Our day together

Monday's are Matt's days off. I was thinking of keeping it low key since he worked so hard Sunday shoveling all that snow. However, Matt doesn't know how to do 'low key.' I had more energy today then I have had all week. I still had sinus pressure and my ears felt very plugged but I was up and going. Since Matt was home I figured he could watch Brielle I became motivated to organize some files in the loft. Brielle would still terrorize some but Matt tried hard to entertain and let me do my thing.

Our view from the loft this morning.


My little alien

He decided since we weren't doing much he would take down the Christmas village. This sparked a desire to cut a hole in the garage wall to access under the stairs for more storage. We decided to do that before we put Brielle down for her nap.

Of course wherever Daddy is, Brielle is. except it was FREEZING so I bundled her up.

I was amazed how much we could fit under the stairs. We stuck our ornaments, nativities, villages, a lot of Christmas lights, two train sets, and several empty boxes under there. We have so much room in our garage now. I was very thrilled. We then organize the computer desk together. I was so happy that some things were finally organized. It gives a sense of godliness, cleanliness and peace when thigns are clean and organize.

After Brielle's nap and lunch we decided to pack up our snow gear and head over to my parents to go sledding. The weather was warmer, the sun was shining and there was still a lot of snow on the ground=perfect condition to play. We had a ball playing. Brielle wasn't too sure about it at first and preferred to stay with me. I would hold Brielle in one arm and drive the ATV with the other hand. Then I tried to put Brielle on the sled with Daddy, which she tolerated. I thought we were done when I tried to get onto the sled with her and she only lasted a couple laps. However, I had her stay with me as we pulled Matt around again.

I could see Grandpa Hicks watching us from his kitchen window, next thing I know he is dressed and ready to play with us. I suggested he get onto the tube and he DID! Brielle thought it was so funny watching him go around, he saved our play time.

Matt jumped onto the tube with Grandpa and I put Brielle with the two of them. By then Brielle understood the concept and was laughing and waving.

I was even able to ride with Grandpa and Brielle a couple laps. Brielle was done with the tube so Grandpa was kind enough to hang around and keep an eye on her while Matt and I played hard.

We had SO SO much fun. Brielle would smile and wave as we passed her. She was content hanging out with Grandpa, eating snowballs and watching her parents play. After a couple of hours, the sun was setting and it was getting cold, we headed inside.

It has be a very long time since we were able to do that. It was so rejuvenating, but we were all very tired. We took Grandpa out to dinner and then headed home for bed. What a great day we had. Thanks Grandpa for saving the day! Brielle sure does adore you.

What was supposed to be 'a couple' inches

Well this last week I have been fighting a terrible cold. I lost my voice a couple of times, had major sinus pressure, my throat would bother me and I was just plain miserable. I had to call into work both days and made Matt stay home a couple of mornings so I could rest. Matt was fighting a cold too but he was able to keep it under control with drugs. Brielle had a little cold but it didn't seem to slow her down too much.

By the time Saturday night rolled around I was feeling a little better, sounding better and SUPER anxious to get out of the house. It started to snow and Matt mentioned he might have to get up early to shovel snow. The news said we were to get a few inches of snow. I had gotten up at one with Brielle and saw it was still snowing. At three Matt woke up and looked outside and swolled his tongue. He came barging into the room talking up a storm about how much snow there was and how he should get up right now and start shoveling etc. I kept saying, "Hunny, it's three 0'clock in the morning, go to bed." However, he just tossed and turned until four and got up to go shovel snow. Needless to say, we woke up to AT LEAST 18inches of snow. It was crazy! What happen to a couple inches???

That morning I was talking to my mom about the snow and the events that took place earlier that morning. She said Dad did the same thing. She finally kicked him out of bed and told him to get up. I thought it was pretty funny.
I think church was cancelled for all Reno/Sparks area. Which totally bummed me out because I was excited to get out of the house. I was officially snowed in because Matt took the truck to work and so it was another day stuck inside my house with Brielle. I was getting a little sad but Brielle was in GREAT spirits. She ate breakfast really well and was entertaining me. I wasn't sure if we really should really venture out because of our colds, but I couldn't resist and she was pounding on the door.

I didn't really get any pictures from our morning outing. My camera battery died and the charger was in the truck. However, I was very excited to see how well Brielle was playing in the snow. She of course wont walk in the snow so I shoveled a path for her. I made her a snowball and she was totally intrigued but it. I taught her how to eat it and she discovered how cold it felt in her mouth, always making a funny face after each bit. She enjoyed dropping the snowball on the ground and saying "uh oh" followed by "more!" I really wanted to make a snowman for her but the snow was WAY too light-perfect powder (made me want to go skiing!). It was too light and would fall apart. Oh well. We still had fun.

After her nap and lunch we ventured out again, with my old camera with me. This time I though I better shovel the driveway so Matt did not have to. I wasn't sure how much I was going to get done with Brielle, but she did great. She was very content holding snowballs and sitting on the porch watching me. Oh and it was still snowing-it had not stopped.


