The Maddens

Coloring Fun

2012-02-11T19:37:00.003-06:00

Burr Oak Woods Nature Center

2012-02-03T15:58:00.008-06:00

Last Thursday, B and B had a fieldtrip with their preschool class to Burr Oak Woods Nature Center. The fieldtrip started with a discussion about the different seasons and what happens during each season. Then we went for a walk through the woods and looked for animals and talked about all the different kinds of things we find in nature. Lastly, we came inside and looked at the turtles, fish, and snakes on display and played in the activity area. B and B really enjoyed watching the snakes. They also had various other stuffed animals on display. Since the weather was so nice, they were able to have their snacks outside at the picnic tables. It was very interesting to watch B and B interact during the fieldtrip. When we were walking through the woods, Brynn pretty much stayed within the group and was quiet and shy. Brody, on the other hand, was right up front ahead of the rest of the group with the tour guide and taking everything all in! They both had a great time on the field trip and the weather couldn't have been better!

The Legends

2012-01-29T18:07:00.005-06:00

We went to the Legends of Village West today to go to the Nike Store and to the T-Rex Cafe. B and B have went through a growth spurt and have outgrown the shoes we bought for them last summer. They wear a size 10 now! Brody is really into dinosaurs (and airplanes) these days, so we decided to take them to the T-Rex Cafe. I had to laugh when we walked through the front door and a huge dinosaur started making noises and Brody asked Daddy to pick him up:) They both loved the cafe and really enjoyed watching the big fish tanks!

Playing Dress Up

2012-01-22T14:51:00.003-06:00

Brody refused to play dress up. He did want me to take a picture of him with his airplanes though.

I wanted to get a picture of him pushing his semi down the hallway, but he got really mad at me for trying to take more pictures of him. This is a picture of him and his temper...

Family Walks

2012-01-15T16:12:00.003-06:00

We have been taking advantage of this mild January weather and spending as much time as we can outside. I try to walk Truman everyday and exercise B and B as often as I can. We usually go on a 30 minute walk with me pushing them in the stroller for the first mile and then I let them out and they run the last mile. Today, we stopped halfway through our walk and played at the park. They ran a lot all over the park. When we got back closer to home, they both wanted Daddy to carry them on his shoulders. Brynn asked first, so this was the compromise:)

Breckenridge-New Year's 2011

2012-01-07T20:38:00.010-06:00

Bryan and I took a ski trip to Breckenridge this year over New Year's. We spent the first night in Denver/Parker visiting some of our friends. It had been several years since they moved to Colorado, so it was great to get to see them and to meet their kids! The next day we headed to our resort in Breckenridge. Unfortunately, we woke up Saturday morning to light snow, 100mph winds, and a town that was 2/3 without power. We were really disappointed that we couldn't go skiing that day. On Sunday, we finally got to go ski and had a great time! I didn't remember Bryan being such a good skier though! It was great to get away and spend some time together, but we sure missed B and B. A HUGE thank you to G-ma and Fred for taking such good care of them. They had a great time! Also, a thank you to Grandma Madden for watching Truman. Truman was so mad at us for leaving him, but he soon forgave us:)

Christmas 2011

2011-12-26T17:39:00.016-06:00

We had a great Christmas this year! B and B got a lot of toys, so they have been in toy heaven! Brody's big present this year was a farm set. Some of his other presents were a tractor, trackhoe, semi, transformers, pirate ship, remote control car, nerf gun, helicopters, Toy Story movie, etc. He has been very busy running all over the house playing with his toys with Daddy. Brynn's big gift was a doll house. Some of her other presents were a Rapunzel doll, Cinderella baby, doll, My Little Pony, Strawberry Shortcake doll, Barbie, Barbie car, dress up clothes for her and her babies, Beauty and the Beast movie, puzzle, etc. She has been very busy being a good "mommy". They are having so much fun with their new toys!

Santa

2011-12-18T12:50:00.005-06:00

Last week, we took B and B to see Santa. Brynn told me that she wasn't going to cry when she met Santa. Well, neither of them cried, but neither of them would really smile either. I did get them to tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas. Brody told Santa that he wanted a dinosaur. The one thing that "Santa" didn't get for Brody this year. Brynn told Santa that she wanted a Cinderella baby (a baby doll she saw at Kohl's that resembles Cinderella). Luckily, "Santa" did get that for Brynn already. Eventhough we didn't get smiles for our Santa pictures, I thought they both looked pretty cute in their Christmas outfits.

In Loving Memory

2011-12-11T14:49:00.003-06:00

Bryan's Grandpa, Murle Russell, passed away at their family home in Knob Noster last week. He was 96 years old. Murle had suffered from Alzeheimer's Disease for many years. We are very thankful that we got to see Grandpa Russell a few weeks ago on Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, we didn't get any pictures. We love you Grandpa Russell! We know that you are at peace in heaven with Grandma Betty.

Decorating For Christmas

2011-12-04T15:32:00.004-06:00

We finally put up all of our Christmas decorations. Brynn requested candy cane lights for the yard, so we even have those. She saw them in our neighbor's yard and thought they were pretty neat! We have been reminding B and B that Santa is watching them and their behavior. They are more than willing to do most anything we ask if we remind them about Santa. They have seen Santa a few times at Bass Pro Shop and they think he lives there, eventhough we keep telling them that Santa lives at the North Pole:) I had a "Proud Mommy" moment this week when Bryan told me that he took B and B to Home Depot with him and the door greeter asked B and B about Christmas. They both said that that was Jesus's birthday! Bryan said the door greeter seemed surprised to hear that and said that she didn't think many kids were taught that anymore. It makes me proud to say that my 3 year olds know the real meaning of Christmas. B and B are even going to have a birthday party for Jesus next week at school.

Thanksgiving Week

2011-11-27T12:31:00.011-06:00

I was on vacation this past week and really enjoyed spending time with B and B! On Tuesday, B and B had their Thanksgiving feast at school. I was very impressed at how well behaved the preschoolers were. B and B's teacher, Mrs. Gloria, came up to me and told me how well B and B were doing in school. She said that they do well with redirection and that they behave better than some of the older kids in their class. She also said that they do a really good job using scissors and that they cut out the feathers for their headdresses all by themselves. After preschool that day, B and B had their 3 year doctor's appointment. Brody weighed 35lbs. (90%) and was 3 ft. 3.5 in. (75%). Brynn weighed 37 lbs. (95%) and was 3 ft. 4 in. (90%). Dr. Gilmer said that they were doing great and that she thought Brody would outgrow his reactive airway disease. She is hoping that this will be the last winter we have to use his nebulizer.

We celebrated Thanksgiving with Mom, Fred, and John at our house this year. Later that afternoon, we celebrated Thanksgiving with the Maddens. B and B had a lot of fun getting to see everyone! We only did a little Black Friday shopping this year. B and B are still not very good shoppers and it was so cold out. Last night, we took B and B to Christmas in the Park. They really enjoyed seeing all the lights. We had a great week, but it just went by too fast!

Tea Party

2011-11-20T18:42:00.004-06:00

Brynn received a tea set for her birthday from G-ma, so we have been having tea parties. B and B have a lot of fun dressing up in my stuff, especially Brynn! Here's a picture from our party the other night.

Family Pictures

2011-11-13T12:19:00.008-06:00

Last month, we had our family/B and B's 3 year pictures taken. We were really excited to have our pictures taken outside. It was the first time we had been inside of Unity Village and we thought it was really beautiful! Here's some of our favorites:

Halloween 2011

2011-11-02T20:44:00.005-05:00

We had a great Halloween! The weather was perfect. Brody dressed up as Spiderman and Brynn dressed up as Cinderella this year. We took B and B to their Fall Festival at their preschool. They had boothes set up all around the gym with different activities for them to participate in. There was a bean bag toss, mini golf, sugar cookie decorating, cake walk, nerf gun shooting, etc. They received candy for every activity they tried. Then we came home and took B and B trick-or-treating around our neighborhood. While we were out, we came across a trunk-or-treat in the parking lot of a local church. I was really impressed at how decorated some of those trunks were. Brynn and I decided to come home to hand out candy while Daddy and Brody went trick-or-treating some more. Brynn and I sat on our front step waiting for trick-or-treaters and she would get so excited everytime someone would come! Brody enjoyed handing out candy when he got back too. They were very generous to everyone who came to our house:) B and B wore their costumes all night and even wanted to wear them to bed! It was so fun to see them so excited!

Happy 3rd Birthday!

2011-10-30T15:14:00.010-05:00

Today is B and B's 3rd birthday! We started out the day with waking them up with breakfast in bed. They were both excited to see the candle on top of their waffles! Brody was a little hard to wake up since he had a rough sleeping night. The look on his face when he finally did wake up and see his candle was priceless! We had a small party for them at our house later in the morning. They were both so excited about their birthday this year! They have been talking about their birthday for a while now, especially Brynn. They got a lot of presents and have been playing since they opened them. Their big present this year was a bike. Brody got a Spiderman bike and Brynn got a Princess bike. It has been hard today to get them to stop playing even to eat. It was so fun to see them so excited about everything today!

