Brennan Bal, Toddler Genius

So yesterday, we were driving down the interstate and all of the sudden Brennan is adamantly saying something that sounds like "Walmahht, Walmahht, Walmahht."  I look over to ask him "What?", and I see a truck like this out his window...

Genius.

That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it.

Friday Favorites - Down on the Farm

Last weekend we went to Salt Lake City to check out the Wheeler Historic Farm.  We had a great time, and I have tons of pictures to share.  I definitely recommend going there.  While we were walking around, Brennan decided to climb up on a bench up against the side of the barn.  I was able to get a great picture of him, and I even got eye contact!  That rarely ever happens anymore.  I am going to get some of these processed for sure.  They should make up for not getting a good two year picture.

Have a great weekend everyone!  Nana and Papaw will be here tomorrow.  Yay! 

I hope the weather gets better for them.  It's only 53 degrees and rainy today.  But on the bright side, it will be warmer than where they're at today.  I talked to them last night from Jackson's Hole, WY, and the weather report said temperatures in the 30s and snow!  Gotta love the mountains! 

Strawberry Love

Brennan loves strawberries.  And not just a little.  If we would let him, he would eat a whole gallon.  It was strawberry season when we were in Indiana, and he could snoop out the strawberries everywhere we went.  While we were there, Grandma Brenda made a couple of batches of shortcake strawberries.

Brennan was in heaven.  And as always, he was a big helper.


He pulled his chair right up so he could get a good look at how mixing up strawberries works.


"You keep mixing Grandma, I'll just have one."


"OK, maybe just one more."


That one must have been sour!


"That one looks just right!"


"I better get one more!"


"Who me?  I wasn't eating all the strawberries out of the bowl!"

Oh My.  I don't think the Utah growing season will be enough to supply this kid.  I wonder if I can grow strawberry plants in my laundry room.

Indiana Daisies

Some flowers I found down by the pond.

It's Potty Time!

Yesterday was Brennan's first day with his "big boy" undies on.  We had to go all out and get the Thomas the Train undies, of course.  The first part of the day went about how I expected.  We have 14 pairs of underwear, and we went through all but one pair before naptime.  During the morning hours, inevitably, we had a poop explosion.  I never realized that poop that normally just smells stinky in a diaper, smells absolutely atrocious when it's trailed through the kitchen, hallway, and all over the bathroom floor.  But after cleaning and sanitizing all of that mess, Brennan's nap (and a couple of loads of laundry set on HOT), Brennan kept clean and dry for the rest of the day.  We both definitely got our workouts in.  Poor Brennan asked to take a nap way before it was time.  All the running to the potty wore him out!

Shanny's Graduation

Some pictures from Shanntel's graduation. 


And it begins.  Here they are walking into the gym.


During the Ceremony


Receiving her diploma, of course that one had to turn out blurry.


After the ceremony, Shanny and one of her friends.


The Smiling Graduate


Shanny with Nana and Papaw


Shanny with me, Jason and Brennan


Shanny with Gary and Michelle


Shanny with Grandma Brenda


Shanny and Karen


Shanny and Andrew


Shanny with Harry and Grandma Brenda


Shanny with me and Jason


And, of course, one with the proud Dad.

The ceremony was nice, though where we were sitting we didn't get to see a whole lot.  Brennan behaved through the whole thing.  He liked to clap for everyone, so that helped keep him occupied.  Afterwards, Jason and I and Shanny met up with a couple of her friends at O'Charley's and we all had dinner together.  It was nice to hang out with Shan, and since Grandma Brenda took Brennan back to the house with her, it was kind of like a date for me and Jason. : )

Congratulations Shanntel!!  We're proud of you!

Tiger Lily Closeup

One of Shanny's graduation flowers.

Ready For Takeoff

Brennan did really well for his first time on an airplane.  That might have had something to do with him being allowed to eat more candy than he has in his entire life, but we made it, whatever bribes it took.

He was quite a responsible flyer, too.  Here he is going over all the safety instructions before the plane took off.

Getting Back Into the Swing of Things

Well, here we are, back in Utah.  We had a great trip, though of course, it went by way too fast.  Shanny's graduation party and graduation ceremony went well, and she loved her graduation present.  Our home improvement projects at Grandma Brenda's turned out great, even though they took a lot longer to complete than we guesstimated. 

We spent a lot of time at The Home Depot. 

I have lots of pictures to go through and share, but that will have to wait until later.  I have lots of catching up to do around here, going through the pile of mail, unpacking, menu planning. 

Plus, Brennan has a priority in mind as well.

We are out of cookies!!

I better get baking! :)