The Barker Bundle

Happy Valentines Day

2011-09-01T20:33:00.000-07:00

The kids and I had a great Valentines Day together. We woke up and made delicious pink heart-shaped pancakes for breakfast. Brooklyn wanted her hair in a heart...so we figured that out. Later, Brig and I gave Brooklyn and Jayson new slippers and Cayden received more kisses that one could count. Happy Valentines Day!

Future Dr. Stanley

2011-05-05T18:10:00.000-07:00

At the beginning of the year Sean and Amberlea headed overseas to England so Sean could begin medical school. We miss them so much! Before the headed out we had a little farewell party in their honor over at Amberlea's parents home. We had dinner and played a little ping pong. Brooklyn had so much fun she is already planning their welcome home party!

Snow Fun!

2011-05-05T11:13:00.000-07:00

Merry Christmas 2010

2011-05-05T10:03:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. On Christmas Eve Brooklyn sprinkled oats and glitter on the lawn to help Santa's reindeer find our house. Just before bed the kids opened their Christmas pj's from Mom and Dad. Then we read the story of the birth of Christ to remember what the season is all about. In the morning Brooklyn was so excited to see what Santa brought her. Jayson was old enough this year to enjoy opening presents. They were spoiled this year (because they deserved it ;) Brooklyn got a scooter, Jayson got a new trike, and Cayden got a gym mat to play on. Of course, Brooklyn helped her Dad put the trike together. Later in the morning Bubbbe came over to visit see what the kids got. In the afternoon we went to Mimi and Pappa's for Christmas dinner. My mom makes the most delicious food! What a fabulous day. Merry Christmas!

Santa 2010

2011-05-05T09:23:00.000-07:00

We saw Santa at our ward Christmas party. Jayson just wanted his candy cane and then was ready to go. The kids also sang Christmas carols. Good times :)

Cookies with Bubbe

2011-04-15T08:02:00.000-07:00

Brig and I love the Harry Potter movies and in December Bubbe offered to watch the kids so we could go to the movie for a little date. While we were away Brooklyn and Jayson got to help Bubbe decorate her Christmas tree and bake gingerbread cookies. Brooklyn had lots of fun decorating those cookies.

A New Tradition

2011-04-15T07:49:00.000-07:00

Last year my Mom heard of a great Christmas tradition that we have now adopted in our family. For 12 nights before Christmas we get to open a wrapped Christmas book and read together as a family. The book wrapped for Christmas Eve is the scriptures to open and read about the birth of Christ. The kids love this new tradition.

Jayson is 2 years old!

2011-04-06T09:49:00.000-07:00

In December our little buddy Jayson turned 2! I had to give a final in the morning but we spent the afternoon and evening celebrating. I had taken Jayson shopping a couple of weeks before his birthday and he fell in love with a car that plays music and dances. He had quite the grip on the car and would not let go. I hid the car after I got the boys loaded up so he would forget about it. Jayson was very excited when he opened it on his birthday.
Jayson likes to watch ball games so that evening we went to the UVU basketball game. We were so happy that Mimi and Papa, Sean and Amberlea, and Kenz were able to join us for the game. We ate some hot dogs while we watched the UVU green men performed at half time. A few days later we had another little party at Mimi and Papa's house. Jayson wanted a train cake and that's what he got. Happy Birthday Jayson!

Dear Jayson,

I love you so much. You are and have always been such a good boy. You have the biggest smile and those dimples just make me smile. You love hanging out with the boys, especially with your Papa and Papa Great Sorensen! You're not a big talker quite yet. Brooklyn says you're a ventriloquist because you often talk with your mouth closed. Some of the words/phrases you do say are:

Where's Papa?
Where'd it go?
Here it is.
All gone
No, no, no (while shaking finger).
knock knock (while pretending to knock).
night night (with a big kiss for Mom).
apple core (mumbled)
teeth teeth (to brush teeth)
Let go.
Hi Dad.
Momma
yes
Thank you
done
cracker
bubbles
shirt
shoes
stuck
tractor
woof woof (for dog)
duck
cheese (to eat and for the camera)
car
ball
truck
star
this
bird
more

Jayson, you are a very expressive boy. When you get mad you fold your arms and growl. If you are really angry you roll your eyes up and tap your fingers while your arms are folded. I have to try not to laugh when you do this because I think it's funny and entertaining.

You are all boy. You love to wear a hat just like your Dad. First thing in the morning until you lay your head on a pillow you like to have a hat on your head. You make lots of grunting and growling noises. You love balls, trucks, animals, books (Bubbles Bubbles is your favorite), dirt, and playing outside. You love to climb on everything. We've had to tip the chairs over onto their sides so you don't climb onto the kitchen table to dance. Now you've figured out how to tip them back up and push them around to climb up to whatever you want. You keep Mom busy.

Jayson you love to play with Brooklyn and Cayden. You are a very good helper with putting dishes in the sink, throwing away garbage, and finding toys to entertain Cayden. You also entertain us with knock knock jokes quite often. Your favorite songs are "Pop Corn Popping on the Apricot Tree", "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", and "Hey Soul Sister" by Train. You are so much fun to be around. I am so grateful you are in our family and I hope this is a very healthy happy year for you.

Love,
Mom

Cayden's Baby Blessing

2011-02-20T13:40:00.000-08:00

It's been too long since I've updated the blog. In December (just before semester finals) my computer got a nasty virus and I lost everything on my computer. After a many attempts I was finally able to remove the virus but now my computer will not recognize my camera to upload pictures. Currently I'm borrowing Brig's computer to do a little catch up. December was a busy month for our family. To start it off we had Cayden's baby blessing. Brig did a wonderful job. I think he was a little emotional because he missed his Dad but I'm sure Jerry was there in spirit. Following the blessing we all enjoyed lunch back at our house. We are so grateful for all the family that came and showed their support.

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-12-09T08:22:00.000-08:00

We had a great Thanksgiving this year down at Bubbe's house. The kids had fun playing with their cousins and, of course, there was plenty of food. The Barkers have a tradition of making homemade turkey noodle soup and putting that over the mashed potatoes. They seem to really like it but it's a little weird to me so I prefer to eat them seperately. After playing at the Barker's we headed on over to Mimi and Papa's house for a visit. Jayson played with Kennedy on the car and Brooklyn and Brightyn colored a picture together. I'm so grateful for my family and the love that we share. I'm grateful for our health and safety over the past year. I'm also very grateful for the gospel in our home and the knowledge we have that we will be together for eternity. Happy Thanksgiving!

Fun Days at Preschool

2010-11-30T21:24:00.001-08:00

Brooklyn loves going to preschool. This was especially true on hat day as well as the day they learned about the pilgrims and Indians.

Cayden 7 days old

2010-11-29T07:22:00.000-08:00

When Cayden was 7 days old I had a friend of mine come over for a photo shoot of this handsome little guy. I think they turned out great. Here are a few of my favorites!

