Green Bluff

For those of you who don't know what Green Bluff is, it's a really cute/fun place to go all year round. There are tons of different places within Green Bluff owned by different people/farmers that you can visit.  They have different festivities depending on the season, it's lots of "pick your own" type of stuff and vendors and such.

 I'm pretty sure I've only been during the fall apple and pumpkin picking season but I know they do Christmas trees for winter and fun things during the summer. They have tons of fun things for kids, slides, swings, corn mazes, face painting, and sandboxes made with split peas. They even have pony rides which I debated on putting Brinlee on one but decided to wait until she's a little more aware.

ANYWAYS...Just thought I'd explain for those not in the Spokane area.

Our first stop, Harvest House (in case you couldn't read the cute little sign)

Brinlee was a little unsure about walking through all the pumpkins at first...

 But it didn't take her long to be off and running...

And tromping...

(Did you notice her adorable rain boots?)

And stomping...

And stopping to look extra cute for a picture...

And one last stop to melt our heart with an absolutely ADORABLE picture!

When she was wandering aimlessly around she saw a lady with a cute little dog and did her cute little "RWOOF RWOOF RWOOF" (that's barking if you couldn't tell)

So in our picture together she was still barking, hence the pursed lips. Little Cutie.

There was also one of those blow up Holiday yard things that are like 10 feet tall. Well it was a cute Little ghost with a pumpkin next to it. She kept staring at it when we got there so I thought she wanted to go over and see it. Joey was going to take our picture together next to it and I walked over, stood next to it, and she started panicking. The works, heavy breathing, crying, hitting my arm, trying to get down and run... she was afraid of it, it was funny and sad at the same time.

Next stop, Walters Fruit Farm. 

Cute hay bale picture, too bad the sun was blasting them in the face.

 Then I set Brinlee in the sandbox filled with split peas and it was hilarious, she didn't know what to do so she just sat there...

All in all it was a great day at Green Bluff. 

And we came home with a GIANT pumpkin that I forgot to take a picture of. Oops.

Words and Cuteness

Brinlee is learning how to say all sorts of words. Of course she has been able to say some for quite a while now...Mama, Dada, dog (and then proceeds to bark for you), "eyes" as she points at her babies eyes....so cute! And papa, although she refuses to say it anymore. figures.

She's sort of more into babbling than talking so we get really excited when she decides maybe she should speak our language. Some of her more recent words are: duck, buh bye, Nana, toys, more (which actually sounds more like mmm mmm while frantically doing the sign for more)...

 And our new favorite..."up". It's the most clear and most used around here and she just learned it a few days ago. And boy did she figure out how to milk it quickly. She uses it when we go on the other side of the gate, when we go on the other side of the couches that she can't get to, when we put her in her high chair, when I lay her down in her crib (it's pretty cute I hear her say it on the monitor but she doesn't cry or even sit up), and she loves to use it just whenever we are not holding her.

Her favorite use of the word...

if you sit down, anywhere, she will go find a book throw it on your lap...

 Look at you with the cutest little face and say "up!" 

she will continue using said word until you pick her up and read her the book.

It is SO cute, irresistible, and funny. And a tiny tiny bit annoying at times.

 And here is some cuteness for your enjoyment.

  I pushed her around in this box and then got tired and just stopped and left her to see what she would do. And she just sat there and loved it.

 Didn't even notice I was around taking pictures of her.

And then I said "Brinlee" and this is what I got.

Adorable as ever. 

Right after the picture she looked away and continued on with whatever she thought was so fun, just sitting in that box. And of course when she finally got bored of being in there she just said UP! She knows how to work us already.

Our Little Chef

Hi my name is Chef Brinlee and welcome to my cooking class part 1, "The stirring".

You're going to need an apron, a bowl, and a wooden spoon.

 Begin stirring your ingredients, like this class.

 here's a side view, you can see how it's all in the arm muscles.

If you're more advanced you might be able to stir while sitting down

And if you are super advanced you can get up on the counter and sit and stir.

(Just make sure to watch the edge so you don't fall off)

It's okay if you accidentally drop you spoon into your bowl...

Just go ahead and scoop it right out...

And keep on stirring like nothing happened, and smile a little at the people watching.

And that is how it's done class.

If you're interested in part 2 of Chef Brinlee's cooking class, "I've stirred. Now what?", feel free to come to next weeks lesson.

Rewind

I know I've been not so great at updating my blog and I could rewind on a bunch of things but for now just this. 

Our good friends and neighbors Ben and Hilary had their baby girl Nora (so cute) and we really wanted to get pictures of Brinlee and Nora wearing the matching onesies that they happened to have.

They turned out really cute...there was a lot of effort trying to get Brinlee not sit still at her busy 11 month old self and to not attack cute 1 month old Nora.

Brinlee the giant sitting next to Nora.

We tried to get Brinlee to lay down next to Nora for a good size comparison, Brinlee would not have that.

So we let her just sit and stare at the adorable baby.

She really loved to look at her. She was fascinated

In all actuality she wanted to do more than stare...she wanted to "touch" or claw at her.

I'm glad we got the pictures of the two of them before we left, we miss our sweet neighbors very much!

Riverfront Park

Brinlee got to experience Riverfront Park for the first time! 

So excited on her way there...

First stop, Grandpa's booth to wish him a happy birthday!

And get totally freaked out by the giant scarecrow (that I made, not to brag or anything)

Next stop, big red wagon slide!

Last stop, feed the duckies! This was by far her favorite part.

"Wait!! I want to see the duckies still!!!"

We had a fun day at the park!

So tired on her way home...

(notice she still has Ritz cracker in one hand and her toy in the other)

Haha, love you baby girl!

Happy Birthday Cupcake!

She was SO excited about her birthday...

She was the princess after all!

She dug right in when we set her "cupcake" cake in front of her

She sort of got it in her mouth

And then she just wanted to play with it and throw it on the floor

She got lots of presents from her family

  so excited to open them...

 Okay so her cousins had to help her open them

 It was so cute watching her cousins play with her

She had a great birthday and I can't believe she's already a year old! Happy birthday baby girl I love you!

The life of a baby

Wouldn't it be nice to live the life of a baby? Have everything done for you. And then get to sit on the floor surrounded my toys and books and just play!

We would probably look this happy if we had that life....

oh and guess what, she does have hair! Haha.

 And one last random picture...

She was so naughty when playing with her alphabet magnets yesterday.

Can you find the bad word she spelled!

4th of July

Our 4th was very busy, and fun. In the morning Brinlee and I went to the parade at Porter Park. I didn't bring the camera, oops, but she was pretty cute just staring in awe at all the commotion.

Brinlee got in a nice big nap when we got home and then we went boating with Kim and Tyler.

She enjoyed her first boat ride...

And was super styling out on the lake.

Joey and I got to enjoy some time out tubing without Brinlee, thanks to Sid and Karen!

 And this picture just makes me laugh, Kim caught it just at the right time.

Sadly I didn't get any pictures of Brinlee and Dominic hanging out at the beach together or when they played in the water at the beach, just imagine really cute babies having fun :)

We were gone a long time and came home for about 15 minutes before we left for the fireworks in IF.

Brinlee did get a cat nap in on our drive back from the lake but she was pretty tired. On the way home from the fire works she fell asleep while still chewing her cheerio, it was so cute!

This is at the fireworks...I know I should have taken a picture with the fireworks in the background...

Well that was our 4th, the most festive one I've had in a while!