Thankful Thursdays

Today I am thankful that I finally have tile in one of our bathrooms.

I couldn't stand the stinky, peeling linoleum any more!

Thanks to my husband and brother Spencer our bathroom floor went from this:

To this:

And keeping up with our string of constant bad luck...our toilet cracked while we were screwing it back in place. We had to buy a whole new toilet. But I guess it wouldn't be a complete project without spending twice as much as planned, right?

Thankful Thursdays

Today I am thankful for my Daughter. Our sweet Brynnie. She turned 8 this week. Turning 8 is a big occasion in our religion. It means she is old enough to be baptized. That is coming up next week. So she has been on my mind lately, remembering her as a baby and toddler. It seems like these past 8 years sure have gone by fast.

Top Ten reasons why we love Brynn (not in any order):

1. Brynn is such a happy child. She is always smiling and finding the good things in life.

2. Brynn doesn't take life too seriously. She goes with the flow and doesn't worry too much about anything.

3. Brynn is such a "little mother." She takes small children under her wing and is so sweet and patient with them.

4. Brynn is one of the most determined people I know. If she sets her mind to something it will get done.

5. Brynn is beautiful, with her curly brown hair and dark eyes.

6. Brynn is very creative. She is always making something with paper, markers, tape, and anything else she can find.

7. Brynn has the best giggle. When she giggles it just melts your heart.

8. Brynn makes friends easily. She is very friendly and loves everyone.

9. Brynn loves music. She sings all the time. The best is when she is in the shower and doesn't know anyone is listening. It is cute. She is also very good at playing the piano.

10. Brynn is our only daughter and has a special place in our hearts. Especially her Dad's. They have a great bond and are so cute together. She is such a Daddy's girl.

Here are some pictures I took of her in her Baptism Dress:

I love this last picture of her. It sums her up so well. The mischievous, stubborn, silly Brynn.

Happy Birthday Brynn

Brynn turned 8 today. Eight! When exactly did that happen?

We had a birthday party at the pool with a few friends.

Then Grandma and Grandpa came over for dinner (Brynn's favorite, spinach pie), cake and ice cream, and presents.

Littlest Pet Shop Cake
Brynn got what she has been hoping for for a long time. An American Girl Doll.

It was a good day. Brynn is such a happy, giggly, fun girl. She brings a lot of joy into our lives. We love you Brynn. Happy Birthday! (now quit growing up so dang fast)!

Joker

Alec's new favorite joke:

"What is a frogs favorite drink?"

"Diet Croak"

Funny

Thankful Thursdays

Today I am thankful for some fun visitors we have had this past week.

Last Thursday my sister Anna and her husband Mike and little girl Lillie came to visit. They live in Virginia so we don't get to see them very often. My brother Spencer and his family also came to hang out and have dinner.

Mike, Anna, and Lillie

Lillie has the best cheesy smile!Alec and Jace

Playing with Uncle Mike

Playing with Uncle Spencer

Yummy dinner

On Monday our old friends came to play. My friend Rebecca and her family came to visit from Georgia. They used to be our neighbors and I used to babysit the two older kids. Our kids are good friends and love seeing each other.

Gage, Hallie, Little Brynn, Alec, Big Brynn, Gavin

Hallie and Gavin. These 2 have been the best of buddies since they were 2 years old.

Their youngest is named Brynn too! Brynn loves when little Brynn comes to visit.

We had a good time seeing people we only see about once a year. We sure miss you guys!

Camping

For years I would get after Brett to take us camping. He is not a camper, and it was a sore spot with me. Camping sounds so fun and people do it all the time. We finally went camping for the first time last year and guess what...I hated it. I like nature, I just don't like living in it.

I have OCD about dirt. I don't really care about the germs, just being dirty. Being dirty gives me anxiety. I can't stand my kids being dirty and I don't like being dirty. Guess what...you get so very dirty while you are camping.

Not only that but you have to put up your own shelter, and make food without a kitchen, and pee into a big hole with a toilet seat on it. Plus the extra worry about kids falling into the river, and/or fire. Camping is so much work!

This weekend we went camping with Matt, Traci, and Charlotte. We were only going for one night. I can handle camping for one night.

Guess what...it rained on us while we putting up our tents. We got drenched. Then it down poured on us while we were taking down our tent. Everything was soaked, chairs, blankets, air mattresses, clothes, food, everything. We shoved the soaked things into the van and drove the 4 hours home, soaked to the bone. Then we had to pull out and dry everything when we got home. What a production that was.

Also while camping I got up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. When I opened the door there was a MOUSE! If you know me you know that mice and bats are my fear. I couldn't go into the bathroom after that. I went in the bushes instead. Then I had nightmares about mice all night.

I was wondering if it was even worth it. Then I remembered the good things:

ROASTING MARSHMALLOWS

HULA HOOPING
COUSINS

BEING TOGETHERHAVING A GOOD LAUGH WHEN BRETT FELL IN THE CREEK WHILE PUSHING THE KIDS ON THE SWING. (THESE ARE THE ONLY SHOES HE BROUGHT).

SWINGING ACROSS THE CREEK UNCLE MATT MAKING ALEC A FISHING ROD WITH A STICK, SOME ROPE, AND A PAPER CLIP, AFTER ALEC WAS SAD BECAUSE HE COULDN'T CATCH FISH WITH HIS HANDS. LOUNGING AROUND

4th of July Weekend

Friday July 3rd:

Dinner at Steve and Angie's with Brett's family. Cousins! (bottom: Connor, Gavin, Alec, Brynn, Emily, Matthew, Michael top: Natalie, Ryan, Kimberly)

Playing Ball with cousins.

Glowsticks and Fireworks

Saturday July 4th:

Ogden City Parade

After the parade we went to Grandma and Grandpa Francis' house for a yummy lunch and water fun (though I don't have any pictures because I was taking a nap!).

Later that day it was off to Brook and Ivy's house to play with friends.

and watch more fireworks

Sparklers!

And more fireworks!

Busy, but fun!

Thankful Thursdays

Today I am thankful for 2 things:

1. Brett is home safe and sound. He flew out to Florida last week and from there was flown onto an aircraft carrier (USS Truman). He spent 5 days on there and then was flown off on Tuesday. While he says being flown on and off an aircraft carrier is an amazing experience, living on an aircraft carrier is not. You don't get to see the light of day, the bunks you sleep in are small and claustrophobic, and the food leaves something to be desired. I think he is very glad to be home and we are glad he is home too. (He went out there for work by the way).

2. I am also thankful that I didn't kill any of my children while he was gone :)

Happy Canada Day

"Raisins come from grapes

People come from apes

I come from Canada..."

(that is from one of my favorite songs of my favorite Canadian band, BNL)

Happy Canada Day to all my Canadian family and friends!