Ta Da

Here it is.....I thought the curls might disapear, but they seem to still be intact.

Happy New Year!

New Year, New You

Here are the official "before" pictures of John....for the New Year, he's getting a haircut! Not his first, but we are going to take a significant amount off. Stay tuned for the "after" shot!

What We Did NOT Get For Christmas

We did not get this for Christmas, but we got to "babysit" this little guy for an hour or so today....even I have to say, pretty cute!

Christmas Eve

We had a quiet but nice Christmas Eve this year....our hosts for the evening were Harry and Charlie, who dressed up in their jackets and ties to welcome our guests - Grandma & Grandpa.

For dinner, we set the table nicely, but ordered pizza, chicken and cheesy bread. This was a request from my children, and a concession to my aching back during the last few weeks of this pregnancy.

The highlight of the evening was the re-enactment of Samuel the Lamanite preaching to the Nephites. We made tin foil rocks and a saran-wrap "shield", and everyone took turns playing Samuel. We found this pageant to be a bit more interactive (especially the ACTIVE part of that) than the traditional nativity one....thanks to President Eyring for the idea!

Later, we read the "Legend of the Sand Dollar" and broke them open to find the five doves in each one....this is a Brundage Family Tradition that my children are really learning to look forward to.

The kids all sacked out together in the same room, and John stayed up to enjoy the presents being put out.

Christmas Day was a busy day that I still haven't quite recovered from....more pictures to come soon!

Harry is Six!

Harry's birthday was on Tuesday...we celebrated in fine style, complete with a party at Chuck E Cheese (I am just too pregnant to invite more little boys to my house) and another birthday dinner at CPK (we tried our best to persuade Harry that we COULD go somewhere else for a birthday, but he had it set in his head that that was the place to go). Aunt Chelsea stole the show with her gift of an Airbrush Tattoo kit, which, as you can see, actually worked pretty well. Here are some pictures of the highlights....you can see Harry has crafted a "signature move" for his birthday pictures.

When Chelsea Comes for a Visit...

...crazy things happen. Tonight, Harry and Chelsea got bored. Harry asked Chelsea to draw one simple black eye on him...well this is what came of that!

(notice the nipple ring, mom tattoo, stiches, spiked collar, blood and brusies.)

And then the others got involved and this video was made, entitled,

"THE SMACKDOWN!"

Featuring: Maggie (titles), John (random toddler), Harry (HOG, "the bully"), Joe (Joey, "the nerd"), and Chelsea (announcer).

Doesn't everyone want Chelsea to come for a visit?!!

Maggie's Birthday and Baptism

Maggie turned 8 yesterday...we had a grand birthday celebration inlcuding presents, a baptism, a trip to Red Hot Pottery, and a dinner at our favorite, California Pizza Kitchen. Grandpa Steve and Grandma Lark made the 800 mile trip for the big day, and were here for almost 48 hours. Sorry we live so far away....I think you spent more time in the car than you did here! But we LOVED having you...it was a special two days that I know Maggie will always remember. Aunt Chelsea came last week and is staying for almost two more weeks....I'm so happy to have her here. These last few weeks get pretty tough for me and she is helping me a LOT! Plus, she's just lots of fun to hang out with!
Here are a few pictures to enjoy....
P.S. Maggie's dress is the one I wore when I was baptized as well....made with love by Grandma Lark.

Pictures

We had some family pictures taken last week....here are just a couple I had to share....

I'm saving the rest for my Christmas Card....

Reccomendation

If anyone is looking for a good read.....here's one for you. Or actually three, if you've not read Wally Lamb's other two books, "I Know This Much is True", and "She's Come Undone". It's been a few years since his last book, but "The Hour I First Believed" has been completely worth the wait. Seven Hundred and Forty pages of pure enjoyment. Even worth the $25 I paid for it in hardback at Barnes and Noble. Dad, how are you doing on it? I'm on page 562, and getting sad that it's coming to an end.

Friends In The News

Be sure to check out the November Issue of the Friend magazine to see a picture of the San Luis Obispo First Ward Primary! Four of the five Brundage children are in it!