My absolute favorite!

Happy Halloween

2010-11-16T22:31:00.001-08:00

We had a great Halloween this year. Brooklyn has had her heart set on being a witch ever since we went to Gardner Village last year to see the witch decorations. She made a very cute spooky witch. Jayson made an awesome fire fighter and Cayden stayed comfy in a little pumpkin outfit. To kick off the Halloween celebrations we went down to Bubbe's house on Saturday for a homemade spud nut and fun with cousins. Later that night I took Brooklyn and Jayson over to Trunk-or-Treat at the church pavilion. It was cold, wet, and rainy but we still had a good time. Brooklyn and Jayson were so excited watching their little buckets fill up with candy. On Sunday, Halloween day, we went over to Mimi and Papa's house for the traditional Stanley Halloween. We had taco soup, "soft carrot" soup, corn bread, witch finger bread sticks, and witch's brew (homemade root beer). It was delicious! We sure do love Halloween. Such a great way to start the holiday season.

Cayden is 1 Month Old

2010-11-07T21:15:00.000-08:00

Boy, we sure do love this little guy! At Cayden's 2 week appointment he was 8 lbs 3 oz and 21". He's just growing and growing. He's a really good baby...just like his older siblings. My favorite thing to do is just hold and snuggle with Cayden. Brooklyn and Jayson weren't big on snuggles so I love every minute get to snuggle with any of my kids.

So In Love

2010-10-08T12:08:00.000-07:00

We are so in love with the newest addition to our family, Cayden Jon. He is such a sweet little man. He was born at 12:39 p.m. and measured 7 lbs 15 oz and 20 inches long. He has a full head of dark brown hair which his brother Jayson absolutely loves. Before Cayden was born many people asked if I thought he would look like Brooklyn or Jayson. Well, he has a look all his own. It has been suggested that he resembles my brother Daryn. He's one handsome baby and that's for sure. We are still trying to adjust to having three kids. So far so good. Brig and I just have to monitor how much love Cayden's siblings give him. Jayson would spend a good portion of the day rubbing Cayden's hair and giving him kisses if he could. Brooklyn loves to hold him and assist in getting all the supplies ready for a diaper change or bath. I'm so glad to have such great helpers. I'm also grateful for all the help we've received from our family. I really appreciate all the help that my Mom, Lindsay, and Bonnie provided in helping watch Brooklyn and Jayson and bringing over meals. We feel very loved and blessed at this exciting time for our family.

Fancy Nancy Night

2010-10-03T14:55:00.000-07:00

Brooklyn and I had a girls night out and went to dinner and Fancy Nancy night at our library. Brooklyn was very excited to get all fancy for our date. She even got to wear a little bit of makeup. When we got to Fancy Nancy night there were so many people there that it was a little overwhelming. I don't think the library was prepared for the masses that showed up. Oh well, the important thing is that Brooklyn and I got some fun quality time together.

The Fire Station

2010-09-23T14:16:00.000-07:00

Brooklyn's preschool recently took a field trip to the fire station. The kids watched a movie with Big Bird, Elmo, and Oscar about fire safety. Following the video, the fire chief and a fireman talked with the kids before going outside to check out the fire engine. This year the kids had the opportunity to walk through the fire engine. One fire fighter allowed the kids to try on his gear but Brooklyn didn't want to try on "boy stuff". Jayson and I had a good time tagging along too.

Big Boy Bed

2010-09-16T15:11:00.000-07:00

Our big boy Jayson has graduated to a big boy bed! Of course Brig assisted Brooklyn in putting the bed together. They are quite the handy pair together :) The first night Jayson was a little too fascinated with the fact that he could get out of bed all by himself but he has done well ever since. He's such a good boy. Hopefully he'll have the same influence on the new little guy when he gets here.

Brooklyn is Back in Preschool

2010-09-12T21:28:00.000-07:00

Brooklyn has started her second year in preschool. She has been talking about going back to Ms. Kristi's house quite a bit in the last month. The night before school started we read a poem her teacher had sent home with her. Brooklyn also wanted to sure her backpack was all ready to go "because she had so much to learn at school". She is very smart and has a great memory. She surprises me with details and events she can remember. Brooklyn is a great help at home and loves to help me clean. Also, she is a great big sister. Even though Brooklyn was really hoping for a baby sister, she is so sweet and gives me and my tummy a hug and kiss each day to let me and her baby brother know she loves us. I love her too!

Brooklyn was all smiles before and after school.

Brooklyn's First Primary Talk

2010-09-11T18:46:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago Brooklyn gave her first talk in primary. This little sunbeam did a great job. Her Dad and I are very proud of her. Here is the talk she gave about following Christ's example:

This is a picture of Jesus Christ. He is the Son of God. Hebrews chapter 5 verse 8 reads: "Though [Jesus Christ] were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;"

Jesus came to Earth to help us. He showed us how to be obedient by his example.
Jesus never told a lie. Jesus was never mean. Jesus treated his parents respectfully. He was happy with the blessings he had. Jesus never took anything that wasn't his. Jesus lived a pure life. He always made good choices. He obeyed Heavenly Father's commandments.

I want to be like Jesus. I can follow Jesus' example and obey Heavenly Father, too.

In Preparation....

2010-09-10T13:27:00.000-07:00

In preparation for our addition of baby #3 to our family we have moved up to minivan status. Brig originally said we downgraded from our Jeep Liberty but he's now accepted and happy with the new vehicle. We definitely fit in with all the other Honda Odysseys in the neighborhood. Brooklyn loves sitting in the very back row. She said "my little bother can't bug me back here". Like Jayson could ever be a "little bother". Brooklyn also loves being able to carpool to preschool with a couple of friends from the neighborhood. I just can't believe that I am the owner of a minivan. I'm not sure how I got this old so quickly :)

This.....

Has now become this....

Happy pilot and co-pilot.

Balloon Festival July 2010

2010-09-07T13:33:00.000-07:00

All growing up I remember my parents telling my brother Sean that all the fireworks and hot air balloons done around the 4th of July were a special celebration for his birthday. No wonder he has an ego...just teasing Sean. Well, this year to celebrate Sean's birthday and the 4th of July we went to the balloon festival in Provo. Even though it was a very early, a bit chilly, and only one or two balloons actually got off the ground, we still had a great time.

Zoo Trip 2010

2010-09-03T10:56:00.000-07:00

Summer time always calls for a trip to the zoo! So we grabbed one of our favorite families and headed up to the Hogle Zoo. The kids absolutely loved seeing the baby elephant. We watched the elephant show and at the end the mommy elephant stole the trainers hat and waved bye-bye. Brooklyn was in hysterics laughing. Brooklyn and her little friend Bella were our excellent tour guides for the trip. They studied their maps diligently and would lead us to the animals. Jayson was coming down with a cold but he still had fun checking out all the animals. The kids were very excited to ride the train and the carousel rides. Brooklyn wanted to ride a zebra. Jayson was a bit nervous at first but after I told him he was riding Lex (his favorite stuffed animal) he had a ball. So cute! In addition to the new baby elephant, the zoo was introducing a new gorilla. It was fun to watch the two male gorillas tease each other in quest to be the dominant male. After watching the wild life (and the animals) we went out to lunch. It was a great afternoon and we can't wait to go again!