First Preschool Field Trip

2011-10-21T13:26:00.007-05:00

B and B had their first preschool field trip to the pumpkin patch last Thursday. The pumpkin patch was actually located at the director of the preschool's house. We took a hayride down to the back of their property. They had all kinds of things for the kids to do. There was a playground area, maze, bridges, pumpkin patch, teepee, etc. B and B even got to roast marshmellows to make smores! Before we left, they each got to pick out a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch. Brynn picked out a pumpkin that she couldn't carry:) Brody picked out his green pumpkin right away. I finally decided to let him have a green pumpkin since he has been asking for one all Fall. They each got a bag of kettle corn and they both really liked it! It was only 36 degrees that morning and they played until they wore themselves out:)

Truman

2011-10-16T19:13:00.003-05:00

Here's a few pictures I took of B and B with Truman the other night for school. I got my first preschool homework assignment last week. B and B's class is doing a project, "get to know your classmates", and we were asked to bring in pictures of their house, car, family, pet, and any other favorites/hobbies/etc. Truman has a love/hate relationship with B and B, especially Brody. Brody pesters Truman all the time and chases him with whatever he can find that scares him. However, I have also caught him taking food out of the refrigerator and sneaking it to Truman. Most of the time he will share his food with Truman too. Brynn likes to drape her blankets on Truman, which she thinks is hilarious. Truman, not so much. However, she is very good about wanting to walk Truman and they both will play fetch or tug-0f-war with him. Truman is a very good dog and tolerates B and B well. I am very thankful for Truman because he makes me feel safe:)

Amaizing Acres

2011-10-03T15:03:00.009-05:00

We spent last weekend at G-ma's house in Maryville. On Saturday, G-ma and I took B and B to Amaizing Acres while Daddy worked on G-ma's house. Amaizing Acres is a cute little farm that has activities and a pumpkin patch for little kids. Their playground area had two huge slides, horse tire swings, rope spider web, corn box, train ride, duck races, bounce house, etc. B and B had a lot of fun! Brody really enjoyed the duck races and the slide. He kept racing his duck over and over! Brynn really liked the slide and bounce house. I lost track at how many times she went down that slide! Amaizing Acres was a really neat place and we all had a great time!

Some "Funnies"

2011-09-24T22:43:00.006-05:00

The other night, while trying to get B and B to go to bed, Brynn lost her sippy cup that I had just given her. After looking in a few different places and asking her several times where her cup was, I was getting frustrated and said, "Brynn, this is the last time I am going to ask you. Where is your sippy cup?" Brynn replied, "Mom, I have told YOU two times already. I don't know where it is." Ha! She can be a sassy 'lil thing:)

On the way to preschool the other morning, Brynn asked for another piece of gum. I told her "no" since she already had a peice. Brody, overhearing our conversation, said, "Here Brynne, you can have my gum. It's still good." Before I could turn around to say, "we don't share gum", Brynn was happily chewing Brody's gum:) Atleast they share, right?

Caillou

2011-09-18T13:00:00.002-05:00

Here's a couple pictures of B and B watching "Caillou" Friday night before bed. Caillou is one of their favorite tv shows. They could watch Caillou for hours everyday if we would let them! It's a great distraction for them if we need a little "down time" to get something done around the house or if Brody needs some entertainment while he's doing his occasional breathing treatments.

First Day of Preschool

2011-09-09T15:45:00.008-05:00

B and B had their first day of school last Tuesday! Brynn had been excited to go, but was a little hesitant when the day finally arrived. However, when we got up to their classroom, they both went to off to play and never really looked back. When I picked them up, they both were very excited to tell me that they had "apples and graham crackers" for their snack:) I really didn't get much else out of them. Brody did tell me later that Brynn got in trouble at school. When I asked her, she said yes and proceeded to tell me about it, none of which I could understand. I asked them several times again later and never really got an answer. I told Bryan that it didn't surprise me that it was Brynn and not Brody that got in trouble already:) Brynn has been very irritable lately and has been throwing a lot of trantrums. Brody is always just ornery, but I suppose he is a complete angel in school:) That reminds of a funny Brody story. The other day we found Brody in the bathroom holding a straw with toilet water all over the seat. Here's our conversation:
Me: "BRODY, did you drink the toilet water?"
Brody: (looking proud of himself and holding his straw higher in the air)
"No Mommy, I blow bubbles in the water!"

Preschool Open House

2011-09-01T16:26:00.005-05:00

B and B are starting preschool next week! Last Monday, we attended the open house for their preschool. We have them enrolled in a 2 day a week preschool at a local baptist church. We feel very lucky to have gotten them into a 2 day a week program because most of the local preschools require kids to have turned 3 by July 30th to attend a 2 day program. When we enrolled them, the director told us that B and B would be in the "young 3" class since there were several other kids who would be turning 3 also between September and December this year. Much to my surprise, when she listed off the classes at open house, B and B were not in the "young 3" class, but in one of the 3 year old classes. I think it will be good for them to be around kids a little bit older than them. Their teacher, Mrs. Gloria (also the assistant director), has been with the school since it opened 38 years ago and has taught the 3 year old class all those years. We feel very fortunate to have such an experienced teacher! I am praying though that I don't get sent home the letter stating, "In all my 38 years of teaching, I have never...." They have several field trips scheduled throughout the school year, such as going to the pumpkin patch, Paradise Park, a firestation, and Deanna Rose Farmstead. B and B are excited to go to school and they like wearing their new backpacks! Brynn even asked to wear make-up to the open house:) We are excited for them too, but also nervous hoping all goes well this school year.

Waterfall Park

2011-08-28T19:25:00.003-05:00

New Beds

2011-08-21T16:07:00.005-05:00

This weekend, we finally moved B and B out of their cribs and into big beds. We also moved Brody into the old toyroom, so now they have their own rooms too. Brynn chose princess bedding, of course, and I have had a lot of fun making her "new" room girly. Brody chose Spiderman bedding, or "Stiderman", as he calls it. He has a new interest in "stiders" and webs lately. He has spent a lot of time in his new room this weekend playing with his trains and tracks. We think they are both enjoying having their own space!

First Dentist Appointment

2011-08-12T15:26:00.007-05:00

Last Monday, B and B had their first dentist appointment. It took Brody two tries to let the dentist look in his mouth. He decided that it was ok after seeing Brynn get right up in the seat and open her mouth for the dentist to check her teeth. Dr Lischwe said that their teeth looked great and sharp! Her only suggestion was to start working on getting Brynn to stop sucking on her fingers. It is affecting her tongue movement when she swallows. Hopefully, if we can get her to stop sucking her fingers before she gets her permanent teeth in, we could possibly avoid braces in the future. We think that going to the dentist was a positive experience for them and they enjoyed getting to pick out new toothbrushes. They also got free kiddie cones from Dairy Queen for being such good patients!

Kansas City Zoo

2011-07-30T19:20:00.009-05:00

Yesterday, we took B and B to the Kansas City Zoo. It turned out to be a great day to go, since it was overcast for the first 3 hours we were there. We really liked the zoo and had a great time! We rode the African Sky Safari, tram, and train. Daddy, Brody, and Brynn even rode a camel!

McDonald's Playground

2011-07-24T21:41:00.002-05:00

Cars 2

2011-07-17T14:38:00.004-05:00

We took B and B to the movies for the first time today to see Cars 2. They behaved ok during the movie, but I had hoped they would have behaved better. Fortunately, we were 1 of only 3 families there. They almost made it through the whole 2 hour movie except for the last few minutes when Brynn told us that she had to go potty. Of course, then Brody said he had to go potty too. So, that was the end of that.

July

2011-07-10T20:33:00.004-05:00

We hope everyone had a great 4th of July! We had a pretty quiet 4th hanging out at home since Bryan had to work that night and I had to work the next day. Grandma Farnan and John came down that day and we grilled out and shot off a few fireworks. Brody loved the fireworks! We had to watch him pretty close because he would actually get too close sometimes. Brynn was almost terrified of the fireworks this year. She tolerated snap pops, smoke bombs, and snakes, but that was about it. Anytime we did anything else, she would cry and want to hide inside:( We spent this past weekend at Stockton Lake again. We went to a different beach this time and B and B had a lot of fun running along the beach playing in the water. Brynn became the "welcoming committee" and greeted all new people that came to the beach with little kids. She is so social! She really loved the water this time and would actually go out in the water and play. She even was showing off to everyone saying "watch me" as she would attempt to go under water. Brody spent a lot of his time running around and chasing butterflies:) We made several bonfires while we were there and B and B always enjoy cooking on the fires. They are very good helpers bringing wood to Daddy to put in the fire. Brynn told me today while we were packing to leave that she was just going to stay at the lake house:)

Stockton Lake

2011-06-26T13:07:00.009-05:00

Last week, we spent a few days at Bryan's parent's lake house at Stockton Lake. We took B and B to the beach area at the lake to let them play and swim. Brody walked right into the lake and when the water got up to about his chest, he stumbled and went under a little. It scared him, which was probably a good thing. Brynn was more interested in finding other little girls to play with on the beach than playing in the water:) Bryan took them both out in fairly deep water and they seemed to like it after they got used to it. However, as soon as they both saw "Nemo"(minnows) swimming in the water, they were pretty much done with going in the lake:( We had a great time getting away and hope to be going back again next month!

Worlds of Fun

2011-06-19T20:14:00.003-05:00

Last Thursday, we took B and B to Worlds of Fun with Grandma Farnan and John. Brody loved the rides, especially the "Kite Eating Tree" and the "Scrambler". He smiled and laughed a lot on those rides! It seemed the wilder the rides were, the more he liked them! He would ride anything we wanted him to:) Brynn refused to ride some of the rides at first, but she warmed up to the idea after Mommy and Grandma rode a few rides with her. She seemed to prefer riding with us rather than riding by herself or with Brody. Her favorite rides were the "Kite Eating Tree" (she actually smiled and laughed) and the "Viking Voyager" (the only ride she asked to ride again). She definitely doesn't like rides that go in circles:( Hopefully, we will be able to take them back again this summer!

They Said What?

2011-06-12T17:15:00.003-05:00

B and B have been saying some of the cutest and funniest things! Brynn seems to talk nonstop these days and is starting to ask a lot of questions, repeatedly. Sometimes she will ask me the same question 8 times in a row and starts asking me the same question again before I am done answering. If either one of them say something and we don't answer or acknowledge what they are saying, then they will start screaming it until we answer. I love that Brynn loves to talk, but I am also very thankful that Brody is not quite the "chatter box" that she is. Here are a few of the unforgetable things they have said:

Brynn-"Mommy, I want a ding dong like Daddy and Brody"
"G-ma, are you getting pissed off?"

