First Big Snow ... had to take pictures!

Well, we had our first big snow this week. My dad is just thrilled! (Ha! love ya dad!) I took a couple pictures of the snowy day. Plus, we had a snow day today. Only one and a half days of work this week. Tough life, I know! :) Enjoy!

Uppercase Living

I recently got a couple pieces from and uppercase living party. They are vinyl stickers that go on your wall. The "Laundry Gather Here" is right across from our washer and dryer. The one in our bedroom says "I have found the one whom my soul loves". I think they look great! What do you think?

And the winner is.........

THE CAMPING PARTY!!! (The final count was Camping Party with 173 votes and the Circus Party with 95 votes) With much preparation and hard work, our election went off without a hitch! The kids came in and registered, got their ballots, voted in a voting booth, dropped their ballots into a secret box, and received a sticker that said, "I Voted! Kids Vote Too!" Everyone really seemed to enjoy themselves and I think we are all pretty happy with the winner! Phew, what an experience!


Come on in to register and vote!


Children registering and receiving their ballot!


Voting in the voting booth!


Dropping their ballot in the secret box!


And receiving their "I Voted" sticker!

Frost on the Pumpkin

Just a few pictures I took of a frosty November morning. I can't believe it is November already!

Happy Halloween!

Well, it is becoming sort of a tradition for the "other" Brining family to come to our house on Halloween. Last year, Ashlie was pregnant with the girls, and this year they were here in full costume. We enjoyed passing out candy to students we both have in school and seeing peoples' reaction to the girls costumes. It was a beautiful evening for Trick-or-Treating! After the Trick-or-Treating was finished and we visited with the Wehner family for a bit, we enjoyed some chili and cornbread. Another successful Halloween!


Audrey: "Umm...I am in a bit of a bind here...could someone help me up!"

Lilly...too cute!

Audrey...also too cute!!

"Happy Halloween Everybody"

Uncle Drew, Aunt Steph, Lilly, and Audrey

The Brining Family...a good looking one, I must say!

Lilly and I

Ashlie and Audrey

Oh how we miss them!

Drew and I recently headed back to Indiana for a weekend! Every time we go back we realize how much we miss our "family" down there. We had a very relaxing night on Friday when we got there. Friends, wine, and a good ol' game of Catch Phrase. On Saturday, Kyle and Drew went golfing while Bri, Lyndsey, and I went shopping...of course!! After that we got ready for a night out in our old hometown Crown Point. We started the night at Kimmie and Ryan's house, then headed to a wonderful dinner at Lucrezia. We ended the night with good friends whom we haven't seen in a long time and lots of laughter, plus I kicked everybone's butt in bowling on the Wii. We miss them all very much. They better really be here in January like they said they would be! We love you all!


All the girls, Kimmie, Lyndsey, Bri, and Me! Our first night there!

Drew and Sir Gus

Bri and I at dinner at our fav....Lucrezia!!!

Grant, Kyle, and Drew ready for a night out

Lyndsey and Grant

The girls again...ready for a night out!

Drew and I at The Circle

Kyle and I

Lyndsey and I with "creepy" Bri in the background!

Didn't expect them to get beat that bad!!!!!

This past Saturday, Drew and I, Mark, Ashlie, Audrey and Lilly all rode to East Lansing together. Drew's sister and her family came up from Cincinnati to join us in East Lansing. (Jennifer, Dan, Grace, Olivia, and Emma) We all met at the Union and were able to have lunch together. Then, we headed over to the band to watch them warm up before the big game. Doug promised to take Grace to the football game because MSU was playing the Ohio State Buckeyes, which is where Grace would like to go to college someday! So there were a couple side bets going on for candy bars with Uncle Drew and Uncle Mark and Grace. Needless to say, the Buckeyes whooped MSU and Grace walked away with two HUGE candy bars! While the boys, and Grace, were at the game us girls (including Janis' sister, Nancy) went for a walk around campus, went to Barnes and Noble and enjoyed some girl time together in the afternoon. It was a beautiful fall day and I wanted to share all of the wonderful pictures I captured, so sorry there are so many!!! ENJOY!!

Jennifer and Emma checkin' out Audrey and Lilly

Grace and Olivia enjoying some time together before the band started.

Grammy and Audrey in her MSU hat!! Go Green!

Uncle Drew and Audrey

Emma lovin' every minute of it!

The women!!!

The men!

Mark and Audrey

Papa and Lilly

Lilly enjoying the beautiful day!

Who could resist that smile and those cheeks!

One of my favorite pics! Ashlie and Lilly

Janis, Dan, Olivia, and Grace!!!!

Thumbs up for the Spartans!

Jennifer and Emma! If you didn't notice, Emma likes to give thumbs up!

Olivia giggling at the band!

A friendly rivalry!