I had some left-over flannel from a baby blanket, so I made this simple "bed" for Bryn's little baby doll.
Bryn has been asking for an American Girl Doll, so her older girl cousins will think she's cool....but we decided on this $2.50 Target doll instead. We'll have to think of something else to make her the popular cousin.
Bryn has gotten good use out of this bed the last few days, letting her baby and all the little beanie-babies take turns napping in it. I love girly projects. 
Bryn LOVES to help me stir, add ingredients, and knead bread dough. Everytime she sees me making dinner she pulls a chair up or points for me to get out the step-ladder.
It's cute, but messy. And once you get her involved it's nearly impossible to pull her away.
Always trying to do tricks.
She loves to "brush" her teeth. We've really got to distract her with something to get the toothbrush away from her.
Loves to sit at her little table and color. The crayon marks are always wild and fast. She's working through some inner strife.
Loves running through the nearby parks...
...and loves feeling the rush of the wind through her hair. It makes her feel alive.
She LOVES putting on clothes. She always comes out with shirts around her neck or my clothes around her neck. She loves necklaces, loves shoes, loves putting chapstick (with the lid on) on her lips. This is a familiar scene: Her at the door, ready to go outside, with random clothing items, and the keys (or my purse.)
This picture is so typical. On the bench, cat in hand, ran off before I could put her pants on, a pearl necklace and an elastic headband around her neck (both of which she picked out and put on), staring out the window at the kids in the courtyard or people walking their dogs
(1) Jae graduates from BYU today with his Masters and I really wish I was there for it. Partly to support Jae, partly to see what my graduation would have been like if I had walked, and partly (mostly?)because I'm sure the fam is going to get a nice treat afterwards! Creamery ice cream?? (Jae, keep your chin up. You know you'll always be more important to me than Mint Chocolate Chip!)
(2) Little Rie (in the middle of the above pic) just finished her freshman year at BYU and moved home. I wish I was there with Marie to sew, talk, laugh, talk, try on mom's 80's outfits/Jr. Miss gowns, have hair spray wars, talk, and listen to her play the piano. (And get fashion advice from her!)
(3) I want to see Logan, but Bryn wants to see him even more. Uncle of the year! She can't wait to see him, so they can make forts, play with his balls, read books, color, hold his pigeons, and wrestle. Log's the best!
(4) The next time I go to Utah I will see this little young man, home from his mission! I can't wait to see Jord and have his funny sense of humor back in our family. (Not to mention, his miniature golf skills!)
Who needs a maid when you have your own Cinderella to wash your floors!?
I have so much to learn as a mom/homemaker. And I've been realizing that more and more lately. One challenge for me is keeping the house clean with Bryn (a.k.a. the "Tornado") whirling around all day. I was reminded of how my mom involved us in the housework from a young age. When we were young*, we loved cleaning the floors, dusting, sweeping with a mini broom, windexing the glass doors, even cleaning bathrooms (with mini yellow gloves), etc. (*The turn-it-into-a-game method didn't work as well when we were teenagers).
I just found out my painting "Internal Movement" (see below) was accepted into the Annual Spring Salon art show at the Springville Museum of Art. The Spring Salon is always an enjoyable exhibit. For anyone interested in checking it out, the show will officially open this Friday, and will be on display until July 3rd.
One of my artistic goals while in this busy stage of motherhood is to at least enter one juried art show per year. (To keep my resume current, and keep me painting). Now I can cross off 2010!
Our neighbors set up a fun slip 'n slide yesterday. Bryn was loving it! She's totally a natural!!! Right, Natalie!? .......Actually the cold hose water was a bit of a shock for her, and we are horrible parents for sending her down twice. But Bryn has since forgiven us.
Brrrrr...
We took Bryn inside after a little while, but then she was glued to the window, watching the fun below. I love our neighbors! 
I just finished this little skirt for Bryn. I'm trying to use up old fabric/supplies and cut down my little "craft" budget, so this fabric is leftover from random past projects. I started it at "Project Night" a few nights ago, thinking it would be a quick hour-long project. But it look me way too long to finish it. I decided I need to start using PATTERNS! Then I won't have to figure things out, I can just follow the pattern and sew!
One more project I can check off from my list of unfinished/not-even-started projects! 
And now....Brynlee has one! I did lots of research trying to find the one I wanted to buy, but of course the ones that fit my needs were too expensive for my little budget. So I convinced Josh to help me build a table. The wood/nails/screws cost about $30 (but we ended up with extra supplies for future projects). There are cheap tables at IKEA ($25 or so), but they are too small for Brynlee to grow into it.
The table top is 24 inches by 30 inches, and the table is 22.5 inches high. 
(The paint color is off in this photo. Too blue.)
Bryn LOVES it. She's been sitting at it all afternoon, coloring, reading books, and playing with animals. And I'm just giddy, thinking of little tea parties! 
We had a fun FHE activity tonight at a cool park nearby. It's always fun to get out of the house and do something as a family. Bryn was in heaven, of course.
Lately I've spent Bryn's naptimes making shirts. Well, embellishing pre-made shirts. I bought this shirt for $9 at H&M, then found similar colored satin at JoAnns for $1. Then cut the satin in strips and sewed flower/circles on. Then I put fray-check on the raw edges, so it wouldn't completely fray (more than it already had).
I found this shirt at Old Navy on clearance for $5. I made the long sleeves into short sleeves, then used the sleeve material to make the ruffle around the neckline. The edges are raw, since the knit won't fray.
I want to experiment and make more of these babies, because (A) They're cheaper than buying already-embellished shirts, and (B) I need more opportunities to strike a pose and do my serious face.
I love playing at the beach with Bryn.
She runs all over, splashes in the water, chases birds, rolls around in the sand, and tries to buddy up with the older kids.
A few months ago Josh and I commissioned my twelve-year-old brother Logan to make two bird drawings for Brynlee's room. We absolutely love the drawings and Bryn loves pointing to them and saying "tweet tweet tweet".
We've had a great weekend watching General Conference as a family. (Although I really wish I was in Utah, watching conference with my family or Josh's fam!)