The Kent Family

A Sad Post...

2012-02-02T14:45:00.000-08:00

It saddens me that my first post for the new year is a big loss for us. We lost our baby that was due in August :(. I was supposed to be 11 weeks pregnant and found that the baby stopped developing at 7 weeks. On Friday, January 27th I woke up to some spotting...everything just progressed slowly...cramping, back pain, bleeding...to the point that by Sunday the 29th I couldn't get off the couch. I went in Monday for a sonogram to check things out...that's when we found out we lost the pregnancy. I ended up going in for a D&C at 7:30pm that night. It was well needed and I'm so grateful they are able to do procedures like that so I could be comfortable.
Of course I prepared myself for the worst news when I went for the sono...something just wasn't right and deep down I knew it. Although I am very sad, I am happy that the pregnancy was still in the first trimester. I can't imagine what I would feel if I actually seen a fully formed baby on the sono that had passed. I know my Heavenly Father has a plan....I wish I knew exactly what it was! I am blessed with three beautiful kids already and I hope that I am able to be blessed with another. I first thought I would not want to try again, but I was wrong. I feel that our family is meant to grow a little more. I will try again for another baby soon...and hopefully we will be expecting again in the near future.
I am grateful for all of my family and friends who supported me through those 4 days of miscarrying. I couldn't have stayed strong without them...especially my mom. I love you all...<3<3<3

How could I forget the tooth!!!

2011-12-28T08:23:00.000-08:00

Tristan's tooth was driving us CRAZY! He was being such a baby and wouldn't let anyone touch it. Of course it was painful and he wasn't eating hard things like apples. This went on for over a week....finally after Daddy tried several times to get his fingers in there to pull it out....I wrestled him down...pushed his locked jaw open and pushed my thumb against his tooth...what do you know...that little sucker came right out...You should have seen the relief on Tristan's face and all of a sudden he was happy and excited for the tooth fairy to come! Oh man! I can't wait for the other baby teeth to come out...what fun! lol....anyhow...the tooth fairy took his tooth and gave him $1.
This leads to Easton...who went to the dentist yesterday for 2 caps and some fillings...ended up getting a tooth pulled and being in for 5 hours!!! He was given meds and slept through the whole things, so when he woke up he looked like he was beat up. I told him his tooth had to be pulled and he didn't even care...because now he got to take it home and wait for the tooth fairy to come give him his $1. Oh man...so of course...we had to put the lovely molar cavity and all under his pillow so the tooth fairy could come. Sigh....:)

Christmas 2011

2011-12-25T17:52:00.000-08:00

The Christmas excitement for the Kent household has come and gone. This year, Jim and I took the kids to the movies to see Alvin and the Chipmunks on Christmas Eve. We celebrated by feasting on snacks and meatball subs with my Mom and Ryan and Amanda. They all spent the night so they would be here bright and early for presents and breakfast. Since Christmas fell on a Sunday, we had Church at 11am! It was a race to get up, open presents, eat breakfast and get ready in time. We all went to Church for a nice sacrament meeting, then came home (minus Ry and Amanda) for dinner. We had enough food for a whole other family lol. It was nice just having dinner together with my Mom and relaxing. The kids were excited to open and play with their new toys. We just lounged all afternoon. Although it was nice, we sure missed family, especially my Dad. Last year we had my Grandpa Huff still with us and he was here. Each year it seems to get a bit more lonely. I am grateful for my husband and kids...I am grateful for my Mom...because of these sweet spirits, Christmas was Christmas. I love them all so much and can't imagine my life without them. I am grateful for all that I have this Christmas. Jim and I are expecting another little one in August. This will be a nice addition to our family. We are thrilled with the news and can't wait to welcome him or her (it will be our LAST baby and our FIRST surprise baby...boy or girl...we won't know until delivery!). Merry Christmas my sweet little family...XOXO

Tristan turns SIX

2011-12-06T15:47:00.000-08:00

I probably clicked something I shouldn't have for blogger..ugh....I would love to comment under each photo I post...but for some reason it won't let me. Oh well...:)

My first born turned the big SIX this past Saturday!!! He requested steak for his birthday, but since Jim and I had his firm Christmas party to go to on Saturday night...we took him to Outback on Friday. He ordered his very own steak dinner...and ate every bite! He then got his own birthday dessert, which he shared with East and Brin. We went back to Nanay's house and opened presents and had cake. Tristan REALLY wanted his own digital camera. Of course he knew he was getting one because his big mouth-can't keep a secret brother told him! He was so excited to open his presents...however, you can tell by the pictures that his brother and sister were NOT happy! They were a bit jealous.

Saturday came with an 8:45am first basketball game of the year, followed by a big breakfast at McDonald's with Austin & Crystal, Ryan & Amanda, Nanay, the Farrands and the Lindsleys <3 I think the crew was happy when we all left to go home! Nanay took Tristan shopping to spend his birthday money. They went to Toys R Us where Tristan was welcomed with a birthday crown and a balloon. He bought a toy for himself, Easton and Brinley. He's such a thoughtful brother and was so excited to give them what he bought.

It seems like yesterday that I was in the hospital in labor while my Dad, Mom, Ryan, Kayleigh and Jim were all waiting...and waiting...and waiting for the arrival of my little Tristan James. They waited so long it went into the next day before he was born hehe. We love you so much Tristan. You are the first grandson to Nanay and Grandpa Drake. You are also the only grandchild Grandpa Drake ever got to see and hold and love. You are the one thing that kept me going when I lost my Dad, my Nana and my Uncle. Life continued and you made everything okay...we had milestones to look forward to with you...and are so grateful you arrived here on earth when you did. I am so proud of you and look forward to many more birthdays with you. XOXO

Family Dinner

2011-12-01T16:31:00.000-08:00

We were supposed to drive up to Penn Yan for a Pre-Thanksgiving dinner with the Drake fam, but plans changed and we ended up going to Austin and Crystals. We had so much food it was enough for another 30 people I think...potatoes maybe another 50 lol. It was nice getting together with everyone, including the Kerrs. It's amazing how much our family has grown over the past 5 years. I really wish we would all get together more often. There's nothing like feasting on yummy Drake food and hanging out with family. I'm so grateful that after all the sadness, tears and hardfeelings over the years....we can all still be a family and love each other no matter what. These are the memories we will talk about as we get older. These are the memories my kids will remember and talk about. These dinners and get togethers are what makes cousins grow close to one another. I love my family. Even though my Dad was a huge party of our Drake family, he would be the first one to say how happy he is that we all still get together even though he isn't able to. I love my Dad and miss him everyday.
We celebrated actual Thanksgiving last Thursday with Austin and Nate's families and Ryan, Amanda and my Mom. What a yummy turkey dinner once again...filled with relaxing, kids screaming, football games, online shopping and eating. :)
Christmas is just around the corner now. Tristan will turn SIX in two more days! I will post about his birthday after it is here and I have picture and stories! Today Tristan came home with the gifts he purchased from the Lanigan Holiday Shop at school. He bought gifts for Mom, Dad, Nanay, Easton and Brinley. We had to stop at Walmart on the way home so we could buy gift tags for them. He wrapped every one of them by himself and they are all ready to be put under the tree on Christmas. He can be one of the sweetest boys. He was so proud and excited to wrap those presents. As I sat and watched his expressions and movements it just made me melt. I have so many moments where I have a hard time dealing with him, but these times make up for it. I'm proud to have him as my son. I'm proud to have Easton and Brinley too ;). They mean the world to me and I hope that I never have to live without them in my life here on Earth. They are the reason I wake up every morning.

Halloweeeeeeeen

2011-11-01T15:59:00.000-07:00

My dear husband left me for his deer hunt in Canada for 9 days....and of course Halloween I had to do solo (well my mom was with me thank gosh!) What a busy Monday this year! We started by celebrating in our UPK classes at 10:30. I got to sneak in Easton's class for 2 seconds...long enough to snap a quick picture. Next was Tristan school party which began at 12:30 and lasted until 3:00. I was able to run home fast, get all the Halloween "gear" and head back to eat at Pizza Hut so Tristan could use his Book It coupon for a free personal pan pizza :). Next it was to my mom's to change...over to Aunt Diane's house for a quick hello...then over to trick or treat in the Partick Circle area in Fulton. Poor Brinley was sick all day..had a fever...but was soo excitd to get candy! We walked and walked and walked...the highlight was when Easton had an emergency...I have to PEE NOW! My mom took him on the side of a parked car in the middle of all the chaios lol. And then at about 7pm Tristan was over it...he was set with the candy he had and was ready to go home! And that about sums up Halloween 2011!!! I think next year I should make Daddy take all the kids out solo hehe!

Godfrey's Last Stand

2011-10-23T14:23:00.000-07:00

Jim & I took the kids to go on a wagon ride & get some pumpkins. It was our first time ever going & the kids had a blast...especially running through the "corn maize"! We brought the pumpkins home yesterday & today we painted them....with acrylic paint too...VERY permanent....so they weren't allowed to wear clothes haha! They did good though & the pumpkins are all set for Halloween. <3

Spooky Buddies

2011-10-23T14:12:00.001-07:00

Lanigan school had a family movie night. Of course Tristan was dying to go!!! So we took Rileigh & Tyler and met a friend there. It was quite the night let's just say. The kids did NOT want to watch the movie...they were too excited and just wanted to play around and wrestle each other! After fighting them for over an hour...we called it a night :)

Brinley, Brinley & more Brinley :)

2011-10-16T12:05:00.000-07:00

I love my little girly girl!!! She just started "dancey class" a couple weeks ago! She's soooo cute! Although she doesn't always cooperate, she is still only 2 and hopefully will learn soon. Her favorite song is the Wiggles Rock-a-Bye Bear...love her!

Easton turns 4!

2011-10-07T11:03:00.001-07:00

There has always been something special about my little Easton. He's everyones favorite little boy :) He hasn't really gotten any taller over the past year either! He's taken over the king of the house position now that Tristan is in school all day! We love him so much and couldn't imagine life without this little buggar!
We celebrated at home...again I just don't see spending so much on a party for him...getting more toys and gifts we don't really need...and having the hassel of it all. Sooo...we bought an ice cream cake (he picked it out..even over a regular power ranger one...and that was big!) We make a yummy spaghetti dinner and invited Ryan and Amanda and Nana over the day before his actual birthday. Of course on his actual birthday...which was on a Monday...I took him to Gino & Joes for lunch and then cooked him his favorite...STEAK for dinner! I know growing up we never had birthday parties every year. We invited my Grandma Drake over to our house...my mom made the cake...and we opened a present or two. As we got older...we of course went out to dinner on our birthday lol...go figure...thanks to Toddy hehe <3 I hope that my kids understand how special they are and don't feel "jipped" since we go to everyone elses big birthday parties. I love them all more than anything.
Happy 4th Birthday Easton Todd-Michael :0)

I'm 30!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-10-07T10:58:00.001-07:00

I can't believe I'm 30 now too! My dear husband spoiled me this year...finally ;). I got a good chunk of money to go shopping with! My first trip was to the Coach Outlet to buy a purse and wallet! I've always wanted one and I finally could justify spending sooo much money on it! I also got to go pick out a new diamond ring! This was the purchase of all purchases lol....Jimmy mentioned a price limit...I definitely went over by a couple thousand on it hahaha! Hey...I didn't want just ANY old diamond. This is the clearest, sparkliest diamond ever! I love it and I will be wearing this one FOREVER! <3<3<3

First Day of UPK and K!!!

