Labor Day

I think I will always have a special place in my heart for Labor day since literally six years ago Brendan proposed to me at Canada Creek in Michigan. We had such a great weekend when he proposed not only did we pop champagne, eat chocolates and celebrate with Bud and Barb in Canada Creek but then the whole weekend was topped off by an amazing weekend at Makinac Island with Enmark. I love Utah very much but Labor Day always makes me sentimental for the midwest and that last closing weekend of summer in Minnesota and Michigan.
Life has been good, we have been busy but great. Lots of changes in many aspects of life. We celebrated our 5 year Anniversary earlier this month. We are not huge Anniversary people but we try each year do some what the "traditional" gift. Five years is wood so we debated between doing a custom wood front door and planting a tree. Since 2014 was a big year all around with Quinn being born we decided on the tree. This last weekend we bought and planted a gorgeous tree in our backyard in honor of both occasions. I am excited to watch this tree continue to grow with our lives. We will still hopefully get our custom front door someday too. The garden also finally got completed this weekend with variegated iris and bearded Iris being planted. All that is left is planting a few daffodil bulbs and covering everything with mulch. I am so proud of the green thumb I have gotten this last summer. Next summer will the big project of the back yard and taking that on.
At the beginning of this month we had a great trip back to MN to spend lots of time with family. I love how our family get togethers have turned from adult affairs into full on chaos and kids everywhere. Nothing can make my heart more full or happy. We also had the Uebels here to visit in July which was awesome, I wish we could just transplant all of our favorite MN friends and family here to Utah. All my little monkeys (the hockey team of nephews) continuously crack me up with the things they come up with and their love for my little boy too. The Brecke family is a pretty sweet clique to be in. More trips are coming along in the next few weeks Colorado to see the Mays, Michigan for a shower and Florida for a wedding. We can't wait!

Love,
The Whites

Red, White and Blue!

Fourth of July was a great weekend for us. Bren's Aunt and Uncle Brian and Carmen came to town to meet Quinn and spend time with all of us. We had a really nice time, on the actual fourth we went to our community pancake breakfast and then ended up just hanging out at the house enjoying the very entertaining Quinn. He is now at a stage where he is almost crawling, instead he army crawls, rolls or bulldozed (butt up, head down) to wherever he wants to go. We also managed to make it up to Park city when they were here and also to downtown. It was really nice. Fireworks from our patio will never get old. Our weekends have continued to be pretty busy with finishing up the garden and side of the house work. We finished our planting by getting honey suckle in on the side of the house, a peony bush and some fresh herbs like basil and mint. We are having a heat wave now so I we have been watering a lot in order to try and keep everything alive. The last of the yard project that if left is planting some iris, getting mulch on everything and hopefully planting a tree. Bren really wants to plant a tree this year because Quinn was born so we can watch as it gets bigger and bigger each year and remember that it was planted the year he was born.
Parenthood continues to delight us in how much Quinn just keeps changing and learning. I know other parents go through this but it is truly astounding to watch how babies brains just start making all of these connections and suddenly their motor skills, recognition and so many others basic skills start working. We continue to keep him busy with biking, picnics, playing on the swings and in the pool.
Hopefully the second half of the summer will continue in great weather and enjoying family weekends and friends. Hoping to maybe make it to MN in August. Life is good :)