Brody-"Brynn, stop being a brat!"
"Mommy, Truman bit me on my abow" (fyi, Truman did not bite him on his elbow)

Backyard Water Fun!

2011-06-05T19:50:00.006-05:00

Today, Aunt Mandy, Olivia, and Tavia came over to hang out. We set up the kiddie pool and water beach ball in the backyard and filled around 400 water balloons. We all had so much fun having water wars in the backyard!

Memorial Day Weekend

2011-05-30T17:47:00.009-05:00

We have spent a lot of time outside this weekend. Yesterday, we took B and B to Deanna Rose. They had fun as usual, but poor Brody had a little bit of a reaction to the sunblock, so we didn't stay as long as we had hoped. Then we took them to Union Station to watch the fireworks last night. We had the best view and B and B loved them! As we were walking back to our car, they both kept saying, "Mommy, I liked those. Mommy, I liked those." They are going to have so much fun this year on 4th of July!

Playing Outside

2011-05-22T19:47:00.004-05:00

We spent most of the day outside yesterday doing yard work, taking walks, going to the park, and playing in the backyard. It was such a beautiful day! Here's a few pics Daddy took of B and B in the backyard last night after dinner with their ice cream cones.

Sweet 'Lil Faces

2011-05-15T16:18:00.002-05:00

Mother's Day Weekend

2011-05-08T19:59:00.004-05:00

We have had a very busy weekend! On Thursday night, we went to Maryville for their city wide garage sales. We had a very successful garage sale and I even got some great bargains at some of the other garage sales. Saturday afternoon when we got home, Grandma Madden, Lexie, Avorey, and Tavia came over for a barbeque. Today, for Mother's Day, Daddy and Brynn brought me breakfast in bed:) We spent most of the day outside playing with B and B. It was a nice relaxing Mother's Day. We hope everyone had a great Mother's Day, especially Grandma Farnan and Grandma Madden!

B and B posing in their new "princess" and "Cars" pjs. Brody has an awful scrape on his upper lip and nose. He was pushing one of his toys on the driveway this weekend and hit a spot that wasn't level and he face planted on the concrete:(

2 1/2 Years Old

2011-05-01T17:26:00.003-05:00

This past week Daddy, Brody, and Brynn all have had colds. Brody spiked a 102.5 fever Friday morning, so we took him into Urgent Care that afternoon. He was diagnosed with an ear infection and was started on antibiotics. We took Brynn in too for her horrible cough, but they said hers was just viral. Brody gave me quite the scare when we got home from the clinic. His fever spiked to 103.5. I gave him Motrin and Tylenol and immediately put him in the tub. I was crying while I was trying to get him cooled down and poor Brody was shivering and he looked at me and said, "Mommy, you crying. Mommy, you crying." I couldn't believe as horrible as he felt, he was worried about me crying. Other than them having colds, they are doing quite well. I am proud to say that they both know most of their shapes and we are working on colors. As much as I try, neither of them will count for me. I know that they know how to count, because the other week Brody was scolding Brynn and I hear him say, "Brynn, 1...2...3"! They both are talking in full sentences and talk a lot, especially Brynn. She seems to always be talking and tells the funniest stories! She is still very attached to her blanket and would drag it everywhere with her, if I would let her. Brody has been attached to his bolts (yes, metal bolts) that he has carried around for a couple weeks now. I can't even tell you how many times we have turned this house upside down looking for his bolts. B and B seem to get busier and busier the older they get. The other night we went for a walk and they both wanted to run instead of ride in the wagon and they both ran almost a whole mile! I have started running too with Truman. I told Bryan that I need to get in better shape if I am going to be chasing after them all summer!

We took these pics last night. I had to laugh when I finally found Brody. I thought that he had gotten out of his crib. This is classic Brynn sucking on her two middle fingers with her security blanket:)

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T17:46:00.005-05:00

We celebrated Easter this year with Grandma Farnan, Fred, and John. We went to church at our old church in Lee's Summit and then out to eat at Longhorn Steakhouse. When we got home we had an Easter egg hunt in our yard. B and B had a lot of fun looking for eggs! We hope everyone had a wonderful Easter with their families!

Hide-and-Seek!

2011-04-10T20:26:00.004-05:00

Counting... They just found Daddy hiding in the bathroom...

Mommy and Daddy just found us hiding in the closet...

B and B love to play hide-and-seek! We turn off all the lights in our house and let them play. They do pretty good at hiding and love to be scared! The more they get scared, the more they scream with delight!

Feeding the Duckies

2011-04-03T18:17:00.003-05:00

One of B and B's favorite things to do is going to feed the duckies. There is a pond in a neighborhood close to our house that has swans, geese, and ducks that live on it. Everyday that it is nice outside, we try to go and feed them. They are even starting to swim towards us when they see us coming. We are able to sit right next to the water and feed them and they get pretty close to us. It makes me smile everytime when I hear B and B say "good-bye duckies" when we leave:)

Yuck...

2011-03-27T17:59:00.005-05:00

We have had a yucky weekend here at the Madden ranch. The weather is yucky and B and B have been sick all weekend. Brody vomited twice yesterday and has had a fever off and on. They both have had diarrhea all weekend. Bryan and I said that if anyone asks what we did all weekend, we would say that we changed dirty diapers. At one point yesterday, we were changing dirty diapers about every 30 minutes:( Neither of them have really drank or ate much of anything over the last couple of days. Brynn will atleast try to eat stuff, but Brody refuses most of everything except fruit snacks. B and B have been laying around a lot and requesting to watch their favorite movies; The Lion King and Balto. We're hoping that we are on the downhill swing of this virus and that they start feeling better soon!

Crown Center

2011-03-20T13:05:00.005-05:00

Yesterday, we took B and B to Crown Center to the Under the Sea Adventure. It was a big room filled with cut out wooden rooms with different mazes and play areas to stimulate an underwater world. It was way too crowded for Bryan and I's liking, but B and B had a great time running around. Brody quickly realized that he could take off running and hide in a million places that would make it difficult for me to catch or even find him. After several scary chases, we decided to leave and venture out around Crown Center. We stopped to check out the train outside of Fritz's Restaurant. I had to laugh when B and B sat down on the bench and waited for a second and they both said, "It's broken, Mommy." I think they thought they were going on a real train ride:( They loved the waterfall in the Westin Hotel and both would have loved to jump in. We also let them run through one of the tunnels that connects all the buildings together down there. They ran the length of the tunnel twice. Brody wore all three of us out chasing after him. Bryan and I often think he could run forever! Boy, is he fast too! Of course, neither of them would hold still long enough to take any good pictures.

Snake Saturday

2011-03-13T10:28:00.009-05:00

Yesterday, we spent most of the day having a family day. We went out to breakfast at First Watch and it was delicious! Then we went to the Snake Saturday parade in North Kansas City. B and B had a really good time at the parade! Brynn enjoyed watching all of the different Africian American dance drill teams. Brody really liked the Patriot Gaurd (the group that protests against Westboro Baptist Church and their leader, Fred Phelps) riding all their Harley Davidsons through the parade. It was nice to hear people cheering for them! B and B thought that they needed to eat every peice of candy thrown toward them. I finally had to put a stop to that when someone dropped about 20 suckers in front of us. It was a really fun day and was especially nice to spend some time outside in the great weather!

Jesus

2011-03-06T11:40:00.002-06:00

The above pictures are of B and B giving Jesus kisses and hugs. Brynn has taken a real interest in Jesus lately and talks about him often. Since our kids are a "monkey-see-monkey-do" duo, Brody is starting to take an interest in Jesus also, but not like Brynn. We have a crucifix next to our front door and several times Brynn has asked to give Jesus a kiss on the way out the door. Bryan said on Friday that she finally saw the "owies" on Jesus and was asking about them. Bryan said that he told her that Jesus got those "owies" for her. Bryan said she immediately became concerned and wanted to kiss Jesus' "owies" to make him feel better:)

Spring Fever

2011-02-20T17:17:00.004-06:00

We are starting to get back to our normal routines around here. Although, we have had so many things going on, I am not so sure what "normal" is anymore! B and B are back to their old selfs and as ornery as ever! Brody is finally starting to cut the last of his molars. He has been doing really well using the potty and actually goes #2 on the potty more than #1. Brynn apparently has been spending too much time with Daddy because she keeps trying to potty standing up:) I find it surprising that Brody hasn't even attempted that yet. Leave it to Brynn to be observant of those kind of things! We have been loving these warm days we have been having and spending as much time outside as we can. We are so looking forward to spring and summer!