2011-09-09T16:09:00.000-07:00

September 7th was Kindergarten orientation for Tristan. Now Tristan was BORN ready for kindergarten! He's the smartest little guy...and dont forget he will turn 6 in December...so he's pretty old. Thanks to NYS and their dumb Dec. 1st deadline...he couldn't start last year. It's okay though because I know that boys develop slower than girls and it will catch up wth him. This year he has Mrs. Patane :) She's wonderful, as is all the Lanigan K team. Tyler is also in his class, and no...we did NOT plan that!
First day of school was September 8th. He was very excited and did great! This day was also Easton's UPK orientation. Let's just say it didn't go so well! He refused to stay (or go in for that matter) in Mr. Weaver's class. Since Mr. Weaver's room is right next door to mine he just did not want to go. I talked to my mom and asked if she would bring Easton to school today. I thought maybe if I made myself dissapear it would be a little easier to throw him in the classroom and leave quick lol. So, he actually went in a little hesitant but he did go in. I was able to peak in on him and he was playing with another little boy at the block table! Let's hope Monday goes well!
Brinley of course HAS to have EVERYTHING the boys have!!! I ordered her a little backpack just like the boys so that she could have one too. So for the past 3 mornings, she has thrown her backpack on too...even though it just has a package of diaper wipes and a diaper in it! :)

Drive In & Sleep Over :)

2011-09-09T15:25:00.000-07:00

Well...the summer has come to an end. I was able to spur of the moment take my boys to the drive in movie theater to see Smurfs. They thought it was the coolest thing, especially since they got to stay up past bedtime! East fell asleep halfway through the movie, but it was still fun!
Then we were able to have Rileigh and Tyler over for a sleepover finally! lol...we even got to have Koby and baby Jett for the evening! I'm grateful that my kids are so close to them. It's nice to have cousins around to do things with and to grow up with.

Fair Haven 2011

2011-08-28T15:34:00.000-07:00

We went camping for a week this year. For the most part we had decent weather...minus the entire day of rain...and an entire day of like 60 degrees lol...it was so much more relaxing this year since the kids are getting older. The boys loved to ride their bikes and Brin loved riding in her stroller on walks. Ryan and Amanda camped a little ways down from us, so we walked over to see them quite a bit. It seems like every year we count down the days until we get to go camping...and then it's over so darn fast. The most memorable part of our trip was when Jim and I took the kids down to the main boat dock fishing one night. Brinley picked up my car keys and when Tristan seen her he yelled at her to put them down...well she did what she normally does...threw a fit and chucked them into the water...there we were..no cell phones...no people...at 6:30pm...3 kids and NO KEYS! Yes, the car was locked too. Since I was wearing sneakers, I took the long...LONG...hike back up to our campsite to get our truck. Anyhow...we had to drive home to get the spare key...then were able to unlock and drive the van back up to our site. The next morning Jim jumped in the water which was like 12 feet deep..equipt with Tristan's spongebob goggles...and after 4 dives to the bottom...found them!!!! Oh man..I wish I had that all on camera. It was a site...I couldn't stop laughing.
Ry and Amanda cooked us a yummy chicken and dumpling dinner in their dutch oven. Well..Brin so nicely tripped and fell...and her hand landed right on a smoking hot coal...poor girl :( She was okay though..after I drove to the camp store to get some children's tylenol and we borrowed a first aid kit from a fellow camper. Lesson learned...I should never go camping without a first aid kit...especially since I have THREE little kids haha!

Zoo Visit

2011-08-15T15:46:00.000-07:00

We actually got to go to the zoo twice this summer. The first time my Mom and I took just my kids spur of the moment since we had to drive to Syracuse anyhow that morning. The second, we went with Crystal and kiddos. The kids really loved it! I got losted driving there...somehow I took 481 instead of 690 lol...then after we wanted to go to Wendy's to eat by the Carousel Mall...let's just say I drove WAY WAY out of the way and ended up deep in the city of Syracuse haha...we did make it there though...better late than never :)

July Already?!?!

2011-07-20T16:18:00.000-07:00

I'm a serious SUMMER BUM! Once my last day of school hit, I was for sure in summer vacation mode the next day! I can't believe it's July 20th already. This summer is flying by :(. I really have the BEST schedule and am grateful I get to spend the entire summer with my kiddos. They are growing, growing, growing. As I look back at pictures from just a few months ago, I realize the difference in their sizes and faces. Tristan finished up his t-ball season June 30th. We spent the 4th of July at home with my mom and Ryan and Amanda. Since it fell on a Sunday, we had church most of the day anyhow...and YES I dressed everyone in red, white and blue lol. That leads us to July 7th...my mom and I took the kids to Sea Breeze for the day. It was the most fun relaxing trip. Then we celebrated Tyler's 5th birthday July 9th. I guess that leads us to July 14th...we went to the Hill Cumorah Pageant with a TON of our family from NY and UT. It was really nice to have 3 and 1/2 rows all full with family. Friday July 15th, the kids and I went up to meet my mom and Ry and Amanda at Keuka Lake State Park. We camped there for the night, then went to our "Drake/Fowler" reunion haha...Aunt Tammy's Lake House for the entire day. It was awesome seeing everyone and their families.
Today was 94 degrees and WAY hot and humid! Tomorrow is supposed to be over 100 and there is a heat advisory to stay inside in the AC! I'm thinking that's where we will be all day!
Jimmy finally passed his BEC exam part of the CPA exams. He is taking his LAST...I repeat LAST (phew) one August 4th for AUD....I am praying that he passes the first time. This will be the end of an era let's just say. It's been a struggle for our family as well as him to study and do this. I am proud of him for sticking with it...and taking that dang BEC exam THREE times haha! Poor guy!

T-Ball

2011-05-31T14:44:00.000-07:00

I got suckered into coaching this year...so of course I suckered in Jimmy too! Tristan has done a great job so far this year...other than being benched a whole inning because he threw a fit at school and wouldn't stay when Nana dropped him off!

The pictures of Brinley...are pretty much...Brinley...a little spoiled brat and if she doesn't get her way...she throws a HUGE fit! Oh am I in for it when she starts talking more!

Jimmy's 30th Birthday

2011-05-31T03:53:00.000-07:00

I invited a bunch of people to go to Koto Japanese Steakhouse for dinner. My kids were so upset because usually the birthday person gets to pick their dinner. They weren't too thrilled to have a babysitter on their daddy's birthday! So we improvised and did a birthday breakfast, then made him a quick cake so we could sing him happy birthday! Let's just say all I had in the cupboard was Halloween funfetti cake with orange frosting hahaha....it was a beauty!
Koto was neat. We sat at Hibachi tables and the sous chef cooked our meals in front of us. After, a few of us hit friendlies for some ice cream lol.
The gift was the best part! I searched for weeks to find an ipad for him. I FINALLY got one and was super excited. What does Jim do? The minute he opens it...he says..."Do you know how many tree stands you could have got me?" Great!!! :)

March-April

2011-05-31T03:27:00.000-07:00

We celebrated Dr. Suess's Birthday by eating green eggs and ham at home! The kids thought it was the best thing ever...and we ended up making blue eggs a few days later lol.

We went down to visit Jimmy's mom in Shippensburg, PA for Easter. What a drive! The kids colored eggs, frosted cookies and did an easter egg hunt. Tristan especially was devistated to leave. He loves to play with Hunter and misses him a lot.

My BABY is TWO!!!

2011-02-22T15:32:00.000-08:00

I would upload some more pictures, but for some reason my computer takes forever!!! My little princess turned 2 on Sunday. We had a small family party at our house for her. She had a huge yummy cake done by Jimmy's co-worker. Brinley turned her head for just about EVERY picture taken. I gave her a little pink rocking horse first, big mistake! She decided she had to sit on the horse to open all her presents LOL. She's something else. We love her so much and are so very grateful to have a little girl. Everything was of course PINK...it's so much fun seeing girl toys around now after having all boy toys for the past 5 years. Tristan & Easton are great big brothers...if they are not taking care of her...they are rough-housing with her hehe.
We love you our little Brinley Grace <3<3<3. Happy 2nd Birthday Doll!!!

2011-01-24T16:25:00.000-08:00

Santa Baby...

2011-01-08T18:12:00.000-08:00

As usual...Santa always spoils our family. He was VERY good to us all this year hehe...I think it gets more exciting as the kids get older. There's nothing better than the anticipation of going to sleep Christmas Eve and waiting for Santa to come!!!

This year Ryan & Amanda & Grandpa all spent the night so they would be here bright and early for breakfast and presents. Christmas Eve brought us all some special pajamas and a movie to watch together. After we read "The Night Before Christmas" together, we watched "Dispicable Me".

Christmas morning we had our traditional yummy cinnimon rolls..mmm

I got the honor of opening the first Christmas present....Jimmy got me a DSLR camera that I've been wanting and he wanted me to be able to take pictures with it :)

This year we celebrated alone. Ryan & Amanda had dinner plans with her family. My mom made the YUMMIEST turkey dinner yet and we pretty much lounged. We opened toys and put them together...then opened more toys and put them together lol. Brinley was not thrilled to open gifts. She actually left 3 of them unwanted by the tree all day. I left one of them to see how long it would last without someone tearing it open....well....we opened it yesterday finally!!! I was tempted to save it for her birthday...oh well!

Christmas day just isn't what it used to be. Celebrating with aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins... These days everyone has their own growing families. So many of our loved ones have passed away. My Grandma Drake, my dad, my nana, my uncle mark....families have changed structures....I guess it's time for new traditions to begin with my own little family.

I love my family so much and am one lucky girl to have them.

Tristan's 5th BDay

2010-12-07T12:02:00.000-08:00

Tristan turned 5 on Dec. 3rd! I can't believe he's so grown up. It makes me so sad to think about how fast time really does go bye. He wanted a Batman cake...and MEATLOAF!!! How funny! I tried to talk him out of the meatloaf. but he was VERY set on having it. He had a nice little celebration in school with his friends, then we celebrated with him at home. It was nice to just celebrate with Grandma Drake, Uncle Ry & Aunt Amanda, Grandpa Huff and us...although the big birthday parties are fun...they can be so dang much to prepare for and pay for. I always feel like it's a burden to everyone to come and buy another gift. I think next year I will let Tristan take some friends bowling or something. He didn't care one bit...he loved his presents and that the whole day was focused on him!!!

