pumpkin picking

A couple weeks ago we visited the pumpkin patch. It was a very fall-ish day: overcast, drizzly and crisp.  We were so excited, we thought that this was the perfect pumpkin picking forecast and completed the feel of a fun fall outing!

 

and we were the only ones that felt that way. It was a Friday night and there were only 3 cars in the parking lot, including ours. We talked to the owner (you can do that when you are the only people there buying apple cider...) and he said they typically run a few thousand through on Friday nights. Major score for the Sigle family! We had a private hayride, and no line to wait in. We had a private ride through the pumpkin hollow show, and we had absolutely no help in the corn maze (aside from the boyscout eagle scout who led us through almost effortlessly).

 

 

 

 

Rylee had a great time going through the maze on Jeremy's shoulders and eating grilled corn, she thought the whole thing was hilarious. Once she was in his arms she fell asleep. Jackson was content hanging out in the ergo pretty much the whole time, and he even got his very own baby sized pumpkin.

Isn't fall the best?!

until next time,
Brit

a special visit

A couple weeks ago we were privileged to be paid a visit from a very dear friend of mine and her two kiddos! Taryn is a great friend of mine from college, she has one daughter just 3 months older than Rylee and another just one month older than Jackson.

 

They were able to visit us for a few days and it was so fun! It was so wonderful to catch up with an old friend and watch Rylee make a new one...



 

 

 

 

 



Those few days were so fun and refreshing! Its our turn to visit them next, and we cannot wait!

 

until next time,

Brit

our week, (last week)

This week we had a Gospel Meeting at the church every night Sunday through Wednesday. Then our normal bible study on Thursday night… So we’ve had our typical busy week. It has been so wonderful to see our church family every night of the week. Amidst the late nights here's what we've been up to this week:

playing with: dress up clothes, marker board and coloring books. Jackson is playing with (chewing on) anything he can get a grip on

listening to: Matt Costa and still listening to Au Revoir Simone, Rylee calls it the sunshine song and loves to dance to it!

reading: Crazy love, Ephesians, a Lineage of Grace, My Remarkably Sparkly Purse and Look on the Bright Side Minnie Mouse.

eating: we have had the joy of sharing a meal with someone every single day this week, and sometimes more than one. My favorite meal this week was chicken tacos, yum-o!

ups: Getting to spend so much time with our beloved church family, and visiting with great friends of ours that live in Lubbock. It is so encouraging to be surrounded by a body of believers who has a common tie through Christ.

downs: Being pulled in multiple directions. During some times of the day Jackson will be about ready for a nap, tired & fussy, and sometimes at the same time Rylee is wanting to play, to read or just my undivided attention. It’s so challenging for me in those moments to figure out which direction to go, if I just spend 10-15 minutes working to put Jackson to sleep then Rylee is left unhappy (and typically whiny therefor delaying the time it takes to get Jackson to sleep) If I sit down and focus on Rylee then Jackson is left upset, usually crying until I am able to focus my attention back to getting him to sleep.

And too being pulled in multiple directions with giving all of my attention to the babes and working on whatever other responsibilities need attention, this week that was a lot of cooking, cleaning, and hosting. It seems like so many times this week I was in the middle of baking another dessert when Rylee would ask me to “Sit down mama” It fills my heart that she wants me there to sit and play with her, and then when I have to reason with her that I’ve got to do (Fill in the blank) before I can play just deflates all those feel good mama emotions. I am continually reminded that years from now I'm not going to remember the dirty dishes in the sink, the unfolded laundry on the table, or the dessert. I know I will never forget the precious moments I get to spend playing dress up, having tea parties and digging in the mud. Hindsight make things seem so simple.

I’ve always told Jeremy that I'd like him to teach me to juggle, and I guess I am learning just that.

funnies: Rylee has started the “See Mama!” phase.  She’s crazy into creating, coloring, painting, drawing and is always exclaiming “See Mama!” and I love that she is so excited to share her creations with us… or at least most of them. Just this week I was changing Jacksons diaper in his room and Rylee was sitting on her potty chair, or so I thought. I hear “See mama!” and turn to see Rylee standing proudly holding her potty seat full of… one of her creations. At that moment I think I screeched then grabbed her potty seat as quick as I could before she decided to show me what it might look like on the floor. We’ve explained to her several times that the potty needs to stay in the bathroom… but I think this kid can see right through our poker face and knows that we are secretly laughing hysterically on the inside. She has done this several times since… but only once while company was over. Our kids are so cool.

