Easter.

This year our "Easter Photos" came from our own couch instead of my parents entry way. Which is where they've been taken for the last 6 years. I guess I could have gone over there and set my camera up and taken them just for the sake of tradition. But that's no fun if my parents aren't there. It was slightly chaotic, but I've come to expect that from remote control photos.

It's becoming very evident that Gus has a stopping point with his sisters. (And this might be my favorite photo in a long time)

He also got new top siders for church, but wore them for about 12 minutes and they rubbed a blister on his heel. So he refused to move. They seem like the most perfect church shoes to me. immobilizing.

I could eat these two up...

I hope your Easter was filled with lots of ham and cadbury eggs!

love love

Seattle.

Excuse the back log here for a moment. Before I became completely neurotic about pie, I was stewing all the options in my mind. Writing a business plan and price matching all sorts of ingredients, including the testing and perfecting recipes. While I was letting everything settle in my mind I ran away with my mom and sister to Seattle. Happy Birthday Mom! A surprise trip from my dad to a city she'd never been too. It was just a quick get away, but the loveliest long weekends. We stayed up way to late, ate way to much, walked everywhere, and were nothing but inspired by the sights of Seattle. The weather was, dare I say, perfect and the company even better.
I was constantly dreaming of pie and wandering Pikes Place feeling all sorts of inspired. This trip couldn't have come at a better time!

Thanks Dad for giving Mom a weekend with Micall and I, best birthday present ever!
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super photogenic.

yesterday I took a small break from baking pie. I figured the kitchen could be flour free for a few hours. And then I noticed that my children were still in their church clothes and a photo was required. I mean I might have required it, but that doesn't mean it was successful.

Hey Gus, where's your nose?

Oh. right there?

Where's Ruby's nose?

I'm sure I could have photoshopped some heads around, changed a few things, but really this is our life. Gus shoves his finger in his nose and gets real mad when there isn't a ball to throw. Stella poses perfectly and tries to make sure everyone is looking the right direction. And Ruby, oh she is just pure feisty that one...
Happy Monday!

love love

Brimhalls go to Washington

So there was this one time that I was talking to my sister on the phone and we somehow decided that I needed to come and see her. In Washington. With all of the kids. I didn't really ask Kevin and I'm not sure she asked Travis if it was ok. We just decided it. Because really who doesn't want to take a 12 hour road trip with 3 children under the age of 5?
The trip was relatively spontaneous for an epic road trip. We decided to go only a week before hand. That was enough time for Micall to have everything all planned, our agenda was set and ready to go. I pretty much just planned on snacks, toy bags, snacks, dvd's, snacks, bags of yarn, snacks, blankets, snacks, crayons, and more snacks. Because the only way to get through a 12 hour road trip is snacks. Ok, the only way to get through the day is snacks.
We piled everyone and everything in the car and left Thursday at 1pm. We drove and drove and kept on driving until we arrived in Pullman, Washington around 11pm.  Thats a serious road trip. And the kids apparently are made for road trips because they never even opened their toy bags, snack bags or coloring the entire drive up. They watched 4 movies and then fell fast asleep. They are pretty awesome.
We spent the weekend hanging out, exploring WSU and the town of Pullman and Moscow. We played and played and played some more with their new dog, Molly. The girls giggled with Aunt Colly and TTTTT-J. Gus took his first steps, but apparently only wants to walk in Washington since he hasn't done it again. We stayed up late, and when we went to bed we listened to Gus whine and cry. There is nothing like a baby in apartments on vacation. We pretty much just drank more Diet Coke to overcome Gus's inability to sleep on vacation. Sorry about that again...

I'm not really sure what's going on with Ruby and the above face, it's her new thing. She can tell you the funniest stories with her mouth like that.

Micall gave us a tour of the vet hospital and it is so cute to see how her eyes light up when she shows you the surgery rooms and freeze dried studying tools. That girl was born to be a vet, since she was Ruby's age thats all she's wanted and I can't imagine it any other way. We ate ice cream for our morning snack and played at the park in the best fall weather. Seriously the weather, it was amazing.