Our First Hospitalization

2011-02-13T11:29:00.002-06:00

We have had a very scary, long, and stressful week. B and B started not feeling well last Sunday. They started not eating, running temps (Brody-101s, Brynn- 102s), and coughing A LOT. We kept them home from daycare on Monday and Tuesday. We had been giving Brody breathing treatments as needed and they both had been getting Tylenol and Motrin pretty much around the clock. On Tuesday, Bryan said they acted okay and even played a little as long as they had Tylenol and Motrin on board. They still weren't eating, but drinking okay. That night Brynn spiked another fever and I decided that when Bryan got home from work the next morning that we would take them to Urgent Care at Mercy South. I had had B and B's ears checked the week before, so I figured that this was just viral anyway. When we arrived at Mercy South, neither B or B had a fever. They checked their o2 sats and they were both ok, a little low, but nothing to be too concerned about. When the doctor came in to assess them, he didn't like what he heard in Brody's lungs. He said his lungs were crackly and wheezy and that Brody was retracting. Brody got 2 albuterol treatments and deep suctioned. His oxygen levels started deterioating and his sats were only upper 80s/lows 90s (normal 93-100%). Brody then got a racemic epi breathing treament and he still wasn't improving, so they put him on 2L o2 via nasal cannula. His sats remained upper 80s/low 90s. His sputum came back positive for RSV and he was also diagnosed with a mild ear infection. The doctor said Brody needed to be hospitalized, so Brody and Mommy got to take a ride with Children's Mercy Critical Care Transport Team to KU where he was admitted. Brynn was diagnosed with an ear infection and sent home on antibiotics. She mostly likely had RSV also, but her lungs sounded clear and her o2 levels were ok so she didn't need to be hospitalized. Brody was in the hospital at KU until Friday. He started out getting nasal suctioned every 2 hours, albuterol breathing treatments every 4 hours, and pulmicort breathing treatments every 12 hours. He stayed on this regimen his whole hospitalization, except they changed the suctioning to every 4 hours. You wouldn't believe the amount of mucous we suctioned out of him. Suctioning him was quite the task too since Brody is very strong and it required me actually sitting on him and holding his arms down while someone else suctioned him. I know it sounds awful, but it had to be done:( Throughout his hospitalization, he required o2 as needed, especially when he was sleeping. Fortunately, they gave me the option of him having an IV for hydration or me pushing fluids on him. I opted for pushing fluids and we managed to avoid an IV. He did have to get an IM shot while we were there for his ear infection though. He barely ate in the hospital at all, except on Friday, he did manage to eat some sausage for breakfast and some pizza for lunch. As soon as he woke up from his nap on Friday after we got home from the hospital he has been a new boy. He started eating and was already getting into trouble:) We are still giving him pulmicort treatments twice a day and albuterol treatments as needed. We even gave Brynn a few treatments, which seemed to help her a little too. They both are not 100% yet, but a lot better. A giant "thank you" to Grandma Farnan for staying a night with Brody in the hospital so I could spend some time with Brynn and get some rest. I have never been so thankful to have my entire family under one roof as I have been this weekend. Brynn told me several times Friday that she wanted to go see Brody. This was the first time since their birth that they have spent any nights apart. However, I think their missing each other has passed because they have gotten in trouble for fighting several times. Although, I don't like them fighting, it means that they're feeling better:)

Painting With Cool Whip

2011-02-06T14:14:00.007-06:00

Last night, we let B and B paint with cool whip. Boy, did they have fun! They painted the table, their faces, and their shirts. It was really nice to let them play with stuff that they could eat if they wanted to. Surprisingly, it wasn't really that bad to clean up and it was B and B's bath time afterwards anyway. Brynn decided on the way to the tub though that she would just wash her hands in the toilet:) Brody got his first black eye on Friday. He has a nice multi-colored bruise under his eye and along his inner eye. It looks a lot worse in person than it does in the pictures:( Bryan said he wasn't quite sure what happened between him and Brynn. Our guess is that Brynn decided she had finally had enough. Either way, we will be working on playing "nicely" this week.

Indoor Fun!

2011-01-30T16:44:00.005-06:00

Cabin Fever

2011-01-23T17:46:00.006-06:00

We are all getting a little cabin fever around here and are ready for some warmer weather. We took B and B to Dairy Queen this weekend and we let them have their own cones. As you can tell from the pictures, they enjoyed their ice cream! The other picture is of Brody after I found him playing with my lotion the other day. He has a new obsession with lotion lately and always seems to think his hair needs lotion:) On Friday night, Bryan and I did get out for a while and went to the New Theatre Restaurant to see Lend Me a Tenor starring Jamie Farr from M*A*S*H. It was our first time going to the theater and we had a really good time. The buffet was fantastic and the play was really funny! We have another set of tickets we received for Christmas, so we will be going back again and taking Grandma Farnan with us. A big thank you to Grandma Madden and Tavia for watching B and B!

Elmo Live: Healthy Heroes

2011-01-15T21:53:00.008-06:00

Last night, we took B and B to see Elmo Live: Healthy Heroes at the Sprint Center. It was a really cute show and B and B had a good time! At the beginning of the show, when Bert and Ernie came out on stage, Brody starting yelling, "Elmo, Elmo, Elmo!" It was really cute:) He did really well at the beginning, but then his attention span got the best of him. Brynn did pretty good, as usual. Several times throughout the show, they would ask the children to get up and do the "Fab Five" dance and by then end of the show, she was really getting the hang of it! We caught her dancing several other times throughout the show to the music. It always makes me smile to watch her dance:) The entire show lasted about 1.5 hours and we were happy that B and B seemed to enjoy it!

2 Year 2 1/2 Month Update

2011-01-09T14:19:00.004-06:00

B and B are sailing through their "2s" and time is flying by faster than ever! B and B seem to have really changed and "grown up" a lot since their birthday. Brody is a typical little boy who loves all things "boy". His favorite toys are his trains, cars, and balls. He still finds little "treasures" (tiny balls, dice, old cell phone battery, etc.) around the house and carries them around for hours and sometimes days. He is the first to repeat something he hears, whether it be good or bad. He has a wonderful sense of humor and often starts laughing for no apparent reason to the rest of us. He particularly finds burping and tooting to be hilarous:) He has been in a bit of trouble lately for throwing tantrums, hitting, and screaming (ear piercing screaming). We hope he passes through this phase as fast as it seemed to hit. He is a very sweet little boy that gives the most amazing hugs:) Brynn is a typical little girl that loves all things "girly". Her favorite toys are her dolls and any of my clothes/accessories. She continues to love her dvds and has taken a real interest in what is on tv. We love to hear her sing and watch her dance. She has a big heart and is the first to console someone in need:) This weekend, she has decided to start potty training herself. We will often find her sitting on the toilet. She doesn't tell us she has to go to the bathroom, she will just go do it by herself. I found her on the toilet today and she told me to leave and to shut the door:) She has even went poop on the potty a couple of times. She still hasn't quite figured out how to make it to the bathroom before she starts going poop in her diaper though. We are very proud of her for being such a "big girl". She is very independent and definitely doesn't want help in doing anything and does things on her own time frame. She is a very sweet little girl and gives the best kisses:) Bryan and I feel very blessed to be their parents!

Merry Christmas-Part 2

2011-01-02T12:21:00.003-06:00

On Christmas Eve, we celebrated Christmas with the Maddens and then we had our family Christmas on Christmas morning. Santa was very good to B and B this year and they have been having lots of fun playing with all their new stuff! Brody's favorite presents have been his matchbox cars and his Thomas the Train toys. Brynn's favorite presents have been her sing-a-long dvds (she frequently asks to watch a "movie") and her doll accessories. We hope everyone had a great holiday season and we wish everyone health, wealth, and happiness in 2011!

Merry Christmas-Part 1

2010-12-26T15:07:00.004-06:00

Last week, we took B and B to see Santa. We had a little bit of a wait in line, which I thought was a good thing so they could see the other boys and girls sit on Santa's lap. Well, I think the pictures speak for themselves on how their meeting with Santa went. Here is attempt #1 and attempt #2...

Farnan Christmas

2010-12-19T13:51:00.007-06:00

Yesterday, we went to Maryville to celebrate Christmas with the Farnans. We had a great Christmas, eventhough none of my siblings or sister-in-law decided to come. It was nice to get to see all of our nephews and neice that we don't get to see nearly often enough. I actually felt short next to all my nephews! B and B had a great time seeing everyone and enjoyed opening their presents! We are looking forward this week to celebrating Christmas with the Maddens and to starting our own family Christmas traditions.

Family Picture

2010-12-12T15:21:00.005-06:00

This is our family picture for 2010. B and B achieved the look they were going for; somber. However, we are ALL sitting in the picture and looking at the camera, so we atleast achieved that! B and B have been something else lately! They are constantly in everything, especially the fridge. Brody has become really attached to Brynn lately. If he doesn't know where she is or what she is doing, he will go around the house looking for her, yelling, "Brynne, Brynne!" He has become the "punishment police" and often scolds her for doing something she isn't supposed to be doing. He will say, "no, no!" and will try to send her to the corner. Surprisingly, Brynn usually will go, reluctantly, while whimpering or crying. He also has been quite the little tattler on her too. He loves to horse collar her or wrestle with her and pin her down. Bryan and I are suprised that she takes all this from him, especially since she has a couple pounds on him! Unfortunately, she is not as coordinated as him and hasn't figured out how to out maneuver him yet. Brynn continues to love playing with my clothes/accessories and her dolls. She is becoming quite good at walking in my high heel boots! She still jabbers a lot and we would love to be able understand more of her stories. She loves to listen to country music and has some pretty interesting dance moves! We are not quite sure where she picked up some of her moves:) Yesterday was Bryan's 33rd birthday. Happy Birthday, Daddy! We love you!

Tis The Season

2010-12-05T16:49:00.000-06:00

This weekend, we finally decided to go and get our Christmas tree. B and B were very excited about our tree! We attempted to decorate it with their help and that was a disaster! Brody kept taking all the balls and putting them in piles in different corners of the kitchen. Brynn had stuff everywhere and broke an ornament, so we decorated it after they went to bed. They are quite obsessed with the tree today. We have found Brynn just hanging out by the tree staring at it. Brody has came walking out of the kitchen numerous times today with ornaments that he picked off the tree. We are hoping that the "newness" of the tree wears off real soon! We took B and B to see Santa today at Bass Pro Shop and the line was a mile long. We decided not to wait in line and let B and B walk around and look at all the animals. Hopefully, next time they will actually get to see Santa!

