Dishes, Dishes

Tuesday after Christmas I ended up with a horrible migraine! When Chris got home not a thing had been done {good thing I had stayed up the night before to get all my cleaning done! I had hoped to get some organizing done that day... oh well!} so he made dinner. Then he and Brenna made brownies together. Then he was cleaning the kitchen and Brenna goes running in there, " I want to wash the dishes! I want to help!" So Daddy rolled up her sleeves and pant legs, pulled up a chair, filled up the sink with soapy water, and let her loose! I would hear "Hear you go Daddy!" and "Ok Brenna, what should I load up next?" It was incredibly sweet! Does the heart good to see them together! And we will enjoy Brenna liking to do the dishes {i wish i could write it the way she says it! it is soooo cute!} for as long it lasts! ;)

Thank you Daddy and Brenna! You both are too good to me! XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO!

Christmas Day

Since our main Christmas celebration was on Christmas Eve {see below} we had a very relaxing day. We went over to visit the Waites and had a wonderful visit {I didn't get a single picture though... so bumbed about that!}. Brenna just loves Grandma Waite's tree and candy canes! ;)

We spent the majority of the day playing Wii {oh boy was I sore, but hey I did knock out my boxing opponent within 30 seconds a few times in a row and I got a -1 my first round of 9-hole golf!} It was so fun! Brenna got this leap frog Click Start game. I had too much fun getting pictures of her playing her game still in her jammies {she had just woken up} her hair was all over the place, and she was wearing her glasses. I just had to post them!

I love this one! It is a face of uttmost concentration! Haha! That mouse is hard to work! ;)

Ok... so right after we played leap frog we went in to wake up Aunt Nanna! These next pitures are priceless and if I can figure out how to post the video, I will! My Grandma is so silly and for the second year in a row she has given Angela and I one sock each from a pair. So Brenna wanted to wear them . She gets them on {with some help} and goes, "Wook at my teeny-tiny duck toes!" It was so funny watching her play with them and try to walk in them and talking about her teeny-tiny duck toes over and over!

Oh she is so much fun!!!

Christmas 2009

I can't believe Christmas has already come and gone! Where did it go! We went up to visit our parents for Christmas. The way up was rough. The alternator went out on our way up a hill, not fun. Luckily, though, we were caravanning with my Sis and Bros. We had to charge the battery twice to make to Payson, and then we got to purchase a new one! Always what you want to send $200 around Christmas time on, right???  Anyway, we did eventually make it up there, and thanks to my brother's long time friend Aaron, we were able to get it fixed! Thank you so much Aaron!!!

With that behinds us, we had a wonderful Christmas! Brenna was so funny opening presents! Every time she would get the ribbon ripped off a gift, she would suck in a huge gasp and say all airy, "What is it?" So we would tell her to keep opening it up! She had such fun! And was completely spoiled! Thanks Mimmie! {wink}

She wanted this My Little Pony Baby so bad! She was so excited to open it up! And I love this picture of my dad! It is so rare to actually catch his silly side, but I love it so much when it happens. Brenna also got this little my little pony dress up doll where it has a couple plastic outfits and accessories. I think this is one of the tea cups you can clip to its leg. My dad is using as a ring to try to get a rise out of Brenna. He absolutely loves to ruffle her feathers!! ;)

Angela and Dustin Christmas Eve morning, our Christmas. Dustin had to work Christmas day for the 4th year in a row so we did Christmas one day early so he could be there!

Chris and Travis... still looking a little groggy!

My Grandma made Brenna this apron. She loves it! This is Brenna and Grandma Flo!

She adamently refuesed to get out of her Christmas jammies, but we did eventually get her hair done. Aunt Nanna did her hair. It look so cute!!!

Such a sweet girl!

Two incredible Beauties!!! Aunt Nanna and Brenna!

They should have had "Thing One" and "Thing Two" shirts, haha!

I hope you all had a peaceful and wonderful Christmas!

Christmas Traditions

We decorated the first Christmas tree in Dustin's house! It was so fun and it turned out so beautiful. Of course its beauty only lasted a short time as Brenna has been constantly UN-decorating the tree ever since! ;)  It was so cute that first night right after we finished. Brenna grabbed a branch and gently shook it like she was shaking its hand. Then while looking up at its star said sweetly, "Nice to meet ya, Chwistmas Twee!" We all had a good laugh at that one!

Brenna just loves everything about Christmas but her two absolute favorite things are the Christmas tree and Christmas lights galore!!! This whole last year and I do mean "whole" she has asked over and over again to go see the Temple Lights. We had taken her a couple of times during last years Christmas Season and she NEVER forgotten them! Of course she never forgets anything! I can't believe this girls memory! Anyway we have taken her to the Christmas lights twice this year and hope to do it at least once more, but we shall see.