Memorial Day 2010

2010-06-11T18:32:00.000-07:00

We spent a good portion of the Memorial Day weekend celebrating some very special birthdays. First, we celebrated my Grandpa Sorensen's 85th birthday at a little open house with extended family. It was nice that my Great Aunt Marie (Grandma Sorensen's sister) was able to make it down. I think my Grandpa enjoyed visiting with her. When I pointed the camera their way, Grandpa leaned over and gave her a little hug. He had a big smile on his face and it was great to see him enjoying himself!

Afterwards we headed down to Brig's grandma's birthday party. Grandma "Rella" was celebrating her 87th birthday luau style. We had a great time visiting with family over the weekend.

Preschool Class of 2010

2010-05-18T20:22:00.000-07:00

Brooklyn has graduated from her first year of preschool. She has loved going to school this year. I hope she always loves learning. Brooklyn was so excited to go to her graduation to wear a funny cap with strings on it after attending my graduation. During her graduation ceremony the preschoolers led the pledge of allegiance, sang songs, repeated nursery rhymes, and gave a special graduation poem. Brooklyn knew all the words to everything. A few ladies standing next to me asked who my child was and when I told them it was the little girl with ringlets front and center they all said, "Oh, she's our favorite". I'm not the only one who thinks she's absolutely precious :) Following the performance by the graduates, Brooklyn's teacher, Ms. Kristy, presented each graduate with their completion certificate as well as a personalized scrapbook. I am so proud of my princess. She is such a smarty!

Graduation 2010

2010-05-16T19:09:00.000-07:00

I am so happy to report that I have finished my M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in ESL. This was the first time UVU awarded graduate degrees. To celebrate the alumni association put on a banquet for the master graduates. It was pretty fancy and we got to meet President Holland. Graduation was exciting too. First we had the convocation ceremony for the education department and they hooded us. Following that ceremony they had the commencement ceremony. I got to lead all the graduates out to the floor and it was fun to have all the education and math professors congratulating me on the way down to our seats. They made a really big deal about awarding to first graduate degrees. Because it was the first graduate degrees they re-hooded us in this ceremony too. I was the first name they called to go up on stage. They hadn't given us any instructions as to where they wanted us to go but I eventually figured it out. Brooklyn is so excited about my funny cap and dress I got to wear. I think she's even more excited that I don't have to go to class at night any more...until I go back :)

Happy 4th Birthday Brooklyn

2010-05-01T21:36:00.000-07:00

Brooklyn has turned 4 years old! She is such a sweet, smart, talented little girl. There are so many reasons I love this girl. This year Brooklyn was very excited to take brownies to preschool to celebrate her birthday with her friends at school. On her birthday Brooklyn got to spend time at Mimi and Papa's house and then go out to dinner with Mom, Dad, and Jayson. After we got home Brooklyn opened her presents and one of her favorites was a new bike. On Sunday the Stanley's and the Barker's joined us at our house for more birthday celebration. In addition, this year we had Brooklyn's first friend party. Brooklyn wanted a treasure hunt party. We made binoculars to help the girls find the treasure. It has been a good birthday. Hopefully it'll be a great year too!

Happy Easter 2010

2010-04-29T11:11:00.000-07:00

I love that Easter was on conference weekend this year. It was great to be able to listen the the prophets and apostles testify of the resurrection of Christ. It also so nice to be able to spend time with my family. In the morning the kids were excited to see their Easter baskets and bunnies. Then, Brooklyn and I made crepes for breakfast. Later that after noon we headed over to my parents house for a delicious Easter dinner and an Easter egg hunt for the kids. It was a great day!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

2010-04-28T21:07:00.001-07:00

Happy Valentines 2010

2010-04-09T10:35:00.000-07:00

To celebrate Valentines Day this year Brig decided to surprise me with flowers, a necklace, and a little something for each of the kids. Not only that, when I came home from teaching and cleaning at my grandparents, our house was clean and Brig was fixing dinner! What a great day.

Christmas 2009

2010-03-17T10:35:00.000-07:00

I know Christmas was some time ago but I've been very busy. We had a great Christmas. The kids were very excited to open their traditional pajamas on Christmas Eve. Then on Christmas morning we all walked out to the front room to see if Santa had come. He had! We spent the morning opening and putting together gifts. Later, Bubbi and Hayden came to visit and stayed for breakfast. Then my family stopped by to spread some Christmas cheer. That afternoon we headed over to my parents house and had a fabulous dinner. There is no better way to celebrate the birth of our Savior then to spend it with family.

Jayson has turned 1!

2010-01-08T09:59:00.000-08:00

I can't believe my little Jayson is 1 year old. He is the sweetest little guy with a tender heart. He loves his sister Brooklyn. They are so cute with each other. They have a great time each day playing together. Jayson is crawling all over the place but will pull himself up to standing any time he gets the chance. He's not quite ready to walk by himself but quite often I'll catch him using a chair as a walker to walk behind. Jayson says "Momma" all the time and "Dadda" every once in a while. He's also starting to sign and say "more" to let us know when he needs more to eat. Also, Jayson has two bottom teeth and two top teeth with another two on their way. We love this little guy so much and are grateful to have him in our family!!!

On Jayson's birthday we had a pizza party over at Brandon and Lindsay's house. To make the party even more exciting Daryn announced that he is going on a mission. Jayson really loves his Uncle Daryn so it was perfect.

The Sunday after Jayson's birthday we had another birthday party and both sides of our family come over for cake and ice cream. A big thank you to everyone that came and for all of the really nice gifts!

The CAKE!

(Jayson HATED the hat!)

Happy Thanksgiving 2009

2009-12-24T08:40:00.000-08:00

We've had a lot going on in the past month. One thing I'm grateful for is that the school semester is over and I only have one left until graduation. Brooklyn is very excited for graduation so that Mommy doesn't have to go to school anymore. On the other hand, Brooklyn LOVES going to school. At preschool they had a Thanksgiving feast. Brooklyn talked about it for days. This got her warmed up for the family festivities.
On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, I took the kids over to my parents to begin baking and preparing for Thanksgiving dinner. Peeling the apples for the apple pies is one tradition that is my personal favorite. We get a little music going and the dancing and peeling commences. ;)
Later that night, we went down to the Barker's and had dinner and celebrated Hayden's birthday. It's sad that this will be our last Thanksgiving with Poppy in this life but we are grateful for all the wonderful times we have had with him.
On Thanksgiving we went back over to my parents and stuffed ourselves silly. There was so much delicious food. I should have taken a picture but just to give you an idea we had 10 pies and there were only 11 adults. The great thing about that is that there are leftovers to enjoy for days!
I love Thanksgiving and the opportunity to reflect on the things I am grateful for. I am especially grateful for family this year. Brig and I are very blessed to have wonderful families that love and support us. I am grateful that our parents taught us the gospel principles and encouraged us to choose the right. I am grateful to be a mother. I look forward to seeing the smiles of my little ones each day. There is so much to be grateful for!