Thanksgiving Break

2010-11-28T16:07:00.000-06:00

We have had a nice, but busy Thanksgiving break. Bryan had 3 days off from work and I am having a mini vacation with 6 days off from work. It has been sooo NICE being home with B and B. I am going down to 4 days a week at work soon, so I am looking forward to being home with them a day during the week. We spent Thanksgiving at the Farnan's this year with Grandma Farnan, Fred, John, Mike, Bryce, and Taryn. We have been enjoying Grandma Farnan's leftovers:) On Saturday, we went to the MU vs. KU football game. Bryan and I had a great time just getting away for a while. A big thank you to Grandma Farnan, Fred, and John for watching B and B. That night we took B and B to Christmas in the Park at Longview. It was a big hit with them! Brody was so quiet while watching all the lights and the only thing he kept saying was, "pretty." We may have to go again! We are hoping to get our tree soon so we can start decorating for Christmas. I'm sure B and B will be a lot of help decorating:)

2 Year Doctor's Appointment

2010-11-21T15:20:00.000-06:00

Last Tuesday, B and B had their 2 year doctor's appointment. Brody weighed 29.6 lbs and was 36.4 inches tall (90%, 75%). Brynn weighed 31.4 lbs and was 36.1 inches tall (>95%, 93%). I was very surprised at how tall they were! However, I know those lengths aren't completely accurate because Brynn is a little taller than Brody. Brynn was also diagnosed with a bilateral ear infection. She had been pretty fussy lately, but it didn't even cross my mind that she might have an ear infection:( Dr Gilmer put both of them on antibiotics and Brody on steroids. She also told me that she was impressed that I had never had to hospitalize Brody since his asthma has been so bad. B and B also got shots and both of them cried:( Yesterday, we went for family pictures and B and B were awful! Our appointment was at 2, which is typically in the middle of nap time, but I had put them down early that day, so I am not for sure what happened. We finally just gave up on getting pictures. Our photographer thought she might have 2-3 pictures that might be okay. B and B wouldn't hold still or smile for anything. Guess who were all in a good mood and playful when we got home?

It's All About Fashion

2010-11-14T17:33:00.000-06:00

B and B have had a lot of fun lately playing in our closet, especially Brynn. You never quite know what she is going to come out wearing! She loves to wear my shoes, scarves, and now my jewelry. I have to laugh because she rarely puts on "one" of anything. B and B have been mimicking us a lot lately and most of the time it is funny to see the things they imitate and catch on to, but sometimes it's scary and I think to myself, "Is that really what we look like/act like to them?" B and B have their 2 year doctor's appointment this week. As usual, we are looking forward to seeing how they compare to other kids their age.

Halloween '10

2010-11-07T13:54:00.001-06:00

Brody and Brynn had a lot of fun dressing up this year for Halloween! Brody was a vampire and Brynn was a spider. We took them trick-or-treating in our old neighborhood in Lee's Summit. Brody was a natural trick-or-treater! It took him a few houses to get warmed up and then he would attempt to say, "trick-or-treat", grab a handful of candy, say, "thanks, ok, BYE!" and was ready to go to the next house. I think he would have trick-or-treated all night if we would have let him:) Brynn got tired of trick-or-treating after only a few houses and wanted me to carry her around. Brynn and Truman liked seeing all the trick-or-treaters come to our house instead:) It was quite the task keeping them out of all the candy that night!

Brody and Brynn's 2nd Birthday

2010-10-31T14:32:00.000-05:00

On Saturday, we celebrated B and B's 2nd birthday at our house with our families. Thank you to everyone for the great gifts. B and B are in toy heaven! We have been asking them how old they are and Brody says, "two!", and puts both his index fingers together to make "two". It makes me laugh everytime he does that! When we ask Brynn how old she is, she says, "no!", so there you have that:)

Last Week Being 1 Year Old

2010-10-24T14:15:00.000-05:00

B and B have really been keeping us busy! Brynn has not been feeling well this past week, but even being a little "under the weather" doesn't seem to slow her down much. A lot of people have asked me what they are going to be for Halloween. Brody is going to be a vampire and Brynn is going to be a spider. We have been working with them to say "trick-or-treat", which they translate as, "triter TREEEEAT!" It is quite cute! We have a big weekend coming up with their 2 year birthday party and Halloween. We had a lot of fun cheering for the Tigers Saturday night. Congrats to MU for their HUGE victory over OU! What a great game!

Cuddling With Mommy

2010-10-17T13:36:00.000-05:00

They're Always Up To Something...

2010-10-10T13:27:00.000-05:00

Brynn thought it would be a good idea to smear toothpaste in her hair: B and B taking a ride on the vacuum:
B and B doing somersaults in the living room:

Carolyn's Country Cousins Pumpkin Patch

2010-10-03T14:27:00.000-05:00

Today, we took B and B to Carolyn's Country Cousins Pumpkin Patch in Liberty. There were all kinds of things for kids to do there. They had a petting zoo, mazes, pig races, train ride, hay rides, slides, and numerous play areas. B and B had a lot of fun and enjoyed running all over the place!

A Lot of "Firsts"

2010-09-26T13:58:00.000-05:00

Brynn found her first worm this weekend. They had a lot of fun inspecting it! It's so fun to see the excitement and curiosity in their faces when they discover new things! They also got to frost sugar cookies for the first time today. Surprisingly, Brody made more of a mess than Brynn! B and B have had a lot of "firsts" it seems like lately. I transferred to a new position at KU a couple of weeks ago. I am now working at the Westwood campus in the Outpatient Radiology department. I really like my new job, but it has been quite the adjustment working 5 days a week. This is the first time since they have been born that I haven't been at home with them atleast a couple days during the week. B and B have started going back to their previous daycare one day a week. I think it's good for them to get out of the house and to have social interaction with other kids. They seem to really like it there too. Bryan got promoted about a month ago to the maintenance department at the Kohls Distribution Center. He likes his new position also, but we have both realized that him working nights will definitely not be a permanent thing for us. However, he is getting to spend a lot more time with B and B:)

Air Show

2010-09-19T18:48:00.001-05:00

On Saturday, we took B and B to the Air Show at Whiteman Air Force Base. Brynn has a new interest in planes and gets so excited when she sees one and always points them out in the sky. She really enjoyed watching all the excitement in the sky Saturday. Brody liked all the planes too, but not nearly as much as having us chase him around! It was amazing to see how big all the military aircraft are up close. It was a really cool show, but it was so hot out!

Our 'Lil Helpers

2010-09-12T14:09:00.000-05:00

B and B are really into "helping" us do things, especially cleaning and cooking. Everytime we start to make anything to eat, they will pull up chairs to the bar and help us. They are not shy either about dipping their WHOLE hand in to taste whatever we are making! Their new favorite phrases are, "it's broke" and "eeewwww". I'm starting to dread hearing "eeewwww" because it is usually associated with some sort of gross mess, boogers, or poop! Brody has really became quite independent and is really good about entertaining and playing by himself, much to Brynn's displeasure. He is really into rocks and sticks now and will carry them around for HOURS, along with other random small things he finds. He throws quite the fit sometimes if he can't bath or go to bed with his "treasures". He has become terrible about taking naps and this has become quite the battle since I am insistent that he still takes them. Brynn has really became quite interested in music and dancing, especially in the car. I think it is so cute to see her "head banging" to songs she likes on the radio. She is quite the social butterfly and loves to go to daycare any chance she gets. She actually ran back to the church daycare the other week because she didn't want to leave! She is very task orientated and behaves much better if we keep her interested and busy. She continues to have very strong opinions about what she wears and has become quite good at dragging out clothes to try on! It is always surprising to see what clothing combinations she comes up with! They are at a really fun stage right now and we are enjoying them so much!

Labor Day Weekend

2010-09-06T18:50:00.001-05:00

We have spent a lot of time outside this weekend enjoying the beautiful weather! On Saturday, we went to Santa Cali Gon Days in Independence. B and B enjoyed all the excitement of the festival! We stopped to watch a couple dance groups perform, which Brynn loved! Bryan and I are already thinking about starting her in dance. B and B also got to try a funnel cake for the first time. Brody really liked it a lot more than Brynn, which is surprising since she has the sweet tooth. Today, we went biking on the Little Blue Trace trail. The trail runs along a river and has beautiful scenery. We stopped along the trail and had a picnic and let B and B run and explore. Hopefully, this beautiful Fall weather continues!

First Trip To The Library

2010-08-30T18:31:00.000-05:00

Today, we took B and B to the library for the first time. It was no surpise that Brynn loved the library! She kept taking books off the shelves over to the table and "reading" them. Brody loved running around the library and playing with the toys. No surprise there either! However, he is getting a lot better sitting and reading books.

My Birthday Weekend

2010-08-22T16:05:00.000-05:00

On Friday, I turned the big 3-2. I had a fantastic birthday! I was awakened to breakfast in bed and a dozen roses/flowers. Bryan also got me a really cool charm necklace that has B and B's names on it and a digital camera. That morning, Grandma Farnan and I took B and B to the marina at Longview Lake to feed the carp and ducks. Then we went to Old Missouri Town to feed the elk. On Friday night, Bryan and I met some of my our friends on the Plaza for dinner. On Saturday, Bryan took me to Hermann to the wineries. I loved Hermann and thought the area was beautiful! We went to some really neat wineries and tasted some fantastic wine. I am hoping to go back again this fall for Oktoberfest. A big thank you to Grandma Farnan and Grandma Madden for watching B and B this weekend so we could get away a for a little while! B and B are doing great and growing up so fast! They are saying some of the funniest things! A big thank you to one of my co-workers, Brenda, and her Mom for the balls and lollipops they got for B and B. They love them!

