FIVE

Cole Man turns 5 years old today. Wow. Its hard to put my thoughts and feelings about this boy into words. Every mom says it I know, but really where did the time go? My dad used to say "the days and the weeks drag, and the years fly". It has been a very conscious decision of mine to really try to enjoy the moments with my little ones cause they really do grow up too fast.


This boy is incredible. He was spirted right from the start. A very independent guy, but also one who loves people and to be social. He's totally happy sitting at the computer playing on his favorite websites for a long time, but then wants to go fight battle droids with light "savers" with Ty or I after a while. Loves his friends, his stuffed dog Max/Butterball ( he was Max forever, then about 2 weeks ago, he changed his name to Butterball.) He loves his little brother so much, and is best buds with his Daddy. My favorite time of day is when he snuggles up to me while I sing him to sleep. (Although lately, he hasn't wanted a song to fall asleep to, "just lay by me mom". ) Nothing better than that.

Started loving guitars at 2 years old, and hasn't stopped. Seeing him "play" the guitar, ( or gun-guitar, row-guitar, bat-guitar, fly swatter-guitar, or even just air guitar ), is a REAL treat. When he gets to play guitar hero, at Jake and Colleens, or at Peter Piper, its pretty amazing. Those who have seen it are pretty impressed. He also loves Star Wars, reading 3 letter and silent "e" words, school, riding his bike, playing baseball, ( he can hit a pitched ball FAR! Starts T ball soon, and I am afraid he's going to be bummed that the ball doesn't get pitched to him! ), the beach, swimming, The list goes on!

Cole has been wanting another "real" dog. Our good friends the Shumways were wanting to find a new home for this puppy, Cuba. ( or Butterball, Sam, Buddah, B-dawg, Mud Bud, Max, Speedy, Cole has yet to decide what we are calling this doggy...He changes every 5 minutes...) So here he is. The doggy loves Cole, and Cole couldn't be happier.


We had his birthday party yesterday, and I'll do post about it soon....
Happy 5th Birthday Cole! WE LOVE YOU!

YODIPITY!

So I am really going to start trying to blog more. I think I stress about having events be what I blog about. But I think I'm going to lessen the blog stress in my head, and just blog about whatever for heavens sake... So last week I went to the newly opened "Yodipity" here in our neighborhood. It was high time we had a yogurt shop close to us. I am somewhat of a "yogurt snob", being pretty picky about my yogurt places. But even with the things I don't like about it, I do give it a big thumbs up!

Likes:
-lots of flavors to choose from including fat free, sugar free, low fat, fruity flavors and chocolatey flavors too...
-the shop itself is bright and friendly. Its just fun to walk into.
-Last week they were running a grand opening special, so if you bought a gift card,they'd double it in value! I bought a $50 card, that is worth $100! Half off! Love it. And it should last me a while.
-They also have this texting system that if you sign up, by texting, they send you all kinds of specials and discounts.
Dislikes:
-I REALLY don't like "do it yourself yogurt". It never looks pretty when I do it, (and thats important to me!)
-I always end up giving myslef more than I planned on having... (at other yogurt shops, they make it and I know the exact points I'll spend on my treat before I walk in there...)
-Their cups are ginormis, so my little 6-8 ounces of yogurt looks like a spoonful of yogurt in this huge cup.

But all in all, YEA FOR YODIPITY! EVERYONE GO TRY IT! Its at Riverview in Mesa.

More Catching up, MORE CHRISTMAS PICS!

What a wonderful Christmas 2009 was! The boys were so much fun. Magic was everywhere!

The kids got to go in Grandma Dar's van and do her Christmas Eve Neighborhood deliveries!

Our Brink Family shirts this year said, "Mom never says no!" and "Grandma never says no!"


On Christmas Eve, when we went to do our last 12 days of Christmas delivery, the family we were doing left this Thank You sign. Cole was so cute about it! (we never told them it was us, but they may know now if they check our blog!)

Bo in his Elmo Christmas P.J's.


Cole in his Star Wars Christmas P.J.'s.


Christmas Eve!!!

Santa did a good job eating the cookies we left him!

Santa came! 2 blue light "savers" and a bike for Cole Man!

Presents from Santa for Bo Boy!




Every year Ty writes me the most beautiful letter for Christmas. I laugh and cry, its just
the absolute best. This year my letter said, "Press Play". He had made me the most wonderful
video of us and our married and family life... He is incredible!


Here is me watching my beautiful Christmas video. Ahhh.

Of course we had to get Cole ANOTHER guitar!




Ty and I have the best "gift system". Every birthday or Christmas, I give Ty plenty of specific, detailed instructions of what I want from where and how much it costs. I send him picture texts, and drop all kinds of hints. Well, the cool thing is, I totally forget what I tell him. And so when he ends up getting what I had asked for, I end up saying, "how did you know I would love this!?" He says, "you told me to get you that....!" I having totally forgotten that I had done this, feel SO proud of my awesome gift giving man! ( So aparently this necklace was one that I specifically asked for and told him where to get it from. I don't recall that at all, but I love it! Oh, and the bracelet, he picked this one out all by himself!)


Oh, look closely, I made TY cry this year!



Cole, ( well really Ty ) got me this great ring!


Cole's tag for this new coat said, "lets go to the snow!" He was so excited!


A new trampoline!!



Cole on his new bike!

Yea for a wonderful Christmas 2009!

FINALLY... blogging Christmas 2009

The Christmas season of 2009 was wonderful. Here are a few highlights from it...


Temple Lights!







Christmas Sunday.



Christmas Deliveries for the 12 Days of Christmas.


