Brinley turns 5!

How did she get so big! The other day Brinley turned the big 5! She has been talking about her birthday for months and months and was SO excited when it finally came. It was another busy busy day for the Mom, but we all had such a great time!

I decided to throw her a surprise birthday party after school. I had all our friends in the neighborhood come into our kitchen while I was picking her up. Then when we got home she just walked into the house like normal and everyone yelled out SURPRISE! She was blown away, and so was Julianne. They both got super shy and it took them a minute to adjust to about 30 people in our small kitchen. I even got a surprise when I came home and Greg was there with the video camera! He was able to leave school a little early to be with us and Brinley was so glad!!!

Birthday pancake breakfast!

 How her party looked before I left.

Dad lighting her candles.

 Getting shy while everyone was singing to her.

 Blew them all out!

 We lucked out and had great weather and were able to eat and play outside the whole time! BIG blessing for me!

 After the party we let Brinley choose where to go eat. Of course she chose McDonald's, don't all kids? She mainly just wanted to go to one with a play area. Her and Julianne had so much fun! Greg and I enjoyed it too, because we ordered Mexican take out and brought it there to eat. It made everyone happy!

 Then we came home for more cupcakes and of course presents!

 She got clothes, barbie walkie talkie's , a princess art set, a watch, and a basketball hoop. I thought Greg was crazy for getting it for her but she has LOVED playing with it.

How we went from this to

                                                                 this is beyond me! 

We LOVE our birthday girl! Happy birthday Brinley Boo!

Some fun things about Brinley.

She LOVES to play outside with friends! She has so many wonderful people to play with right now, I love it!
She loves to dig in the dirt for worms and other bugs! Yes you read that right! She loves bugs!
She LOVES all animals and wants to have every one she see's as her pet! I keep telling her that we can't have pets until we have a house, so when we finally do one day, I'm going to have to come up with something else to say ;)!
She is SO smart! Sometimes that's a good thing and sometimes it's the dealth of me! I took her in for her kindergarten evaluation and the teacher giving her the test told me on average the kids coming in get around a 60, but Brinley scored a 92! She LOVES school and is learning how to read and doing great at it!
When she grows up she says she wants to be a Zoo keeper and a Dentist.
She is BEYOND excited for her baby brother McKay to get here! Every morning she asks me how McKay is doing and if he kicked all night. She talks about him as if she already knows him and that she is going to be the one to mainly take care of him. Including the night feedings, we'll have to see about that, if only she really could!
She is silly and crazy and amazes me everyday with her bravery. She truly was meant to be my first born! We love having Brinley in our home and are so thankful for her! We love you!

Valentines Day

I love Valentines Day! I've started loving it more since we've had kids. This year was fun because the girls really got into it and loved giving Valentines to all their friends.

The day was so busy that I really didn't take many pictures but we sure had fun! In the morning the girls and I went to story time at the Library, afterwards I took them on a special date to Diary Queen for lunch. They thought it was so fun! Then we dropped Brinley off at school and Julianne and I came home and made sugar cookies.

After picking Brinley up we went around the neighborhood and delivered all their Valentines to their friends. Julianne was so cute and was in complete awe every time someone gave her a card! She kept coming up to me and saying "Mom this is amazing!"

Then Daddy came home and surprised us all with balloons and roses! We sure love him!
And I made our traditional salmon with peach salsa and homemade (by my bread maker) rosemary bread! Yum Yum!

Then we let the girls stay up late and watch a movie with us! It was such a fun day! Happy Valentines Day!

Fun in the snow!

The past two winters we have lived in St. Louis have been pretty mild. Not that I'm complaining! Last year we never got enough snow to even go sledding. Well, a few weeks ago it finally snowed enough that the kids could put on their snow gear and go sledding!

Julianne of course didn't want to go so she played on the playground most of time. Except for at the very end when I grabbed her and we both went down together. She loved it (I knew she would) and wanted to go again and again.

 Peter and Brinley

 Anna and Brinley

 Sam, Peter and Julianne

 We had so much fun!

Then a few weeks later it snowed again! This time Dad was able to come with us! I could really get used to this two snow falls a year!

Whirlwind

Wow! Its been a long time! I have so much to catch up on. I can't believe how much has happened since my last post. Who knows if anyone is still looking at this blog. However, I'm bound and determine to keep it up even if I have to back track about 5 months. I'll just give the basic information.

A cute summer picture of Brinley

This was a phase that I wanted to capture of Julianne. For a while no matter where we went she always had to have her purse and baby in hand. Oh, and she LOVES dress up shoes.

Greg and I were able to go on a fun date to The Lion King. I've wanted to see it for about 15 years now. So I can finally check it off my list! It was wonderful. 

 We took the girls to this awesome farm by our house. Like most things in St. Louis it's free! They start you off on a train ride and you pass by tons of animals.

 Then the train stops at the main petting area, where the kids can see and touch all the animals.

 We even got to feed the goats a bottle.

 Over conference weekend, Grandma and Papa came to visit. We love it when they come! We had so much fun and just seemed to eat and eat and eat!

I made caramel apples one of the days. Yummy!

Next we were on to Halloween. The girls were so cute!

 Here they are at our primary Halloween party.

 Julianne was so excited to go to Brinley's school party!

 For trick or treating we went to our friends the Coffee's neighborhood, like last year! So much fun. The best place ever to trick or treat!

 Greg and the girls on the hay ride!

 So tired afterwards.

 Another funny sleeping pic of Brinley!

 Our Thanksgiving feast! We made everything ourselves the day before so we could enjoy leftovers the whole weekend. Then on Thanksgiving day (forgot the camera) we went to a friends house with other ward members and ate another wonderful feast! We love Thanksgiving. 

 The day after we put up our Christmas Tree! The girls were beyond excited this year!

 Finally made to Utah for the holidays!

 We love Christmas Eve at Grandma MaryAnn's

 Christmas morning! I wish I had all the pics from my dads camera. I only took a few. The girls had so much fun. Brinley got a kid camera, an umbrella, Meeko the raccoon from Pocahontas, to name a few. Julianne got dress up shoes, stuff for her baby dolls and also an umbrella.  

 From Grandma Julie and Grandpa Frank, Julianne and Brinley got princess dresses. Julianne got Rapunzel, and I Brinley got an Ariel dress. 

 With all the cousins at Grandma and Papa's

 Roxy was even there!

 The day after Christmas we my we took the kids sledding with my brother's family. It was COLD!!

 The girls LOVED baby Benson and always wanted to be around him.

 All the kids with Grandma Julie!

 Celebrating Benson's 1st birthday.

 Helping Benson open up his gifts.

 New Years Eve party at Heather and Scott's

Brinley was the only one to make it to midnight, Julianne fell asleep.

Happy New Year! 

 Greg surprised me with an early birthday party! Many of our family and friends were there. 

 Celebrating my 28th birthday back in St. Louis at a Mexican restaurant.

 Back home for some Dairy Queen ice cream cake!

 Brinley and Julianne were invited to a Princess birthday party!

 And our biggest event yet, also the reason for my lack of blogging, we are having another baby! We found out a few weeks ago it's a BOY! We are so thrilled!