The Eve of the CABIN CHRISTMAS PARTY!

I cannot believe it is time for another Cabin Christmas Party! It seems like we were just getting our Mrs. Claus ready for the party, but it has been a whole year. We had a busy day, and did some preparing for the party! Tytan and Cy came over around 1130 to hang out, and then we needed to get some "friends" for Tytan to play with so we went and gathered the Laws bundle. The kids played hard, and when it was chill time I decided they needed to write letters to Santa. This ONLY worked because Jake took the two WILD boys outside to do chores with him. Here are some pictures of our day. 

What's a sign of having too many ear infections in your short life???? When a 22 month old can correctly position her doll and place the ear drops into her dolls ears. 

She wraps Haddy in the blanket to do the drops, just like I wrap her in her blanket when I do her drops.

These three little cuties... we needed Chazzy though.

The letter writing begins...

Yes... she is drawing on the table.

Brilee's letter to Santa 2010. Written by Annalee who is in fourth grade. She did such a good job. She's a smart cookie!

Annalee very kindly wrote Brilee's letter. 

Cy's letter to Santa. Written by Elly. She is in third grade. I could not believe how beautiful her handwriting is. 

Cy and Elly

Marley's letter written by Chloey who is in FIRST GRADE!!! Chloey spent a lot of time and effort on this letter. I was so proud of her and she did it all on her own!!!! She was so cute sounding out the letters and practicing writing the words on scratch paper before putting it on the "official" letter.

Chloey and Marley.

All the kids and their letters to Santa. (By this point the three babies were OVER it!!!!! Brilee would not let Jake out of her reach, Cy was hungry, and Marley wanted to be coloring.) I assured the older girls that they would DEFINITELY be on the nice list when Santa sees how nice they were to write the letters for their little cousins/siblings.

Christmas Lights & Fun Weekend

Last weekend was awesome! Friday night Jake and I went to the Bowen's Christmas party. They put on some FuN parties! We had a blast. It was exciting because usually the girls lose the games when we have parties, but this Christmas party the girls came out victorious! While we were at our party Brilee was doing a little partying herself. Chloey had her birthday party at the recreation center. Brilee had a blast swimming with her cousins and Auntie "Sashia". Brilee then got to have a sleep over with Grammy. Brilee loved, and so did Grammy! Saturday Jake and I were in Vernal early for my soccer game. We lost in a shoot out. It was intense!!!! On the way home I got pulled over... unfortunately, I didn't have my wallet. The officer made me sit in his car with him so he could get all my information. AWKWARD! I hated it. We finally got out of town, but we didn't make it far. We realized in Myton that I forgot the diaper bag. We stopped in Duchesene and bought diapers and sippy cups. It was cool we saw the Kirby sales man there. We got out to the city and hung out with GMA, GPA, Thomas, Roger, and Aunt "Acky". It was great. Brilee played some good Ring Around the Roseys, and got a lot of horse rides from Thomas (she would only ride if Cathy rode too). We had a great afternoon with them. We then went to Olive Garden for dinner. We met the Nyberg's, Guymon's, Morton's, and Olson's there. There were a lot of us! I made reservations the Wednesday before, Olive Garden called me three times to confirm them, and they still messed up the tables when we arrived. Dinner was good and fun (even if I got in trouble for Brilee sneaking into the kitchen). After dinner we bundled the kids up, walked downtown SLC, and checked out all the beautiful lights. There is a lot of work and engineering that goes into putting those lights up. Brilee enjoyed it for about ten minutes and then she wanted to be done. After we took the kids swimming, and then went to bed! Sunday we went to Costco, and back up to GMA and GPA's condo. GMA and GPA baby-sat Brilee while Jake, Tom, and I went and played frisbee golf. We finished our Christmas shopping and then headed home. 

Brilee and Kinly heading swimming!

Brilee and Addy all bundled and ready to check out the Christmas lights.

On our way...

The stroller didn't last long. Dad's shoulders are way better!

She was a tired baby!

Our cute kids.

We had Chazzy and Rowdy this morning. Brilee loved having them over to play!

Life Without Work

Brilee and I are adjusting just fine to life without work. Our days are busy and fun! Here is a look into a day at the Birchell home...

