Like Sister Like Brother

Brinley 6 months
Owen 6 months

What did you get for your Birthday!!!

Happy Happy Birthday DADDY!!!

Justin is officially 27, and enjoying getting older. One of Justin’s life long dreams is getting old, living in Sun City, playing golf, and driving his very own golf cart. He even has gone so far to have his clothes picked out, argyle socks to his knee and plaid shorts, with a woven hat. (NO JOKE, he can’t wait until he is 70.) We celebrated on Monday (he took a sick dayJ). We went to the mall for some fun goodies, off to Arribas (his favorite Mexican restaurant), followed by and family nap and movie, and for dinner we ate at Johnny Rockets. It was a fabulous day and the kids we so excited to spend so much time with daddy. He even won a bear for Brinley at Arribas (he is now 2 for 3).

What did Justin want for his birthday???? He asked for gift certificates to Home Depot and his family delivered (thanks.) What did he get!!?? A new vacuum and a carpet rake . Yes, that is what he wanted for his birthday so that he could be EVEN MORE TIDY. Don’t get me wrong I am not complaining that my husband loves a clean house and is such a great help around here, but a carpet rake!? “So that the carpet ALWAYS looks like its never been walked on,” he has used it several times since Monday, the stairs look amazing. HA HA!! Thanks Just.

Caught Ya

Brinley is honest to a fault...

Me: "Brin where are you?"

Brinley: Running out of my bathroom "Don't worry mom, I am just sneaking around in your stuff."

Brinley is still in love with her brother, the other day in the car I hear them both giggling in the back seat. I am driving down the freeway thinking to myself just how great it is that they both enjoy each other so much. The giggling gets louder and louder, so I look in my rear view mirror and Brinley says "Owen is upside down," both are still laughing so hard. Terrified I turn to see Owens car seat is totally sideways. Well lets just say that it was fun to try to get him safely back into position while trying to maintain some composure as I drove down the freeway. Oh, and I promise I am not always so neglectful, most of the time car seats are properly attached to the car.

Basketball Update

Justin mentioned to me the other day that Basketball is nearly over; he assumed I would be a little relieved. Just the opposite, I am so distraught to only have a few more weeks with these wonderful girls, (yes I said wonderful to describe these 13/14 year old girls.) I am having the best time with them. I do hear some of the boy drama and a little whining but what do you expect. Owen and Brinley are the hit of the team. They get to travel with us, occasionally go to practice, and Brin loves to sit on the bench during games. It has become quite the family event.( I really should get pictures of it.) I know that I have gained more from these few months than all the girls combine. Just to toot our teams horn a bit we are on a 6 game winning streak, winning by an average of 17 points, up from a total of 2 wins last year.

I am so proud of you girls!!!!

Lion King

Yesterday night we were privileged to take Briny to the “Lion King Broadway Production”. This was my second time and just as wonderful years later, yet more satisfying watching Brinley’s pure excitement. As the animals ran down the isle at the start of the show her face was priceless. She was frozen in amazement her jaw wide open. It almost brought tears to my eyes; cheesy I know but this is a new emotion being so overjoyed to see my child learning and experiencing the GOOD things in life!!! She remained interested for almost the entire 3 hours up until she fell asleep 20 minuets before it ended. Justin and I had so much fun and would love to see more shows, you know in all the free time and with all that extra money lying around. Wicked is coming soon maybe we will be able to go, we will keep our fingers crossed.

- Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for a GREAT Evening

How do Mommys do it!!!

Okay having one child is a challenge, all the new changes, learning to forget about yourself and focusing completely on another. Having two is very different, I am not saying its tremendously harder actually for me it has been a very smooth transition. I even talk about WHEN we will have another not IF we will have another (I think at least two more.) BUT there are a few things that I was not warned about when you add one more. Like...


Grocery shopping is my number one complainant. How do you do it with a two year old and a newborn? I have ask many experienced mothers this question and I seem to get similar responses "Wait until your husband gets home to do it!" Well trying to get everything done in one day, trying to be Super Mom, I on many occasions have tried the multiple grocery store trip until a few weeks ago...




I had my list of groceries and 3 stores to hit to get the best saving. Fry's was okay, on to Sam's where the only major complaint was what fruit snacks Brin could get. Last but not least Walmart "price matching" so this takes a bit longer. I try to put all breakables, and smash-ables upfront with Owen and all else goes in the back with the two year old but I ran out of room when I got to the back of the store for the eggs. It should be okay to put the eggs in the back with Brin RIGHT! She minds most of the time and know better RIGHT?! All I have to do is tell her not to touch RIGHT? WRONG!!! by the time I walked from the back of the store to check out I was missing three eggs, one full egg and two insides. Not to mention at this point Owen is starving and Brin has pulled a Houdini move and now has a piece of gum in her mouth. Did I fail to tell you I was trying to be on a strict budget and was not buying the "Good" bread this time because it was $2 dollars more and now I will be buying a $2 pack of yucky fruity gum. Okay, so I learned my lesson. Wait for Justin to come home, or just one grocery store at a time. No more three hour trips.





The next one is laundry. Any logical person would assume one more tiny person wouldn't make double the laundry RIGHT? WRONG imagine that this tiny under 15 pound being throws up on himself and anyone around him literally ALL through the day. Yes that is our Little Man Mr. Owen himself. He is the biggest spiters I have met. I am surprised he gains any weight at all. But he is not starving look at those chunky beautiful thighs. Mommy LOVES your THIGHS!!! I feel like all I do is feed him and do his laundry.





Last Comment, no one could have explained how deeply you can love this new being just as much in hours or days that you do our others that you have been with for years. How strange that realization is. What a blessing they truly are.


I guess that all you experienced mothers may just not tell us everything because the GOOD times definitely out weight the FRUSTRATING times. So not to discourage motherhood at all.

A Season to Remeber

Another holiday season has come and gone, and once again I am sitting here wondering where the time went. This year was different than any other, the first time my child could understand about Santa, Rudolph, and most importantly about the true meaning of Christmas the celebration of the birth of Our Savior. Justin and I were taking in all of her joy, excitement, and mystery that we could, endless nights of Christmas lights, cookie making, 5 Santa visits, and stories of Jesus. This was unquestionably a Christmas to remember. I enjoyed many nights home with my husband, my new precious baby boy, and our always-inquisitive nearly 3-year-old daughter. I wish this season could have lasted for a much longer period of time but here is to next time.

Here are just a few of the seasons highlights…

I made my basketball girls some Christmas cookies, that Justin and Brinley decorated. Justin thought it was quite funny that i would make my team cookies, he never did that for his baseball boys. I guess that's what you get when you combine a full-time mommy & a part-time hairdresser, dabbling in coaching:) Brinley and Owen in their Christmas jammies.

Brin and Mommy have been wanting a puppy for a while. Aunt Jennie got Owen this for Christmas, Brin named him Chuckles the Dog. It will do for now, until we get our Great Dane!!!Thanks Ma maw Sage for the cutest horsey.

Santa got Brin a "Princesses Pink Phone" just her size so be looking for a call from her she loves to use it!!!Another thanks to Santa (from Ma maw house). Her own digital camera that she takes everywhere. Her she is taking a close up of Justins parents tree. Even to our favorite Chinese restaurant to take a picture of her favorite waitress.

Thanks Aunt Jennie for the Princess Bike!!!!

That's all the excitement Daddy can take. He will take care of Sadie Piper (Brins Cabbage Patch doll. )