The Coppedge Family

Let's get this potty started

Potty training has been quite the struggle with Brynn.  She is what they call “spirited”, downright energetic and more than just a little strong-willed (hmm, I have no idea where she could have gotten all that from!)  

When it was time to go potty, she would go and hide and do her business.  

We would put her on the toilet every 30 minutes and she would immediately jump off and say "maybe later".

We tried the disappointed look when she went in her diaper.

We tried telling her that only big girls, that go pee-pee in the potty get to go to Disneyland.  

We tried bribing with M&M's.

This went on forever.  The weekend before her birthday, I decided to take her to the store and had her pick out her own "Big Girl" panties.  She picked out a package of Dora and a package of My Little Ponies.  We went home and immediately put on the undies and away she went.  Boy was I nervous, all I wanted to do was to confine her to one area and put a plastic tarp on the floor.  But instead I just watched her like a hawk.  Thirty minutes into having the "Big Girl" panties on she all of a sudden turned and looked at me and with a scared look and shouted, "I HAVE TO GO POTTY!"  I quickly (and I mean quickly) picked her up and we ran to the bathroom.  It was a proud mama moment when I heard the tinkle..tinkle..sound!  We all clapped and celebrated her toilet victory!  After she was done she was rewarded with M&M's (she remembered the earlier bribe).  And that was pretty much the end of our pee-pee training.  #2 was another story, that took us awhile longer.

 

 Awww.....a little privacy please!!!!  Mom,  I know you're excited but can you stop taking pictures of me on the toilet!!

 

If you have a few minutes....

 

 

Funky Town

 

I've been in a blogging funk for the last 2 years or so. While it's easy for me to spend time READING blogs (PINTEREST), I just haven't been able to muster enough strength to write on my own.  I have plenty to write about and plenty of pictures to post (cuz let's face it, blog posts are much more fun with a picture, right?). But for the last couple of years I've been an inconsistent and not very good journal writer (I'll leave the journalist expertise to Bryan).  My journal-keeping mimics my scrapbooking efforts.  I have attempted on several occasions to organize my pictures in a meaningful, fun way. But to my dismay, I spend HOURS and HOURS trying to design a page and end up disliking the outcome.  And then I never end up finishing them.  Oh...and there is that thing called TIME that you need to be able to keep up and complete your journal-keeping.

So this year one of my New Year's Resolutions, along with ORGANIZING, was to document our VERY exciting (haha) life.  Now I've never been good with resolutions, but one of my other 2012 resolution is to actual follow through and complete this years resolutions.  So far, I've been pretty happy with the start of my organizing.  I've cleaned out my bedroom closet, organized the papers that pile up on the kitchen counter and organized the kitchen pantry.  

But it is only February, we'll see how much more I've done by June. 

Now it's time to start keeping up on documenting our lives and get back to blogging on a regular basis.  So keep posted, a lot of past and present photos will soon be added.

 

Happy Birthday Brynnie!

Seriously, three years old!!   It is so hard to believe that it's already been three years since you were born.  Although you are are a handful at times we love who you are turning into.....

• You love pink
• Stubborn (this makes potty training a challenge)
• You love your brother (which includes tormenting him)
• Talkative
• Likes to play superhero after your bath
• Likes to be outside
• You still say "because" and "huh" a lot (drives me nuts)
• Loves to dance 
• You want to do everything on your own.  You say "I do it" a lot.
• Very helpful
• Loves dresses, especially ones that flair out when you spin around
• Slowly but surely you are getting more hair
• Likes Dora, Angelina and Team Umizoomi.
• Loves to color and draw
• Is a great joy and we are very blessed to have you in our life!

 

 

2nd Birthday

 

 

1st Birthday

Hello Little Angel (2.8.09)

 

WE LOVE YOU BRYNN! XOXO

Making Progress

 

 

Gobble..Gobble...

and that's exactly what we did on Thanksgiving.  

After trying and liking a deep fried turkey last year, we decided to have another one this year.  But, we also didn't want to give up the tradition of an oven cooked turkey, stuffed with my mom's dressing.  So what do you do when you can't decide....you cook two turkeys!

Turkey #1 (oven baked with my mom's stuffing)

Turkey #2 (about to be dropped in the fryer) 

Wallah...an hour and half later the deep fried turkey's all done. Thanks to our fabulous cooks, it turned out fantastic!

