Kim

I'm just going to say it-I have the best life. This has been another year filled with happy memories and healthy, loving, and fulfilling times. I know I have done nothing to deserve such a life and can only hope its always this good. My kids are everything to me and I love to have a holiday to just enjoy time with them and have fun. This year was the Brintons turn for Christmas and grandma always goes above and beyond spoiling the kids. She was smart enough to get Drew and Noah the same things and it was so sweet because they were opening them side by side and Noah sees Drew opening what is basically the dream toy of his life (A pack of lighting McQueen race cars). Just as Noah spied them out of the corner of his eye his busy hands paused and I know the thought of "oh my gosh, those are so cool. I wish I got that toy!" ran through his mind. He controllingly held his thoughts to himself and looked back down at a box that had snowman craft stickers in it and said aloud ...

Isabel, you love life! You live each moment to the fullest capacity.  It is so fun to see the world through your eyes.  With that being said, you wear me out.  Sometimes I catch myself wishing I had you when I was 20 years old.  You are enough of a kid to keep me busy.  Most of the time, watching you is more of an effort to protect you from yourself.  You are way more adventurous than Noah was, I think that's your curiosity.  Several times a day I find you just excited and all smiles laughing and clambering about nothing.  You get excited about taking a bath, finding a bug, seeing someone you know, hearing a plane, reading a book, rocking on a rocking chair, pushing a button, hearing a dog bark, getting a treat, or any really trivial thing one encounters living day to day. The world holds so much joy for you.  You already make me laugh and have brought so much light into my life it's hard to stay mad at you when you dump out a bucket of beads...

I'm not sure how I deserve such a sweetie, but Noah really is the perfect child.  I'm reminded again and again of this.  Today I was driving in the car and figured Noah must be tired since he went to bed late and woke up early.  I told him to close his eyes and take a nap.  His only response was "Okay, will you wake me when we get home?"  Being his mom, I know how much he hates taking naps.  It was so sweet how obedient he was being about this.  I was pretty surprised when I looked back to see his little eyes squinted shut and him trying his hardest to fall asleep.  I turned back around and continued to drive.  I looked back a few minutes later to see him with his eyes peeking a little open then immediately shut once they caught a glimpse of me.  He kept them sealed shut until eventually he fell asleep. It is a small story and insignificant in the big scheme of things but it made me almost sad how obedient he is.  He trusts me whole...

I live for these three warm months.  They are what get me through the six months of cold weather here in Utah.  We have been making the most of them with splash pads, seven peaks, weddings (3 in one week), fireworks, vacations and just a chill day to day existence.  I never thought I was an uptight person until I had children.  I love summer for the very reason that I am more relaxed.  We had a big move in April and moved a whole six doors down from our last house!  But I LOVE having a park and third car garage.  My teenager self would have never wished for more garage space.  We just got back from our stay in Hawaii and the kids were so easy.  I kept seeing Robert and Tawni with a newborn and was grateful my kids were at good ages to travel. (Just in time to start trying for a third, right?) The flight was surprisingly not as bad as I was expecting which  was a huge bonus, aside from the peeved passenger sitting in front of Noah who kep...

Well let's first try wrapping up 2012!  Scott and I had a fun time in Israel.  We saw all sorts of crazy sites and it is definitely a trip of a lifetime.  I am glad I got to leave the kids behind as they would not have appreciated anything and the time change/airfare would have been killer.  So we went 9 days while my Mom watched my kids.  My Mom is a saint!  We then got back in time for Christmas but Christmas Eve Scott came down with a really bad flu so I had him quarantined while I was left to handle Christmas and all that implies on my own.  I had a crazy busy week but I did get a video of them Christmas morning to watch.  Noah got some Hot Wheels tracks, footballs, and a Wii.  I just got Isabella a little baby doll and figured I already had enough baby toys to last ten children.  We did get out and managed to do something fun every day of Christmas break.  Sledding, making cookies, Lowe's Extreme Sports, Trafalga, Provo Beach R...