Brynlee's New Best Friend

While Brynlee is still following Taylee around 24/7 (for which I am very grateful that Taylee is such a sweetheart and doesn't mind having a shadow), there has been a third wheel added to all of our escapades in the last two weeks.

Bryns has become EXTREMELY attached to this stuffed dog. She carries it around the house, cuddles with it at night, wakes up asking where her "doggy" is, and has even taken it into a store or two. It has rarely left her hands in two weeks (though it is in the washer right now since she shared her breakfast with it today).

I don't know where this obsession has come from for her. It is not even her stuffed toy. Taylee got it as a birthday gift from her Great-Grandpa and Grandma Elison. These kids are so funny. Its the little things (like becoming attached to a stuffed toy) that makes being a mother so much fun!

My blogging has slowed down a lot lately. Our lives have become rather monotonous, but here is short update on our monotony...

***Taylee is signed up to play soccer this spring in POCATELLO. I could not find any programs in Idaho Falls that were offered to 4 year olds. She loved it so much last fall that I really wanted to get her back in as soon as possible. Her cousin Aubree is signed up with her, so it should be a lot of fun.

***We are teaching Bryns how to say prayers. She loves it and wants to say every prayer. Even when it is not her turn, she simply copies whatever is being said. Its nice to know that everything is being doubly blessed.

***I had a baby appointment last week. Everything with the baby is going great and he is quite the kicker (especially at around 11pm when I am trying to go to sleep), except now I am measuring BIG. My pregnancies are always crazy. I measured a week too big, but then next time I will measure two weeks too small. Oh well. I really should be use to it by now:-)

So Happy!

Our washing machine broke on Sunday. It leaked though the floor and into the theater room. Luckily, it did not effect any of the electrical work, just the paint (I guess not so lucky for my hubby who has to repaint it :-). Sean was so upset that Monday morning he left early to work and bought us a new washer and dryer.

I love them! They are front-loading (did you know that you have to have special laundry detergent for front loading machines???) and they are huge! They stand at least a foot taller than my last ones. But the best thing is that they have digital timers and the washing machine takes 50 minutes and the dryer takes 40 minutes! Yes, 40 minutes! I use to run my dryer through 2x to get clothes dry, now it takes less time than the washing machine.

It is also the best toy for Taylee and Bryns. Sean has already shown them how to climb into the dryer, which they think is hilarious. And I have caught both of them in the laundry room mesmorized by the circular motion.

It is really stupid that I am SO excited over a new washer and dryer, but I am. That dryer has already saved me so much time. After they delivered it Tuesday morning, I was able to catch up on laundry before 3 (and believe me, I had a ton of laundry to do). Its just sad that I get more excited about getting a new washer and dryer than I do about a trip to the Super Bowl. I must be getting old :-)

Why Did We Wait So Long???

In the last month I switched Taylee and Brynlee from having their own rooms into sharing one. I wanted to give them plenty of time to get used to being together before the new baby comes, since he will have the other bedroom. I was so worried about switching them. What if Brynlee kept Taylee up all night? What if Taylee became upset over having to share her room? What if Brynlee hated giving up her room?

But they have done great together. Better than great. It has been awesome! They both go to bed at the same time. I only have to read through one set of bedtime stories each night. And Bryns is now sleeping clear through the night (she use to wake up about 3am crying). I am loving it! (The only downfall is that now they both wake up at 6:30 instead of 7:30! Oh well)

Triple Tagged

I got three tags, so here it goes :-)

Tag #1: Picture Tag

Here are the rules...

1) Choose the 4th folder in your computer's Pictures.

2) Select the 4th picture in the folder

3) Explain the picture

My laptop is fairly new so my pictures on it do not go back very far. This picture was just taken a couple months ago. It is Aubree (my adorable niece), Taylee, and Brynlee dressing up as princesses with sunglasses (they also have princess high heels and make-up on). This is one of my kid's favorite things to do. A day rarely goes by that we do not play full-out dress-up.

Tag #2

I've been tagged to write seven interesting things about myself. "Interesting " is in the eye of the beholder, so you can decide for yourself how interesting these things are.

1- I backpacked through Western Europe when I was seventeen for about 6 weeks with my wonderful sister Noelle. The only things that have ever been better than that trip was getting married to Sean and having my kids.

2- I have flown over both the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean

3- I am a read-a-holic. I love to read and would rather grab a book than a TV remote any day. My husband and sisters constantly make fun of me because I have learned to read really fast. I am not a very patient person and I want to know how the story ends, so of course I have to speed-read.

4- I recently finished writing a novel. It is something that I have worked at off and on over the past three years. Who knows if it will ever be published, but I am very proud that I actually finished it.

