I know, I know...but look at this!

Can I just say that I really love my new camera, and I really, really love taking photos, and the Pioneer Woman helped me do this: I downloaded the PW actions for Photoshop Elements...this one is "seventies" and I love the look of it. Brenna and Pa had been riding the tractor and they stopped just long enough for me to get the shot.
Yes, I need to post more often but life has been just plain busy. School is out on Friday and then hopefully I'll have more time. I had every intention of doing Photo-A-Day for May but it just didn't happen...I'll get there. Have a great Memorial Day!

He was a good boy

We got the news last night that our niece's dog Chooch was hit by a car. We were so sad to learn that he didn't make it. Rest peacefully Choochie.

I spent a long time giving Bailey the attention she deserves but doesn't get as often as I know she would like. We would be devastated if we lost her - we are firm believers that we have Brenna because Bailey put the thoughts and stress of trying to get pregnant away. She is our first child, our furry baby, who is a true member of our family. We are trying to determine how to explain this life changing event to Brenna. She's old enough now to notice that Chooch is gone, and that people are sad that he isn't with us anymore. While I want to protect and shield her, death is a part of life that she is going face, hopefully not often. It's such an abstract concept for a child, so we will do our best and know that this sad event for our niece and family will lead us down one of the more difficult roads of parenthood.
We are a dog family, and all of our dogs are so much a part of our lives. Sammy, Bailey, Chooch, Bella, and Pepper make all of our lives better.

Rest peacefully good boy. Your family loves and misses you.

The pics of Chooch are from when he was a puppy...

Last of the Cali Pics

Yes there are a lot of photos, I can't help it. It helped when daddy had to stay home and work. So, for family and friends who want to see every single vacation photo...their all officially here on my blog. If you don't want to see all of them, that's really ok!

Meeting the Newest Cousin

I have to say the look on little girl's face when she was holding her little cousin Darrin was priceless.

On a side note...the sleep adjustment is going well. B tried to get up at 4 this morning (7 home time) but after about an hour she went back to sleep until 7:30 so we did get some good sleep and a nap in also! So I'm hoping that in another day or 2 we'll be sleeping on more normal schedule.

A couple of pics from yesterday...Blowing bubbles at Pepper with Uncle Freddy Mid-jump on the trampoline!

Things I did Today

*Played with a funny, funny, little girl.
*Started my 2009 Projects List ~ a ridiculous list of things I would like to accomplish this year, mostly comprised of reorganization in each room of the house, some professional stuff to complete for my license renewal, and some mini-projects in the house. I have already checked-off one thing...backing up photos, thanks to being snowed in yesterday. While this is on-going, all of the old stuff is done.
*Went to calling hours for a friend of our family.
*Spent time with my parents (thanks again for coming to stay with B today).
*Looked through some "new" scrapbook treasures~ Thanks Missy! I already have plans for some of the papers!
*Booked airline reservations for our vacation this summer (thought, discussed, clicked and paid within an matter of 45 minutes).
*Played with B some more.
*Started stressing about seat assignments on an airplane when I can't do anything about it for 60 more days! I'm a little obsessive and sometimes a little nuts, in case you haven't already figured that out.
*Put B to bed.
*Called airline to get seats changed with some success...now I have to wait the 60 days before I can be sure the changes took.
*Updating blog, getting ready to spend some time with the husband, zoning in front of the tv before I fall asleep early on the couch as usual.

Here's my sweet girl...sleeping with Baby Annie - she slept this way most of the night. It was very cute.

Over all a good day...the snow seems to have subsided but I've heard we could get more later in the week...that and some very cold weather. As if temps in the 20's and teens aren't cold!

Here's to a great week!

Ten on Tuesday

Wow has it been a long time since I had time for a Ten!

1. I love my new job! Even though there is much more work, it is well worth it and my class is awesome. We are getting into our groove and really working well together.

2. Two days until the Wiggles - hopefully Brenna won't be afraid of them. I am hopeful since she loves to dance to all of the songs and sings along quite a bit too!

3. Thank goodness for furnace fixers who know what they are doing!

4. Having a wireless router is very convenient, I can sit on the couch, load grades into my gradebook, catch up on blogs, watch tv, and most importantly spend time next to my husband when I would otherwise be banned to the upstairs computer to complete my work!

5. I love that Brenna is really a little person with thoughts and feelings now. Not that she wasn't before but her personality is truly developing and she is definitely every bit of 2 that she can possibly be.

6. Day care keeps telling us that she is very well-behaved and they love her. I'll take that news any day!

7. Pain tolerance is apparently high in this little girl. We were in the ER over the weekend for a pretty serious ear infection that she didn't complain a bit about. The good news in all of this is that her tubes are still in their correct locations and working very well.

8. B likes to "read" her bedtime stories now. I start the sentences in her two favorite books and she finishes them, sometimes even telling the whole sentence before I have a chance to start. She is either very intelligent or we have read these books entirely too much. I am hoping the intelligence factor wins here.

9. I found some pictures from the summer that I love (taken by my awesome aunt!). Brenna is so lucky to have this photo - we have one when she is only 2 months old also - it isn't often that you can be part of a 4 generation photo.

Mommy and Brenna


10. I am happy that I can update the blog a little more often. I am trying especially since family and friends don't get to see the little girl too often!

Here's to being better about blogging. My goodness if my friend can move to another state and still manage to blog in the middle of it all I really have no excuse. Now if only there was enough time left in my day for a little scrapping...

Uncle Freddy's Visit

Freddy was in town over the weekend to spend some quality time with friends, family and mostly Brenna! Here are some fun pics from the weekend. It is so fun to watch him with B. She loves her Uncle Freddy that's for sure. "Uh peddy" since she can't say Uncle Freddy. She's still saying it even though he's not here. I definitely think there's a special bond between them.

Brenna is becoming increasingly more difficult to photograph. I have to catch her in the moment or take 1000 to get 1.

Seriously....
Uncle Freddy has been doing "Burt's Bees" with Brenna since Christmas I think. It's her "lipstick" (so she thinks anyway).

It's great fun to sit on and bounce on Uncle like he is my own personal jungle gym!
Hey Brenna, do you like this? OK, I'll get it for you...new toys are a little girl's joy and an Uncle's too I think.

We tried and tried to get some good ones...

Help please ~ shoe time.

Hug (complete with "aaawww" from the little girl)

While you probably can't see very well, they still have the exact same eye color.

It was a wonderful visit. Hopefully we'll be able to see him again before Christmas...thank goodness for cell phones, email, blogs and photo sharing!