We take a lot of self portraits... (This is another picture she will be deleting in a few years Josie!)

We snuggle with Baby Haddy on the couch and watch Dora... Just this week every time I turn around she is there with the remote saying, "I want Dora..." Diego doesn't cut it either!

We get mad at Haddy when Dora goes to commercial break, and throw her on the floor.

Haddy takes a lot of naps. Brilee always makes her sleep on my bed, and then my room is off limits until she is "Oh sad, her crying".

Brilee takes her sweet time in making sure she puts the blankets JUST right!

Then Brilee can jump on the bed, but if I even say one word I get hushed and told, "SHUSH Haddy sleeping."

My bedroom door gets shut, and guarded...

We go potty A LOT!!!!!!!! Brilee and I have Where the Wild Things Are memorized. She knows Max, Manny (Max's dog), the Wild Things, and the wild rompus music. It is her favorite book hands down right now. The potty thing is going to be slowing down though. She and I are having a power struggle. Brilee now throws a royal temper tantrum when I ask her if she wants to go potty. UGH! 

And we sleep REALLY good at night!

Wow Grammy.... I don't know how you made it look so easy all year!!!!!!

A week to remember...

Last Sunday Jake, his brothers, dad, uncles, and cousins all left to go Pheasant hunting in North Dakota at 0430. They had a great time. Jake has said numerous times since coming home, "It was everything I could have hoped for. I have been wanting to go up there since I was 15, and there was no let down." Scott Montgomery informed me Thursday that he had talked with Jake and he was pretty sure we would be moving to North Dakota soon. Brilee and I missed him, but we are glad he had so much fun! 

Sunday I headed to Richfield for a meeting on our NIFPOR's fire budgeting system. I left Sunday because the meeting started early Monday morning, and I didn't want to be leaving my house at 0400. I traveled with Stacia and Macy. The roads were rough, but we made it. I was just getting checked into my hotel room when my phone rang. Susan Marzec's name was on my caller ID and I knew what was coming! "Kelsey, hello. I am going to cancel our meeting for tomorrow. The weather is just not safe to travel in. What is the weather doing where you are at?" Ugh... well I am in Richfield. 

Friday was my last day of work until February 14, 2011!!!!!! I am so excited for my time off. I have a lot of things I want to accomplish, but the NUMBER ONE priority is potty training! I hope it works for us. For our last day of work we had a potluck lunch. It was way fun. After work we met at Julie's and got ready for our big chocolate dipping Saturday. We set up tables, boxes, made peanut butter, and rolled the peanut butter out. 

Saturday morning Jake got a call from his friend Richie who said he had a lion track, but his dogs were all sore. Jake told him to come get his dogs, and then Jake decided he and Brilee should go with Richie. We got Brilee all winterized and she and Jake took off after a lion. She was SOOOO excited. They couldn't find where the lion crossed back on the road so they turned the dogs lose on a bob cat. As soon as Yodi was released Brilee got concerned. She kept yelling "Yodi, Yodi, Yodi, come back. Where are you Yodi." Jake loved it.

Saturday we started working on the chocolates around 1000 and quit around 2100. It was a long day! We made a lot of chocolates and had a lot of fun doing it. I am so glad the Birchell's have this fun tradition, and I am even happier my Mom has made it apart of our tradition too. Thanks to everyone for all the work that goes into this fun day. (Especially Julie, for letting us bombard her house!!!!!!!)

Chocolates: (For our memory!)

We need 40 pizza boxes.

We need to be prepared to order a Subway Platter for Saturday evening.

We did three cookie sheets full of cherries.

We did 1.5 batches of Orange flavored fondant.

.5 of raspberry, Granny didn't like it, but Julie and I do!

3 batches of Almond Joy fondant.

3 batches of peanut butter.

5 Bricks of regular carmel (NOT ENOUGH!!!!)

7 bricks of carmel for turtles. (3 boxes extra... TOO MUCH!!!!)

60 degrees is the ideal temp!

We only need to buy little boxes next year (we have PLENTY of med./large boxes)

We need 150-175 little boxes. 

We want coconut extract

We need to start at 0900

Today was our first official day of potty training. It was a long day that tested our patience, but by this evening I think she was getting it. We will see what tomorrow brings... 

