My CUTE kiddos!!

The week I want to FORGET!!!

So, this last week was the most miserable one I have had as a mom, serioulsy!!!! Last Friday night, Brennar started acting a little funny, had a low-grade fever, but for the most part was ok.  Little did I know it was the beginning of the worst week ever! 

Friday night didn't go so well, he woke up a few times and ended up needing to sleep in our bed. On a side note, he is not the most fun to sleep with, he literally turns 90 degrees about every 30 minutes or so, sometimes if he is feeling extra crazy its a full 180.  So, anyways Saturday he was crabby and tired and started to have a slight cough.  It wasn't awful, but for him to be crabby I knew he wasn't feeling well at all.  Saturday night was more of the same with him and this time Brilee wanted in on the action.  So she was up about 5 times, and was pretty inconsolable.  She wanted to be held and rocked all night long.  And again, Brennar woke up and had to sleep in our bed.  Luckily, Clint was home with me Sunday and both kids were coughing like crazy, deep hacking coughs.  Brennar pretty much lost his voice so was only whispering and Brilee's voice got so deep she sounded like a 50 year old man who had smoked all his life. I'm sure you can guess how Sunday went.  Awesome. But, to top it off, I got sick during the night and was throwing up. Double awesome.  So, we called first thing Monday morning, got them in to the doctors and they both had croop. Fun times ahead! I think their stomachs may not have felt great either because all three of us took turns throwing up all week.  But, we are all on the mend now, yay!!!

Here are some pictures of the kiddos from the later part of the week

After a few days of steroids, they were feeling a bit better

We spent much of the week hanging out in just underware:)

(dont mind the sideways picture, I can't get it to flip) He still gives great big smiles even though he clearly wasn't himself

But, this picture of Brilee pretty much sums up how we all felt all week long!

And here are a few random pictures I found of Grama Honey and the kiddos, just to end on a high note!!!

ATTENTION PLEASE... We have an announcement!

Are you ready for it????  It's big!!!

Thomas the Tank Engine is coming back to Colorado and we get to go take another ride on him!!

See, I told you, big news!!!

Stay tuned for pictures!!!!

Princess Party!!

Well, the day finally came, and Brilee had her very first "Princess Party" (I'm really hoping its not her last princess one!!) It was super crazy, busy, high-energy, but above all, FUN!!! I am not sure how it worked out that we all were in this picture, but I love it!! I decided to get her an ice cream cake, because she loves ice cream and isn't too keen on cake - but it was a flop - oh well!! I think she was just a bit over-whelmed with 30+ faces staring right at her while she was trying to enjoy her cake:)

 Uncle B was in charge of the camera and I love this one! This is Brennar all sumed up in one shot...super happy, always smiling and ALWAYS on the go!!

 The cool banner I had made:)

 Maddi reading a card to Brilee - I think Brilee was more enthralled by Maddi then the card, can't say I blame her!

 Not the best picture, but one of the only ones that shows her dress - it was adorable

 Koda made out pretty well too - but when Brilee is eating, he always does

 After the party was over, a nap and an outfit change, it was time to bust out the presents.  Our close friends, Jesse and Jessica got her this walker - she adores it - I am hoping it while make her actually start walking instead of just doing a few walking teasers:)

 Brennar got in on the action too, Grama Debbi gave him a pirate ship - he plays with it no less than 2 hours a day - and that is a conservative estimate

 Brilee's friends Channing, who is a couple months older than her, gave her one of her favorite toys, Brilee thought it was great

 My happy 1 year old!!

 Brilee is pretty much attached to me ummmm... all day long, no joke, makes it hard to get much done, but she is so lovie and sweet to me - I can't complain:)

 Her new trick - she randomly just throws her head back with a great big smile - and I guess she just assumes someone will be there to make sure she doesn't get hurt

I know everyone says it, but this first year with our Princess has gone by so fast, probably happens the more kids there are, but I can't believe she is 1!!