Looking forward to a bit of a less active week to come! Hope your weekend was great!

until next time,
Brit
 

our week

We have loved the crisp fall weather around here! We've been taking advantage of the season and doing all sorts of fallish activities. The first week of the month is always a super busy week for us, but we made it through! Here is some of our week for you...

playing with: mimi! the activity bouncer, links, shopping cart, playhouse and sandbox

listening to: lots of mumford and sons, and Au Revoir Simone (I'm crazy about this song!)

reading: Crazy love, Ephesians, a Lineage of Grace, Olivia, & There's a Mouse about the House!

eating: our go to has been chicken sour cream quesadillas, yum!

ups: checking a bunch off of my to-do list thanks to Mimi! Rylee is such a chatter box and talks all the time about "Binlee" coming to visit. I don't know which of us is more excited.  She has nearly mastered her manners, she says please, thank you, bless you and sorry almost always without being reminded.

downs: Little lady has been testing me lately, checking to see just how far she can push. She is also using "Potty" as an excuse to sneak out of situations she doesn't want to be in: Church, serious talks, riding in the shopping cart etc. Its a hard line to balance does she really need to rush to the potty for the 4th time during church services or is she just bored from sitting here? Little Mr. has turned into an early riser... like 4am early. He wakes up in the best mood and just wants to visit and play.... but I have no desire to be up before the sun is up so I am hoping this passes quickly!

funnies: Rylee has learned to give little Mister strawberries on his belly. It makes him laugh and squeel, makes her laugh, and has us all laughing too. Precious.

until next week friends!
Brit

what they've taught me this time...holding hands

Dependence.

Today we were reminiscing about when Rylee learned to walk... at the early age of 16 months! Since she was probably 11 months old she could walk but would only do so if she was holding somebodies hand. At that stage we were anxious to see her take off on her own and make some strides unassisted. Thinking back, that was a precious time. Now our speedy toddler has to be convinced and reminded over and over to hold our hand. I miss holding her hand.

Rylee is and has been growing more and more independent. Its awesome and it breaks my heart all at the same time. My heart swells to watch her grow, learn, and discover how capable she is to do all sorts of new things without help, and at the same time I am shrinking inside to think that she is all too quickly becoming less dependent on me.

As adults (and for me my whole life) we walk with confidence and like to shed an appearance that says "I've got this all under control" right?!...

Somewhere in the midst of adolescence we lose our desire and our need to be dependent. We start living under the false idea that we can do it all by myself. One of my biggest struggles when facing any sort of struggle is giving up and leaning completely on Christ. My children teach me something everyday, and today I've learned that I need to become more dependent, not just more dependent but completely dependent. God desires for us to depend on Him fully. I know I need my Father but more often than not I am the child trying to let go of His hand while yelling "I can do it by myself!"

Today I am praying to become ever more dependent. Holding onto his hand tightly. Not taking a single step without Him.

Is independence a struggle for you? What brings you back to leaning fully on Christ?

until next time,
Brit

What they've taught me...

And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

 

Jesus is right.

 

As a parent I am learning something everyday. I learn so much about myself, my own parents, and my walk with Christ. Being a parent has been a blessing to gain sight through the eyes of a parent, and have more understanding of the most unconditional love that exists.

 

I often refer back to the verse in Matthew 18 when Jesus prompts his disciples to be humbled and become more like children. I am in awe every single day of the amazing qualities that my children posses that I so desire to have as well: humility, innocence, faith, dependence, and so many more.

 

I am so very thankful for the gift of our children. I am so very thankful for the lessons that I learn from them everyday. I would like to start sharing with you all some of the lessons I've learned along the way... (Don't hold your breath!) Keep a watch out for an occasional post about the latest kidism that I have learned.

 

until next time,

Brit

 



bucket list

One evening as I was scanning pinterest on my phone I came across the cutest crocheted quilt. I thought (like I do with most pins) "I want to make that!" Its rare that I get to too many of my pins, but as I was laying there I thought about all of those things I want to do, the big things, the once-in-your-life kinda things. So I made my list, or at least started it. Here's how it goes:

1. Crochet a quilt for each of my children
2. See the Grand Canyon
3. Run a marathon
4. Show my children the old houses where I grew up
5. Climb a Fourteener
6. Sew Rylee an Easter dress
7. Watch a meteor shower
8. Pay off student loans & be debt free
9. Visit/Move to Kenya
10. Visit my Grandpa's grave site
11. Learn to play the piano
12. Memorize the entire book of Ephesians
13. Ride an Elephant
14. Complete my list...

