April 24

On Sunday, April 24, 1977 at 12:22, I came into this world. 33 years ago. I used to love my birthday. I would have a countdown starting February 24. I made everyone pay attention to the fact that my birthday was just around the corner. This year I didn't remind everyone I came into contact with that it was time to celebrate. I only made sure Kevin was ready to provide me with a fun day. And he did.

We kept the day pretty simple. We aren't really party animals. We started the day at the temple thanks to Tracy watching Brynnlee for us. It was nice and peaceful and beautiful. Then we went to a movie. This is something we haven't done together since before Brynnlee was born. Thanks to Jenn Pohm, we went and watched Date Night....loved it! We ended the evening with a delicious dinner at the Olive Garden. (Thanks Mom and Dad Ball!) Kevin spoiled me with gifts that cost too much, but I think I will keep them. He spoiled me that day and it was nice!

When I was younger I thought my life would be very different than it is. I am not saying my life is bad at all--just different! I didn't think at 33 I would be living in Colorado in a stupid little apartment. I thought I would have children flirting with their teenage years. I look at what I have and wonder....have I done anything? I don't have a nice house or beautiful things. We don't go on crazy vacations in tropical places. I can't buy everything I want when I want to. But then I think are those things the definition of success? Probably to some people. And that's when I realize I have been one of those people and maybe it's time to change my definition.

So here is my new definition: having a good husband, working on a strong eternal marriage, giving birth to a beautiful, healthy child, earning an English teaching degree, teaching at a middle school and being pretty good, having a good relationship with my family, holding a temple recommend, knowing how to cook and bake and doing it well, learning to be a good mom, being a good example to my siblings, learning to be nice. And as I learn and grow and work my definition will expand. We don't live in a nice house. We will one day. We don't go on vacations. We can. We don't buy everything we want we we want to. We all ready have a lot of stuff filling up our home. Do we need more? I am hopeful that as I keep working my definition will include being humble because that's what I really want to be!

Picture Day

While Brynnlee and I were in Utah, my mom arranged for pictures to be taken. My mom was very specific about what she wanted Hallie, Hannah, and Brynnlee to wear in the pictures. Thank heavens my sister Jackie and I were able to change her mind a little. The skirts and shirts ended up being very cute. We trooped around the dangerous cement factory between Brigham and Tremonton. The pictures are adorable. I posted some on here. I know you can't see the whole picture on some posts.....just click on them to get a full view. Thanks Lacy for being so great with the girls---especially Brynnlee who refused to smile most of the time.

The Jam Adventure

I really enjoy staying home and taking care of Brynnlee. I don't miss her giggles or her crazy stunts or her "conversations." It is a pleasure. One thing I really like is that I get to try new things. I can make a meal I have never prepared before or go places I have never been. This week I decided to take on jam. I was inspired by a friend's status on Facebook and the cheap price of strawberries at the local store. The only thing was.....I didn't know how to make strawberry jam. So, I did a little research on the Internet and found a simple little recipe. I decided to make a very small batch. I didn't want to buy a lot of jars, and I didn't want to waste a lot of strawberries--ya know in case it didn't turn out. I squished the berries and stirred them together for what felt like hours---really only about 40 minutes! Bynnlee stood by wondering what I was doing and wanting her picture taken every time I took one of the jam. I followed the directions, poured the jam in jars, and hoped for the best. After waiting a little while to let the jam cool down, I carefully tasted it. I was waiting for the worst. But I tasted some of the BEST strawberry jam ever. Kevin loves it too. Now I don't mean to toot my own horn too loud.....but I did a great job, and I am excited to try out more jam recipes!

Going to Church

One thing I love about Sundays is getting Brynnlee all dressed up and ready for church....especially because she has been given so many cute dresses. Now that church is at 8:30, the mornings can be a little hectic. One morning we were ready to go and waiting for the missionaries to show up for their ride, and Brynnlee decided she was ready to go!

Fussy Brynn

When we go places Brynnlee is so friendly and cute to people. She says hi to everyone and smiles and waves. The other day we were running errands at the mall. While we stood at the eye doctor's Brynnlee talked to the other patients and smiled being very cute. One of the patients asked me, "Is she always this happy?" Of course my answer--NO! Some days she is impossible and now the Terrible Two's are here. One day she put on two skirts she found in the laundry basket. I asked if I could take her picture......this is what turned out! A big fit with throwing herself on the floor and everything. Yeah she is adorable huh!?