2009-12-11T10:02:00.000-08:00

Jerry Lynn Barker

1952 ~ 2009

Jerry Lynn Barker died December 6, 2009 in Payson, Utah. He became the first child of Jay Keith Barker and Fay Lorraine Partridge on July 10, 1952 in Payson. He spent his childhood growing up next door to his Grandpa and Grandma Partridge, who greatly influenced his life. Jerry and his family enjoyed camping, hunting and fishing in Mapleton Canyon, the Uinta Mountains and Fish Lake.

Jerry attended grade school at Peteetneet and Payson Jr. High. Jerry was a tackle on the Payson High School football team. He had wonderful memories playing with his teammates, who took State in the fall of 1969. He graduated from PHS, and played football at Ricks College for two seasons. He served an LDS mission to Seattle Washington. Jerry continued his education at Utah Technical College and graduated in Drafting and Design. He married Bonnie Jean Porter in the Manti Temple on February 22, 1975. Jerry interned at Valtek/Flowserve in Springville, Utah and became a full-time employee. He recently received his 35 year certificate from Flowserve, where he worked in several Engineering management positions and enjoyed his loyal Flowserve friends.

Jerry enjoyed working in the Young men and scouting programs. He became a mentor to many boys and encouraged them to earn their Eagle Badge, live the Scout Oath and Law and serve a mission. He served on many Timberline courses and loved the time he spent with the scouts and the good men he was with. He had the opportunity to be with his three sons on Timberline courses. Jerry was presented the prestigious Silver Beaver in 1995, and was a member of the Woodbadge Fox Patrol. He served in three bishoprics as the 2nd Counselor

He was a loving husband and father who taught his children to serve others and work hard. Jerry was a fun grandpa who played with his grandchildren and loved taking them boating and fishing. He enjoyed spending time with his family at the Barker Cabin near Fish Lake.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Bonnie and their children: J. Brig (Ashlee), Megan (Casey) Williams, Jill, Dayne (Laura), and Hayden. His Raspberry Princesses: Chelsey and Brooklyn, his little buddies: Jackson, Jace, Jayson and Kale, and his special birth granddaughter Alyssa Faith, will all miss their "Poppy." He was a helpful brother to Mardene, Becky (Doyle) Olsen, Jayeleene (Mike) Edwards, and Kelly (Tess) Barker. He is also survived by his much loved mother-in-law, Ella Porter.

A viewing will be held Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at Walker Mortuary, 587 S. 100 W. in Payson, Utah from 6:00-8:00 P.M. and the Payson Utah Stake Center 650 W. 800 S. in Payson on Thursday, December I0th from 9:45 to 10:45 A. M. The funeral will follow at 11:00. Interment will be in the Payson City Cemetery.

Growing Up SO Fast!

2009-12-05T18:58:00.001-08:00

Jayson is the best baby ever. My family teases me that he is a little monster because he is so good. We are so blessed to have him in our family. He is just growing way too fast. He has a couple teeth on the bottom and working on getting teeth up top. A couple months ago he started crawling. He was pretty slow at first but now I have a hard time keeping track of what room he is in. He loves his sister Brooklyn and wants to play with her all the time. Jayson pulls himself to a standing position on everything. He'll be walking in no time. I'm just enjoying every stage my kids go through. I love being a mom!

Happy Halloween

2009-12-04T21:51:00.000-08:00

I love the traditions we have in our family for Halloween. Each year we go over to my Mom and Dad's and have home made chili, broccoli potato soup, and witch's brew (root beer). We also go trick or treating around the neighborhood. One tradition that started a few years ago is to put each grandchild in a big pumpkin on their first Halloween. Thus, Jayson had his turn in a pumpkin this year. He was such a good sport. Brooklyn just had to be Belle. She loves the Disney princesses! Brooklyn is also fascinated with witches. We went up to Gardner Village a couple of times to see all the different witches. Brooklyn's favorite was the witch that smashed into the building! Jayson was our little tiger. He is such a wild little guy ;)

Brooklyn's Dance Class

2009-12-04T20:18:00.000-08:00

My good friend Jamie and I decided to sign up our girls, Brooklyn and Bella, for a community education dance class. It was an interesting experience but the girls had a good time together (and that's what really matters). Brooklyn's teacher would often use Brooklyn as the leader and she loved that. Now Brooklyn thinks she should be the leader for everything. Here are a few pictures throughout the weeks.

Hee Haw Farms 2009

2009-11-22T21:33:00.000-08:00

Recently, Brooklyn's preschool took a field trip to Hee Haw Farms. Brooklyn just loves playing with her little friends Ellie and Memphis. We had a great time on the hay ride and looking at all the animals. They had the biggest pig I've ever seen weighing in at 1200 pounds. That's a lot of bacon! We ended the trip by going through the pumpkin patch and picking out a pumpkin. Where will we go next?

Fall Fun

2009-11-09T20:33:00.001-08:00

Picking Apples

2009-11-09T20:15:00.000-08:00

Brooklyn, Jayson, and Brig have spent several weeks down in Payson picking apples. They are such hard workers :)

Brooklyn's First Day of Preschool

2009-09-16T09:01:00.000-07:00

Brooklyn had her first day of preschool on 09/09/09! She was so excited. Her teacher had given her a cute poem with a bag of ready confetti to put under her pillow the night before. We had her backpack all ready to go, she had a special breakfast, and we were off. She was all smiles when I picked her up that afternoon. I can't believe my princess is old enough to go to preschool!

Jayson at 8 months

2009-09-10T11:38:00.001-07:00

Brooklyn's First Go at the Sponge Curlers

2009-09-10T11:35:00.000-07:00

...and she loved it ;)

Bear Lake

2009-09-10T10:08:00.000-07:00

As soon as my finals were over we took off with my family to Bear Lake for some much needed R&R. We had so much fun! Brooklyn had been asking all summer to go to the beach to make sand castles so that was a priority. We went swimming in the lake and in the pool at our condo (which was so nice). There was plenty of D-licious food. To top it off we all enjoyed the famous raspberry shakes. I think everyone is all for making this a new tradition!

Get Your Redneck On

2009-08-24T20:18:00.000-07:00

To celebrate July 24th 2009 Brig and Brooklyn went down with the Barkers to Yuba Lake for boating and fun in the water. Afterward, they continued on down to "the cabin". They went fishing and got down and dirty (literally). I had finals the following week so Jayson and I stayed at home. Jayson and I had lots of fun going to dinner and spending time with my parents.

