Memorial Day and Summer Fun!

Well Summer is here and I have to say I am relived. I can finally sleep in with my sleepy heads and not worry about waking up in time for school. I am very thankful that the majority of my kiddos sleep in until around 8 or 830. If they are up before that they know they need to be quiet until Grumpy Morning Mommy wakes up. I am still working and have been taking on more hours as I am now decorating the majority of the time. Nate has been home and we are thankful he still has a job. With the way Construction is right now, its been very stressful. But His Bosses say we will have a job until they close the doors on the company. Hoping that never happens.

Our family was able to take a trip up to Flagstaff back in May. We went with my family and a couple of Friends to Cinder Lake which is right out of Flagstaff. It was the first time we had a trailer of our own to sleep in. I will never share a camper or sleep in a tent again. It was absolutely awesome. Of course we took the quads and the kids rode Sun up to Sun Down. Even Little Brody loved the bikes. He just sat there on them when they were parked....Best Baby Sitter ever. We got up there on Friday and didnt leave until Monday. I was in desperate need of some days off.

Everything was going great up until Sunday morning. I know we should not have been letting the kids ride on Sunday but it is definately hard to keep them off while on Vacation. Well Aunt Dione had a little motorcycle called a Thump Bike. Every boy there was trying it out. Even the big Boys Nate, and Gene were trying it out. Well Justin had been Begging and Begging to get on and finally Nate gave in. Well 50 feet down the road he wrecked it. His right leg landed on the exhaust and he had 2nd degree burns from his upper thight to his lower calf. Our biggest concern was infection but we are excited to report that we just have a good size scar now and no infection ever occured. Justin did miss the entire last week of school. My star student was so sad but he thinks his scar will make him cool now.

Summer is in full swing. Swimming Swimming and more Swimming. We pretty much live in the pool this time of year. It is a bit harder to keep track this year with 5 kids in tow. I just keep counting heads every couple of minutes. Brody is a big water baby. Just as suspected he has no fear and will just jump in. Hes the one I really have to keep my eye on. We did go see the movie UP with Randy and Nicole but other than that it has been pretty quiet so far. We will see if the quietness continues or if it gets NUTs as usual!

Time To Update!

Well its been a while to say the least... Lots of goings on here in the Brimhall house. Nate has been working in Bouse AZ. They got a job with Central Arizona Project and Nate being the lone Superintendent got the joy of traveling there every week. He is now done with that project and I am so thankful to have him home again. I have started Decorating Cakes at Frys. I really love doing it and can honestly see myself doing it for a long time. I have almost been with Frys for 1 year. I can hardly believe it. Time sure flies when your working hard.

Hayden is our 12 year old and was ordained a Deacon in January. He is such a sweet boy and we are so proud of him. He also made the Basketball team. Once again he is a 6th Grader on a 7th grade team. The season is almost over and we have loved going to the games and seeing the improvements he has made.

Justin is such a sweet boy. I don't know what I would do with out him. He is always happy to hold Brody and give me a break. Even coming in and getting him in the morning so Mom can get a few more minutes of sleep. Justin is our star student. But He got an F on his 1 semester grade report. We left to go to Bailees wedding and he had missed a major test. I thought this poor boy was going to die. Of course his grades are back to all A's.

Maddie got Baptized in February. I intended on sending out cute invites but life got in the way. It was an awesome day. She was baptized with 3 other kids so it was standing room only. We had our Friends and Family over afterward for a lunch and dessert. She is also a very good student. She has gotten on the Scholars of Distinction every quarter this year. She is such a sweet girl and we are sooo proud of her.

Gunnar is growing like a weed. Loves to play basketball, football and baseball. We both think he is going to be our best athlete. He seriously can compete with Hayden. I can not believe he will be in Kindergarten this next year. Actually I cant wait...hehehe! He has been going to a babysitter and I am actually glad because I was worried about the transition but now I think he will be fine.

Brody is running around like the big boys. Sometimes he thinks he is as big as them. Him and Gunnar are best friends and its so fun to watch them play. He isn't talking at all but I think he just knows he doesn't have to. As soon as Gunnar heads off to school I bet I won't be able to keep him quiet. He is my sweet Sugar!

No Utah For Me!

Well the month is almost over again and I cant believe we only have 8 days till Christmas. With me working and all the Tree is still not trimmed. But the lights are up outside. Thanksgiving was Nuts as I ended up working 43 hours that week but I brought home my biggest check yet. Woo Hoo! We went to Utah last week for my Niece Bailees wedding. Such a sweet girl we are sooo Happy for her. We left Wednesday night and drove to Flagstaff. We stayed at Aunt Diones and thought it was freezing. The kids loved the pretty lights on the cool houses up there and we had Hot Coco to warm us up.


