The Pumpkin Patch 2010

This year we headed to the pumpkin patch earlier than normal. We wanted to get some good weather and we did, it was really HOT! Seth took a half day off work and we went as a family. This is the first time we have gone by ourselves just spending time together. It was really nice. We had a great time. I took over 200 pictures and I still didn't get all the pictures I wanted. We went on a hay ride, looked at all the neat things, jumped in the bounce house, walked a lot, petted some animals and played in all the little houses scattered everywhere. I think this is what the kids liked the most. When we have the room a small playhouse for Abby and Briggs will be a good investment. Honestly I think it is one of the best days we have had as a family. It was so much fun despite the fact we were all sweaty and nasty afterword. Not to mention as I sat to take my very last picture (no Joke) a bird POOPED on my head. So freaking Nasty. That's my life....other than that it was a great day. Last year it was too muddy near this guy so we couldn't get the shot.

So big

Classic dull faces.

So much different than last years pics.

I just love them!

I think this is my favorite Picture.

He is such a little man!

Love these Guys!

In the hay stack Attempting to pet the donkey ( Abby and Briggs were hesitant.)

Little stud

Leave it to my child to totally disregard the sign, at least she has and excuse. She can't read. :)

Coming out of the hay maze.
Abby asking for just two more times in the maze.
This is where the Spawn of Satan bird pooed on my head.

Look who's walking too!

I have been neglectful in my mommy duties. Briggs has been walking for a little while now. He is getting really good. I have tried to take videos on several occasions, but for some reason getting a toddler on a decent video is a hard task. But look at the little stud. He is awesome.

Abigail loves to sing and dance. The other day we were driving and she started singing a Spanish song (looks like school is paying off.) She is so funny. Here is one of her classics, "I love to see the Temple."

Is it just me or does Abby look a lot like me in this picture?

Celebrate

The town had a little celebration with all sorts of fun things to do so we decided to try it out. We haven't really done anything like this before so it was fun for us. However Briggs went down hill fast. He did not like it. After about 10 minutes he was done, thus we only stayed a little over an hour. As soon as we got in the car he was happy as a clam and that's when Abby took her turn because she didn't want to leave so her fits started as Brighams ended. Figures. Watching the clowns with her friend Molly.
Too cute.

Model. Strike a pose.

Fun in the bounce house.

The motorcycle Rodeo, that was fun to watch

Chilling with his balloon, this was at the beginning.

Our two little stink pots.

Then later that night Abby and I watched to fireworks from our outside apartment with our friends Liz and Molly. We had the perfect view and the girls couldn't stop giggling.

Heard in Recent Months

Here are some of my favorite Abby quotes from the last six months. Remember she has been potty training so yes there is poop talk.

• "Look mom my poop made a snake!"

• I say "Abby pick up your toys" She replies " I cant do that I am too little" So I laugh and she then says "mom, you pick them up your a big girl"

• While reading about Jesus Abby says: "Mom, do you like Jesus?" I respond "Yes I do." She then says; "I am going to marry Jesus"

• I ask "Who is your favorite mom?" She says "Lacey" I then say "who is your favorite dad?" And she says "Honey"

• While flushing the toilet "mom, my poop is going to see his dad"

• "Mom what do sharks eat huh? Breakfast?"

• "Abby who are you talking to?" Response "my husband"

• I was caressing her face with my hand over her ear...she says "hello, anyone there" like its a phone.

• "The sun likes to drive"

• While discussing Jesus "Does Jesus have batteries?"

A Day at the Museum

Last week were were able to go to the Museum with some of our family. I wasn't sure what to expect, since I had never been there before. Thankfully my Mother in Law Cheri had some sort of season pass that got us all in (and there were 9 of us total). The kids had a great time. It was all hands on and they didn't want to leave. We played for a few hours and had lunch there as well. But, as the day wore on the kids began to get exhausted (well I was too) and it was time to leave. Abby keeps asking when we are going back. Briggs and the Tortoise
Briggs walking to the Alligator? I am not sure what it was.

Playing trains.

Abby and her cousin Leah playing at shopping.

Seriously doesn't she look ten?

Playing doctor.

Love this pic.

Briggs always finds a little nook to rest.

Do I see a future here?

Briggs Driving the Ambulance

Briggs and his cousin Izzy playing in the H2O

Abby and the Dinosaur

Briggs in the Dinosaur foot print.

What a pair

Digging up bones with cousins Leah and Becky

This is Abby's version of thumbs up!

Asleep before we leave the parking lot.

Good Times :)

Want To Lose Weight?

Want to lose those pesky last five pounds? Or fit into those old high school jeans? I know, perhaps you are coming up on a class reunion or holiday party at work that you would love to lose weight for.

Well I have the thing just for you!

• Catch some sort of stomach bug
• Stay in bed for 3 and 1/2 days
• Eat next to nothing
• Have no energy
• Consult an ER
• Finally be able to get out of bed but still eat next to nothing for another day and a half
• Then still feel sick but you have to take care of your family

Then magically (with proven results) lose 8 and 1/2 pounds. This is no gimmick folks. If I can do it, anyone can!

Abby's First Sleep Over

Abby had her first sleep over last week. Her cousin Leah who is five came and spent the night and they were both great. We had dinner, went to the splash park, watched a movie, played outside and various other things. I had made a little bed on the floor for Leah, but Abby really wanted to sleep on it. No surprise there. Of course there was the normal issues of getting to bed, but for the first sleep over I was really surprised. I wish I would have taken more pictures. These are just from breakfast but obviously there was better opportunities. Leah
Pancakes

The whole Gang




This is Leah Singing the Ants go Marching so Briggs will dance. Too Cute.

