Sugar And Spice And Everything Nice...But Mostly Sugar!!

I just had to capture this day. Avery has some really fun friends in our neighborhood. Ginny and Alexa came over to play along with Alexa's little sister, Kiaya and they all conjured up the great idea to eat candy and watch "Sleeping Beauty". Tongues were all the colors of the rainbow. They shared flavors with each other. It was just really sweet...and sticky...and well, I am trying to stay positive...we'll say FUN to clean up. It didn't really matter, though, they were just good friends having a good time. It was precious!!

A 5K???... Okay!!!

The youth in our ward have been planning for months to participate in a trek at Martin's Cove in Wyoming this June. In May, the whole ward was invited to the first ever " Ready For The Cove" 5K or 10K Fun Run/Walk to prepare them for the hiking they would be doing there. We had a pretty good turn out and not a shabby day for the event. We packed up the double stroller and put on our running shoes (or in my case, WALKING SHOES) and had a great time. Cameron ran ahead while I stayed with the stroller crowd. Kendal actually came in second place (thanks to his trusty bike)!! It was a hoot to watch everyone really push themselves. I only wish I had that kind of stamina!!

Moments of Easter...

Our family has such a great time for Easter. I love it when we get invited to Easter egg hunts in SOMEONE ELSES YARD. I love the pot luck dinners and homemade rolls. I love pastel dresses and button down shirts. I love the whole reason for Easter. I love spring and sunshine and the whole thing. I just LOVE EASTER!!

We colored eggs and stuffed eggs with candy, told the story of Jesus and his miraculous resurrection. The Easter Bunny came to our house...and Grandma's house. Tari was even Mary Magdalene in Primary that day. Easter was just in full bloom at the Bryan's this year. I hope it becomes a family tradition of memories and fun every year!!! Happy Easter to all of you!!!

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.