this week

a glimpse of our week...

until next time,
Brit

ps: birth story on its way

VBS

Last week we had our anual Vacation Bible School! Our theme this year was Super Hero's of the Bible. We had a great turn out of kiddo's & parents too! On the last day we invited the entire community out to a BBQ right after our last session, it was an incredible way to wrap up the week & reach out to some of those in the community!

Rylee thought she was pretty special getting to stand up and lead all of the songs with dad...

As a reward for the group that grew the most, they got to all throw a pie in Jeremy's face. It was very rewarding for us all!

It seems as though exhausting and rewarding go hand in hand. And that is exactly what last week was! Looking forward to next year!

until next time,

Brit

guilty

I am sure you are not surprised at my long time delay of getting a post out there... I am also that person that doesn't text you back until 4 hours later, or notice a voicemail until the next day, or check our mail well, Jer has just completely taken over that little chore because I am horrible at it.

Anyways!

We are all still here. And I am still pregnant. But getting closer! Just about 20 days away now... or really whenever he decided to make his grand entrance!

A very very dear friend of mine recently had her second sweet little baby (at the midwife also - go her!) Even though she is totally super woman (and has still managed to get out like a bazillion posts) she mentioned that she is going to set back her blogging to just one post a week to better fulfill her mommy duties... (EPIPHANY!)

I have realized about myself that when I stare at my huge 98 item to-do list, I typically get none of it done... but when I write out just a few of the things I want to accomplish for the day I can usually (definitely not always) get them done. I think the same thing is true with this blog. I feel like I have been so super behind on updating everyone on all of the here's and there's taking place that I don't update at all! So new goal... I will try to give a weekly update on the excitement of the Sigle home. I may or may not be meeting that goal, but either way it gives me a much more manageable approach to keeping this thing afloat.

So quick update... We are up to our eyeballs in everything VBS! We planned to have our VBS the week before my 'due date'. Awesome! We are super excited about this year!

until next time,
Brit

busy.

I hate hearing myself always use the phrase "We've been busy" but I'm going to use it again, and to be honest it feels like an understatement.

Life has been a whirlwind lately, between ministry, work, and our growing to-do list before the baby arrives we have been in constant go mode. (blogging has been on the list, but at the bottom.) The month of May looks just as busy as the rest of 2012 has looked, only difference is that this month I'm seeing it through the eyes of a 36 week pregnant lady (substitute pregnant with: tired, irritable, uncomfortable, etc.)

We have seen the inside of a hotel room every month this year and May is going to follow the trend. I'm really not complaining about that... I like hotels, they clean up after you and usually have a better breakfast than I prepare. I will complain about the hours spent in a car. I hate swollen feet.

According to the big day countdown app I have on my phone we have only 37 days until baby Mr. will be here! I am soo very ready, and soo very not all at the same time.

Perhaps some day I will give you a look inside to some of the busy projects that have been soaking up our time lately!

until next time,
Brit

PS: Rylee has only grown smarter, cuter, and even more sweet in the lapse of time I have ignored updating you all. Perhaps more to come about all of that as well!

28

I am currently 32 week into this pregnancy. Wow time flies.

These pictures, however, are at 28 weeks...I am never on time.

Aside from the aches and pain increasing in my lower back everyday this pregnancy couldn't be better! I can feel little Mr. moving constantly which is such wonderfully reassuring feeling.

The time is quickly approaching! We are so excited!

until next time,

Brit

90!

Today is my Grandma's 90th Birthday! This lady is probably the coolest lady around. I love and admire her more than my pittiful words can explain.

On Saturday the family threw her a big party, and it was so much fun to be a part of.

The birthday girl! It was wonderful to see the many, many people who love her come to see her and celebrate the special occasion!

Yes, it tasted as good as it looked. 

For the party I made a memory tree.  People used the cards to write out a special memory they share with my Grandma and then hang it to the tree... by the end of the party the tree was full of the cards and special memories that Grandma will get to read through and enjoy! 

Jeremy drew the tree that you see on the the table, that was just a fun way to "Leave your mark".  People used the different colors of ink pads there to stamp there finger and then put their finger print on the tree, at the end the tree was full of colorful 'Leaves' and signed by all the guests that came.

 

The lady sitting next to me on the left is Patsi, a very dear family friend who has been part of my Grandma's life since before I was. She's a spicy lady and hates to have her picture taken...I was glad that we caught her off guard and were able to get a few pictures snapped of us all together. She is another lady that I love and admire so very much.

