Coach Ames

Brennen has been coaching track for Windsor High School this season. He loves being able to work with the athletes and it's no surprise they all love him. One of their first meets was at Windsor High School, so the kids and I went by for a little bit to say hi to him. Avalynn and Rawson were in awe of all the teenagers and everything going on. You better believe that Brennen is already giving them "track practice" in the backyard. We'll often find Rawson down in his starting stance ready to race!

Christmas Poem

Brennen made this really sweet poem for Avalynn for Christmas this year. I knew he had been working on something for Christmas but didn't know what, and when I opened this and read it it brought tears to my eyes. He has a way with words and is such a good poet!

Birthday Boy

Brennen was able to celebrate his birthday this year while we were in Colorado. It was a day full of good food, working on his car, and being with family, what more could a 28 year old want? Bren and I went on a lunch date to Applebee's while Janna watched Avalynn, and then we went to Old Chicago for dinner that night.

I am so thankful for such an amazing husband, and even more blessed that he is such a wonderful father. He is defiantly the rock in our family and does so much for Avalynn and I with out ever uttering words of complaint. He stays home with Avalynn during the day while I work and I have to say that she is one lucky little girl! I don't know too many dad's who are willing and LOVE to stay home all day with their kids. He is also an amazing husband who puts up with all of my moodiness, immatureness, and just ME in general =). We recently experienced another one of these which resulted in a situation similar to the end of this story, and I can not even put into words how amazing he has been since then. For a few days he did nothing but wait on me hand and foot, take care of Avalynn, cook, clean, unpack, etc. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful husband! I love you Bren!

You know you have done summer sales for a long time when....

You can't count on both hands how many times you have moved

You have packing a Honda Civic with everything you will need for 5 months down to a science

You have driven more than 24 hours straight

You eat off Wal-Mart's plastic summer dishes half the year

You don't have any friends to recruit anymore because all your friends now do summer sales

When referring to a "bagel" it has nothing to do with the food

At the end of the summer you wonder how the heck you are going to get everything home

You only sleep in your own bed half the year

You get really excited when you don't have "the scratchy couch" for the summer

When you talk to someone you don't speak with on a regular basis, the first question they ask you is "what state are you in right now"

Saturday's are the longest day of the week

You refer to years by where you were that summer, not the actual number

You have changed your mailing address more times in 5 years than most people do in a life time

Every summer you say it's your last, yet in April your packing up the car to go sell again

At the end of the summer you never want to see your husband in khaki shorts and knocking shirt ever again

**The summer is over and we are done selling in Austin, I fly out on Saturday and Brennen left this morning with our loaded down civic... wearing his khaki shorts and knocking shirt... I tried to tell him he could wear something else!**

Quarter Dive

One of the highlights of the summer is the annual quarter dive! $1000 in quarters is thrown into the pool and based on how many accounts they sell, the quality of the sale, etc. determines at what point the guys get to jump in the pool to dive for quarters. Just imagine 20 guys swimming around in a 6x6 ft area searching for quarters on the bottom of the pool!

The guys waiting for the fun to begin... check out those killer tan lines!

After it was over Avalynn wanted to join in the fun

Counting dad's winnings, he came out with $40!

First Father's Day

The first time I saw Brennen have interaction with kids was with our sister-in-law Shantay's little sister Malarie, and I knew from those firsts moments he was going to be an amazing dad. While we were dating and first married we would go over to the Hahn's house for dinner on Sunday's and every time we were there Mal had Brennen wrapped around her finger. We would often wonder where they were and would find them in the piano room with Brennen getting "singing lessons"! Wherever we go kids are always drawn to him and you will find him playing and talking with them. I have sat back and watched this a few times and have come to the conclusion that the reason kids love him so much is because he makes them feel special and really pays attention to them.

Well the last six months he has done the exact same with more love and care with Miss Avalynn. This little girl adores her daddy! Whenever she wakes up from a nap and we come out of her room she looks around for Brennen, and when he is in the room she has a hard time focusing on eating because she wants to see what he is doing and play with him. I love watching those two together and am so thankful for a husband who loves to play with and interact with his kids. Avalynn is one lucky little girl!

