How Time Flies!!!

 Wow- it has been well over a month since our last post and sometimes it is for lack of pictures or interesting things to blog about, but this time it is just a lack of time! We have been so very busy with getting ready for the upcoming shows, the move and just "life", that we have not had the time to post!  So here is a spattering of what we have been up to the last month and a half. 

Cayden turned ten in march and had a great birthday even if Daddy forgot the "T" in birthday on his Cookie Cake. Sky landers, a lava lamp and Peanut M&M's were on his list.

 Mia got her hair cut for the first time (other than little trims by Mom). She looks so very cute with it shorter!

 Mommy's last day (Night) at the Hospital in Georgia- Yeh!!!

 Mia and Daddy gluing glitter to a shoe box for Valentines.

What a mess!!! 

 All the Brantley and Smith kids eating traditional "Green Dinner" for St. Patrick's Day.

 And the adults too!

Lucky Irish!

 The kids after a huge and very violent hail storm holding dime (or bigger) size hail in their hands.

 Mia holding "Grams singing Bunny"- Do your Ears Hang Low?

Cayden and Daddy putting the finishing touches on his pinewood derby car. 

 Mia doing house Work!?!

Maybe the butterfly wings are helping!?!

 Dyeing Easter Eggs.

 The kids at the Park.

 Five Guys Burgers and Fries with Mimi and Granddaddy.

 Easter Baskets.

 Mia looses her first tooth. 

Makes Daddy sad- she is growing up!

 Brenner wading in the river at Gary Pirkle park.

My two beautiful girls!!!

So Much Is a changing!

Back To Utah!

Ever since we became renters and no longer were attached to a plot of ground, we have been thinking about where we needed to be for the years to come and what was truly the best for the whole family.  For the first little bit, we just did not know where we wanted to be- we were truly torn.

.  Over the last year, it became more clear to us that our future lied back west.  So after 7 wonderful years in one of the most beautiful places on earth- We Are Moving Back To Utah!!!

Among many reasons- The business will do so much better, My health, Schools, Family and the fact that Brenner has always said he is a "Utah Boy"- we finally listened and understood.

Nikki has found a great job in Riverton and although it is a bit further from family than we would have chosen, it is about 2,000 miles closer and that is a great thing!

We are so very sad to leave Georgia as we have been so very happy here.  As we look back over all the wonderful times, great opportunities, spectacular friends and truly amazing family we do so with a bit of sadness, but also with truly great memories that we will cherish forever!

Thank You to Georgia for all you have given us!

So it is off to Utah as soon as the school year ends in May and who knows what the future holds- if it is as truly fabulous as the last seven years have been- Bring it on!!!

Dr. Seuss Day

Dr. Seuss Day

Mia on Dr. Seuss day at school.  Cayden did not want to dress up as the cat in the hat- poor sport!  

Cabin Trip

Fun in Ellijay Georgia!  

 All the kids in the hot tub! 

Swim little Fish!

 Decorating Valentines Cookies- What fun- Thanks Jen!

 Daddy and his little girl!

 Brenner and James playing pool. They got quite good over the four days!  

Don't hit the 8 ball!

We had lots of fun!

-Happy New Years-

And the Douglas Family

Minute To Win It

 The kids bringing in the New Year with sparklers, Roman Candles and fireworks brought over the state line by the Kippers- Lots of Fun!
Happy New Year!

Nikki doing the "Chocolate Unicorn".
Granddaddy has been planning this game night for several months (He and Mimi watch way to much of the Game Show Chanel).  It was a "Minute to Win It" night and a lot of fun- 

Thanks Granddaddy!!!

Patrick and the "Nut Stacker".

Natalie and "Baby Blocks".

Jessy and "Flip Your Lid".

Mimi and "Guy Fierri" playing "Breakfast Scrambler".

Gent and the "Cup Pyramid".

Stephanie and the "Floating Cans".

And Grandaddy and "Quick Shot".

We all had so much fun eating "Southern" New Years Food, Playing Games and Cheese Cake and Key Lime Pie. 

Thanks again Granddaddy for such a great New Years!!!

Christmas 2012

Christmas 2012

 As this is the last post of 2012, I can't believe that the year is over!

The kids loved the pajamas sent by Bing, the blankets sent by Grams and the Stompies were a big hit too!

