The Brintons: September 2011

9.22.2011

Show-n-Tell

Hudson's first soccer game.

Hudson this week was the "star" of the week. Meaning that all week long the class learned about Hudson. His teacher sent home a 29 page 6"x8" book to fill with pictures {however creative you wanted to be, you could slap pictures in or do the scrapbook thing.}... so really I had homework. And the good old school days came right back at me - I totally procrastinated and waited for until the last two days to do the blasted book. If you know me, I can't just "slap" something in. If I am going to do it, I am going to "do it". A little frustrating at times. Especially when it is the night before and I have 25 more pages to go.

So that was that. And i finished and he was on time to school on Monday.

On Tues. he was able to bring home the classroom "friend" Corduroy the Bear. {I was thanking my lucky stars it wasn't a live animal. I do not do well with those.} He had to take Corduroy everywhere he went and document it. Fabulous. Well to be honest, Hudson really thought it was cool. It was me the next morning trying to get my printer to work so we could print out the activities with corduroy the day before that didn't think it was too cool. Lovely.

Wed. Hudson brought home the "Show - n - tell" lunch box. The item chosen to be Hudson's show-n-tell had to fit in the lunch box and it only could be one thing.

Hudson and I talked about it all day. What would he bring? Some cool lego ship he would build? He then offered the idea of an army figurine truck. Ideas came and he would think about it. That night when putting him to bed I told him he had all day to think about it today and that he needed to bring something that meant something to him. Not only would he need to think it was "cool", but I suggested it be something that had a lot of meaning to him. So his teacher and the students could get a real idea of who he was.

So this morning I was making breakfast, and heard his excited little feet coming down the stairs. As he came into view he had something behind his back. He then said the following, "Hey mom, I thought about what I should bring. I know what it is. I want to bring this."

He then proceeded to bring a wooden block from behind his back. I knew what it was. And in one second I had this overwhelming pride and close to tear moment, then I little bit of fear crept into my thoughts.

He wanted to bring his wooden block that held the picture of Christ with children surrounding him.

Hudson just starred at me for my reaction. I smiled and asked him why he wanted to bring that. He said that the picture meant a lot to him. He continued to tell me how much he loves Jesus and wanted to share that with the others. I told him I thought that it was a great idea.

I sat there in awe. How true it is that we should all be like children. Not afraid to share out love for the gospel, Heavenly Father and Christ. How we should want to tell people about the truth we know and love. It wasn't a "big"deal to him, it was truth to him. It was something that he felt and wanted to tell others. It was a piece of knowledge that was more important that legos, army tanks or books.

In this moment, this quick quick moment of the morning I felt full. I felt his honesty and I felt peace. The peace that my children may not alway listen to me, but they feel my words. They hear more than I know, and I am grateful for their purity. For their innocence and love.

So tomorrow, Hudson will be sharing his picture of Christ.

It may be a first for his teacher.

Getting caught up

In June I shoot my first Wedding.

It was kinda surreal, in that I couldn't have asked for a better wedding to shoot.

You had this amazingly beautiful bride. A handsome Groom.

Families that were American, Japanese and Greek.

All the traditions were there. It was so much fun. Everyone was happy, and excited to be there.

The wedding was held up in Fairfield. At a winery. The ceremony of the wedding was held in the blue barn/ barrel room. {See picture below}.

Rachael, my sister really was my life line. She and I, I feel, captured everything.

She has posted more pictures that have been edited and finished here.

The pictures below are all unedited.

Fourth of July in Utah with my side of the family. There is nothing like a Utah 4th of July. It just feels patriotic.

Helped Rachael shoot a wedding.

Lenore and Ryan's wedding. It was awesome. You could feel the love and happiness.

This shot was taken in my phone, but has ended up being my favorite.

Eating a little Creme Brulee.

Who can pass that up... especially when it is a honey vanilla bean version? Not me.

S.F. has these awesome gourmet food trucks that come around at lunch time, so after Lenore's wedding I helped myself.

Going to the brown's lake house. Just Spencer and me... it was fabulous. Much needed time away.

We spent a lot of time at the pool this summer. A lot of time there. I usually haul my pack n play to the pool and let Grey lay in there and fall asleep. makes it a lot easier. A lot.

First day of Kindergarten for Hudson.

His smile is about the exact smile in his school pictures. Must be his "go to" lately.

Aarean and Sage came up to visit last week... I love it then hate it when they leave. I live to far from her, and all family. This day we went to the park in the afternoon, ya know - when the time in the evening will not go fast enough... park time.

Look at the stark difference in Sage and Grey. FUNNY. She is this bronze goddess and he is this transparent hunk. I love it. They were pretty funny together. Grey would just look at her and slightly invade her "personal space", which is about a foot around her. She would start flapping her little arms and make an "O" shape with her lips and whimper. It was hysterical.

Reagan's birthday, yes it was in April

This year Reagan turned three. She decided to have a "tea party", although it was really just them dancing around and being girls. Parties for three years olds are never going to work. Just invite friends/kid over and play whatever for however long. Or get a jump house. That is all you need.

Anyway - she woke up to a downstairs filled with balloons. Every year Spencer and I fill the house with balloons for their birthdays. When there are balloons it is always fun, exciting and different. They love it. And it makes it feel "birthday-ish" in the house.

Below Reagan is having a favorite around here, cornbread with whip cream {pink for R} and bananas, or nay fruit we have on hand.

