the one about the fire station

Brett has been a very busy boy the last few months. He is the assistant chief of the Jensen Fire Department. He has weekly meetings, monthly meetings, district meetings and recently, new fire station planning meetings. They broke ground on their new fire station this fall and it was completed this month. They had a big open house and celebration called, "Christmas at the Fire House" on December 12th. They had a flag raising ceremony, "hose" cutting, dedicatory prayer and they honored past fire chiefs and officers. They also had a really nice dinner and games for the kids. It was really awesome.







Sometimes Brett's constant meetings drive me CRAZY, but really, deep down, I am really proud of him. It was cool to see him in his element at the fire station. He organized, took charge and he made his wife very proud!

the one about Brycen and costumes

It was my sweet little nephew Brycen's 1st Birthday on the 10th. We went over to his house and had a fun little party! We had pizza, cake, presents and lots of laughs! Here he is getting his cake. Isn't he adorable???
Now this might be one of my favorite pictures of all times. It was taken at the party and I think it is darling!!! Quayd and Talia. ahhhhhhhh.....

Now, on to the "costumes" part of my post. Two years ago, I bought Quayd a bunch of Halloween costumes at the after-Halloween sales. He has LOVED having them for dress up stuff. He and Brennen (and sometimes Brayden) wear them all of the time. Quayd's other friends love them too!!! (Quayd and Kasen)
Brennen, Zoey and Quayd
Quayd and Brennen go trick-or-treating at my mom and grandma's houses all year long!

They have also come in handy for different dress up activities at school. (Kindergarten-Fairy Tale day) Ha Ha, that reminded me that Shae was having a Superhero assembly on the first day of school and needed something to wear, so she came and hit the costume bin.

Here is a picture from early this October. Quayd, Brayden and Brennen had a 4H activity where they had to go trick-or-treating for canned foods to donate to the food pantry. Danette and I didn't have their costumes ready, so we just let them rummage through the costume bin. Brayden even found some things to use. I have started to notice the costumes are getting super small. They don't button up anymore and they are all high-waters. I went to "the marts" (Wal and K) on Tuesday and hit the JACK POT! Costumes were 90% off! I got so many costumes for them and the most expensive one was $1.99 and the cheapest was $.49. I got home before they got off the bus so I laid them all out on my couch. I intercepted them in the driveway and told them I had a big surprise in the front room. They took off RUNNING! You would have thought it was Christmas morning. They were THRILLED! They were tearing into them and trying them on before I even made it back in the house. It was so awesome that I was able to get them so many new ones. And I only spent about $20.00. Here they are in some of the new costumes. Brayden and I are OBSESSED with aliens, so he snatched this one right up! The only rule is that they have to stay at my house and they have to keep them picked up. Otherwise, it is a free for all! The best $20.00 I have spent in a long time! :)

the one about a surprise visit from Brynn and some other B's

Monday night, Brett and I took Quayd to the rec center to swim. He had been begging all weekend so we finally gave in. I actually don't know why we don't go more often. We have a family pass and we always enjoy it when we go, we are just lazy I guess. And actually, I don't just LOVE swimming there. I would rather walk or something. ANYTHING rather than swim. But Quayd really wanted both of us to swim with him and I couldn't say no. I get the heebie jeebies in the pool with all of the nasty dirty people. I know, that is so rude, but it seriously freaks me out. I can't stand the thought of dirty little kids feet touching me. The only dirty little feet I like are Quayd's. And even his stress me out a bit. Next time he wants me to swim, I will have to break his heart and say no because I only lasted about 15 minutes and I was miserable the whole time. He will have to swim while I work out or something.

ANYWAY.... (sorry about the rant there...) When we got home, I wanted to take a nice long bath. I lit a candle, poured some epsom salts and got all relaxed. Then the phone rang. Brett answered it and it was Brynn. She was driving around with her boys and Beau'D wanted to play with Quayd. She called to tell us they were coming over. I went ahead and finished my bath then went to the front room. I got to hold Brycen while Quayd and Beau'D played. Brett, Brynn and I watched Dancing with the Stars. Brycen was so cute and sweet. He even fell asleep in my arms. Ahhhhhhhhh, gotta love that. When they were getting ready to leave, Brynn took him from me and put him in his car seat. He is so cute and he totally sucks his little thumb. Beau'D was totally loving Quayd's room. He climbed up on Quayd's bed and didn't want to get down. He said he was spending the night, until his mom said she was leaving. Then he was ready to come down!
It was such a nice surprise to have then stop by. We had so much fun watching Dancing with the Stars we decided we might have to make it a weekly event! Brynn is so sweet and I am so glad she is my sister-in-law. And she has the cutest little boys!!!