Sat. the 4th was his first Knee High Basketball game. Rileigh and Tyler were on the opposing team. Tyler refused to play hehe....but Rileigh did....it was so cute! Tristan was a horrible dribbler...but hey...he did score a basket!!! For every basket he makes, he gets $1 :)

Gobble Gobble

2010-11-24T18:19:00.001-08:00

So the big Turkey Day is finally here. This time of year once again is bitter-sweet. I love spending time with my family....but I immediately go back to my Dad. It'll be 4 years on the 28th. Unreal. I sadly find myself thinking of my Dad less as time goes on. It's not that I want to forget....it's just that life here with my own family has taken over. I don't want to forget anything about my Dad or how much he meant and still means to me. As I think of him, my thoughts go directly to University Hospital and the day everything happened. It feels as if it were yesterday....but yet soo long ago in the same sense. As these past years have flown by....I regret not being able to really say what I should have said at his funeral....some day I will be able to write it all down without turning into a cry baby. I will ALWAYS be grateful for my Dad.

Onto a brighter note...this Turkey Day...I am grateful for my husband...who works very hard to provide for our family, who could LIVE out in the woods if I let him and who continues to love me no matter what I do or how much money I spend ;)...I'm grateful for my kiddos...Tristan...my "too-smart-for-your-own-good" son....Easton...my "sneaky, cuddly" son....and Brinley...my "spoiled-little-princess" daughter.
I'm grateful for my Mom. I don't know how I would manage without her. I'm glad that we are so close and that my kiddos keep her BUSY!
I'm also so grateful for all of my family and friends. Without them, life wouldn't be the same that's for sure!!! For all of my Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, etc....I hope you know how important you all are to me and how much I love you...even though this crazy life keeps us in our own little worlds...<3

October

2010-11-01T17:44:00.000-07:00

My princess Brinley...I'm so excited I can now buy her hair things at Claires and regular stores...instead of ordering giant flower clips from ebay!
Easton FINALLY started using the potty and I told him he could go to school. He started a couple weeks ago at Hannibal Nursery School with Mrs. Hilton. He LOVES it and was so excited!

Trick or Treating in Fulton...

Brinley wearing her first bit of glitter and lipstick :)

My batman, princess, and ninja turtle..I love them all so much!!!

My Three cRaZiEs!

2010-10-16T14:57:00.000-07:00

I really do mean that...they are my crazies hehe! Where to start! Jim is taking his CPA exam #3 Oct. 25th! He passed #1, failed #2 by 6 points :(...and will hopefully pass #3. I'm not sure what he's thinking trying to take it during HUNTING season! All I have to say is if he fails this one...I will kick his butt! I'm really proud of him and am excited for it to be over...the early morning/late night studying..it's like tax season 24-7, 365. I know it will be worth every second of it once he's FINISHED!

I started teaching full-time. I did NOT want to at all. I enjoyed my time at hom with my kiddos, bringing Tristan to his afternoon UPK class and spending some quiet time alone while Brinley and Easton napped. Oh well, that's all over now. I love teaching and I love the kids at school, but I'd love to be home too...which is why teaching only 1/2 day was ideal. The extra money I make by teaching just a few more hours every day will help our family tremendously. We can have some breathing room financially, which is nice for a change. I'm home every day by 3:30-3:45 so it's not THAT bad. I just can't imagine mom's who work until 5 or 6 and have to drive

home. That I could NOT do!

Tristan LOVES UPK. He tells me he has a girlfriend named McKenzie hehe. I told him it's okay as long as she's the CUTEST girl in his class :).

Easton starts nursery school on Monday. He is sooo excited! Every time he goes poop on the potty he says..."can I go to school now?" The Hannibal Nursery School was full with a waiting list, but they decided to add 2 kids...Easton being one of them! He got a new backpack and is all set to start! I just hope he can make it through the first day without crying to go home!

Brinley...oh Brinley...she's something else! Friday I came home from work and looked at her sitting on the couch with my mom. She started to have a seizure...scared the crap out of me...her temperature was 104...I rushed her to the doctor but everything was okay. It was her temperature that caused it. Poor little girl...I seriously cried all the way to Fulton. I'm so glad she's okay...I'm still fighting to keep her fever down and she also has the cocksaukie virus however you spell that! She won't eat or drink much because her throat is so sore. I hope she starts to feel better soon. I can't take her miserableness much longer ;)

I'm so grateful for my three crazies. Each of them are so very different, but they are all so sweet. Easton continues to be the most laid back, coolest kid that everyone loves LOL. Must be because he was named after his Grandpa Drake ;).

My Little Easton is THREE!!!

2010-09-26T17:21:00.000-07:00

Easton has been wanting a batman cake because Tristan is into batman. Well, a couple days ago he changed his cake request to ninja turtles. Lovely! They have been watching the original TMNT movie over and over. Now, Easton loves ninja turtles lol! My friend Lynn was able to make his wish come true hehe. As for gifts, all he's mentioned is a big 4-wheeler. We went to Toys R Us a few weeks ago and he rode this Honda pedal 4-wheeler around the store and loved it. Uncle Ryan & Aunt Amanda, Mom, Gramps and I all went in together and got it for him. It's better to get one nice present instead of lots of little ones sometimes. It was a hit. We were just going to come home and have dinner after church, but decided to go to Outback with Austin & Crystal. Then, they came over and celebrated with us while we did cake and presents.

Happy 3rd Birthday my little Easton Todd-Michael. I love you so much and am so happy that you are FINALLY potty-trained! I love your kisses, cuddle-time, your voice, the way you run, your sensitivity, your independence issues, the way you NEVER stay in bed and your mischevious ways. :) Your Grandpa Drake would be so proud to know that you carry his name.

And Gramps is HERE

2010-09-14T16:20:00.000-07:00

My grandpa has moved in with us temporarily until Ryan closes on his house. We've moved Brinley into my room and he is in hers. My kids love their grandpa and we are all happy to have him here with us.

Tristan's First Day of UPK

2010-09-09T16:40:00.000-07:00

I love how every mom says how hard it is to let their child go to school....how they cry and have anxiety. I'm sooo not like that! Tristan was born ready to go to school LOL. I guess since I'm a teacher I know that he's fine. It's going to be really different next year when he goes to full-day kindergarten...but if I'm still teaching at Lanigan then I will put Tristan there with me.

Here are some pictures of him...and of course Easton had to get a picture too. He's sad he can't go to school yet....actually if he was fully potty trained then he could go to nursery school...but that's just not happening anytime soon haha!

I love my kids...they have grown so fast. Next year Tristan will be in Kindergarten and Easton in UPK...then the following year Tristan first, Easton Kindergarten, Brinley UPK...whew..that's hard to think about! That just means there may be room for baby #4 to be at home with me ;)

Shutters & Brin's bed

2010-07-29T10:49:00.000-07:00

I started painting and hanging shutters...this is how far I've gotten LOL...they are a tan color instead of blue...although the 2 higher windows aren't painted yet haha...hey it's a good thing I can take my time because we live in the country!!! I dropped the left window shutters a 1/2 inch when I hung them...so now I have to rip them off and re-hang them...not too bad though huh?!!

My crazy kiddos...seriously...CRAZY!

I bought Brinley a new bed because well...I just wanted to LOL...I wanted a full-size for her but that will have to wait until I can buy her a nice bed and dresser set in a couple years. For now...it's just a bed...I got a good deal on this cute Karina quilt set from PBK...I wish it was the pink one and not blue...but it's okay...it's still cute and I can deal with it! SO her room will now be pink, green and BLUE ;)

My Loves

2010-07-23T05:31:00.000-07:00

So my post isn't really meant to go with my pictures this time...but I wanted to share them anyhow!

I wake up every morning to Brinley yacking in her crib. Some mornings it's to Tristan or Easton walking down the stairs on a direct root to my bedroom! The first thing I have to do is feed them. I'm talking immediately. For some reason they all wake up and act like I haven't fed them in weeks and then eat like it's their last meal. They always ask where Daddy is and I have to repeat every time...he's at work. I'm not one to sit around and waste my life away in my house as you know. I usually get them all ready after they watch some cartoons. They like to go to Target to look at toys and to eat at their little snack bar. For $3 you can get a slushy, hotdog and apples with caramel dip. They think it's the BEST thing in the whole world! Some days we go to route 31, others we just stay in Fulton and go to Walmart or KMart. As much of a pain it is to load everyone and fight them to behave in the store...I just do it. It's just a part of my life now. Lots of mom's say they never take their kids shopping. Well if I COULD shop alone, trust me, I WOULD! But I've done it so much, it's just second-hand. When we get home, if they aren't sleeping in the car, Easton and Brinley will take a nap. Then comes the cleaning or relaxing with Tristan or computer time lol. They eat all day long...I'm talking ALL DAY! I can't count the times I hear mom, I'm hungry or Brinley screaming when she hears the fridge open or a wrapper crinkle. They are snacky kids, but they like their meals too. They fight all day long over toys, blankets, food you name it. I feel like a referee hehe. Tristan has been very mouthy and talks back a LOT. Easton is starting to talk back too. I'm in for it. The best is when they argue and Easton says...brotha, you go in the corner and Tristan says....you're stupid Easton....then Easton says....no, you stupid brotha...and it goes on and on. When they get in trouble it's like a game. They make me chase them down. Literally. Tristan will run and scream and hide from me if he know's he's in trouble. The best is when he screams don't hit me, don't hit me and acts like I'm the most cruel mom ever. Now let's add Brinley in the mix. She has to have my attention at all times! She wants to be talked to, picked up, the center of attention. She's very fiesty and is starting to throw fits, be bratty, yells, screams and now hits. They love to play outside. I'm always fighting to keep them inside because they can unlock and open anything! One minute I'll be guarding the front door and then I'll see Easton out in the driveway...he sneaks out the back door. It's crazy. Thank gosh we live out in the country and not on a busy city street. They love to dig in the dirt, ride bikes, swim, ride the 4-wheeler and their little gator. If they could be outside morning until night they would be. Bed time is always a challenge. Brinley is easy because she's in a crib. She goes to bed around 7pm. The boys refuse to stay in bed. I'm constantly chasing them back upstairs. Most nights I get tired after yelling at them and putting them back in bed that I let them fall asleep in my family room on the couch while I watch TV. Last night I rented "Cop Out" on demand and the language and violence wasn't appropriate for kids...but Easton so nicely would NOT sleep and watched the entire thing...ugh. Then I have to wait for Jimmy to come home to carry them upstairs and put them in bed. Some nights they sleep in their Grandma's room. They act like they won the lottery when they do. Those are the nights it's easy to get them to sleep.