The Fourth of July

2009-07-28T11:00:00.000-07:00

We had so much fun on the Fourth of July this year. We kicked off our celebration by going to the hot air balloon festival in Provo. Jayson enjoyed himself and Brooklyn's favorite balloon was Smokey the Bear. Later, we had a BBQ at my parents house with lots of yummy food. Then Brandon gave us a firework show. Brooklyn and Brightyn had fun with the snaps and sparklers! We finished up the night by going to Grandma Stanley's house and watching the Stadium of Fire fireworks. Happy Fourth of July.

Brooklyn's Favorite Lunch

2009-07-25T22:59:00.000-07:00

Lehi Rodeo 2009

2009-07-21T20:44:00.001-07:00

Brooklyn's Art Class

2009-07-02T15:47:00.000-07:00

Brooklyn loves learning and playing with other kids so I wanted to make sure we got her enrolled in preschool for the Fall. After several calls I decided on a preschool and Ms. Kristi, Brooklyn's teacher, informed me that she was also doing an art camp over the summer. I knew this would be perfect for Brooklyn. She loves art projects and it would give her the opportunity to get familiar with her new school and teacher. The camp runs five weeks long and she has loved every minute thus far. These are some pictures from the first week of class.

Jayson's First Taste of Solid Food

2009-06-11T18:21:00.000-07:00

This week we decided to start feeding Jayson some rice cereal. We figured it would help him sleep better through the night. Plus, he's been eyeing everything we eat for quite a while...I can't really blame him. He quite liked the cereal at first. He was fascinated by the spoon and kept trying to grab it so he could feed himself. After a while he decided he had had enough and started pulling funny faces. I can't believe it's time for him to start eating grown up food already.

Jayson's very first bite of baby food.

Farm Country at Thanksgiving Point

2009-06-10T21:52:00.000-07:00

Last week we got together with some friends and went to the Farm Country at Thanksgiving Point. We had so much fun!

Brooklyn and Bella always have a great time together.

We made some new friends.

Brooklyn LOVED riding the ponies.

We also went on a wagon ride.

Jayson relaxed and enjoyed himself as well.

Uh-oh...we got into a bit of trouble ;)

A Work In Progress

2009-06-05T08:51:00.000-07:00

This year Brig has taken on the task of installing sprinklers and eventually seed and landscape the back yard. It has been a very large project. Good thing Brig doesn't have to do it alone...Brooklyn is always such a great assistant! Brig dug at least half of the trenches by hand and then decided it would be worth it to rent a trencher for a couple hours to finish up. I'm excited to see the finished product!

Jayson: Four Months Old

2009-06-04T20:52:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago it was time for Jayson's four month doctors appointment. He hadn't grown as much as I thought he had. Poor little guy...we found out that not only did he have a cold but he had an ear infection as well. In addition, he had to get shots too :( He's such a good baby I had no idea he had an ear infection. His four month stats are as follows:

Height:
2months: 24.5 in (93.06%tile)
4months: 25 in (33.37%tile)

Weight:
2months: 12.5 lbs (68.44%tile)
4months: 15.74 lbs (49.52%tile)

In the past couple months Jayson has become even more alert. He loves to be around people and be part of the action. His legs are getting pretty strong and he likes to stand up. He and Brooklyn are very good friends and play very well together. He tells great stories and likes to buzz his lips together. His smile goes from ear to ear with the cutest dimples! Here are a few pictures from the past few weeks.

The Celebration Continues...

2009-05-05T09:56:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend my family went to Tepanyaki for dinner to celebrate the April birthdays and send off McKenzie and Jesse for the Summer. At dinner Brooklyn enjoyed playing with and using the chop sticks. I don't know many 3 year old kids that can successfully eat with chop sticks but she pulled it off. After dinner we went over to Brandon and Lindsay's for some delicious ice cream cake. What a fun night!

Happy Birthday Brooklyn!

2009-05-03T15:59:00.000-07:00

My little Princess is 3! I have loved watching Brooklyn learn and grow so much over the past year. She is so smart. She says everything. She constantly surprises me with the new phrases she uses. Some of her favorites are, "Are you kidding me?" and "Momma, you serious!". She loves singing her ABC's and the "I know you" song from Sleeping Beauty along with many others. She loves painting, coloring, putting puzzles together, and anything else artistic. She is such a great big sister. She is so gentle and loving to Jayson. I couldn't imagine our family without her. We love you Brooklyn!!! Happy Birthday!

On Brooklyn's birthday she received many phone calls from many people that love her. We also had a lot of fun at story time at the library. In the evening we opened presents, went to dinner at Los Hermanos, and then visited Mimi and Papa (Brooklyn's favorite thing to do).

We had a birthday party for Brooklyn with the Barkers down in Payson which was combined with Bonnie's graduation party. Then a couple days later my family came over to our house for a birthday BBQ. We are so grateful for our family that loves and supports us.

2009-05-02T20:49:00.000-07:00

Make a Smilebox greeting

Feelin' the Love

2009-04-30T21:58:00.000-07:00

This is a common occurrence at our house. Brooklyn sure does love her baby Jayson!

Spring Fever

2009-03-21T09:52:00.000-07:00

Spring fever is the only type of fever we like at our house and we have it bad! We are loving this warm weather. Brig and I have been taking the kids for walks to the park to play on the playground and to fly our kites. Brooklyn is getting braver and will go down almost all of the slides all by herself. I wish the weather would stay like this for a long time...but I'm not holding my breath :)

Going up to the slide all by herself!

"Let's go fly a kite"

You want me to do what?

Like this?

Check me out!

I'm a professional!

The Bean Museum

2009-03-20T09:03:00.000-07:00

For my birthday Brig took the Friday before off of work. It was so nice to have him home for the day! We decided that it would be fun to take a trip to visit the Bean Museum. Brooklyn enjoyed getting out and seeing all the different animals. While we were there Brooklyn saw a really big animal and ran straight for it. While she was running she yelled back to me, "Look Mom, it's a rhinosaur". This made me laugh because when Brooklyn sees a dinosaur she usually refers to it as a donas. I love all the cute little things she says.

Brig, Brooklyn, and the rhinosaur!

Me and a couple of bears ;)

Ta-Da!

Me and Mini Me

2009-03-19T20:17:00.001-07:00

The Pyramid

2009-03-19T19:42:00.000-07:00

I have decided that I am no longer going to have birthdays in the future. I have come to this conclusion because two years in a row Brooklyn has been very sick the week of my birthday. Last year it was the flu and this year it was croup. I have such a hard time when my kids don't feel well. I wish I could take the pain away. So to try and help entertain Brooklyn while she wasn't feeling well I thought it would be fun to build a fort. Brooklyn loved building the fort. When it was finished she said, "Look Mom, it's my pyramid". How many 2 year old kids know what a pyramid it...what a little smarty :)

It wasn't quite right yet!

