Ya Ya Apple Orchard

We have started checking off items on our fall bucket list!  First up was Ya Ya Apple Orchard.  Brilee was super happy because we bought the carrots they were selling and we let her feed the horses.  Can you tell how massive they are?  Seriously, huge!

Bryden liked feeding them too, Brennar didn't want to get horse slobber on his hand, so he gave Brilee his carrot:)

I have no clue what they are all looking at in these, but I love it

Colorado is just so darn beautiful

A nice stranger offered to take our picture, we really are one big family, not two small ones!

Action shot!

We had so much fun; hay rides, honey sticks, feeding the horses, waking through the flower garden, visiting the turkeys and peacocks and my personal favorite, the apple cider donuts!

Brexten Jacob is 1!

Brexten fully recovered by his actual birthday, thankfully, so we had a full day celebrating him!

He really loves berries and mac and cheese, so that is what he got for his lunch, along with be sung happy birthday a minimum of 10 times during it:)

He is just the happiest little guy, we are so darn lucky!

We got this hat for Brennar on his first birthday and all the kids have wore it on their special day

These 2 have the best time together, I am so excited to watch them grow up being best friends

His favorite present, his new car - daddy liked it too;)

I love that I was able to make these giant cupcakes for all of their first birthdays too

Not sure if you can tell or not, but he has quite the fan club:)

The frosting was a huge success, but he thought the cake was just ok:)

Brexten Jacob, you are the perfect completion to our family.  You are so immensely loved by all of us and I think you know it by how happy you always are.  You pretty much only have eyes for mommy and I will take that as long as I can get it.  You love climbing up and down the stairs and have given us a heart attack the few times you have managed to climb up Brennar's bunk bed stairs, too!  You are a pretty good eater, but could take or leave your bottle.  You love the water, bath time is your jam. The car on the other hand, you pretty much despise. You prefer running to walking now any chance you get, but you love going for walks in the stroller as long as one of your siblings is ahead of you and you get to watch them.  Your first year has been just as fast and furious as the day you were born.  You were ready to join our family and we have been so incredibly blessed to have you.  We love you to heaven and back little man, but please slow down!!

Brexten's 1st birthday (party)

 Brexten's birthday party was just about perfect! We ordered Chipotle, I had a baskin robbins pie made and I planned absolutely nothing.  It was wonderful. I felt like I was actually able to spend time with the birthday boy (I never put him down - more on that later) and I was able to talk to our friends and family that came over.  Only thing that would have made it better would have been if my family lived in CO and could have celebrated with us.

If you were to come to our house on any normal day, you would find this.... Brilee right next to Brexten.  She loves that little boy so immensely, it is so fun to watch. Will always agree that the best gift I was able to give my kids is siblings.

My little man looking over all his food - his is a Chipotle lover too:)

 The only time I wasn't holding him was while he ate his birthday ice cream

 Some of our best friends who joined us celebrating Brexten

 People say he is my only child that looks like me :)

 Big brother and sister helping with his gifts

 All the boys with nerf guns, go figure

 As cute as all those pictures are, this is how Brexten really spent the party.  Cuddled up with me.  Looking back I should have canceled the party when I saw how crummy he was feeling earlier in the day, but he really was a champ and kept a smile on his face.  I put him down for bed early, but he just kept waking up crying, I finally decided to take him in to the ER and the poor dude had croup.  he recovered fairly quickly after the steroids and a breathing treatment, but I stayed up night rocking him while he slept. 

 But really, does this look like the face of a pretty sick guy?? he is such a trooper

this was a couple days later, he was feeling so much better

 This one and his curls! I can't get enough of him!

 Brennar is the perfect first kid, he (mostly) is so kind and patient with his siblings - especially his little shadow Bryden, who worships him

 in other big news, Brilee Grace started soccer!

 Her best friend Bria is on her team                        

Her first practice and game she was pretty timid, but once we bribed her (don't judge - you've all done it!) she did great! Last weekend she scored 2 goals even!

Brilee is 5!

How can this be? I just brought her home from the hospital yesterday!

This little lady, at all of 5 years old is my best friend!  She is such a perfect fit for all her brothers.  We love her so much!

She had birthday waffles for breakfast, that was fun!  Especially blowing out the candles

After we picked her up from school, her, Bryden and Tristan who came in town that very day had a little water balloon fight





Then we all went to crackpots for a little painting, this is one of her most favorite things to do, so I am glad we could fit it in.  Followed right by dinner - we were a hot mess - thankfully it was loud so we didn't get kicked out. :)

After dinner we opened a few presents.  She got a few matching outfits for her and her dolls, she thought that was fun.

She also got a new princess dress, she looks so cute in it, I am hoping she wears it for Halloween, but we shall see what she decides.  None of us are real big cake eaters, so we did an ice cream pie, it was a hit.

My favorite girl in the entire world, on all her previous birthdays:)

Five and Fabulous!

Brilee Grace, you are the perfect combination of sweetness, sass and lots of sparkle.  You adore all your brothers and would do anything for any of them, especially the tiny one!  You know exactly what you like and what you want and you wont take any less then that, I pray you never lose this.  I can't wait to see what you become, I know whatever it is, you will be fabulous at it! You love any and all animals and want to bring them all home.  You have turned into a little soccer superstar and love your dance/gymnastics class so much that you ask every day how many days until you get to go back.  You have a sweet tooth just like your mama. You love reading books and cuddling. You basically rock! We love you to heaven and back sweet girl!