October in a Nutshell

Once upon a time there was a young (sort of) mother who was so busy she rarely found time to blog.  One day, as she was catching up on her blogging she thought to herself, "Hmmmm, this wouldn't be such a long post if I could blog by week or day."  She then vowed to do better in the future.  But for now, be patient as you read and look at the events of this young (sort of) mother's life in October!

BYU FOOTBALL TAILGATING!!!!

(the new tradition!)

We had a ton of fun this BYU football season.  My parents came down for every game and almost every game we had a tailgate party with family and friends.  We made sure to get our spot in the parking lot and grill up some yummy food!  It was such a blast and a HUGE shout out to my parents who let us tag along with them to every game and who started this new tradition!

My parents with my Uncle Jim and his bff Scott

J and N eating yummy food!

The kids on the cougar.  The boy in the middle is Jack's friend Cody!

Darling baby girl.  She never got to come to a game but she did get to come to a tailgate after one.

The Grill!!!!

It was so funny because the first week we tailgated there was no one else in the parking lot tailgating.  By the last game we went to there were about 3 or 4 other groups having their own tailgate party.  Too funny.  I think we really were on to something!

BRADY'S FIELD TRIP TO THE HEE-HAW FARM!!!

Brady was lucky enough to go on a field trip to a little farm near by.  They had a petting zoo, a HUGE slide, a hay ride and a pumpkin patch.  Brady had a fun time with everything and we were able to enjoy a beautiful day!

Handsome little man.

Love the pumpkin hat!

My mom holding Reece as she pet a chicken.  Reece LOVED the animals, which was surprising since my kids are usually scared of any animal.  She pet, actually pulled the fur of a bunny and pet the chicken and was cranky and ornery when I wouldn't allow her to touch anything else!

RANDOM SHOT and BRADY'S STITCHES!!!!

(yes...AGAIN!)

I'm such a horrible photographer but some things just need to be documented like the kids snuggling.  Maybe someday my photos will look half decent.  Regardless, I LOVE B's expression in this picture. 

Due to TJ's crazy busy schedule this fall he has been out of town almost every week so one Thursday night I got a babysitter and headed out to a much needed and deserved (if I do say so myself) girls night out.  The babysitter who came was Brittnee, our gal who came to Disneyworld with us a couple of years ago.  She's a BYU student in her senior year and knows my kids really really well since she came on vacation with us and babysits for me all the time.  Right as we were finishing up our dinner she called.  Brady had fallen in the tub and busted his chin open.  I asked her if it was going to need stitches and she said she thought it would. 

Thankfully I go to a Pediatrician who is in practice with several clinics in the valley.  They have FABULOUS after care so I called them on my way home and was able to get Brady in to get stitched up.  Unfortunately the office that happened to be open was in Provo.  Not such a big deal except I was in Provo for girls night.  So I had to drive home from Provo, get Brady and then drive back to Provo!  (its about 20 -30 minutes each way from where I live)  A small price to pay though to be able to avoid an ER visit and the costs that go along with that!

Waiting to be seen by the doctor.  That's a giant Spongebob bandaid on his face.  Turns out though chins don't bleed as much as heads do.

A new bandage with numbing gel on it.  He was happy here but that ended quickly once he had to lay down and get the stitches.  Poor guy.  He cried and cried and hated the towel over his face and begged to go home.  Too bad 9 stitches on a chin takes a while.  At least we didn't have to papoose him like last time though.  And if anyone is counting this is Brady 4th head gash.  The first TJ and I patched up on our own, even though it could've used a stitch or 2, the second was the header into the coffee table (4 stitches), and the third was his second header into the coffee table at Lindsay's house last Christmas that popped open his first coffee table wound back up (dermabond).

SCARECROW FESTIVAL AT THANKSGIVING POINT!!!

Jackson with his rocket and rocket launcher.  For $1 the kids get this rocket that they decorate and then go and launch it.  It was the cheapest entertainment ever.  It was an absolute riot to watch them launch their rockets and then chase them down.  Some of them went far too!  It was great!

Jack's rocket.  Natalie went through 3.  She kept losing hers.

Of course Brady LOVED it!

The scar.  He got his stitches out that morning.

Jack rock climbing.  He discovered that he's afraid of heights as he scaled this wall.

Face painting

more face painting.

On our way out.  It was such a beautiful day.  A shout out to my hubby who kept Reecey for me that day.  We missed her but were able to get more fun in without her.

NATALIE'S BIKE WOUND AND BRADY'S NEW HAT!!!

Most of you probably read my post about the still small voice.  This is the injury that resulted from my idiocy!

Brady made this spider hat at school.  Priceless!

JACKSON'S 9TH BIRTHDAY PARTY AT BOONDOCKS!!!

I am a believer in NOT having birthday parties at my house.  Having done parties at home and away I find it is way worth the extra cost to go somewhere so Jackson and 7 of his buddies headed off to Boondocks for go karts, games, pizza, cupcakes and UNLIMITED LASER TAG!  They had a blast and I was glad we made it 3 hours without injuries or anyone getting lost!

9 year old boys are nuts!

Go Karts...always a good time.

Jackson and a few of his friends waiting patiently for their turn around the track.

ANOTHER NEW TRADTION!!!!!

(shout out to Lindsay for this idea)

Every year on her girls' birthday my sis-in-law Lindsay decorates her girls' room for their special day.  I've always thought this was such a great, simple way to make the birthday child feel special so I copied and started it this year for Jackson.  Don't worry, I'll continue it with all my kids but I'm OCD and had to start the tradition with my oldest.

AND FINALLY...HALLOWEEN!!!!!!

This year I was totally being lame about Halloween.  It wasn't that I was mad at it but I just was neither her nor there with it.  The kids had a blast and I made sure I was stocked with candy for trick or treaters and my kids were dressed up but other then that I was kinda blah.  The kids looked great though!

Brady (aka. Optimus Prime)

J the ninja, N the pirate, B the transformer and R the flower

Have you ever seen a cute flower.  This might be my favorite costume ever, other then Natalie's Snow White of course.

Checkin' out her candy!

and last but not least...MY TRIP TO VEGAS!!!!

I have no pictures of this but for my birthday my wonderful, hot, caring, nice, thoughtful hubby whisked me away to Las Vegas for the night.  He arranged everything without me knowing, including child care for our children.  (a HUGE shout out to the Mike Empey family for taking on 4 extra kids that night)  We left Saturday night and came home Sunday morning but we were able to jam pack a Cirque de Soleil show, room service, and a movie in!  It was so fun and a GREAT way to make my 30th birthday special.  It was especially fun because it was a total surprise and I had NO IDEA that TJ had been planning anything.  In fact I thought he hadn't given my birthday a second thought and was fully prepared to put him in the dog house!  I feel bad that I totally underestimated him but I actually think that made it more fun for him to surprise me.  

Thank you TJ.  You're the best hubby ever and I LOVE YOU!

And that, my friends, was October in the Brinkerhoff household!