The Senator is in the House!

We have instigated a new VIP format in our home this month. Each of the 4 older children have one week a month where they are in charge of planning, shopping, and cooking the dinner meal as well as going on a date with Dad on Thursday and picking our family time activities for the week. I am loving the one on one cooking time with the kids and they are rising to the occasion. I think they feel a sense of accomplishment when they put the meal on the table. We have had quite the menu's the past two weeks. I am hoping we can stick with it and that we will see the dividends at the end of the year.

Alyssa is doing great with her mommy pre-school. Janey has now joined our group because her best friend Paige has moved away, very sad and she doesn't have her play group with her anymore. We had fun making paper pizza for the letter P and She came home as a queen this week with the letter Q. She made an amazing crown and has worn it proudly for 3 days.

The most exciting news of the week is that Katy made Student government. There were over 100 7th graders that applied and she was one of 7 chosen to represent the 7th grade as a senator for this second semester. She is on cloud 9. We are excited for the spring board this can be for her. She has a super fun semester ahead with Home Ec. , P.E. and now student gov. It will be a nice diversion from her honors English and history classes.

We are making it through the long month of January and happy to have tomorrow off of school to spend as a family. It is nice to have two Sat. in a weekend, one to get stuff done and one to play.

I actually found myself enjoying my new calling in nursery today. The kids sweet little faces are making a stamp on my heart. It is full filling to comfort and love a sad child and hear their little thoughts poor out in broken English. Cannon was sick today so went home with Jonathan after Sacrament meeting. Maybe that help me to focus on the other children in the nursery better. They are sweet and I look forward to growing and learning in this calling.

A New Year and another attempt at recording our Family memories. I decided this time it is for us and if others sneak a peak we welcome them.

We had a wonderful Christmas and December for that matter. At the first of the month as our calendar filled with parties, socials, and service projects I just prayed we would all stay healthy to attend each one and thanks to the Lord's tender mercies we did stay healthy and enjoyed so many memorable events. A few of the highlights included our annual scone party here at the house for all our neighbors. About 27 families came and shared in warm scones and apple juice and we loved every minute. The air was thick and smokey and drove poor Katy to sit on the front porch most of the night because it was burning her eyes so bad. The weather was so mild and nice though she didn't mind talking to her friends out side. We even tried GF scones for the first time and the girls loved being able to eat a treat with the others.


We also loved our Moon Christmas party. We hosted this year and held an "Old Fashioned Christmas" party up at our church. We intended starting the day with sledding but no snow made that hard. We had a chili dinner with rolls and salad (rolls made out of left over scone dough), then we broke into age groups and made homespun edible manger scenes which were a great hit. We also had a fun time playing Christmas jeopardy and the always fun cousin gift exchange. Thanks to both the RS Christmas party and the ward Christmas party we had great free decorations and the night was a great success.

The kids had their friends over again this year to make gingerbread houses. We had plenty of candy from our Halloween stash and everyone got plenty messy. Katy opted to have her friends over for breakfast after doing baptisms for the dead at the Draper Temple. I love that she takes every opportunity to go to the temple and that her friends enjoy it as well.



We had a surprise visit from Santa one Sunday evening. The kids all thought it was fun to get a candy cane except for Cannon and Janey. They were terrified, especially Janey. She stayed in the corner of entry way the whole time.

The highlight of the month for Jonathan and I was finishing the temple work for a family on his mothers side from Sweden. It was a family of 9 so we felt an immediate connection. We took the parents Anna Stina and Johann and all 7 children through all the ordinances of the temple. Katy was even involved in some of the baptisms. It culminated in having them all sealed on Dec. 21st which was Anna Stina's birthday. It was the most powerful temple ordinance I have been involved in other than my own. The spirit was strong and sweet and we new that their eternal family joined us that day in the temple.

Because Jonathan's parents are on a mission in Hawaii it was our responsibility to carry on the Brinley family Christmas party and Santa Lucia celebration. It worked out great that Dave and Sandy were in from Canada on the day it was planned and were able to join us. We had warm soups and bread and enjoyed visiting and catching up with Darrin who returned from his mission to Japan just 2 weeks before. My kids would have felt very cheated on their Christmas traditions without acting out Santa Lucia so we borrowed the costumes from Mom Brinley's house and acted it out the best we could. We definitely missed Grandma and Grandpa Brinley. Of course the night wouldn't be complete without the white elephant game. All the kids got loaded up loved their gently used gifts.