This isn't the greatest picture of either of them but the only one I got from Father's Day

We had a yummy dinner with the Haynie's. Brennen and Hudson were just chatting away all evening!

On Saturday night Jenna and I made these "Burgers & Fries" that we saw on Bakerella. They were the best burger and fries I have ever had! =)

Idaho Falls Flag Football Champions

As many know, I have never blogged before. I haven't really even thought about it until Cassie set the computer in front of me and said, "Okay, time for your first blog." I shrugged one shoulder, the left corner of my lip rose to almost a smile as I realized, yes, it was time for my first blog.

I was invited by a number of elite athletes, some of south east Idaho's best, to participate in a competitive 7 on 7 flag football league. I consented. Each team we faced played exceptionally well, however we consistently played better. Going in to the tournament we had one early-season loss and one goal in mind, to win it all. In our last four games we defensively allowed under 20 points, amassed nearly ten interceptions, and frustrated offenses that seemed unstoppable to other teams. On the offensive side we frustrated defenses with speed, agility, and down right athleticism, averaging over 40 points per game.

Our championship game was no different. We rose to the occasion winning by 19 points, myself contributing 6 of them. On a snow laden field we left some of our best performances and formed even stronger friendships. (That version is for the regular bloggers)

We won the championship and I had some sweet TD's and some major picks this season, it was way rad. You should've seen us dude, we killed it. Colby, John, Zak, Vic, Craig, Nick, Paul, Brian, and all the other dudes we played with did awesome. I'm totally down for next year, and I'm pumped for the Turkey Bowl. (Guy version)

Brennen's Vote

Last night before bed I was really hungry and asked Brennen to make me a Toaster Struddle. This is how he brought it to me!

The picture is after he put the rest of the frosting on it, but it clearly spelled BOY!

A Work in Progress

Brennen has been working on his Camaro every day since we have been in St. George. He drove it down in October and has been back a couple times to work on it. Hopefully this trip we will actually be able to bring it home. Here are some pictures of his new engine, I'm not too car savvy but it does look pretty cool!

Thankful Thursday

A few things I am thankful for today:

1) Brennen- I don't think I can find enough words to express how thankful I am for Brennen. Lately he has pretty much taken full responsibility of keeping the house clean and in order, since after teaching/working 12 hours every day I want nothing to do with anything but the couch or my bed! Today I came home and he had done/folded 2 loads of laundry, unloaded, loaded, and unloaded the dishwasher, completely cleaned the kitchen, and cleaned and vacuumed the whole house. Dang, I have the BEST husband!

2) Student Teaching- I am loving teaching right now. My students are so good and so much fun. I learn something new everyday, and it is such a rewarding thing to know the kids like you and to hear you all the hard work is actually influencing lives.

3) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints- I am so thankful to be a member of this church! I am grateful to know that when I am struggling or need answers to questions in my life I have a Father in Heaven who loves and knows me that I can pray to for answers and comfort.

 There are so many other things I have to be Thankful for in my life right now. The other night I was really stressed out with some things and Brennen started singing the song "Count Your Many Blessings" and I had a thought come to me; "It's not that I don't count my many blessings because I know I have lots. But sometimes it is hard to decide which good thing/blessing I should choose". How thankful I am to have to choose between good things than not have any at all. I am truly blessed.

Birthday Shout Out

Brennen's birthday was a couple days ago on the 19th, so I guess this is kind of a belated birthday wish. I know everyone says this but I seriously have the best husband ever. He is so loving and kind, and I think one of his best qualities is his patience. I'm not always the easiest person to deal with and be around and is always so loving and kind, even when I take 1o minuets to tell a story! 

I thought about doing one of those survey things about your husband but 1) I don't have too much spare time and 2) I don't know if anyone would really read it. But I will tell you an interesting/funny story about Bren.

When we were dating we started calling each other all those cutesy names, the one I usually used was babe/baby. Well apparently Brennen thought it was pretty funny when I called him baby, because one time after I called him "baby", he responded with calling me "rabies". Baby/Rabies... rhymes I guess!

We got a good laugh out of it! Rabes/Rabies.

Funny, but true... it is our "pet name"!