The girls wanted to be next to Aunt Colly the entire time, unless Ruby was looking for "Hanitizer" She really loves Hand Sanitizer.
On Saturday we went to an apple orchard and picked more apples than we knew what to do with.  We made fresh cider; which was totally worth the wait and the hilarity's of watching us pick apples. We are pretty efficient at making cider, like probably the fastest ones there.

On Sunday we were lazy and laid around with the kids, watching conference, and snuggled Molly. We played frisbee and ate some more food. Because snacks and food are pretty much essential.

Then, sadly it was over. In the wee hours of Monday morning, we loaded sleeping children back into the car and drove home. It was way too short, I could have used another couple of days just hanging out. But the kids were perfect on the 11 hour drive home, which makes it really easy to want to go back. (But really. The kids in the car for 11 hours, with only 3 stops, and those were just for the bathroom and grab food to eat in the car. They didn't fuss, they didn't whine, they played, they watched movies and slept. Gus was even awesome on the drive home. I was the one who was bored. At about hour 9, I was ready to be done. Mostly because my hand hurt so bad from knitting I couldn't do it anymore. Ok so I knit in the car. Whatever. I made 3 hats and a scarf on the trip. And I'm aware that it makes me like 80 years old.)
Spending time with Micall and Travis and just us, in their own world was amazing. Watching the kids adore them is the pretty much best. The only downside is that now everyone wants to know when they can see Molly again, or maybe get Molly's sister to live at our house. (not going to happen)

We had the best weekend, thanks so much Godderidge's for allowing us to overtake your "hotel" and ruin all the excellent training on your dog. You're the best!

love love

(We were kinda busy laughing, so I didn't take very many photos. And why don't I take any photos of Gus? He is always there I promise...)

A Paint Out

Every year the town of Jackson puts on a "Paint Out" during the Fall Festival. I pretty much invited myself and my three small children to intrude on my mom's weekend at the barn so we could all attend together. I'm not sure this is a super kid thing to do, but I did it anyway. And while I was at it, I sent my husband hunting with his dad so it could really be enjoyed. (Not that I wouldn't want Kevin to join us, and he really would have enjoyed the paint out, but a weekend with no husbands is pretty awesome. You don't have to have meat at the dinner table.)
The paint out is an invitation only event where 30 artists set up in the square of Jackson. They then have 90 minutes to paint or sculpt whatever they wish. And when the clock runs out the art work is auctioned off right then and there. We arrived about 3 minutes before the gun went off and it was fantastic. To watch these incredible artists of all different mediums go from start to finish was so neat. And to watch Stella's light up as she watched them paint was even more fun. Ruby's attention span wasn't long enough, so Grandma Deb and June scoped out everything while I stayed with the Gus and Ruby. It worked out pretty nicely.

Oh the amount of paint this guys was using. His assistant was scooping it out of gallon buckets with an ice cream scoop. I was seriously dying over this painting. So rad. Ok, and that little boy, I think he is pretty rad too.

After the kids attention span wore off I took them to the bubbles while Deb continued to watch the painters progression. It was pretty funny watching the girls try to blow the bubbles instead of drag the rope around. I think I will need to youtube a few videos and play outside while the sun is still shining to help them figure it out. 

As the clock was ticking closer to the 90 minute mark we headed back over to Amy Ringholz. We had been watching her from the beginning and her graffiti style was so fun. The girls were in heaven. They patiently watched her paint in front of all the crowds of people. I guess a huge benefit of being small. 

It was probably the most fun to watch her look at Ruby and then immediately paint the foxes eyes green and gold. Coincidence? Maybe, but I'm choosing to think she was inspired by Miss Red Dress.

After the paint out ended, we wandered the farmers market, ate some more snacks and snuggled in back at the barn with a few skeins of yarn. You can't completely blame me for uninviting Kevin can you?

Thanks Mom for letting my junk show tag along, it was fantastic. Seriously.

love love

a nature hike

Yesterday we were heading to Wyoming to bask in the greatness that is the Barn. But instead Henry was puking. Everywhere. And puking at the barn is not something I'm a fan of. So we decided to stay home and quarantine him.
In hopes of prevention the girls and Kevin went on a "nature hike". Yes Stella likes to call it a "nature hike". Seriously her vocabulary kills me. Ruby declared after she got home that she was never ever going on a hike again, because her legs hurt soo bad. Oh the dramatics.

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