Easton is now trying to wear underwear. He's been peeing on the potty and doing good! Although a little obsessive. Brinley too wants to be like her brother and refuses to keep her clothes and her diaper on. I really think she may be potty trained by time she's 2. She's very bright and a quick learner. Probably because she has two big brothers to learn from. Now the funniest part...her FIRST word....she's 17 months old now and the first word I can make out is....you guessed it...."NAYNAY".....really Brinley....really!!! This is the name the boys call my mom....now kid three is following suit loving no one but Grandma. haha!

There are so many things I want to write. These are the moments that I will miss as they grow up and get older. My days will be so much different 5 years from now. Everyone in school all day. Life seems to be flying by these days. I can't imagine my life without my family. I love every one of my kids more than they will ever know or think they know. They are the reason I am the person I am today. I love all the little things...even as stressful as they can be. They are all so different...Tristan big, dramatic, mouthy, LOUD, smart, grandma's boy...Easton sneaky, quiet, cuddly, copycat...Brinley fiesty, screamer, look at me, give me attention hehe. I'm blessed to have 3 beautiful, healthy kids. I hope that I can continue to be as close to them in 10-20 years as I am today. I hope they realize how much I do for them and love them and take care of them.

Darien Lake

2010-07-13T09:48:00.000-07:00

We went to Darien Lake last Fri.-Sun. It was quite the trip! When we got there, we started setting up our tents and it started to down poor....I'm taking down poor! So we were all drenched, kids were a mess, tents soaked and everything was a disaster! After we set up, the rain lightened up a bit and we decided to drive to the closest Red Lobster and have a nice DRY dinner! When we got back..like 7pm we were able to hit some roller coasters. Tristan was able to sneak on the Viper...which is a big roller coaster that goes upside-down and does loops! He was only 2 inches too short to do most of the coasters, but for some reason they didn't check his height for this one! It was his first big coaster and I guess he liked it because he went back for a second ride! Fri. night we went back to our site and seen we had company...a new group of campers right across from us. They were drinking all night! They had the worst language I've ever heard....blaired their radio and were just aweful! We were hoping that since 11pm was quiet time they would settle down. Well, we were WRONG! They were crazy until 3am! I tried to call security to come take care of them, but I couldn't get through on the phone line. Anyhow, I called the office the next morning and told her of our problems. Night #2 came around and needless to say, they were worse because another group joined them! I finally got so mad I got in my car and flagged down a security vehicle at 2am! Nice huh? That about sums it up! I complained to the head of accomodations and now we are getting 1/2 our money back and a free stay for 2 nights :)

Sat. we spent most of the day in the park in the wave pool because it was so dang HOT! The kids loved riding the kiddie rides and going in the Hook's Lagoon...which was a kiddie water area. Sun. was our highlight when Jimmy, Ryan and Tristan went on the SKYCOASTER....I can't believe Tristan was tall enough to do it and actually wanted to! If it wasn't $25 a person to ride it he would have done it again! I told him he had to save his pennies and next time he could pay! We did buy the video of his ride! It was too good to pass up! We had a good trip other than our sleepless nights there LOL...here are some pictures :)

Slacker yet again!

2010-07-07T16:09:00.000-07:00

I love the idea of blogging, but it seems like it's never at the top of my priority list! It's not like it's the most difficult thing to do! :) Someday I will get better and update more often!

Summer has begun! I'm excited as always to have the entire summer off to spend with my kids. It's such an awesome perk of being a teacher! This is my second official entire week off. It's so strange to wake up and be ready to walk out the door by 8:30 every morning...maybe as the weeks go on I will be more lazy. We have been going somewhere every day, the mall, target, playground, walmart...you name it. I am not one to just sit at home and do nothing. I have to at least take a trip to get out of the house. I think I get that from my Dad. Even if I just run to get gas and drive-thru Wendy's..it's SOMETHING! Sad I know. We are gearing up for a 3-day trip to Darien Lake this Fri.-Sun. I'm excited to get away for a bit. My mom and Ryan and Amanda are going too so it should be fun. Growing up my parents always took us on this trip. It's always hard to go places without my Dad. I am grateful that I have my Mom to still share things with. I can't imagine losing both parents and how hard it must be to just function. It's hard enough having one gone. I'm so happy that I have my own little family to start new traditions with and to make new memories.

I am still the current Primary President in my church. I am excited to have new...well sort of new ;) counselors. I totally thought a release was coming my way...but I was wrong. I guess it'll come when I least expect it...right?!! Jimmy is now second counselor in the Elders Quorum...I pray for the day he takes over as President...that means my release is NEAR :) I'm probably dreaming though LOL.

Jimmy has been studying hard to take his first CPA exam which is coming up next week. I'm so proud of him and all of the hard work and dedication he puts in to his job and taking care of us.....well financially because everything else is SO ALL ME...but ya know...I'm grateful that he's motivated to succeed lol. We love him so much and love spending some extra time with him when it's not tax season!

I've decided that I'm over the short brown boring hair that I've had for the past 2 years....so the blonde process has started. I had my first highlight yesterday and it's already pretty blonde seeing how it was sooo dark! I'm trying to grow it out long...we'll see how it goes. This is not the best pic of me...but it's the first one I snapped after I walked in from the salon haha!

It's bedtime for my boys soon...so I have to say goodbye for now. I'm so blessed to have this beautiful little family of mine. I couldn't imagine my life without my husband, my kids, my mom, my brother and his wife, my friends and family. I always see people on facebook say how lucky they are and how grateful they are for their loved ones. I wonder how many of those people truly mean what they say and how many of those people just take everything for granted. I know that at any moment my life could change, be taken away or I could lose someone close to me. I don't want to lose a memory, miss a moment or think that there is always tomorrow.

XOXO

Can I call every post an "update"?

2010-05-15T15:28:00.000-07:00

Tristan was sooo excited to see his Uncle Hunter Thurs. and Fri. last week. He got to go turkey hunting for the first time with Jimmy, Steve (Jimmy's step-father) and Hunter. He was super excited!!! It'll be nice when I can send the boys out hunting with Daddy...and I can have a girly day with Brinley ;)

We went to the Bayberry garage sales today and stumbled upon MORE Rescue Heroes! So we bought a bunch more figures and another command center...I had to restrain myself from buying EVERYTHING the woman had! The boys love them and when they get bored, I'll just bring them into my classroom for a while.

Brinley now gets really excited when you get the camera out. When you say "cheese" she smiles :) She is the first of my kiddos that has connected "cheese" with smiling at this age! She's growing so fast...makes me sad in a way, but happy that the "baby" stage is over.

April Photo Shoot

2010-04-29T11:32:00.000-07:00

Zoo America

2010-04-23T16:31:00.000-07:00

We went to Zoo America in Hershey...which wasn't all that..but the kids liked it. Easton got all his curls cut off...I miss them now and want them back!!! Oh, and Ryan and Amanda moved into an upstairs apartment so they took our sectional couch because theirs wouldn't fit. Now our other room has become a playroom...Tristan threw a FIT because I took our 32" tv out of there and bought a 19" for them...the 32" is now in my bedroom and everytime he goes in there he gets mad haha!

Hotel & Hershey

2010-04-23T16:06:00.000-07:00

More pics of our trip...our hotel had a nice pool for the boys to swim in while Mommy & Brin hit the hot tub lol. We wanted to go to Hershey park, but it doesn't open up until May 1st. So, we went to the Hershey Factory...which was a money pit really...so we did the free ride that was really cool and learned how Hershey chocolate is made.

Cabelas

2010-04-21T15:36:00.000-07:00

We left the day after tax season to go visit Jimmy's parents in PA. We stayed there Fri. and Sat. and by Sun. we were on our way to Cabelas!!! Let's just say we got there at 11am and didn't leave until 6pm!!!!

Brinley was giving me kisses..or at least trying to lol.

My adorable Brinley "whoo"...she got dressed up to go out to dinner for her mommy and daddy's 7th wedding anniversary at Tassones for all you can eat crab legs!

My not so little ones <3

Easter Sunday 2010

2010-04-05T17:36:00.000-07:00

Sunday

2010-03-29T13:04:00.000-07:00

It's been nice to actually go to church together on Sunday. Jimmy always had to be in church for meetings, so I would have to get all 3 kids ready and meet him there. Life is so much easier having him home in the morning! I took the kids to my field trip at the YMCA last Friday. We were the first in line to get these balloon swords, and somehow we were STILL standing there 20 min. later!
I don't know how appropriate this picture is, but I swear, it's a SWORD hahahaha!

Finally I have carpet!!!

2010-03-25T12:55:00.000-07:00

Well, we put our addition on 2 years ago and cost WAY more than expected! As many people know, we had NO carpet in our bedroom...which wasn't terrible because we just kept the door closed all the time LOL. We decided to use some of our tax money and buy carpet!!! Woohoo :) It's the simple things that make me happy haha! Our house is slowly coming together, we still need to put trim inside..UGH...at least the majority of the new addition is now finished...oh and we still haven't touched our ceilings yet LOL...that'll be a while! I still laugh when I look at our closet/bathroom!!! It definitely was NOT planned that way...it was supposed to be a nice, big walk-in closet...after it was framed in, we decided to put a sink and toilet in..then have the closet in the back...well...last minute we said...let's put a stand-up shower in too...which made things hard because the only place the shower could go was against the back wall...needless to say..now you have to walk through a closet-type area to get to the bathroom LOL...at least it's just our bathroom and no one uses it but US!

My kiddos are growing fast STILL...Brinley is now 13 months old and not walking yet! Over the past day or so she has been taking little steps by herself though. She is so high-energy that she just stands and tries to RUN or drops to the floor to crawl as fast as she can to get to something because she's nosey. Easton is talking WAY too much now! He is still shy in public though...but at home he's getting annoying haha! Tristan is a spoiled little boy....way spoiled..I shouldn't complain because I made him that way. He's the king of the house because Jimmy is barely here during tax season from Jan. to April...so Tristan runs the house pretty much. Tristan and Easton are just starting to fight over things and argue..I'm in for it! Brinley is not talking yet...she just babbles and yells...then screams when she wants something..like FOOD!

We are planning on celebrating Easter this year at Austin and Crystal's house with the Drake fam...tax season is ALMOST over and then our lives can be back to normal...with a Daddy that's home on Sat.'s and and more during the week...since he leaves the house by 5am and doesn't get home until 11ish at night...so the kids will be excited to actually see their Daddy other than on Sun. That's all I got for now, Syracuse plays in the NCAA tournament tonight at 7pm and miraculously Jimmy will be home to watch it...so we're taking advantage and ordering some Mama G's :) Go SU!