Love,
Alyssa, Bren and Q

Fathers Day

Exciting weekend celebrating Bren's first official fathers day. The only bummer is it was really cold today but we are hoping it warms up tomorrow and we make it down to the pool. Life has been good, we met some new awesome neighbors, had Sara's baby shower and they had their baby Mr. Kaylor.
Our big project for this summer has been redoing our gardens. When we moved into the house almost 2 years ago the front garden was nice but it just wasn't my exact pick of flowers. My mothers day gift was putting the edging in and redoing the whole front garden. We had some wonderful help from our amazing friend Steve who helped me make a layout of what to plant where. After we put in the edging came the fun job of digging all of the bulbs and everything else out. When that was done I did the planting in two stages, the first with what was available and this weekend with what was remaining. I finished up today and am really excited for what it looks like right now but also what it will look like next year since I pretty much planted all perennials. What is left is our rocky terrain and putting in some nesting spruces and succulents, the side garden with some peonies and hasta and finally the backyard to plant a tree and some yummy flowering shrubs. Hoping to get it all down this summer but if not we can work for next summer too!
Quinn has been great he will be 5 months tomorrow. He is a big boy in all 6-9 month clothing, holding his bottle and rolling all over the place. I have a feeling that in the next 3 weeks he will be crawling since he keeps doing the rump in the air wiggling forward motion. It really does just get better and better. He helped me with Fathers day cards and got his daddy a good new book. We have been celebrating a little all weekend.
Sara's baby shower went great, Lexi flew to town and co hosted it with me. Despite me not feeling 100%, everything went wonderful. Our timing could not have been better since Sara had Kaylor less then a week later.
We got a bike trailer that Quinn can ride in behind my road bike. We had it out last weekend and it was a lot of fun. It was really nice to be able to ride with Brendan. Up to this point anytime we went to the park we took turns riding and running with the stroller. Some great summer weeks and weekends ahead. Uncle Brian and Carmen are coming out for the fourth to meet Quinn and spend time with us. All is good!

Enjoy some pictures below!

Before shot as we were ripping everything out

Half way there....

Front is complete except for the variegated Iris

New bike trailer

Quinns Fathers day gift; Crocodaddy book!

Helping Mom!

Gorgeous friends and a lovely Mom to be!

Love,

Bren, Alyssa and Quinn

Memorial Day = Home Improvement Black Friday

I miss the Memorial days of the past when in MN it would seem everyone would pile into a car and drive 2 to 4 hours north to the lake. The weather alway varied but it was always a good weekend and usually the beginning of summer.
Its crazy to think that we are about to embark on the summer of 2014, our community pool is opening this weekend and the weather is slated to be gorgeous here in Utah. We can't wait to take Quinn to the pool for the first time and also just have a great weekend. As weekend warriors and home owners we seem to have projects anyways every weekend but Memorial day always brings out the big guns. Our plans for home improvement black friday involve turning on the sprinkler system, crossing our fingers all is operating well with that. Stain some chairs, maybe the deck, plant some flowers, bed, bath and beyond if we have time....
For my first Mothers day Bren's gift to me was redoing our flower garden in the front of the house. The big project this weekend is getting the metal edging installed. In the meantime we are hoping some time with friends, cocktails and good times will also be had. All in all should be awesome.
Everything has been great, lil man continues to grow at an astonishing speed. He is now putting everything in his mouth, holding his own bottle and finding his voice. We continue to still be in bliss that this is all real. Exciting things coming this summer, our great friends Sara and Zane are due for their baby boy in a month. The three amigos will be complete Lexi, Sara and myself all had or are having baby boys within a year and a half of each other. Lucky girls we are! We are hosting Sara's baby shower at my house next weekend, can't wait.
We hope everyone also has great welcome to Summer 2014 weekends or home improvement black fridays!

Love,
Bren, Alyssa, Quinn

Best Birthday Ever!

