Christmas at our House

This year we had Christmas at our house. We spent Christmas with the Stilson's this year and Jeremy's parents came for Christmas Eve & Morning.  

 Brielle was very excited for her gifts. Once she got the hang of this spinning disc her grandparents got her, she couldn't get enough. Even with food in her mouth!

This is defintely not my greatest picture for early mornings, but it was the best shot we got. Brielle didn't want to pause from playing with her toys long enough for a picture.

Brielle asked for a Shopping Cart w/ eggs & a purse and a baby with a bottle for Christmas. She must have been good, because Santa got just what she asked for. She was a happy girl! Her snowflake jammies she opened on Christmas Eve as her first gift to open.

Close to Home Lights

These are not the best pictures and really don't do these lights justice, so you'll just have to use your imagination. But these are the new holiday decor and lights at our local mall-Valley Fair Mall. It is the most run down mall in the state and not a mall we are prowd to call our own, but they ae remodeling it and someday it will hopefully be the mall we would like to shop at. Since Brielle and I weren't able to see the lights downtown we went over to check these out and were pleasantly surprised! All the trees light up & change as different music is played outside.  

Brielle stood on the fountain to watch the show.

We were very happy with the lights they have put together this year. It was a fun night out!



Our First Snowchild

Even though we didn't have as much snow as we'd like. We had plenty enough to make two little snow children. One for us and one for our neighbor Judy. I had to use the snow shoveled off of the driveway to make the snowchild too. Brielle loved our snowman. She made sure everyone who came to our house saw him/her. Not that you would miss it anyways.

Unfortunately the temperature out side was pleasantly warm so the raisins we used for the mouth slid right off. The nose did too the next day.



Random cute pics of Brielle

Waiting for dinner. PS I really do do her hair, but she takes it out at nap.

Getting ready for church.

Our Strong Little Girl!

Saturday was a nightmare, one that keeps replaying over and over again in my mind. It started out as a normal Saturday with cleaning and straightening the house. Jeremy decided to leave and go Christmas shopping (he finally figured out that Christmas Eve is not the best time to start Christmas shopping). I thought it was a good idea to run some errands too while he was gone, but Brielle didn't think it was a good idea. She wanted to stay home in jammies and play with her toys all morning. But being the mean mom that I am, I got her dressed & we were out the door-even against the mother's intuition telling me to stay home. I had my route all planned out. 4 stores in the agenda. I even thought I could possibly finish all my Christmas shopping that day. The day had other plans for us. First stop; the new Nike Outlet. I got Brie out of the car and into her stroller and we rushed into the store. It was a breezy cold day! I started my shopping and soon found my items and stood in the line to checkout-surprisingly short. Just as I was being rung up Brie stood up in her stroller & asked for a treat. I was surprised to see her not buckled, but figured we were just about to leave so no need. I told her she could have a treat if she would sit down and I turned to sign for my purchase. Bam!! I turned around to see Brielle face down on the cement floor with her stoller tipped over and her screaming. I picked her up off the floor to find blood all over her face and hands. Tears welled up in my eyes and scared emotions filled me. All the people around me rushed to get towels, bandaids, tissue-anything to help. I kept thinking she had busted out her teeth or bitten her tongue off, but I was wrong & I could not find the source of the blood. A gentleman behind me said he thought it was her chin. Sure enough the bottom of her chin was cut & gaping open. I cleaned her off the best I could & put on a band-aid, while the cashier gathered my things and we rushed to my car. On the way to the car Brielle stopped crying long enough to tell me she needed a drink. Good sign I thought, & who cold blame her with all that blood in her mouth. I called Jeremy to meet us at InstaCare and we drove quickly there. As soon as we stepped into the doctor's office I lost all control of my emotions. The nurse mentioned it is usually harder on the mom's than the child. And it was true for the most part. Brielle is terrified of the doctor's office, but this day she was calm and did just as they said. She wasn't crying, but I was, or at least for a bit. Jeremy came shortly after and they prepped her for stitches. Brielle received 7 stitches to her chin. She was very bave through the surgery. Just before I asked the nurses to look in her mouth as it had started to bleed again. They said they would during the surgery, but forgot and I forgot to remind them. Later that night when Jeremy was helping her brush her teeth he noticed that both sidesof her tongue were cut all the way through. Two flaps of tongue on each side. With the ibuprofen we had given her she didn't seem in much pain & decided if it still hurt in the morning we would take her back in. Thankfully the tongue is the fastest healing muscle and she was back to eating her favorite...tomato soup and grilled cheese, the next day. Here are the battle wounds- 

 small smile, but we'll take it! Dad unfortunately took this pic while eating. You get food face too!



Hard to see here, but there are two red lines on each side of her tongue.

Our strong little girl the next day. Still smiling!

I definitely learned my lesson. I will ALWAYS buckle Brielle in her stroller/shopping cart even before going into the store whether it is cold and snowing or windy and rainy. I cringed today when I saw a little boy about to fall out of a shopping cart at Target today. I almost went up to the mother and said, "Look at my daughter. This is what happens to kids that fall out and that is if you are lucky." I didn't but kept a close eye on him instead. I hope she doesn't learn it the hard way like I did. I hate that Brielle is paying for my mistake.

Today when we went to the mall and I asked if she wanted to go in her stroller she said, "I won't fall down mom. Mom, did it break your heart?" I said yes & she replied "It broke my heart too."

