Snow Day 3.28.09

Well, I had to have some pictures of Beau enjoying his first "real" snow day of 2009. And Brenley must have been getting a little cabin fever because she wouldn't rest until EVERYTHING in our house was out of their drawers and cabinets. She was busy. And I was too........taking pictures of everything. No need to try to put the stuff away.....she would have just got it back out!

Alicia's wedding and the last week of March

We headed down to Grapevine, Texas last week. We left Thursday night to stay at my parents house and then got up the next day and continued our journey. These were some of our most blissful moments in the car..........


The kids could not have been better. The hotel was AMAZING! It was like a Vegas hotel in the middle of Texas. We got to swim, shop, and spend time with my brother and his family, along with catching up with some of our dear friends. And who can forget the grubbin' chicken place we found on the way down............Chicken Express.............mmmm......finger lickin' good!!

The wedding was Saturday night at the hotel, and Brian and I enjoyed some grown up time, while the kids stayed with Brooke and Tyler at their house.

Alicia was a beautiful bride, of course, and we really enjoyed ourselves at her and Steve's wedding.
Sunday morning we got up and were on the road by 8:30 AM. We made really good time and were pulling into Wichita by 3:00. Again, the kids were great, but unfortunately, our trip hit a snag. Brenley was burning up with fever by the time we got home. Ah man! Not again.

The next day I stayed home with her and we got her and myself into the doctor. She had an ear infection and I got more antibiotics for my sinus infection. And then my blessed mother came up to stay with her for the next few days, as I headed back to Texas for a day trip for work.

Finally by Wednesday of this week she was better. Grandma went back home and we resumed some normalcy in our house until the snow and sleet hit Friday! Ugh! Are you kidding me? It's March 28th for pete's sake. As of Saturday at 11:00 AM, we are looking at several inches of sleet underneath probably 6 inches of snow. I would take a picture to post it, but I am being too lazy and avoiding the outside as much as possible.

Whew! That was our week. A lot of ups and downs, but we made it. Here is hoping March goes out like a lamb.........

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Brenley - 13 months

Well, I was debating on when I should stop recording Brenley's monthly updates, but she is just so darn cute, so I guess I'll just continue.


Let's see........Brenley turned 13 months on Friday. Here she is being ornery (as usual) today. It's getting harder and harder to take her picture and get her to sit still!

She has had a big month. Not only did she celebrate her birthday but she moved up at daycare into her big girl room. It hasn't been an easy transition, nor was it easy for her Mama. Her first week (with Brian out of town), daycare called and she was running a 102 temp fever. She went for a total of one day that week. I couldn't get her over her little fever virus. Thank goodness for my parents and Brian's Dad. They were lifesavers that week helping watch her so I could go to work. And finally almost a full week later, she was herself again. So we headed back to daycare, although it has taken almost two weeks for her to get used to her new room, teachers, and schedule. No more crib, no highchair......she is officially a big girl trying to learn to walk! :) But we are getting there. I'm definitely not in a hurry. I'm kind of getting used to her on my hip!


Brenley got another bottom tooth this month, taking her total up to 8. I also trimmed her bangs for the first time. They were getting so long and she refuses to keep the clips in her hair. Pulls them right out, so I didn't have any more options but to trim her hair for the first time.


Her brother also had a big week last week. He was STAR of the WEEK in his room. We got to eat lunch with him and take treats one day. He got to take pictures to school and a couple of his favorite things. It was all about him. And when asked what he wants to be when he grows up..........and ice cream man! Of course he did. And of course it was posted on the front board by the door for everyone to see. He makes us so proud. He will definitely be a good ice cream man if he doesn't eat all of his profits!


Beau also started t-ball practice this week. He is officially the biggest boy on the team. We had to buy a new glove, cleats and pants. This boy is getting huge! He eats like a horse and is still lean and mean. He is just the best little guy.


We love our kids so much. They are our world! Until next time........

Go Pokes!

