harrison mcmissle

 Just like Greyson's hot wheels movie Brandon made one with Harrison for his daddy date, but this time with cars 2 cars as Harrison likes to call them... he's obsessed with cars 2... LOVES IT! And Finn McMissile is his favorite.. this was a couple weeks in the making. when we showed Harrison the completed video he was so excited Brandon put the actual music form the show on, and his eyes lit up like no tomorrow seeing himself on the screen. Maybe we have a filmmaker on our hands.  my fave part is I've got my eye on you! he wasn't supposed to look at the camera with one eye but he did and it was hilarious! also Brandon's music choices make me happy. Brandon you are one incredible dad. I hope our kids realize how wonderful you are one day.

I love summer

 me and jett man going for a ride on grandmas lake.. lake sundance, before i move dto calgary I had no idea people lived right next to lakes, it's such an amazing view and I feel so dang lucky to go there every time i spend a day at their house. Its truly one of the most beautiful places, near and dear to my heart.

 beatin the heat in the yard- thansk meemah for the slip n slide we love it!

 bubbles in grandmas hot tub!

 coco wanted to go solo lol so we let here with a bajillion floaties and life jackets as we were near by

 what an amazing man i married, hes the funnest dad, so involved with his kids, I'm always so impressed with how he manages 3 so patiently. We all have our days of course but for the most part He's just incredible. And our children adore him. He always wants to have an adventure! he swam across the lake with the boys- took half an hour, never seen him more exhausted but he wanted them to be happy. 

 brandons sense of humor kills me...anyone need rescuing!, and the wet suit cracked me up.. he gets cold, lakes are still freezing here unless its a killer hot day like this day was.

 me and jett man chillin on the dock, we're buddies!

 pizza picnic in grandmas backyard

practicing flutter kicks!

Everything about summer is amazing- I feel so much better when I'm outside and there's something to see and an adventure waiting for me every day. I was born in the wrong hemisphere, at least thats what I think until I have no ac for the heat wave in calgary, then I change my mind. But seriously the sun rocks my socks.  

The art of eating dinner

 one of brandons and mine favorite parts of our trip was eating dinner...why you ask....3 kids not yelling at me for more juice/ketchup, stop hitting me, hes in my spot,throwing things off their plate..more juice...going to dinner evey night and having long conversations, where wed just laugh..was one of the best parts..i wanted to remember how aweosme it was so we took a picture of us ready for dinner one night...we still had swimsuits on for a late midnight dip in the ocean...so i didnt want to bring the camera to dinner...so we took some by our room before going down to the beach...i posed..and forgot it was on sport shot so it did 6 in a row..I wasnt prepared for it..but brandon laughed and said lets do that again...thus..we have the next couple of pictures...I love when he gets crazy..

 I know a tad scary

                         this is my fav of brandon HAAA

 yes you are a being a vey good matador lol oh man we were hyper

LONG LIVE RELAXING DINNERS

I had to share these cool pictures from Helemans encampment that came off the church website- Brandon was able to be a youth leader and go to this cool camp...it was over 3 provinces( 3 states) full of young men,all coming to be closer to god and celebrate 100 years of scouting in Canada...the picture on the hill gives me chills, thinking about these young men,and how much they really are like Helamans stripling warriors. I love seeing activities like these, that are such spiritual uplifting wonderful programs. And how huge the scale of this was.. whoever was in charge of organizing all of this, ha done insane job, I remember when Brandon got home the first thing he aid was.. when we sat on the hill and listened to the fireside in the middle of the mountains.. I was kindve in awe to see so many men- it felt like an army, and the spirit was there. Pretty cool eh?

Best thanksgiving ever

I think Brandon and I just had the best canadian thanksgiving ever... I get restless sometimes..  I feel like I need to get away from the city and this weekend was one of those weekends.. I just wanted to be with brandon and the boys and miss coco.. so we drove to great falls mt- I love that about Brandon we can just randonmly go somewhere like it's no big deal. He's always up for an adventure.