Being welcomed into my thirties usually might be a little depressing but honestly this was the best birthday ever because I got the best gift this year, becoming a mom! Its a rainy, grey morning here in Utah and the whole family is all cuddled up in our bed, drinking coffee and hanging out. Life is good.
We have had a whirlwind last few weeks. Going back to work has been crazy, we have been so lucky though to have our Amy who takes care of little man. I think she loves him just as much as we do. I sent out birth announcements right before finishing maternity leave, after reading about pinterest I mailed one to the white house and actually got a response, its pretty cool! I included a picture down below.
April held lots of travel. We went to Jamaica with Bren's work for Presidents club. It was an amazing trip, beyond anything we would ever be able to do on our own. The resort was a five star Iberro star resort in Jamaica, all the food and drinks were included. Our room had an amazing view down the coast and we pretty much just laid on the beach all day. On top of that, every night in our room they surprised us with gifts ranging from snorkel sets to a mini Jawbone Jambox and even a Tiffany necklace for me, we really were spoiled! Lucky for us Grandma Kathy flew to town and took care of the little man, I think they both had a great time too.
For Easter this year we took Quinn down to Florida to meet his Great Grandparents Bud and Barb. Lucky for us Grandpa Tom and also Aunt Laura and Uncle Mike were in town. It was also really special that our flower girl Rowan stayed in town too to cuddle and meet Quinn. He got to put his toes in the ocean for the first time, some beach walks and a boat ride. It was a great trip, the first Easter I have ever spent in a swimsuit.
Back to wonderful reality now and getting ready for his baptism and the baby shower for my friend Sara. We are sad our really good friends Andy, Lexi and Everett are moving to Denver in a week. We are happy for them for the opportunity but sad to see them go. I guess some Colorado vacations will be in order in the future.

Love,
Alyssa, Brendan and Quinn

Jamaica on our balcony

one of my new favorite pictures of little man

A picture on the beach before dinner in Jamaica

Grandma Kathy reading to Quinn

Kathy took POTD (pictures of the day) for us

As you can see Quinn had an amazing time

Lucky Grandson

I can't believe he is three months already and half way to four!

Lovely cousin Rowan meeting Quinn for the first time

Great Grandma and Grandpa with Quinn

Florida pictures

Aunt Laura got all snuggles at the Pink Elephant in Boca

Bren said this is one of his favorite pics

Easter picture

Lucky little bunny

On his first boat ride, borrowing cousin Kara'spink life jacket

The response from the White house

And on to the next challenge

My maternity leave will be ending here in a few days. I am excited to go back to work because I do love my job and miss my co workers and I know that Quinn will be in excellent hands. Maternity leave has been interesting to me, it was such a mix of emotions and time. I have loved watching Quinn grow and change every day. I have to laugh at the irony that he is now at the stage where he knows us and smiles and coos. This only makes it even harder to leave him in the mornings but everyone did warn me of this! He is just growing so quickly and is a happy baby boy. He literally wakes up every morning and stretches and then gives us a full gummy grin. In a perfect world I would go part time and still have lots of these days but I will continue to work full time and still teach dance. The good news is it has been an amazing leave and the future always holds more if you stay positive.
I was really surprised by my leave how little I could actually accomplish. I had all these books that I was going to read, projects to knit, things around the house to do. None of it got done but I sure did enjoy snuggling Quinn and finding our groove. We were lucky to have lots of help and wonderful guests as well.
I just got back from MN where Quinn got to meet his Aunts and Uncles and cousins. It was an amazing trip from beginning to end. I was very nervous about flying alone with a 2 month old but he did awesome and slept both trips the entire time. My Godmother Trudi also flew into MN to spend time with all of us. We got to see lots of friends and family, the important one was introducing Quinn my his great Grandma Brecke who is 101 years old. The next few weeks also hold some more exciting traveling as well. In between going back to work we are also going to Jamaica. Brendan got the honor of getting Presidents Club for his work, this is an all paid, all inclusive trip that is given to employees in recognition of going above and beyond. Grandma White is coming to take care of Quinn when we do this. We also are making a trip in April to Florida as well to see Grandpa and Grandma Toor. It will help me adjust to getting back to work slowly but surely!

Here are some pictures from this month, enjoy!

In his Moby wrap sleeping

Godmother Trudi and Quinn

sleeping with Grandpa Brecke

snuggles with Gaga B

My Godmother Trudi holding me when I was little

Meeting his Uncles Jay and Ross

Meeting his cousin Maddie

A picture when we all got together Monday

Oh how times have changed!

With my Godmother and his Gaga B

Meeting Uncle Anton for the first time

Cousins

Meeting Eli, Westin and Aunt Kristy

Meeting his Great Grandma Brecke

Off we go to catch our flight

Meeting his Great Aunt Laurie

So BIG!

Meeting his Aunt Jesse

Love,

Brendan, Alyssa and Quinn