Breck Family Circus

As the Circus Grows...

2011-01-27T19:00:00.000-08:00

We are still here! A few new pics of the family to share...

More later... Just wanted to make a post that wasn't from 2008. :-)

Um...So It's BEEN AWHILE...Hey, We Got a New Baby!

2008-10-28T20:39:00.000-07:00

Well, I realize that I have been totally remiss in my blogging duties. Actually, I've been downright neglectful. I'm sorry.

Okay, that's it. No more excuses or apologies. All I want to say is I AM AN AUNTIE!!! My sister-in-law Emily and her husband Chad recently welcomed their son, Benjamin Charles and I am so very excited! He was only 2 weeks early and is PERFECT, of course. He weighed 6 pounds, 5 ounces and was about 17 inches long. He is healthy and PERFECT - did I say that already?

Benj is doing great - he is breast-feeding like a champ and gaining weight every day. We are all so proud of him, as well as Em and Chad. It is like Emily never had major abdominal surgery - she amazes me on a daily basis. What a fabulous mom - and Chad is just, well - totally in LOVE.

Here are some photos from Mr. Benjamin's first and second day of life - please enjoy. Anyone who says that abortion is not killing a human being is INSANE - look at the miracle of life and know that God exists. Benjamin is a blessing upon this family and he is, at the same time, blessed to have such wonderful and loving parents. Welcome, Little Man - we are so happy to have you here with us all!

Happy Birthday, Grandma Lori!

2007-10-25T10:38:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday, Grandma! Mommy and Daddy finally got around to downloading pictures of me so here is a little entry to make you happy on your birthday! I know you are an old lady but I hope that you have a wonderful time while you are at Camp whatever it is for your ladies' retreat and that you have even more fun when you go to the Bahamas right after Thanksgiving. Wow - you sure are having fun in retirement. That Kaiser Permanente place really sucked - I am so glad you got to leave those a-holes and beginning living a little. You go, girl!

Grandma, I was SO busy this summer - I am sorry I wasn't able to get my lazy mom to post more photos. I had so much fun, though - I drove the boat with my Grandpa Steve, and looked hella cool in my red swim shorts and killer shades. The chicks really dig me, Grandma.

We came to California to see you, at least. That was so much fun. I'm sorry we have no photos of that but Mom and Dad were so excited about their new video camera that they completely failed to take any photographs with their old-fashioned digital camera. Boo! But you remember, we went to Train Town, and the Oakland Zoo and lots of other cool places. Remember when Grandpa Gene thought he would take us out for a nice meal and I immediately began throwing rolls and my toy blocks at him? Yeah, I didn't really like that restaurant much. It wasn't nearly as fun as McDonald's and the food was nowhere near as good. Maybe when we come for Christmas, you and Grandpa can take me to Chucky Cheese. Unlike my Mommy, I am not afraid of people in masks or walking, talking cartoon characters. I just laugh when Dad puts on a scary mask or wig.

Mommy is getting super-frustrated with this stupid website and how difficult it is to arrange the photographs - she feels like throwing the computer in the trash can at this very minute. As a result, I think you are just going to have to see the rest of my cute photos in a nice straight line - no fancy editing of any kind. The rest of the pictures were taken one day when I was "helping" Mommy in the kitchen. There are so many useful things in the kitchen, but I really like the hats that are available - and so does Hoss.

Well, I am sure looking forward to coming to stay with you and Grandpa in your beautiful house at Christmas. Don't worry, I will be a perfect angel this time. No throwing food, but I might try to potty a few times on your fancy new toilet. If I miss the mark a little, well - how could you be mad at a face like this? I love you!!

We are not dead - Just Lazy

2007-08-13T09:54:00.000-07:00

Hello - sorry no pictures. We are fine - all are doing great. Our hard drive recently crashed so we are in the process of reinstalling all of our programs so - I've not been able to move pics from my camera to the computer as of late.

