my poor neglected blog

Well I realized that I have somewhat neglected our blog. And I don't really have a good explanation why!! Well I was going through some pictures and I came across these of Madison and Zachary. A week or 2 after Christmas I made a turkey breast and found the wish bone! I don't think I have ever found it intact. It's usually broken when I find it. 

We explained to the kids what it was. And also that it needed to dry out for a few days before they pulled on it. So after about 5 days we let they have a go at the wish bone!

They were really excited. And we told Zachary that if he lost not to be upset! 

Well can you guess who won!?!?! And can you guess how Zach reacted? If you guessed cried and went to his room....... you guessed right! Oh well there is always next year!!

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In other news. We got a new van. It's a 2002 Silhouette. Which means that it is 10 years newer that the blue "dust buster!" We had spent a few weeks looking and went to a dealership, but we didn't want a car payment. So we turned to Craigslist. And we found this one. We had a few days of correspondence with the the sellers and on Saturday we drove to Mountain Home to pick it up. 

It is 4 doors one of them is hands free. It opens with the push of a button. The other door is just standard. There is a few cosmetic spots that will need to be fixed and the heated seats went out. We may get those fixed!! Who doesn't like a warm tushy in the winter!! But over all it's great. 

Leather interior! Which is nice. 

Travis is excited to have a CD player again. 

We are so grateful to have a vehicle that will last us a while and not to have a car payment!! 

Happy Birthday Brynley part 2

This year Brynley's birthday was pretty low key. It snowed all night so the kids were home because school was cancelled. Our friends the Bishop's came over for a fun snow and play day. And I forgot to take pictures!

That evening we had cousins over for dinner and presents!

Brynley chose mini corn dogs and tater rounds! Needless to say all the kids had clean plates!! 

 Then we opened presents!

We got Brynn 2 pillow pets! One full size (a unicorn) and

one "Dream Lights" (a lady bug!")

They were a hit! I found an online deal right after Christmas

both pets shipped for $24.99!! The dream lights one alone is $29.99!!!

She loves to go to bed now!!

Bailey and Ryleigh got her Elmo pjs! She LOVES them! They are so warm and fluffy! And as soon as she opened them she had to put them on!

I love how Zach is protecting her from touching the flame! 

I don't think I have ever seen her eat something so fast! I made carrot cake cupcakes with cream cheese frosting!! YUM!

She had her 2 year doctor appointment the next day on the 11th. No shots but she did have to have her finger poked. She has had a history of low iron. Borderline anemic. I am too so it's no surprise. She did good and was happy to get a sugar free sucker to eat on the way home!

Brynley Grace McDowell

29.5 lbs

34.5 inches long. 

I don't know what percentage that is but she has always been in the 50%-70% for her age!!

I can't believe my baby is 2! Here is to a year for potty training, no pacifiers (I found 5 under her bed today!!) and lots of learning!!

Happy Birthday Brynley!

Today is Brynley's 2nd birthday! I can hardly believe that it has been two years! 

She has become quite the talker and has a spunky personality! Her favorite words are "No, Mine!" She loves Tow Mater, Elmo, Pooh and Dora! She is sweet, kind and cuddly when she wants to be. We'll just say that the "terrible two's" are in full effect! 

Her favorite thing to do is "color, color!" Luckily she hasn't colored on anything but a coloring book! 

Brynley has also picked up on sign language quickly! She knows all of her colors and about 20 other signs that she uses daily!

It's been a great year with her in our family! 

Here are a few highlights from 2012!

The girls wore a lot of matching clothes!!

We got to meet and play with new cousins!

She went to her first soccer game! She learned to walk!

Brynn got to ride Papi's horse Lucky! She also learned to say Horse!

The 4th of July was fun! She loved the fireworks!

We spent lot's of time together!

8 Cousins to play with at the reunion!

And lot's of mischief!!

"Helping!"

She refuses to smile when the camera is pulled out!

Well that was a year in review! Happy Birthday Brynley Grace 

aka Gracer, Bee Boo, Brynner, and a million other names that she will answer to. We sure love this kid. Good thing she is so cute!!

SNOW!

This year we got snow on Christmas Day. It started snowing mid day and didn't stop! There was plenty to play in so the kids had a blast. We had another storm come through over New Years, (the snow is still here!) And the other day it did it again. We have about 3 inches+ accumulated! 

Brynn got jealous watching the kids so I dressed her up and sent her out with the kids!

She LOVED it. The kids let her throw snow at them. 

This was after the first storm so not much snow, however now we have

about 3-4 inches!

It was later in the day when I sent them out, hence the blue ness of the pictures! Brynley loves her Hat and mits! Every time we go out she says, "Hat, need hat! Mits need mits!" The she takes them off and throws them!

Travis taught the kids what a "white wash" was. Zach is demonstrating

here on Madison! Brynley was trying to pick up snow without falling over! 

I love the look on Zachary's face right before he slams Madison with snow!! 