What's on your list? What else should I add to mine?

until next time,
Brit

Jackson update

height: 24.5 inches (97th percentile!)
weight: 14 lbs (63rd percentile)
head circumference: 16 3/4 inches (72nd percentile)
likes: his mommy, sitting in his activity bouncer, laying on his back and playing with his monkey toy, sucking on his hands, being tickled, singing songs, taking a bath
dislikes: the dark, getting dressed, being strapped in his car seat
milestones: he has rolled from his tummy to his back several times, laughing a lot, able to handle and grasp toys

Jackson is just a happy happy boy. He is happy almost always unless he is hungry, or tired. He had to get several shots at the doctor last week and it wasn't moments after and he was smiling again. He sleeps like a champ (yahoo!) He is (usually) asleep by 9:00 wakes once in the night to eat and doesn't wake again until 6:30-7:00!

We love love love our sweet little boy. Though it has just been a short while it is hard to imagine what it was like before he was in our lives and a part of our family. He is so very loved and we are so very blessed.

until next time,
Brit

best friends

I wasn't there to witness (and the hubs didn't record the scene...eh hem) but the story goes like this:

For a couple of weeks we had been telling Rylee that her Grandma (Mimi) was coming to visit, she was excited (understatement). Jeremy and Rylee drove to the airport and waited for her to arrive.  Her plane had come in and everyone was making there way down the escalator and over to the baggage claim. As soon as Jeremy spotted his mom, he pointed her out to Rylee. Without a blink Rylee took off in full toddler sprint across the airport baggage claim squealing with excitement and arms spread open wide to greet her beloved Mimi. A moment straight out of some sappy Folgers commercial. Rylee loves her Mimi.

From that moment, and like all other visits, they have been inseparable. They play all day long, anything and everything.

We love Mimi.

until next time,
Brit

run.

I hope this moves you, as it did me.

until next time,
Brit

Call me Martha

³⁸ As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. ³⁹ She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

⁴¹ “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, ⁴² but only one thing is needed.^[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

We like to have people into our home, we do so on a very regular basis - we feed the youth group every Wednesday evening, we have friends over for lunch after church on Sundays, host singing nights, game nights, and any other excuse we can find to invite people in we like to do so. Going along with inviting people into our home goes preparing our home: cooking, cleaning (and keeping it clean).

I will be completely honest, in the midst of preparations a lot of times I question myself, doubt myself, and totally lose my cool while wondering "why in the world am I doing this? Why am I working to feed 15 hungry teenagers while trying to nurse a baby, kiss an invisible owie and shove all of our dirty laundry into a closet nobody will look in?" ... I always find the answer after everyone has left, when I am still in one piece begging God to forgive my childish attitude and thanking Him for an opportunity to be surrounded by brothers and sisters who share a common likeness in Christ. I do it because the benefits far outweigh my irritating desire and frustrations when I fail to live up to Martha Stewart’s expectations.

When I read the passage from Luke 10:38 I am overwhelmingly convicted because when I place myself there, I am Martha. While everyone around me was sitting at the Lord's feet listening to what he said Brittani was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made...

How many times have I been so distracted by meaningless things that I forget to take part in the One thing that is needed?

I want to be the woman sitting at the Lord’s feet listening and soaking up all He has for me, even if dinner is burnt, the house is a mess, and I haven’t washed my hair in days, I will choose the one thing that is needed, the one thing that cannot be taken away from me.

Thankful for God’s gentle reminders.

Until next time,
Brit

did ya miss us?!

making play dough, learning to count, laughing, cooking dinners, playing with our friends, watching football games, smiling, playing in our playhouse, hiking, building sand castles, hopscotch, eating watermelon, cross country meets, painting, camping, swinging, running through sprinklers, mother's day out, singing, coloring, jumping, going down the slide...

Just a few of the many things we've been busy with that I wish I could elaborate on.

Hope you can forgive my predictable negligence! Aren't these kids cute?!

until next time (and who knows when that might be...)
Brit

Luke warm & Loving it

I have watched this, and re-watched this. A message I need to here over and over again. I hope you will take a few moments to listen to this very serious message.

until next time,
Brit

2!

On Saturday we had Rylee's bithday party to celebrate her turning 2! We went with an art theme this year... Rylee is a budding artist. For sure.

Aunt Heather came up with the design for her invites and Rylee did the watercolor on it. So each person recieving an invite, also recieved an original "Rylee" !

Decorating for the party was a breeze because all of the decor also served a purpose - Paint, Create, and Decorate! We had a table designated for painting, one for coloring, and one for playing with clay.

Guests were also able to decorate their own cupcakes!

There was a face painting table set up so guests could have their face painted by the other artist in the family - dada.

