#COTOBO

We started our EPIC trip on June 13, 2017

First stop was TEXAS where we stayed with

the Gurney Family.

With Wyatt Gurney

We spray painted Cadillacs at Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo!

We traveled further into TX and stayed at the Jones' Home.

We saw Cars 2 there and had so much fun.

We headed down to Waco and checked out Baylor University.

Dad and Baylor headed back to CO so B could attend a football camp with Von Miller.  The girls headed on schedule and stayed in New Orleans.

The beignets were sooooo good!!!

 Sister protecting you from the French Quarter!

I found this awesome mini fairy tale land in New Orleans biggest park. You had such a fun time exploring and seeing scenes from fairy tales come alive.

My beautiful girls! It was soooooo hot and humid, we couldn't believe it. Still we had such a fun day together. This park was really awesome.

It was beautiful with the old huge trees covered in Spanish moss. We loved the Tiana vibes here.

You lit candles for Papa Pete at St. Louis Cathedral. Such sweet good girls.

ALABAMA

We stopped at the Rosa Parks Museum on our way through Alabama.

I didn't realize that it was right by Dr. Martin Luther King's church and home.

After going through this museum which was really very cool we got to go see Dr. King's places.

We just made it in time to take a tour of Dr. King's home. You were so lucky to be chosen to unlock Martin Luther King Jr.'s front door!!!

Next we headed into Georgia. We're just a bunch a peaches! We stopped at a Walmart and got dinner and ice cream to eat at the hotel.

It was good to stop at MLK's memorial in Atlanta.  After being in his home and church it felt right to pay a final tribute to him. 

Next we went to the heart of Atlanta and checked out Coca-Cola World and the CNN Studios.

We drank so many different kinds of soda! It was so funny when we got a gross one! CHEERS!

 

You're just the COOLEST!

 

We were back together and all got to wear our trip shirts together!

The Atlanta Aquarium was awesome!! They had these cool tunnels for us to go in and get that much closer to the penguins! It was like being in the exhibit!

College Football Hall Of Fame

Jumping into a foam pit when we stopped to visit my friend Lisa. 

She took us to a trampoline place and you guys had a blast! 

Look how brave you are taking that huge jump!!

You got tuckered out!!! There was a lot of sleeping while we drove. You are such a good traveler!

SOUTH CAROLINA- Myrtle Beach

BEST FAMILY EVER!!

My BEST girl!! It is so fun being with you!!! You were not too sure about being out in the ocean. The water was so warm and nice, I got you to trust me to go out far in the water and we had such a great time going over and under the waves.

Chillin in our hotel's hammocks. Very fun! Look at your cute little bum, just about going to fall right through! We didn't stay too long because of the CROCODILE warning. YIKES! But we had to at least try them out.

WASHINGTON DC

NEW YORK

You really liked seeing the Statue of Liberty after learning about her in first grade.

I will always remembering holding you up to look out of the tiny windows of her crown.

BOSTON

We made it to BO!!!

On the 4th of July to watch the fireworks.

We were stuck in the park all day and didn't see too much of Boston. On our way out we did stop of the JFK Presidential Library. That was really cool.

We headed back west. On our way to Pennsylvania you somehow managed to get yourself stuck in your seat belt and we had to CUT IT!! What a crazy experience. We don't have a clue how you did it. I even climbed back while Dad was driving to see if I could get you loose but there was no way.

 ILLINOIS

We arrived in Rockford and went to see Papa Pete. It is always a little hard to see him when he isn't a hundred percent sure what is going on. He does know us for the most part. He knows me and that you're my kids. Most importantly he knows he is loved and you know you are loved by him.

Next we saw my friend Renee and her daughter was having a birthday party so we got to have fun with them!

 Susie gave you an early surprise birthday party, Star Wars themed complete with Ray costume!!!

I think it is so funny you're into Star Wars ever since we made the "Force of the Father" video and watched the movies.

Look at YOU!! You're amazing!

We caught fireflies at Susie's...or maybe they caught you!

It was such a fun experience for you guys. Just like my childhood days in Rockford.

We left Dad here, and he flew home.

You guys traveled on with me through Minnesota where we stopped at Mall Of America and onto South Dakota where I got my first speeding ticket and we saw Mt. Rushmore.

This might be the most epic picture of the trip! You guys impersonating Mt. Rushmore! HAhaha!!

This was a trip of a lifetime Brynnly girl. 

I am so glad you were a part of it and made it that much more special and memorable!

First Grade All Done!

Miss Miss!  You did so FANTASTIC in 1st grade!!

You made so many friends, worked so hard, and had GREAT success!

I loved watching you learn so much and love school and especially love your teacher, Mrs. Zamudio!

It was tons of fun being your substitute teacher too.  We had fun together!  You're so so sweet and kind and helpful.  I am so super duper proud of you!!

Six and A HALF!

YAY for Half Birthdays!!

Mrs. Zamudio is the BEST!  She told you if you have a summer birthday you could celebrate your half birthday, and you were all over that idea!!

You made sure over and over and over that I remembered your half birthday was January 20th, on your BFF Emma's real birthday.  You get a total kick out of your BFF and you having exactly half birthday's on each other's birthday.

You wanted Panda Express for your special lunch and peppermint chocolate cake pops and chocolate milk for your class treat.  I was more than happy to oblige!  I love celebrating you!!

I especially love how sweet and excitable and absolutely precious you are at 6 1/2!!!

