So Frustrating!

I always figured it would be frustrating to teach a kid to ride a bike without training wheels, but I never realized the true frustration is teaching a kid to peddle. Bri, Jake, and I have worked on it a little over the winter, and on Friday Stac started helping her. She actually was peddling! She hits the brakes a LOT, and has a hard time starting off. Stac, Bear, and I went to the park today, and she made HUGE improvements. She actually made it all the way around the loop! l !

The best part of a busy day of the park... NAP TIME AFTER!

Good ole Saturday

We have been planning a trip to the sales barn all week. Bri loves it, and Jake is waiting for a steal on a cow. This morning we went to the store, and Jake and Bri waited in the car. I came out and Jake was laughing and said Brilee asked him, "should we sell mom at the sales barn?". Jake told her they might get more out of Tator and she said "let's sell both of them". I couldn't believe how rude they were. As we were pulling into the sale Bri said, "we're selling you mom. Ha ha". I am actually at the sales barn now, and so I will let you know if we find a deal! Oh, and Bri is scarred up again. She was holding her kitty and Tator went after it. Brilee got the bad end of the deal.

Swimming in the Pond

Last fall we had a landscaper come in and level out our yard. Our main purpose in this was to give the runoff a natural guide to the road, and prevent water build up which could flood our basement. Yesterday was a very warm day!!! Bri and I got home from work and came in the house. She kept asking me if she could go swimming in our pond. I kept saying, "No, silly. We don't even have a pond." Finally, I saw Jake walking through the field so I told her to go outside. She again asked to if she could go swimming. I said, "Sure." A couple minutes later I hear her yelling, "Hey. Hey you. Somebody I stuck." I looked out the window as I heard Jake yelling, "What do you think you're doing? Don't move..." He was coming to her rescue, and I finally realized we do have a pond. A pond that sucked Brilee right in. She was a muddy mess. Jake says he wants to have a pow wow with the landscaper to get this figured out!

Back to the Grind

I am back at work as of Monday... It's good and bad to be back. This week flew by, which is great, but it's hard to get back into a schedule. I am used to staying up LATE watching One Tree Hill, sleeping in a bit, and lounging in pj's until I have to go somewhere. This week that all changed. Work was the same, and Bri loves going to Grammy's. It was a good week, and we get a long weekend now! Friday was Chazzy's birthday, and so we celebrated! The Panas family, Laws Family, Michaelson's, and Jake, Bri, my Mom, Lynny, Manda, and I all went swimming! Good times had by all, and then we took our wild bunch to Wendy's for dinner. It was perfect... the kids were starving, and all ate really well. Today we went grocery shopping, hung out at the sales barn, organized the storage room, built a closet in the storage room, and put together the gun safe. It was a wonderful afternoon! We are now heading to watch Jake ride his horse, and then more parties for Chaz and Marley! Happy President's Day everyone!!!!

Cabin Lunch

Today we all met up at the cabin for lunch. Chaz and Mar got to come with us. We had a great time. We even got to go on a little rhino ride. (I love updating from my phone!)

Sugar Bugs

We spent our morning prepping Brilee for her big dental appointment. She came to the realization that she had no choice, and she was going to get her sugar bugs fixed. She had dinner last night, and then wasn't allowed to eat until after the procedure. We got to the dentist right on time, only to have to wait forever! She got sick of waiting and kept saying, "I am done. Lets go home." I felt the same way. Finally, it was her turn. We warned them about her rash the last time she had this done, and so they were extra cautious with her. We took her back, and watched them give her the shot. She cried and said, "owie, owie, owie" Soon, she was relaxed and falling into a deep sleep. Jake and I went to the waiting room to WAIT some more! Jake went to the store to buy me some lunch (we felt guilty eating in front of Brilee, and so we fasted with her...) He came back with the food, and the little boy who was after Brilee was in the waiting room. He hadn't eaten since dinner either, and so we felt mean eating in front of him. Brilee had a lot of work done, and it took forever. Finally, the nurse came and got us. She said, "I think we found what she is allergic to." Turns out she is allergic to non latex gloves. Odd. Where the ladies had held her head up, and where they placed the stuff to monitor her breathing was covered in hives. They went away fast, and haven't come back! Brilee woke up a lot better this time, and she was hilarious again! She is such a cutie! She has been pretty whiney this afternoon, but I think it's well deserved.

Right when we were leaving...

Weird things happen around here when Jake trains horses. I don't know which is crazier the fact the horse would have walked right in the house; or the fact Jake would have let him walk right in.

She's been practicing her back bends... Pretty impressive!

Baby Boy!

Today was my 3D-4D ultra sound! It was awesome, and the little guy gave us some grrreat pictures. Jake, my Mom, and Bri were all able to come along. It was fun! We are still working on the name. Jake and I have always loved (and agreed upon) the name Bronsen, but now I am liking Bronsten. They are both so similar, but Jake isn't budging. The middle name (initial in this case) is J.

Bronsen J. Birchell

Bronsten J. Birchell

Lets take a vote!! (I am happy with both...)

Cute little feet!

He may be a little crammed... I see a face, foot, and hand!

Or flexible?

Best Winter Ever!!!

This is seriously the best winter EVER! Jake got off work today and said he needed to ride his colt out of the round pen. He was nervous to go alone, and then he got the bright idea for Bri and I to come along. Obviously, I am not going to be riding a horse right now so we took the four wheeler. Elly and Jens asked to come along which made Brilee's day. We got to the "sand dunes" and unloaded the horse and four wheeler. The kids and I on the wheeler, and Jake on the horse. The horse tried a few times to buck him off, but he hung on tight! I said, "Oh man we might get to see Jake hit the dirt." and Jens replied, "No, we are going to see him stick it to that colt." It cracked me up! We finally got to the sand hill and the kids were like wild animals (especially Jens and Bear). They ran, explored, threw sand, and did all sorts of things you only do when you're a kid. It was adorable. At one point Brilee and Jens were rolling in the sand laughing and squealing. I am so grateful for a fun winter day like this!!!! (Oh, and Jake came along ways today with the horse!)

Life in a dream!

The horse is three, but it is TINY!

Ring and Tator had a good time too!

Mail

Brilee and I had a present in the mail today! It was very exciting for us... GMA made us matching slippers! We love them... thank you so much!!!! Love you lots.

Here is a thank you video, and a warning of what Brilee does if you leave without a hug... (Honestly, Grammy gave her a good-bye hug, but Brilee wanted a sleep over. She was sure if she could get Grammy back she could convince her of it!)

Go to your spot

I figured out the trick to keep Brilee napping today! Let her be a dog, and then send Bri and Tate to their spots. It works wonderfully! It's great when they get along. I will attach a picture of getting along, and then the after mass of a fight between them that Bri lost (but deserved).