Briggs

With all the drama of last week I wasn't able to post some more things about Briggs being one. He is now in a forward facing car seat, Yay! He loves it, except he hasn't figured out how to sleep comfortably in it. Actually he hates sleeping in it and now fusses more in the car if he is tired. But when he isn't, its grand.

He had his one year check up and I cannot find the sheet where the doctor wrote his stats but I do remember that he was 20.2lbs and was in the 75-90% for head, weight and height.

He is almost walking. He tries all the time and can do about 3-4 feet at a time. He goes from couch to table to book shelf to try to get to where he needs to go.

He is still struggling with is breathing issues and at present has bronchitis again. Hopefully as he grows older and his airway passages expand this will not be such a problem.

He has become quite a picky eater, and I am unhappy to say it seems that textures bother him. This is a problem I have, mostly just with nuts but Briggs seems to have it with many more things. The only thing that I am guaranteed to know he will eat is applesauce and second foods. The third foods make him gag. He loves cheese though and that is another staple he eats, because he still wont drink milk or eat yogurt. Little stinker.

He bites all the time and hits as well. He is very reactionary, if he is mad you know it. He will either hit you or throw himself on the floor.

I know some of you may think that he is too old for his plug and I agree. The only reason we always have it attached to him is because it serves as a preventative. He sticks his finger down his throat and makes himself puke. Seriously it happens all the time. So when he starts to do it, if we stick the plug in his mouth he will stop, most of the time.

Other than that he is OK from the events of last week. He is his normal adorable self. Couldn't resist taking a pic of this cutie either.

Worst mom of the Year award goes to....?

Me. Yes, that's right the worst mom of the year award goes to me. Another trip to the Emergency Room but this time its on me. Yesterday while getting Abby ready to go to school I was in a bit of a rush because we were running behind. Mostly because Abby likes to dilly dally, and for some reason she pooped in her sleeping diaper. So I had to give her an in impromptu bath. Thus putting me behind.

I set Briggs in the middle of our bed and stepped about three feet away to our bathroom. Literally I was right there, how did I not prevent it? But I got distracted somehow either doing something or with Abby I really cannot remember. I think I looked away for about a second, but within that second Briggs was falling head first off the bed.

The way he landed was awful. I was pretty sure he had a broken neck. Honestly its one of those falls that you just cringe. Before picking him up I made sure it wasn't broken, phew! Then picked him up in a stretcher type hold to immobilize him as much as possible. I laid him down and he was crying pretty hard, I calmed him some and took him with me into the closet to get my shirt, where he vomited all over me. Red Flag!! It was a lot of puke. He does puke a lot and fairly often but this one was different, he was different. I don't know how to describe it. But it was a massive amount, soaking us both. When he finished I set him down. Normally he would still cry and crawl at me but, he just sat there, staring. Red Flag!! So at this point I am freaking out knowing he probably has a concussion. I have seen enough medical shows to know that. I quickly change my clothes and strip Briggs down as well. I get Abby and Briggs in the car to take her to school. On the way there I called my pediatrician and she said to take him to the ER.

I get Abby off at school, vomit in my hair and holding a half naked baby. I had managed to get a sleeve on him while walking Abby in. I felt so Dub T but I didn't care.

The ER is about 15 minutes away and I get there pretty quickly. However, Briggs was trying to dose off in the back seat. Freak Out! I was snapping at him and I rolled down his window. It was also near nap time so the odds weren't in my favor.

I get to the ER and he still isn't acting like himself, just dazed and confused. I get him registered and wait. Finally, it seems like eternity but it was only like 20 minutes, then they triage him. They take his vitals and what not and three different people at three different times asked me what happened. The Doc did some little tests and said he seemed to be OK but that its really hard to tell with babies because obviously they cannot tell us what they feel. She suggested getting a CT scan because he met the criteria with the vomiting, but left that decision to me. I said I wanted one. I didn't want to wonder for the next few days if he had a scull fracture or bleeding in his brain. When I agreed, she said she was glad because she would have worried all day as well. Huh? Then why didn't you just say he really should have one. Anyway... we wait for awhile for that... in the mean time Briggs is trying to fall asleep. They said to go ahead and let him, what? I thought that it was a no no to do with head injuries but you know, I am not a doctor. So he slept. We went in for the CT and Briggs did Awesome. He only fussed a little. He never cried once. They let me stay right next to him so I was singing and pointing at things and it was over before we knew it. When the lady came in she was so impressed. She said that was the best she has ever seen a baby do. Of course I was proud of him.

Then we waited. About 20 minutes later, we got the results. All the waiting leading up to this...it was clear. No signs of any swelling or broken skull. Yippee! However the doctor did say that it didn't mean that he is completely fine. Sometimes more serious symptoms can appear later. Thus, I was still to watch him closely over the next couple of days. Within the next 24 hours I was not to let him sleep more then 2-3 hours at a time to check on him and see how he was doing. So last night was fun. I got up a few times to wake him up make sure he was responsive, that he hadn't had any facial swelling or vomiting in his sleep. He made it through and he is back to his old self.

I was worried yesterday because he was still not himself for awhile. So I thought for sure there was something that was still wrong. But, thankfully that experience has past. I know I shouldn't have put him on the bed. We always do and I am always fearful yet it still happens, but never again if I am not holding on to him. How dumb. I guess its just been so long, he always just sits there while I do things, but I should have known better. So for all you moms out there. Don't put your kids on the bed, its not worth it.

Mr. Pitiful-Dancing machine

I mentioned before that Briggs loves to dance. He especially loves the song Mr. Pitiful by Matt Costa. If he is having a fit I start singing it and he usually will begin to dance and forget that he was upset. Abby loves to dance too as you can see in the background. Here are just a few short examples.