Kiddo Updates

2010-02-24T10:46:00.000-08:00

I was in Brinley's room & I kept hearing sounds like something unwrapping, so I went out and found Easton with a whole bag of chocolate!!! He is the most mischevious kid I swear. He's into EVERYTHING!!!

Here's the kids opening Brinley's presents on her birthday.

Brinley's real First Birthday was Saturday. My friend Lynn made her a cute giant cupcake LOL. So, since we normally go to dinner for birthdays...we took her to Ruby Tuesday's for lunch..I mean..hey she is only ONE haha! My Mom, Ryan & Amanda came with us minus Jimmy because he was working. We decided to let her have her cake at Rubys and everyone probably thought I was nuts! This little outfit is almost identical to the one she wore home from the hospital when she was born...except her newborn one had a cherry and this one had a strawberry.

Tristan & Easton got new bedding...and Easton finally got his big boy bed. Tristan is obsessed with Batman..and all Easton kept saying was "Spi-aa-maan"..so here they are with their new beds.

The MOST

2010-02-24T10:36:00.001-08:00

We finally got to take a trip to the MOST in Syracuse. It was Tristan's friend Nathan's bday, so a bunch of us girls took our kiddos to play there. They had a good time, but I think there was WAY too many people LOL.

Brinley's First BDay Party

2010-02-08T12:30:00.000-08:00

We celebrated Brinley's first birthday with our cousins little boy Koby. It was quite the party....TONS of people that's for sure! Poor Brinley was sick and was ready to fall asleep as we were doing the cake...it was really cute and fun. It's hard to believe my little girl will be ONE on her birthday...which is on the 20th. It seems like I JUST had her. I love my little ones so much and couldn't imagine what my life would be like without all the carseats, strollers, gerber graduates, cartoons, temper tantrums, doctor visits, playdates...just everything...I love that I have 2 boys that will hopefully look out for their little sister. Brinley went to the doctors today for a sick visit and weighs just under 19 lbs.!!!!! She's so chubby...but so little compared to my boys...I just hope she stays little for a while!!!

So following her bday pics is a picture of my hubby's lovely bear rug he had made....it's seriously hanging on my bedroom wall at the moment. I've cried so many times over it. We have NO room to spare...so it's my room or the friggen living room (which will NEVER happen!). The smells is SO BAD that I couldn't even sleep in there last night. I'm so stressed out over it. I wanna be supportive..but REALLY??!! 3 full-size deer heads, 1 antlers & a friggen HUGE bear rug....he better have a nice big house in our future with his own MAN CAVE..literally....it's CRAZY!

My first post of 2010!!!

2010-01-28T16:51:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it's already January 28th and this is my FIRST post of 2010....I'm suck a slacker. Honestly...I've been wanting to get my blog printed off...so my kids will have it..and I thought I should wait and post after I print it...but...I don't wanna spend the $30 to do it so...time to post LOL.

Brinley is now 11 months old. I'm so sad that she is turning into a toddler...and not my little baby anymore. She is a screamer...full of prissy-ness...wants attention ALL the time...I mean ALL the time!!! She wants to be looked at, talked to, held you name it. I think it's because she sees her brothers getting so much attention...she wants it too. We are celebrating her 1st birthday on Feb. 6th at my cousins house. There little guy Koby is 3 weeks older and turned 1 yesterday. So we are having a combined party for them thinking it will be our LAST FIRST BIRTHDAY party ever (if we don't have any more kids lol). She runs everywhere in her walker but gets impatient when she gets stuck. She will NOT stand on her own, she just drops to the floor to sit and crawl. I wonder if she will actually be taking steps by her first birthday. Easton didn't walk until like the day before he turned 1.

Tristan is doing good in nursery school. He is the biggest and tallest in his class..and also one of the youngest!!! He can say all the letters in his name and can write it on his own! I'm so proud of him. He's such a smart little guy, if only he was more mellow!!! He is so high-energy, I'm in for it I know!!! Tristan literally eats ALL DAY LONG...I mean from the time he wakes up to the time he goes to bed!!! He loves sleeping in his Naynay's bed when she's off from working the night shift...which is once or twice a week. Every day when she walks in from work, he asks...are you working tonight??? So funny! I told her she needs to get a king-size bed because soon she will have all 3 kids wanting to sleep in with her.

Easton is talking more and more. He is starting to fight Brinley..I mean really fight, like punch, kick, pull hair....maybe he just likes that there is someone in the house who is smaller than him...since Tristan has always had the advantage on East. He loves getting into things, climbing on stools, counters, tiolets...everywhere!!! Easton is still pretty much the same size he was when he was 1 LOL....Brinley is catching up to him in size really fast!!! He is still my cuddliest kid.

That's all I have for now...it's Thurs. night...that means Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice are on....so it's time to go chill now that my kiddos are sleeping!

Here's to 2010....

Christmas 2009

2009-12-25T18:37:00.000-08:00

These pictures are not in order LOL...oh well! Christmas is now here and almost over :(....I can't believe all the prep-work that goes into baking, shopping, wrapping etc...and it's all over before you know it! We had a nice relaxing Christmas this year. Christmas Eve we went and visited Jimmy's Dad for a while then came home to a HUGE dinner with Ryan and Amanda...it was so yummy. We played Nintendo Wii...but we bought the old school Super Mario Brothers and played that for hours haha....then we opened our new PJ's and waited for Santa to come!!!

Easton was the first one up...7am wasn't too bad! So, we opened our stockings first, had breakfast and opened presents for over an hour!!! We all said it would be a SMALL Christmas this year, but somehow it always ends up being bigger LOL. Tristan did NOT want to open any clothes..in fact he threw a couple packages after he tore into them and seen they weren't TOYS!!! What a BUM.

Now everyone is tucked in their beds....and I sit here updating my blog...I think about my Dad and how much he missed today. He missed my Mom's cinnamon rolls, playing Nintendo, eating Santa's cookies LOL...., guessing his presents before he even unwrapped them (he ALWAYS got it right SOMEHOW!) and going over to my Uncle Scott & Aunt Di's house for a HUGE dinner with everyone. I know that he is where he is supposed to be.

I love my family. I love my life here on Earth.

Merry Christmas to my wonderful family! XOXO

Tristan's Christmas Play

2009-12-24T08:33:00.000-08:00

Tristan had a family Christmas party at school last Saturday. They put on a cute little play for us and he was a bunny. It was really cute...then Santa surprized them and had presents for all the kids...even Brinley and Easton!!!

It's ALMOST Christmas EEKKK!!!

2009-12-17T17:11:00.000-08:00

Tristan & I in front of our tree....which keeps getting re-decorated every day...kids!!! My Blue-eyed girly girl....really Brinley...couldn't YOU just have your Mommy's brown eyes??? LOL
Tristan & his buddy Nathan...everything Nathan eats...Tristan eats..

Brinley will be 10 months old on Sunday...where does the TIME go?? Such a big girl...and YES she can SIT!!! :)

Easton was watching me in the bathroom with my flat-iron...so I decided to use it on him and get those curls out haha...he totally should have been my GIRL...he actually makes a cute girl don't you think? J/K!!!!

Turkey Day..

2009-12-02T10:16:00.001-08:00

We drove to my Aunt & Uncle's house in Penn Yan for Thanksgiving...it was really nice being with everyone. It was hard not having my own dad there with us, but seeing my uncles all together made it easier. I can't believe how fast time goes by. It's been 3 yrs. since my dad died...but a lot of good things have happened in those 3 yrs. Easton & Brinley were born...Ryan & Amanda were married...some more cousins were born...Kaiden, Koby, Charlie, Austin...our families have become closer after some rough times...so as you can see...life does continue here on Earth...even after you lose someone so dear to you...you become stronger and really understand that being on Earth is only a temporal thing...everyone will leave this Earth at some point...it's just too bad that we don't know when. This Thanksgiving I am grateful for people like my Dad...who made such a wonderful impact on many lives...especially mine.

More Pics

2009-11-11T13:03:00.000-08:00

New Pics!!!

2009-11-11T13:02:00.000-08:00

Brinley's New Dress <3

2009-11-05T14:32:00.000-08:00

As much as I TRY to make Brinley a "girly girl"...she's still sooo tom-boyish to me LOL....don't tell her I said that!!!!! I think it's because I have 2 boys...and it's hard to picture frilly...ruffly...pink..on ANY of my kids...I guess if I had 2 girls...it would be wierd putting boy stuff on a boy too....

I still think she's a doll though...even with her sometimes "crazy" eye hahaha....don't tell her about that either....poor girl~

Halloween...

2009-11-02T14:02:00.000-08:00

All I have to say is trick-or-treating was a hit this year...we went with some family & friends..and the kids all had a blast! Brinley in her ladybug costume <3

Tristan & Easton...matching...yes...I have a feeling they will match EVERY year!

Brinley Bug again..

The trick-or-treat clan...minus Nathan, Annabel, Kaylee & Saige...

So in this picture are Brinley, Easton, Rileigh, Tristan, Tyler, Koby, Brock & Trey..notice they all kept their distance from Brock (the wolf)....LOL

Brinley...my blue-eyed girl <3

2009-10-27T16:05:00.000-07:00

Kiddos

2009-10-10T14:32:00.001-07:00

I love my kiddos so much. I'm so thankful that they are happy and healthy.

Welcome Autumn..

2009-09-30T11:35:00.000-07:00

I was thinking..man I haven't updated my blog in a while! A lot has happened over the past 6 weeks...school has started...our "summer" changed to freezing, rain and dreary overnight!

Easton just celebrated his second birthday. We had a little cake for him at our house....Uncle Ryan and Aunt Amanda came over to celebrate with us...I can't believe my little man is 2 already. He's such a mama's boy. Every night he wakes up and comes in to sleep with me! I know it's terrible...but I love cuddling with him and I look forward to about 2am when his little head of blonde curls shows just above the bed. Brinley is growing..way too fast as well...although she is still a peanut compared to the boys. She's only 16 lbs at 7 months old...but she has lots of rolls and big cubby cheeks. She isn't crawling yet...but she's scooting across the floor using her arms..as soon as she figures out how to use those legs..I'm done for! She's got a very strong personality...like Tristan...she's a drama queen too...she screams this aweful screem just to get your attention...as soon as you look at her...she smiles. Great. I'm in for it!

Tristan got his birthday present early because hunting season will be over by the time his birthday comes around in Dec. We got him some hunting clothes and boots to go out in the woods with Daddy. That's all he talks about...having hunting clothes to go shoot a deer with Daddy...just this morning he was asking when he was gonna get his gun to shoot his deer...I told him when he gets bigger and he said...I am bigger....ugh...at least in a few years I can send him out with Jimmy EVERY time he goes out...LOL...

School is going great for me..I LOVE my schedule....9-11:30 and I'm home with my kiddos...I couldn't ask for anything more at this point...well maybe MORE money..but hey I really can't complain about what I make for the 12.5 hours I work each week...I get to have fun with 4 yr. olds ALL morning!!

