Five Months!

I cannot believe Brilee is five months old. It is going so fast! She is so much fun and such a blessing in our life. We love her more than anything, and we are loving watching her grow. I really like this stage and wish she could stay this age for a long time. She is learning so much and loves to just watch people. She is so happy and I love making her laugh. She is getting so strong and is really loving her toys. 

(For Brilee)

Here are a few of my many favorite things about you:

You are always giving people the cheesiest smile (especially your Mommy and Daddy).

Your laugh is the sweetest thing in the whole world!

You have watched all your cousins scream and play, and now you LOVE to scream!

When you see your bottle you squeal like a little piggy!

You are so observant and are learning so much.

When you wake up in the morning you lay in your bed and yawn, stretch, pull on your toes, and giggle when you first see me or your Dad. 

You are learning your name.

You love your toys and always have to be playing with something.

You have the prettiest blue eyes. 

When you are good and asleep you always have your hands stretched above your head!

Father's Day/ Hound Trials

Jake got to spend his first Father's Day camping on Diamond Mountain and competing in the annual hound dog trials. We were able to borrow Granny's camper so Brilee and I could go with him. We left Friday evening and came home Sunday afternoon. After a restless nights sleep Friday (we camped by everyone and their DOGS... literally) Jake got up and signed our dogs up for the short drag. We had two dogs in the puppy heat and three dogs in the junior heats. Our junior dogs were always close, but never close enough. Our little puppy Yodi ended up winning his heat, and taking fourth over all. We were happy for him! After the short drag they had a five dog bear pack. They turn five dogs loose and time them to see how long it takes all five dogs to get to the tree and start treeing. Jake, Hal, and Hal's friend combined their best dogs and ended up getting second place. There picture will be in the magazine Full Cry next month. Sunday morning we were up early getting ready for the bear drag. Jake decided to only put Grit in the competition. Everyone who was participating was on the start line at six thirty. Approximately fifty dogs were turned lose and approximately forty-eight dogs started chasing elk within five minutes of the competition. Grit was an elk chaser. It was so funny to see so many people with lost dogs. Luckily all dogs were found in time to compete in the swim competition (my favorite). The put a raccoon on a little make shift boat and pull it across Crouse Reservoir. The dogs swim behind the little boat and the first dog out of the water and first dog to "tree" win the competition. Jake only put our three older dogs in. The first dog didn't swim (Halo), second dog took what looked to me like third (Grit), and our last dog took third (Weasel). First two go to the finals so we thought we lost. We loaded up and headed home. After we got home Jake got a call wondering where Grit was for the finals in the swim. Apparently the second place dog in her heat got disqualified (swimming out of the lines, the cheater!) and so Grit should have been in the finals. Brilee did so well camping, and was the hit of the party! She is such a happy content baby. We are so lucky! When the weather was bad she played in the camper, when the weather was good she watched all the dogs, but the one thing she didn't do was sleep Friday or Saturday. Friday night there were so many dogs barking and she got cold so she never could get into a deep sleep. During the day Saturday there was so much going on she didn't want to miss anything. She had her dinner at seven thirty Saturday night and I didn't see her pretty eyes until six the next morning (and I woke her up). She slept most of Sunday and is finally caught up after today. Brilee gave her Daddy a new pair of boots and pants for Father's Day. Jake is a great Dad and I am so grateful for everything he does for me. Brilee and I sure love her Daddy.

This is Weasel's heat. He is the second dog (one dog already finished.)

Weasel getting out of the water.

Family Picture

She is such an awesome baby! She just goes with the flow.

She liked Granny's camper! (Look closely... YES those are dogs on her PJ's)

Ben, Andre, and their kids came and visited us Saturday! I was so glad they came. They added a lot of excitement to our afternoon. And, like always, Ben and Andre saved Jake and me from starvation! Thanks for coming, and for cooking a yummy dinner.

Our two little thumb sucking TWINERS!

She really thought she was big stuff with her Dad. Look at that face she is giving me.

Brilee and Weasel.

Another trip to the cabin!

Jake and I had to make a quick trip to the cabin to bring home our horses so Jake could go to team sorting. Our plan was to just run up, hope to catch the horses, and run home. As we were getting ready to go Megan came to our house and so we were able to take her and Elly with us. When we got their my parents were there. Megan got out of the truck and the horses walked right up to her. Jake was so impressed. He told her to keep petting them and then she slowly put her arm around Clancy and Jake quickly put the halter on him. It was the easiest time we have EVER had catching the horses at the cabin. Thanks Megan! We ate a yummy dinner and then took a walk to Flower Valley. Elly and Megan picked flowers and played in the hammock. Megan then decided she wanted to try to drive the Rhino. I was the first victim of Megan's driving. I was a little nervous, but turns out she was a great driver! I was so impressed I made her give Jake and my Dad a ride. They were equally impressed. We had such a great time, and can't wait for our next trip to the cabin!

Jake always teases me because I always take pictures of people in the car.

Cute girls!

They really were about to fall off the hammock.

Love the flowers!

She rocks! She is already a better driver than most people with licenses.

She gave her bouquet to Granny.

This poor dog was left by his owners early this spring. He shows up at the cabin whenever we are there. We really like him, but Tator really hates him so he stays on the mountain.

