Mud Run

I'll ruin the punch line first....my Aunt R got 3rd in her age category!!!!!

Saturday morning we headed a little inland to watch G, Aunt R, Uncle W and 2 cousins run the Camp Pendleton 10K Mud Run. Here's all the contestants at the start---4000 of them!!There were numerous obstacles around the course, but the grand finale was the mud pit!!


Here's G "running" through the mud!

Aunt R. got injured in the mud pit--rocks and sticks being stirred up by all the runners.

Aunt R and Uncle W at the finish line!! Everyone finished within 20 minutes of each other. Quite a good race!
Aunt R. and G.

Four of the Five finishers!! M's 2 cousins, G and Aunt R. Only Uncle W is missing from the photo.

After the race, we invited everyone back to the beachside cabin we were staying in for a BBQ lunch. It was 94 degrees when we left the race site, but when we got back to the beach (20 miles away) it was 73 degrees due to the ocean breeze and cloud cover.

M's family.

The whole gang--runners and spectators!

SeaWorld

We started off our trip to California by heading to SeaWorld Friday afternoon. D and I played all morning at Ludington's house in their pool and then we met M and her family at SeaWorld. Before we arrived G&G, Aunt M and Uncle W went on the water ride.
Near the end of the day, D and I and Liz&Eddie all went on the Elmo Flying Fish ride.


D and I were in the Elmo pig!

We also went on a Gondola ride across one harbor near SeaWorld before heading to see Shamu.

I missed the whole ride though because I fell asleep in G's arms. It had been a short night and a long day already.

Sleeping girl in line for the Gondola.

Uncle W helped carry me some in SeaWorld (when I wasn't riding in the stroller).

We saw lots of animals. Here's G and I in front of the Buluga whale tank.

Eddie and I are making faces at the Walrus, which swam right up to us.

M's family waiting for the Shamu show to start.

D and Ludington's also sitting waiting.

Watch those whales jump.

I slept through some of the show and only saw about half of it. But I was a little too sleepy to truly appreciate the whales.Whale with the trainer.

Here's 2 videos that show just a little bit of the action we were able to see.

Wade's Ceremony

My Uncle W re-enlisted into the Marines and scheduled his ceremony for Friday morning when all of us would be at Camp Pendleton. Due to the fact that we had such a short night, only M went. D and I stayed at the Ludington's house so he could visit and I could play. Unlce W holding his certificate of re-enlistment.Uncle W's unit congratulating him.

Proud Marine!!

The "long" ceremony.

Luckily it was a small ceremony, because M got lost on base and was late getting there. Since it was just Uncle W and his unit, they waited for M to get there, so she wouldn't miss anything.

Plane ride

We headed to California this weekend. We were about 3 hours delayed getting out of Denver. So M put me in my jammies and gave me my fussy, so that I could sleep on the plane. What a good plan Mom.....too bad it didn't work at ALL!!!I watched the DVD player most of the trip and finally fell asleep on the descent, about 11:30 our time. D thought I was too excited about our trip and the plane ride (plus the loud passengers behind us didn't help!!)

So when we landed (11 pm San Diego time), our car rental company was closed (by about 5 minutes). And because all the car rentals were off-site, we had to just choose a different company and hop on their shuttle for a rental car. Needless to say, we arrived at Ludington's house at 1 am (San Diego time). A very short night to start off our trip.

On the flight back to Denver Tuesday afternoon, D let me have the window.

I was showing George all the views out the window.

October Happenings

We've had a lot going on so far this month. Nothing too exciting, just everyday sort of things. Like the broken down barbed wire fence in our backyard, which meant that we had 3 cows come visit us within 4 days. After D chased his 2nd cow out of the backyard, M decided to go visit the farmer when he was on the far side of the field, to tell him that his fence was down. Hey, I thought I was going to get a new pet.

M even chased a cow that jumped back over the fence.
Then M's friend from college came to visit us for supper one night. Jaden and I played pretty well together, other than he wasn't a huge fan of all my hugs.
M tried to get a good picture of us, but never quite got one. So she had to settle for a video of me hugging Jaden good-bye.

I also have enjoyed reading my favorite books to D.

M didn't get any pictures, but we also spent a fun, but cold weekend up at a YMCA cabin. The worst part of the weekend was that I had a reaction to the chlorine in the pool. It wasn't very fun to have red rashes all over my legs. But other than that it was a fun weekend playing with Cousin L. in the snow and in the cabin both upstairs and down. I didn't know if M&D would remember to make me a bed, so Friday night I was preparing my bed for myself. I got 2 pillows off the couch, took my big blanket and Curious George and made a bed in the closet. I only chose the closet because last time we were at a YMCA cabin, M&D put the twin size mattress in the open closet area. After M laughed at me for making my own bed, she got D to carry in a twin mattress to put in the corner of the room.

We were card shopping the other evening and I found this really fun card to play with. The other cards just didn't hold as much interest to me. I would pick them up and listen to a few words, then close them and pick this one up again. It entertained me the whole 20 minutes we were in the store. So M&D decided to buy it for me--I guess they figured pretty cheap entertainment.

I also have been learning how to do a somersault. I still need a little help to get over. If I do it all by myself I end up a little sideways.

Needless to say it has been a busy month of exploring for me. At the end of this week we head out to San Diego so I will have all sorts of new adventures to talk about.

First Hair cut

I received my first haircut this weekend. I didn't get very much cut off, just tamed up a bit. Here's the before picture.And After. I got a few layers put into my hair and the ends evened up.

I sat very still and was very interested in what was going on. It was pretty fun to have dogs on my cape, too. M was very proud of me.

Where am I?