Mrs. Zamudio put you on a desk and you got to get all the compliments from your classmates.

So many people liked your koala!  Mrs. Zamudio said how much she liked what a hard worker you are!  I said I like what a FUN girl you are!

That really is you Brynnly- fashionable, hard working, FUN, and so so so smart!

WE LOVE YOU!!!!

Christmas At Disneyland!

The most Wonderful Time of year at the Happiest Place on Earth!!

YAY!
Christmas DISNEY pjs!

You picked Stitch ones.

Jungle Cruise was little more intense for you that I anticipated!

Your BIG imagination makes it all so REAL!

We were DYING laughing at you...sorry, you're just so cute!!

SCARED in Indiana Jones!

Once was enough for you two!!

Using your new camera!!

You went on SPLASH MOUNTAIN for the FIRST time!!

I love that our whole family fills up the log!!

BRAVE BRAVE girl!!! I sat behind you and held you and could literally feel your heart beating faster and harder as we ascended the big hill!

I told you when to hold your breath and you did it!!

YOU SURVIVED with no tears!!!

WAY TO GO BIG GIRL!!

This was a totally magical trip and one that changed our family forever, you're all BIG kids now, going on the big rides!!  You all just get more and more AMAZING!!!!  Merry christmas, my little miracle dream come true!!

Big Time 1st Grader

You picked out and bought this shirt all by yourself.

It is perfect for you too!

You are PURE awesomeness!!

You were so excited for school to start and have Mrs. Zamudio.

Every 1st Wednesday is visit the library day and you were just darling and polite and all business.

You could have cared less that I was there.

I offered to help, but you payed me no attention.

Even checking out your book by yourself and helping another little girl who didn't know how to do it.

You are a good friend!

More proof!

You and bestie Emma Dixon.

It is really too bad you're not in class together.

You both got your current favorite- Rainbow Fairy books.

 And as much as I want you to learn to ride a bike (you're quite terrified) I LOVE watching you ride on your training wheels.  I swear absolutely everything you do is ADORABLE.  This day in particular with your fringe pants.  Watching you peddle up and down up and down, eeeeee, its just so cute and little girly!  I love that you're still such a sweetie little girl.  I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!

Happy 6th Birthday

Some FAVORITES right now:

Color: Blue

Book: The Fairy Books

TV Show: Odd Squad

FOOD: Ice Cream, vanilla

Restaurant: Panda Express and Hacienda

Toy: Stuffed animals, otter beanie baby, walrus beenie boo, 

Friends: Emma, Avyn, Kambryn, Lauren, Baylor, and Julia and Mommy

We they like to do: Play hide and seek, trampoline, make crafts

Personality: She is sweet and sassy as ever!  She likes to dance and loves singing and listening to music.  She often walks around listening to her iphone which is full of my running music.  She especially loves "Count On Me" by Bruno Mars and "Just Eat It" by Weird Al.  Those two songs sum her personality up!  So tender and sweet and then totally crazy and hilarious!!  She has the best personality.  She can be shy and quiet around new people.  It takes her a while to warm up to people, but when she does, look out, she will be all up in your grill.  She is pretty confident and has good self esteem, but she still doesn't like to really put herself out there.  She is reserved until she feels totally safe.  She is snuggly and lovey and is definitely the baby of the family.  She really really REALLY likes things to be her way.  She sort of believes she has a right and first dibs on everything and has no qualms about taking whatever it is she wants right out of the hands of her siblings.  She is much more diplomatic with friends, although she is definitely a leader more than a follower.

Totally her: Loves to be hugged, kissed, and snuggled.  Wants to sleep in our bed STILL.  Even if we get her to sleep in her bed, I still usually wake up to her sweet little face EVERY morning.  I call her my bed bug, because I don't even know when she gets in our bed.  She is fast and runs a lot.  Her hair is usually always in her eyes!  Drives me crazy.  And in the back its usually snarly and messy.  She is not into cute hair yet, but does like having it done.  And squeals when she looks in the mirror after I do it cute.  She's just kind of chill about her appearance right now, although at the same time she is SPEEEE-cific about what she wants to wear!

Style:
Flip flops
capris
tank tops with skinny strings
"Cali" swim suit
For church- long jean skirt or froofry dresses.

Brynnly, you are our sweet mercy and total miracle from God.  I have felt God's love from you since the time I knew we were going to have you.  But your force of love and deep connection to our family only strengthens those heavenly feelings.  You are so wonderful and complete my heart wholly.  I love you so very much, forever and always, and eternally!  I crave your love, your hand holds, climbing on my lap, cuddling close in my bed, tight tight squeezes, holding you when you cry through an Adele song.  You're my girl and you have my whole heart!  Happy Birthday my love.

Summer Lovin

You were not happy with me taking these pictures, but they just capture you so well, I couldn't help myself.  You were but naked in your messy room making who-knows-what out of Lauren's duct tape.

 You are such a busy little girl- who has time for getting dressed??!!  I love your creativity and the way you are ALWAYS wanting to be creating things.

 All that creating and business is exhausting.
You fell asleep in our bed like this the other night.

No doubt you were told you couldn't sleep with us, which in turn made you sad and you probably cried.  To calm you down we let you stay and Dad help hands with you while I was scrapbooking.

Sweet sweet lovey girl.

We can't be blamed for spoiling you, you are so darling and we love you so much.

Making you sad, especially because all you want to do is be near us, isn't something we are strong enough to do.  WE LOVE YOU! 

Night-night.