 Cookies and milk for Santa and no carrots for the deer so we left out some broccoli. 

 Oh- Santa Came!

 The Big Gift this year were Kindle Fires for all!

Mia also got doll clothes, markers, a cash register and stuff to wring up and lots of candy.

Brenner got a paint sprayer, books, and a how to fold origami book.

 

 Cayden also got a watch, books and Skylanders! 

 The Traditional breakfast by Mommy! 

Yummy!

Blaine and Madelyn at the mall the day after with Mimi and Granddaddy- spending the money they received for Christmas on what else- LEGOS!

Fantasy in Lights

Callaway Gardens

-Fantasy in Lights-

 The Lights were very pretty as always and this year we heard that there are more lights in Callaway Gardens then anywhere in the U.S.- 8 million in all!!!  Wow!!!

 The Poinsettia Tree in the center of the flower pavilion- Very pretty this year!

 The kids found some Gingerbread Cookies.

 Some of Daddy's flower pictures- the Orchids were amazing!

 Hawaii anyone!

 Thousands and thousands of Poinsettias.

And the Family in front of the Tree (the boys in orange makes for a nice Christmas Feel!?!).

Mimi and Granddaddy were there as well and made the trip more fun.  As for the Butterfly pavilion, Mommy said no to taking any butterfly's this year but Daddy and even Brenner this year just still could not control themselves and we left with several new ones for Daddy's collection.  Along with a beautiful large owl moth Brenner and Daddy found over the summer, the collection now stands a six.

Merry Christmas to All!

Ultrasounds

Ultrasounds for the kids

The other night we went and had pizza with Mommy and went into her work as the kids don't get to see what she does every day very often.  All three had ultrasounds of their insides and we can report that they all have hearts!  Brenner thought it was very cool and thinks he may want to do something in healthcare when he grows up (which seems to be sooner all the time)!  Cayden loved the fish tanks in the lobby and Mia loved the warm gel on her tummy!

Mia's Baby Teeth

Mia's Baby Teeth

As we were at Mia's class party the other day, Daddy asked every child as they came to his station to smile so he could see their teeth.  Out of 21 children guess how many still had all their baby teeth?  Only 2!  Mia and Juan (They are also the smallest two kids in the class. Don't know if it has any thing to do with it).  Daddy wants Mia's baby Teeth to stay right where they are forever, maybe it is because she is our last or maybe he is just fear-full of how she will look when they fall out, but he is glad they are all still in place and not even wiggling.  Another few months he hopes, but she will not be our baby forever!!

Bunnies

The Bunnies are getting "BIG". 

Mia and Frosty.

She used to be very small-  And the bunny was too!

 

Cayden and Gunner.

We hope to get all the bunnies pregnant in January so we have baby bunnies for Easter- we will see!

Basket Ball 2012

Basket Ball 2012

Brenner loves playing "Ball" this year. 

Go Brenner!

Under the Tree

Under the Christmas Tree- 2012

We had a great Thanksgiving but no pictures to prove it! 

Great food and family.

Truly thankful for all we have near and far!

Here are the kids sleeping under the Christmas Tree as tradition holds- what fun!

Cirque Du Soleil- Totem

Cirque Du Soleil

What a great night!

The staging, acts and music were all spectacular and we all had a nice time in downtown Atlanta under the huge yellow and blue "Big Top". 

 Mimi and Granddaddy joined us and made it all the more fun- Granddaddy as one more clown!

All the kids decided they want to be "carnies" when they grow up- great!

Voting 2012

-Voting in 2012-

We waited over two and a half hours to vote in this years early election.  Was it worth it in a state that will go republican in the Electoral College? Who knows but we cast our ballots anyway!

Go Mitt Romney!!!

Brenner turns 12

Brenner's 12th Birthday

 Brenner decided he wanted to go back to six-flags for his 12th Birthday.  He decided to take one of his  favorite friends- James.  Everything was decorated super spooky and here they are in front of the fountains running with blood!

 Superman is one of the great roller coasters at the park along with Goliath, Mind bender, Batman, the Scorcher and many other great rides! The boys had a great time! 

Brenner and his cake that Mom decorated to look like one of his drawings.

Happy Birthday Buddy!