wEiRd

The Tantrum-atic Twos

As I sat here tonight listening to the blood curdling screams for 61 minutes of a very tired 2 year old, who felt it was not her bedtime, I realized I hadn't posted anything about her birthday!

Braelynn turned 2 on Wednesday, the 21st. I cannot believe how fast this past year went. She just turned 1 yesterday!

Let me tell you, she is definitely 2!

Braelynn's energy could easily be bottled and sold to NASA for rocket fuel. She loves running, jumping, and dancing. Her laugh is hilarious, a true from-the-gut laugh. She loves to tell stories, that nobody understands, but is very aware of what she is saying. She is full of animal sounds and many other sound effects that she strategically puts in the middle of her sentences.

Some of our favorite "words" are:

Peash- Please

Monk- Blanket

Yeah Kay- Ok or Yes

Tick a Tick a Tick a- Tickle, Tickle, Tickle

Reece- Rice

Sigh- Outside

Tie- Tired

Moo- Movies (TV)

Mo- Elmo

Elcome- You're Welcome

Tank-oo- Thank You

Bwook- Brooke

All babies are "Bwook," and all cats are "Mar" (Marley, my Aunt's cat in NY).

She absolutely loves Nursery at church. She knows what room to go to, and when to go. She cries whenever we pick her up to go home.

We have nicknamed her "The Wedge." She has to be right in the middle of whatever is going on. She has a way of worming her way between Kent and I, or if we are holding Brooke.

She loves to give kisses to the grocery store clerks. When they say "Bye," she replies with "Byyyee," followed with a smooch!

In the past 2 years, I have been able to trim her nails maybe 10 times, and have yet to be able to get her hair up in any way. I managed to get a barrette in it today. She is not a girly-girl at all.

Her temper comes straight from her daddy. Watch out when she is mad!

We love every bit of her...even if we just put her to bed for the 13th time tonight! I couldn't imagine life without her. She exhausts me everyday, yet makes me laugh over the silliest things!

Happy 2nd Birthday Braelynn, we love you!

New York and THE New York

The trip that I've been counting down to has come and gone. 3 years ago, when we got our Credit Card with an amazing points package, we started "saving" for our trip to New York.

We 1st headed upstate to visit my family. My Uncle Lance's house is probably my most favorite spot in the entire world and I finally got to share it with Kent. Nothing beats the view or the quietness of this place!

The main purpose of our trip was to spread my dad's ashes at Vroman's nose in Middleburgh. However, thanks to Hurricane Irene, the roads and town were closed. My Uncle is building a family cemetery on his property though, so we decided to spread the ashes there. My dad was very close to Uncle Lance and I know that he is enjoying his spot there. It was a very special experience...after I got over the grossness of the ashes (it might as well have been blood!).

We mostly just relaxed and visited with family, but on Saturday we went to Hick's Orchards and picked apples.

On Sunday, my cousin Tyler and his wife Heather came down from Vermont and we got to spend the day with them.

Braelynn's favorite part of the trip was Marley the cat, and the cat's food...she just didn't see anything wrong with getting a little extra protein!

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On Monday we got up early and took the train to New York City. I was dreading this part of the trip, and was expecting absolute chaos with the girls, especially going the day after 9/11.

It wasn't so bad. We looked a TAD ridiculous. I was just amazed at how nice everyone there was! Seriously, people were helping us left and right with directions, suggestions for stuff to do, and loading all of our stupid crap on and off the busses, up the stairs, and everywhere.

We went to Arthur Avenue and had the most delicious calzones.

The next day we went to Wall Street and Times Square.

On the last day we went to Central Park. I have always had this fetish for Central Park and it was just as magical as I dreamed it would be. If only the train station didn't have 3 flights of stairs though!

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Then we flew back home that night. Frontier Airlines is AMAZING, but flying at night with 2 tired little girls SUCKS.

It is nice to be home now. Every muscle in my body hurts. I can't wait to go back though. Unfortunately the person who begged me to go to NYC now despises the place :( Kent is now reevaluating his plans for retirement...no more condo in the city for him!

Vacation Part Uno

We spent this past week up in Utah with Kent's family and had an absolute blast!

Kent and his brother Chad hiked the Narrows to start out the trip, while Natalie, the kids, and I perused the streets of St. George.

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Kent and I then went to BYU so he could showme aroundhis old stompin' grounds. That campus is just so pretty!

Then we headed up to AF to stay a few days at Hotel Dr. Burton (congrats again Chad!). Kent's mom flew in from Houston so we could spend some time with her as well.

The next morning Kent and I got up at 4:15 and went to the SLC temple, which was just great!

That afternoon we spent the day at the lake with Kent's sister Lanae...wakeboarding, tubing, and just chilling.

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In the evening we headed to Kent's dad's house and had a very yummy dinner.

In the morning we headed to church, and then spent the day getting ready for dinner that night. Kent and I tried to count everyone, and I thinkthere were about 34 people that came! It was so fun to see everyone.

The next morning we packed up and headed back to AZ without any problems. We stopped in to see my Aunt April for a little visit.

We are completely exhausted!

I am doing laundry today, packing tomorrow, and then heading to NY for another fun-filled week!