Have we ever mentioned how much we love this little girl??? WE SURE DO!!!!!!

Jake and his Dad after a day of hunting... looks cold to me!

Big girl Brilee (who was ready for bed, and more than ready to be done with her first day of potty training)!

I love our tree!

Thanksgiving Weekend!

We have had the greatest week! Stacia came home early Tuesday and the party begun! We hung out with Stacia, braved the blizzard of 2010, and the Fire Fly's (my team!) won an intense soccer game Tuesday. It was a great day. Brilee refused to nap all day so she went to bed super early, which made for an EARLY Wednesday morning. Jake and I only had to work until noon Wednesday and then he headed to Cabela's to get ready for his North Dakota trip. Brilee and I hung out and prepared for the crazyness ahead of us. Thursday morning we baked and completed our dinner assignments. Megan came over to play with Brilee, and then Jaylie came over to play with Megan. Brilee had a blast with the girls, and again refused her nap. We had a delicious dinner at Julie's and enjoyed spending the afternoon visiting and beading. Around 4:30 Brilee hit a breaking point. She was done and so I rushed her home. She was asleep before I could even make her a sippy cup. We woke her up at 6 and went back to Julie's to get ready for the movie. Jake decided he and Brilee would hang out with Ben and Cy instead of going to the movies. Jennifer, Megan, and I went to HP7.... It was awesome. We loved it! We slept in Friday and then headed to Vernal. Grammy had made a yummy breakfast so we ate, and then Jake and Stacia went shopping. I went to work, and then everyone headed to the cabin. Stacia and I stayed back so Brilee would nap. She took a long nap and woke up just as everyone was getting home from the cabin. We got bundled up and then headed to Holly Days. Brilee sat on a camel and rode a miniature horse. She was pretty humble about it. We FROZE at the light parade, but were all so excited to see Santa!!! Half way through the parade Brilee started telling everyone bye, and so we took that as her subtle hint she was ready to go. We weren't sad about leaving the 10 degree weather either! Grandpa made a yummy prime rib dinner, and then we left Brilee with Amanda, Jaylynn, Grammy and Grandpa and went to Due Date. It was funny, and Brilee LOVED staying awake until after ten! This morning she is acting a bit off. I am sure it is just from her being so busy and not being on her schedule for the past few days. Today we are staying home, and doing nothing. We were so busy that I didn't take many pictures... but this is what we have!

Thanksgiving morning in our aprons!

Brilee's new BEST FRIEND!

You know we're cheering for the UTES today!

Night at the Rec. Center

Jake called me this afternoon and asked if I was still planning on going to the Rec. Center. Tytan was with him and decided this was a great idea. He was set on going. Jake came home and Brilee woke up from her nap earlier than expected, so we figured we may as well go. We picked up Tytan and headed to Vernal. As we drove by Bottle Hollow Reservoir Brilee started saying, "Oh, water. Swimming." It took Jake and I a minute to understand her, but Tytan picked up on it right away. "Oh Bri Bear we can't swim there." We got to Vernal and picked up Tytan's BEST FRIEND, (we heard this a lot, haha!!) Creeson. Tytan and Creeson had a blast swimming together. They both put on life jackets and took off. The only time I saw them was when the life guards were yelling at them because they were doing flips into the pool wearing life jackets... by flips I mean somersaults. Brilee was a crazy little fishy of course. She loves the rec. center. She just takes off like she owns the place. She goes down all the slides by herself, climbs the stairs alone, and has figured out how to hold her breath. She loves diving under the water and then coming back up. She was scaring the life guards to pieces. They thought Jake and I were crazy because we would let her dive in, swim a little, and then come back up. It is scary though! She also likes to lay on her back and take off rolling. 

She was just like a big kid out there playing. The bucket even dropped on her and she giggled about it.

Jake hasn't swam with Brilee for a long time and he was pretty impressed. First thing he said when we got in the car, "It is crucial she learns to swim fast..."

After swimming Ty and Creeson wanted to climb. 

Ty got one step away from the VERY top, but his arms were so tired he couldn't take the last step to ring the bell!

McD's after swimming is a must!