Rylee and her Grandpa are quite a pair. He makes jokes and funny faces and Rylee laughs at them all.... they are perfect for each other! 

It was so very much fun to be a part of such a big event for our family. Happy Birthday Grandma! We all love you so very much!

until next time,
Brit

zoo

Last weekend we made an extended weekend trip to Ft. Worth then over to Gainesville for Grandma's big 90th birthday bash! (more on that next...)

Being in Ministry we will usually take weekdays rather than weekends to do things, like visit the zoo. Typically this is great for us because we beat the crowd, except this time...we forgot that the whole state of Texas was on spring break this week...and Thursday was the most popular day to visit the zoo.

After parking a couple miles away and making the trek to the entrance of the zoo we were anxious and excited to see some wildlife! Rylee was really just as excited to see the masses of people as she was to see the awesome animals.

Ready to explore!

Animals!

 Rylee's newest 'cheese' face

 Rylee's monkey face

 Tippy toes

worn out

We were all worn out after fighting the crowd and wandering through the entire zoo... Rylee is much cuter than the rest of us when we're tired though.  We only spent the day in Ft. Worth but we had a great time & hope to make more visits like this one when were a family of 4!

until next time,

Brit



Amen!

We have worked with Rylee using sign language to communicate since she was too tiny to understnad and now she has a pretty hefty vocabulary of signs that she knows how to to do and how to use. One of the first words we started doing with her was Amen. She caught on to amen pretty quick, and would do the sign every time we ended a prayer... It wasn't until a couple of months ago that she started grasping the actual time for prayer.

It has been so cute to watch her as she grows more curious about what we are doing, and more adamant about making sure we do it! Usually before all of us are to the table to eat, she already has her hands folded and is prompting us to sit down so we can pray! During a meal we will usually pray several times because of her prompting.

Once she started grasping more of the concept and gaining a little more vocabulary Jeremy started having her say her prayers at night, Jeremy will lead her as he says "Say thank you for, mama" and she'll do a combination of signing Thank You as well as repeating each person and thing we are thankful for. Melts my heart!

One of Rylee's favorite places to play is at her kitchen, I was sitting in Ry's room with her folding clothes, cleaning up & putting things away one day while she was busy cooking.  She had made a few different things like lemon pizza, and peas and then I saw her bow her sweet little head, fold her hands and mumble a soft prayer. Inside I was rejoicing! That is exactly the kind of behavior I want Rylee to observe from us and be imitating.

Praying at Mother's Day Out last month

So very thankful for our sweet little girl.

until next time,

Brit



slugs & snails & puppy dog tails

We found out last Friday that we are going to have a little BOY! We went to our sonogram appointment at the college in Midland and had a student perform the sonogram. It was a great experience, they were so sweet and excited and really took their time with us. and PS: it was free!

Since finding out we are having a boy I have been on the search for baby boy items, and have it on the front of my mind how we are going to get to decorate a fun boy room!

Today we were talking about the differences between this pregnancy and being pregnant with Rylee. I do not feel as sick this time as I did with Rylee, but I do feel just as tired if not more. With the pregnancies being different its fun to think about the differences there will be in the babies.

26 Weeks pregnant with baby boy

36 Weeks pregnant with Rylee

I have no doubt the time will fly by, and we will be finding out just how similar and different the two are before we know it.

until next time,

Brit



our little helper

Ry LOVES to help...she wants to help us do everything. Which is awesome, and also a lot of work. But I'm taking advantage of her excited spirit to help out with the dull chores around the house!

One of the chorse we do together daily is feeding the dogs. Our dog food is in a big container on top of the dryer so one of us will fill the cup for her and she'll carry it over to each of the three dog bowls and dump their food in one at a time.

She is almost always a pretty good shot, and will get all of the food into each bowl...sometimes she's not. On those instinces her tedious, meticulous (mama?) side comes out. She will spend all of her time squatting to pick up each and individual nugget of dog food. Despite my pleeas and efforts of telling her that the dogs will eat it, even if it's not in their bowl. She insists. So the activity for the morning becomes pick up dog food! Good fine motor skill practice right?!

love our sweet little helper.

until next time,
Brit

my valentines

Yesterday was great! There were Valentines waiting on the table in the morning for both girls in the family. Jeremy is always crazy creative about expressing his love when the 14th rolls around.  This year he had the table covered in tiny pieces of paper all with reasons why he loves me on each. It was so sweet. Then throughout the day I was surprised to get dozens of text messages from friends all over the place complimenting me. What an encouraging gift! I loved it!