On a side note Brynley Grace McDowell will turn two tomorrow 1/10/13

I can't believe it's been 2 years!! Watch for a birthday blog post!

Merry Christmas 2012

We were on our own for Christmas this year. We didn't make it up to Washington because of a few bad storms that passed through. So we just opened presents, had cinnamon rolls for breakfast and hung out all day. 

I discovered that migraines make me feel sick like I have the flu! So that was as added bonus to Christmas. From late Christmas eve on and off until Friday. I thought I was going to die! Now I know when one is coming and I take excedrine and I am good to go!

So on to Christmas morning. Madison and Zachary were up at 7am Brynley was up at 7:30a and Travis was up at 6:30am waiting for the kids to wake up! It was pretty cute!

I don't know why they have hats on but they do! Brynley came down the hall crying because we made her wait! But she was happy again when she saw her baby and stroller!

 A while ago I had gotten an American Girl Doll magazine in the mail. Madison found it and fell in love! She has NEVER been a doll kid. EVER! Not even as a toddler. So after checking prices, $110 for a doll and one outfit! I found Our Generation at Target. These dolls are known as the cousin to the expensive one! Robyn came in an equestrian outfit. Madison takes her every where!!!

Zach got a cool cap gun that looks like Travis's work gun. But I forgot to take a picture! Oh well. 

My mom got the girls knee high boots! They are so cute! Zach got boots too, they are camo and very cool and very boy!

Brynley did okay opening. Travis helped her a lot. 

The kids with their loot! We are truly blessed this year! Thank you to our families, and friends for a great 2012 here's to the new year! And having a 9 year old, 7 year old and a spunky 2 year old!!

Happy New Year!

Pre-Christmas Festivities!

I know it has been a while since my last post. I have not been in the blogging mood lately! So here is one big post from the last few days. 

Every year a family from our ward puts on a live nativity every year. There were ducks, alpaca and a donkey. And even a live baby Jesus. 

Every year Madison and Zachary love to participate. They have just been part of the scene. This year Madison was asked to be Mary. She was soooo excited! If you know Madison she loves the nativity and loves Mary. She had a small speaking part. Zachary was the shepherd that told the other shepherds that baby Jesus was born. 

This was at the end. We were sitting in the very back so I couldn't get any good pictures. 

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This year I found the kids matching Christmas clothes from The Children's Place and Old Navy. 

So we snapped a few before Church.

They look so old! Madison 8 1/2 Zach 6 1/2

Brynley looked so cute but she wouldn't smile! She hates the camera right now!

The girls and the boys!

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Last night after 

Church on Christmas Eve Eve, we had Shannon and her family over for a Grinch Dinner. On the menu was, "Roast Beast (ham), Who Hash (funeral potatoes), Yellow Grinch Teeth (corn), Who Pudding (vanilla pudding tinted purple), and Who Punch.

Eating our Grinch Dinner! Zach was too busy eating to look! 

Then we all watched "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." And Had Who Punch for Dessert! It had ice cream in it! 

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Merry Christmas. 

More pictures to come!

November 2012 in a nutshell!

So since my last blog post was pretty lame, I will make up for it today. November was a busy month. Full of Pow-wows, grades, road trips and family. 

I will first start off with Zachary. Every year the first grade classes put on a Thanksgiving Pow-Wow. They make headbands and sing songs. 

Here he is doing the "Snake Dance." 

(he's in the green!)

The little Indian! I love how he chose green and yellow for his feathers!

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Next came our road trip to Oregon. We got into town on Wednesday, and had Thanksgiving at the grandparents. Then we headed to Grants Pass to my mom's. 

On our way to Grants Pass, we stopped at the hospital to visit Grandpa Rod and Grandma Vickie. Grandpa Rod had surgery, and they weren't going to be able to come for Thanksgiving. So we made a stop to say hello. 

On Game Day, Travis and I went to Tap Rock for lunch. Travis had never been and Alex was working that day so we made plans to go. Alex (my little, taller brother!) Is the head guy in the kitchen! So after he made our lunch (which was delicious!) He came up to say hi!

Brooklynn and Brynley got a long great. However neither one of them would sit still long enough for a picture! Brooklyn is 6 months 18 days younger than Brynley and they are the same size! Brooklyn is a little taller but they weigh the same!!

Here is my mom with 5 of her grand kids! My brother and his wife had a baby on the 24th up in Seattle while we were at my mom's. Penelope Zara Naranjo. 

Now there are (in age order) Devick-9 1/2, Madison 8 1/2, Zachary 6 1/2, Brynley 22 months, Brooklyn 18 months, and Penelope 5 days old!

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NOW FOR THE BEST PART OF ALL!!!!

HEATHER!!! 

We have been best friends since we were 15! We are never in the same state at the same time! EVER! She came over and we hung out and talked for a while and made future plans to see each other! It had been about 7 years since we had seen each other! It was so fun to catch up. We email about once a week and send pictures. But it's always better when you can visit face to face!

Thanks to all our family for a great Thanksgiving weekend!