Gilroy Gardens

Today is Veterans Day. But yesterday, the kids were out of school too. So, we decided to take a last minute trip up to Gilroy Gardens before our season passes expired. We even got Dad and Grandpa and Grandma to come with us! We had such a nice time. That place is never crowded, low-key, and absolutely beautiful. The leaves were all turning, and it was the only glimpse of fall we get here in our season-less San Luis Obispo. Of course, there were a few hiccups in the plan. Like John gagging himself and throwing up all over himself and his car seat right as we pulled IN to the park parking lot. And having to wear his sister's extra Hannah Montana shirt all day. And me worrying all day that he is really to "pretty" to wear a Hannah Montana shirt, and did people think he was a girl? And me having to hold him on my lap in the back seat of the Suburban pretty much the entire way home (because of the puked in car seat), and now not being able to feel the right side of my right leg because something "popped" in my hip while sitting like that. But oh well...that will all work itself out. Because, really, it was one of the nicest days we've had as a family in a while. Here are some pictures for proof.

This picture makes me laugh. Maggie didn't want to go on the roller coaster with her older brother, so I made her go on the kiddie fire trucks with her younger brother. Can't you just feel her excitement at this prospect?

John, however, really enjoyed the kiddie rides.

We'll all be sore for days from the swan paddle boats!

Look closely at this picture below. Do you see how John is reaching up to hold on to the bar? That's because that's as far down as my belly would allow the bar to go. Probably not the safest idea to put the smallest and the biggest person in the ride together.

John's Two-Day, Two-Year Birthday Celebration

I'll let the pictures tell the story....

John was NOT excited about his birthday....it was a little too much attention a bit too early in the morning....
He started to warm up to the presents.....

We had a great birthday dinner at CPK (this is John showing us his famous "stink-eye", which he will usually give upon command, along with a growl).

By the next evening, he had finally figured out that colorful bags usually contain things of interest....

He obviously loved the cake....we had to re-light the candles twice during the singing of Happy Brithday (he's been practicing candle-blowing-out for months now)

All in all, a successful birthday!

Now, we're gearing up for a non-stop two months of holidays, birthdays, baptisms, and babies! (Well, just one baby, but you get the idea.)

I Was Right

I was right, I didn't get a single picture of Maggie dressed as Laura Ingalls Wilder tonight. Of course, that could be because she changed her mind and dressed as a cheerleader instead. (Why do I do this to myself every year? Will I never learn?)

We had a crazy busy day. The teachers were so smart and planned a teacher work day, which left me home alone with all five kids who wanted to carve pumpkins and make pretend headstones for our front yard. And, two weeks ago, it seemed like a great idea to invite the missionaries to dinner on Halloween. (And it was fun, but a bit hectic)

And at the end of the night, these were the only pictures I took. I think the cuteness of them makes up for how few they are. (Even if the other kids weren't in the pictures...I got one of most of them throughout this Halloween week)

Come on, pretty cute knight, right?

And now, at 9:56 at night, the Halloween Decorations are down, the Happy Birthday John banner is up, presents are wrapped and ready, and we're set to celebrate the big 2 with John!

Preview

Okay, I know Halloween is not until tomorrow, but I just finished sewing this, and HAD to take a picture, because, come on, isn't this just the cutest Laura Ingalls Wilder you've ever seen? Plus, she'll probably be too busy tomorrow and I won't get a picture. So, Happy Early Halloween!

PS...I'm putting my sewing machine away for at least a week now!

Dear Aunt Chelsea

Dear Aunt Chelsea,

Thank you SO MUCH for the earrings you sent me! It was so fun to get a package just for me in the mail today. It's just in time, too, becuase I get to change my earrings on Friday, and Mom has NO time to drive all the way to Claires to get me a new pair! This is a picture of me when I was getting them pierced....I'll send you one when I get to change them.

Love,

Maggie

Trunk Or Treat

Just to kick off the Halloween Season, here a couple of pictures of this year's Trunk or Treat....

Three Super Studious Stingers

Last Friday was the first Sinsheimer Elementary School Asset Assembly for the year. They have these assemblies every month and choose a different asset or characteristic to celebrate. Each teacher chooses a c couple of students from their class who represents that asset. The asset for October is studious, so I was not surprised when I got an email from Joe's teacher last week saying that he would be receiving the award (which by the way, are a surprise to the students until the assembly). Then, on Wednesday, I got a note from Maggie's teacher saying that she too, was receiving the award. I thought, how fun, to have both of my children recognized for being studious. THEN, on Thursday, I got a note from Harry's teacher saying that he too would be honored on Friday. It was pretty cool to show up at the assembly and have all three of my children recognized for being studious. They were all surprised to get the award, and even more surprised that they ALL THREE got the award together. I grabbed them after the assembly to take a quick picture, and Joe just about had a heart-attack that I would take him away from his class....had to get back to being studious I guess! Anyway, congratulations to all three of my super-studious Sinsheimer Stingers! Keep up the great work!