New Bike Trailer

2010-08-15T13:37:00.000-05:00

Bryan and I have been wanting to get a bike trailer for B and B for a long time. We went to Target the other day and they had them on clearance, so we finally bought one! We took B and B for a ride last night and they loved it, especially Brynn! We usually go for walks every night and this was the first time in a long time that they both behaved during the entire outing:)

Busy, Busy Toddlers

2010-08-08T17:39:00.000-05:00

We have been staying busy trying to keep B and B entertained. They seem to get in less trouble when they stay busy:) On Friday, we went to Deanna Rose with Grandma Farnan, John, and Caden. Our nephew, Caden, came down to stay with us for a few days. B and B always enjoy seeing all the animals. This time, I let them feed the baby goats a bottle. It was really sweet watching Brynn try to kiss all the animals:) We also went back to see the elk again at Old Missouri Town, but they didn't want to come out from under the shade tree. Hopefully, we can catch them all out again soon. On a side note, Brody flushed one of his toys down the toilet in our bathroom. After having no luck trying to get the "mystery toy" out of the toilet with several different devices, we gave up and bought a new toilet. We took a hammer to the old toilet the other night and discovered that the "mystery toy" was the top to one of his wooden trains. I am really looking forward to when the bathroom, in general, becomes a less fascinating and fun place to be!

Hanging Out At Home

2010-07-31T21:45:00.000-05:00

We have been traveling a lot to Maryville this past month, so this was the first weekend in a long time that we stayed around home and didn't have anything planned. We did take B and B to the doggie park and to see the elk in Old Missouri Town on Saturday. B and B loved feeding the elk carrots and apples! Even Truman wanted in on the action. We left him in the car with the AC on and he got the window down TWICE and bolted over to see them. It amazes me that he knows how to get the windows down in the car when he wants to! B and B have really been eating and talking a lot lately. Bryan and I have both noticed how tall they seem to be getting. It's no surprise that we are going to have tall kids, but it seems they are growing up so fast! Brody has been doing really good attempting to count to ten and they both are starting to make a lot of animal sounds when we ask them what an animal says. He has been very much a Momma's boy lately and seems to get upset/cry when I'm not around. Brynn is very much a Daddy's girl and has been for a long time. When I'm home with her during the week, she often asks about Daddy. I tell her Daddy worked last night and he is sleeping. I'll ask her is she wants to go see Daddy and give him a hug and kiss. This usually satisfies her and she stops asking for him. I asked her the other night who she loved more, me or Daddy? Without hesitation, she said, "Daddy!" She jabbers a lot and tells a lot of stories. I have trouble understanding what she is saying a lot of the time. I wish I knew what she was trying to tell me more often because apparently it is quite hilarious:) I had to laugh yesterday when she looked at me and said, "she ya later, chow!" I have no idea where she got "chow" from:) They both have quite the individual personalities and definite different likes and dislikes. I know I say this a lot, but I can't believe they are already 21 months old!

Brynn's First Hair Cut!

2010-07-25T18:17:00.000-05:00

We finally got Brynn's hair cut today! She sat in the chair all by herself with her sucker and didn't move at all! I was so proud of her for being such a big girl:) She looks almost sad in some of the pictures we took though:( I'm not sure what she thought of getting her hair cut. I didn't really want to cut her bangs, but she won't keep "pretties" in her hair, so I decided to cut them so her hair wouldn't be in her eyes. Hopefully, this hair cut will help her hair grow thicker!

Pool Time!

2010-07-18T16:43:00.001-05:00

Wow, it was HOT this weekend! On Friday, we went to Target and bought B and B a kiddie pool to play in. I think they dragged anything they could into the pool with them! Brynn had a lot of fun scooping all the water OUT of the pool. They liked the pool, but not as much as I thought they would. I sure hope it isn't as hot this week, so B and B can play outside more. We are running out of ideas to keep them busy indoors!

A Great Weekend!

2010-07-11T16:45:00.000-05:00

We had a great, but very busy weekend! Mom and John stayed with us a couple days this weekend to help out with our garage sale. We did okay with our sale, but I would have liked to have sold a lot more! On Friday night, Bryan, John, and I went to see Eclipse. We all liked the movie and are ready for the next one! On Saturday, we went to Conception to celebrate my Uncle Gary and Aunt Rose's 41st wedding anniversary. It was really great weather and we had a good time getting to see everyone. B and B ran and played the whole time we were there. They both were asleep before we even got to Barnard! We have been having so much fun with B and B lately and enjoying their funny little personalities! They are starting to really have each other's back and have been working together a lot...most of the time it's working together to do something they shouldn't be doing:) Bryan and I heard them talking back and forth this morning in their cribs. He said that when he went in to get them up he went over to get Brynn first and she looked at Brody, pointed and said, "ha ha," as if they were having a competition to see who would get picked up first! Mom brought down a harmonica the other week and I wish we would have video taped Brynn playing the harmonica the other night. She actually does really well and it is hilarious to watch how dramatic she can get when she plays! Hopefully, we can catch it on video and post it for everyone to enjoy!

Happy Belated 4th!

2010-07-05T20:56:00.001-05:00

We hope everyone had a happy and safe 4th! We spent the holiday weekend in Maryville. We had a great time and enjoyed spending time with my family. We got to see some of my cousins and our nephews that we don't get to see very often. It would have been the perfect weekend if it wouldn't have rained all day Sunday. We did get to see some fireworks and Brynn loved them! She was so happy and talking up a storm at the fireworks! Brody could have cared less if he saw any fireworks. We did get some small fireworks on Wednesday night for the kids and John to light. B and B both loved snaps and Brynn really liked the smoke balls, but Brody seemed kind of afraid of them. He really liked sparklers though. I did a really poor job of packing for our trip and forgot our camera:( I did take a few pictures of Brynn this week. However, I don't have any recent ones of Brody and I am not sure how that happened:( Brody has started doing two new things this week, both of which I am not thrilled about. He has learned how to take his shirt off and has been sticking his hand down his diaper. Everyone assures me that this is a phase and I hope it phases out quickly! I had to take him out of church on Sunday and there were quite a few people in the back of church. As soon as we got out there, he stuck his hand down his diaper and starting walking around. I was a bit embarassed, but thankfully he was easily distracted into doing something else! Oh, the joys of little boys:)

3/4 Sick

2010-06-27T18:00:00.001-05:00

B, B, and Daddy have all been sick this past week with respiratory infections. Brody has been the worst with low grade fevers, coughing, wheezing, runny nose, and decreased appetite. I have been giving him breathing treatments all week. Finally today, I thought it had been long enough and they all went to Urgent Care. B and B were started on Augmentin and Bryan started a Z-pack. Hopefully, they will get to feeling better soon! They weighed B and B while we were there and Brody weighed 27.2 lbs and Brynn weighed 29.6 lbs. However, these weights were with their clothes and shoes on. We did manage to get out of the house a little bit this weekend and attend Bryan's work picnic at Lone Summit Ranch. We had a really good time. The food was catered by Gate's Barbeque and was fantastic! There were a ton of things to do, such as minature golf, swimming, volley ball, horse shoes, etc. B and B spent most of the night in the giant sand box. They also got to take their first pony ride! I started to take Brynn to see the horses and when she recognized where we were going, she started running and jabbering a mile a minute. She was sooo excited! They only rode the horses for a little bit. I think they were both a little scared:( Brynn sure had fun petting the horses though. I wish we would have had our camera with us to take pictures. We also took Brody to get his hair cut this weekend. I was a little sad to see his curls go, but his hair was getting a bit out of control. His hair seems to grow fast, so I'm sure his curls will be back in no time! Brynn still hasn't had her first hair cut yet. I am still not sure how I want to style her hair. If it was up to her, it would be no style and the messier, the better:)

Happy Father's Day!

2010-06-20T13:54:00.000-05:00

Happy Father's Day to my wonderful husband and to all the great Dads I know! We also want to wish Grandma Farnan a very Happy Birthday today, and to Fred, Mike, and Clint who are also celebrating birthdays this week! I have had a great week home with the kids, but it went way too fast:( We spent a lot of time outside playing, taking walks, and going to the park. On Thursday, we went to the fountains at Crown Center with Grandma Madden, Lexie, Avorey, and Olivia. B and B loved the fountains! We plan on taking them back soon. B and B have been saying a lot of new things, a few of which, I really hope I didn't hear right:) Brody's new phrase is, "oh, my God!" I know he picked that up from hearing me say that. He is a very active little boy and quite the climber. We have been adjusting our nap time and bed time routines because he figured out how to climb out of his crib a couple of weeks ago. I think he only crawls out when he is bored and doesn't want to go to sleep. Brynn's new phrase is, "I pooped" and most of the time she is telling the truth. I finally got her to go potty on the potty chair last night! She continues to be a "fashion diva" and loves to play with her clothes and shoes. We took her shopping at Kohls yesterday and I would pick out dresses and she would let me know if she liked them or not. I bet she tried on 10 different outfits! They both came down with colds last night, so we might be having a rough couple of days ahead:(

On Staycation!

2010-06-13T19:43:00.000-05:00

I started my staycation on Friday and don't have to go back to work until 6/22. I'm calling it a staycation, instead of a vacation, since we are not traveling anywhere. We had originally planned on going to North Carolina, but Bryan just started a new job and doesn't get any time off yet. B and B went to stay with Grandma Farnan and John on Friday, so Bryan and I could have some alone time. We had a nice weekend together. We did some shopping, went out to dinner, and hung out with some friends. We went and picked up B and B in Maryville today and I was a little bummed they didn't seem more excited to see me:( They both adore Grandma Farnan and are always happy to see her, so I shouldn't have been surprised that they would have stay there longer! A big thank you to her and John for taking such good care of B and B! We had a nice time going back home today. We went to visit the cemetary in Maryville and in Conception, since we didn't make it up on Memorial day. We also went to see Fred and his new house in Barnard. A big thank you to Aunt Lexie, Avorey, and Tavia for watching B and B on Monday and Tuesday while I worked and Bryan had jury duty. I am looking forward to having an entire week to spend with B and B! I just hope the weather cooperates, so we can can get out and do some fun stuff:)

Henry Doorly Zoo

2010-06-06T11:42:00.000-05:00

On Friday, we went to the Henry Dorley Zoo in Omaha with Grandma Farnan and John. We had a good time at the zoo, eventhough it was really hot. Brynn definately got more out of the zoo than Brody did. She really liked the giraffes and penguins. Brody just wanted to run around. They both liked the petting zoo with the farm animals. We also took a tram ride and a train ride and they both seemed to really enjoy those also. It was a really long day and I was proud at how well the kids behaved, especially Brynn since she was fighting a horrible diaper rash.

