Raffi

I have quite a collection of Christmas music, ranging from Mormon Tabernacle Choir to Martina McBride, and from Jon Schmidt (maybe my favorite album) to N*Sync (burned from my Mom! Ha ha.) But my collection is lacking one key album. Raffi. Am I the only one that grew up listening to "Must be Santa" and "On Christmas Morning"? There's something a little unsettling about the album cover, but I must admit that he has some catchy tunes. No Christmas is complete without some Raffi Christmas tunes!

While Josh is Away

Josh is on a camp-out with the Scouts to Joshua Tree. Brynlee and I have certainly missed having Josh around, but we've had a pretty good time with just the two of us.

Lots of time at the park, numerous games of hide and seek, lots of snacking, a little shopping, a long walk around the neighborhood to touch every tree in sight (Bryn's idea), and finally cuddling up to watch Bryn's favorite show, Baby Einstein (I couldn't convince her to watch Sense and Sensibility).

Book Club

I have to choose the upcoming book for book club. I've thought of a few options, but does anyone have a recommendation? I know lots of you do book clubs, too. Please leave a comment if you have a good suggestion!

Our November book was "Wild Swans", a fascinating historical nonfiction of a Chinese woman Jung Chang and her family's journey as Mao Zedong reigned. The details of their life were horrific and heartbreaking. The courage and integrity of Chang and her family is unbelievable. It was a great book. (Similar to "Life and Death in Shanghai", if you've read that one.)

Brynlee's New Habit

Last week Brynlee discovered that her finger is just the right size to stick up her nose. And she's been doing it ever since. Great.

Eleven Months

Miss Brynlee did not want to get dressed, did not want to let go of the books she was "reading", and certainly did not want to sit still and pose for pictures! So here are the four pictures I got before Bryn dove off the chair and refused to get back on.

At eleven months, Brynlee....

*is curious, frisky, and silly

*eats most table foods, but especially loves bananas, yogurt, homemade mac and cheese, lasagne(minus the beef), and turkey pot pie (minus the turkey).

*claps her hands at everything, dances when she hears music, and walks around the house at such a quick pace!

*loves to climb up stairs, play on the playground, go on walks, follow the neighborhood kids around the grassy courtyard, and touch all the trees and bushes in our neighborhood.

*sleeps like a champ. She loves her crib and goes down without a fuss.

*loves to squeeze her blankets and stuffed animals, loves to cuddle and "wrestle", and loves to sit on our laps. *Is getting better at communicating and imitating the words and animal sounds we make.

We LOVE her.

My Little Shadow

I've spent a lot of time in the kitchen this weekend. And so has Brynlee. Because wherever I go, Brynlee goes. Which is super cute, but there are definitely times when I wish she'd be more interested in playing with toys in the next room, than following close behind as I make dinner or clean toilets. You know what? I take that back. I love my little shadow!

Christmas Decor under $10

I previously had zero christmas decorations. So I got a few things this year to make our house seem more Christmasy.

And of course we hung our stockings, too. Someday we'll actually have a mantle to hang them on!

Green chargers (set of 4): $1.25 at Target

Pinecones (big bag): $2.50 at Michaels with coupon

Berry garland (two strands): $2.00 each at Michaels

Red bead garland: $3.00 at Michaels

Round, glass vase (fish bowl?): $1.00 at Goodwill

Red ceramic bowls, glass hurricane, green bottles, balls of woven twigs (whatever those are called?): free, gathered from around the house.

Christmas tree: oh wait, we don't have one! (and probably won't this year)

Total: $9.75

Nothing too fancy, but perfect for our little budget...and our little apartment.

Thanksgiving

Our Thanksgiving included:

* A turkey that was moist and delish,

* my favorite recipe for rolls

* A cute little thanksgiving meal for Brynlee, which made her happy, in fact, hyper, all day long. (She loves a good holiday.)

*Creamy mashed potatoes, a nice vegetable medley, pumpkin pie and fresh whipping cream from uncle Mark,

*Playing football for Josh and some friends, *Great conversation as we sprawled out on the couch, arm chair, and floor after the meal,

*watching the movie "Up" (and loving it),

*and multiple phone calls to our parents, siblings, and other family members. It was a great day, and a wonderful time to reflect on all that we have been blessed with. We really missed being with our families, but we were fortunate to be able to share the holiday with Mark and one of our friends.

Now the countdown begins for Christmas!!!

Thanksgiving Eve

We went bowling late Wednesday night with Mark and our friend Deedee. Brynlee had been asleep for an hour before we left, and the plan was to keep her asleep in her carrier. But Bryn didn't want to miss out on the party.

She loved bouncing up and down to the music and clapping her little hands. Are we the worst parents, or what? Keeping her up til 11:30!

