Last Week

Last Tuesday my brother Hyrum came home from his mission in Alaska. He had a two hour layover in Salt Lake City so, I bought a ticket to fly with him from Salt Lake to Spokane. He didn't know that I was going to be on the flight. My older brother, Preston also was able to get on the same flight and surprise Hyrum. Preston met Hyrum first and took him to the gate where we were going to board. I walked up behind them and gave Brinley to Hyrum and I told him, "I have someone I would like you to meet". He started crying. It was so cool to see his reaction. It was the first time he was able to meet his little niece! He has grown up and matured more than I expected. We were able to spend five days with him and some of my family in Moses Lake, WA. It was so good to spend some time with him and we even had a couple study groups toghether. Brinley was a lot of fun she entertained everyone. We went to my step dad's retirement/birthday party and they had a live band. Brinley danced and danced and danced. It was soooooo cute!!!! A couple old granpas wanted to dance with her, but she declined :) I was so sad that I didn't have enough room to bring my camera so I didn't get any pictures of the trip :(
Shad was a lone ranger for five days. What a wonderful husband I have. He cleaned the whole house and even vacuumed perfect lines in the carpet! I think he lost weight having to feed himself though. He missed us and we missed him! Brinley would point to the phone and say dadda, dadda. She loved talking to him on the phone. When he picked us up at the airport Brinley did a double take and got so excited! I cried, it was so good to see him!
On a sad note my uncle who has been battling with cancer for a long time passed away last Wednesday. His wife and family where the ones that stayed with us a couple weeks ago. His funeral was on Saturday. We send out our deepest sympathies to all those who are dealing with his loss. He was and is a great man.

Temple Square

Tonight we went to Temple Square to see the Christmas lights and to remind us of the true meaning of Christmas. We got to Salt Lake earlier this afternoon so we decided to eat at the Lion House...YUMMY!!! I love that place. We had them cater our luncheon when we were married over two years ago. It is amazing to think of how our lives have changed since then. It was so neat to go to the same place that Shad and I came out of the Salt Lake Temple as husband and wife. Now we have little Brinley and what a joy she is! I love the spirit that is there at the temple grounds. We took Brinley in to see the statue of Christ and she starred at it for a while. She wasn't so sure she wanted to go near it for a picture. It is amazing to think that the true reason that we have this holiday is because of Christ. I know I/we wouldn't be where we are today without him. There is a quote and it goes something like this: more often than not more value is placed on things of the world that can be easily replaced, but the things that are given to us that are irreplaceable we place little value on for example our minds, each other, God, Christ and our lives. Really how can we ever be grateful enough or ever repay a gift that doesn't have a price tag???

Thanks babe for such a fun evening as a family!!! What a great memory :)

Fourth of July

I think this year Independence day has been a little more sentimental for me having Brinley around. Shad was having a couple really horrible days so we let him sleep in while we went to the Parade with my "sister from another mother" Kourtnie, Jed, Tobey and Lilie. It was a good time. Brinley LOVED the motorcycles and the inflated tiger and bear. Shad and I (and Brinley) would like to send a special thanks to all of the men and women who fight to keep our country free. We are close friends with a few of these great people and it gives a whole new meaning to freedom. It defiantly isn't free! That night I went and bought a few fireworks to see how Brinley would react to them before we take her close to the big ones. Yeah, they didn't even faze her. She really didn't even react to them. I guess she is ready for the big ones!

The night before the Fourth my side of the family got together to have a party for all the girls in my family that have a b-day in June which happens to be all of us. It was really nice. My brother and sister in law hosted it at their house. The food was soo yummy! I love BBQ's especially during summer!!! I also made birthday cakes for the event. They are on my cake blog. My mom was also in town for a few days and it was fun to spend some time!

Well, we are headed off to Hawaii today for a week. It happened kind of unexpectedly. We were going to go on a trip the end of July to Italy, but Nick (our friend and Shad's worker) is going to Afghanistan for his 3rd military tour and he is leaving the end of July. So, we had a change of plans. Also, Shad's side of the family in Idaho are sooo wonderful to watch Brinley for a week. We found a flight to Hawaii and on the ride back we have a layover in Boise with just enough time to pick her up and get her on the ride back to Salt Lake City. It worked out perfectly! I never thought it would be so hard to leave my baby for a week. I was a mess yesterday and I am doing a little better today. It sounds like she is doing great out there and even slept through the night her first night. When we get back I will be posting some pics!!!!!!!

Family Outting

A couple weekends ago we decided to go up the Alpine Loop and over to Midway as a family. We have never been over to Cascade Springs so we decided to go. On our way to Midway there was a beautiful overlook. Shad pulled over and we took the seats out of the back so we could have something to sit on as we looked at the view. We had some interesting looks from people passing by!

Momma's Day Weekend

We hope all of you Mother's out there had a great momma's day. A few months ago I reserved a cabin at Bear Lake not realizing it was over Mother's Day weekend. We were going to cancel it and go down to Phoenix to help our adopted family out, but Shad's aunt was sick and was expected to pass away. We decided to still go to Bear Lake and visit family for Mother's Day and be available to go to a funeral if need be. It was a lot of fun. Friday night we went to dinner and Saturday we spent the day on the four wheeler and at the golf course. Lafe made a yummy dinner that night. Sunday we had fun just visiting with family and coming home. Overall if was a lot of fun!!!

I forgot to add in the original post some very important information....I hope that this doesn't put any men aka husbands in the dog house :) Shad is wonderful he washes dishes (he even does it with rubber gloves!), changes diapers (the poopie ones are an exception most of the time), takes care of Brinley at 3 am and lets me sleep, feeds her, bathes her and many other things which helps me a more than I can say! He is AMAZING and made my first mother's day was very enjoyable! Thanks honey...I love you!

Spring has Sprung (hopefully)

Shad decided he needed a bigger, "badder", sweeter, faster and overall better motorcycle. He bought the bike in Southern California and decided at the last minute that he was going to fly down and drive it back. Surprisingly enough he did just fine and he said his back hasn't hurt him too bad from the ride. While he was gone Brinley and I went up to Bridal Veil falls for a walk since the weather was soooo nice. I hope it continues!!! Here are some pics! Later Kourtnie and I went and got pedicures. It was great except for having the Asian guy doing the pedicure get mad at me for putting my foot into the water when I wasn't suppose to. Yeah, it was great. I don't think I will go back there again.

My niece's b-day was last weekend. I have posted pics of her cake to my cake blog: sweetcakesbyaj.blogspot.com. Happy birthday Jazzy!! We love you!

Brinley's First Word!

So, our little Brinley has been a little gabber box for the last few weeks, but nothing she says really is a word. Sometimes it will sound like she is saying Hi or dada. Well, last night when Shad came home from work he was sitting in the living room with her while I was making dinner. She turned to face him and flat out said Dad. Our heart's just melted. It was the cutest thing!!!!

Brinley and I had a chance to go to the Draper Temple open house yesterday morning. Besides the wind it was such a good experience. Brinley was AMAZING the whole time. It was almost like she knew where she was. That temple is beautiful to say the least. They have tours next week before they dedicate it so if you have a chance to go I would highly recommend it!

By the way, her dad is the one the dressed her in these pics...can't you tell by the pants being tucked into her socks, classic Shad style!!!! Haha I love it!