Halloween Hee-yaw!

It has become our ward's tradition to have trunk-or-treat inside our gym every halloween. WE LOVE IT!!!! It's warm, the kids can play together, the adults can socialize, we get to see all the kids in costume without snowsuits, and no dragging little ones in and out of the car to go door to door. The costume parade was lead by the scariest guy there...
Jared, the dracula.

Brandt loves playing cowboy, riding his stick horse, and using his toy gun, so he was quite comfortable in his costume. (I know, not very creative on my part, but he loved it)

Notice the bull in the top left corner. Brandt spent the majority of the evening chasing him (Brayden) around hollering "hee-yaw" at the top of his lungs. It was hilarious! Bryce had a hard time getting him to stop long enough to go around and get his treats.

What a fun night!

Busy day, but worth it

Last Friday marked the day to sell calves. I was actually able to take the day off and go this year. My mom, Brandt, and I drove in early so we could pick up my grandparents at the manor and then meet the guys at the stockyards. It was good to have them there. I think my grandpa enjoyed being able to get out and BS with the other guys there just like he used to.

My sis and Kevin came over and helped haul a load, so Rylie and Brandt got to hang out and watch everything.

I know it's hard to tell in this picture, but they both really did have fun; Rylie just didn't want his picture taken. My camera batt. died before I got pictures of my grandparents and everyone, but I was happy that I at least got a couple.

After we were done at the stockyards and dropped my granparents back off, we were off to run our errands and then get Brandt's H1N1 shot. Let me just tell you how excited he was! Thank goodness the line was mostly gone when we got there cause he was fighting me and screaming the second we got in the door.

We were able to spend the afternoon at my mom's, and Brandt and Rylie got to play (and fight.) Rylie doubled up his fist and popped Brandt in the nose twice; well-deserved I might add. Then we (Brandt and I) were off to Bev's wedding. Everything was beautiful and I was glad we were able to make it. Afterward's we went and visited my grandparents so they could see Brandt in his cute new suit. He had fun playing with all their toys, getting into their candy stashes, and giving them "rides" in their recliners. It was an exhausting day, but a fun one, too!

Brandt's Secret

Brandt has loved telling his "secret" for the past few months. He constantly tells all who will listen that he's having a baby. He then will usually say that it's a baby sister. This is something he's stuck to despite his dad's diligent efforts in teaching him to say it's a brother since that's what our ultrasound 3 wks looked like (not %100 for sure keep in mind). He will argue that it is a sister no matter how many times we tell him it may be a brother. Well, he's right for today at least. We had another U/S this afternoon, and while it was mostly wiggling and crossing it's legs again, the few good glimpses we did get looked like a girl. Either way, it's VERY active and so darn cute. It was even sucking it's thumb today (I really need to get one of our pics of it on here). Guess we'll see if we can see a gender for sure when we have our next one in a couple weeks. But for now, we'll just have to be ok with Brandt saying that he's having a baby sister.

Pizza for Breakfast

Since I've been pregnant and sick, Brandt and Bryce have been neglected to say the least. Thankfully my mom often takes care of meals for us, and while Bryce isn't always the most resourceful, Brandt is. For example, this morning when I was just finishing getting ready for work, I heard his bedroom door open, pitter-patter footsteps to the fridge, and then the sound of him getting out his sippy of milk. Or so I thought. A few minutes later when I finally peaked out to check on him this is what I found.
He found some leftover pizza in the fridge and was helping himself. He got the lid off the dip by himself (he has to have dip for everything) and was going to town on the cold pizza (yuck!)

He spilled some sauce on the floor, but by the time I got my car started and back in the house to clean it up he'd already taken care of it. He looked up at me and said "licked it, mom!" Such a good little helper!!