We got to ride the train from Sandy Utah to Salt Lake. The kids thought that was sooo neat. We got off the train right in front of Temple Square to see the lights at the Salt Lake Temple. WOW! What a beautiful night. It was very cold but it was worth it to see the things I have only seen in conference and on the BYU channel. I really enjoyed this part of the trip. Friday was Bailees bridal shower. The weather was still really nice, a bit cold but nice. Driving through Utah I was in Awe of all the beautiful homes. I was telling Nate lets move here just for the housing! Haha. Bailees aunts house was really neat. Not huge but definately set up for a large family like mine. That night we went to a dinner for Bailee and Zach. It was nice because they had set up a babysitter for my kids and we got to go with just Brody. Bailees old roomates watched the kids. Her old apartment was literally right next door to the BYU stadium. The boys loved that. Saturday we knew there was going to be snow but the question was how much. It started to snow around 10 am and it was sticking really good. I am just not used to that. I am used to Snowflake where it takes a while to stick. Well by the time we were to leave for the temple there was a good 1-2" and it was still coming down.


Waiting for Bailee and Zach to come out was rough on all the kids but well worth it. Taking pictures was a bit daunting. It was just really really cold by this point. We were really excited to get in the car and hurry off to Lunch at CHUCK A RAMA! I know sounds gross but it was really good. Bailees reception was that night at a really nice place with such neat decorations I couldn't resist but to take the kids Christmas card pics there. Sunday morning was greeted with nervousness. Me and Nate were both nervous to drive home. The roads were pretty good for a while and then would get really bad. Most drivers were haulin and my Father was one of them. But after all the Millions of stops to clean the windshield (our washer fluid froze) we made it safely home after a 15 1/2 hour drive. Yes our Bums were very very very numb! We are so thankful to have been up there for Bailees wedding. Our kids had fun even if it mostly consisted of watching TV in the car or in the Hotel. I will never move to Utah or anywhere that cold. Yuck-- I must really be a Native Arizonan at heart.

Presents in his Diaper!!

We had a very stressful weekend. I was off work on Friday and we have all been battling the cold and me and Nate think we had a tinge of the FLU! We were just relaxing and trying to feel better Friday night, getting ready for bed around 8:00pm. (light weights)

I was sitting at the computer trying to get my coupons together so I could go shopping in the morning. Well wee little Brody comes crawling up to me. I notice that he has something in his mouth so I say spit it out. He of course turns his head. I proceeded to stick my finger in to pull it out and he starts to bite down. I felt something but had no idea what it was. I put my finger back in and I could only feel part of it. Brody began to choke and to try and get it back up. At this point I am panicking. Nate comes running in and turns him upside down and pat his back. Well Its GONE!! Nates yelling at me to get him to the hospital, I am crying, Maddie is crying, the boys are just freaking out too. It was quite crazy with everyone in a Tizzy. Brody calms down and I called the Doctor. They said that because we didn't know what he swallowed we would have to take him into the Hospital. So we drop the kids off at my Moms and head to the ER! Well 4 1/2 hours later we find out he swallowed 2 lanyard clips. They attach keys to your badge or to your key ring. They were clasped together and folded in half. Freakin Fabulous. Doc said that he may not be able to pass them on his own and that we would need to call a Pediatric Gastrointerologist. They looked really big on the Xray scan. So I was really worried about my little man. I know your wondering why I had those. My friend had me make her some Pacifier Clips and brought over a bag that had all kinds of things in it. We had just cleaned and vaccuumed the floor and swept in the kitchen. I still don't know where he found them. This is a pic of 1 next to a dime.


Well this morning after breakfast I caught him Doin The Deed. We have passed the little presents Thank goodness!! We just talked to the doc and we just have to make sure he doesn't pass any blood in his stool. He was quite the trooper and an awesome POOPER!!! We are all so thankful he is ok.

Halloween Haunts and Howls!

Well I have to say I am glad Halloween is over. Work was Crazy and the kids were too.

Trunk or Treat was Thursday and I had to work so Poor Nate had to take all of them alone. They all looked good all dressed up. Silly mom took Hayden's costume with me to work in the car. So Nate had Hayden wear his Motorcross pants and shirt and put on his helmet for the party. Justin went as a Dementor from the Harry Potter movies. Maddie was a Sweatheart Bat. Gunnar went as a Fireman---Awesome costume from Costco. And Little Brody was Squirt from Nemo. He was supposed to be the Lion I made for Gunnar 3 years ago. But my good friend Debbie had this one and it was too cute to pass up and the maintence work on the Lion costume was a bit overwhelming so it got shelved. I even dressed up as a golfer for work as we had a huge party for customers. I was in charge of the cookie frosting table. At the end of the night we tallied over 400 cookies being frosted. Yes it was a MAD house in there.

