Our Halloween

The Monday before Halloween we went to the school to participate in One Great Day of Reading. Everyone dresses up like their favorite book character and classes have people come in and read stories to them all day! I skipped dressing up this year, but Rylee and Jackson didn't. Jackson went as Harold and the Purple crayon, Rylee went as a butterfly from The very Hungry Caterpillar (and I do not have a picture of her in her whole costume. Fail) 

Some of the kids at school actually thought Jackson's name was Harold because Rylee and I kept referring to him as Harold! I read the cutest book (I thought so... kids didn't really agree) It was called Ribbit, its about a pig trying to make friends. We took an actual pot belly pig with us into the school to let the kids see and pet.... They did think that was pretty cool!

For our Trunk-or-Treat on Wednesday I made Rylee and Jackson Mickey and Minnie costumes. Rylee loved hers, Jackson was less than thrilled... especially with his ears.

Rylee designated herself with the job of keeping Jackson's ears on all night at trunk-or-treat. 

In my attempt to get a picture of Jackson (ears on) and Rylee together I told them there was an airplane in the sky (mom lie) It totally distracted the wrong one, but at least he had his ears on.

Picture: Check.

We had an exhausting but fun week of Halloween and we still have three huge bowls of candy hiding in our house that we will happily share! 

until next time,

Brit

friends

Rylee and Jackson have the sweetest (most of the time) relationship. It makes my heart glad to see how much the two of them care about each other, and really just like each other. They are always playing together and very concerned with what the other is doing.

Most of the time Jackson's first words when he wakes up in the morning or from his nap are "Ry Ry" and if Rylee hears Jackson waking up before anyone else she sprints into his room to be the first to greet him.

I am so thankful for these two.

until next time,
Brit

new record

I can humbly announce that I have outdone myself this year, set a new record for the least posting in a year. Woop!

You aren't getting a detailed apology from me this time, I will keep it simple: instead of posting about our life, we've just been living it. (hello corny) but its true. Life is full and fast and messy. We've been busy keeping up with two and cleaning up after all of our fun.

It does make me a bit bitter to see how I've neglected to update you on all the awesomeness that our family gets to enjoy in Rylee and Jackson, so here is a long over due update on where we are at and a condensed version of some of our spring and summer highlights!

In April Jeremy completed his first marathon! Beyond proud of him! Jeremy and Cary were able to finish together, it was really exciting!

We had another awesome VBS in May. The week ended with every kid getting to throw a whip cream pie in our face and a meal for the community. It was a blast!

We spent a lot of time working in our yard, Ry and Jackson helped too. 

Jackson turned 1! 

Rylee turned 3!

 Jeremy and I were able to take a quick trip to the mountains to go backpacking for a few nights. It was an awesome trip and a great way to refuel our marriage and our spirit.

Plenty of cuteness and meltdowns...

For our anniversary we went to a Rangers game, they won, and I ate my weight in garlic fries so I won too.

So there you have it! That's all you get for now. Thanks for sticking around!

until next time,

Brit

family photos

Have you ever done a group project? It can be tricky trying to organize everyone, get everyone focused on the same thing... looking in the same direction. Hello family photos. (Having your FIL as the photographer might also be a factor, Thanks Dean :)

"No Rylee, you are in the picture, not taking the picture." 

"Don't pick your boogers." 

"No boogers mama. Snot."

"Wow! Cement." 

"...?" 

"Dad, hold the camera like this..." 

"Hurry! They're sitting still!"

until next time,

Brit

7 month Jackson update

aah! While I was typing the title to this post, I had a bit of a melt down. I cannot believe this little boy is already 7 months old!

Ok, ok. Enough of the mopey mama. Check this kid out:

He now has 4 sharp little teeth. All the better to chew the massive amounts of food he is in-taking! This boy can eat!

He has been officially inducted into the mama's boy club. This mama is soo tired... but it is pretty absolutely awesome that he is so infatuated with me, and wants only me, like is fine with anyone else until I come into view and then won't quit until he gets me...yeah, I love it.

He is also crazy about his big sister. Which melts my heart just the same. She is amazing with him, motherly, fun, and a bit bossy too. He loves to sit near her and play along with whatever she is doing.

He is fascinated with the dogs. He is most intrigued by Bosley. In fact the only time he is in his high chair and not too interested in the spoon of food I'm holding is when Bosley taps by... he leans so far out of his high chair to watch him I'm afraid he's going to flip out.

He prefers standing on 2 legs rather than being on all 4's. He can pull up on different things, but he's not overly interested in figuring out how to crawl anywhere yet.

He loves bath's. If I have the water running for Rylee and he hear's or see's it he starts to bounce and squeel anticipating that he's going to get in.

and he hate's his car seat. (Makes our 30 minute commute to town fun!)

Little Mister, you rock our world!

until next time,
Brit

2012 catch-up & Hello 2013

I can't believe we are already in 2013!

Some highlights from our 2012:

• Celebrated 5 years of marriage to the best guy ever
• Celebrated our 5th year of ministry here in Tarzan
• Welcomed to the world our sweet Jackson Dean
• Celebrated 2 years gone by too fast of our amazing Rylee
• Celebrated my Grandma's 90th birthday!
• Had a few mountain get-away's
• It was an Olympic year!

We had a lot of ups last year, and it really was a great year, but this year one of our family goals is to focus more on quality. One of our biggest complaints throughout the year is how busy we are. Too often we are so consumed in preparing for the next event we forget that we are not guaranteed another day, so we need to slow down and be present where we are. I fear that we have missed many opportunities to share our faith, to be a helping hand, and to be aware of the needs of those around us because we are so consumed with where we are going next.

Though we do have a lot planned for this coming year we want to become more intentional in each thing we do, not just doing it because its planned, but going about it with enthusiasm and hugging each moment as it happens.

Some goals for 2013:

• Be present
• Be less connected to technology
• Be positive and encouraging
• Be intentional

and on my personal list, be a better blogger! I really do enjoy this outlet of sharing with you and I want to do it more and do it better (but no promises!)

Because of my neglect at the end of last year, here's a quick recap of our fall and winter:

Back in October we decorated our trunk for Trunk-Or-Treat. We went with a Bronco's theme. I was a little over zealous thinking I could sew Rylee's costume in my procrastinators time frame. It did get done, with just enough time to squeeze her into it before we walked out the door. I also made Jackson's football onesie. Jeremy made the stadium, I made the field (which you can't see) and we sported our very best enthusiasm for our beloved Broncos.

We packed and wrapped a whole bunch of goodies into shoe boxes to send off with Healing Hands International so that they could hand them out to children at Christmas. 

We started Thanksgiving day off by hosting the 1st Annual Burlington Turkey Trot... Jeremy and I came in with the 1st and 2nd place finishes! (I'll let you decide who was 1st... and I'll help by saying I wasn't that far behind him!)

We spent Thanksgiving at Jeremy's parents house with his sister, her husband and a bunch of friends. It was perfect.

After Thanksgiving we loaded the car and drove up to Estes Park to spend a couple days. We made it to the town's Christmas parade, and enjoyed wandering around the stores and shops. Estes Park is one of Jeremy and I's most favorite places and it is just as beautiful in the winter.

We had a great Christmas. We spent Christmas morning at home and then packed up and headed to Gainesville to see my family. We had to pull over and find a room on the way because the roads were so icy. We finally made it safely and enjoyed getting to visit and catch up with family.

Looking forward to all the laughs, hiccups, and joys to come this 2013! 

until next time, 

Brit

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