Blocks

Update

Brinley Mae is 21 months now, and continues to be a bundle of joy!  She is talking more and more each day, and one of her favorite things to do is retell stories (over and over again :)).  Other interests:  playing legos--stacking them together; pretending to go to bed (she could probably do this all day, although when it comes time to go to sleep, she never wants to); playing with her baby dolls--specifically putting them to bed, feeding them, taking them to the grocery store, and rocking them; helping Mommy cook; playing Ring Around the Rosie; and listening to the high school band.

Here are some pictures of Brinley over the last few months being Brinley!

Typical Brinley :)

Oh yeah...Karl and Emily had their 10 year high school reunion
a few weeks ago.  It was really fun to get to see people from high school...
although I wish more people had come!  It was even more special
that Karl AND I knew everyone since we went to school together.
Brinley is attempting a smile in this photo....even though it was a
fun date night for Karl and I--Brinley was home with a
babysitter--a FABULOUS babysitter...but still, she was sad to see us go.

Painting!  I've been reading up on some of my
early childhood education books from college.
Even though I probably could have gotten the
idea from pinterest, I like the idea that I'm still using
stuff from my college years :).  Brinley had fun painting
on the glass with flour and water :)--pretty simple :).
Cohort C, if you're reading, you'll have to check
out the art book from our crazy hello kitty art teacher--
some of those ideas are good!

Brinley re-told this story to me MANY times
each morning at breakfast about how we painted
the door and Daddy saw it when he came home :).

My little cook!  Brinley helped me make the Halloween sugar
cookies!  She had fun mixing the dough and cutting it out!

Brinley even got to eat the finished product!!

It's hard to tell, but she is eating a cat (of course) that she made.

It turns out, Brinley also LOVES cake!  Brinley hasn't had any cake
since her first birthday (and actually she didn't eat any that day).
I made a cake for Mimi's birthday and Brinley was running around
the house screaming "MIMI CAKE" "YUMMY" the whole morning.
When we finally got to eat it, she was pleased that it was as good as it
looks.  This is also something she still talks about :).

Dressing up in some big-girl shoes.

Brinley's hair has gotten so long (and actually our
house is so chilly), that at night after bathtime,
I dry Brinley's hair with the hair dryer--she
LOVES it :).

NO worries, Brinley's not sick.  She just LOVES
to pretend to go to sleep.  She's in her house shoes
with a blanket wrapped securely around her--this
isn't how she goes to sleep at night, but when she
pretends to sleep, this position is one of her favorites :).

Soon, we'll post a video of Brinley building with her legos!

Trip to Dallas

Brinley and I went to Dallas for a week last week!  Dallas is where both my sister and Karl's sister lives (to make things more confusing, they are both Lauras!)  We had a great time with the "Lauras" and families, and even though we are so happy to be home to Karl, we miss Dallas (and everyone there) like crazy!!!  Here are some fun moments from the trip!

Jackson's school bus!  If you look closely, you can
see Jackson getting off the bus after a full
day of kindergarten!  We're so proud of you Jackson!!

Jackson's 4-wheeler!  Pretty awesome!

Anna having a turn too!

Anna's pink, Barbie jeep!  Somehow we never got a good photo
of Brinley and Anna in the car, but Anna was super sweet to
share the jeep with Brinley.

No worries, B didn't actually drive the jeep by herself, but she
enjoyed pretending that she was driving.  I never did
get a good photo of her facing forward :).

Brinley is borrowing the neighbor's car to take a drive in something
she's a little more comfortable in :).

Jackson is helping Brinley learn how to get some speed when
she drives....

More driving

 

We got to eat lunch with Jackson at school!  What a treat!
Jackson's school is really nice and Jackson does a great job
of following all of the cafeteria rules!  It definitely didn't make me miss
teaching kindergarten, but I do wish that I could have a room full
of Jacksons in my kindergarten class.

After lunch, all the kids were cleaning up and
preparing to go out to the playground...
Brinley was ready to join everyone!
She looks so big here!

So...this might be the true reason that I went to Dallas....

This is Honey, and she is the greatest dog ever--she's a cross
between the greatest dogs ever known--Chardonnay, Champagne, and Bear,
Kaella, and Belle. She is extremely well-behaved....and only gets on the couch
late at night to snuggle--what a perfect dog!

Somehow she doesn't shed either....
hopefully Karl and I get this lucky one day!  :)

Going to the park with Aunt Lala--we had great weather!

Anna and Brinley did a great job of fixing Aunt Lala's hair

Brinley was REALLY into using Anna's pretend hairdryer.

Matching outfits!

Out to dinner!

Another day at the park!

Jackson learned how to climb a tree!

Anna is very focused on her painting :).

Trying to keep Brinley busy while I shower....

Snuggling with Uncle Mike

Cousin Jonas at the park!

Having a fun time swinging with Kara at the park!

I have to admit I was hoping to meet my new niece or nephew when I was in Dallas....
but that's okay, we're just happy that Laura and baby are healthy :)...and we
are looking forward to the arrival of Brinley's new cousin!
We love you guys!

 Thank you to the Manes for letting us live with you for a whole week--we absolutely loved it!!  So fun to spend time with the Petries too--and best wishes with the new baby!
Can't wait to see everyone soon!