Isn't it weird that Brett and I both have a Brother named Brandon, they both have 2 sons and no daughters, and they both did the "B" thing with their boys' names? Plus Cory has a son with a "B" name. So we have 2 Brandons and 5 nephews; Brayden, Brennen, Beau'D, Branson and Brycen. Plus Brett, Brynn, my maiden name is Brooks, Grandparents name is Burton, and I have a cousin Brooke. Phewwwwwwww..... It can get confusing!

the one about the New Year

Happy New Year!!!
I know, I know. I haven’t been very good about blogging lately. I don’t know what it is, but my life just hasn’t slowed down. I keep thinking that it will any day now, but it’s just not. Anyway, blogging is truly one of my favorite things in the world so I am trying so hard not to get too far behind in my blogging world.
I don’t really have any good reasons, but I am excited to start a new year. 2008 was a good year for us. I was so excited for 2008 to start, because 2007 was so rough. Mike passed away, Brett had his motorcycle accident and I lost my wedding ring. So 2008 came and now it is gone. I know this might seem weird, but I have always welcomed change. I love to experience new things and I don’t really freak out when big changes come my way. I look forward to the future and anxiously await new things. I am not really big on “resolutions,” so I don’t generally set them. Of course I have the standard ones… Lose weight, get healthy, be more organized, blah blah blah. But instead of worrying about what I will and will not do in 2009, I would like to reflect on 2008.
Here are just a few things that happened in our little world last year.
Quayd started indoor soccer, and later started AYSO soccer. He found a new love for this sport and really has no desire to try any others.
We got TONS of snow in 2008. It was the longest winter in the whole world!!
I joined the working world again. I hadn’t worked since before Quayd was born, so it was a huge lifestyle change for all of us. It has been good though. I substitute taught for awhile, worked in lunch lady land and now I am at the Holiday Inn Express. In fact, I remember mentioning a few months ago about a possible promotion. I got it by the way. I am the Front Office Manager. It has brought many new responsibilities, but I am loving it. Schedule is still good. I am home before Quayd gets off the bus.
We had major construction in our front yard this summer. They filled in our ditch and we got a sidewalk, grass and our own driveway.
I got a new bike!!!
Brett took and passed the EMT class. YEAH Brett!
I got my very first iPod. I have since upgraded from an iPod shuffle to and iPod touch.
I went to the Panic at the Disco concert in SLC.
Quayd rode his 4-Wheeler ALL SUMMER!!!!!
My friend Janice moved clear across the country to Kentucky. L
We took a weeklong vacation to Lagoon. We took our camp trailer and Brayden and had a blast!!
We all loved watching the 2008 Olympics.
Quayd started first grade.
My Great-Grandma Karren passed away.
Quayd turned 6!!!!
Brett and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary.
Brett spent 10 days in Washington DC.
I turned 30!
Ga got super sick and spent weeks in the hospital. It took quite a toll on all of us, especially her, but I am glad to say she is doing much better now.
Brett’s brother Brandon and his wife Brynn had a new baby, Brycen. And he is SO cute!!!!
Itty Bitty Kitty. Nuff said.
So that is kind of our year in a nut shell. We are excited to see what 2008 brings our way. Thank you for reading my blog. I promise that in 2009 I will try to be better about keeping everything current. But that is not a resolution!!!!

the one about Brycen

I am so excited!!! I have a new nephew. This is Brycen. He was born yesterday, 11/10/08. He weighed 6 lbs. and 7.5 oz. He is Brett's brother Brandon's second child. Isn't he co cute and perfect? He is doing well and so is mom. Brynn has to have C-sections so it was scheduled and everything went smoothly. Everyone is adjusting well, including big brother Beau'D.
We went to see him last night. Brett and I are a pretty proud Aunt and Uncle and I think Quayd is a pretty proud cousin too!!!
Besides being a Mother, being an Aunt is my FAVORITE THING IN THE WORLD!!!! I love my nephews so much!!!! Brycen makes 6 nephews for us along with our 2 nieces.

Congratulations Brandon,Brynn and Beau'D!!!!