Time with Family

One of my favorite things to do is go to the Baby Animal Days. I was able to take my nieces again this year. We were joined by my sister-in-law, Jessica and her boys Ethan and Alex. My sister-in-law Sher also came. We saw the typical chicks and goats, but Brynnlee, Hannah, and I didn't get to see much more. Hannah got a really big sliver in her hand and was very bothered by it and the pain. She couldn't go on and was crying while we were waiting in line to see the bunnies. So we went to the First Aid booth to get it all fixed up. The "Old Fashioned Doctor" took the sliver out and fixed her up. Hannah was very grateful someone was there to help.
This year there were added features at the American West Heritage Center. We had a great time on the train, and we thought the baby bear cubs were adorable. And of course we had to gone on a cotton candy run before we left for lunch. We didn't get to see everything, but as Hannah said, "The cotton candy is making me feel better." It always does!

The Haircut

There are few people I allow to cut my hair--my best friend growing up is one that I trust. I am picky, and I think a lot of people get what I want.....well wrong. A person to do my hair is the one thing I haven't figured out in Colorado Springs. I had the opportunity to take a trip to Utah, and I knew it was a chance to get a great haircut. I called up Andi--she cuts hair at King Hair and does an excellent job. I don't even have to tell her what I want. Fortunately for me she was available. After hanging up the phone and feeling very satisfied, I realized this was a great chance to get Brynnlee's first haircut. Kevin and I were a little sad to get rid of her little curls....but it had to be done.



Brynnlee was such a trooper while getting her haircut. And Andi was so great too! Brynn was put in a booster seat in the haircut chair. All it took was a Dum Dum sucker to make her sit still! When Andi was done, she styled Brynnlee's hair. Boy did Brynnlee love that. She is such a girly-girl and knew she was being pampered. In the end, Brynnlee's hair turned out so cute. She has a cute little bob that looks a little like her mom's!

Easter Fun

Easter time was filled with fun and great adventures . We kicked off the holiday and Spring season with a trip to Schriever Air Force Base (Kevin's work place) to attend their Spring Fling. It was a carnival filled with games, prizes, and candy. Brynnlee bowled, fished, threw, and laughed. She even sat still enough to have a sun painted on her cheek and a caricature done of her. They were both very cute. We ate some Texas Roadhouse BBQ sandwiches and had a great time. We tried to get Brynnlee to sit with the Easter bunny for a picture. She would have none of that!

The next week Brynnlee and I were invited to a party at our friend Tracy Giles' home. Tracy was a wonderful host and prepared such great activities. She made each child a little bag with crafts. Brynnlee got the chance to paint Easter eggs, run around with little people, and participate in an Easter egg hunt. I met some really great gals that I could have actual conversations with (no hi, hi, hi or nonunderstandable babbling). I even was reacquainted with a fellow Tremontonite. Thanks so much Tracy for the fun!

Between General Conference sessions on Saturday, we were lucky enough to go to another Easter egg hunt. Jennifer Pohm (a sister in my ward) and I planned a little lunch and activity. It was funny to watch the older kids scramble for the eggs--they wanted as many as possible. Brynnlee was a little slower. She had to open every egg she found before she put it in her bag. She didn't many eggs, but she didn't need a lot anyway!

Finally Easter came. Brynnlee doesn't know what it is yet, but she sure knows what candy is! I made her an Easter basket filled with the presents her grandma's sent and eggs filled with M&M's. I gave it to her as soon as she woke up in the morning and let her go through the prizes. She loved opening the eggs and having the candies fall out. And of course she loved eating the M&M's. That's all she wanted for the rest of the day. We had great food that day. The missionaries came over for lunch. I made a basic Easter meal. We had ham, funeral potatoes, frog-eyed salad, deviled eggs, and green salad. We had a very special family tradition for dessert. I made a bunny cake--one like Kevin's mom always makes. It made him very happy. For dinner we were invited to the Pohm's. Jen fixed a wonderful meal with asparagus, potatoes, and lamb. It was a wonderful meal!

The Easter holiday is always special. It is the time to think of our Savior and the beautiful miracle of resurrection. What a blessing it is to be loved so much by our Heavenly Father and older brother Jesus Christ. This holiday was double special because of conference. What a blessing it is to not only have a Prophet and Apostles on the Earth, but to be able to hear from them--there are not words to express the joy we feel.