We also tend to do gifts in the morning so that they can play with them. Then cake at night. Not sure how we got into this tradition but it works.

R also got a new bike. Ask me how many times in the last 6 months she has ridden it? Ummm, probably twice. But she will figure it out, and she was excited to get it.

Don't let her fool you, she had a magical day... I can't believe she is now 3.5. Scary how time is ust going going going. Not sure I like it at all.

Hudson's birthday, ya I know... it was in August

Better late than never right? At the pace I have been blogging I am excited I even got this post up this month. Seriously.

Hudson turned six this year and was a little put out that he didn't have a party to get ready for. I kinda got worked, so I decided to email everyone I knew {around his age} and invited them to the park for an impromptu party. I provided cake and the rest was provided by the park. Very low key, but really it was a total hit. When thinking about his last party, the pirate one, I think that the park party was better. I have learned this year, "sudden" parties are sometimes the best.

Aunt Rach delivered. Look at the size of that gun. Rachael was just as excited to give it to Hudson as Hudson was to receive it. That gun has been put to good use the past month.

Park party

We surprised Hudson with a new bike this year. He had ridden his last into pieces. He really did. The bolts came off, then the wheel {front}, we pieced it back together but if he would hit any kind of bump it would fall off. Also the handle bars would turn and the main metal piece in the middle of the bike was bent. But he rode it. So we thought he deserved a new one. We actually were pretty excited about getting him this, so that he would stop asking for one everyday. :)

He is pretty blurry, but look at his cute little face. Love him.

9.21.2011

I set fire to the rain

While driving home from Idaho, you have a lot of time to do whatever in those 14 hours. I went looking for Adele's concert... surely she would be coming to the bay area... and yes she was. But it was a little short notice and well, I couldn't buy the tickets, I would have felt a little guilty. And secretly I thought if I was to go, it would have to be by Spencer's decision. I didn't want to spend the money if Spencer didn't want to go. So I hinted a few times. And honestly I REALLY REALLY wanted to go. To the point of wanting to beg Spencer for tickets.

So the morning of her concert came and I was laying in bed thinking to myself how I should have just bought it. It didn't help that my sister Rachael got to go without me, I was just a weeeee bit jealous. Then Spencer walked in and I just looked at him and said "Did you buy tickets? Come on did you buy tickets?" He can not hide anything. Open book. Yes he did. I was beyond excited. Screamed like I was 16 seeing Justin Timberlake, or I guess something like that?!?
It was beyond fantastic. If she is coming near you, bite the bullet - GO. I know it sounds cheesy, and I have never really been a crazy concert person; or moved to tears when someone sings something other than Church music. But I totally did. Call me a sap. I got all teary when she started singing. I know such a dork. But truly it was spiritual. In all seriousness Spiritual my friends. Like I got more out of the concert than church that weekend. haha. I am only be honest.

It was healing. It was perfect. To share it with Spencer, even better.

I will love you forever for that one Spencer. It hit the mark.

9.16.2011

posies

This is my little R and her Addi.

They are cousins...

And I think they may be soul-mates.

9.07.2011

Idaho

Back in July we were able to go to Idaho with Spencer's side of the family. Spencer's mom grew up on {literally} on the snake river in St. Anthony. So every year, or we try, we all meet up in the home she grew up in. It is by far one of the more peaceful and beautiful settings. We will get up eat, clean, play, lay out at the sandbar, swim, usually float the river, then eat some more. It is the kind of life most people would want... relaxing and on top of that being with the people you love. It really is a moment in our crazy lives that we {or I} really feel completely content. There is no rush, there is laughter, good food and loved ones everywhere. At one point we even had 6 of us doing p90x yoga... not a dull moment I tell ya.

To be honest thinking about going up there this year had me all in knots. I got major anxiety over the river and well Reagan. My main goal in life, lately, is to keep that child alive. I would not be able to go to sleep for months leading up to the trip because I would be thinking about how I needed to keep my eyes on her at all times... and I was nervous. Then we got to Idaho and everything melted away. It was really good. I do not know why I had all that anxiety up in my head... because there wasn't a moment that I ever felt worried while I was up there. And I didn't even watch her 24/7.

Lesson learned: No anxiety needed.

Here are some pictures from the week...

The day this picture was taken we had been in Jackson Hole, just Spencer and myself. We needed a little time to ourselves... it was really a fun afternoon. I had never been to Jackson Hole, and it was fun to experience it with Spencer. We wandered around, bought Hudson the cap-gun of all cap guns, ate some delicious food. {Sweet Water Restaurant, just fyi}
We then headed back enjoyed dinner with all the family then went on a moped ride to the town's theater. It is one of those old classic theaters where only a curtain divides you from the popcorn outside. It was so much fun. We saw Harry Potter. It was a day I will not forget, it was much needed.

Reagan, Jameson and Addi

R giving her dad a big ole kiss.

Fun and games everywhere you turned. A child's paradise.

Especially when they are surrounded by the best cousins ever!

The next few are of the 24th of July parade {celebration of when the pioneers entered the Utah Valley} where they still throw candy.

Awesome.

Some of my favorites I can't find. But here is one of them... I LOVE how the sign on the car is stuck on with "painters" tape. Fabulous. Gotta love it.

The picture below may be up there in my favorites. I love how the LDS {Mormon} missionaries are walking in the town's parade... but I will say their "treat" to us was chocolate milk - and it was delicious! I will take it, yes I will.