Lemon-limeade Refreshment

By.....my Aunt DONITA!

Use this recipe for any special occasion; showers, blessings, or entertaining. It is AMAZING! I'm serious!

3 2 liter bottles of sprite

3 12 oz limeade juice concentrates

3 lemons and 3 limes sliced

sliced cucumbers (optional, adds very good flavor!)

1/2 bag of ice, more if desired

Mix all together in a large beverage container, such as a punch bowl, cooler/dispenser, or jar! You'll love it!

Grilled Chicken Salad with Fruit!

By.....Kaylee!

I think this is my favorite salad of all time. Get your daily fruits and vegetables all in one!

1 head of lettuce equivalent (I use iceberg, green leaf, and baby spinach)
1 handful of grapes
1 apple, chopped
1-2 grilled chicken breast (I use my George Foreman grill!)
1 handful of sunflower seeds
1 handful of Craisins
1 handful green peppers chopped (optional)

Mix lettuce, fruits and vegetables. Add chicken on top when cool. Serve with dressing of choice (the honey dijon dressing by Kraft is the best with this salad, also raspberry vinaigrette works great).

The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands, By Dr. Laura

The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands by Dr. Laura is a must read for all married women. This book makes some very good points. One thing this book emphasizes is the fact that women have the power in the relationship. Another point is that men are simple creatures, having basic needs that need to be met (yes, one of those needs is a good meal, hence the name). Since no one can change another person, the best thing to do is change yourself. Marriage is about compromise, and this book will step you women through it. Let me know what you think about it after reading it!

Our Halloween WEEK!!!

I really love Halloween. I have loved it even more this year! Kaylee has been so much fun!  At the Sawyer's House there is a big green Frankenstein, and every time we leave the Bringhurst's house, she says, "Lets go see the BIG GREEN MONSTER!" She also keeps track of the 'pumpkin man' across the street. When we go out during the day and he's not blown up, she says, "Pumpkin man fell down!" with a really concerned face. I just explain to her he is sleeping. She doesn't seem to be afraid of things the way she used to. She thinks its all such a fun game!

Last Saturday we decorated Halloween cookies at the Faussett's

Here's Kaylee rolling the doe

Spider oreo cookie. I love Kaylee's serious face in this picture. She's trying not to let the legs fall off this poor spider.

Collection of our artwork!!!

Cookies of special mention: Garfield...

....and the icecream cone. Both by Darin, of course.

I love the expression on her face here.

Look at us. We look beat. I guess making cookies takes all day when you have 2 small babies and a toddler to take care of!

Darin, you put all our cookies to shame! Way to go! 

I had to throw in this picture for my  mom. She bought these for the girls for Kaylee's birthday! They are ADORABLE! I really love it when they match!

THE LADYBUG

When I asked Kaylee what she wanted to be for Halloween this year, she put her finger to her chin, thought about it, and said, "I'm a ladybug!" So here it is, thanks to Cindy for finding it. About a week later Kaylee said, "I'm a WITCH!" and I said, nope, too bad, I already got your ladybug costume. I tried to avoid the topic until Halloween, and when the time came, she was happy to be a ladybug again. 

I couldn't get Brenna to take a picture by herself. She was freaking out and had to have her binky. She semi cooperated with Kaylee in the picture. If you can't tell, she's a

PEAPOD!!!

My little sweet pea.

The night before Halloween, we did the 'Trunk or Treat' with the West Point people. It was so fun to see so many people there that I haven't seen in ages! There are too many to even list here, so I won't. It was so fun. There was a soup and rolls potluck, and afterward of course trick-or-treating.

Mmmmm.........

Ladybug and butterfly...friend or foe?

Sweet pea.

She wasn't afraid of the fake spider rings on the tables! Look, she even put one on her FINGER! She was showing everyone her ring, particularly strange people she didn't know.

Halloween morning we went to the kid's parade at Mckay Dee Hospital where I work. Instead of taking Kaylee through to get more candy, we tried to give her a lesson in sharing by having her pass out candy instead. She actually really loved it! Even when the parade was over, she was going up to people and kids trying to give them her candy.

Thanks Kaylee, Roger, and Remy for coming with us!

Cute little bumble bee.

This man deserves an award.

Another attempt at a family picture. Neither kids are looking. At least Kaylee's not scowling!

Doctor visit

Today we took both of our girls to the doctor. I was so nervous because I knew both of them would be getting shots. We make such a scene every time we go! But it wasn't as bad as I thought.

They checked Kaylee's vision, and it's 20/30! They had her look at a chart with shapes. She was so cooperative! Also, they did a color test, and no, she is not colorblind. She was so brave up until she had to pull her pants down for the shot. But when it was done, she perked right up and gave us all high-fives. The doctor gave her a book, so he scored some points with her!