 We decided to stayed overnight and swam in the hotel pool for a couple hours.. and to be honest it's the best thanksgiving Ive ever had... It made me thankful for my little family.. and that I was playing with them.. that I wasn't washing dishes or making a meal for 12 people.. or decorating a table.. sometimes simplifying can be exhilarating.. and I think I'll always have the memory of my three kids running down the hallway in swim gear sooo excited they cant just walk... they pounce and squeal with joy..... that right there... is where joy comes from simple moments in time when all is right with the world... and those moments give you strength to keep going..and you realize life is good. And we are blessed. And sometimes if you just slow down you are able to see your blessings so much more.

 So for our thanksgiving dinner... Sonic... Brandon and I both had vanilla coke it was funny because I remember looking at each other we both laughed and said this is awesome!

 After the pool we let the boys show us what they wanted for christmas.....we may have bought there christmas presents...montana has no sales tax so it's an awesome place to shop..the boys are smart though.. I didn't realize they figured out the stuff was in the back of the car.. but when we got back to calgary they both ran around to the back and said We're going to HELP MOM!...ummmmm what do I say?????? I guess I have to start being sneaky. anyways back to our day..

We got some ice cream at Baskins robins.. {anyone else think hard ice cream is so much better than soft?} {maybe I just miss working on a dairy farm.. or it's the lack of ice cream shops in canada..} Either way it was delicious..then we took our ice cream to a park we saw by the river.. after playing for a while we just took a random walk around great falls picked up pretty leaves, jumped on benches.. and as the kids walked in front of us just happy to be outside...Brandon grabbed my hand and we just walked hand in hand... and It felt so good and complete and happy.

It was so nice to go do something different and out of routine... and just seize a weekend and enjoy the fresh autumn air.

It will be a thanksgiving I wont forget.

Happy Fathers Day

 I thought in honor of brandon id write down some of the little things he did this week that make him so wonderful....because this is a typical week at our house...

Every saturday he lets me sleep in...Sometimes I'm awake and I can hear him playing with the kids in the other room..that right there is the best sound ever.

I love when he says hey lets get outside..he encourages activities in our house and I'm greatful for his spirit of adventure and how he loves a good day in the sun.

I love him for being patient when I've had all I can handle...Ill go take a bath and Ill come out and he's thought of some kind of contraption to keep them busy or he's watching the backyardigans with all three kids in his lap

He makes sure they pray every night

Every so often he'll just look at me and go we have the cutest kids I love them. Or when did you get so big who told you you could do that!?

He encourages me as their mother.. that I can do anything and he tells me all the time that I do a good job and being there mom is so important..Im greatful he tells me this because I don't hear it lots from the world.

I ove watching him play with them in the backyard toss them on the trampoline, swim with them, spray them with the hose.

It takes a special kind of person to be a father to twins and 3 kids 3 and under...I'm greatful that he is so willing to help me.  So good at being involved with them..And how he really has unconditional love for all of them and he always has..he's never waivered. Even in those moments of super chaos and stress.

So heres to my best friend and the best dad that a wife could hope for her children. Hope you enjoy your crepes Brandon usually makes these better than me he got lots of practice in France...so I only attempt them on special occasions.. I love you