Family Reunions 2009 continued (Pugmire version)

As mentioned in the previous post, the Pugmire campout is always my favorite event of the summer. This year I wasn't so sure that I was going to have much fun since I was pregnant and sick and Bryce wasn't going with us so I wouldn't have his help with my little wild man. Thankfully I also knew that I have the best family ever and that I really wouldn't be on my own. I was right. My parents were a lot of help, and Jared, Lisa and family went above and beyond, from helping me set up my tent next door to theirs (and by next door I mean about 2 feet away) to helping me chase Brandt numerous times. Kelli and Rylie got to camp out the whole weekend and Jana and Amanda were able to stay part of the time as well. Curtis was there,too, although I don't think he did much "camping" since I think he spent most of the night playing cards and such. My cousin Amy and her daughter got to spend one night with us and a lot of my Aunt Jan's family was able to come for one day. My grandparent's even made it for a day, and I think they enjoyed visiting with everyone even if it did completely wear them out. Overall, the William Pugmire part of the family was pretty well represented. My biggest regret of the weekend was that I forgot my camera and was unable to take any pictures. Thankfully I was able to "borrow" a few from a very kind cousin (Thanks Jesi!). Brandt is very social and had a great time playing with the other cousins. One of his favorite things was dancing with Kylie who so cute to take time out from her own fun to dance with him. The following pictures were all taken during the testimony meeting while he was playing with the farm animals and tractors that my mom so wisely packed. It was so nice to have something capture his attention enough that I could listen to what has always been my favorite part of the reunion.

I can't figure out how to rotate this one, but maybe one day I'll figure it out.

Don't my parents look thrilled? Maybe they're just really intently listening...

I love that Brandt got to play with some of his 3rd (or whatever generation :) cousins as well as had the chance to play with Rylie. In the background are the Hillier's with poor Gabe who met some bees/wasps.

Brandt was so into playing that he never did look up for any of the pictures, little booger.

Cute shot of the other cousins, though. Overall it ended up being a great weekend and I'm glad we were able to go. It always makes me stop and think about how rich my heritage is and how very blessed I am. Thanks to all who help make it a huge success every year. NO EMPTY CHAIRS!!

Family Reunions 2009

The focal point of my every summer since childhood is the Pugmire family reunion/campout. The past 2 yrs I have been blessed to also have a Thompson family reunion/campout as well. Brandt especially had so much fun at both of them. Our Thompson reunion was the first weekend in August and was attended by almost everyone this year, minus Lisa's family. I was able to get some pictures of a few of Brandt's favorite activities. Riley Wells' roping steer was a hit.

Look at that concentration...

Getting a little help untangling himself from the rope from Adam.

Brandt's wagon was very popular again this year. Here he is with Emmett and Tommy, Adam and Erin's boys.

Whitney spent a lot of time pulling them around, as did some of the other older cousins- yay for me!

Most of Brandt's time was spent following the big boys around. He thought he was just as big as they were and they were good to humor him.

"Stick 'em up!"

He also had fun playing in the dirt with his trucks. In this one he's with Adrie. He also had his big Tonka trucks with him and before long the kids were pushing them (and riding them) down the hill. There were only a few crashes, but no broken bones or stitches, so it was all good.

Doug, Shellie, Kaylen, Tara, and Kevin kicken' back in the shade.

Bryce, Angela, Matt, and Tiffany. Thanks, love you, too, Brycie! And now for my very favorite pictures...

Brandt discovered that it was lots of fun to hang out under the picnic table and play in the dirt.

I finally talked him into coming out so I could try to get a couple good pictures to show off just how dirty he was.

They still don't do the filth justice- he was covered from head to toe, inside and out!!
And loved every minute of it!!!!

To be continued...

Christmas in August and The Naked Cowboy Rides Again

Last weekend Brandt's cousin Riley (Wells) handed down some of his toys, including a big red barn that Santa made for him a few years ago, horses, tools and tool belt, lego dumptruck and loader, and a basketball game. Brandt was so excited and told my parents to come see his "Christmas."
He wanted his picture taken with his new stuff. In this one he really is excited and saying cheese, not constipated...

The horse also had to have his picture taken and even said cheese.

Posing with his tool belt. And now for the really fun poses...

Brandt doesn't always feel there's a need for clothes and tends to strip down whenever I'm not paying attention for a minute.

He was bucking in circles on his bucking bull, and then it got a little wild and he bucked off...

No worries, he got up and right back on again...
And off he rides into the sunset...

Every now and again Brandt will bring my camera to me and want his picture taken. I thought these ones were pretty cute.

Don't you agree???