Wyatt is doing GREAT - he is such a big boy. Still not saying too much - "Da" for dog, "Ba" for ball, "Ba-Pa" for Grandpa, Nana, Momma (which means me or Justin - we are both Momma) and a few other random words. I'll tell you what, though - the kid has the agility and balance of an African gazelle. He amazes me daily with his climbing capabilities - scaring the crap out of me on a regular basis. There I am, washing a sippy cup or something, then I turn around and he is precariously balanced on the edge of the coffee table, spinning plates and twirling a baton. Okay, that may be a slight exaggeration but really - the kid is amazing with the motor skills.

Justin and I are doing great, too - Justin is looking for another job (one as a lawyer, and not a office administrator). He is tired of running the hen house (the court's office) and I can hardly blame him. It is him, two male judges, and a gaggle of women aging in range from 20 to 65 - I would lose my mind, too. I am still loving working for Miss Lynn - my goodness, we are coming up on 2 years. I can't believe the time has gone that fast but it is true.

We are leaving Wednesday morning for California. This will be Wyatt's first vacation, first plane ride, first beach visit, etc. I hope I don't lose my mind on this vacation what with all the "events" that Justin is planning. OMG! Must chill out. For other news related to us, you can always check out my other blog, http://starkravingflab.blogspot.com. Anyway - just wanted the one or two souls who might look at this site to know that we are still alive and well and will post new pictures soon. The circus goes on in full swing!

Hello Spring, Goodbye Princess!

2007-04-10T20:22:00.000-07:00

Spring has sprung - kind of. We had a few nice days over the Easter weekend but now it is cold and rainy. Wyatt had his first Easter egg hunt and OMG it was the cutest thing ever. He loved carrying the bucket most of all. The more eggs, the better. I don't have a picture but the best was when he fell down and smashed one of the eggs and then sat there and picked it apart. Here he is, doing his thing. He is also pictured with his Aunt Emily at church, clutching a blueberry muffin.

We also said goodbye this month to our girl, Princess. Princess was sixteen years old - that's pretty damned old for a labrador. They usually live about 10 - 12 years. Princess had a gigantic tumor on her side and was blind, almost deaf and pretty much incontinent. We put her down and it was very peaceful. The vet was great and we got to be with her until she died. After that we had her picked up by Michelle, a kind soul who makes a living incinerating animal corpses - barf me out! - whoops, slight digression. So - Princess was cremated and she is now sitting in a nice white box (about the size of a large brick) on a shelf in the garage. No urn is good enough for Princess - we are saving our money so that Justin can put her in a nice wooden box with a gold name plate (we think it should say Princess "Poop Bag" Breck). Should make for a nice foot rest. God bless Princess - may she rest in peace and have all the pizza she could ever want.

We had some serious concerns about Hoss, our other dog, because he has been with Princess since he was six weeks old. We talked to the doctor, did online research and wanted to be sure we knew how to handle a serious dog depression. The doctor told us that Hoss would "definitely look for Princess" and that he might suffer loss of appetite and an overall lack of energy. I tell you what - that dog hasn't looked for Princess ONCE. He is so happy to be let in the house and get to spend time with us (especially his new friend, Wyatt) that I don't think Hoss has even noticed that Princess is gone. Really - he hasn't suffered a single ill effect. Maybe he was sick of her after all. Who knows - in any event, we are back to one dog and one cat and Wyatt is really enjoying getting to know his "Da." When you say "dog" or he hears a dog bark, Wyatt says "whuh," like he is barking.

Finally, here is my cutie boy after dumping a bowl of Cheerios over his head - unfortunately you cannot see the Cheerios in his hair in this picture. I love this kid!

We are still waiting on the bar results but they should be out next week. We will keep everyone posted. Happy spring, everyone!

