Valentines.....California Style

This year it was my turn to plan Valentines....Drew's in charge of our Anniversary which this year is the big 5! Which means where going on a trip alone! So I decided that we'd bring Brinley this year and forget having to get a babysitter AKA Aunt Didi (Haylee). We thought she might want a break between watching all her nieces and nephew. Anyways so I planned a nice take out meal that included appetizers and dinner along with a heart shaped red velvet cake and headed down to the beach. It was a warm beautiful day so it turned out PERFECT! We had a great time and it reminded us how much we LOVE the beach. It was nice to have a family Valentines day California style. Nothing better then splashing around in the water and basking in the sun. Maybe next time we'll be in our swim suits. Drew did give me the perfect gift...we we're trying to be low key due to our Anniversary in less then 2 months, but he surprised me anyways and got me the WICKED soundtrack. For those who have not seen it you have to go... we've gone to a fair share of broadway musicals (yes Drew loves them) and this one was our ultimate favorite. It's gone to be hard to top it. The music was great it makes me want to go again. So it was a great gift because now I can re-live it in the car everyday!!

Visit From Grandpa, Grandma and Uncle Matt

Brinley LOVED having her grandparents and Uncle Matt here to visit. Even though she was still recovering from a double ear infection you couldn't tell. She was so highly entertained that she didn't even notice. The weekend started with Grandma spoiling her with many many presents...I told her we just had Christmas! But Brinley loved them all especially her new walking cabbage patch named ABBY. She actually calls her Abby..her real name that was on the certificate was Lauren, but she's learned Abby from Sesame Street so that's the baby's new name. It's too cute when she calls for her "Abby r u?" She takes her everywhere...she loves being her mommy. Next after her toys she fell in love with her Uncle Matt and I mean goo goo eyes and everything. She just wanted him to hold her. The funniest thing was that after they left Sunday evening we were all watching America's Funniest Home Videos and she say a boy Matt's age (13) with braces and she looked at the TV and said "Matt" It was too cute. What can I say she loves her Matty. Then came her love for her Grandpa who SHOWERED her with all the attention she wanted. Anything from jumping on the bed with her to taking her down the slide 100 times!!! Whatever she wanted he granted. It was so nice having them here! I wish they only could of stayed longer...and I am sure Brinley misses her fan club watching and laughing at her every move. The next day was spent looking for Grandpa....."Grandpa r u?" As you can tell this is her new phrase of the week. Thanks again Family for a fun weekend!!!! Oh and Drew is missing in action the whole weekend because he was literally in his bed recovering from what the doctors called a severe virus. NOT FUN!

LOVES BABY ABBY
Looking at Matt with those Lovey eyes

On the swings with Grandpa!

Brinley and her Grandparents

Such a Great Deal $$$$

So yesterday Drew and I decided to take Brinley to the San Diego Zoo. We had been planning it for weeks and it finally made the calendar so when Brinley was still sick with the cold and cough I figured it couldn't hurt to go. So we started our drive and almost made it without traffic. But there was maybe 20 miles left and it was backed up bumper to bumoper. I swear San Diego has the worst traffic because you don't move an inch. So Drew and I decided that we'd get off and go back towards the San Diego Wild Animal Park. Even though we switched plans it still worked out great because a year membership to both the Zoo and Wild Animal Park only cost $79.00 for both Drew and I and you get tons of discount coupons and 2 free guest passes. The cost for general admission into the park is $28 a person so for $12 dollars more a person you can't go wrong. Even though our little Brinley was sick she still had a blast. She especially loved the Giraffe's and Monkey's and of course POPCORN!! There's lots to see and do for the little kids it was great. I can't wait for next time when we hopefully get to go to the Zoo if traffic permits. But if you don't have a pass you should check into it...it's a great deal! Then because it's just too funny to pass up I had to post a picture of Landon wearing my high heels. He was over playing with Brinley last week and LOVED getting into my closet full of shoes. He cracks me up as he was wearing them the whole time going down the slide with them and chasing Brinley around. Sorry Frank I had to do it!

Brinley and Drew looking at the huge pond of ducks
Brinley would not leave the ducks we we're there forever
Despite being sick she NEEDED her popcorn
This kept her happy for quite awhile
Landon wearing MY shoes!

The Start of Something Great In 2008!

I can't believe that 2008 is already here......it seems like the years keep going faster.... especially now that we have Brinley. But I do have to say that every year gets better and better. I can't wait to see what this year will bring our way. Drew and I have a big list of New Years Resolutions so it should be fun to see how many we can actually accomplish. We always start strong....but it's the finishing part that always seems to get lost somewhere. But this year will be different right???? I posted some pictures of Brinley with her cousin Landon. They rung in the New Years together or at least tried. We thought we had the evening all planned out. Eat a nice dinner, hang out, put the kids to bed have dessert and play games until midnight. Well.......it didn't go quite as we planned we did have a nice dinner and managed to play a good game of Apples to Apples...but the kids going to bed part took some work. We thought a little movie would put Brinley and Landon to sleep....but that only got them more excited. As Brinley and Landon played a good game of Catch me if you can. Brinley would steal Landon's popcorn or water cup and run as he'd try to catch her. They both thought this was hilarious as they chased each other all over. Finally when we got them calmed down we attempted to put them sleep. Brinley did not want to sleep at Landon's house. She wanted her own bed. So after many attempts Brinley stayed up..while we all tried to play games. At around 10:45pm Brinley was a wreck she was so overly tired so we decided to take the trek ( a 2 minute walk) back to our house to put her down in her own bed. So Drew and I tried to ring in the new year together, but 10 minutes before the ball was about to drop we decided to let our eyes finally shut! Maybe next year we'll make it!

It's Finally Here...Long Time Overdue

Okay so it's taken me a little while to start our family blog...but it's finally here and a day early at that. I said I would start the beginning of the year and here it is the last day of this year and we're up and running. We'll I didn't have a chance getting a Christmas card out this year due to the move and getting my house together...so I'll post some Christmas pictures of Brinley and we can all call it even. I do enjoy getting Christmas cards from so many of our friends and family it's been nice to see how everyone is doing. Brinley is growing like crazy 16 months today!! She is such a blessing in our life and everyday we're amazed at the things she's learning. Last night after dinner she stood up in her high chair and announced that she had gone "poo poo" we asked her again and she said "yeah" and so Drew checked her and sure enough she had gone poo poo. So maybe it will be possible to get her potty trained by 2! That would be so nice:) I can dream can't I?