Christmas Tree Traditions

Brielle and I were all smiles to be in the snow covered mountains finding our Christmas Tree. It was a tradition for both Jeremy and my family's growing up to get a permit to cut your own tree down the weekend of Thanksgiving. This is a tradition we are carrying on to our own family now too!

Isn't this tree the most perfect, personally cut tree you have ever seen!!?? Jeremy picked it out and I am so proud of him! Good thing it was his idea too since he had to climb down a hill to cut it and then drag it up and out! It is more work that you'd think.

The Stilson's



Me, Brielle, Jeremy, Kara, Brandon, Sharron & Ed

So much to be Thankful for!

We spent Thanksgiving in Spanish fork with Jeremy's sister Kim, her family and Jeremy's parents. It was a quiet Thanksgiving with only 12 in attendance, but I think it was practically perfect in every way! Less stress and very relaxing. I am sure Kim (the cook) was thinking otherwise. Thanks Kim for a wonderful day!!

(this isn't the best picture, with the shadows and all, but I love it still!)

Finders Keepers

Unfortunately this hunting season wasn't a successful one for Jeremy, but while hunting with cousin Todd, Todd came across a pair of moose sheds. These pictures don't quite do them justice. They weigh a ton and are pretty impressive in person. Jeremy would love to have them mounted on our wall, but finders keepers.

Winter Wonderland

I love it when everything is covered in white! It is so beautiful!

Brielle loves to play in the snow too!!

Trigger & Brighton can't get enough of it!

It's the most wonderful time of the year...Fall!!!

There is nothing more fun in the fall than to pile up the leaves and jump in! It was one of few Saturdays that I didn't have hair to do, so we all headed out to do some yard clean-up before the cold. Brielle and I had fun while Jeremy cleaned up after us.

 Brielle loves to jump! Add some leaves and it was even more fun! 

We threw leaves and rolled in them. Burried each other! Great fun!

It was the most perfect fall day!! Too bad it didn't last . I guess that is what they say, All good things must come to an end. Monday we woke up to snow covered leaves. Saturday was the third time we have raked and cleaned up the leaves but I guess the trees aren't done shedding yet. At least we got to have some fun with them before they got soaked! Jumping in leaves...check! Next on the list, decorate for Christmas!! Can't wait! but Jeremy said not yet, so I guess we will have to wait. At least until we cut down our tree at Thanksgiving time.

Play time with Daddy

Play time with Daddy usually always involves the piano. Brielle loves to get on and play around. It is on at least once every day. She dances to the music it plays or just pushes the keys til it drives her mommy crazy.

Brielle is growing up so fast. Someday she will hopefully really be able to play that piano. She looks so much older in these pictures than the little girl I play with all day. And yeah, her hair is finally growing!!! A hairstylist mother's dream is to have a little girl to do her hair! So excited!!!

Too bad Brielle has such sensitive skin. Now that the weather is cold, her face gets so dried out and she breaks out in rashes all around her mouth. I really do wash her face, this is not food you are seeing around her lips. Poor girl! Good thing she loves lotion!

Happy Halloween!

After our rainy Trunk or Treat at the church we headed to the mall to snag some more candy...bad idea!! Long lines and crazy crowds for a measley 3 pieces of candy. Lesson learned- we will never do that again.

Because of the rain Brielle decided she didn't want to be Tinker Bell & instead wanted to be the horse costume her aunty Heather gave her to play in. I was very happy not to have a cold Tink to carry around all night! Brielle loved Halloween! She is already telling me each day what she wants to be for Halloween next year. Maybe she will get into the spirit of Halloween like her parents! Great fun!

A Spooktacular Party!!

This year we have 3 parties we are invited to as well as Halloween with our ward Trunk or Treat. It is a busy couple of weeks, but we are excited to get all dressed up for some fun nights out!

Brielle getting her sparkles on for he Tinker Bell costume.
She isn't quite sure who is behind the camera...daddy or Gus Chickens!

Let me introduce you to Gus Chickens aka Jeremy
If you have seen the SNL skit with Will Ferrell you know the name.
But to everyone else he is the old prospector off Toy Story.

Oh Ricky!!!
I have always wanted to be Lucy & this year I was able to pull it off.
No luck with Jeremy being my Ricky though!

Nanny McPhee & the host of our party, Lanette Turcsanski
Thanks to all the Turcsanski family for hosting such a grand party!
We had a blast!

The little kiddies in their costumes!

Thanksgiving Point with the Girls (& Jonathan)

Cousin & BFF, Michelle & her family came to town last week. We decided to spend our afternoon with her and her kids at Thanksgiving Point. We knew it would be fun for the kids to see the petting zoo they have.

Emery, Jonathan, Bailey & Brielle

Yes, this is the 3rd week Brielle has ridden a pony. She can't get enough of them!
Our cute little cowgirl!

Michelle had to walk around with Emery, which also made her very dizzy!

The wagon ride! They were so excited! Emery didn't want to get off when the ride was over. Poor thing!

Mommy & Brielle!

This turkey was definitely dressed to impress. It kept walking in circles trying to impress us girls!
Looks full & fluffy -ready for Thanksgiving I think!

The horses were the favorite of all the animals. They would eat the corn right out of our hands!
But watch your fingers-they eat those too!

Heather & Jonathan petting the big black horse!

Here piggy piggy!

After looking at all the animals the kids played in the jailhouse.

The girls danced while Jonathan looked out all the windows.

It was such a fun day! We would love to have Michelle live closer so our girls could play together more often. Brielle talks about Bailey and Emery each day! She misses them so much! She'll have to wait til Christmas when they come to visit again. Another reason why we can't wait for Christmas!