Welcome to the world Michaela!

We have another niece!!!

She came a little earlier then expected, but she is still as cute as ever.

Michaela Regan McCollem
Born August 28,2011
5 lbs and 19 inches long

"A child is the greatest joy,

the ultimate Blessing."

Author: Emily Laughton

Birthday Parties!

Summer had some great kids birthday parties.

First we celebrated Kalih's 1st Birthday. She is the daughter of my friend Nancy.



Next we celebrates Alexa's 4th Birthday. She is the daughter of Rob and Nikki. It was a fun pool party, but unfortunately Brice couldn't join in on the fun because of his surgery.

Then we had Noah's (our Godsons) 4th birthday. It was a Superman themed party at Peter Piper Pizza.




More Birthday shout outs...
Happy Birthday too...

Papa Englert

Auntie Liz and Uncle Scott celebrated 30 whole years with there birthdays only a day apart and on top of it they just had a baby (more to come on that!)

Uncle Dave (Darrens good friend)

Haircuts

Brice got his first haircut on August 27, 2011. Darren wanted to do the very first haircut and I made sure he saved all his cute blond curls. He was a very good boy and didn't squirm even when the buzzers came out. He got his very first Oreo for doing such a great job! I of course framed his cute blond curls. He went from my baby to my little man in 20 minutes.

His second haircut was in December, 2011 we went to Snips Its. He again was a great boy and sat patiently through the haircut only once letting a little "mama" out to make sure everything was OK.

First Haircut!

Hair cut two! High fiving the Snip Its character

Brice's Surgury 9/1/11

September started off nerve racking. Darren and I took Brice in for his undescended testicle. His surgery was at the pediatric surgery center by Banner Desert Medical Center. We waited in the prep room a little too long and I thought I was going to cry when they took my baby back for surgery, but Dr. Bailey did a great job and everything went smooth. Brice had to get a hernia repaired that was preventing his testicle to drop. Lets hope that's the last stitches or surgery he ever needs!

"A baby fills a hole in your heart

that you never knew was there."

Author: Unknown

Happy Happy to you!

Happy Summer Birthday too
Auntie Lauren Englert
Auntie Lauren McCollem
Auntie Katrina

A very special Birthday to Great-Grandpa Englert who turned 80 this year!!!

Happy Anniversary to two very special couples who are great role models
Happy Anniversary Grandma and Grandpa McCollem 8/1
Happy Anniversary Grandmama and Papa Englert 8/20

Happy Hour

Just a shout out to happy hour and how great it is. Being home with Brice is FANTASTIC, but every once and a while me time is much needed. So a cocktail with a few friends goes a long way and is really rejuvenating.

A big thanks to friends!

Massachusetts Trip! August 4-11, 2011

We went back to MA for my cousin Corine's wedding and to visit family in August. We had a blast and it was a much needed vacation (yes I know we just got back from Payson, but it was more like one big trip that we needed!)
Brice had his first flight and boy was he a good boy. We went on a red eye and he slept almost the whole way. Darren I were stressed before the whole trip, and it turned out we had nothing to worry about!

Plane ride.

We stayed with Russ, Lauren and nephew Aiden which was perfect because they had all things baby for us to borrow. I will say Brice did not do well sleeping there until the end of the week, but new place in a pack n' play does throw the whole routine off. It was great seeing the little guys running around together.

The boys!

We started with leaving Brice for the night with Russ and Lauren to go to my cousins wedding. It was a beautiful wedding at Watchusett Mountain. We got to go on the sky lift and enjoy the first night we have ever left Brice overnight. And to top it off the hotel had a great continental breakfast ;) From there we went to my Aunt Carol and Uncle Joe's summer trailer to have them see Brice. Lauren and Russ met us there (a big thank you!) Brett also met us there as well as my parents, Lauren my cousin and Uncle Dan. There was probably one to many people there, but Uncle Joe and Aunt Carol cooked us a great meal and we got to get a family photo in!

On the party bus.
Two worn out boys!

One day we headed into Boston to go to the Aquarium, it was packed and hard to move around, but the penguins were pretty cute and worth the hassle. Outside while waiting to buy tickets they had harbor seals in a glass window and they were very friendly we probably could have looked at them all day and Brice would have been happy! After that the boys ran around the park and then we decided to try the big splash pad, that was awesome, the boys loved it and it wore them out. It started raining on us, so we knew it was time to pack up and go! When we got back from the Boston trip Great-Grandpa McCollem was at Russ and Laurens house and he finally got to meet Brice. It was great to see him!



The boys played outside in the play pool and loved walking to the park. We of course had to go to get ice cream, so we went to stone brook which is where darren and I had our unofficial first date... awww!



Scott and Liz also had a nice BBQ for us and invited over friends including Ruth's friend Maria it was a great day with family and friends!



We also had a few nights where we got to sit back and relax and enjoy the fire pit outside and make s'mores, Brett introduced me to the peanut butter cup s'more. Just replace the old hersheys bar with a peanut butter cup and WA LA delicious. If anyone knows me and my sweet tooth you know this treat couldn't go wrong!
The last night Ruth and Russ took us out to a nice dinner at the Woburn Country Club. Brice and Aiden didn't last too long, but it was nice to be together as a family.
We got lots of great photos and had a great time. The weather was beautiful and in-between separating the boys from meltdowns from taking each others toys or telling brice you can't hit people with the spatula or eat crayons there was some relaxation and a glass of wine to follow.

Payson Trip 7/28-7/30

We had a little get away to Payson to escape the heat. We rented a cabin and brought the dog. The trip didn't start so great with walker drooling and puking in the car, but it ended as a nice relaxing trip. It was out in the woods with a little playground and a beautiful view. We rocked on the porch swing and enjoyed a nice rain storm. We had dinner at the only restaurant in Payson and ended with going to the fishery. All and all a nice relaxing weekend.

Contacts

Yup after months of not posting, I am going to start with I found a good eye doctor and I now where contacts as of August 2011. This is a very exciting post for me. Too many years of wearing glasses, having Brice rip them off my face, then try to wear them has left my glasses twisted and lenseless. So it is just miraculous that I can drive even better, wear cheap sunglasses again and workout without out having to push my glasses up. Darren is also wearing contacts, Yay!

Remember me?

Ok, I am officially ready. I have a sleeping child, a husband who is fixing the dryer, a cup of hot coco, Molly, (no not a new dog, my sister Kylas dog, watching her for the week while the Capistrons are in Hawaii...whatever!)) has had her five pills for the evening, a sleeping Walker and I have the Fireplace for your Home on our new 60' TV (get to the TV part later!) So yes I am officially ready to catch up on my blog.
It is now 2012 which means two things, I need to finish blogging about all the events of 2011 and that I have been blogging for 4 years (OK not really four years, since 10/2009, but it sounds like 4 years).
2011 was as busy as ever and 2012 isn't slowing down. So sit back and enjoy!


Cheese!