Fun in the Snow

Today was a great day to play in the snow. There was lots of snow and it wasnt too cold. Here is Kenna- cute as can be- dressed as a marshmallow man.

















Brayden loved the icicles!




















Brayden was so kind to share his icicle treasures with his sister.












Here are the sledders. This was Makennas first sledding experience. She is not exactly into it. When Brayden took his first trip down the hill, Makenna let out a terrified cry as if she had just seen him fall off a cliff. With every sledder she would cry and cry. We stayed for a while but she never got used to the experience. I can only hope she is not permanently scarred.






Here is Brayden making the traditional snow angel.

















And here is Brayden, making what he called a "snow belly."

Conversations with Brayden

Brayden: Mom, I just love one girl, Do you know who it is?
Mom: No.
Brayden: Her name is Jenna (said with a shy smile). She wears a blue shirt all the days.
Mom: Do you like her blue shirt.
Brayden: Yeah and mom, she knows my name is Brayden.
I just love all the boys and just one girl.


(I must admit, I was hoping to be the one girl that he loved, but I am intrigued by this "Jenna"--I'll have to see who she is next time I drive the preschool carpool)

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

Yesterday it snowed ALL DAY LONG...so when it finally let up at night, I sent my two men out to work- shoveling the walk. I dont really think it seemed like work to them though. They had quite a good time!

Closet Eaters

This morning I found Brayden and Makenna helping themselves to a little snack in the pantry. For some reason they feel the need to try to hide their secret snack-- as if their sticky cheese covered fingers dont give them away anyways!

February Gazette

A Changed Man
What is up with Kevin you ask? Well it might be better said what is down with Kevin. In light of recent wisdom teeth extraction and colon cleanse, Kevin has shed almost 15 pounds. He feels quite pleased. To combat years of constant stomach upset, Kevin recently purchased (I like to think of it more as invested in) a colon cleanse sold over the internet. It claims to dispel the many parasites and other goo that lurk in our colons, thereby producing happier and healthier digestive tracts. The results thus far, for Kevin, have been anything but disappointing…one might even call them spectacular. Any skeptics of such “cleanses” can talk to him, because he is now quite a believer!

Bonding with our Family Physician
When I look back on the last four weeks, I can’t think of much that I accomplished, and in fact I am quite sure that there was very little other than the basic sustaining of life that I did accomplish. My calendar will prove that at least once a week I have taken one or both children to visit our family doctor. We’ve basically been fighting one cold after another with their accompanying ear infections and asthma attacks... I can’t say it’s been a lot of fun, but I won’t complain either. I am very grateful to the doctors and medications we have. We hate to have to use them, but we sure are glad they are there when we need them!

An Obsession with the Floor
I have begun the task of searching out a new flooring option to replace our existing linoleum in front entry and kitchen. I hesitate to mention the floor here because all whom I know, are quite tired of hearing about the topic. The truth is when you take the most indecisive person in the world and give her unlimited possibilities; it’s fair to say that you should expect delays in the making of any final decision. I only mention this here to say that, other than my kids, floors are all I think about these days- but I promise results by the next gazette… or at least the one after that.

Quite the Floater!
Brayden has been enrolled in his second session of swimming lessons for about a month now. He is enjoying the experience this time much more than last. He enthusiastically awaits each lesson and eagerly attempts everything the teacher asks. He is in the “floaters” class at the YMCA and I dare say he excels in every capacity. He has mastered the back float and the bob, and is making great progress in both front and back glides. It is a great deal of fun for him to attend and even for me to watch!

Makenna’s New Tricks
Makenna is learning new words and skills all the time. She tries to do everything Brayden does and refuses to be limited by her age. She loves books and her favorite one is a sign language book which is so cute to read with her. It is absolutely amazing how quickly she picks up on and can use the signs. Her best ones are “all done,” “daddy,” and “kitty.”

Babbling Brayden
Here are some of Brayden’s recent noteworthy quotes:

-One morning Brayden told me: “Last night when you and daddy were asleep my brother came into my room. He asked me if we could take care of him (and just when I thought this might be a spiritual epiphany, he says…) cause his family lives at Wal-Mart.

-Brayden asked one day: “When I cough, does my spirit cough too?”

-The following conversation occurred between two of Brayden’s play dough creations:
“Hey dad can I have some of your body?”
“sure son, what are you going to make”
“A baby sister—a boy one”

- Opening Brayden’s Valentines was quite an entertaining activity. With each Valentine, he asked Kevin who gave it to him and then he pretended to read aloud “Dear Brayden, Happy Valentines Day. I love you! Love, _____” The humorous part was the reflective and romantic sigh he gave after reading each of the 18 cards. It was too too cute!

Happy Valentines Day

Let him eat cake!

-- Earlier this month, Kevin saw a cake like this in a magazine and drooled over it, so I had no choice but to attempt to replicate it and suprise him with it on Valentines Day! Anyone who knows Kevin knows that you cant go wrong with chocolate and raspberries!