Here is a look at Christmas Day and our St. George trip though the eyes of some of the kids:

Jacob:I had so much fun. I was a jul tomtom for Santa Lucia. At St. George I went swimming and hiking. The last two days were cold. I got cars for Christmas. I stayed up all night on new years.

Katy: I had so much fun in St. George. When we went hiking, it was the best weather of the week. We went hiking at the same spot that we went last year. One of the rocks form what we call the "crack of death." Last year all of us were to scared to try to shimey through it, but this year, the 4 oldest and Alyssa did it. We were all proud of accomplishing it. The swimming pool heater at the condo broke the second day we were there. We would get into the hot tub that still worked and then do a polar dive into the pool. The water was colder than lake water, it was freezing, but just another adventure to remember the trip by. For Christmas we all got one thing other than the trip. I got a camera! It was fun to record the whole trip with it. I love taking pictures and making videos! We got back on New Years Eve, unpacked in about an hour, and then hosted a new years eve party. It was a crazy day. We were tired from traveling all day but of coarse we stayed up till mid-night. We did fireworks in the cold and had sparkling cider. The next Monday school started and it was a hard transition, but it's not like that's not normal. The first week back has been great.(:

Hunter: For Christmas I got 5 racing cars and tracks. I also got Lego Ship, Battle Blades, and a receiver glove. The most valuable present I got was a football signed by some way cool players, including Lavell Edwards! Then we ate breakfast and left for St. George.

We gave the kids a week in St. George for Christmas. It was unanimous after last year's experience that the thing we all wanted most for Christmas was being together. We had a great 2 bedroom condo with a pool and hot tub. Unfortunately the heater went out the 2nd day but it didn't seem to bother the kids. We hiked the red rocks and snow canyon and kids all surprised us and themselves in the places and heights they were able to get to. Cannon even scaled a wall effortlessly and wouldn't stop until he was at the top. We spent the two rainy days shopping at the D.I. and finding great deals as well as enjoying samples at Costco. The kids had a little Christmas money and loved buying their dollar toy items. Thank goodness they are still easy to please. We splurged one night and went to Carl's Jr. where we fed the whole family for $24 thanks to coupons. In the evenings we played games and watched a couple of movies, our favorite one being Romona and Beezus. It was great to have our Dad full time and he even got in some good polly pocket play time with the little girls. We loved our Christmas trip but decided next year we have got to go further south to get a little more warmth!

I am finally putting some pictures on from our last 4 months. Happy veiwing.

We love and miss our uncle Drew!

Janey and cousin Lani at the Brinley Bash

Grandpa playing baseball with the big kids

Grandma shooting rockets with the little ones

Brinley Bash 2010! Farewell to Grandma and Grandpa as they leave on their mission to Hawaii!

Cannon's 1 year old photo shoot, thanks Aunt Sarah

The kids participated in their first tri-athelon on Memorial Day. So fun!

Yum, it tastes like pudding mom!

Cannon found the one mud puddle in our neighbors backyard and had a blast

Hunter loved playing baseball even though his team struggled for a win!

February was a big month around our house. We celebrated 3 birthdays, Valentines Day, and multiple church and school events. I was so thankful for good health and that we were able to make all our commitments. The twins are 10! How did that happen? All they wanted for their birthday was to be able to attend another BYU basketball game. Jonathan and I took them to go see BYU vs. Colorado the night before their birthday. Cannon tagged along and it was fun to be with all the boys. BYU creamed Colorado by over 40 points. After the boys went down on the floor to get autographs from the players. They found their favorite player Brad Miller, who had sung happy birthdya to them last year and given them a shirt. They reminded him who they were and he took them to the door of the players locker room and gave them a new shirt and signed their programs. Could it get any cooler for my true blue fans, I don't think so! We celebrated a great Valentines day all together with Mom and Dad Moon for dinner and presents. The boys got their long awaited watches and new BYU sweatshirts. They were happy ten year olds!

Five short days later Emily turned the long awaited 8. For our kids 8 birthday we take them out for a special dinner with just mom and dad to a resteraunt of their choice. Emily chose the Myan, not the best food but it is all about the environment. They sat us front and center and Emily's eyes were as big as suacers the whole time. She loved watching the divers and even got a little wet. We were glad she enjoyed it but Jonathan and I would never spend money for their food again. What a disappointment. Yesterday was a big day, Emily was baptized. She looked so sweet in white and was happy to finally be baptized like her older brothers and sister. She came right home and wrote in her new journal and read from her new scriptures. She was given a beautiful blessing from her dad and I hope she will always remember how she felt yesterday. There was a special spirit that stayed in our home all day. I loved it! It is weird to think there are more than 1/2 of our children babtized. I guess when they come fast they hit those mile stones fast too.