More Christmas festivity pictures to come!

Highlights of 2009

Tyler said, "So since you didn't do a Christmas letter this year, and you're putting our blog on our card, you should probably do a recap of 2009 post instead. Great idea honey!

So here's our top ten great things about 2009. In no particular order.

Cole, 4 years old:
10: still loving guitars and some serious rockin out. He can harmonize too.

9: Star Wars has become his latest favorite thing. Calls his light saber a light SAVER.

8: Started a pre school program this year called MELP. He LOVES it. He's sounding out words and reading so well already. And is just too grown up.

7: favorite restaurant of 2009: Wendys. Chicken nuggets.

6: thinks little brother Bowen is the coolest, funniest kid ever. They really are best buddies.

5: loves baseball, and can hit a pitched ball.

4: saw snow for the first time. Loved it.

3: saw us in Beauty and the Beast 7 times this summer and was ADORABLE. He cheered and laughed louder than anyone in the audience. He called Grandma Dar his "show buddy" cause they'd come together to the show.

2: loves being in Music Makers, performed solo's and can really ham it up.

1: is the most amazing 4 year old ever.

Bowen, 20 months old:
10: gave up his bear crawl and started walking a couple months before he turned one.

9: loves to be in the kitchen "helping" us cook.

8: says "hi" and waves to everyone.

7: loves shoes. He calls it "Halloweeee".

6: runs so cute. Almost like he doesn't bend his knees.

5: loves Baby Einstein and Elmo.

4: Cole is his best friend. He loves it when its time to pick Cole up from school each day.

3: when you ask him for kisses, he leans over and gives you his cheek to smooch over and over.

2: every time we play "light savers" with Cole, he wants one too.

1: is the most amazing almost 2 year old ever.

Linsey:
10: still teaching private voice lessons and music theater groups. Feels so blessed to get to LOVE what pays the bills.

9: performing in the Price of Freedom and Beauty and the Beast were big highlights of the year.

8: LOVES TYLERS HAIR LONG. So there.

7: celebrated 7 years of wedded BLISS this summer!!! Being married to your best friend is incredible.

6: became a life time member of Weight Watchers. The BEST weight loss program ever!

5. tried sushi. Never again.

4: Went to Austin Texas this year, visiting our dear friends Jamie and Gina. A real treat!!!

3: Two trips to Utah in two weeks. Price of Freedom first, then DROVE to see Bailee's show. Hate that drive. Loved the show. Worth it? OH YAH.

2: About 6 months ago, Cole started asking for me to sing him to sleep. Always the best part of my day.

1: a wonderful year. This is a wonderful life.

Tyler: (30 years old FINALLY, by the way...) These are his words...

10: No longer driving to Tucson every week. If it wasn't for MaryLou and her hospitality I'm pretty sure I would not have survived that year.

9: Passed my first clinical competency exam... one more to go.

8: The humbling experience of doing the Mesa Easter Pageant. Everyone should have the experience to feel and learn what I got to experience this year. The best is that I convinced Linsey to join me for the next year.

7: Seven years of marriage to the love of my life and the woman who challenges, supports and loves me EVERYDAY

6: Watching Linsey play "Belle," the part she was born to play.

5: Going to Utah with Linsey to do Price of Freedom. Later driving to Utah and playing with Cole in his first snowball fight.

4: Seeing Jamie and Gina in Texas, and eating Gina's incredible potato salad. I dream of Gina and potato salad... Mmm.

3: Going on Cole's first field trips, including taking the whole family to the zoo. Yes Linsey, this is making my top ten moments of the year. I LOVED the zoo :)

2: Performing for Gilbert's Constitution Week. People may not know that this hair not only comes in handy for the Easter pageant, but also to play the role of Francis Scott Key.

1: Each day I come home to two amazing boys running to the door, with their beautiful mother trailing behind. What a reminder everyday to try a little harder, and love a little better. Can't wait to see what next year brings!

Merry Christmas

Bring on 2010!

Trips to Utah!

We went to Utah two weekends in a row last month. The first we were flown up to do a performance of "The Price of Freedom" with a private school in American Fork. It was SO fun! We stayed with the amazing Melissa Wright in her beautiful home in Ceder Hills. We got to see Bailee for a BIT on Sunday... Good times! Here are a couple pictures of Ty and I after the performance.


Here's Jenee and I posing in our hats... not sure what this is all about...


Here's Ty, Bay and I in front of Melissa's amazing house. Check out that gorgeous door!

The very next weekend, Ty said, "lets jump in the car tonight and drive to Utah to see Bailee's show." It was totally spontanious, we were possibly going to go with the whole fam, but Ty really wanted to go this weekend before finals came up. So we hopped in the car and went! My mom came along too. It was the first time the boys had ever seen snow! What fun!




Bailee was AMAZING in her show "Children of Eden" as Mama Noah, the audience clapped forever after her song. The people on stage just stood frozen waiting for them to stop clapping. Bravo sis


Cole was so cute watching the show. He was so proud of his auntie Bailee!

Saturday we got all bundled and drove to an area in Provo where there was a good amount of snow. Ty and Cole had so much fun throwing snowballs at eachother!







Snow is so romantical.


While we played in the snow, Bo slept in the car.


We went to dinner with Bay and some of her friends and our friends Josh and Sabrina ( they were SO awesome to watch Bo both nights while we went to the show. ) Glad to get this picture with mom in it.


Cole wanted in on the fun.


Bo loved his gloves and mittens, calling them "Hall o weeee", any time you put any item of clothing on him, he thinks its Halloween...