For Family Home Evening, we made the traditional Valentine sugar cookies and gave them away to Braydens preschool friends and Kevin's co workers!

It is as it appears, Brayden couldnt stop liking that knife. Who gives a three year old a knife anyways?

Brandvold Gazette

**Melissa has been making a monthly newsletter as a family journal for the past two years, called the Brandvold Gazette. I can post a link to the newsletter here, so I am trying to recreate it on the blog--check back each month for the latest Gazette!**

THE BRANDVOLD GAZETTE

"Your Reliable Source for up to date Brandvold News"

January 15, 2006 - Vol. 3 Issue 1

A Christmas Concert
Brayden performed fabulously at his Preschool Christmas Concert. To our surprise he performed very enthusiastically and wasn’t shy at all. He knew all the songs and the “moves.” I dare say he was one of the best in the class ( a biased opinion, I know). It made me truly appreciate his teacher. A class of 18 three year olds could certainly be nerve racking, but somehow she kept them in line and kept her cool at the same time. It was a lot of fun and I look forward to years of such events to come!

A New Year Full of Resolutions
Along with everyone else in the world, our family has set our sights on some great goals for the upcoming year. I am pleased to report that we did tremendously well on our last year’s goal to have Family Home Evening every week. I believe the only times we missed were once or twice when Kevin was out of town, and I couldn’t bring myself to do it without him. This year we have selected Food Storage to be our goal. I have mapped out for us a plan to get the “basics” for a year. I call it my “no frills” food storage plan. I am amazed at how overwhelming just the basics can be. We got our jump start with a gift of rice and beans from mom and dad for Christmas, and I am feeling quite enthused about the project. Hopefully the enthusiasm continues. Expect a full report in 2007!

Book of Mormon Challenge
I failed to report in December, our successful completion of the Book of Mormon challenge issued by our beloved President Hinckley. To complete the book by mid December we read about 2 chapters each night. We found it something we definitely should have been doing already and so I think we appreciated the little push. We have already started the book again, so I think the initiative proved successful in establishing for us a habit that will bless us and our children for many years to come. It’s a wonderful thing.

A Sunbeam
I am not sure if Brayden was more excited or if I was for him to be a sunbeam. It is really such a fun transition- a true milestone, I think. I suppose the idea is fun but sitting quietly and losing toys and snack time may actually be a bit of a bummer. Brayden didn’t seem to mind all that though. I could see how proud he was when we dropped him off with the “big kids,” and he seemed quite happy when we picked him up. He told us that now he needs a Book of Mormon of his own to take to church. I think it is just neat that I have a child in primary. I wonder if this takes me out of the “new mother” category. I probably have been out of this category for some time but every new stage of development makes me feel quite “new.”


Babbling Brayden
Here are some of Brayden’s recent noteworthy quotes -Brayden asked his dad “Do you remember when I was in Mommy’s tummy?” Kevin replied, “Yes, do you?” to which Brayden replied “yeah it was kinda dark and I didn’t have a flashlight so I wanted to come out.” -Before preschool one day I was trying to talk Brayden out of his favorite BYU t-shirt (yes, he has been brainwashed by his dad) and into something with long sleeves. I said to him “you might be cold at school,” to which he replied, “If I am cold, I will stop, and I will drop and roll.” I decided to drop the issue with that – I suppose if he does get cold, rolling on the ground might indeed warm him up, and so what if he’s not the best dressed in his class. Pick your battles right. Winter

Weekend Away
For Christmas this year, Kevin gave me a most wonderful gift. He arranged for a little ski weekend away from the kids. His parents came up to watch the kids and have a little visit. We had a lot of fun skiing and just being away. It was simply lovely. Sadly, but truly, neither Kevin nor I has been skiing since we got married. Earlier this year I had remarked to Kevin that this needed to be our year since I am not pregnant or nursing. Fortunately he was listening and, I got my chance. The only unfortunate part was that there was really no snow- well not any naturally occurring snow that is. We’re fairly novice so that didn’t take away from our experience too much. We stayed at a cute little inn at Canmore and skied at Nakiska. It was a wonderful little trip.

Wisdom Teeth Extraction
Kevin had the great displeasure of getting his wisdom teeth removed- and on the dreaded Friday the 13th (not a good day I know). The recovery has been as unpleasant at anticipated. The first day was the worst as he recovered from the anesthetic and tried to control the bleeding and endure the pain of unfreezing. Since then he has made a little progress each day and now, three days later he evened ventured downstairs to watch some TV. He’s dealing with a lot of pain and swelling and general discomfort. I recall my own wisdom teeth removal to be a dreadful experience… but Kevin should be back on his feet in no time I am sure. Positive thinking- that is the key!

Makenna’s New Tricks
Makenna’s new words are grandma, mommy, dada, wuv you, and cheese. From time to time she imitates other words but nothing else consistent. Though her repertoire of words is rather small, she still talks an awful lot. Everytime Brayden tells me something, she chimes in with a story of her own. One is just such a cute age!

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