We cut the fried turkey first.  But the boys had to sample the turkey before we actual sat down for dinner.  Ok...we all had to sample. :)

Dinner time!!  And like always we had way too much food!  We didn't even cut into the oven baked turkey.  We decided next year to just fry the turkey since that's what everyone liked the best.

mmmm...

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Braydn's Birthday

Braydn eats, sleeps and breathes football and ESPN Sportscenter right now.  So it was no surprise that he wanted a football birthday party this year.

He invited three of his best buddies (Davis, Jared & Reagan) over for a football obstacle course competition .

 

And of course, the Sister was invited too.

Coach Bryan was in charge and explained the rules of the game to the players.

Let the games begin....

 

 First up - Throwing the football into the swimming pool.

 

Second - Pin the football on the goal post.

Third - Field goals

 

The field goal competition was tough because the players had to avoid "Little Sister" distraction!

And finally the football toss.

 

And the winner is....Davis!!!!

 

After a quick Gatorade break it was time for presents.

 

And cake...

And then before everyone went home, the boys traded football cards. 

 

Happy Halloween

This year for Halloween we were invaded by a zombie... 

 

and Minnie Mouse.

 

The zombie frightened Minnie.

 

But Minnie soon realized that the zombie was nice. 

 

And they quickly became friends.  

 

To celebrate their new friendship they decided to invite some more friends over.

 

And run around the neighborhood and ask for candy!

 

Pumpkin Patch and the Moo Train

For the last 4 years we have made the Moo Train ride at the Muddy Creek Maze in Corvallis an annual tradition .  It's something we look forward to when October rolls around and always plan the excursion around a Beaver home game.  I especially get excited because it's a great photo taking opportunity for me.  Except that excitement turned to frustration this year because my models weren't cooperating!  I think everyone was tired from all of the Beaver game activities the day before. Braydn wouldn't smile (unless I threatened him), Brynn would run from the camera and simply tell me "no" and Bryan was trying to go along with the whole thing but I knew he still was mourning the Beaver loss to BYU.  

But no matter what, darn it, we were going to ride the Moo Train!!  After 4 years you would think Todd wouldn't be scared of the Moo Train anymore.  Or maybe he was still in shock that the admission into Muddy Creek was $6 per person and an additional $2 for the Moo Train, plus you still have to pay for your pumpkin.  

We decided to only pay for the Moo Train and to head north to Lone Pine Farms in Eugene.

 

But first we had stop for a bathroom break...

Ok, all better!  Now we're off to the pumpkin patch...

 

Which way do we go? 

 

We followed the dirt road, went through the walnut trees....

 

and we finally found the pumpkin patch!

uuhh..I want this one...

Braydn found the one he wanted right away.  

 

 Mom, I'm tired, can we go home?

Hurry Papa, the horses are coming our way!

 

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Move that bus...

It's probably a good idea to post these pictures before the Friday premiere of the Medford Extreme Home Makeover show.  Tune-in at 8pm to your local ABC station.  (haha..I had to get that little plug in since I work for KDRV, the local ABC affiliate)

On September 11, Catherine (a co-worker and friend) and I volunteered to help build the new house for the McPail Family.  We joined thousands of other volunteers to help construct a 3800 sq. ft. house in just a week.  It was a very rewarding experience and I was exhausted by the end of my shift.

Oh my gosh...I'm not sure what's going on with my hard hat in this picture.  Either the hat is too small or my head is just gigantic!

Some of our tasks were to haul lumber, trim tree branches, clean up an overflowing trash dumpster (not my favorite job) and deliver food and water to the skilled laborers.  We were also picked to be "extras" in the wood shop tent shoot with Paige, Pauly and Dr. Temple Grandin.  If you watch closely during the show you might be able to see me "pretend" to use a power tool.

The next day, Braydn & I went back to the build site.  This time we were spectators and got to go into the VIP tent and viewing area.  Braydn is a huge fan of the show and was very excited to see an up close view of a EHM house, especially in our hometown.

Chillin' in the VIP tent....

In the viewing area watching all of the action...

What an amazing experience to see the behind scenes of how quickly they can finish a 3800 sq. ft. house in only a week.  We can't wait to watch the show tomorrow!  Move that bus McPhail Family.....

Can you believe this was Day 6 of the build and it's almost done!