All of the treats and goodies followed the color theme... as well as following the preference of the birthday girl. Candy.

Rylee decorated her cake, all by herself. An abstract piece of art. Delicous too. That was one of the biggest highlights of the whole day, as she sat at her little table and listened as eveyrone sing Happy Birthday to her. The expression on her face was priceless!

One of my favorite things from the party was Ry's "Guest Book" - rather than having people just sign a line in a blank book we picked out a fun new book for Ry for everyone to sign. Now she has another book to add to her collection that also has sweet messages from loved ones written inside.

We all had a great time at Ry's party, she was elated to have friends and family all there to celebrate her big day. So very hard to believe that our little girl is a 2 year old!

until next time,
Brit

be still

Often times when Rylee is being particularly tooty, or (and) Jackson seems to cry nonstop unless you are moving in some strange choreographed rhythm I will joke by saying “I must have prayed for patience today…” because indeed I am being pushed to grow in that area. Though perhaps I am being tried in patience I think that there is something else that God is trying to say in those moments.

I know I am not the only mama out there that will agree, it seems like kids have this amazing sixth sense about knowing just when to present you with a challenge. Usually this happens when I am in the middle of doing the dishes, preparing bible class, paying bills, cooking supper, folding clothes and trying to make a break to the potty for only the second time that day. Yes, patience is a very desirable trait to attain at those moments. But I think, for me at least, God is saying “Be Still”. My world is closer to crumbling at those moments I get frustrated and continue to push to get my to-do list accomplished.

Instead, if I take a moment to sit with Rylee and color, play with babies, or read a story I am reminded that I am unbelievably blessed.  If I take the opportunity to sit in the recliner and just rock Jackson until he is asleep in my arms I am confronted with the fact that he is going to be the 2 year old in just the blink of an eye.

Perhaps we are given those stressful shirt tugging, baby crying moments to learn how to be more patient, but maybe, God is instead giving us those moments as a reminder to slow down, to step back, to “Be still”.

Be still and know that this sweet toddler is taking in all that you do.

Be still and know that it goes way too fast.

Be still and know that they are a blessing to enjoy.

Be still and know that we will look back and be sad that it’s over.

Be still and know the truly valuable things entrusted to us.

Be still and know to praise Him for these blessings.

Be still and know that we are not guaranteed a tomorrow.

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

For myself slowing down is probably a much larger challenge than seeking patience.  But rather than seeing those moments as a challenge, a trial, or a struggle, I think that they are given to us as a blessing. A blessing to take a moment to enjoy what we have, to take a minute to sit down… after all aren’t we so often asking for just a minute to sit down?! What a blessing!

Thankful.

Until next time,

Brit

new neighbors

All spring I have heard tiny little tweets coming from somewhere in our carport. This week we discovered that we have new neighbors!

There is a cute little family of five residing in a post in our carport! We have spent a lot of time outside and have seen the mama bird and papa bird fly in and out bringing in food for their three tiny little baby birds.

The mama bird is constantly in and out getting food for her babies, and those babies are constantly crying with their mouths wide open waiting for the next feeding (this situation very closely resembles what is taking place in our own house right now.)

It was so fun to point the birds out to Rylee and see her reaction. Once she sees them she'll tell you over and over again, "baby" "bird" "eat"

cool huh?!

until next time,
Brit

a tour

Welcome to Jackson's room!

Jackson likes all of his giraffes. And he especially likes his cool green crib. The pattern on his wall is my favorite.

His furniture is all re-vamped from big sister Rylee.

We found fun prints of scrapbook paper that we liked and put them on display with some scrapbook frames. Toys and stuffed animals from loved ones are on display as well.

His shelf was re-created with some paint, and fun fabric.

Wall art is also a re-creation, I used an old canvas and covered it with fabric then stitched a giraffe into it.

More giraffes to display. And his bear from Fayrene, we love her bears!

Jackson's Verse: "Do not Fear..." Isaiah 41:10

Jeremy picked the fabric and I sewed his window valances.

It was so much fun working on Jackson's room, (long nights and a million coats of paint later) We are so excited with how it turned out.

until next time,

Brit

a name story

To many people's frustrations we do not share baby names until their arrival. We did this with Rylee, and followed tradition with Jackson.

We chose the name Jackson as a variation of the name Jack.  My Grandpa has a very special place in my heart, and his name was Jack.  Dean comes from Jeremy's dad, who Jeremy also gets his middle name from.

It's very special to us that both of our children carry on the names of people that have been so important and impactful in our lives.

until next time,
Brit