Alive and Recovering from Bar Exam Hell

2007-03-19T20:00:00.000-07:00

Hello to everyone! I'm sure many of you thought that perhaps Justin, Wyatt and I had fallen over a cliff sometime in January, never to be heard from again. It's just not true, after all. We were just studying like crazy persons for the bar exam which we both took in the last week of February. I didn't have any extra time for screwing off and blogging is certainly in that category. Now that we are done with the exam, I am dedicated to resuming my incurable habit of screwing off as much as possible and promise to provide more blog entries in the coming months.

Unfortunately, I just spent over an hour creating a darling and endlessly amusing blog post filled with cute quotes and charming pictures and then suddenly, without warning, my computer told me that the Internet had to close down and sorry, your whole damned post is completely lost. So - I am too tired to recreate the whole thing and will just post all of the cute photos sans the dazzling commentary. Sorry - you'll just have to call me.

Isn't he cute - "talking" on the cell phone and showing off his first facial abrasion. I think he is pointing to his ear, too. He can't say it but he can sure point at things and grunt!

That is my precious boy - he will be 16 months on March 22 - can you believe it?!!! Currently contemplating another one but not officially "working on it" until later this year. I can't wait!

Holiday Memories

2007-01-06T09:19:00.000-08:00

Hi there! Sorry it has been so long since we last posted but you know - the crazy holidays were upon us and we were a bit overwhelmed. In any event, here are some pics to share with everyone. Happy New Year - 2007 is going to be wonderful, I can tell.

Here is Wyatt with his Auntie Jessica, who came to visit for Thanksgiving. Such cuties!

Mommy and Wyatt next to our Christmas tree, fetched from the wild woods of Montana.

Stephanie and her fabulous boss, Lynn M. Clark at the Lakeside Law Office Christmas Party.

Wyatt and Auntie Emily open a present.

Wyatt and Uncle Tyler play with Wyatt's new sled.

Hoss and Princess enjoy their Christmas bones. This is, quite possibly, Princess's last Christmas.

Wyatt tries out his new sled in the snow. It works!

I can't seem to add anymore pictures for some reason. I will do another post soon, I promise!!

Happy First Birthday, Little Man!

2006-11-22T19:47:00.000-08:00

It seems like only yesterday that I was picking that little bug up for the first time - only five pounds, eleven ounces! He was so tiny, but for some reason I was never afraid to pick him up like I thought I might be - it was just so totally natural! We had already picked out his name months before so we had no trouble deciding what to call him - our little Wyatt was so perfect and Mommy was just glad to have him outside her body, finally!

Wyatt was so little that sometimes, it WAS a little unnerving to handle him - especially in the bath. Mommy was always nervous to bathe Wyatt but his Daddy took to it very well. Justin was a fabulous Daddy from the very start and continues to be the best Dad ever.

Then, we don't know what happened (formula) but Wyatt became a big boy very quickly. In fact, he was in the 95th percentile for weight - how advanced! Some people were concerned about his big boy status but Mommy was never worried because she knew that Wyatt was just perfect the way he was and anyway, who wants a skinny baby? Wyatt did not fall far from the Brainerd tree when it comes to eating. There has not been a food yet, in his first year, that Wyatt has turned away. That's our boy!

Before we knew it, Wyatt was SO big - Mommy's biceps are nice and strong now, thanks to hefting Wyatt here and there. Wyatt grew plenty of lovely blond hair - it grew and grew, until Mommy and Daddy could no longer contain the urge to break out the clippers. Wyatt's lovely blond hair is now in a baggie in Mommy's nightstand drawer (supposedly on its way into that baby book she keeps meaning to finish).

Now Wyatt looks like a little boy - what happened to my little baby?

Wyatt has not begun to walk just yet but he has gotten quite proficient at "cruising," the official word (according to all baby books and magazines) for staggering around holding onto anything within reach. Wyatt has just started climbing the stairs, which scares Mommy to death, especially when he tries to go down, head first.

