allie Lallie.
Melody = Mel. Mellie. Noun. (Where the heck did that one come from?)
Jetta = Jetta Jetta

Ridiculous

I promise to blog again soon!!!

New Do

This past week, Brynn got her hair cut again. It's just about to her chin and is super cute. We're trying to keep her looking as little as we can, we don't want her to grow up too fast!! She didn't want me to brush her hair this morning, so this is how it ended up. I didn't mind, we had a lazy day around the house.

Here are a couple pictures that I took of her today.

She dressed herself (I helped put the shirt on her) and this is what she came up with. Pink shirt, with green pj's that have bees on them and she's wearing Daddy's flip flops.



Chad and Brynn were making tacos and "beetoes" (burritos) with Play-Doh this morning... they were both having fun!!

BFF's

Ook and Bean. They fight more like brother and sister than anything else. :)

A couple weeks ago, we watched Luke for a few days while TJ and Jenn were in Iowa. I meant to post these videos for Jenn while they were gone, but Brynn and Luke kept us pretty busy and I didn't have time!!

They were playing with some of those sticky hand things and having a lot of fun... this was a close call!!



Here are Luke and Brynn playing on his bed in the office!!

Hmm....

Cleaning, cooking and maybe some catching up on the blog today?

All of those are way overdue.

Fun September Pictures!!

Daddy and Brynn

Mini Vay-Cay

We're heading to San Diego tomorrow for a quick get away. We're sick of the heat (even though it's starting to cool off... it's in the high 90's) and are ready for some new scenery.

I've really been a bad blogger lately... sorry everyone!!!

Almost Two Years Later

October 2007




August 2009

Daddy's Toodles

A couple weeks ago, Chad was out in the garage using his grinder and all of a sudden Brynn started making the sound that she's doing in the video. She was trying to sound like Chad's grinder!! She calls his tools "toodles". :)

Man, I love this kid!!

By the way, sorry for smudge mark on the video... I'm pretty sure it's from Brynn pushing the camera away because she didn't want me to take pictures or video of her!! (Seriously, that's why I haven't been posting lately!!)

Booger Story

Thursday morning when I was getting ready for work, I heard Brynn YELLING "MOMMMMYYYY!!!!!!" and I said "What?! Come here!!" She came running into the room and said "MOMMMMY! BOOGER MOMMMMY!! BOOGER ON MY FINNNGGGGEERRRRR!!!!" Apparently she had one that was bothering her, it was on her finger and she was freaking out because she didn't know what to do!! Her finger was stretched out as far as it would stretch away from the rest of her fingers, she didn't want it to touch anything!!

Ahh... my little girl. :)

Jokester

Pretty close to our house, there is a big lot where a bunch of the City of Mesa school busses are parked. (Seriously, about 100!!) Every morning, Brynn and I drive by and every afternoon, she and Chad drive by them.

This afternoon, Brynn decided to be funny and say "Daddy, look! Bus!". Chad looked around and didn't see one. He said "Where?"... smiling, she replied "Gotcha!!".

Excited About The Rain

What a weirdo!! :)

Random

* Brynn was being quiet in her carseat (completely NOT NORMAL for her) and I caught her with her finger in her nose. I said "What do you think you're doing?!" in a joking voice and she said "Boogers in my nose Mommy... boogers tuck (stuck) in my nose"!!

* Brynn had her fingernails and big toenails painted for the first time ever on Sunday morning by Lindy. She only had her big toenails painted because she wouldn't sit still for the rest of them to get painted. She thinks it's the coolest thing EVER. She walks around holding her fingers all spread out saying "My neels (nails)." "Linny dude it my neels Mommy!" "Pitty neels!!" (Pretty nails!!)

* My mom came out to visit at the beginning of the year and it just happened to be lightning like crazy outside. There was a HUGE burst of lightning on one side of us and mom completely didn't see it, she was looking the other way. So, one of our on going jokes is that mom can't see things that are really obvious and right in front of her face. Tonight Brynn and Chad were walking inside from the garage, Chad saw a gecko and wanted to show it to Brynn. He tried to show her where it was and she kept looking everywhere except for where the gecko was. Just like Ammie!! :)

* Examples of her vocabulary:
Chicken - kickin
Grapes - bapes
Chocolate milk - cocky muck or chocky muck
White (or regular) milk - Reega muck
Elephant - elephanent
Alligator - Aldeegator

* She blames Brady at daycare for EVERYTHING. If she has a scratch on her arm, she says "Brady dude it". If her shirt is dirty, "Brady dude it". If she fell and hurt her knee at home, "Brady dude it".

* She still calls gum "dum".

* Potty training was going really well until this weekend, I don't know what happened but she's not into it at all now and throws a fit when we make her try to go.

* Her favorite book is the "Poop Book" from Lindy

* She thinks she can get out of doing anything, like getting a bath or going to bed, if she tells us she has to go potty. BUT SHE WON'T GO!!

* She loves babies. She got a baby and a stroller from Gramma and Ana for her birthday and she thinks they are SO COOL. She runs around the house with the stroller and loves to run into things, especially the dogs. We can't find the baby's clothes anywhere, she's been naked for a month.

* She loves iced tea.

* She tells the dogs "HUSH GUYS!!" when they're outside barking.

* She also says "BACK UP! BACK UP! when the dogs are in her way.

* She always wants the dogs to come and see her. She says "Jetta, a meer" (Jetta, come here!) a lot. Jetta's a sucker and usually listens. :)

* She LOVES to talk on the phone. Actually, she loves to "pretend" to talk on the phone. She'll grab my phone, or the house phone, and say "Ha whoa? Yeah. Ammie Hi-Yo. Bye bye." Translation: Hello? Yeah. Ammie is in Ohio. Bye bye.

I have to admit, I've been horrible about taking pictures lately. Mostly, it's because Brynn doesn't want to have her picture taken. She always looks away from the camera or says "Mommy, no tamra"!! Sorry kid, get used to it... you'll love me for it later!!

Best (and cutest!) Kid Ever

(Even though she's going through the "terrible two's"...)

Bowling

Last weekend we went to Garrett Haney's birthday party and Brynn has A TON of fun!! They put up the bumpers and they also have a rack that little kids can put their balls on and push them down so that they actually make it all the way to the pins. Lindy - I think we found something fun to do (inside!) while you're here in a couple weeks!! :)

Garrett and Amy



Brynn and Daddy



Connor and Amy



Brynn's turn!!



Brothers from another mother!!