Autumn is here...I now pulled out the comfy sweats, boots and coats that come with cooler weather here in CNY. I always complain about living here and this weather always sucking...but honestly....I love the change of seasons...especially this time of year...all the leaves...pumpkins....pumpkin spice candles burning....cuddling up on the couch for some great TV...and eating some lots of yummy foods....especially baked stuff...mmmm ;)

I'm so grateful for my family. I think of my Dad so often this time of year. His 3rd anniversary of his death is approaching and I have to swallow and breath.....because it's so difficult to think about...I miss him more than anyone will ever know or understand. I miss his cologne that he put on soo heavy...I miss his new pocket T's that he looked so handsome in...his hair cuts so short you could soo ALL his grey hair..lol....I miss his phone calls every day...going to lunch with him...and making him pay ;)....seeing his blue dodge all over town...mainly going through McDonalds or Wendy's drive-thru's....:)....I miss that I never really got to tell him how proud I was of him...for the decisions he made...and how much I loved him...all of these things I miss because I thought I would have them forever...I didn't know they would be taken from me so quick....

I know I will be with my Dad again...after this life on Earth is over. I know I have my own family now that I am responsible for...I am so grateful for the gospel and to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of LDS...I know that families are eternal. <3<3<3

4 Years Today

2009-08-20T13:06:00.000-07:00

August 20, 2005....at the Palmyra NY temple...first...my Mom & Dad were sealed as a couple....then Jimmy & I (pregnant with Tristan) were sealed as a couple...and then my family...Mom, Dad, Ryan & I were all sealed as a family...this is the day our families were made eternal...this is the day my brother finally slipped his mission papers under my Dad's pillow...this day was meant to happen exactly when it did....my Dad was 42 years old...and died the following Nov. at 43...there's no doubt in my mind that I will be with him again...my Heavenly Father knew exactly what needed to happen...and what would happen...and now I know why it was so so important for this day to happen when it did. Tristan was the little soul who... as he was waiting to come to Earth...influenced all of us to make this decision and make it a reality.

Fair Haven part 2

2009-08-16T18:08:00.000-07:00

My brother Ryan & his wife Amanda went fishing with Jimmy...I think Amanda caught the biggest fish!!! Walking the pier with their "My Dad Can Out Hunt Your Dad" T-shirts LOL
The make-do kids table haha...poor Tyler got stuck in there when they all left...

Why is it always when the camera decides it wants to take a GREAT focused picture..your kid is making an aweful face LOL :0

Daddy fishing with his boys <3

Fair Haven Part 1

2009-08-16T17:49:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd upload some pics from our anual Fair Haven camping trip! This year we went for a week and it was probably the hottest week ALL summer! So...mostly we hit the beach and were lucky to hang out with some friends and family too!Brinley & her cousin Koby...FINALLY a picture of them TOGETHER LOL...they are 3 weeks apart!
Tristan & his cousins playing in the sand

Koby & Brin...they look sooo serious...

Me & my chubby girly...

Earrings & Cowboy Boots!

2009-07-22T10:05:00.000-07:00

FINALLY Brinley's ears are PIERCED!!! She looks so friggen CUTE :)...still looks like a boy...but now a little more GIRLIE LOL...This is a picture of her right after...you can see her little tear...and I quickly threw a bottle in he mouth...and she was over it! :)... Easton has been wanting to wear these cowboy boots FOREVER...and finally...they FIT! So...they were mine when I went for a visit out west I got them...I was 3 :)...he wore them ALL afternoon and evening and I had to pry them off to put him to bed! All I heard all day was click click click on the hardwood floor haha...

10 Year High School Reunion

2009-07-20T15:32:00.000-07:00

So this past weekend was our Class of 99 reunion. Friday night we went to Battle Island for an adults only night. Saturday was family day at Thunder Island. Let's just say on Sat. I sweated my butt off...I wore a sweatshirt with a white see-through tank top underneath...and then realized how dumb it was after I got there...I couldn't take my sweatshirt off! Ugh...so that wasn't too fun. I think Jimmy and I held the record for most kids LOL... Job update: I've decided to teach 1/2 day in the fall. I will work from 9-11:30 and then be DONE! So..it's not bad at all...the salary had increased some, but I'm still taking a big cut..ugh...then I think of how grateful I am to have a 1/2 day position and that I get to spend more time with my kids before they are all in school. This is what I want..I don't want to stay at home full-time...but I think working a little will be the perfect balance! Something was meant to be here! So I'm excited and happy with that and who knows what next year will bring :)

Fun at the lake house

2009-07-13T09:11:00.000-07:00

We went to my Aunt and Uncle's lake house...actually their permanent house...LOL...so I'm not sure why we still say lake house..but we do haha..the boys had fun playing with Rileigh, Tyler & Kaylee all day..although I didn't get a pic of them together...oh Nate & Jimmy took Tristan out in the little boat...I can't believe they didn't tip that thing over! Can you tell Jimmy never goes outside...what a pale ghost! haha

Brinley Girl..."chubs"

2009-07-10T12:23:00.001-07:00

So she went for her first check-up since I missed the 2 mos. she was just over 4 months...14lbs. 2oz. and 24.5 inches...no earrings YET...I didn't do the dtap..she's going in Aug. for that...then the earrings will be next :) and YES she still looks like a boy..so I have to make sure she's in something pink at all times and a head band too lol...but then again..most babies don't look like girls until they are older..right? ;)

Slacker...:)

2009-07-02T11:53:00.000-07:00

I've for sure been slacking on the blog lately...I just hate waiting to upload photos...ugh...oh well...so as you can see our "little" Brinley is now turning into a pork shop...like Easton....her rolls are getting bigger...and yes...they hang over her "skinny" jeans haha...we love her though...she's going in for her 2 & 4 month shots tomorrow....I've slacked a bit on them..really just waiting for her to get older to get them...now that I've read up on immunizations after 3 kids....it's scary! So...tomorrow will be her first "weigh in" and then we are immediatly heading to the mall to get her some earrings!!!!!! I've been dying to get them pierced but wanted to wait til her dpt shot...yay! AND notice her adorable car seat cover...I wish I had it whn I first brought her home from the hospital...but she's still got some time to fit in it so I can show it off...thanks Holly!!! You so rock! AND our house is still NOT done..ugh again...it's a work in progress.....the siding is a SLOW process...our sidewalk is being put in next week....which means we can finally put our new front door on and actually do some landscaping instead of a mud pit!!! So excited about that! Although the house is friggen ugly and not what we pictured...but that can be changed by adding another story and some pitces I guess haha...after I hit the lotto that I don't play that is....AND I begged and begged Jimmy to do a mulch area for the kids toys because they were too much of a hassle to move everytime we mowed the grass....it's not perfect OR angled right...but A+ for effort to my hubby...and it works and looks cute out there! So that's all I have for now...other than I'm going absolutely nutso being off from work....my boys are crazy..into everything...fighting...eating ALL day...which makes ME eat all day...ahh...and Brinley just wants attention...that I don't feel like giving her because I'm searching the net all day and lounging...but I will get it together at some point...;)

Field Days in Weedsport..

2009-06-11T15:45:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday we went to the Fireman's Field Days in Weedsport....the boys had lots of fun....Brinley wasn't digging it though...haha....

Brinley's First "sort of" pony tail!!!

2009-06-04T17:26:00.000-07:00

Kitchen FINALLY done!!!

2009-06-04T17:16:00.000-07:00

I started painting like over a month ago...one wall...haha....but Amanda is having her Pampered Chef part here tomorrow night...so it was time to finish...and thanks to my Mom's help...it's DONE!....I think it looks a TON better!!! I think anyway ;)

Good Natured Soaps

2009-06-01T13:57:00.000-07:00

My cousin Stacey started a soap company with her friend!!! Check out her site....the soaps are awesome and very cute to give as a gift!!!! I have a few samples if you wanna see them in person before buying :):):)

www.goodnaturedsoaps.com

Memorial Day

2009-05-25T16:44:00.000-07:00

What a busy weekend!!! Let's start with Friday...I decided to have a spur of the moment garage sale and my cousin Crystal * I call her my cousin...because she's married to my cousin and it's a lot easier if I don't have to say my cousin's wife haha...it sounds so distant LOL...anyhow she brought her kids to play (aka get beat up by Tristan)...I got some nice sunburn that day!!! ahhh

Moving onto Sat. it was clean, clean, clean all flippin day! My cousin Dusty and his family decided to come up from Binghamton to see us on Sun....so Sat. was prep day! Sun. was a nice cookout with the family and then Memorial Day.....we went over to my Uncle Scott's house for another cookout!!! It was so yummy! These pictures are from today:)

My princess...although if I put her in a boy outfit...you'd think she was Easton...seriously...they are like twins! My Uncle Scott...aka the closest thing on this earth there is to my Dad....he reminds me of him so much and sometimes it makes me tear up being with him...what a great man <3

Oh yes...the kids went swimming even though it was cold!!! I think here are Easton, Tristan, Rileigh in the red crab and Kaylee in the pink floaty

Jimmy and Austin running around the pool making a "whirl pool" haha...

Could it be....???

2009-05-21T13:05:00.001-07:00

Okay...so I got home yesterday and in the mail I got a letter from Excellus...I opened it up and there I see....you have been notified of your cancellation as of April 1, 2009 of your benefits through Auburn Enlarged Schools....SAY WHAT???? I immediately called up the insurance company to see if it was real....and oh YEAH...it was...ALL THIS TIME I've had COMPLETE insurance coverage??? Most of you know that I JUST had Brinley in Feb. with NO INSURANCE...and my bills total $16,000.....yeah that's right...the big 1-6!!! I called the hospital and my Obgyn to have them bill the insurance....so now I'll wait and see if this BLESSING is acutally REAL!!!!

Oh and Jimmy and I JUST started paying a FULL tith in JANUARY....Could it be????

Some old pics...

2009-05-18T14:08:00.000-07:00

<3 My Babies <3

2009-05-18T13:56:00.000-07:00

Can you tell them apart???

Mother's Day Talk

2009-05-11T17:11:00.000-07:00

When I was asked to give a talk today, I thought “on Mother’s Day!!!!” Then I thought…oh man…I have to be in primary AND have a Presidency meeting after Church…UGH….I thought I was supposed to get off and relax today!!!....but then I thought again...that means I don’t have to sit down in the pew and wrestle my kids though sacrament! That’s a relief!!!

As I was looking over my talk invitation to see what the topic was…I seen…Mothers….well….that should have been obvious to me! Then I immediately thought…where do I start? With my own Mom…. What a Mom’s role is? …and then I thought…well I’m a Mom…I can start there!