5- I am slowly, but surely, finishing my Bachelor's degree. I have been a senior since the semester after I had Taylee. For some reason after having my sweet baby, my priorities changed. I did not want to give up any of my time with her. So, about every other semester I go back and take a couple more classes. Right now I have about 18 more credits to take. And believe me, when I get done I will be hosting the biggest party ever! (You will all be invited:-)

6- I dread talking in front of people. I get so nervous and competely forget what I want to say and so all my well-prepared thoughts come out in a completely messy jumble. I have learned that if I am truly required to speak in front of a group that I need to write everything down word-for-word with things like "PAUSE" and "LOOK UP" added here and there so that I don't simply speed through it. My talks may be a bit boring but at least I get the message I want to across.

7- One of my fingers is shorter than the others. As a toddler, my hand was smashed in a doorjam so that the tip was taken off. Instead of stitching it back on, the doctors simply closed it, leaving my finger about a 1/2 inch shorter than it should be.

Tag #3 BUG tag

10 Things That Bug Me!

1- People who call from a weird number and don't leave a message. Do they really expect me to just call back when I have no idea who I am calling?

2- Cleaning my glass tables when I know that Brynlee is just waiting around the corner to smear something on them

3- Laundry! It never, NEVER ends.

4- Dirty socks on the floor...I think feet are gross, so the thought of someone's dirty socks on the floor just makes me cringe.

5-No toilet paper on the roll.

6-When I start to cook something and then realize that I am missing an ingredient.

7-Oblivious drivers. I have a hidden road rage (as Skye can attest to) that really doesn't come out any longer, but it sure does simmer underneath my calm exterior when I get behind someone who has no idea what they are doing, where they are going, or why. It drive me nuts.

8- Did I say Laundry?!? I really hate it. If I ever become rich that will be the first thing I hire out.

9- Waiting for trains while driving.

10- When the car seats get switched from one vehicle to another and they don't get belted in

Now that you know a whole lot more about me than you ever wanted to know, I tag everyone related to me. You don't have to do all three, just pick one :-)

SuperBowl

Let me first say, I am not a big football fan. The few games that Sean has taken me to have not impressed me. The fans are so crazy that they border on psychotic. I am usually too worried about whether the crazy drunk next to me is going to jump over the railing on the next touchdown to actually watch the game.

But, I loved the SuperBowl! The fans were even more psychotic, but there was so much energy and adrenaline in the stadium that I could not help but join in (a little too Lord of the Flies, I know). But, I want to share four bits of advice for anyone who will ever go to NBA Finals, World Series, SuperBowl, etc to ensure that you do not feel as out of place as I did.

1- Wear a team jersey for whoever you are cheering for (t-shirts just don't cut it)

2- Paint something on your face. You don't have to paint your entire face, but at least something on one cheek will do.

3- Dye your hair or part of your hair your team's color

4- Accessorize. Hair clips, necklaces, etc. The more the better :-)

SuperBowl in Tampa

Sean throwing a pass at the pre-game party (Isn't he a cutie!)

In front of the blow-up trophy at the pre-game party.

View from our seats

It was a great game. We were lucky that our seats were in an area sourrounded by the Arizona Cardinal season tickets holders. I wish the Cardinals would have won, but either way it is an event that I will never forget.

Golf at the Palms

On Saturday Sean and I went golfing at one of the golf courses of DisneyWorld. I agreed to go and just ride in the golf cart since my golf swing has a bit of a belly obstacle right now :-). At the time of agreement I was thinking, "Oh, its Florida. I will enjoy the beautiful scenery and the warmth and just be able to spend time with Sean." Blah, blah, blah! While the scenery was beautiful, it was windy and COLD! I was very grateful for the snack cart that kept driving around. I bought hot chocolate every time it went by. And while I loved spending time with Sean, I think next time that I can't play I will book a spa appointment or something :-)

Freezing cold (despite what it looks like)

How can something so beautiful be so cold?!?

This was in one of the ponds of the course. Look closely and you can see one baby alligator and three turtles sharing the log.

Universal Studios

We just got back from Orlando and we had such a blast! We missed the girls a ton and can't wait to take them next time, but we had a great time! Our first day we went to Universal Studios. I couldn't go on some of the rides since I am pregnant, but it was still a lot of fun.

We loved "The Simpsons" ride (no, neither of us are Simpson's fans, but the ride was awesome!). They had a studio with special effects from the movie "Twister." It was crazy how life-like it felt. Their was a real tornado and they had flames from various cars catching on fire and it got HOT! Their 4-D rides were crazy (but I always get headaches from those stupid glasses :-). This is going to sound a bit morbid (sorry!), but it was funny when one of the fairies in the Shrek ride got swatted against the screen and splatted because liquid (water, I hope!) was splattered all over us! It was gross, but really funny.

But our favorite place was Camp Jurassic. It was part of the Jurassic Park area. There was a huge treehouse with rope bridges and slides that Sean and I had a blast on.

Part of the tree had cement bunkers that we were able to climb through. They weren't really made for adults (especially pregnant adults) and we were laughing the entire time and making bets on who would get stuck first.