We're.....WHAT???

Oh the words you love to hear from your eternal husband. Some of my favorites are: "I love you", "You are so cute", "I am so proud of you", "I knew you could do it", "Is there anything I can help you do?", Here, let me carry that for you"...and my truly ultimate favorite..."We're WHAT???"

March 29th, 2009, I had been tired and not able to get over it for at least a week. I thought I had some bug. I had a feeling it was more than a bug, but even though I kinda knew I didn't really know and I wasn't sure I could handle that kind of news (four is a BIG number for me when it comes to children in my eternal care).

I had an old pregnancy test under the bathroom sink from at least a year ago when we found out about Drew and thought if it was positive we could blame it on the expired test. Well, as you can see from the picture, we had an affirmative. Now, I work in an OB/GYN office and I know no matter how old that test is, it is really tough to get a positive and not really be pregnant. It is much easier to get a false negative.

Well, we are expecting and couldn't be happier. We are thinking this may be the end of the Bryan Train, with this one as the caboose. It is always exciting to think about names, boy or girl themes for the room, who he or she will look like, etc. We are just going to enjoy it as we always have and be thankful for all the blessings we have been sent. I can think of four really great ones right now.

Oh, and Cameron got over the shock and is now saying things like: "How are you feeling?" and "I love you" again.

Shoes You Can Eat...

Okay. I have not blogged in a great while. I hope to remedy that with a few posts tonight. They may not be in any particular order, but I feel I must get these moments into my blog for upcoming blog books. So, without further ado: These are the days of our lives.







The last week of March or so...My great friend and neighbor Lynette Lasley and I began a project I was not sure would turn out well. She called to ask for help making a flip-flop birthday cake. I had no idea what she was even thinking of attempting, but we gave it a shot. Lynette even found neon colors of food coloring to put in the frosting (We have come a long way from the regular food coloring boxes of old). This was our finished product, complete with Sprees for the polka dot look on the sole, and licorice for the straps. Sooo fun to do.

How Could I Forget??

Kendal's First Dip in the Atlantic Ocean.


Look at that face. He used to love the swings at the park- No matter how cold.


I love this picture of him in time out. He still hates to sit.


Oh, how he loves things that fly. This helicopter was his favorite color. He was in heaven.

Snowy days are all about fun with Kendal. He loves to just be a boy. He's just one great kid!!

WOW!! I feel like the best mom ever...forgetting to create a birthday blog for our oldest son on his birthday. I cannot believe it. Well, knowing myself, as I do, I can believe it, I would just hope I wouldn't.

Kendal Noel Bryan was born in Wauwatosa, WI in April 1st, 2003, just 9 months after Cameron and I got married. Yep, we got plenty of eyebrow lifts from this phenomenon even though he was 5 3/7 weeks early. He was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. And so so so very tiny. At just over 5 pounds, there was not a whole lot to him.

I remember when we were driving home from the hospital, I told Cameron not to drive too fast, as though slow driving would protect him from everything. It is so crazy to think that was 6 years ago. He has grown to be some kid. He is bright and inquisitive and all his own person. He is going to grow up to do great things. I have no doubt in my mind!!

Well, here's to six more, Kendal!! We love you so!!

The Good Samaritan

In January, we made a pact with our good friends and neighbors (the Lasleys) that each Monday night we would take turns thinking of FHE for our families so that we could encourage each other not to miss. Well, we haven't missed once this year, I am happy to report, even when our children did not create the most optimal learning environment.

This night we had all had a long day, and the Lasley's decided to call it a night. I thought it would be great to still have FHE, but SHORT and SWEET...and SHORT!! So we acted out the story of the Good Samaritan from the Bible.

The kids really enjoyed it. I was surprised that they wanted to take a part, and which part they chose. Avery wanted to be the man who was beaten, and Kendal wanted to be the good Samaritan(before he changed his mind to Levite).

