It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

So many great memories this holiday!

Searching for the perfect tree is always a hunt!  This is the second year we have gone with the Karlson's to Cobbs.  The boys had fun running up and down the aisles of Christmas trees with their cousins.  We did decide on one tree, but went to another lot the next day for the "big tree".

 

Dawson & Santa

Sweet Memories

For the past few years, we have been decorating Gingerbread houses on Thanksgiving. Most of the family pitches in, and it's always a lot of fun!

Merry & Bright!

This year, Eric (and Colton) put lights on both stories of the house!  I was a nervous wreck watching them, but I will have to say they looked awesome!!

Christmas Tree Lane

with the "Wilks Girls"

This year we walked Christmas tree lane with our friends the Wilkinson's. (minus a few)  The kids had a fun time counting dogs on the walk.  Such a fun night!

Gearing up for Disneyland...Disney Family Night

We're going to Disneyland!

About a week before our Disneyland trip, I thought it might be fun to have a family night Disney planning night! I printed out coloring sheets for the "littles", and then made Mickey packing sheets for the older boys.

For dinner, we had Mickey chicken nuggets (thanks Jacinda!).
And of course Mickey cupcakes for dessert!

YUM!!!

A New Niece To Love

Lauren "Elyse" Carey

Born to Cliff and April Carey

Big Brother Peter

March 27, 2009

7 lbs. 13 oz. 20 1/4"

We celebrated Elyse with a shower for her and her mommy on April 26th.

She is such a sweet...and tiny little thing!!


Welcome to the family Elyse!!

St. Paddy's Day at the Briners!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Ok, so I am always up for an excuse for a fun day, and since I am 50% Irish, I decided to embrace my inner Irish lassie. :)

Breakfast was yummy, green pancakes

(nothing like a little artificial coloring to start the day off!)

For lunch, Colton made 4 leaf clover PB & J's

St. Paddy's Dinner ...at the "special" table. :)

Irish Stew & Irish Soda Bread - yum!

(Thanks Michelene for the recipe!)

Rainbow Fruit Salad
(Thanks Jacinda for the great idea!)


And Rainbow cake for dessert!

(The cake didn't come out as cute as Jacinda's, I think I tried to rush cook it, and didn't wait for it to cool...so it's not as pretty as I planned...but all in all, the boys loved it....so that's all that mattered! :) )

American Idol...who's your pick?

Well, it's that time of year again...Idol Season 8! I think there are quite a few good ones...and a lot that shouldn't have gotten this far. Here are the Briner fav's for Season 8!

Johnna - Lil Rounds or Danny Gokey

Eric, Colton, & Zac - Adam Lambert or Megan Corkey

Ethan - Jasmine Murray or Scott MacIntyre

I also think Alexis Grace and Allison Iraheta are great too! Who's your pick?????

Wii are having so much fun!

Ok, so we are probably one of the last people on earth to get a Wii....but after long deliberation, and lots of fun on the Fitzgerald's...we got our own. This really has to be the greatest invention. Our whole family has had soooo much fun! We also got Rock Band 2. Zac rocks it out singing, Colton plays a mean guitar, alongside Daddy, and Mom beats out the drums, (watch out, I may be going out for the worship team next! JK) and Ethan subs in for mom on drums too! We have had such a blast...but it's amazing how fast time flies! One minute it's 7 p.m., and the next it's midnight! On Rock Band, our band....Mama's Boyz....are on tour, we are playing lots of gigs all over the world...who knew? :)

We just got Wii Fit last night...so can't wait!

Are you hooked on Wii too?

Merry Christmas!

Christmas was a lot of fun this year! All of the boys were into it this year. I wish I could capture those twinkles, sparkles, and excitement of a child. It truely is a gift!

This year, Eric made a point that I hadn't taken Ethan since he was a baby, and Dawson...well ever...to go see Santa. So, while he had the older boys, I hit the mall 2 days before Christmas. The boys were great, even though it was an hour long wait!

They were really excited...until we got up to Santa.

(At least they weren't crying! :) )

Christmas Eve...everybody got to open jammies...even Mom & Dad!

Christmas Morning

Santa Brought....

Colton - Bow & Arrow with Camo Attire

Zac - Lego Indiana Jones set

Ethan - Geo Trax Airplane set

Dawson - Radio Flier My 1st Scooter & Helmet

Christmas at Grama and Grampa Briner's

Big Wheels for the little boys!