All comfy and relaxed.

Jayson's Baby Blessing

2009-03-09T10:04:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Jayson's big blessing day! Brig did a great job on the blessing and we were blessed to have our families there to support us. I am so grateful to have the blessings of the gospel in my life. The day was a success thanks to my family and all their help. I couldn't have done it without them. Jayson is loved by so many people!

"I make this outfit look good!"

The food was beautiful.

Brooklyn did not want to smile for me.

Success!

2009-03-02T09:22:00.000-08:00

We have found success in the potty training department! When Brooklyn turned two we bought her a training potty and she used it immediately. Then she decided that she wanted nothing to do with it. When the potty was even mentioned she became very upset so we packed it up and put it down in the basement for a couple months. When we brought it back up she still had no interest. Then one Sunday we were over at my parents house for dinner and I couldn't see where Brooklyn was at. I asked my mom where she was and she told me my sister McKenzie had her upstairs sitting on the potty. Some how Kenz was able to help Brooklyn get over her fear of the potty. Since that Sunday Brooklyn has done so well. We are so proud of our Brooklyn!

Jayson is 2 Months Old

2009-03-01T10:15:00.000-08:00

This little guy is growing so fast! At his 2 month appoint he was 24.5 inches long (93rd percentile) and weighed 12.5 lbs (68th percentile). He is getting to be so chubby. He has rolls on his legs and the cutest cheeks that are perfect for mommy's kisses. Jayson is staying awake for longer periods of time and only wakes up 2 or 3 times a night. He is smiling and cooing more and more. I love watching my babies grow and learn. We have been so blessed.

The First...and Hopefully Last

2009-03-01T09:26:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I came home from church and decided that an avocado sounded good for lunch. Well, while I was cutting the avocado my hand slipped and I ended up trying to take my finger off. The cut wasn't very long but it was deep. So we loaded the kids up and we went down to the urgent care office to get a few stitches. This was the first time I've had stitches (without having a baby). Brig offered to super glue me back together but I thought I would leave it up to the professionals to fix me up. Brooklyn didn't like the look of the stitches so she was very happy when I took them out :)

Happy Birthday Mom!

2009-02-03T07:26:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Mom! We love you so so so much! I love the time we get to spend together and you are one of my best friends. I appreciate all the support you give to me and my family. You have always given so much of yourself and sacrificed so much for your family. I look to you as such a great example on how to be a great mother. You are the best Mom EVER! I hope you have a great birthday and a great year. LOVE YOU!

Jayson is 6 Weeks Old!

2009-02-03T07:17:00.000-08:00

I cannot believe how fast the past few weeks have flown by! My little Jayson is growing like a weed. Unfortunately he caught a cold and hasn't been feeling so great the last few days. Even though he doesn't feel so hot he is still such a good baby. Jayson has the cutest little smile. When he smiles and shows off his cute little dimples you can't help but smile yourself. He looks just like a mini version of his daddy. I'm so glad this little guy decided to join our family. We love you Baby Jayson!

My A+ Student

2009-01-29T15:25:00.000-08:00

For the past month Brooklyn, Jayson, and I have been going to story time over at the library. Brooklyn refers to this as her class. She has so much fun listening to the stories, singing, and dancing with the other kids. At the end of each "class" the teacher assigns homework to the children. Brooklyn takes her homework very seriously. We have to work on it as soon as we get home. Her assignment today was to make an elephant puppet. I hope Brooklyn stays this enthusiastic about school in the years to come. I'm so blessed to have such great kids!!!

Happy New Year!

2009-01-06T15:35:00.000-08:00

Wishing all our friends and family a Happy 2009!

Merry Christmas 2008

2009-01-02T10:29:00.000-08:00

Christmas this year was so much fun! Brooklyn was so excited for Santa to come to our house. We explained to her that Christmas is the time that we celebrate the birth of Jesus. After learning this she sang happy birthday to Jesus several times. When Brooklyn woke up Christmas morning the first thing she had to do was give her brother a little kiss on the top of his head. Then Brooklyn climbed into bed with her dad and me and then whispered "Merry Christmas Mommy". She is such a good girl. After a few minutes we got up and opened presents. Later, I made crepes for breakfast (a tradition from my family). Brig's parents stopped by later that morning for a visit and then we went to my parents house for Christmas dinner. There is no better way to spend the holidays than with family. Happy Holidays to all our family and friends!

Playing with some of her new toys.

Brooklyn putting her new kitchen together.

My princess!

Love them!!!

Brooklyn riding the pony she got from Bubby and Poppy.

Brooklyn LOVES the camera she got from Mimi and Papa!

Brooklyn reviewing the pictures she has taken. "Say Cheese"

Christmas Eve 2008

2009-01-02T10:08:00.000-08:00

This year for Christmas Eve we spent a nice relaxing day at home. In the afternoon Brooklyn and I made a batch of muddy buddies to snack on. Brooklyn got to lick the chocolate off of the spoon and was in heaven. Later that night, we had a nice dinner together as a new family of four and then Brooklyn opened a couple of presents from Brig and me. She loved her new Curious George pajamas and slippers. The best part of the evening was Brooklyn holding her new baby brother Jayson. We have been so blessed this holiday season!

SPECIAL DELIVERY!!!

2008-12-27T10:43:00.000-08:00

This year we had a very special Christmas delivery....Baby Jayson Brig has arrived! We are so excited and blessed to have him in our family. He is such a good baby. Jayson was 7 lbs 11 oz and 19.5 inches long. The doctor called him a miracle baby because he had a double knot in his umbilical cord. We are so grateful that he is here safe and healthy! Brooklyn loves her Baby Jayson and she has been an awesome big sister and such a good helper. I'm also so grateful for the love and support my family gives to us. Thanks for all the help with Brooklyn, the meals, and the baby gifts. I love you all!

Never Looked Better

2008-12-26T17:35:00.001-08:00

My little Brooklyn is quite the artist! She could spend hours coloring, painting, or any other crafty activity. The other day she drew a picture of me and I've never looked better!

Decorating the Christmas Tree

2008-12-26T17:21:00.000-08:00

Brooklyn and I had a lot of fun decorating the Christmas tree together this year! Brooklyn spent the next several days taking decorations down and then hanging them back up. Every morning she wants the lights on the tree turned on so she can admire her professional decorating job. I love the time we get to spend together!

A Tasty Surprise

2008-12-09T08:08:00.000-08:00

After the wedding my Mom sent each of her kids home with a gigantic piece of wedding cake! Lindsay forgot to take hers home with her so I volunteered to run it over to her...this means I had two gigantic pieces of cake in my fridge:) Well, the next day I decided I would run the cake over to Lindsay on my way to class. Just to make sure I wouldn't foget I pulled out one of the pieces of cake and put it on the counter. So as I was finishing getting everything gathered together for my class I noticed Brooklyn was being a little too quite...you can all guess where this is going!

