Polar Express

On Monday night we made a trip to Lubbock to take the kids on the Polar Express. Jackson LOVES trains so it was so much fun to see how excited he was when we drove up! I love the expressions on his face in these pictures!

I love Jackson's excited smile in the picture! 

We asked a kind man sitting across from us to get our picture...this was the best one! 

Hot Cocoa 

I was so surprised at Rylee, she is typically very very shy around new people. But when the elves and Santa came onto the train she came right out of her shell and talked and talked to them! 

Ry has been pretty worried after seeing Santa because she forgot to tell him that she wanted baby doll stuff, she was so excited she said all she told him she wanted was a baby doll. We've reassured her that he's pretty good about knowing what to get little girls for Christmas ;)

Still so shocked at this outgoing little girl giving Santa a big hug!

We all had such a great time! Christmas is soo much more fun when you have kids :)

until next time,

Brit

Baltimore and a new cousin!

A few weeks ago we took a trip to Baltimore MD to visit Jeremy's sister, her husband and their brand new sweet baby boy, Rowan. The trip started off great trying to get 2 toddlers and 8 pieces of luggage from car, to shuttle to check in, Thankfully Mimi was with us on the way there so we had an extra set of hands to heard the littles!

The kids did great on the flights except for the part where Jackson got motion sick on our first landing and cried and then threw up his lunch all over me. Aside from smelling like throw up our next flight went great! We finally made it through a long day of traveling and made it to the house!

The next day the kids were elated to be playing at a house with stairs and checking on Baby Rowan.... Jeremy and I got hit with food poisoning (we think...) and were pretty much in bed for 3 days. Again, so thankful for Mimi!

We took a weekend trip to the Appalachians where we went on a scenic train ride. Jackson was thrilled to see and be on the train. On the way back down Jeremy and Josh did a quick hike on a portion of the Appalachian trail, something on Jeremy's to-do list (actually he wants to do a through hike of the entire trail...only takes about 6 months!)

We visited Philadelphia and ate a famous cheese steak, yum. We also went to a children's museum while we were there.

We spent some time near the harbor and in Pennsylvania too. Jeremy and I also ate our very first crab cake, it was one of my favorite experiences from the whole trip - YUM!

I should also mention that I left our camera battery charger at home, and I left my phone on our first flight so it spent our vacation in Seattle - so we got very few pictures.

Jeremy and I did a short hike on the MA and PA trail. It was beautiful! This rock that Jeremy is on is where the rock climbing scene in Failure to Launch was filmed. 

We got there at the very end of the pretty fall colors, but it was still very colorful compared to our green to brown fall leaves here. 

New cousin!

Last night in the city. 

The harbor at sunset

Staying occupied in the airport.

The pictures don't do justice to the great time we had while we were there! We all can't wait to visit again!

until next time,
Brit

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