Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving week was lots of fun. We left for Boise on Monday night before Thanksgiving and Joel woke up early the next morning to drive to Washington with my dad and brother. My grandpa had a tractor he gave my dad and Joel went to help him get it. I really wanted to go too but it is a 9 hour drive and they drove straight there and then back. Brynlee doesn't do well in the car and I would have been very uncomfortable having to sit for so long. I decided to stay with my mom and grandma. My sister and my cousin and her family went to Washington too but they drove their own vehicle. Joel got to meet my grandpa (on my dad's side) for the first time. It was a long and quick trip but I think he had fun and he was back by Wednesday night. While he was gone I got to help get ready for Thanksgiving dinner. We had lots of people over so my grandma made eleven pies.

I love these two so much. 

For the rest of the week we did some puzzles, played games, talked to family, went shopping, and enjoyed lots of great food. It was great to be able to reflect on all of the blessing in my life and to think about all I am thankful for. Having Joel gone for a few days made me rally appreciate him. I am also grateful for my wonderful family, for my beautiful daughter, and for my Savior. I am glad for the opportunities we have to visit family. It was a great week. We really do feel so blessed. The only bad part about the week is that Brynlee and I both got colds. Hopefully they wont last long and Joel wont get it too.

It's Autumn Time

This year fall in Rexburg started out really nice. On the first of October Brynlee and I spent the day outside in t-shirts catching bugs and playing with bubbles. 

And then on the 6th of October it snowed quite a bit. Brynlee was not a fan of the snow. The wind was just blowing so hard it was really cold. Since then we have had some days that have been really nice and we have been able to play outside with just a light jacket on and there have been other days that it is too cold to even leave the house.  Lately there are more cold days than anything. 

Brynlee has been really ingenious at coming up with things to keep herself busy on the days we are stuck inside. She loves to dress up in mom and dad's clothes and she is constantly making piles of toys and nicknacks all around the house. She loves to read books, although she won't sit still for an entire story. In the middle of the book she gets up and leaves and then brings me another book to read. She also loves to sing songs. Our favorite part of the day is when dad is home. Brynlee loves to wrestle with dad, they play blocks together, and he builds the best tents.

Here is a short video of us singing some of our favorite songs. 

It's a...

GIRL!

At my doctor's appointment yesterday they did an ultrasound and we found out that we are having another little girl. We are way excited. I think it will be lots of fun to watch Brynlee interact with a little sister. Plus we don't have to buy this baby a whole new wardrobe. Joel was excited to be having a girl to. We plan on having more kids so he said he didn't mind waiting for a boy. 

The baby looks healthy and was moving all over the place. At first we didn't think we were going to get to find out the gender, but at the last second she gave us a brief glance. If this baby is anything like Brynlee we will get a run for our money but I would be really happy. 

Brynlee as a newborn

Brynlee's Favorite Game

A few months ago I taught Brynlee how to play Ring Around the Rosie and now we can't play it enough. Brynlee loves this game. She is constantly walking around the house, usually going in circles, singing "Ashes, Ashes, Down." Then she falls to the ground. She is always trying to grab my hands and get me to come play with her. Lately she has started to play with her baby dolls or her stuffed animals. 

Won't she make a great big sister? Lately Brynlee and her Uncle Brian invented a new way to play the game. We all love it when Brian comes over because he likes to play with Brynlee and he is good at keeping her entertained. 

Trick-or-Treat

For Halloween this year we all went trick-or-treating. We dressed Brynlee as a spider and took her outside. We tried to get Brynlee to say trick or treat all week and she would just tell us no. We had a few trick or treaters at our apartment right before we left. We were surprised that anyone would walk up three flights of stairs for candy but we had some candy to give away. Once Brynlee saw these kids outside though, it totally motivated her to go and when Joel told her she had to say trick or treat if she wanted to go she was all over it. (Although it was more like "Ti o Tee") 

Brynlee rode in the stroller to the first house but insisted on walking the rest of the night. She loved watching all of the other kids and seeing all of the pumpkins and decorations. The whole night she was in awe of what was going on. At each house she would walk to the door, knock, say trick or treat, and then freeze once the door opened. A few times she waved goodbye or would say thank you and several times she tried to get more candy from the person. "More" she would ask. A few times it even worked. A few times she tried to walk into the house, especially when she could hear a dog barking.  We made it down one street and back but it took quite a while so then we were done. We stopped by the church for our ward FHE Halloween party where we got lots more candy and then we headed home.  

Brynlee got lots of candy. We dumped the bag out when we got home so we could check everything. Brynlee kept trying to pick up as much candy as she could. Joel tried to eat a piece and she got really mad at him. Eventually she gave him a piece of candy and we put Brynlee to bed. 

It was a great and fun day. Once Brynlee was in bed Joel ate lots of Brynlee's candy. I had to hide it from him.