Pumpkin Princess Pageant

I saw this thing on TV for a pumpkin princess pageant, and thought Brae would love this. She is so into princesses now and has a lot of their songs and dances memorized. Then I had horrible flashbacks of entering Brae into a baby contest a few years ago, I felt guilty for exploiting her for months after (like she knew what was going on), and nothing brings out the worst in people like judging their kids. But then we found a Snow White dress my mom had made fer us when we were little, and Brae loved wearing, so I figured we would try and make a fun day of it. I also decided that Berkley needed to be her dwarf so I made her a little outfit and hat, and we all headed over to Thanksgiving Point. Once we got there they told us that we got a pass for one adult and child. This only got us into the pageant, she wasn't allowed onto any of the play equipment, and they wanted Kevin to pay $10.50 to just stand and watch her walk across the stage. We were pretty bugged, so Kevin went and spoke with someone, and ended up getting two free passes. He can be very persuasive! Then they made all the little girls line up in this tiny area, while the sponsor went on and on about her clothing store. Bleh, all Brae wanted to do was go play on the stuff, and there were little girls all around us crying. It was almost funny, but once they finally started the first four girls all cried the entire time and one even collapsed in a fit on the stage. I thought Brae might follow suit but true to character as soon as it was her turn, she stepped right up, grabbed the Princes hand and twirled and bowed for everyone. She got a collective "Ah!" but of course didn't win because her costume wasn't pumpkin themed (who even knows what that means). After that she got to play a little then we picked out pumpkins and came home to carve. Overall it was a pretty dumb pageant, but a pretty fun afternoon spent as a family, and that is what was important. I'll definetely have a harder time when she starts understanding winning and losing, but for now it is just about the experience. Poor Berkley was not happy to be in the sun and dressed like a dwarf, so you can hear her crying through the tape Kevin filmed. As usual Kevin can sense when my meltdown is coming on, and he was very helpful, and kept telling me the day was fun, and he was glad we did it. Even though I can think of many things he would have rather done, he is always quick to recognize and compliment my efforts even when things don't go as I plan, and makes me feel better when I start to doubt my mothering choices. We got to carve our pumpkins later that night and Brae was terrified of hers until we told her he was scared to go to bed, then she lovingly put Punkie down for the night in a safe spot. She calls the big one Mike and had to go check on both of them the next morning. *Bonus points if you can tell who the big one is supposed to be!

Cabin Weekend

Fall break was finally here so I tagged along to the cabin. Kevin had to stay home for a few days to work and Berkley had woken up 3 times the night before so I was nervous about not having his help but I thought, that had to be a fluke because she usually is just once a night. We got settled in and played with Taryn, Munga and Papa. They carpeted the basement so we had a cozy spot of our own. Braelyn has her own special bed up in the loft and settles in pretty quickly. Berkley woke up about an hour after I put her to bed and I started thinking we were in for another sleepless night, and I was right, she was awake about four times. I think when you are dealing with a child who won't sleep, you keep telling yourself, it has to get better. For us it didn't, she didn't nap the next day and was up five times the night after and six times the night beyond that! Oh my, I remembered complaining when she would wake up twice and now I was wishing for that. I missed my happy smiling baby but luckily Kevin got there and offered some reinforcement so we both survived. The doctor had suggested she needed to cry it out, she was old enough and big enough to be sleeping ten hours straight, but I was nervous about that, I never had to do that with Brae, she just slept thru the night on her own at about three months. Since getting back home she is back to just once a night, but my new problem is that she is a binky baby, and can settle herself down, but only if we put the binky back in her mouth! That sounds easy enough, but I am a terrible sleeper and have a hard time getting back to sleep after walking to her room to put the binky back in. I tried just rocking her without the binky before her nap today, and she just screamed. Now what? I don't have the heart to make her learn to fall asleep on her own and without her comfort binky. Am I destined for sleepless nights until she can put her binky back in, or do I have to endure endless crying until she learns? I hope someone might have a suggestion for me.

Now back to the fun part of the weekend, we did lots of 4-wheeler rides, Taryn likes to go very fast and Braelyn likes to take her nap while we ride. We had dinner at the "Hanna Hilton," very good homemade fries, once the are actually cooked. We visited Munga Moon's ranch house at least once a day, to check on her kitties. Saw the goats run down the hill, and then back up about ten minutes later. Not the smartest animals and if you really want an opinion ask my dad. Got to spend time with both grandma's and Aunt "Mommica"(Monica). And lots of playing, playing, playing in the fresh air.

