Happy Birthday Brynley!

Today Brynley is 1 year old. I can not believe how fast this year has flown by. At this time a year ago I was in labor and patiently waiting for our angel to come into this world. We have so much love for our Brynnie Girl, she is such a joy to have in our family.

Brynley, 1 day old.

Brynley sporting her birthday outfit my girls picked out for her.

Sydney has a new love...

Gymnastics. She started take classes a little over a month and that is all she talks about. She is in a class with her friend, Addie and they are so cute in their leotards. Syd practices her gymnastics moves anywhere and everywhere.

Brynley 11 months and busy

Brynley at 11 months is busy! She gets into everything and loves to empty drawers, the dishwasher, baskets of clean clothes, etc. As soon as she hears the dishwasher open she flies across the room as fast as her little legs allow her to crawl and I have to do everything in my power to keep her away. She also loves the refrigerator and pantry. She loves to walk along furniture, crawl up your leg and hold on until you pick her up. She squeals at the top of her lungs when she gets excited, especially when someone she loves walks into the room. She wants to eat "big people food" or anything you are eating but still loves her baby food. She is in love with her blanket, her teddy bear she sleeps with and especially her daddy. She still tells everyone "HI" over and over. When I am on the phone or she picks up a phone, she says, "Daddy". She loves to laugh at her siblings and at herself. Bryn loves music and shakes her head when she hears a song she likes. We love our little angel!

She scrunches up her nose and breaths in and out of her nose really fast. So cute!

Mother's Day

I had a fabulous Mother's Day and was showered with love and gifts from my wonderful family. Angie and family left early afternoon so we went to the park for a couple of hours and came back home to a yummy dinner prepared by Travis of steak, homemade mashed potatoes, asparagus, homemade chocolate chip ice cream and cookies. I feel so blessed to be the mother of four special little spirits and to have a husband who treats me like a princess everyday.

Hippie Chick 2010

Stephanie, Marnie, Angie, me and Heather

It was time for the annual Hippie Chick Half Marathon. The Hippie Chick is always held Mother's Day weekend and is for all women. It is a great race and I love doing it with the same ladies every year. Last year I did not run it because I had Bryn that same weekend. This year was pretty good race even though I felt sick most of the time and had to walk around mile 9 for 5 minutes in fear of throwing up. I ended up doing ok and even beat my time 2 years ago by a couple of minutes. My sis-in-law, Angie and her family came for the weekend and for Ang and I to run together. This is a great tradition we have. After the race we went for a massage (Happy Mother's Day) and then that night got to have a little double date with our husbands.

Boys will be boys

Jake's friend, Jackson, came back to Portland for a visit so we invited a couple of their other friends over for a play date. At one time I looked outside to see what was going on and I found boys doing what they love to do, wrestle. But this time they had there shirts off. It was too cute, I had to get a couple of pictures.

A Day at the Coast

The kids had parent/teacher conferences which meant no school for 2 days. Travis had a conference In Lincoln City for Friday night and Saturday so the kids and I decided to follow him there and spend the day at the beach and at the outlets. The weather was wonderful, at least for the Oregon Coast. When it was time for Travis to go to his conference, the kids and I drove the hour and half back home. We had a great day!

Bryn's signature look.

We can not go the beach without playing baseball with Daddy.

Bryn's first time in the sand, she was not sure what to think about it.

Crawling over to give kisses.

Jake adores his sister.

Collecting sea shells.

Daddy and his Baylee Boo!

April Happenings

WARNING: This is a very long post...

Instead of having a separate post for each individual event in April, I am going to lump them all into one post. We had a busy April and loved all the special moments we had with our family.

We went on a few family bike rides.

We tried going to the park as often as possible when it was not raining.

Syd is my best helper at home while the big kids are at school.

Baylee had her last indoor soccer game. Notice Coach Travis in the background.

Jake had his birthday party at the Sherwood Field House (same place Baylee plays indoor soccer) where he invited 18 boys and they ran around playing soccer, football, kick ball, running races, etc for 2 hours. They had a blast and loved having the place all to themselves. We took a 10 minute break to have cake and ice cream and then they had to get right back to playing. This is Jake and his buddy, McKay.

Jake had his 1st grade concert.

Baylee got braces.

Travis flicked out Jake's first top front tooth. (it bled a lot but Jake wanted it done.)

Jake and his bossy but loving sisters. (I think that is a little blood on his shirt.)

Jake eating lunch in Bryn's high chair.

Bryn had her first piece of licorice on our drive to Washington. She LOVED it!
This is a little blurry but the only one I have of our kids and their cousins walking back from the playground, they were trying to stay together, so sweet.
We went to our 15 year old nephew's lacrosse came with Trav's parents and the Matheson Gang!
Sydney trying to stay warm by cuddling with Grandpa.
Brett, Jake and Sydney eating ice cream at Grandma's.
Grandpa and his grand kids watching "Avatar" on Blue Ray. Jake thought Grandpa's movie watching set up was awesome with the big screen, surround sound, etc.

We went to Washington to see this cute girl, Lisa, (Trav's baby sister) get ready to leave for her mission to Forte Leza, Brazil. We are going to miss her but know she is going to be an awesome missionary. Syd thinks Lisa is the best thing ever and prays for her every day. She can not wait for Lisa to come home in 18 months, Syd will be 6 then and thinks it is pretty cool! This is Lisa and baby Bryn who was ready for a nap.

Jake got his second top front tooth knocked out by his cousin, Christian, when they were having a sword fight. This tooth was not ready to come out. Jake talks so cute now, he has a little lisp.

While I was at Sydney's gymnastics class, some rude people smashed my window, bent my door frame, and stole my purse which was hiding under my seat. I was only in the gymnastics center for about 45 minutes and it is a busy parking lot. It is in a nice area next to a high end athletic club. Luckily I had taken my wallet and put it in the diaper bag. The only things in my purse were my cell phone, 5 $1 bills floating around, my checkbook, a make up bag, a birthday card for Jake from Trav's parents with $25 in it and gum. I was most upset about Jake's birthday card and also that there was glass all over my car, including carseats. These people knew that I was inside with my little kids, it was just rude and inconsiderate. The wonderful gymnastic coaches helped me vacuum out my car and wrap my door with plastic wrap so I could make it home with out the rain getting in. I filed a report with the police and they said that it is a big problem in Portland right now. The next day, after I paid $200 to replace the window, I got a call from a local business saying they had found my purse in their recycling bin. Everything was still in it but my cell phone and the cash floating around. They never looked in the birthday card, so Jake's money was still there.

They stuck a crow bar or screw driver in the door frame to pop the window and smashed the window into the car. I think it is funny that they only got a way with $5 and a cell phone and I am so grateful my wallet was not in my purse.

We went on a field trip to the OMSI with Syd's preschool class.

There was a cool space exhibit the kids played in.

My little astronaut.