Mark gave us some pointers that made all the difference! My score got three times as good as the beginning, which wasn't hard to do since I started out with a 50! Ha ha. Even Brynlee was embarrassed for me. She pretended not to know me.

Fashion Island

Today we went to Fashion Island with my friend Michelle. This is where Josh works (in Newport Beach), but I had never walked around until today. It was a beautiful, hot day to walk around, see the Christmas decorations, and listen to holiday music. Brynlee and Maddy

Bryn had fun on the carousel, even though the worker called her a boy. Ha ha. And turns out, Bryn loves Wahoo's as much as I do. This is after she stuffed herself with rice and black beans. She ate way too much.

Shakin' It

This is just a little video of Bryn wandering around, shaking her maracas. A typical night at the Hawkins household.

Brynlee Loves...

reading books,

roaring like a lion,

and hanging out with her Daddy on the weekends.

All good things.

All is Well

We've had some electrical issues this weekend. Our power is now back on, but only sort of. The overhead lights work, but lamps only light to a dim flicker, the oven and stove are dead, and all the sockets have very weak, flickering power. And the electrician can't come til Monday or Tuesday. Oh brother. Oh, and we can't get any hot water. I didn't mind my cold shower, but Bryn certainly wasn't excited about taking an ice bath tonight! So we scooped her out of the tub, wrapped her bare, little body in a blanket, and zipped to my uncle Mark's home down the road. Brynlee had a warm, lengthy bath. And all is well. (Well, until tomorrow morning when we get ready for church without hot water or power for a blow dryer. Scary. And of course it's my week to teach in Relief Society. Ha ha. My options are the slick, wet look or sleeping in sponge curlers for the permed afro look. Tough decision.)

But seriously how can I complain about anything when I have such a little sweetie...who gets so giddy in the bath that she slaps her wet little hands on my legs.

Busy, busy, busy

These pictures sum up Brynlee's stage right now:

Climbing into the fridge and emptying the shelves.

Sorting through the trash bin. She squeezes through this gap ten times a day. Ouch.

Climbing into kitchen drawers? Oh really?

Pink Velour

When we take evening walks around the block I just throw on a hoodie. But that doesn't cut it for Brynlee. She puts on her pink velour suit with sparkly silver details. Call her vain, but you never know what little toddlers we could run in to along the way.

Bryn's Twin Brother

Brynlee has perfect hair for a mohawk. Short short short along the sides, and long all the way down the middle. She should have been a rock star for Halloween.

Daddy Daughter

Family Dance Party

January 2006

Family Dance Party

November 2009

Only Sabbath appropriate dancing, of course. Bryn was getting a little wild, but we kept her in line.

Loopy

Bryn woke up from her nap in such a silly mood and with really awesome bed head. And please note how her hair on top is getting longer and longer while the hair above her ears looks buzzed. Awesome.

Alma

This is our dear, dear friend Alma, who just moved to Cypress on Wednesday. She moved to Huntington Beach at the same time as us and she instantly became a special friend. Last night we got together with Alma, her two daughters, and their roommates. What a great night! We had Rona's famous lasagna, played Sequence, and did lots of karaoke! My cheeks are still sore from laughing so hard! Sweet, little Alma got up to sing and the song was "Holla Back Girl". (She ended up singing "Living la Vida Loca" instead, which was still great!) Alma has been our adoptive-mother while we've been away from our family, and she will always have a special place in our hearts. I'm so grateful for the friends we've made in Huntington Beach.

Christmas Stockings

I finished our Christmas stockings at Relief Society project night. They're pretty basic, but I'm happy with them. I found a free McCalls pattern (below) and used it for the order of the steps. I just drew my own shape, though, and changed the cuff so I could do the white layer and the little hand stitch. I made four of them...no this isn't an announcement. Ha ha. Red Fabric: Anna Maria Horner "Buttoned Up" in pomegranate

Green Fabric: Kaufman Kona Solids in avocado

Basic Pattern: http://www.mccallpattern.com/freeproject/M606freeproject.pdf

Stretch Pants

Tight little stretch pants + chubby belly and big diaper bottom = cutest thing ever. I was smiling all day. P.S. I'm still laughing about this from earlier in the day: Stranger "Oh what a handsome little boy you have!" (pointing to Brynlee, who is wearing those same hot pink stretch pants and a shirt that says "Daddy's Sweetheart") Josh tries to ignore the man. I immediately start giggling. Stranger "What's his name?" Josh "HER name is Brynlee". I'm still giggling off the side. Stranger "Oh yes. He's really going to be a LADY KILLER, that one!" I full on start laughing. Josh does a fake laugh and says "I sure hope not." as he picks up Brynlee and walks away. Ha ha ha. This has turned into such a joke.

Walking

I've been meaning to post this for a week or so. Here is Brynlee walking.

An Oldie But A Goodie

I hadn't loaded videos on the computer for a while. This is from September, but it's super cute.