We have  also taken little trips through neighborhoods when we can. It is so funny because she will exclaim with a long drawn out "Whoa!" everytime she see someones house that she particularly likes. Then she started up with "Lets all say whoa togeder!" So the three of us take in a big breath and say "Whoa" for as long as we can! She just thinks that is the funniest thing ever! I love her sweet smile, infectious laugh, and simple delights! It is so fun to experience Christmas, and just life through a child's eyes!

My little Tree Hugger! ;)

That is her "doggie tail" attached to her belt loop, by the way! =)

Finished Product! How many crazies does it take to decorate a tree anyway...?

My personal favorite part of Christmas time, is to turn off all the lights and sit as a family or by myself around the gentle glow of the Christmas tree. There is a special peace that fills my heart in these reflective moments. Moments when I can't help but feel the joy of the birth, life, example, sacrafice, and resurrection of my Savior, Jesus Christ. How grateful I am for this season when we take that extra time to know and remember Him, to sing beautiful hyms of the miracle of His birth, and share wondrous sciptures and stories that help us to remember the joys and blessings of service and giving during this time of year and always. {Thanks again Christy for the 24 days of Christmas binder. That is still a beloved Christmas tradition in our home!}

"Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight!"

The Longest Post of All Time:

Well it has been forever since I have updated so I desperately need to catch up! I almost hate even thinking about my blog because I know I have so much to catch up on, but it is time to get things done! =)  I am just going to warn you...I've got Sept. through til now to touch on! Sorry!!!

September:
We had to admitt Brenna in the Hospital for a few days for her to be on 24hr EEG and video monitoring to help us figure out what is going on with our little girl and her seizures. It was one of those schedule in advance type admitts, so no worries!  We were hoping and praying that she would have an episode while there in the hospital so that the doctor could determine what kind of seizures she is having, what could be causing them, and what the best course of action would be to help her. But of course... that didn't happen, so it is all still a mystery.

I was so worried about it being tramatic for her.  She had electrodes attached all over her head with some on her chest.Then they formed into a cable from her head to the monitor machine on the wall.  And she was stuck in this tiny little area on this little floor playmat. She could only go from that mat to her bed and back. That was it! I just knew it was going to be this big, tramatic ordeal, but surprizingly, she did great! She got a little annoyed with the cable attached to her head but other than that she had a blast! They had knew toys for her to play with, a couple dogs came to visit her, we did crafts galore, and she had her momma and daddy there constantly! Here are some pics of the experience.

It was a very busy three days! We did SO many crafts! Keeping her entertained was a full time job, little sleep was to be had by Chris and me as we had to sleep with all the ligths on so they could keep her on the video, and one day/night we had to deprive her of sleep. She was up about 17+ hours; that was fun! 

Although it was unsuccessful in that she never had an episode while on the monitor, we could most definately feel the prayers of everyone! Thank you to all that were involved in our family fast and for all of your thoughts and prayers. Brenna was so blessed through the whole experience. And other than still being in the dark when it comes to her condition, we were all blessed! Now we are on the daunting task of trying to catch one on video! Wish us luck! We're gonna need it! =)

Also in Sept. Chris and I celebrated out 9th wedding anniversary! I can't believe how fast the time flies! It's amazing how much stuff can be crammed into 9 wonderful years! Thanks for the memories, babe! Love ya!

October:
In October, my mom had part of her colon removed and a hyatal hernia (however you spell it) repaired. She had about a 12inch vertical (up and down) incision. It was rough for her! We went up to take care of her for a couple of weeks.  We had been praying for her prior to her surgery and while she was in the hospital. It was so cute to hear Brenna pray for Mimmie's surgery! But when we first got there, my mom showed us the incision and Brenna just started bawling! She was so upset to see her Mimmie hurt! From then on and even still to this day, whenever Brenna says the prayer, she always says in her prayers, "And pwease bwess that Mimmie's surgery will go away." It was very tramatic for her! I hadn't even realized she was beside me when my mom showed me her scar, but I have felt so bad ever since!

We had fun while up there though. Everyday when Pappa comes home, he asks Brenna if she has done her chores. She loves to feed the chickens, pig, and cats, and gather the chicken eggs.  It is so funny too because she HAS  to do it in that order! Haha! It is really scary how very much she is like me! It makes me see just how badly I need to work on certain things about myself! =) Brenna also had a blast playing in the fallen leaves! We got some super cute pics of her playing in them! And it was sooooo fun to have Aunt Nanna home from part of the visit!

These last two pics are pictures that Brenna drew for my mom while she was in the "hosible." She said, "I'm gonna dwaw a picture for Mimmie to help her feel better!" She is always so sweet and thoughtful! Sorry for the plethra of pics! Blurb book, you know! ;)