Brielle & Elmo

Everyday Brielle and I read books. It is one of her favorite activities, if it doesn't mean nap or bedtime. Every other week we go to the library for the toddler class and exchange our books. When I read to Brielle she usually sits on my lap as we read. This day Brielle decided she was "mommy" and wanted to read to Baby Elmo. It was so cute I had to have her freeze while I grabbed the camera. I love how her lap isn't big enough to hold both Elmo and the book so she uses her legs too. She can't read, but she knows most of the stories good enough that she can retell it in her own words. Today it was Princess and the Frog.

Happy Harvest!

We have been busy doing a lot of fun things this October. Let me catch you up on all the latest events. Last week Brielle and I went with Kim Turcsanski & kids to the Tooele Pumpkin Walk. There were games and other fun things to do for the kids as well as many decorated pumpkins and craft booths. We had a really fun time! Even though Brielle was a little emotional that day as you can see in the picture below.

the Not-so-happy Scarecrow (Brielle) & the pumpkin, Camryn. 

This year the youth in our ward put together a fun Halloween party for the primary. Brielle is one of the only kids in nursery without an older sibling in Primary so we tagged along too. I was planning on Brielle being a black cat this year. Still thinking she is too young to really decide for herself what she wanted to be. Boy was I wrong! when I showed Brielle the picture of the cat costume I was going to try and recreate, she said "No, I don't want to be a kitty. I want to be Tinker Bell for Halloween!" Of course this is all the night before the party so thankfully I was able to use the black pants and shirt I had already bought for her new Tinker Bell/ fairy costume I ran out to get the day of the party. Brielle is growing up so fast. She looks even more grown up in these pictures. Guess my days of deciding her costume is over.

All ready for the party!

 Brielle with her best friends; Camryn & Parker

~Partners in Crime~

This is Tialer (Tyler) with Brielle.

Tialer was also the one who drank Tylenol with Brielle on that horrible day. But they are still great friends!

 Pumpkin Relay game at the party!

Jessica painting a spider on Brielle's cheek. The pink spider was also her choice!

After each group finished with the games and activities they met in a classroom for drinks and a movie.

Look at all the cute costumes!

Keep on Swimming, Swimming, Swimming

Today Brielle and I went to the Living Planet Aquarium with my friend Andrea (who was in Hawaii same time as me) and her daughter Hannah. It was so fun to catch up and see each other again after 7 years! Brielle was very excited to see Dori, Nemo, Marlin, Bruce & Crush & to meet a new friend, Hannah. She even watched Finding Nemo on the way to the aquarium. My favorite part is always the jellyfish & now the penguins! 

 unfortunately there was no one around to take our picture, so this is a nice close up.

Brielle and Hannah had a fun time following each other around. They are just 8 months apart. 

I had a hard time getting them both to look at the same time. 

"I want to ride a horsey!"

This is the phrase we have been hearing all weekend.

We went for a drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon, thru Guardsman's Pass & down to Park City Sunday morning, planning to see some horses, but with no luck.

So rain or shine I took Brielle today to Gardner Village to ride a horsey, pony!

 This was her pony Charlie. She kept saying "whoa Charlie!" She loved it so much that the second she got off she asked for it again, but we went for a walk thru the village instead. Next time we'll come & bring Daddy!

 "Hi Witch"~Brielle

She loved her big diamonds on her hands!

 Brielle was watching the witches dance round & round. The sunflowers behind her were so pretty!



~Our Little Pumpkin~ 

                          Brielle thought this was funny to see Shrek's wife dressed up as a witch!
                                            Looks like the frogs followed her from the swamp!

                                                       Taking a rest on the hay stacks!

 Hey!!!

                                                                      Peek-A-BOO!!



                                                I'll get you my Pretty, & your little dog too!

West Jordan Fire Dept. came to put out the fires the witches started. 

A Day at the Zoo.

 ~On the Train~

I have decided that this ride goes way to fast to enjoy the animals along the way.

But the bison did grunt and run along side which was one of the highlights of the day.

This is Brielle's "Cheese" face. We are still working on the genuine smile. 

 Aunty Heather & Best buddy Jonathan

 This elephant was hungry & kept banging its trunk on the door.

 Momma & Baby Zuri

 Brielle couldn't wait to ride the carousel!

 Her favorite animal is the panda right now, so of course that is what she picked to ride.

 See you later Alligator!!!

 Brielle & Johnny on the run. They loved having the freedon out of their strollers.

 Grape flavor burst ice cream cones are the best treat at the zoo!

Giant gorilla watching the people. 

 Brielle with the Gorilla statue & her new zoo hat.

I didn't come prepared for such a hot day!

(she kept telling me he had boobs!)

Jonathan wasn't so sure about getting close to the gorilla.

Overall it was a really nice day at the zoo.

Bottling up our Harvest Goodies.

One of Jeremy's favorite parts of going to Grandma & Pa Greenhalgh's house, is getting to have some of their yummy sweet pickles. So since this is the last year my grandparents will be having a garden, I thought I better learn how to make the yummy relish. I went to Nephi for a weekend to get the process down, since it is a two day process. A few weeks later my sister and I decided to give it a try.

First Day: Cutting all the veggies & adding them to the salt brine
(The pearl onions give your hands a great smell for days.
My husband wouldn't come close til the smell was gone).



Second day: adding the dry mustard and other savory ingredients



Heather and I with our finished product.
We were so proud that we did it on our own & only had to call Grandpa two times.

Now I have got the bragging rights with these in my pantry, or at least when it comes to Jolyn & Todd (cousins who love this delicious treat & have yet to learn how to make it) I guess I will share a bottle.

It's Raining Trees!

Yesterday was a sad day at our house. The neigborhood climbing tree, which happens to be in our front yard, was cut down! It has been dying over the last few years and with much sadness we decided it was time for it to come out. During the last big wind storm, we had about a month ago, the top half of the tree broke and fell into the street. I woke up from a Sunday nap & found 1/2 my tree in my driveway. Jeremy was gone hunting so the neighbors kindly moved it out of the road for us. Once the top half was gone and we noticed the split up the trunk, we decided the rest was going to have to come down. But silly boys decided yesterday had to be the day. Why silly you ask? Because it was pouring rain!! 


Before: View from our front porch

After: New view from our front porch



In Between: The first cut
Even the neighbors stopped to watch







Before cutting the rest, we had to let Trigger in the tree one last time.

Yes, we have a tree climbing dog. Too bad he isn't the dog that chases cats.



Savoring the moment



About to take the trunk down



Grandpa Stilson working on the limbs



Our neighbor Bob always lends a helping hand.

Jeremy cutting into the trunk.

Grandma Stilson & Brielle watching from the porch

We tied the tree to the truck & let it do the work.

TIMBER! (& barely missed Bob's mailbox)

More sawing, cutting & axing (in the rain)

Our new bare yard.

Oh & did I mention it was raining? Yes pouring!!!

Silly boys!