As much fun as the holidays are....I'm glad they're only once a year!!! ;)

Pumpkin Carving

Last Saturday, we headed up the hill, to Aunt Cheri's house for some fun pumpkin carving and S'mores around the fire! The boys had a great time creating their own faces, and scraping most of the goop out!

Great Aunt Ardie, Me, Aunt Cheri, and Grandma Audrey. I honestly think that we haven't ever taken a picture together....at least for 20+ years! I'm so glad I got it!!!

A hunting they will go...

September. Most people think of fall leaves & fresh autumn air...well, not my boys. The whole year they look forward to the opening of dove hunting season. This year Colton took a gun safey course with his grandpa, and loved taking the class, and spending one on one time with grandpa too. September first, they got up at 3:30 a.m. and were off. They spent the whole day with Eric, grandpa, and Uncle. They shot more clay pigeons than actual birds, but it was a great memory. Today Ethan gets to join them on their evening hunt tonight. They have their camo gear...and are ready to hunt! Hey, better them...than me! ;)

Sweet Georgia Grace is HERE!!!

The Briner family has waited...and after 7 boys in the family, Georgia Grace Karlson arrived this morning, weighing 7 lbs. and 10 oz. She is so beautiful! She even has brown hair like her auntie Johnna! ;) I will post more pictures soon! Let the spoiling begin!!!

Look out Clinton Kelly....

Ok, so most of you know that my favorite show on earth is TLC's What Not to Wear! I would LOVE to have Stacy and Clinton tell me what to wear, what works, and what doesn't. But after shopping this afternoon with Ethan...I don't know if I could handle it!

I decided to pop into Old Navy this afternoon with Ethan and Dawson to see if they had any great deals I couldn't live without. Dawson started helping me look through the clothes, like most one year olds do, and I heard Ethan say, "No Dawson, don't touch the cooties!" I turn and see Dawson grabbing "panties" off the rack. I asked him if he meant "panties"? And he said...well I call them "cooties". :)

I found a few things, and headed to the dressing rooms. Of course with two little boys, they had to come into the 2' x 2' stall with me, shopping cart in all. As if that wasn't uncomfortable enough, Ethan decided he would help choose the outfits I tried on. I tried on a few things, and then after not agreeing with my 5 year old, I was going to try on the shirt that I liked the best. I said, "I think I'm really going to like this one"...Ethan's response...."Not that one, it's hideous!"

I think next time...I'll get a sitter....

Happy Birthday to ME!!

Sunday morning before church Eric and the boys asked if I was ready for my birthday present. My birthday wasn't until Monday, so I said "SURE!" They told me they had made reservations in Avila Beach, and we were going to the coast right after church!



We stayed at the Inn at Avila Beach, (the pink hotel, as the boys call it!) and walked the pier and then headed into San Luis for dinner. We went to Firestone Grill (same as Dog House here) and then walked downtown.







The morning of my birthday, we woke up and had breakfast in Avila, beat Eric at Ms. Pacman, and then went for a walk on the beach. We found a "beached" stingray, and the boys

had fun playing in the icy cold ocean, even though it was probably only 50 degrees outside!





We then headed to Pismo, for clam chowder at Splash Cafe, and then back to San Luis for the best pizza in the world for dinner at Woodstocks pizza!



What a GREAT present! Thanks boys!!!

The "GREAT" Outdoors

Well, this year the guys talked us into camping with them. The last week in July, we all camped at Dinkey Creek. For those who know me, know I don't particularly like camping. (Especially since three days earlier I was staying in a 5 star hotel at the beach!!!) I did survive, and we did have fun, and lots of memories!! :)Camping with the family there is ALWAYS yummy food! Luckily for us girls, the guys take care of most of the cooking! The best, was baked beans the simmered over the fire all day!! YUM!

All 7 boys had a blast! We had 2 campsites, and right in the middle was two dirt hills. Eric packed enough bikes and ride-on toys for an army, so they had a blast being daredevils! Grampa even packed a hammock, where the boys kicked back with Uncle Cliff and Peter.
Dawson and Ethan bathed in the old faithful brown bucket. This has been around since Eric was a kid, and has been used with all of the grandkids!
It was fun while it lasted....then home to mountains of laundry!!!