We celebrated Wyatt's first birthday tonight. Grandpa Steve, Nonna, Auntie Em and Uncle Chad and Uncle Tyler all came over to celebrate. Wyatt ate pizza with Grandpa, and did not disappoint us with the whole cake-eating thing. Not only did he shove a whole piece in his face but he also shoved it into his ear. We had to use Q-tips to fix that little problem. Wyatt got some fun gifts - Mommy is so glad that he will have more entertainment now besides HER. Yay! Enjoy the birthday photos and thanks to everyone for the wonderful gifts and love

Shameless Baby Showcase

2006-11-03T21:34:00.000-08:00

You people have been demanding pictures of Wyatt lately - especially Halloween pictures. Well, we KNOW how cute he is so this entry is all about Wyatt and what he is up to these days.

At eleven months old, Wyatt is very busy crawling, standing, "cruising," but not quite "walking." He is very confident and aggressive - we like that, little man!

Wyatt, who seems to take after his Daddy, loves the vacuum cleaner. Clean, Wyatt, clean - because Mommy sure isn't going to! Wyatt also likes to help with the dishes.

Halloween was a blast - at least for us. Wyatt, who thought he had turned into a giant stuffed animal, tried to cuddle and coo to himself and bury his face in his own arms. We think he looked too cute, both as a pumpkin and as Tigger.

Sorry for the crazy picture placement. Still learning the art of "blogging" and all. Wyatt is such a big boy now - he is reading up on marketing and watching educational film.

And finally, here is Wyatt with his Grandpa Steve. I hope you all got a good dose of BABY.

Happy 60th Birthday, Mommie / Nana!

2006-10-24T19:53:00.000-07:00

Well, you couldn't stay young forever, you know. It was inevitable that you would move gracefully into maturity and wisdom and effortless senior glamour... I mean, senior CITIZEN, not senior in high school, although your fabulous bouffant hair of the sixties (see gorgeous photo) would probably work now, too, as you move into your beauty "golden years." Sixty, "60," the BIG SIX-O - is not THAT old, Mom. You have plenty of time for plenty of things. Oh - it looks as it you've been doing some modeling lately - wow, you are sure looking good for an old broad.

Even with that tiny waist and amazing ass, life has not always been easy for you, but you have always maintained a strong and positive attitude. You are a good leader and people just naturally want to be around you. Just look at all of the wonderful friends you have made in the past several years as you have branched out into your community and church. I am so proud of you, despite the fact that you and your church girlfriends pulled a Vegas getaway and returned with these racy photos. I know you chicks are proud of your "temples" but put some pants on already. Bible study leader, Red Hat goddess, Fem Fair La Fete (or however the hell you spell THAT french mess) - you are a good friend to others, including me. I count you as one of my best friends!

I have always loved seeing photos of you when you were younger and I keep this one on my night stand. Some people have said (um, perhaps it was me) that you and I don't look all that much alike but I beg to differ (with myself, I guess) when I compare childhood photos of you and me. You didn't have the freckles or square yellow teeth but we seem to be matching right up in the blue blue eyes and crooked bangs departments now, don't we? You've been beautiful all your life, and clearly, your offspring takes after you.

Speaking of offspring, becoming a parent is a true peek into the minds of our own parents, isn't it? Sometimes when I look at Wyatt (actually A LOT of times), I think about how you must have held me and looked at me and stroked my hair and how you must have wondered how on earth you had landed the privilege of raising such a little miracle. I think about how you must have felt as I was growing up and you were trying to raise me, alone. I don't know how you managed to do all of that without a husband for those first several years and want you to know that I am ever so appreciative and can only now truly RELATE to the effect that choosing to have me had on your young life. (At least you had the energy of youth - damn, I wish I was 22). Thanks for choosing me, Mom!

So Happy Birthday to my Mommie from me and Justin and our Wyatt. We are so happy to have you in our lives and cannot wait to see you in November just after Wyatt's first birthday. As you know, Wyatt loves his Nana and will tell you so when you get here - He'll say "dopt ma ma da na" and clearly that means "Happy Birthday, Nana!" He is just so ADVANCED. Why, just tonight he was trying to put a cookie in my hair. Staggering intellect, I tell you.