We had gotten Ry a few Valentines too...

A super cute little apron, because she is such a little helper chef, some flip flops because the girl loves shoes, and a tool box toy set because she loves to help put anything and everything together! (also some chocolate...but she never even opened the box, so I just set it 'asside')

Rylee thought that making our own 'play dough' was the coolest thing ever.  She really enjoyed getting to help use mama's new toy too!

 Making noodles was the best thing ever...until we melted the chocolate. Rylee's new job became cleaning out the chocolate bowl. She was the perfect one for the job!

 The completed chocolate covered strawberries.

The ready to cook homemade ravioli.

 And our very special family prepared Valentines meal.

Valentines day was great. It was so much fun playing in the kitchen with Rylee all day, and creating some great memories while at the same time creating some great food. I am so thankful for my family, and for all of the friends in our life. We have been so blessed with the relationships we have been able to make throughout all of our different ventures. Yesterday was a wonderful reminder of the value I place in each and everyone of those relationships.

It was indeed a happy Valentines Day.

until next time,

Brit

superbowl

On Sunday we hosted our 2nd Annual Sigle Superbowl Party. It was a hit. Jeremy made his Silly Sigle Superbowl Quiz, and I made a lot of food.

It was so fun having so many good friends over to talk with and watch the big game (to be honest though, I watched very very little of the game) oh, and also ate way too much.

Rylee and her sweet friend Aubrey enjoyed playing together throughout the night and those that didn't care to watch the game had two sweet baby girls to watch instead (way better right?)

Drew was the winner of the Superbowl Quiz and therefor won the prized Foil Cup .... its a big deal.

We are looking forward to next year! Predictions are calling for Broncos vs. Cowboys... but we all know how that game would end...

until next time,
Brit

birthday!

Jer's birthday was last Saturday! We had fun celebrating his big step into '27'...

We started his day off by having some sweet homemade decorations displayed for him to see right when he woke up!

Rylee and I spent a couple days before crafting away at her gifts for him.

I love her little thumb print card!

I am pretty sure Rylee thought the singing, cake, ice cream, and even the gifts were all for her. I will have some posts in the future about one (really two) of Jeremy's special gifts that he got (or if you ask Rylee, that she got) for his birthday!

So thankful God has given him another birthday! It was a good one.

until next time,

Brit

home!

Out of the 22 days of this January, we have only been home for 12 of them.

At the end of last week we headed to Lubbock for Sunset's ministry workshop.  It was great to spend a few days back in the good ole 806 seeing friends, classmates, teachers, and some of our favorite places to eat! The workshop was great too! We heard some great lessons, awesome sermons, participated in some uplifting and powerful worship with Kieth Lancaster and are completely and totally worn out.

It's funny how you can feel so rejuvenated and refreshed and completely exhausted at the same time. This weekend was just what we needed. We are glad to be back home (again!) and settling back into some sort of routine. (deja vu...have I said that recently?)

Hopefully routine means that I can find myself on here more often...

until next time,
Brit

Florida

After the New Year we packed our bags and flew to sunny Florida to spend some time with Jeremy's family.  We flew into Ft. Lauderdale and then drove down to Key Largo. Rylee did amazing through the airport and through the flights. We had a total of 3 take offs and landings before arriving and Rylee never once fussed.

 perfect weather for bike rides!

she was a little unsure about the creature on her leg...

 Ry loved hanging out with her Aunt Heather!

She was unsure about the fan boat at first, but she came around! 

 Alligator!

southernmost point

our little beach baby

Kayaking. This was so much fun to go exploring through the mangroves.

We had a great trip, it was very refreshing to visit a warm and luscious green environment. At the same time it's good to be home. We need to find a little more structure and routine in our lives... even if that doesn't exist in my laundry room. (Laundry really is an impossible mountain to climb for me...literally) Rylee, though she had so much fun on the trip is also very glad to be back home. She was so glad to see her bedroom and all of her toys when we got back, it was too cute.

Thankful for our time away, and thankful to be back home. 

until next time,

Brit

new year

2012 is bound to be an awesome year. New baby, Rylee will turn 2, we will be celebrating our 5th year of marriage, our 5th year of working with this church body, and we already have our calendars so full we need to add days to each month.

We are anxious and excited to see what unfolds for our family in this coming year. Comforting myself with His promises:

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

until next time,

Brit