Feeling stronger

I think having a plan and something to start helping Harrison .. that alone is helping me..  I realized this week that Harrison is still Harrison.. We just now have a label..which will help him get help. What's funny is that to others.. you can't even tell somethings wrong.. and sometimes it's hard for me to tell.. besides the lack of speech. I think that makes it hard on me. I know there's something wrong but it isn't easy to see how it's affecting what he learns. I'm Grateful he's not on the low end of the spectrum but frustrated that he will be expected to fit in this world and it will be tough to teach him in a totally different way. I'm learning structure is my friend.. He's thriving on it..It's interesting talking to people that help teach kids on the spectrum and I've heard this again and again..All it is is a different learning style.. very very visual For instance I drew a picture of him eating lunch showed him before we started eating.. and he sat and ate...and smiled and showed me his fork and spoonIT WAS AMAZING!I can't wait to see what he does with the therapists.
 Did I mention I'm tired. 
I feel like it's constant engage Harrison 24/7 because thats how he's going to learn that he has to connect with people. He's great with me Brandon Greyson and Grandparents.. But other people/peers are harder for him. He's ok to just just do his own thing...Which reminds me of me..I hated group work in highschool and college.. Just let me do it my way ....I have a plan... wonder where he gets his stubbornness? We had art time todayHE LOVES IT!Don't know why I didn't try stuff like this soonerwhat a wake up call to motheringHe's teaching me how to play againinterestingand he said all his colors to me made me happy
also coco's laugh makes me happy its like elmer fudd not even joking
And Brandon bought snicker bars we were on the couch watching Modern family and he says want a snickers? I have a secret stash.. Totally fun and unexpected treat. made me smile
I'm feeling stronger.. still hurts...but am ready to start fighting back

they are tight

This girl loves her dad.. when he comes home her face splits in half with a smile...also all her teeth except her two top ones are on the right side its kindve funny...
anyways I'm sad I wanted her to be a mommys girlbut alas.. she is not whenever he sets her down she cries.. I think she's spoiled one baby at a time gives you so much more time to hold them!she stands in her crib and when Brandon walks in the room she bounces up and down or she moves her hands up really high and throws them down fast it's hilarious.she's such a joyI adore adore adore this little girl

best moments of 2010

some of my best moments this year have been with this little bundle of happiness.. she is the best baby anyone could ask for smilie...quiet...quirky... I just love her little personality

 visits to utah and watching the boys discovering things

watching them learn to climb and jump and being greatful they can

their 2nd birthday was super fun to plan and having berntsen grandparents made it even better

finishing the junkyrad chair with brooke was awesome-and our 4th of july party was super fun too.

a much needed trip with dear friends to arizona right after coco was born

hours and hours at the cranston splash park.. i lived there this summer and it was heaven...gated...didn't have to worry about drowning or kids getting away..i could actually sit and enjoy the sunshine

having brandons cousin josh come visit and take pictures.. that was such a fun day we did picture some our family some etsy stuff went to peteres then came back for night shots and there was a firework show we hadn't planned on.. one of my fav memories of this year

days were brandon would randomly take a day off and we'd go somewhere fun...

we loved this little trip to heritage park relaxing.. sunshine..just being together.. it was lovely

thanksgiving in utah.. going to see the lights on temple square was my fav day..it was peaceful reminded me of being a kid and my kids loved the lights

going to anthropologies opening..and them saying oh your one of the bloggers!...

I 'm kindve starting to realize who I am.. that was such a fun night and the day of shopping with brooke and crystal was just very cool

keshias 25th birthday... hilarious and so fun...carla and vanessa still crack me up when I look at these pictures..remembering v speeding around the track and poor carlas tailbone! everyone dressed up...thats was awesome too. no party poopers

long summer nights at johnsons house swimming in the lake playing with the wagon and jett..going to the playground. I love to be there. It's so relaxing and I just feel love when I'm there

having my etsy shop really take off has been a delight I really started it as just an extra source of income to start mod..but it's become my big company and something I really enjoy..just creating things to wear. I really do love fashion

working on my house is a joy of mine and I've loved watching it transform this year as I've redone pieces and painted and sewn.. these pictures we did with wendy and tyler from blue lily is also one of my fav memories -the shoot was so fun and I really enjoyed meeting them finally. 

And can now say we're good friends!

endless bike rides and palm tree park trips to get the kids tired

and our trip to hawaii.. a much needed much enjoyed restoration trip for both of us. Very grateful I was able to spend some one on one time just playing again with my best friend.

we had a wonderful year...

I'm excited for new memories

more learning experiences

I know this new year will bring some changes challenges highs and lows

But I also know we have each other we're surrounded by wonderful family and Friends and most importantly we have a father in heaven who loves us.

So grateful for the blessings we have.

Happy new Year to everyone

-Brandon and Bree