Don't forget to bring my little brother, Paris, and of course, whatever boxes of memorabilia or unwanted furniture you'd like to contribute to our gigantic new house. We appreciate your love and support over the past several years as we have tried to make a life for ourselves.

I hope your special day is filled with love and friendship and... something sparkly? I know Dad has something wonderful for you! Even though we did not plan a big 60th birthday party for you (honestly, I hope you are not disappointed), I know that YOU know how much we love you and respect you, as a mother, a wife, a grandmother, a sister, and a friend. We are all so lucky to have you with us and just hope that now you've grown close to the Lord that He does not decide that He needs you up there any time soon. But let's face it, at this age you make DIRT seem young. xoxoxo Love from your darling daughter and her darling family

Stink Bugs and Other Fall Pleasures

2006-10-20T08:36:00.000-07:00

It is late October and I am desperately awaiting the first real snowfall. Not because I enjoy freezing my ass off or slipping and falling constantly or stepping on my car brakes and slowly gliding past whatever turn I had intended to make - No, I want winter NOW because it will mean the end of the stink bugs. I REALLY hate stink bugs.

Not only are they horribly unattractive and stink like pine trees when you smash them - they are extremely unpredictable in their movements. One day I'll have one crazily fly at my head (in my OFFICE, no less) and then another day I will see several of them slowly plodding along on the deck or my window sill, as if they are contemplating the very meaning of their short time on this earth. I sure don't know what the meaning is but frankly, I don't care - I HATE the stink bugs and their gross appearance, their raspy-clicking flying sound and their revolting pine-sol smell.

As if these bugs were not enough to deal with, this is also the season of the insane dying flies. As winter draws near, it is as if the flies sense their impending death. The begin to literally go insane and lose their faculties. The sit quietly like little black statues on the counter, where I can just walk up give them a good whack, they dive-bomb my face until I finally lose all patience and chase them madly about with a kitchen towel, or they perform a bizarre death ritual in which they buzz around flying head-long into objects and surfaces until they are so dizzy they have to die - usually on my kitchen floor or my bedroom carpet. The weirdest is when I just approach them and PICK THEM UP before sending them to their watery toilet or garbage disposal graves. It's awful, I tell you and I've had enough bug drama! Die, mutant bugs, DIE!!!!

Our fat and lazy cat, Mocha, is truly falling down on the job lately. There she is, all chubby and cute on the carpet. What she really needs to do is get off her lazy cat ass and start catching the MICE that have been creeping around my new house. And they don't actually creep - they DART, and they scare the pants off of me. It's not that I am afraid of a mouse, per se - it is more that I am rarely expecting some little puff of fur to blast out from under the coffee table and make a beeline for the small hole in our family room wall as I dance around hysterically, shrieking and jumping to higher ground. Mocha - get busy or you will find yourself living life in the GARAGE with your friends, the dogs!!

Here is photo of the new digs. We like it very much except for the fact that there are mice, flies, hornets, (all of which are INSIDE the house) numerous leaks, a heater that is stuck in the ON position and windows that are all painted shut. Really, it is very nice. Our backyard is like, a park, no joke. We are enjoying all the space and have a special guest room just for YOU when you decide to come visit. We will try to keep the mice and hornets away from you, we promise, but Mocha may try to sleep with you because after all - you are sleeping in her bed.

Well, I suppose I cannot do a post without putting at least one photo of our cutie boy so here you go. Come back next week to see more and see a special Nana Lori Birthday Surprise!

The Wait Is Over

2006-10-17T12:45:00.000-07:00

Finally, someone is posting some photos around here!! Yeah, well, it took awhile because we have been moving and screamin' busy at work and basically just plain lazy.