Jimmy and I were married civilly in 2003. We were trying to finish school, so we didn’t really think about kids for the first 2 years…even though President Ezra Taft Benson taught that young couples should NOT postpone having children…we knew we had to grow up a bit more! THEN….all of a sudden…I knew it was TIME…I’m not sure that HE knew it was time haha…but we needed something more and the Spirit was telling me to start a family…SOON! I’ll never forget the day Jimmy found out I was expecting for the first time. We went to Mama Gina’s in Fulton and I had the waitress hide a pacifier in his soda…under the ice…well…let’s just say that he didn’t notice at first…but as soon as he did…he got up out of his seat…and said “No Way…No Way”…over and over…so I wasn’t sure if he was actually in shock or if he was excited at that point haha! J Once we got the news…I thought immediately…we NEED to get to the temple and be sealed before this baby comes! I KNEW I couldn’t go into labor and have my child knowing I was worthy to go to the temple…but was just too lazy to get there! I knew I had to have my child born under that sacred covenant…SO that’s just what we did….on August 20, 2005….we were sealed in the Palmyra Temple….I remember sitting across the alter..holding my husband’s hands….and there I was 5 months pregnant already and having to go to the bathroom really bad!!! After we were sealed…I was so happy knowing that I would be with my husband and my child-to-come past this life here on Earth…and I thought of how this unborn child influenced us to follow our Heavenly Fathers plan.

On to the day Tristan was born…the day I went from just being a wife…to being a wife AND a mother…December 3, 2005. Since he was my first baby…I had NO clue what I was in for! Just getting him here was a chore on it’s own…and after he was born…the first few days…I was scared to death to even change a diaper…and I couldn’t even burp him because I was worried about breaking his neck! Bringing him home…I remember being so sick and in pain that I cried at least 5 times a day for the first couple weeks. How was I gonna take care of this little baby on my own? My parents went to Hawaii and my husband was working full-time and going to school (oh and hunting inbetween)….and there I was….completely responsible for this little child that my Heavenly Father sent to ME. I knew I had to get it together and start being a MOM.

Who do you go to when you have your first baby and you have NO idea on how to do something….? Of course you go to YOUR Mom… and that’s just what I did! My Mom was such a huge part in helping me get through Tristan’s first year…I wouldn’t have made it without her! Well..I would have…but it wouldn’t have been pretty! I probably would have been one of “those” Mom’s that takes there baby to the doctor for every bump and bruise or sneeze and sniffle! Haha J Mom’s have ALL the answers! Especially MY Mom….I think I lived at her house more than mine….I can remember walking through the door and seeing the look on my Dad’s face…I know he was thinking…”you’re here AGAIN”?!!!

So not only was I responsible for taking care of my little guy….giving baths, changing diapers, feeding him, taking him to the doctors…..I was ALSO responsible for teaching him. Home is where I have the MOST power and influence. I am the example to him…I am the role model…I am the person who is supposed to have ALL the answers now…that’s a LOT of responsibility on my shoulders…just because I am a Mom now. And caring for my child wasn’t the only thing I was responsible for….I had to maintain my household as well….doing laundry, dishes, cooking, cleaning….making sure my home was in ORDER…of course I had to do all those things before Tristan was born…but after…my responsibilities grew even greater. I realized that I had to be a nurturer…I had to do my best to create a climate in my home that would help my child grow spiritually and temporally. Now don’t get me wrong…I had all the right intentions….but there were times when my house was nothing but crazy..clothes everywhere…dirty dishes in the sink …baby stuff everywhere…and I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s house gets like that…but it definitely has a huge effect on trying to have a house of order. When my house gets like that…it’s NOT peaceful, it’s NOT relaxing…it’s STRESSFUL…and that’s NOT what my home is supposed to be like….when my home is stressful…it is hard feel the spirit…when everything is taken care of the way it’s supposed to be….my home IS peaceful and relaxing and I know the Spirit is in my home more when it is in ORDER…

Right before my eyes…over 3 years have past since I first became a MOM….today I am blessed to have 2 beautiful little boys and 1 sweet little girl. Now…I can finally say I’ve got this Mom-thing all figured out…BUT then I think again and realize…my oldest is ONLY 3…I’ve got a LONG ways to go!!!

As I pondered about what else I should talk about…I thought…just talk about what I’ve learned as a MOM.
So here’s my list of what I’ve learned over the past 3 years…

Children always come FIRST… it’s more important for you to watch the Backyardigans for the 8th time in a row…than to watch American Idol (however…thanks to DVR…you can have the BEST of both worlds!)

Children COPY everything they hear…so the second you slip-up and say something bad…they will repeat it over and over…and then they will wait and say it as loud as they can when your sitting in sacrament!!!

If you think your husband is going to be a superhero helper…think again! Even though he SAYS he will help out…it’s not going to happen until you provide him with a DETAILED LIST….and nag him over and over until he FINALLY does it…but not because he really wants to…because he wants to get to MOM-ster off his back!!! AND when your child is old enough to nag in your place…I highly recommend it!

Teaching your child the word NO is the biggest challenge EVER! No matter how many times you repeat it…or how serious you are when you say it….they ALWAYS find a way to test your limits!!!

Don’t buy every new toy that comes out….just because YOU want it for YOUR child….they are more content playing with an old flashlight or sitting in a laundry basket!

Yelling at your child does NOT work…it only makes things worse…AND when your child is old enough…say 3…they WILL yell BACK at you! TRY to talk in a nice, calm voice...I know it’s hard…but I’d rather NOT be the MOM that the neighbor hears having a screaming match with their 3 year old CHILD! And let’s remember that the spirit will probably RUN away literally…if it heard that!

Don’t stop coming to Sacrament just because your child is the crazy screaming one every Sunday (which I’m sure you’ve noticed mine!!!) Someday they will get it…and realize the importance of sitting reverently…even if you have to keep shoveling fruit snacks into their mouth the entire time!

If you are having a prayer before dinner….keep ONE eye open if possible…because you KNOW your child is probably sneaking bites of mashed potatoes well before the words AMEN are said!!!

Don’t make false promises to your child….if you don’t follow through with something…you will hear it over and over until you actually DO follow though with it….for example…Tristan gets a piece of gum when he goes to the bathroom…if for some reason I don’t feel like getting up to give it to him…he will ask me every 2-3 minutes until he actually gets it!!!

Listen to your child…carefully…because when they are 3…and your driving in the car trying your best to listen to a great song on the radio… they WILL say “Mom…your not listening to me”…”Listen to me”…and then you will feel really bad...and hearing about how he seen a BIG turkey out in a field for Daddy to shoot IS important!

Okay…I could go on and on…I learn new things daily from my little ones…but I’m not the only one learning! MY children are the ones who are learning from ME! As I think about my busy life…working full-time as a teacher, being the Primary President, having a husband that works full-time as an Accountant and “self-proclaimed” professional hunter….my kids NEED to be my TOP priority! I admit…there are many days that I slack on spending the time that I should with them…but I KNOW I need to be there for them! I need to play with them, read to them, laugh with them, sing with them, pray with them….

I am preparing children who will take the gospel of Jesus Christ into their entire world. I am preparing future fathers and mothers who will be builders of the Lord’s kingdom for the next 50 years. I will be strong and immovable and will NOT give up during difficult or discouraging times. I will teach MY children the ways of the truth.

Thank you for giving me this wonderful opportunity to speak today…I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Brinley is growing....

2009-05-11T16:58:00.001-07:00

I still haven't taken her for her 2 month check up LOL...things are very hectic...working full-time, managing 3 kids and being the Primary President! I wouldn't change it for the world though....everything is falling into place finally...and my Brinley girl is getting more and more chubby every day! She's looking just like Easton with her chubby cheeks!

Gator, Brinley's BF and Where's Easton?!

2009-04-20T15:29:00.000-07:00

Jimmy went in to get Tristan some PJ's and was in the bedroom forever! Well...he came out and said he thought Easton was GONE! He looked everywhere in his room and couldn't find him. He finally found him completely behind the door...sleeping on the floor...can you see him??? Barely huh?Brinley finally met her boyfriend Keagan. She looks so chubby compaired to him lol...how do you like her hand placement...how appropriate right? They are only 3 weeks apart!
I got to get a taste of Keagan's fiesty personality! This is my BFF Melissa and I was so excited to finally get a picture of us together!

I got a really good deal on a gator power wheels for the boys on Craigslist....so I woke Jimmy up on Thursday morning and said ...is there any chance you'd want to get it for them oh and can you go get it in Liverpool by 8am hahaha...luckily he said YES...and went and picked it up! He also said...don't complain that the kids have no summer clothes..and when you do...I'll say "your summer clothes are sitting out in the yard in the form of a gator". LOL :)

Easter part two...

2009-04-14T05:18:00.000-07:00

Brinley in her first Easter dress <3 We did a pinata this year...oh what fun! haha...they all tried soo hard to get the candy!

Our egg hunt....Hunter found the "golden egg" with $5 in it haha....it could have been warmer though!!! We froze!

Tristan wasn't so happy finding just 1/2 an egg haha!

Easter part one...

2009-04-14T05:02:00.000-07:00

All Tristan talked about was wearing a tie for Easter...so we compromised on jeans to go with their shirts and ties...can you say Justin Timberlake? lol!!!
The Easter bunny brought Tristan lots of goodies...he even got some fishing gear to go with Daddy!

Easton got some good stuff too :)

Tristan helped make his first Easter bunny cake!!! He was so excited...

More Bows...;)

2009-04-10T11:13:00.000-07:00

I JUST got these custom-made hair bands in the mail today!!! So...of course I had to put them on her and take some pics lol...I got 3..but only love 2..I LOVE them! On both of these the flowers are on a clip so you can take them off...or switch colors...cute!

7 weeks..

2009-04-10T07:24:00.000-07:00

Little Brinley...is first of all NOT so little anymore...she is 7 weeks old today...and look at those rolls starting! I try to distract you by putting a ginormous bow on her head!!! LOL..j/k :)...we love her lots!!! And we love her baby fat too!!! haha

From the old album LOL

2009-04-05T18:18:00.000-07:00

When we were re-doing our bathroom...this is what happened! HAHA Thank gosh we don't have many neighbors!!! Looking at this picture makes me feel SO old!!! Oh yeah...and PRE-KIDS...we were both SKINNY! :) Oh how I miss that!
Before Jimmy's hairline got too bad hahaha....oh and could mine get any flippin shorter!!!

Hair Bows..

2009-04-02T14:53:00.000-07:00

Easton can wear bows if he wants too lol...I can't wait to get Brinley's new hair bands I ordered....they are the ones with the giant flowers on them haha...the flowers are prob. bigger than her head lol :)

What a trip!

