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!