Summer Fun!

2010-05-30T17:39:00.000-05:00

We have been spending a lot of time outside lately since the weather has gotten nice again. Although, now it is almost getting too hot some days! B and B would stay outside all day long if we would let them! We have been eating a lot of popsicles and playing in the water to try to stay cool. B and B are 19 months old today! I feel like they are growing up so fast:( They are now giving each other hugs and kisses:) Their vocabulary has really exploded lately. Some of the things they are saying are: Mom, Chi Chi, Dad, Grandma, shoe, dog, uh-oh, no, yes, go, ball, i love you, what'd you do, stop that, don't do that, etc. Brody continues to be a goofy, easy going kid. He never really gets too upset about anything, unless he has to come inside from playing or Brynn takes away something he has. His new word is "go" and tells us this about 10 times everytime we are in the car. We are constantly amazed at how strong he is. Bryan held him up the other night to dunk the basketball and he hung on the rim for quite a while. He is obsessed with lawn mowers and the trash can lately. He has become quite the little flirt and show off too. When he wants to show off for someone, he will give them a cheesy grin and then start running in circles as if to say, "look what I can do." He still runs most of the time, but will always take time to stop and check out flowers:) He pottied the first time in the toilet the other night! I have to laugh everytime he pees without his diaper on because he always seems so shocked when he pees. He seems so confused about what that thing even is! Brynn continues to be a girly girl and has quite the strong personality. I still smile everytime I hear her giggle with joy when she is wearing something she thinks is pretty. She loves books and being read to. I have found her several times sitting at the kitchen table "reading" her books. She is still a big animal lover and plays with Truman more than he would like. She does really well with tasks we give her and will usually try to do just about anything you ask her to. She is now able to open the patio door and let Truman in when I ask her to. She is obsessed with the toilet these days and loves to unroll whole rolls of toilet paper and put it all in the toilet. She would carry around a blanket everywhere she goes if we would let her. She also loves to play with my phone and act like she is talking to someone:) She seems to get her feelings hurt a lot easier than Brody does and is a little more shy than he is. We are constantly amazed by them and feel so blessed:)

What's a Little Mud Anyway?

2010-05-23T17:23:00.000-05:00

Last weekend after it finally stopped raining, I let B and B play outside for a while. Well, we only had one mud puddle in our back yard and they found it! At first, I was going to tell them "no" and then I decided that I am always telling them "no" about one thing or another, so I was going to let them have their fun. Boy, did they have fun! A little mud never hurt anyone anyway:)

Fun Run

2010-05-16T11:54:00.001-05:00

Yesterday, we took B and B to meet Angela and her boys at Fun Run (indoor inflatable center) in Liberty. B and B were a little hesitant at first, but they ended up having a good time. Brody started out the week sick with a cough and bad wheezing. We just finally stopped giving him breathing treatments Friday. Brynn has had a runny nose, but that sure hasn't seemed to slow her down any. She is always up to something, and most of the time, it is never good:( She has been a lot for us to handle lately, especially while shopping. Whatever phase this is, I sure hope it ends quickly! I also hope this rainy weather ends soon too, because B, B, and Truman are missing being outside!

Happy Mother's Day!

2010-05-09T17:59:00.001-05:00

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful Moms we know, especially Grandma Farnan. Mom, we love you and appreciate you more than you will ever know! We stayed at home most of the day today because B and B have colds and it has been so chilly outside. I did get to sleep in past 7:30 today and got breakfast in bed. I enjoyed breakfast in bed as much as a Mom could with two curious toddlers:) Thank you Daddy! B and B are really starting to talk a lot. We get quite the laughs out of some of the things they say! The other morning I was getting Brody dressed and I told him to come over and get his shorts on and he said, "hell ya!" I couldn't help but laugh, eventhough it is not funny that technically he was cussing. Brynn's new favorite word is "dog" and she lets me know if she sees one:) They are both starting to say a lot of 3-4 word phrases, but you have to really pay attention to what they say because they say it so fast. Sometimes, I wonder though if it is better that we don't know everything they're saying:)

Deanna Rose

2010-05-02T16:47:00.000-05:00

Today, we met our friend Angela and her boys at The Deanna Rose Farmstead. The weather was so nice that we decided to have a picnic before going in. B and B absolutely loved the farmstead, especially Brynn. She giggled with joy when see saw the hens. She is such an animal lover! They really enjoyed seeing all the animals and feeding the goats. Brynn kept petting the goats and trying to give them hugs:) Brody, of course, was on the move the whole time we were there. However, he did take time to stop and look at some of the pretty flowers. He picked a couple that he carried around for quite some time:) When we saw the Longhorn I told them that it was a cow and that a cow goes "moo" and they both starting "mooing". Finally, after all this time of working on animal sounds, they just needed a "face" to put to the sound/word:) After, we saw all the animals, we played in one of the playgrounds there. B and B loved going down the slides! We can't wait to take them back again!

Complete Panic...

2010-04-25T16:08:00.001-05:00

So, this morning Bryan had clinicals and I was looking forward to spending time with B and B. I needed to do some laundry, so while B and B were playing with toys, I thought I would sneak downstairs for 2 seconds and nobody would realize I was gone (the door to the garage is in the kitchen and the stairs to the basement are in the garage). As I was downstairs, I could hear B and B doing a jig on the kitchen table. I came back upstairs and tried to open the door and it was locked! I realized at this moment that I have no cell phone or keys with me. I banged on the door hoping B or B would try to open the door, but they weren't about to get off the kitchen table. I ran around front and the front screen door was locked and I could see through the kitchen that the patio door was locked. At this time, Brynn sees me at the front door banging on it, and tumbles off the kitchen table. So, now she is on the floor crying while Brody is still dancing his jig on the kitchen table.....with SCISSORS in his hand! aaaahhhh! I ran around back and decided that I was going to have to bust out the kitchen window to get in if it was locked. Meanwhile, Brynn was now laying on the floor bawling at the front door because she couldn't get to me and Truman was pacing back and forth whining because he saw the shear panic in my face and knew something was wrong. I ran around the side of the house and got the huge plastic tub that has our neighbors Christmas tree in it that they gave to us yesterday. I stepped up on it and managed to get the screen off the kitchen window and it was unlocked! I frantically looked around to see what else I could stack on top of the tub to be able to reach the window to climb in. I decided our wet lawn chair would have to do. I climbed on top and pushed off the chair arm and was then half way hanging out the window and half way in over the kitchen sink. I was greeted by Truman with his paws up on the kitchen sink wandering what the hell I was doing. Somehow I managed to pull myself through without falling to the floor. Forunately, I got to Brody before he fell off the table or hurt himself with the scissors. Brynn was fine too after cuddles:) I can't even describe the amount of panic and fear I felt during this ordeal. I hope to never feel that way again. On a funny note, I wonder if any of my neighbors looked out and saw my arse hanging out the window:)

Sibling Love

2010-04-18T16:15:00.000-05:00

Bryan and I have been really enjoying watching B and B interact with each other lately. We can now tell them to give each other a hug and most of the time they do. I even caught them giving each other a kiss the other day! What I wouldn't give to have caught that moment on film! The roles have kind of changed with them lately. Brynn has started to be more of a follower than a leader. When they are outside, Brody does really well with entertaining himself with pushing toys around and exploring, however what Brody is doing usually seems interesting to Brynn, so we have been having a few moments of "tug of war" over toys. For the most part though, they get along great and share well with each other. Brynn is now saying, "Bro", meaning Brody. She has also been saying "shoe" a lot too. Grandma Farnan bought her a couple pairs of shoes, Brynn approved of course, so she has been enjoying her new shoes. I have been careful not to leave the closet doors open or any clothes laying around, or she will put them on. Mom and I caught her "head banging" to a song in the car the other day. It was so funny to watch her move to the music:) Brody's new phrase is, "What'd you do?" He usually says it after HE does something. It is pretty funny to hear him say it. He also has this sinister giggle he does everytime we give him food that he thinks is a big treat, as if he has really got something. Even though I have heard this particular giggle probably a hundred times, it still makes me smile that he gets so exited over the littliest things. I can't believe they will be 18 months old soon. That doesn't even seem possible:(

Spring is Finally Here!

2010-04-11T17:57:00.000-05:00

We have been enjoying the warmer weather! B and B want to be outside all the time. We have to be careful and make sure we lock the patio door when we are inside or they will go outside without us. Brody loves to push his toys all over the yard and really likes it when Bryan holds him up in the air to "dunk" the basketball. Bryan and I have been playing a lot of "pig" outside and he definitely wants to play basketball with us. Brynn loves to swing on the swingset and watch all the neighbor dogs. She really loves animals and we're looking forward to taking her to Deanna Rose and to the zoo this summer. We went to the doggy park today and Brynn kept following all the dogs around trying to pet them. Of course, Brody ran the entire time we were there. Man, he can really get going fast!

Happy Easter!

2010-04-04T18:08:00.000-05:00

We hope everyone had a great Easter! We spent the day with Grandma Farnan, Fred, and John. We went to church at St. Mark's and then out to lunch at The Olive Garden. B and B were excited to get their Easter baskets from Grandma Farnan when we got home. Thank you Grandma! I finally got Brynn out of her Easter dress a few hours ago. I changed her clothes when we got home and she decided she still wanted to wear her dress, so she wore it on top of her other clothes! I'm having to "okay" with her everything I put on her lately or she will keep taking it off until she gets to wear what she wants:) Brody is the exact opposite. He doesn't care what he wears, but you only get one chance to get him dressed:) They have both really been feeling good this past week and have been "on the go" all the time. I have been chasing them down a lot! Their appetite has really increased lately too, especially at bedtime, so we are starting a bedtime snack routine. We have a busy week ahead with Bryan starting clinicals. Good luck Daddy!