2009-03-29T11:53:00.000-07:00

Oh what a trip! Tristan and I went with Jimmy's sister Jenn and her son Jack to see Sesame Street Live...well I made the mistake of sitting both boys together in the car haha...what was I thinking? They faught the entire time..funny..but not really. So..we pulled off the exit and were headed to the civic center and there was a police check...I glanced at my inspection sticker...it was friggen due in FEB!!! I was so prepared to be ticketed...thank gosh..the guy didn't even notice and let us through! I was sooo lucky! So we got there...bought some over-priced stuff and headed to our seats...we were 6 rows from the stage...it was great! When the show began...the boys were sooo happy...and then Jack decided 20 min. into the show that he wanted to go home..after about 25 more min. of Jenn yelling and wrestling with Jack to actually stay...intermission came haha..I was like..should we go now? Thankfully...Jack pulled through intermission and was good for the rest of the show!

Welcome to the Jungle

2009-03-27T12:27:00.001-07:00

Easton got a bew "big boy" yesterday....well we needed some bedding for it so I took both boys today to Target. Tristan has Pottery Barn Kids bedding...and I don't have the money to spend $500 on Easton's bedding right now lol...so...I decided..I'll sell Tristan's stuff and use the money to get both of them matching bedding...anyhow..Target had some really cute boy themes...I wanted the sports quilt or I would even settle for the cars ones...but that

didn't happen! Tristan wanted the Jungle Animal one...so I thought..maybe he'd be more excited about going to bed if he got to pick it out! We ended up buying it and they were sooo excited to come home and make their beds! We had fun putting up those decals that peel and stick too! All I have to say is...why does it have to be so BRIGHT hahaha...oh well...it's a kids room...I want to paint...Amanda picked the color of the room because originally it was supposed to be Ryan's room...then it turned into Tristan's room because he didn't like sleeping upstairs alone! Oh well...for the time being it will work lol. Quite the print don't you think?

Poison Control...ahhh

2009-03-26T05:02:00.001-07:00

Last night at about 8pm (perfect timing...american idol was on!) I went into our laundry room/bathroom and saw a bottle of pepcid sitting on the counter OPENED! This part of the house if normally gated off from kids...but obviously on my travels in and out...Tristan snuck through. Well...I immediately went to Tristan (Easton couldn't pull that off...yet!) and he was clearly guilty. He refused to tell me if he ate any...needless to say there were 14 of the 25 pills missing. Luckily..Ryan and my Mom had taken around 8-9 and there were 11 left in the bottle...making about 5-6 missing! My heart seriously sunk..I was SOO scared...hey you never know what could happen when a child takes adult medicine..so I called poison control...they were great. The woman there asked me to read her the active ingredients...then she said don't worry...he could eat around 5 of them and you wouldn't even know...anything over that...he will start to get sick and vomit...fhew...what a relief hearing that was...I kept an eye on him all night...still paranoid...but he woke up this morning fine!

***My reminder to ALL parents....NEVER leave medicine on a counter...and put a child LOCK on your medicine cabinet...it's NOT safe there either....kids are smart...Tristan gets a stool and gets into my high kitchen cabinets all the time...he even opened Easton's baby tylenol and helped himself!!!

Picture Tag

2009-03-25T13:36:00.000-07:00

Okay...I just seen my tag on Aunt Di's blog LOL...so here's my 4th folder, 4th picture photo...it's of Amanda and our cousin Allisaundra at Amanda's bridal shower last July. It was at our house..we rushed soo much to get the inside semi-finished because our addition took longer than expected. I remember having the countertop installed like 4 days before it and having our plumber come the NIGHT before to hook up our sink...and...he got here at 7pm and didn't have the right parts!!! So I had to run to lowes before they closed to get another piece for the faucet! Nice I know! It was worth it though..we had a great turnout...we all crammed in here! It's not that interesting of a photo..sorry! But at least it's not a naked pic of one of my kids haha..:)

Zoo Trip

2009-03-25T13:13:00.000-07:00

We took our first zoo trip today...let's just say it was really cold when we got there so we decided to do the inside animals first....after it did warm up a bit...but all Tristan wanted to do was EAT lol...and of course his bag with snacks was in the car...so we did the outside animals in about 10 min...elephants and penguins were all we saw haha...I wasn't to impressed with our zoo...they need some more animals and the ones they have need to actually be out so we can see them! Oh well...the boys had fun anyhow! Tristan impressed me and said "look at the maccaw"....thanks to Go Diego...he knows some things lol
Easton just tried to stick his body through the fence...he was trying his hardest to get those birds!

Brinley was all tucked in her cozy seat...and I gotta get a better picture of her stroller haha...it's called "be fruitful" and it's got fruit printed all over it! Hopefully I'll never have to stick one of the boys in it...it would be embarrassing :)

Brinley Girl <3

2009-03-25T12:45:00.000-07:00

She's growing FAST...do you see those chubby arms lol...she'll be 5 weeks old on Friday...her newborn stage is officially over..now she's into 0-3 clothing too :( She loves her new mobile too..I finally went and got one..I decided to wait until she was actually starting to focus on things haha!

Baby Keagan pic..

2009-03-18T06:09:00.000-07:00

Well...here's Melissa & Josh's new little guy..Keagan..he's so cute!

More pictures

2009-03-16T13:39:00.000-07:00

Well..she shot over 150 pictures...so it was hard to choose my favorites lol :)

Amy Davis Pictures!!!

2009-03-16T13:29:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Kristin :) we had our pictures done with Amy Davis today!!! She did an awesome job..seeing how my kids were DONE after the first few shots lol...you can view ALL the photos online if you want...the site is http://photographybyamy.smugmug.com/ and we are client proof # 402. I am planning on going back for some fun girly shots of Brinley when she's a little bigger!

Family Pics

2009-03-15T13:47:00.000-07:00

Yesterday at Hunter's (Jimmy's little brother) birthday party, we took a few pictures. It ended up being after the kids ran around like crazy playing and they did NOT want to sit for anything lol...here's out "best" shot together. (Notice the candy in both boys hands...curtiousy of Grandma Kent!)Here is a picture of all the "Kent" grandchildren..from left to right...Tristan, Brinley, Jack (Jenn's boy), Easton, Xander & Keaton (both Jesse's boys). Poor Brinley is the ONLY girl...<3
So here's the story of how they are all SO close in age haha... Jimmy's sister Jenn was pregnant with Jack ...(born Oct 05)..then Jesse's wife Chyrstal got pregnant with Xander..(born also in Oct 05)...I can't remember if Jack or Xander was born first?? Anyhow...then I got pregnant with Tristan ..(born Dec 05)..so all three of us had BOYS! Then...almost 2 yrs. later...I got pregnant with Easton..(born Sept 07) & Chrystal got pregnant with Keaton..(born Oct 07)...and yes..both BOYS again...and this last pregnancy was JUST me...with Brinley..(born Feb 09)...
I hope that wasn't too confusing lol..I'm soo hoping that Jenn decides to have ONE more baby <3....and hopefully it's a girl so Brinley can have a buddy...but if not..then I will probably have ONE more...if I can..I would LOVE to...but we'll see how things go with the healing process and my scaring. =)..OR I can try to talk Jenn into being my surrogate ;)...

Like Father, Like Son?

2009-03-12T14:16:00.001-07:00

Every time Tristan has to poop, he HAS to turn the fan on in the bathroom like Daddy. Well, recently I've heard him talking to himself in the bathroom..so today I grabbed my camera and this is what I saw...Tristan reading a hunting magazine..again..just like his Daddy!!! I thought "you've got to be kidding me!" And this is what Easton does EVERY time he goes into the bathroom...he grabs the toilet brush like it's his JOB!
Tristan got his hair cut today! I was SO proud of him...he sat all by himself and I was in shock! My little man is growing up! (Plus he was bribed with a jolly rancher candy lol)

Look who's in the baby vibrator seat....yeah that's the wrong kid! haha. :)

Another BABY born!!!

2009-03-11T16:08:00.000-07:00

Today my best friend from high school had her first baby!!!! A sweet baby boy named Keagan, weighing 8lbs. 4oz. CONGRATULATIONS Melissa and Josh!!!!!!! Unfortunately I don't get to see him in person until later this summer..Josh is playing baseball and is in Florida for a while :(

I'll post a pic when I figure out how to!!!

<3

2009-03-09T16:39:00.000-07:00

I just can't stop taking pictures haha...now I need to get some of my BOYS because I feel bad LOL :)..

2 weeks old tomorrow :)

2009-03-05T13:25:00.001-08:00

I just can't stop dressing her up LOL...all I do is sit home everyday...but Tristan insists on picking out her outfits..and everyday she has to have a bow haha...so she'll be 2 weeks old tomorrow. We go to Dr. Trust in the morning..so I'll update with her weight after!!! She's still a peanut though. ****UPDATE: She now weighs the huge amount of 7lbs. 2oz. :)****

Time for church <3

2009-03-02T04:48:00.001-08:00

Well, let's just say this is the BEST shot I got out of 5 haha...it's not easy getting both boys to look at the cameras :) AND..my hair is blah...I went to the hair salon to get it colored...and I chickened out LOL...so I'm stuck with really dark hair...ahhhh..plus I wanted long layers...and I got short ones instead...oh well..thank gosh hair grows!

Blessing Day

2009-03-02T04:41:00.000-08:00

Brinley was blessed yesterday at church by her Daddy. Her cousin Koby (Austin & Crystal’s handsome guy) was also blessed with her. I heard that Koby was going to be blessed, so I thought it would be nice if we did them together. Tristan & Rileigh were blessed together when they were little too! We should have planned Easton’s blessing with Tyler LOL…;) Anyhow, it was such a wonderful day for them and for our families. Unfortunately, we didn’t get ANY pictures at church with her…my bad! So, we’ll have to put that white dress back on her and do it next Sunday haha..and we never got her and Koby’s picture together…see what happens when you have 3 kids…;)

Pirates!!!

2009-02-27T07:55:00.000-08:00

Tristan & Easton's new favorite thing to do....be pirates and fight each other lol...the brother stages have began! Big brothers...their little sister is 1 week old today :)

<3 More Brinley <3

2009-02-25T06:05:00.000-08:00

Brinley's first headband shot haha....hey...at least her eyes are open!!! Brinley went to Dr. Trust for her first visit..she was 4 days old...the doctor said.."you're out already?" LOL...Tristan also got checked out...he's just got a cold...thank gosh!
They are already fighting for "Nana's" attention!!!

More pics of our little girl <3

2009-02-22T14:46:00.000-08:00

After she ate, we put her right in her swing and she fell right asleep. Tristan and Easton ran right up to her when we got home...it was such a sweet moment <3

We got to come home a day early :)...we were finally on our way on Sunday afternoon..about 2pm. I can't take credit for the hat with her name on it...little Koby had one and I LOVED it...;)

Tristan gave Brinley the presents he brought for her...he was so proud.

Grandma Drake, Tristan and Brinley!!!