She is the sweetest little thing, she loves (in no particular order): to cuddle, anything her brother does, be held, swing on her swingset, chasing Koda around, her baby doll, to climb up the stairs - look back at you and let out a great big belly laugh, ice cream, bath time if you dont get her head wet, to dance, mac n cheese, shamu, commercials that have music, when her daddy gets home from work, to lay down in her crib, AND... most of all, her MOMMY!!!

We love you so much little princess, don't ever lose your sweet and spicy personality!!!

Pre-party activites

Brilee was pretty excited to have Grampa Todd come all the way to Colorado for her big day, so she generously rewarded him:)

Whenever my dad comes I always have a list of "stuff" for him to do while he is here (Clint isn't the real handy-man type!) One thing was our light switch, it just stopped working, so Grampa and Brennar (Brilee was standing right next to him too, but I took too long to get the camera) fixed that.  Brennar learned the difference between a screwdriver, a phillips head screwdriver and a wrench while he was here!!

 Enjoying some Grampa time on the Pirate Ship - used to be known as the "fort/playground in my backyard" but out with the old in with the new!!

 Brennar helped put up all the decorations for Brilee's party - he is quite the good little helper

 He even put his own streamers up on the patio door:)

 The entrance to the PARTY!!! Anyone notice something wrong in this picture????

 Brilee's princess chair - Auntie Liz thinks she should have it this way all the time:)

 Our 4 generation picture - taken especially for Aunt Patti

 And my little pirate!!

Stay tuned for pictures of the big day!!

Brilee Grace turns 1!!!

First off, sorry these are all out of order, I have pictures from my camera and my moms. 

Anyways, my baby girl turned 1 on August 24th!! I know EVERYONE always says, "I can't believe how fast time goes" but seriously, her first year seemed to go by much faster than Brennar's :(  Makes me sad, I just hope the rest of the years slow down a little!

Here we are on her acutal birthday. Not a "bad" family picture

 I made her a giant cupcake just like I did Brennar and let her go at it... she liked it for a bit, but wasn't too impressed. I guess she doesn't have my sweet tooth, like father, like daughter!

 But, look who does have my sweet tooth!!

Here is another of those moments when you see how much your kids love each other and it just melts your heart.  No need to tell you, this was seconds before he pinched her for trying to get his chair:)

 Isn't she a angel???

 Daddy and Brennar

 Another family shot, from a different camera, notice how the ice cream cone on Brilee's shirt has somehow gone from hot pink to black...weird!

 She really did like the candle on the cake, though

 Brennar just wanted a "taste"

 I wish I would have got a little better picture here, but this is the present Brennar picked out for her.  We went to the Disney store and told Brennar to pick out a present for Brilee's birthday.  Now, if you have been in this store, you know it is little kid heaven.  But, Brennar actually looked strictly at the girl stuff, for about 5 minutes, then saw this hot pink sparkle Minnie Mouse suit case and ran, literally ran up to it and said this is what he wanted.  It was one of the coolest things I have even seen him do.  The way he looked all over to find the perfect gift.  He is such a sweet boy, I love him so much!

 Brilee with her bowling pins, from me, should have realized they would eventual be used as pirate swords:)

 Brilee got this butterfly chair, so Brennar wanted to get his Thomas chair out, and they both decided they liked the other one's better

 Daddy bought his princess her first princess doll, there aren't too many princesses with dark hair, but Snow White seemed perfect.

 gush!!!

 Snow White was a sucess!!

 Brilee playing with her new retro kitchen from Grama and Grampa Stapp, this has already got a lot of play time from both kiddos!!

 Daddy reading Brilee her 1st birthday personalized book

 The cards maybe were the best present of the night:)

We had a really great night, with all the Stapps, and Grama and Grampa Koepp, and GREAT GRAMA FLYNN who came all the way from MN to celebrate with the birthday girl!!