Thanks to Megan these horses didn't even have a chance to run away from us.

Jake got in the Rhino and made Megan buckle up!

Del found these moose sheds two years ago. My dad had Keith McMullin mount them. They turned out so pretty. 

Bri Bear Bri Bear

Brilee got to hang out with her cousins Cy and Annalee last Monday. Annalee is such a good little baby-sitter. She took turns putting Brilee and Cy in the bumbo chair and under the sun toy. As she was playing with Brilee she kept saying "Bri bear Bri bear what do you see? I see a bottle give it to me!" I thought it was so cute I just had to share.

Cereal!

Brilee ate her first solid food last Sunday. Her first two bites she acted like a PRO, and then she got frustrated! She was so hungry but not getting fed fast enough. Soon she was to upset to even try and the only thing that would make her happy was her bottle. We have tried it a couple more times and she is just not happy about it! Soon hopefully she will figure it out (maybe as soon as we give her something that tastes decent.) 

The fire crew gave Brilee this high chair. I LOVE it!

Taking a break from her fit.

One of the first bites!

Relay for Life

The Relay for Life was held last weekend at Uintah's track. It is an awesome fundraiser and such a good cause. All money raised goes to cancer research. So many people participate and support the Relay and I want to thank everyone who supported our team. We were able to raise just over nine hundred dollars. I was asked to be a team caption in the middle of May, and knew immediately that our team would be in honor of Coach Johnson. He has been battling cancer since 2007. He is an inspiration to me and many others. We were so proud to use his name as our team name. The relay starts with a ceremony in honor of all cancer victims. The survivors start the relay out with a lap around the track, during their walk doves are released to symbolize love and hope. Then everyone is invited to walk. The track is lit by the luminaries throughout the night. It is a humbling experience to walk the track and look at all the names of people who have battled cancer. I am proud to be a part of the Relay for Life, and everyone better watch out for our team next year! We are going for the most money raised award... and we will win! 

Coach J's survivor lap surrounded by the people who love him. I am so happy he was able to make it. We were all so proud of him for everything he did! He is an amazing man.

Brilee and her Daddy hanging out in the tent.

BFF's (thanks for all your help Car, you are the best!)

Brant is such a good kid! Carly and I loved hanging out with him Friday night!

I love the Relay for Life!

I was sure Jens and Tytan would be scared of Smokey, but neither of them were.

Getting ready to walk.

I signed Jake, Ben, and Shevin up for the 3 on 3 BB tournament! 

They aren't out of shape... they just look like it.

Our camp sign.

Elly and Chloey after the long night.

Brilee update.

Brilee has been sick for the past few days. At first I blamed it on her shots, but when she wasn't getting better I started to worry. She has slept through the night now for over a month and this past week she was getting up two or three times. She was miserable and so Thursday morning I had Andre look in her ears. Sure enough both ears were infected. I got her down to the doctor who said her ear drums were bulging and looked really painful. She has now been on her antibiotic for three days and she is back to her happy self again! 

Grandpa Dickson changed Brilee for the first time last week! He did a great job...LOOK CLOSELY!

That's right... he put the diaper on backwards!

Carnival!

We LOVE when the carnival comes to town! We always go on family night because the tickets are so cheap... and this year was the best EVER! It is the carnival's fiftieth reunion and so family night tickets were two for one! Jake hates carnival's and so he was so excited to stay home with Brilee! We started the night out on the worst ride ever... Starship 2000 and ended the carnival with the best ride... Spin Out. We planned on staying only a hour, but we ended up shutting the carnival down! 

Stac and Annalee on the orbiter. 

We LOVE carnivals!

Kevin and Donny on the orbiter. The guy running the ride thought they were Stac and my boyfriends! hehehe

The kids all waiting in line for the obstacle course.

This is right before the generator ran out of gas and shut the carnival down momentarily.

Leeber on Starship 2000. Her head was stuck like this!

Jaylie AKA sassy pants!

Leeber, Kansas, and Mia on my favorite ride ever!

First Swim of the summer!

Stacia, Julie, and I took the kids swimming last Saturday. It had been such a beautiful day and so we called Stac and told her to come over! We loaded the kids up (I traded Jenny Jens for Brilee) and went to the pool. We weren't the only ones with the idea of swimming. As soon as we got in the pool the ONE cloud over the basin started pouring rain on us! The goofy life guards told everyone to get out of the pool, and then thirty seconds later they told us we could get back in. After Jens and Chloey had gotten out of the pool there was no getting them back in! So Julie took Jaylie, Chloey, and Jens home. Elly, Leeber, Stacia, and I stayed and swam for a couple more hours. We had a great time. Elly and Leeber are becoming really good swimmers, and next time we go hopefully they both will jump of the diving board!

Bri Bear!

Brilee LOVES to put everything in her mouth! Her GGMA bought her this adorable jumper and Brilee loved eating the flower. Every time I looked at her she had the flower in her mouth. It was so cute!

Grandpa Dickson had a student at the high school sculpt this sculpture of Brilee. He gave her one of her new born pictures and this is what she created! She is obviously an amazing artist and this will be something that will always be neat to look back on. Poor Stacia is scared to death of it though. My dad chases her around the house with it making weird noises. Stacia had to stay home alone last week and the sculpted Brilee made it so she couldn't sleep.