KAYLEE

Weight: 31.3 lbs----percentile: 57%

Height: 36.8 inches------percentile: 44%

Percentile for BMI : 66%

Brenna did awesome for her checkup. She was grabbing the doctor's fingers and smiling away at him! She even laughed when he felt her abdomen! She was fascinated with all the lights and equipment. But she started crying when she got the oral vaccine, and then cried so hard she was blue when she got her 3 shots! Poor baby! When we got home I gave her some tylenol, and it didn't seem to help a whole lot. She just cries and cries! She has been nursing every 2 hours ever since then...comfort food I guess! The doc said that she can start on solids any time since she's holding her head up so well and acting interested in food. SAD! She's growing up too fast! I am going to wait at least another month, though. I just can't do it. Not yet.

BRENNA

Weight: 13.89 lbs----percentile: 44%

Length: 24.57 inches----percentile: 49%

Head circumfrence: 17.2 inches----percentile: 96%

I know, apparently she has a huge knoggin, just like her sister. Kaylee was always upper 90s!

Well, I wish we could say we were done for the year. Kaylee has an MRI next month and Brenna will have more shots in 2 months. :(

So stay tuned for more 'Doctor' drama from the Bringhurst family! (I know, I know, I don't really have anything to complain about. My girls are at least very healthy.)

Pumpkin walk...TONIGHT!!!!

The Bringhursts live in the same ward as the Nixons, who started the pumpkin walk tradition. "Grandma" Beverly Montgomery started this tradition years ago, and each year more and more people participate. It has gotten so big that now they hold it next to the Syracuse City Office building. It's so fun, we do it every year! This year I got to make some for the pumpkin walk, which is open starting tonight! I did a poor job on my pumpkins last year, so I was pretty proud of these ones that I did at the Bringhurst's house. I let Kaylee pick out the designs, if you couldn't tell.

Yep, I did them all by myself.

This is way off the subject, but I had to put this picture up. This morning for breakfast I put Brenna in the highchair for the first time...she loved it! I'm not feeding her solids yet, but it was fun to have her up at the table with the rest of us. What a big girl!!!

Another comparison

Since it's getting colder, we've been getting out Kaylee's baby winter clothes. I couldn't help but do another comparison picture! Brenna is starting to remind us more and more of how Kaylee was as a baby.

This is Kaylee

And this is Brenna

Both so charming in their own way...

It's not like I have had nothing to blog about...

Wow we have been busy, but we like it that way. We have seen lots of family in the last week. It has been so nice to catch up with so many people!

Sunday was baby Jake's blessing. It was the day of the snow storm. It was beautiful in a way, even though I was not ready for the wet weather. I had to rummage through Kaylee's old clothes boxes to find some tights for Brenna! Jake looked so handsome. Darin gave Jake such an amazing blessing. The luncheon was at Darin's parents house afterward.

So precious.

Cute family!

Kaylee and Breanne

We were so glad Angela could make it!

Like Father, like son!


On Wednesday, October 15th, it was Kaylee's 3rd birthday. I let her choose what she ate for breakfast, and she chose CEREAL of all things! She opened a couple of presents, then we got some pizza!

She got a new dress, more princess attire, and hair extensions.

And of course she wore her 'Alice' shoes

Here is the cake that I so craftily decorated (not as good as yours, Breann!)

And to finish up the day, we had Mark, Cindy, Cami, Darin, Allison, Jake, Craig, Sharelle, and Gavin over for cake and ice cream...and of course more presents.

She got this ROCKIN' tent from Grandma and Grandpa Bringhurst! Can you tell she loved it?

Cindy and Brenna



Saturday was Nate's Grandpa Frank Bringhurst's funeral.

It was an awesome opportunity to celebrate his life and see his family from all over the country. I took more pictures, but these are some of my favorites from the luncheon.

Uncle Ron and Aunt Patty from Arizona

Ryan (Nate's brother) and Tierney (Nate's cousin)

This is a great picture of Grandpa Frank. He loved to golf!

Cami (Nate's sister) and Jessica (Cousin)

Justin (Cousin) and Jenny

Cute little Hallie. Her and Kaylee were buds the whole weekend!

Lindsay, Justine, Breanna, Daren, and Nate in the background (you can't tell, but Nate is making a really nerdy face. )

After the luncheon, we went to a park so the boys could get rowdy. Pictured from left to right: Shane, Jeff, Ryan, Ron, Justin, Nate, Jordan

Brenna loved resting in the shade.

Whew! Did you get all that? There is more I want to post (can you believe that?) so stay tuned!