This is what I found when I got to the kitchen. When she pulled her finger out of her mouth she told me, "Momma, I'm dirty". At least she was enjoying herself.

I couldn't help but laugh!

Happy Birthday Brig!

2008-12-07T14:40:00.001-08:00

The day after the big wedding was Brig's Birthday. We were all pretty pooped from the week's activities but I managed to do a nice dinner and Lindsay made Brig a very cute cake. We are so grateful for all the love and support our families show us. Happy Birthday Brig...we love you!!!

The Wedding of the Year!

2008-12-04T16:02:00.000-08:00

Congratulations go out to Nicole and Bryce. The wedding was absolutely beautiful and we wish you two all the happiness in the world. I hope you guys are as blessed through the years as Brig and I have been :)

2008-12-02T08:48:00.000-08:00

I love the traditions we have in our family. Halloween is no exception. On Halloween we all gather together at my parents house and my mom makes the most delicious homemade chili and broccoli and potato soup! I can't forget the homemade root beer either...it's fantastic! We all take turns opening the door for trick-or-treaters and do a little trick-or-treating ourselves. Our favorite is to take the little ones over to Great Grandma and Grandpa's house.

Uncle Brandon had a special surprise for Brooklyn this year....SILLY STRING!
She LOVED it!

Happy Holiday Season!!!

B-R-O-O-K-L-Y-N

2008-12-02T08:41:00.000-08:00

One day, just before Brooklyn was 2 1/2 years old, Brooklyn and I were playing with her drawing board and she said she wanted to spell her name. She told me all of the letters in order and I would write each letter as directed. She was so proud to see her name written out on the board. Now she will organize the magnet letters on the fridge to spell her name...all eight letters! What a smarty!

We Love the Fall Time!

2008-11-07T09:09:00.000-08:00

I can't believe how fast time flys by and that the year is already starting to wrap up. We went over to my parents house for a Sunday dinner party to send off the soon to be newly weds and Lindsay took some really cute pictures of Brooklyn. You have to agree that she is one of the cutest girls you've ever seen!

Pumpkin Time!

2008-10-28T11:46:00.000-07:00

So after the zoo last Saturday we traveled to the other side of the state (or so it seemed) and went with Brig's mom down to Santaquin to go on a hay ride and pick out a couple of pumpkins. Brooklyn enjoyed the hay ride and then ran like a wild monkey through the pumpkin patch. She was very proud of her pumpkin choices. After we got back from the pumpkin patch we got some ice cream to share. Brooklyn ate mine...I can't blame her when it's cookies 'n cream. She is so cute I didn't even mind. When we got home that night Brooklyn helped me place the pumpkins just so on our porch. It was a very fun day but now we're ready to relax a bit.

A Day at the Zoo

2008-10-20T09:04:00.000-07:00

On Saturday Brig and I took Brooklyn up to the zoo see the animals. Brooklyn loved seeing all the different animals and was all smiles...most of the time. The weather was perfect and it was great to spend time together as a family. We'll have to make the trip again soon.

Brooklyn loved seeing the Jumbo Elephants!

If you ask, Brooklyn will tell you the penguins were her favorite :)

Checkin' out the ALIGATORS...aahhhhh!

Brig had a squirrel monkey as a pet on his mission.

Brooklyn had a great time seeing the different types of monkeys. She thought they were silly. Brig and I love this little girl so much and love every minute we get to spend with her!

Little Miss Fix It!

2008-10-11T19:50:00.001-07:00

My baby girl is so talented! She may be 2 years old but she is far more experienced with tools than many adults. Now that Brooklyn is such a big girl (and there is a little brother on the way) it is time to upgrade to a big girl bed. My parents are so nice and are letting us use one of their day beds. So last night they brought the bed up to our house and Brooklyn was so excited to help her daddy put it together today. I'm always amazed that she knows what each tool is and exactly how it should be used. The proof is in the pictures.

She knows how the nuts and bolts work and she can do it herself!

I'm not sure I'd have known what to do with this wrench but she sure did :)

Daddy and his apprentice.

Brooklyn's Special Date With Aunt Kenz

2008-09-22T08:22:00.000-07:00

On Friday my sister McKenzie picked Brooklyn up for a special date. Brooklyn was so excited to go for a ride in Aunt "Keys" car. They started off by grabbing a little lunch at Kneaders and then headed to the salon for a pedicure to get the new glitter gel toes. Kenz let Brooklyn pick out the colors for both of them. When Kenz brought Brooklyn back to me Brooklyn was so proud and excited about her sparkly toes. She does love her sparkles...I wonder where she gets that from. Thanks Kenz! Brooklyn had so much fun and is still talking about her purple toes.

The Great State Fair 2008

2008-09-17T08:34:00.000-07:00

Last Friday night my whole family went to the Utah State Fair. We had so much fun that it might just become a yearly tradition. Brooklyn loved seeing all the animals. We saw goats, ducks, rabbits, cows, chickens, pigs, and Brooklyn's favorite was the tigers. We also watched a mental illusionist show and I got to go up stage and help with a trick. We were all worn out by the end of the night but it was so much fun to get together with the fam!

Our Growing Little Family

2008-09-14T20:25:00.000-07:00

While I am pregnant I always look forward to the appointmnet that we get an ultrasound. The most important thing is to find out if the baby is healthy. I am happy to report that the doctor told us that everything looks great so far. Of course once we found out the baby looks healthy we were so excited to find out if we are going to be adding a boy or a girl to our growing little family. Brig and I didn't care either way but we are happy to announce that we are having a little boy! We are very excited but Brig and I are having trouble agreeing on a name. I guess we still have a little time to decide but I don't want to put it off too long. For now, it's time to start buying blue!

In Brooklyn's Own Words

2008-08-09T18:14:00.000-07:00

Brooklyn is starting to say so many cute things in the past few weeks. I love being a mom and Brooklyn brings such a smile to my face with the cute little things she says. Just this past week Brooklyn decided that "sure Mommy" was a fun thing to say. I was also very impressed when Brooklyn so sweetly said, "Thank you Mommy for helping me" a couple different times. I am amazed at how quickly she is growing up. She is one of the sweetest little girls I have ever met. Today Brooklyn told me she had "hutch" (that means she is hungry) and needed something to eat. Brig was making BLT sandwiches and I asked if she wanted one. That sounded fabulous to her. I started to tell her we would put tomatoes and bacon on her sandwich and she started to frown and shake her head. She then told me she wanted a "hamwich...cheese and ham". By all means, we made her a "hamwich" and she was very happy.

Glamour Shots

2008-07-30T12:17:00.000-07:00

Whenever I get ready for the day I often find Brooklyn right by my side mimicking whatever I am doing. It is so funny (and scary) that she pays such close attention to the actions of her parents. I better be on my best behavior! Any how...I took a couple pictures a couple months ago of Brooklyn getting beautiful.

How do I look?