Halloween night was calmer than normal for our family. We normally feel so rushed but this year not so much. We had very few trick or treaters. Our street is usually just Jumping but with all the foreclosures it was very Calm. Hayden was so excited to dress up as a scary Scarecrow and scare the kids as they came up to trick or treat. Justin and Hayden both stayed home and handed out candy. He had about 6 or 7 groups come and that was it. He was pretty disappointed that he didn't get to scare mor people. We got finished with the little ones and headed over to my parents house.

I am normally a crazy person trying to get costumes done, Hair done and house done the night of Halloween but this year I took it easy. I didn't sew one costume. (makes me sad.) I just figured its one night and I just don't have the energy to stress. Well now I know why!!!--- We are all sick now. Even little Brody has a cold. His 1st ever. He is just miserable along with the rest of the Family. He was soo out of sorts Halloween night we just put him in a Pumpkin Jumper I had bought him so he could be comfortable.

Heres to Robotussin, Nyquil, Joys Liniment and Vicks. 1st cold of the Season be GONE, never to return. Thanksgiving is 3 weeks away and Christmas 4 weeks after that. OH great more stress and shopping to do. FABULOUS!

WOW Time Flies!!

Well I just realized October is over. We always have an eventful October but this year seems just nuts. Justin turned 10 on October 3rd. We just had a little party at my parents house with a few of the aunts and uncles. I just don't ever know my schedule at work until 3 days before the next week. So the party didn't get planned enough in advance and his cousins couldn't make it. We had a great time though and lots of cake for the few of us. We bought the Trick candles for him and we were all laughing so hard watching him blow them out only to have to them relight and have to do it again.

Brody is now almost 10 months old and crawling everywhere. He went from being pretty immobile to being all over the place and pulling himself up on EVERYTHING!!! Yes we are going through the phase of the big bruises on the noggin. He is walking around the furniture and he even starts to hold on to the wall and walk down the hallway. Gunnar slammed his ring finger in the door last week and he has lost his fingernail now. I guess Gunnar is getting payback from when Maddie broke his arm twice in 3 months.

You can tell that I have 5 kids from the lollipop picture. Yeah Yeah Yeah I know we aren't supposed to give them sugar. It was so funny though. He would scream at us if we tried to take it away. What a Sweetie!!! I remember the day that Hayden got his first Lollipop. We had just moved into our apartment in Flagstaff and Dione and Bailee came to help. I think Bailee gave him a lick and it was over after that. A few months later Dione introduced him to a fudgesicle. Such good memories. Thanks Dione and Bay---He's still a sugar-a-holic!! ;}






Gunnar found this Treat at Target in the Halloween Isle. I thought it was hilarious. Gunnar is the spoiled one from what the other kiddos say. Everytime we go to town he gets to eat out, gets a $1 toy and probably ends up with some kind of treat. I have to remind them that when they were his age they got the same things. This one he got for getting 4 shots at the doctor. He was such a big boy and only cried on the last one. He is still only in the 15th percentile for weight and about the 25th for height. I'm scared that he will be short like Uncle Troy and have a Nepolean Complex. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE ---NO!!!

Back on the WAGON!

It's official-- I am completely committed to my diet again. I haven't dieted since Feb 07 and now I am so on the wagon its ridiculous. As some of you know I lost 65 lbs in 2006. I felt great, looked great and just miss those feelings sooo much. I got pregnant in December of 2006 only to miscarry soon after we found out. I kept on track even with that heartbreak. I had lots of motivation as I was going to see Paige in Florida. As soon as I got back I got lazy gained like 10 lbs back and then I got pregnant with Brody. I exercised a little bit in the pool but for some reason when I exercised I would start to contract. This scared me as Gunnar came so early. So exercise went by the way side. Thanks to a holiday season that I ate whatever I wanted, I gained 40 lbs. UGGGGHHH! \

Since Brody was born I have been making excuse after excuse why I shouldn't diet why I can't diet. Well no more excuses. It's no longer an option not to exercise and eat better. No more bringing home Cheesecake from work at 10pm. (yeah I know I work in a bakery--but I am sick of the sweets now)

I started last Tuesday and have fully committed myself to eating right and exercising everyday except 1 day a week ( don't know if I will even take that off until I hit goal) Nate was so impressed with me on Saturday. We went and cleaned the office and on the way home he wanted a drink from Sonic--love Happy hour. Well he got his RT 44 Cherry Dr Pepper and the kids got an Ice Cream cone. I gave the order and didn't order my fave Cranberry Limeade. He asked me "your not getting anything" I said nope I cant have that crap anymore. He couldn't believe I didn't want anything. Too much sugar for me. Plus I am already dropping pounds. I've lost about 6.5 lbs. I know that its because I cut out the soda and I am dropping water weight but with those results I just can't stop the progress I am already making!

I am totally OBSESSED once again with getting into shape. I can already feel the crunches shrinking the blubber belly away. I already have more energy. I am Sooo EXCITED to be back on the WAGON again!! Watch out Fat pants you will soon be headed to D.I.!