A Rough Week...

2010-03-28T17:09:00.000-05:00

We have all been sick this past week with an upper respiratory virus. Brody started not feeling well on Monday. He had a fever, bad cough, choking on phelgm, wheezing, retracting, and wouldn't eat. On Tuesday, our pediatrician called him in a script for Pulmicort. On Wednesday, he still wasn't any better, so I took him to the clinic. They told me it was just a virus. This weekend, he is finally starting to act like himself and playing with his toys again. We are still giving him his Pulmicort breathing treatments twice a day. Now, Brynn has a bad cough and runny nose. However, she is not nearly as bad as Brody was. She seems to be able to fight things off better than Brody. Brody seems to get viruses on top of viruses and he never seems to get fully recovered:( We are all a little stir crazy from being stuck inside all week. B and B have been getting into everything. Grandma Farnan brought Brynn down my old cabbage patch kids and another one of my dolls, so she has been busy playing with those. Her new thing now is taking off her pants. I have fought the sock battle since they were born and I am done redressing them a hundred times a day, so I have been letting her run around with just her shirt on. She is also starting to throw tantrums now when she doesn't get her way/like something. She starts stomping her feet and throws herself on the floor. She is already starting to give me excuses when she gets in trouble. Several times this weekend when I have scolded her, she says, "I didn't (something)". She is getting really smart, actually they both are getting too smart for their own good sometimes. Brody has been pretty much been a Momma's boy this week and doesn't want anyone but Mommy. Bryan and I usually don't have to guess what he's doing because he usually rats himself out. If he is in another room and is doing something he shouldn't be doing, we will hear him say, "No, no." He has the same will power Truman has. He knows he isn't supposed to do something, but can't help himself from doing it:) Bryan and I have noticed B and B trying to console each other a lot lately. Brynn usually tries to say or do something to make Brody feel better when he is upset about something. She usually does a pretty good job of consoling him. I would love to know what they say to each other because apparently it is quite hilarious judging by the giggles:) Today, Brynn fell down and Brody tried to pick her back up. It is quite cute to see how "chummy" they are becoming:)

B and B's First Easter Egg Hunt

2010-03-21T17:37:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, we took B and B to their first Easter egg hunt. We met Valerie, Denise, RJ, and Mary Jane at Cerner for an Easter celebration. They had all kinds of activities for kids to do, but unfortunately most of the activities were too old for B and B. They spotted balloons as soon as we got there and all they wanted to do was play with the balloons. Finally, Bryan and I ended up untieing some balloons and tieing them around their waist hoping to get them interested in walking around to do some other activities. Brynn did really well with the Easter egg hunt. Brody spotted some basketballs as soon as the egg hunt started and bolted across the gym for those instead of participating in the hunt. Our kids are so obsessed with balls and balloons right now! They finally warmed up a little to the Easter Bunny as we were getting ready to leave. Unfortunately, I forgot the chip to our camera, so we couldn't take any pictures. We did manage to get some of it on video though. Valerie did take a few pictures, so hopefully I can post those as soon as I get them. We took B and B outside to play in the snow a couple times today. I was impressed at how well they walked in the snow since it was above their knees. We are really hoping that this is the last of the snow until next winter!

The New Madden Ranch

2010-03-14T18:36:00.001-05:00

Well, we are all settled in in our new rental house in Independence. It is a cute little 3 bedroom house built in the 1940s. We mostly unpacked the stuff that we needed and have put a lot of our stuff in the basement. I am really enjoying my shorter commute to work and exploring the new area. B and B are adjusting well to the change. Brody was sick last week and now is on Albuterol nebs as needed for wheezing. He finally has gotten his 7th tooth! His gums are so swollen and I have noticed him putting his fingers in his mouth, so I am expecting many more teeth to come in soon. He is really starting to talk more and continues to be his "easy going" self. Brynn seems to be cutting more teeth as well, eventhough she just got all 4 of her molars. She has become quite sensitive/moody and seems to get her feelings hurt easily. Grandma Farnan seems to think that is the "girl" about her. She really enjoys helping us do things, so I have been giving her tasks to do and she does pretty well. I think it is so cute to watch her "clean" things with a rag:) We are hoping for some nice weather this week so we can get outside and play!

A Busy Week With PAT

2010-02-28T19:00:00.001-06:00

We have been kind of busy at the Madden house lately. On Tuesday, B and B had their Denver Screening Test with Parents as Teachers. They did really well and are right on track and ahead of their age in some areas. I had to laugh when Patty gave them a baby doll and told them to feed it a bottle. Brynn grabbed the bottle and tried to feed the baby in her belly button:) I can't believe I don't have any baby dolls and bottles for Brynn to play with. On Wednesday night, we attended Tumbling With Toddlers through PAT. They had all kinds of things for toddlers; a huge parachute, trampoline, giant building blocks, bowling, tunnels, etc. It was great to have a wide open gym for them to run in, and boy, did they run....in opposite directions, of course! I tried to get them to run to Daddy under the parachute, but they wouldn't. All they wanted to do was play with the bowling balls and jump on the trampoline. I was really glad we finally got to attend some of the PAT activities since they are mostly held when I am at work. We signed a lease on a rental house in Independence this weekend. I am looking forward to having a shorter drive to work and to be in a new area of the city. We have taken over a couple loads of stuff, but are planning the big move on Saturday. Man, I am not looking forward to that. On a side note, Brynn made her first 911 call Friday afternoon. Bryan said he got a call from the Raymore Police Department asking if everything was okay because they received a call and all they heard was kids laughing in the background. We are not at all surprised that Brynn was the culprit between the two:)

15 Month Doctor's Appointment

2010-02-21T15:58:00.000-06:00

B and B had their 15 month doctor's appointment last Tuesday. Brody weighed 25.5 lbs. and was 32 inches tall (75%, 75%). Brynn weighed 26.6 lbs. and was 32.6 inches tall (99%, greater than 99%). We have a big girl:) Dr. Gilmer listened to Brody's lungs and didn't like the way they sounded. She ended up putting both of them on antibiotics. They both cried with their shots, especially Brynn. She let us know that she DID NOT care for that at all! Dr Gilmer said we didn't have to come back until they are 2 years old, unless we notice any changes or problems with their language development. We are still looking for rental houses and it has been quite depressing. I am not thrilled to move at all and especially to a rental house that I am not that crazy about. I am still hopeful that we will move out of state eventually! Bryan enrolled in CNA classes that will start in March. We are both very excited about his career change, eventhough this is just the first step towards what he really wants to do. I think it would be really cool if we could both work at the same hospital:)

Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-02-14T18:53:00.001-06:00

Apparently, this is Brody's signature pose everytime we get the camera out. On Tuesday night, we went to Ravenwood to see our nephews, Bryce and Kellan, play basketball agnaist each other. It will definitely be the last basketball game we attend with these two for a while! Brody did a lot better than Brynn. He sat and watched the whole first half of the girl's game. Brynn wanted to run onto the court and just run around everywhere. I think she must have ran up the wheelchair ramp 20 times! Thank goodness, Grandma Farnan had an apple in her purse. Brody sat and ate half an apple while watching the game:) Leave it to Grandma Farnan to always have some trick up her sleeve to keep them entertained! We have been busy looking for a new place to live this weekend. We have decided to stay in Kansas City. Looking for a place to live has been quite depressing. We are having a really hard time finding something that is big enough, has a fenced yard, and is affordable. I think we are going to have to give up on the idea of having a fenced back yard. B and B are still sick. They have had colds for about 2 weeks now. I'm glad they have their 15 month doctor's appointment this week. I'm wondering if Brody needs to be on an antibiotic. He has such a loose cough and rattly chest. I'm also curious to see how much they weigh and their stats. Brynn must have known it was Valentine's day today. We were cuddling in bed this morning and she grabbed Bryan's hand and my hand and put them together. She is such a romantic wanting Mom and Dad to hold hands:)

On The Move...Again

2010-02-07T17:19:00.000-06:00

Well, after a few short weeks on the market, our rental house has sold. The closing date is set for March 8th. We have not decided what we are doing or where we are going yet. We have started getting some things ready and doing some packing. B and B have colds right now. I had to laugh the other day when I heard Brody squealing and saw Brynn going after him with the bulb syringe. Apparently, she didn't think that we did a good enough job:) They are still climbing on everything and make us quite nervous. We don't let them out of our sight anymore for very long! We are watching the Superbowl at home tonight since Bryan and I both have to work tomorrow and the weather is bad. Go Saints!

15 Months Old!

2010-01-31T14:46:00.001-06:00

Brody and Brynn turned 15 months old yesterday! They have both been fussy over the past few weeks and I blame it mostly on teething. Brynn just got her first molar last Wednesday, so that makes her grand total of 9 teeth! Poor Brody still only has 6teeth:( I'm expecting him to cut a whole mouth full at once. At 15 months, B and B are really enjoying reading books, dancing, and climbing. We like to have dance parties at our house and watch B and B dance to different types of music. Brody really gets into it and has quite the "moves". Brody and Brynn are both climbing on everything, including us! They would love to climb up onto the couch, but haven't quite figured that out. I don't know how many times we have caught Brynn just sitting on top of the kitchen table. She is usually climbing to get something she wants. She has become quite the "cookie monster" lately and just helps herself to any cookies she can get her hands on:)B and B are also starting to say more and more words too, especially Brody. We are really having to start watching what we say around them because Brynn called Truman an "idiot" the other night. Hopefully, we start hearing more nice words:)