Book Worm

Brynlee LOVES to read. And by "read" I mean look at the pictures. Her little fingers are finally able to flip through the pages and open and close the little flaps of pop-up books. I love to find her in her room reading books on the ground, or taking it easy on her little chair. Or best of all - when she sits on my lap and reads books at church. It keeps her entertained and it keeps her quiet. Both very good things.

Blessed

March 2009

I have been immensely grateful for this precious little girl lately. Brynlee is becoming my dear little friend, and I am so very blessed to be her mother. She finished feeding and quietly laid her little head on my chest, asleep right away. I stopped my lullabies and sat still in the darkness, feeling her little chest swell with breath, and thanking the Lord for such a sweet daughter.

Mirror Project

A while ago I found this mirror at Goodwill for $7.00. I really liked the shape, but I wasn't a fan of the sea foam green. So I decided to paint it black.

It took FOREVER to tape around all the curved lines. It wasn't as easy as I thought. (There is probably an easier way to do it!)

Then I sanded, primed, painted it black, and peeled off the covering. My careful taping wasn't good enough and a lot of primer had seeped through. But it scratched off with a razor blade.

This is Brynlee's wall before the mirror. (With one of my paintings that definitely doesn't match her room!)

And here's the after. It wasn't a difficult project, but just tedious.

Good Things

(1) The yankees won the world series! Woohoo! I wish I could see the look on my brothers, Dad and Grandpa Clarke's faces. Or the tears in their eyes. (2) Bryn is walking all over the place and it is the cutest thing ever. Something about those little steps just kills me. (3) I'm almost done with our Christmas stockings and I'm loving them. (4) I found a cute, cute, cute bench/storage/seat thing at Goodwill last night. I can't wait to paint it and fix it up. And the best part is that they were having a 75% off sale so it was only $10.00. More to come on that later. (5) I didn't have even one piece of Halloween candy today. That's an accomplishment. But I did make cookies and homemade breadsticks, and have plenty of both. Yikes. But at least I didn't have any candy, right?

Desperate Times

Stranger: "What's your baby's name?"

Me: "Brynlee"

Stranger: "Oh, I've never heard of that name...for a BOY."

Bryn started out the day without a bow. Until she was called a boy three times. Three times.

Okay, okay, I can see how a black and white outfit might be confusing. So I added a huge purple flower when we went to the park later on. Didn't help.

Stranger: "Awww....What a cute little guy. It's a boy, right?"

I didn't even correct her. I just said yes. It had gotten to that point. This wig will have to do the job, until Brynlee's real hair grows long enough to look like a girl.

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

New York, New York

This email was just sent to all my siblings. Subject line: Dealing with Adversity Dear Ones, Many if not all of you may find yourselves troubled and very unsettled by the untimely events of this evening. These moments can break a man (or woman) or make them even stronger. Don't worry about Tex. He'll hit one out in NY. We want to celebrate a win with "New York, New York" blasting all over the stadium and also to have all those policeman on ponies trotting around. It would be best to win a world series at home in the first year of the new stadium. So, fret not little ones - all will be well. I look forward to cracking open a little cider Wednesday night! Dad I love my Dad. And I love the Yankees. And I'm really sad I won't be with my fam to bang pots and pans when the Yankees win the World Series in two days.

Scary

So last night Josh and I were watching a spooky old black and white movie to finish off our Halloween night. The lights were all off except for the glow of the computer screen. Suddenly, we heard footsteps climbing the stairs to our apartment, and then heard an evil cackle. (Okay, the evil laughter part isn't true). I looked up from the screen and saw a woman's silhouette pass by our first window, and then the second, I heard our doorknob turn, and.... in walked a gypsy. (It was not confirmed whether the revealing gypsy outfit was a Halloween costume or whether we were face to face with an actual gypsy.) I was already in a jumpy, easy-to-be-spooked mood so I sprung up and yelled "Hey!" Miss Gypsy just stared at us like we were the ones out of place, then she said "Don't I live here!?" Then we just stared at one another for a minute, until Josh said "Uh... no. You don't live here." More staring. Gypsy: "Uh... I thought I lived here." Me: "Uh...no. We live here." (in my scared little voice). A little more staring, then Gypsy woman mumbled an apology, backed out of the doorway, and left. Spooky. Who was this mystery woman!? Our apartment complex is small and I know everyone in our complex, so I'm positive it wasn't one of our neighbors. Was she drunk? Was she a crook? Was it Uncle Mark in disguise? Or is this just regular gypsy behavior? I'll never know.

Scarier

We found Brynlee in her crib this morning with a huge smile and a bare bottom. No diaper. Only her jammie shirt on. From the looks of things, she went to the bathroom more times in the twelve hours of being her crib than in the last twelve days combined. Let's just say it made for an eventful (and laughable) Sunday morning. As far as we know, Gypsy woman was not involved.