I got to bandage Avery and tell them how important it is to watch for people around us who need help and to be strong enough to help them, even if our friends won't. Sometimes we might be the only ones who will help, but we need to help anyway.

I don't think I will ever know how much FHE really teaches them. Sometimes I think they haven't heard a word of it. I do hope someday, when my children get the chance, they will do what is right, because they heard about a hurt someone on the side of the road and a man who picked him up and took care of him. I hope my kids will choose the way of the Good Samaritan, not because of the good FHE lesson, but because my kids are just genuinely GOOD. I pray and believe they truly are.

It's About Time...

At just under 14 months, Drew is finally walking on his own!!
Notice how he walks to the beat of his own cheering section!!
Hilarious!!
Yeah, Drew!!!It's about time, Buddy!!

What Lies Within...

One week Kendal was assigned a scripture/ prayer. Then two weeks later, he came home with a slip to give a talk. Our Primary is really big, so I wondered why Kendal was getting so many opportunities to speak. While gabbing with a friend who was the secretary in the Primary, she told me the two full classes of Sunbeams were not being asked to participate in opening exercises because they thought it would scare them to get up in front of people. Cameron reassured her that Avery had voiced wanting to be up there...

The next week, Avery came home with a slip for a talk.

Avery was soooo excited to give a talk in Primary. She has seen her big brother give a few since the year began and she always asked why she couldn't go up there behind the microphone and "say a prayer".

She was assigned a talk on families.

She was so composed it made me giggle a little. I could tell she wanted to be so grown up.

She walked right up to the front, pulled on the little steps on the back of the pulpit, stepped right up (her head barely cleared the pulpit at all), reached up and pulled that mic right down to her lips. I was amazed.

She said, almost completely by herself:
Families were special. We need to love each other and make each other happy. We can share our toys and say nice things and help each other. I know we can be a family forever and live with Heavenly Father and Jesus someday.

Then when I whispered in her ear to say, "In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.", she whispered to me, "Now I say the prayer?" I just whispered that Ashlyn had just given the prayer and that she was giving the talk. She just smiled and stepped down and went to sit with her class.

For me, today, it is just like the scriptures say, "The weak shall confound the wise". We can never underestimate what our children can do. These are choice spirits sent at this time to give of their special gifts and talents. Ralph Waldo Emerson quote - What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.

Avery is something special. All our children (yours and mine) have so much within them. Who knows what they will do in this world. It is truly wonderful to see such a composed, unafraid, free spirit give so much of herself today.

I sure hope that will never change. I hope she will always look within to find her strength. I am sure it was put there by a Father who loves her very much, and was very happy to hear her thoughts on families. It was completely precious!!

Wii Finally Did It!!

Well, it's Saturday, my house is a wreck, the laundry needs attention, Avery needs her hair done (as you can see)and I need to plan our garden and get seeds, but right now, all wii can think to do is Wii!!

So , finally, finally, wii jumped on the Wii bandwagon and bought one for the family. Wii had our first Wii night last night and after only an hour or so trying to get everything set up, wii were completely enthralled with DODGEBALL!!

Wii opted to get four controllers. I am glad wii did. Wii will probably play with friends and family a lot. I see our date nights and couple dates as the kids GO TO THE BABYSITTERS and the couples Wii 'till the COW RACE comes home.

I am certainly watching and waiting for the Wii Fit. There are none in Idaho Falls anywhere until next week. I know, I checked. Wii played it a week ago at our friends' house and I LOVED IT!!! FUN, FUN, FUN.

Let me know what your favorite games are as wii are wanting to add to our new toy.

It certainly is a whole world different than our Nintendo 64 we have had for years. Wii didn't even buy it new. It was at a yard sale with six or seven games, contollers and all, and the whole thing cost us about $15. It has been a good toy for a long time. A LONG TIME being the point of the upgrade.

If you would like to Wii with us, Wii would be happy to have you!!