Jonah and the Whale

So Travis has been getting up at 4AM to go fishing the last couple of days. I just thought he was flat out crazy. . . . . . . until I saw this.





He caught a 25 lb Mackinaw Lake Trout at Fish Lake this morning. Pretty exciting, but I still think he's crazy for getting up at 4AM. When I first heard he'd caught a big one I must admit I was a little nervous. My pulse started racing and I think my hands even started to sweat. I REALLY don't want another fish hanging in my house. I hate those creepy little eyes staring at me. We have a "hunting/fishing room" for Trav so I won't have to look at the poor little mounted animals while I'm eating or trying to enjoy a movie or something like that. I just can't deal with a dead animal in a main room. The biggest problem for me however is the cost of mounting the fish. Sheesh. Luckily he let the poor sucker go.


Our tally since we've been married:



Trav's 30 pounder




I actually caught a 27 pounder. It was pretty funny because I really don't fish much. Travis made me keep and mount it. I think he was more excited than I was.

Happy Birthday Travis!!

"Presents are the best way to show someone how much you care. It is like this tangible thing that you can point to and say “Hey man, I love you this many dollars-worth.”

-Michael Scott


So today is a big day. . . .

Travis turns 27!! Wow babe, you're really getting up there!

But to be honest Trav, I'm looking forward to growing old with you. Very old. I'm even Ok with the thought of you being completely bald and unaware of your flatulence in public (key word being old. . . . you can't start farting in public now and expect me to be cool with it). I wouldn't want to experience those things with anyone but you! And don't worry because I'm sure I'll be saggy and deaf! You're such a good husband and Daddy!

We LOVE you so much! We would be SO SAD if you weren't here.

(That's a pic of when Daddy left for work!)

And so to my Heavy T, I love you more than “The Office,” Costa Vida, and Michael Schofield, combined. Always will. Happy Birthday!!

Travis: Clue #4 to help you find your gift:

To find the location of your next clue

decide which letters below belong on each of the dashes

__ E __ __ I __ E __ A __ __ __

G O R R T F R R

Completely Content

I must admit that I am completely content with my life right now. I work 2 days a week and get to stay home with this cute girl the rest of the time. I don't know that it gets much better! We read books, sing songs, go for walks, play with toys, and just relax. It's been a simple, yet wonderful day!

I realize that I've been posting a TON of pictures of Brielle lately, but I just had to for her grandma's sake!

Seriously CRAZY Hair!

I'm really not sure what to do with my daughter's hair at this point. It's really long on the top, but not so much in the front or the sides. It's still pretty thin, so ponytails on the top of her head don't really stay. Her hair seriously defies gravity, and if I mat it down with lotion it just looks ridiculous. . . . .and sort of boyish. So for now, she will just have to have crazy hair like her mama. (My hair does that same thing whenever I get out of the shower and don't straighten it right away. I end up looking like a giant poodle.) Brielle still manages to be pretty dang cute though!


Case in point: Brielle's side profile!


She's rolling all over the place now. She refuses to stay in the same place for very long. I've had a blast watching her discover new things!


She also enjoys watching 24! I think she might have a crush on Jack Bauer just like her mommy and daddy do!


If you can read her shirt, this picture is pretty self explanatory!



I don't know how she's so happy right when she wakes up. She definitely doesn't get that from me ;)


My mom's got a picture of me when I was around this age and I wish I could find it and post them side by side because Brielle's face looks exactly like mine did, at least in that picture. I think she is starting to look more and more like Trav everyday though.





I LOVE this picture! I think she looks so stinkin' cute!


Brielle's a little over 5 months now. She has 2 teeth, eats rice cereal, and squeals for joy almost all day long. She loves to hear her own voice and she LOVES to blow bubbles with her food while she's eating! I've learned to start out with my hand blocking her lips after she gets a spoonful or her rice cereal will be all over my face! She thinks it's hilarious!

"Bro"mance

BROMANCE:

• A bromance or "man-crush" is a close but non-sexual relationship between two men, a form of homosocial intimacy.
• Describes the complicated love and affection shared by two straight males.
• A non-sexual relationship between two men that are unusually close.
• The act of wooing a fellow male friend for the purpose of becoming closer.
• As a verb: "Andy has been treating Victor to every meal and cover charge for a month now. It's obvious that he is trying to bromance him."

Travis may not like to admit his homosocial intimate tendancies, but he definately has what we like to call a "Man Crush" .

I can't really blame him. For me it's no "Man Crush"...... I'm in LOVE!

Let me introduce the people worthy of such feelings in no particular order:


1. Jack Bauer - aka - The Man


This is Trav's main man, but I think it's pretty safe to say I would trust Jack Bauer with my life. He's only saved the World how many times? Love him!



2. Bob Brown - aka - "Cool Breeze"


I actually have a crush on all of the guys on "The Unit", but Bob Brown is number one. My palms start to sweat even at the sound of the opening theme song. Just kidding. . .but seriously.


3. Michael Schofield.


OK OK. So this one's really just MY crush, but it's a mad one! I even think he looks deliciously hot with all of the tattoos! He's a pulse racer for sure!


4. Last but not least is Liam Neeson from the movie "Taken". I honestly can't even remember the character's name. He's old, but he could fight with Jack Bauer, so he's got my vote! The movie didn't get great review's, but I loved it! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I believe I even squealed in delight after one of the scenes. I posted the trailer to the movie just in case you haven't seen it.



So basically, what I'm trying to say is that no matter how old the guy is, if he can save the World numerous times, break out of prison, fight terrorism, or hunt down his daughter's kidnapper, then I'm probably pretty into him! That's why I married Travis! (He made me say that after seeing what I wrote about Michael Schofield!)

Happy Easter!

What a great Easter! A perfect day to reflect on our Savior's love for us and the joy of the Resurrection! I'm posting this short little video clip because Jeffrey R Holland does a beautiful job "describing the Savior’s journey to overcome sin and death and testifies of the resulting blessings to all mankind".

It's also a great day to be with family and eat yummy food!! We had a picnic with the Kyhl side of the family at the park and had a fun time with the Easter Egg Hunt that Gary and Margaret put together.

Brielle wore her new Easter dress to church and of course pooped during the Relief Society lesson. It wasn't quiet either. That definitely turned some heads.

She a funny girl. She rolls onto her stomache durning her naps and then gets stuck and cries until she's rescued. The picture below is of her starting to roll, completely unaware.

Brielle also got her first tooth!! She cried a little bit on Easter, but nothing terrible. We knew something was up because she normally doesn't cry much. I figured she just wasn't feeling well because I had checked for a tooth the day before and found nothing. Sure enough, that sucker popped up in one day! After a 5 min cry and a little bit of fussiness, she was back to her happy self. She squeals and screams in delight on a regular basis! Here are a couple of other random pictures that I love.

The one on the left is when we were in the other room getting ready for church and I had no idea her headband had fallen over her eyes. Poor thing. She didn't fuss at all though, just fell asleep!

She's such a little sweetheart!

We hope everyone had a great Easter!

Daddy's Little Girl!!