Brielle made a snow angel!


She thought she would help shovel

My happy little girl.

Minding her own business.

After I shoveled the driveway my neighbor's little girl came up to play with Brielle. I decided we should build a castle that soon turned into a snow chair.

She LOVED the chair!

Trying to catch snow with her tongue.

I tried to show how high the snow pile was from shoveling the driveway. Brielle was my model.

Brielle was VERY excited to have her Daddy come home from shoveling snow. He was tired and cold but she didn't care. She was very happy he played with her.

Brielle likes to stick her finger in his mouth or get his nose, pull his hair and ears.

Here they are playing Peek-a-boo with the blanket.

Needless to say my day wasn't as bad as I was picturing it to be. I had a blast playing in the snow with Brielle. She made my day. I had made dinner and we took some over to Erin (she is really sick now) and my folks. It didn't stop snowing until that evening. I don't remember it snowing so much without stopping. OK I lied. The last time it snowed like that was I think '97 when Matt, Brian, Dad and I worked 13+ hrs shoveling snow for several days. It was beautiful to see the valley a winter wonderland.

Bathtime with Daddy

It was past Brielle's bedtime and she needed a bath. Matt thought it would be fun to take a bath together in our bathtub which she has never done before. After Matt's shower he threw on some swim trunks and took her in the bath. Matt sat her down and she stood right up crying and wanting to me to take her out. I held her for a little and then tried again. She refused to sit by herself so Matt held her.

However it didn't take her long to be done with the whole thing.

So Matt washed up as quick as he could which made her even more upset.

Let's just say that didn't go as well as we thought. We should have known it wouldn't be a hit the first time. It didn't help she was WAY too tired. We will have to try again another time.

President's Day

Today we were lucky enough to have a friend, Kayla come and play with us for the day. She arrived around 8:30ish and we packed up the girls by nine to head to the Sparks Marina. It was a beautiful morning and was forecasted to stay nice all day.

There weren't very many people at the park which was really nice. We were able to play and explore to our hearts content.

Kayla and Brielle in the baby swing-the park only has one

Walking on the swaying bridge.

Brielle's first tire swing experience.

She did so good holding on. I think she liked it.

Are we shocked she is down playing with the wood chips?

We started our walk when Erin showed up with her dog. The little girls were excited to see the dog and walking with a dog made it that much better. We saw some ducks and Brielle became very excited, leaning as far as she could to take a look at the animals. Kayla pointed out every dog we passed.

We left Erin at the dog park and Matt, the little girls and I headed over to Scheel's to check out the fish. Brielle and Kayla had a ball watching the fish. Kayla kept thinking the shark was going to get her, she would say, "it got me!" when it got close.

We sampled some gelato ice cream and meet back up with Erin to finish the walk around the Marina. By then the marina was filling up with people and the park was packed. I am SO glad we came early and played first.

The timing was perfect to head home, eat lunch and take a nap. However, Brielle couldn't wait that long and passed out two seconds after getting onto the road. We were almost home when Kayla fell asleep-which meant we turned around in our cul-de-sac to keep driving. As soon as we hit McCarren, Kayla woke up. We drove a little and then decided to head home since she wasn't falling back to sleep. Seriously as soon as we pulled up into the driveway she fell asleep and stayed asleep. I told Matt to drive up to Truckee and we can have lunch there. But that didn't work, they were still sleeping. We ended up driving part of the lake and heading down Mt. Rose before they woke up. Both girls got about an 1.5hr nap.

We stopped at the Nash house mainly so I could use the bathroom (I was starting to sweat I had to go so bad but didn't want to stop the truck and wake up the girls). We ended up playing in their backyard, eating lunch and going to another park while we were there. The park was not close enough you wanted to walk it. We thought of taking the truck until Matt and Zach decided to put the little kids in the wagon and pull it with the quad. I took Zach's bike and Matt walked with Kayla on his shoulders.

Brielle has always enjoyed their little tike car.

The kids playing with moon sand. So glad it was outside because they made a mess.

You can barley see Julie and Brookie on their bikes, Zach pulling Brielle and Tyler and Matt carrying Kayla.

The park was super fun and the little girls could not get enough of the swing. On our way back from the park we were able to get Kayla to sit on Zach's lap and Matt ran along the wagon. We had such a marvelous day. We were happy Brielle had a little friend to play with all day. We were all very tired from our long day of fun.

Zach taking Brielle down the slide.

Brielle loved holding onto the swing

Matt seeing how fast he can spin Zach and Tyler

The day is winding up and Matt is getting tired

Matt wanted to see if the kid quad would hold him too.

On our way home!

Matt seeing how fast he could get the kid quad.

Our little bug!

We had such a great day playing with friends and family. However, the whole day I could feel something coming on. My throat would get really dry and sore and my voice was horse. Matt was starting to get a little cough. By the end of the night, we were both not feeling so hot and super anxious for bed.