Happy Birthday Livy Kate!

My niece is the cutest, sweetest 6-year-old to ever grace Texas with her presence.

And, she has the unfortunate luck of being the sole child on this earth that is almost an identical replica of my childhood personality, talent and charm... (if that's what you call it!)

So, happy Birthday (a day late) Livy Kate!


Here are a few pointers for the rest of your life...

~ You will learn someday that you do not ACTUALLY have to yell everything... people do hear you, they are just choosing to ignore you! ~

~ Climbing down the stairs will get easier, you will only trip and fall a handful of times in your adult life, but going up, that might NEVER get easier. ~

~ Keep on asking the postman, the cable guy and any other random service men their names and never stop telling them how much you love them, that will make for some REAL interesting stories when your older (plus they'll probably fix everything for free). ~

~ Don't ever stop smiling! It makes you the most charming little girl ever and it will draw people to you as an adult. ~

~ Always be as confident and comfortable in your own skin as you are now. It’s a gift no one can take from you unless you let it go. ~

~ When your mom gets out the camera, put pants on! When your my age, you'll totally wish you were wearing pants in at least one of your childhood photos. ~

~ Always be kind to you baby brother and your big sister, someday soon they will be your very best friends, and the rotten stuff is hard to forget! ~

I love you pretty girl!

Just when I think my family can't get any better...

... they have more kids and totally redeem themselves.

Jenn, I hope you don't mind, but I have to brag about my new nephew.

Gabriel Alexander Miller - can't wait to meet you!

A little late...

... but, better late than never, right???

Yesterday my sister, Jennica, made me an aunt (for the 10th time!) Baby Boy Miller (soon to be named, we hope) made his way into the world yesterday afternoon. After 20-some-odd hours of labor (yikes - kind of makes me want to rent kids) he arrived via C-section. He weighed 8 pounds and some-odd ounces (I really should pay more attention to details. I am a girl after all, right?)

… he arrived 5 days after his expected due date!

... and about 3 weeks too late to perform his desired duties as baby Jesus in the Brinkerhoff brood's rendition of the nativity (starring 5 kids under the age of 7!)

Here is the blessed cast!

























__________

As you could imagine, the nativity narration lasted all of 2.5 minutes. The angel wouldn't sit still and the Shepherd kept leaving to get cookies.

As you can see, we needed another boy! Our version of Joseph was clearly taken out of the 5th Gospel! What can you do? And, if they decide to name him Gabriel (which is an option), that would ironically make him an even more fitting prospect for the nativity by both name and gender for one of the versions out of the 4 gospels - one we hoped to have but weren't able to, given his untimely arrival!

But aren't they to die for???

Dude Ranch?!?

I just found out the BEST news ever! My Grandma (whose is 88 years young), just signed up my entire family (extended) to spend a week at a "Dude Ranch!"

I'm not going to lie, I am not entirely sure what a "Dude Ranch" is or how or even if it is different from a regular run of the mill ranch. But, the look on the faces of all my siblings and myself when my mom told us the news, had to be priceless! "Dude Ranch!" "Are you joking?" "No, I am pretty sure she's serious." "Did you tell Adam?" "What do you mean he's excited?" "What IS a Dude Ranch anyway?" "Where is THIS Dude Ranch?" "Southern Utah?" "Is she really serious?!?" "What are we going to do at THIS Dude Ranch?" "No, she can't be serious."

This idea is SO bad, it's brilliant. 75 Brinkerhoffs at a "Dude Ranch!"

Kimmy's girls have been asking me all weekend what a "Dude Ranch" is. I keep telling them that I am not exactly sure, but that there are bound to be horses and cowboys and hay rides. They look so confused!

So, tonight we were in Fort Worth visiting Mimi at work and bumping around the Town Center. The girls got hot chocolate. All of them spilled it! It was 34 degrees! Brrrr.... But, we asked the girls if they wanted to go on a carriage ride through the Town Center! They had Parkas and they were game!

Chloe: Will there be hay?
Ali: No hay, but there are horses pulling the carriage.
Olivia: Yea, horses!
Chloe: Is this like the Dude Ranch?
Olivia: Yea, this will be good practice for the "Dude Ranch", right Ali?
Ali: Sure, Liv, your guess is as good as mine!

~Here's our test shot! Dude Ranch Practice, take 1!~