Witchapalooza

When they started predicting snow and bad weather, I decided we had better hurry and fit in one more fun outdoor activity. I took the girls up to Gardner's Village to see the witches. We had fun walking around the village but after one trip into a shop, I was too paranoid that Brae would break something, that I didn't dare go in any others. They also have a petting zoo so when it was time to feed Berkley we headed over there. They had a bench just outside the fence so we plopped down there. Brae tends to react unpredictably to new experiences so I wanted to make sure she really wanted to go in before I paid. So I asked her if she wanted to go in with the animals, but she had seen the kids riding the ponies as we walked over and told me she wanted to ride the "horsies." They had five little ponies in a little fenced in circle, and I saw there were two chickens running around the pen. Most people don't know this, because I am reluctant to share it, in case someone thinks it's funny to play a joke, but I am terrified of farm birds. I'm getting sweaty palms and pounding heart just thinking about it now. I don't want my kids to have this problem, because it really is quite silly, so I try and be brave, but this is actually the second time it's come up. (First time involved two turkeys at the zoo, and me at seven months pregnant desperately running through a crowd then hiding behind a trash can, silly-oh I know) I kept telling myself I could do it, I could just be brave, but I also had a stroller full of my wallet, cameras, and shopping bag, and a 4 month old, so I told Brae she would have to do it herself. Looking back now it does not look to be my best mothering moment. She told me she would be brave, I explained repeatedly that she would have to be on the pony by herself, and that she couldn't cry or get upset. She just kept telling me she would be happy and that she wanted to ride them. We got ready and watched as the group before her rode, and I told her that the nice girl in yellow would help her, but that mommy had to stay with Berkley (and more importantly- on the other side of the fence of the chickens). Brae walked into the gate and tried to grab the worker. She told her she had to help the girl in front of her, and Brae melted and turned to me and started crying. I thought it was all over so I pulled her out and asked for sure if she wanted to go. She told me she was done crying and wanted to ride, and when the girl came back to the gate she asked where she was and Brae walked right out and got on the pony with her. I had told her to hold tight to the saddle horn, and she had a death grip with both hands on it but managed a smile. I was nervous that she would get scared when they started moving but she just kept smiling. The next time around she smiled and waved and the third time she went past the people, she started a parade wave and yelled, "Thank you, thank you" to everyone watching. The boy helping thought she was funny, and I told him her aunt was rodeo queen, and he understood :) I was really proud of how brave she was, and it always impresses me how much children really are capable of. It reminds me that it is okay to expect a lot of them, and to help them grow and reach milestones by themselves. She is such a little character, and I think one of my relatives with horses, needs to offer her some rides!

Elder Greg

We got a CD of pics from Greg today. It was so fun to see him, and a little emotional to see him dressed in whites about to baptize someone! It is stunning to watch my younger siblings transform into such wonderful adults. I believe I was just too bossy and impatient, and that's why I came first, because they each are truly examples to me, and I learn so much from them. I miss Greg dearly, and cannot wait to hear his funny one-liners again or see his goofy dancing, he is by far the funniest person I know. But I am so proud of what he is doing. Growing up in the church, sometimes missions become common place, but when you truly think of what a big decision and sacrifice it is, it is amazing that a 19 year old is capable of that. He has worked hard to be a righteous instrument in the Lord's hands, and I know he will be a blessing to other's because of that. He is a sweet spirit and has always been a peacemaker in our family, and was a great uncle to Brae. She blesses him each and every prayer and got upset recently when Munga didn't bless him specifically at the dinner prayer. He is in the right place now, and I hope he can help others who are watching him to make the same decisions so that they too can reap the blessings of bringing the gospel to others. I know the message that he shares is true, I know that God is aware of each of us, and I believe we have family members on the other side who are working to help Greg find the souls who are ready. O deus seja com você até que nós nos encontremos outra vez

If you would like to see his pics you can check out the web album at:

http://picasaweb.google.com/hr.allred/GregSMission

Play, play, play

Whenever anyone asks Brae what she did that day, she answers, "Play, play, play. Sing songs and run awound." I have wanted to let Brae fingerpaint with pudding all summer, and knew my chances of good weather outside were coming to an end, so we got everything together, and had a great time making a mess and painting a message out on the porch! She had a good time and I would highly reccomend doing this.

We spend most evenings after dinner playing outside and have enjoyed having a yard to run around in. Brae often wanders away and can be found at the strawberry patch stuffing her mouth with them as fast as she can.

This was an impromptu moment between sisters, when Brae entertained Berks while I cleaned up dinner. Whenever Berkley sees her she lights up with a smile. It is absolute adoration and she just laughs and laughs. Braelyn likes to pat her face and say, "Look at those chubby cheeks!" I am so lucky that they get along really well. I love when Brae will sing and dance for her because it can entertain her forever.