I was trying to decide what to be for Halloween this year. I'm thinking maybe a clown...I think I look good with green hair. M brought home a Southern Gospel magazine from work. While we were looking through it we found a picture of "Briley". Later I went back through to find her picture again. M has always thought it funny when I am looking for something and I ask, "where are you?" So here I am saying "Brileigh, where are you?"

Popcorn fun!

The other night, my cousins delivered Boy Scout popcorn to G's house. I had lots of fun with my cousins stacking it.....and sitting on it like a princess throne....

and knocking it over like a stack of blocks.

Elk visits

Remember when M's work had an unexpected visitor April Fool's Day?! Well on Thursday, M had some real elk come visit. The cows were hanging around most of the afternoon right outside M's window and then later moved on to the open area in front of the Admin building. But this bull just hung around until closing time!!
Grazing right outside M's window at work!

Girl's Day Out

This past weekend we went over to the YMCA of the Rockies at Snow Mountain Ranch. D wanted to go ATV riding on some different trails and since M gets free night stays in the Y cabins, we thought we would make a whole weekend of it. So while D, P&G and the L couple from church went ATV'ing, M & I enjoyed the YMCA grounds. First I went on my first horse ride. M thought she had just set up a pony ride, but instead it was a "lead rope" ride. In other words I got to ride a full-grown horse and M got to lead me around the stables with the rope! We went around 3 times for a total time of about 20 minutes. All I could talk about for the 3 days before we went over the mountain, was the horse ride I would get to go on. Here I am right before our horse ride, telling M that I get to go "Giddy-up."

After the horse ride, all I could talk about was the helmet I got to wear....just like M&D wear when they ride ATVs. I felt like a really big girl when I got to wear the helmet. Even in this video you can see me tap the top of my head...just reminding M that I am wearing one!

I also got to play mini golf twice. When Aunt R was out here a few weeks ago, she took me mini golfing, so I am an old pro at it. Take a peek!

I also was pretty excited about my yellow ball and club the second time we went. I kept having to point out all the other things that were yellow.

After lunch and naptime (which I took on my very own bed that I was very excited about....a twin mattress on the floor in M&D's room) M & I went swimming and then had some ice cream at the cafe. We made it back to the cabin just in time to greet everyone coming back from the long ATV ride.

D thinks M spoiled me Saturday....how many other girls get to go mini golfing, horse back riding, swimming and ice cream treats all in one day!!! I say it was just a good Girl's Day Out.

Hanging out with family

Here's a few pictures of me hanging out with some of my family.

P and I reading Curious George!Helping D mow the lawn.

He just had to borrow this riding mower from his brother. M thinks our yard is just a little too small to justify a riding mower, but it was fun while we had it.

Tucking G into bed one night at the cabin.

Update on Baby Sister

No pictures for this post, but I wanted to update everyone on my Baby Sister. She is growing just as she should be. M says she is very active....kicking all the time. D got to feel her for the first time over Labor Day weekend. Then at M's last Dr. Appt, she kicked the doctor when she was trying to measure M's belly. M started giggling and so did the doctor, because it was a powerful kick. According to D (who was sitting close by) it looked like an alien reaching out of M's belly!! It took the Dr. a few tries to get the heartbeat recorded because Baby S kicked a few more times. After coming home yesterday from the cabin, M and I relaxed on the couch while D watched football. M tried to get me to feel Baby S kick. I had my hand on M's belly for about 5 minutes and M told me everytime her belly moved that was Baby S kicking. I'm not really sure I completely understand what that means. Anyhow I wasn't as excited as M about it.....I don't understand why Baby S can kick M and it's fine, but when M is getting me ready for bed and I try kicking I get in trouble!!!

Adventures in potty training....part 3

This might be a blackmail picture, but M just thought it was too funny not to share. I have decided that I can use the "big" potty all by myself. The first few times M saw how I climbed up on the toilet she was a little concerned. But I haven't fallen in yet, and M figured she had to get a picture for posterity purposes. So enjoy at your own risk (it is "clean"---my shirt is long enough to cover any embrassing parts!!)

Scooter

Don't I look like a pro on Cousin L's scooter?? I even went down the sidewalk a little ways at the park. However by the time we got home to M's camera, it was a little dark to get a video.

We went camping again over Labor Day weekend. Just like the first night of the season (over Memorial Day) we started off with no heat. This was because of a fuse that wasn't properly connected. When we woke up (after M&D let me sleep in their sleeping bags with them) we found ice inside our camper and outside below the shower drain!! The thermometer said 20 degrees at 7 am! However, I took it all in stride. And D and P fixed the heater the next morning, so the rest of the weekend we stayed warm! It was a great weekend. I ate some cherries.....
watched some logs burn--this particulary log took all afternoon and evening to burn. It was still there in the ring the next morning when we went to light the fire.

Daddy was enjoying himself around the fire!!!

I played with my Cousin L all weekend long. We played Batman and then cowboys/Indians. Here were are posing in our capes. He called me Bat Girl and we ran all over the camp saving rocks and hiding from the enemies!! L had a stick he made into a bow and he let me have the toy gun. I wasn't really sure about the rules to either game, but I like running so I still had fun!

I'm incognito....it's a good disguise, right?

Sunday morning, M took L and I rock climbing. I got pretty high up in the air!

Aren't M & I cute?

Here is my great rock climbing skills.

Flying to save the day!!

When we got home Monday afternoon, I helped D wash up his ATV.

The White House

While we were gone over Labor Day weekend we got our house painted. Basically it is the same color scheme, but a few things were changed. The points of all the eaves were painted using the trim color and the door was changed from blue to white.

I am so excited about the new door, that I have to point the color out to M&D everytime we go in.