Very pretty!
So today while I was on the phone with my sister, Brooklyn decided to get beautiful all by herself. When she made her grand appearance I think I may have startled her with my initial reaction. At first she felt bad because she knew she had done a "no, no" but after I told her she was still my "good girl" she thought she was very funny. Needless to say...the lipstick is ruined and there is a huge mess. Oh well, I wouldn't trade a moment with my baby girl!

Big News in the Stan Fam!

2008-07-28T09:04:00.000-07:00

Our little Erin Nicole is no longer on the market. That's right...she is engaged to Mr. Bryce Driver! Sorry boys. We are very excited for these two. Bryce and Nicole are a great match and we wish them an eternity of happiness! Bryce, we are very excited to make you a part of the family. Now let the planning begin :)

Ode to Sean

2008-07-26T21:23:00.000-07:00

Brooklyn has really taken a liking to her Uncle Sean and Auntie Amberlea. She has even composed a song for Uncle Sean. She loves to sing, "Sean, Sean, Sean" as she plays on a ukulele at my parents’ home. So on the 24th of July when we got together with my family we decided to take a trek up to Bridal Veil Falls. Sean and Amberlea were so good to take Brooklyn up the falls to play in the water. Later they found a bridge and threw rocks into the water. Brooklyn had such a good time!

The water was so cold but Brooklyn insisted on taking her clothes off to play.

These pictures were taken the next day up at my parents. We just love to get together with the fam!

Taking a Moment to think about....

2008-07-17T19:00:00.000-07:00

Have you seen this little tag going around on blogs? I left a comment on a couple, so now I've got to do #2 on the list.

So let's play:
1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

3. If you can't say anything nice, don't comment. If you do, I'll delete it.

Fun in the Sun!

2008-07-09T18:07:00.000-07:00

To try and beat the heat today Brooklyn and I set up her little pool in the front yard. Brooklyn was so excited when I told her Lindsay and Brightyn were coming over to play in the pool too. The girls had so much fun that Lindsay and I decided to make this a regular occurence throughout the summer. Brooklyn's hands and feet were all wrinkly by the time we pried her from the pool for a little dinner.

Happy Fourth of July!

2008-07-05T20:18:00.000-07:00

Nothing makes a holiday better than getting together for a fam party! So for some fun festivities Brig and I loaded Brooklyn up into the car and headed over to my parents house for a fantastic BBQ. The food was absolutely delicious and we just have so much fun hanging out together. Another fabulous event of the long weekend is that we are getting together tomorrow for Sean's birthday. Let the good times roll! Now for pics! This first one was a battle between Brooklyn and Brightyn over a piece of cheese. Brightyn is pretty fast but Brooklyn did get to keep the cheese. (I don't think Lindsay would have let Brightyn eat the cheese anyway).

The Cutest Little Girl in the World!

2008-06-29T10:46:00.000-07:00

I know every mother thinks their babies are the most beautiful but I really do think my baby girl is absolutely precious!

Just a Little Late

2008-06-20T08:02:00.000-07:00

It is amazing to me that Brooklyn is already 2...and a little bit. My baby girl turned two back in April. It has gone by so quickly but I have enjoyed the journey. Brig and I are so blessed to have such a beautiful well-tempered daughter. She makes us so happy each and every day. Brooklyn we love you. Here are a few highlights of the birthday festivities.

We got Brooklyn a new bike for her birthday. She picked it out herself. She had to have this one because it is pink.

We had a fun little family party to celebrate. This is the first time we have been able to host an event at our house because we always were so short on space. Brooklyn loved having her favorite people come over. We missed Kenz and Jesse because they had already moved to Florida for the summer. We can't wait for them to come back! (I realize that this is not a flattering photo of myself but Brooklyn loves to see everyone.)

If Cole is around I know exactly where Brooklyn will be!

Brooklyn loved the bees on her cake. She did a great job blowing out her candles.

Brooklyn - we love you so much! We hope this year is a great one for you!

Happy Father's Day!

2008-06-15T07:26:00.000-07:00

I love my Dad! We have always been close. When I would come home from hanging out with friends or a date my dad would be up waiting for me and would listen to my stories (no matter how long I made them). I remember when I was younger and boys would come over to visit me (I think) I would usually find them out playing basketball with my dad. Our house was always the gathering place because all of my friends, and my siblings' friends loved my parents. I really look up to my Dad. I hope you have a great Father's Day. Love you Dad!

Now, I would like to wish Brig a Happy Father's Day! He is such a good father. He helps me with Brooklyn quite a bit when he's home. Brooklyn loves to spend time with her dad. She will not go to sleep at night without first snuggling with her dad. Brooklyn is Brig's little apprentice out in the shop. If Brig needs a tool he just asks Brooklyn for it and she will run out into the garage and grab it for him. Brooklyn and I are very grateful for all that Brig does for us.

The Sweetest Thing

2008-06-08T08:35:00.000-07:00

I love just taking a minute to watch Brooklyn when she is fast asleep! No matter what messes or trouble she has gotten into earlier...the minute she is in napper land she is an angel that can do no wrong. Love you Brooklyn!

Mommy and Me!

2008-06-03T08:14:00.000-07:00

I know Mother's day was a few weeks ago but I just wanted to post how much I love my mom and love being a mom. Now that I have a daughter of my own I appreciate just how much my mom has done for me even more. THANKS MOM!!! I love you so much.....and now for random pictures from the past year.

We are so excited!

2008-05-27T08:52:00.000-07:00

We are so excited because Brooklyn is going to be a big sister! I haven't been to the doctor yet but according to my research on the internet we will be receiving a delivery from the stork around Christmas. It has been a few years since I have been this anxious for Christmas to roll around. I can't wait to find out if we are having a boy or girl. Brig and I don't care either way we are just praying for a healthy baby. I haven't been feeling fantastic lately but it is all worth it. We have been so blessed with Brooklyn that we were so happy to find out we will be adding another little spirit to our home.

The Big Move

2008-05-26T20:26:00.000-07:00

I know it has been a long time but we have had a very busy couple of months. We tried for months and months and finally sold our house! We loved our little house in Provo but we needed more room and Brig wanted to shorten his commute. It was a very long process but we know that there is a plan and when the timing is right things would fall into place. We did a lot of praying things finally fell into place.

After a test of my patience (and sanity) we finally received the offer we had been waiting for and then the search was on to find a new place right away. There was a house in Lehi that we had been watching for several months. We are so blessed that it was still available when we were ready to buy. We love our new house! Brooklyn has more room to run wild and Brig loves the shortened drive to work. One of the most fantastic features of the new house is that it is so close to my sister Lindsay and her hubby Brandon. Brooklyn loves being able to walk over to her cousin B's (Brightyn) house and visit. Now we are working on getting the garden planted and then we begin working on landscaping the side and backyard.

I just want to give a big THANK THANK THANK YOU to all our family members that worked so hard to help us in the transition to our new home sweet home!