So - here is our Wyatt. He is quite fond of the camera - I think he must have some supermodel in him because every time we bring out the camera he gets excited and smiles. He also grabs for the camera so perhaps he has some famous photographer in him, too. Whatever is in him, it must be fabulous, totally unique and ADVANCED, as Justin and I love to say. We cringe when we hear these ultra-competitive parents talking about how advanced their kids are. Yeah, well ours is just normal, average, a little chubby and totally perfect. We DO happen to think that he is really, really extremely good looking, of course.
Here are Wyatt and his Dad watching TV - Wyatt is easily distracted by the television, especially when he sees girls. How unusual - his Dad is not like that AT ALL. Wyatt's favorite TV shows or "show" I should say, is his single Baby Einstein DVD, the one with the weird painting and sculpting monkeys and the especially suspicious orange kangaroo looking things that all show up with carrots in their mouths and get mad at the one who comes with a parrot in his mouth. Justin is convinced that the Baby Einstein people are pushing a vegetarian agenda because the kangaroo things are all happy and accepting when the parrot eater comes back with a carrot in his mouth, just like all the others. Mmm hmm. Well, regardless of those psycho vegetarian idealists, Wyatt eats turkey, beef, chicken and I'm sure he'd eat parrot, too, if I could provide it.

And the final photo of the day (I've got things to do, you know) - oh, how cute. It's Wyatt's darling backside. I wish mine was so cute and people wanted to take pictures of it. Well, I am still learning how to use this photo feature so - if this post doesn't look great, well phooey on you and I'd like to see you figure it out while stressing about how much time it is taking. I will review the HELP feature and my next post will be gorgeous, I am sure of it. SMILE, because you're looking at the cutest buns around.

Life Under the Big Top

2006-09-25T10:20:00.000-07:00

People are bound to ask "Why did you call your blog Breck Family Circus? What is the meaning? Are you comparing yourself to that old cartoon 'Family Circus'?" Let me assure you all up front that there is no deep meaning and that it has nothing to do with that stupid cartoon where the strangely bloated little kids are always making cutesy, barf-me-out comments that are supposed to make us chuckle and say, "aaaww." No - it has nothing to do with that.

The Breck Family Circus moniker came into existence long ago in 1997, when Justin and I were a mere dating couple and I was beginning the whole "meet the family" process. Before I go too far, I may need to remind some that I came from an only-child, two working parent family - basically, things were very quiet and chaos was at a bare minimum in our house. Upon meeting Justin's family (mom, dad, 2 sisters and a younger brother) and experiencing them all together in one place, I was immediately overwhelmed by their noise-level alone. The large family, multi-sibling pandemonium was all new to me - the shouting to be heard, the constant friendly and sometimes not so friendly arguing, the whole "trying to decide what to do today" custom of waiting around the house for dad to decide what to do (all the while engaging in the aforementioned shouting and carrying on). At some of the first family affairs, Justin would find me holed up in a downstairs bedroom just sitting there, away from all the hubub and confusion. It was never that I didn't like his family. I loved them, but it was all just so LOUD and CRAZY to me, and I didn't really know how to handle it. Ultimately, it reminded me of a circus - three rings of frantic, in-your-face activity, lots of lights and sounds and occasionally, things flying overhead. Dizzying, exciting, yet sometimes a little scary...

After almost seven years of marriage, I can say with confidence that I love the circus and am, in fact, one of the chief clowns. I love the noise and the drama and have gotten quite proficient at dealing with all of the little sideshows that crop up here and there. Now I am even gaining skills in handling the combined Breck & Brainerd Family Circus, the calamity that can only be experienced when my mom and dad and their 2 pound poodle (a show dog if there ever was one) arrive to join in the festivities. I have developed into a true ringmaster yet I am still often tested by the daily events of the circus.

The newest Breck, Wyatt, is the most recent addition to the show and the Breck/Brainerd clans could not be happier. Wyatt commands center stage much of the time and we are all more than happy to pipe down and simply stare as he performs his amazing feats. Anyway - this blog is all about my daily circus as a mom, a wife, and a member of the greatest show on earth. Come back soon to see some photos...