We are in the thick of girl scout cookies. THe kids helped unload close to 2,500 boxes of cookies into our front room Tues. night. We will start selling them at booths next week. Emily still has over half of hers to deliver. We love the smell of thin mints in our house, although it is torture for all of us celiecs.

We are loving fall and looking forward to pumpkins, turkeys, and stockings. We celebrated Janey's 2nd birthday and Alyssa's 4th birthday in Sept. We just love these little girls and they love each other. They are always together and remind me so much of my relationship with my older sister MaryAnn. Alyssa started preschool with our neighborhood friends and moms. We take turns teaching and the little girls love it. Two days a week she gets to feel like a big kid and I love that she is being taught by such great women. Janey wishes she could go to. She is my good little helper and loves to kiss and hug Cannon. She still loves her flip flops and loves to try to sing the ABC's. She is quite the independant little spirit and has learned to climb out of her crib and high chair, hates to be contained in a stroller, and screams everytime we buckle her in her carseat. "Set me free" should be printed on her forehead. Cannon is just a blessing and brings smiles to everyone. The poor child has had a snuffy nose for 3 months straight. We have tried everythings from herbs, to oils, to me going off dairy. Nothing really makes a difference. He is a good sport about it and sleeps ok despite it so we are thankful. He has his two front bottom teeth and it working on his two top ones. He now officially rolls from back to tummy and back again. He loves to stand in his walker saucer and watch the caos of our household go on around him. We love our Can Man!

It has been a GREAT weekend. Katy started the weekend by getting braces. She has had an appliance in her mouth for about 3 months and will now have braces for about a year and a half. She was very nervous but brave. They are having to pull her bottom tooth through the bone to get it up and into the right place, ouch! She has had a lot of popsicles and applesauce this weekend but is getting used to them and looks so cute! The boys and Emily have been collecting grasshoppers all week. They had an aquarium full of them by Friday. Hunter could hold up to 10 in his hand at a time. There are some benefits to living in empty fields of weeds. Free entertainment for kids.

We had a great 4th of July. We met Jonathan's family in Provo for the parade. The kids had front row seats and we got to be in the shade on the stairs of his nieces apartment. That night we had a neighborhood BBQ. We sent out fliers and weren't sure who all would come. We ended up with about 50 people and tons of great food and fireworks. We had one neighbor come who does dutch oven cooking and even competed in world competitions. She wowed everyone with cherry cobbler, cakes, and pies. Very all American. The party lasted until about 11pm and will definitely become an annual event.

Sunday Cannon was blessed. It was great to have family there and see Jonathan bless his son by the power of the priesthood. Cannon looked so sweet in his little white outfit. We had a full house after for dinner and it was great way to end a memorable weekend. We finally feel like it is summer!

We just got done with a great spring break, although there were days it felt more like Christmas break with all the snow. The good thing about spring snow is it melts fast and you know a warm day is just around the corner. We had a great Easter Sunday. We did have to go to urgent care with Emily who came down with strep (thanks to sister Katy who had it a week earlier) but we were still able to enjoy an Easter dinner with my parents and family. The next day Ali came down with strep and Thursday Janey came down with it. We are hoping that is the end of it and the rest of us will be spared. It was kind of a blessing to have an excuse not to have friends over and I felt like I had a great week with just my kids. On Wed. the kids had a good time organizing and putting on a Grandparent pampering lunch and afternoon. They hand made placemats, name tags, and thank you books for each of their 4 grandparents. We used our best china dn had chicken salad sandwiches. Emily gave each grandparent a hand and back massage, Jake and Hunter interviewed and videoed each one about their childhood and Katy painted nails and played card games. They all put on a talent show during dessert and gave each one a little of book of why they loved them. It was a really fun afternoon.

We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our baby boy. If anyone has a name suggestion or vote we would love to hear it. The top three are Matthew, Cannon, and Chase. It will be fun to see if we decide on one of those or a completely different name. Alyssa asks everyday what we are going to name him and says multiple times she just can't wait to see what he looks like. I'm with her! Jonathan and I have had some great training the past few weekends with EFY Session Director training and his area recognition dinner. Those combined with conference have really filled my spiritual bucket which was beginning to run low. We also had the blessing of being in the temple with Jonathan's family to perform sealings for some family names of his mom. His dad had arranged for Joseph McConkie to be the sealer and we were greatly blessed and taught.