Need I say more? Put her in her OSU Jammies and she brings out the guns! Go Pokes!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

It's not Brenley's first Valentine's Day, but just look what the difference a year makes!

It has been a wonderful day so far. Beau celebrated Valentine's Day with his class yesterday. Girls got Princess valentines with big "faux" cocktail rings, and the boys got NASCAR Valentine's with a small notebook. He had a great time.

And this morning we all exchanged Valentines with each other and then headed to Beau's ball game. Great day as a family!

Brenley May is ONE!!!

Are you kidding me? A month has went by already and nothing to report between 11 months and 12 months. Well, not exactly. I guess I've just been saving up. Here goes.......

On January 8th, my oldest brother Troy celebrated his birthday. Then we welcomed our 5th nephew (#11 grandchild on the Levings side) into the family on January 10th. Carter Lee Levings is the son of my middle brother Travis and his wife Julee. He joins big brothers Dylan Kyle and Brady Aaron. We got to meet Carter Lee this weekend. Check out our 11th cutie!

Okay, let's see......January is really birthday central. We have Alyson's birthday on the 17th - she was 7. And my Mama's birthday was on January 19th. She came up to Wichita on her special day and we got to eat dinner together. That was more of a treat for me than it was for her and Dad, I'm sure. Then on January 22nd, Jordan celebrated her 6th birthday. Whew! Lots of fun.

We had a mini super bowl party with Brian's brother Kyle, and his son Luke last weekend. It has become kind of an annual tradition and we thoroughly enjoy it, especially because we had two babies to add to the "party" this year! Check out the little NFL fans in action.

Okay, and now on to an event that I gotta tell you made me cry a little - or honestly - a lot. My baby girl turned one on Friday. I took the day off so I could spend the day with her. We got her picture taken first thing that morning. I had visions of tutu's and crowns and a big girly pageant dress, and my precious birthday girl was going to have NONE of it. She cried and pushed those things away. So we opted for a very casual outfit, and they turned out super cute. And of course all my Mom could do was laugh and reminisce about her own daughter that shucked anything girly and itchie! :) What comes around, goes around, I guess.

Then Brenley and I went to my work so I could show her off, headed to daycare to have cupcakes with her friends, and then had lunch with Dad. Finally it was home for a nap and party prep.

We celebrated Brenley's birthday with Brian's family at our house that evening. She got lots of great toys and super cute clothes. We got her a sterling silver ring, a pink and brown beaded bracelet, and a Cabbage Patch doll named Armida Merilyn! Yes, yes, those are all Mama's favorites!

Then on Saturday we headed to Oklahoma to celebrate with my family. Wow. Good times all around. Beau got to ride a horse for the first time. Sister got lots of lovin' and more cute clothes and trinkets. Me Ma and Pa Pa got her a beautiful bookcase that Pa Pa handcrafted. It's gorgeous. And I think she might like it too!

Between last month and this month, sister has gotten so big. She is diggin' her food more and more, although veggies are out. And she violently shakes her head no at the veggies. She loves meat and starch and dairy. We are working hard on getting her to transition to the sippy cup full time, and she is doing really well. She walks around everything and can stand on her own for a quick few seconds and then she realizes what she has done and falls to her butt. The funniest things she does besides the big "no" head shakes we get is when she is done eating or drinking, she says, "ah dun." C-U-T-E! That's about all the words she has added to her vocabulary, but let the record show she wanted me today and she said, Mum Ma. First time the name and me went together! Yeah.

To recap the month, her first year, and my feelings right now.........I have to tell you, this time went by so fast and has been a blur. I'm so glad I have been able to capture a lot of it in this blog. She is the light of my life (along with her brother) and it makes me very sad to see my baby move into the toddler world. Yes, I am so happy and proud to watch her grow and so blessed that she is healthy and happy. But it hurts a little. But I'll get over it, just like every other mother does. I guess the saying goes.........they'll ALWAYS be our babies, right?