Twenty Ten

We're baaaccckkk! I've asked Bryant to blog every night for the past several months and still can't get him to do it - so here I go (again)!

Life has been pretty eventful for the past few months. In November we decided to add to our little family - and got another bulldog! We named her Peanut Butter (Peanut for short)...it only seemed fitting to have Peanut Butter & Belly! We didn't know this before, but apparently boy and girl bulldogs are VERY different. She has been alot to handle and is definitely not the lazy, calm and boring bulldog that Belly is. She has a ton of energy and seems even more stubborn than Belly...if that is even possible! We're still working on house-breaking her and trying to teach her to leave Belly alone. Poor Belly has not enjoyed having his face chewed on by Peanut every waking second. Although, he does seem to be enjoying getting a treat every time Peanut does something good, especially since he has done nothing to deserve them! haha

In law school news - I'm half way done! :) I think I've already mentioned this in a prior post, but I took another job in Wichita for this summer. I am living with a paralegal that works for the law firm this time. She has a loft in Old Town and has an extra room that is already furnished. I'm hoping this summer is better than last and I definitely think having a roommate will help. Cross your fingers! There will be lots of decisions to make after this summer...mostly where do we want to live and work after I graduate?! We've been considering moving back home to Stockton, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see what our opportunities are! :)

Work for Bryant hasn't been too crazy lately. Last month he was doing several (at least 3) claims a day and even on the weekend, but it seems to have calmed back down again. KU Basketball consumes most of his free time - between watching games, checking sports blogs and reading every article that has ever been written on KU - it keeps him pretty busy! :) We've actually been able to go to a couple of games which was awesome! *Of course we won!* Bryant loves being at the Fieldhouse - as soon as he walks in his face lights up like a little boy on Christmas morning! Bryant & Shaun get to go to one more game together this year - KU v. K-State...should be a good one! :)

While Bryant is consumed by KU Basketball, I have been consumed by wedding planning! We have reached the 6 month count-down! It seems like I get a new package in the mail everyday! **I love it!** I've been keeping a Wedding Checklist and there is not much left to do. I will probably be a little sad when the wedding planning is over...it really has been so much fun! Right now I'm at the point where I am just looking for things to personalize - what else can I stick our names on?! haha Bryant & I are going next week to look at suit rentals...I'm sure it won't take long, Bryant is not too picky. We're getting very excited for the Honeymoon which will be in The Riviera Maya in Mexico...really looking forward to some warm weather!!! If it snows one more time this winter I am going to scream! Last weekend (Valentine's Weekend) we went to Kansas City to do our Engaged Encounter for the Catholic church. One more thing to check off the list! :) While it made for a veryyyyyy long weekend, it was nice to have some time together without computers, phones, wedding planning & KU Basketball (although, Bryant did drain his phone battery one day checking the score from the KU game!)

We have both been dieting for the wedding, which is also our New Year's Resolution. We've been doing pretty good with the exception of the weekends...it's just so hard! We've figured out that JUST one beer or JUST one glass of wine throws off an otherwise good calorie day...dang it! :) Bryant of course has lost nearly twice as much as I have...go figure!

2010 is going to be a CRAZY year. With all the wedding planning, wedding parties, showers, etc. it is going to be busy! On top of all of that, Nate & Julie are getting married in May, as well as my sister Mandy and her fiance Justin. We're so excited for both of them & can't wait for their parties & showers also! In 2010 baby news, not only are my brother Jamie & his wife Jill having a baby in May, but we also found out that our good friends John & Laura Schmidt are having their first baby in September! :) We couldn't be happier for all of them - what a great year!

Well...I'm sure I'm leaving out several important things, but I'll try to do this more often this year - so I won't have so much to remember next time! Since we missed it before, Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Happy Valentine's Day! :)

Until next time,

Danielle, Bryant, Peanut Butter & Belly!

Anything to Not Study

So I lied...Bryant is not writing the blog this time. Booooo I know.

Not much going on around here lately. This past weekend we went to the KU football game against OU...it did not turn out good. I wanted to go home after the first half, but Bryant refused to be a "bad" fan, so we stayed for the whole game. Unfortunately, the second half wasn't any better than the first and we ended up with our second loss of the season. Bryant tried to blame our loss last week against Colorado on the fact that he didn't put his Todd Reesing jersey on until the second half; but this time he wore it all day (and even slept in it the night before), so we're going to have to come up with some new excuses! Anyways, we're looking forward to the basketball season...so long as there are no more brawls in the parking lots! haha

This week should be relatively slow for both of us. I don't have much going on at school, other than getting ready for finals and Bryant's claims seem to have slowed down a little. We're still trying to figure out what we should do for Halloween...dress up and party OR stay home and hand out candy...decisions, decisions. :) Also, starting to think about what we're going to be doing for the upcoming holidays. I need to get Christmas lists from everybody & start shopping. I did all my shopping online last year & will probably do the same again this year...internet makes life so much easier!

I have been on a wedding planning kick the last week or so and have gotten A TON of stuff done. It's amazing what I can do when I'm trying to avoid reading for class (like blogging!) We got our engagement pictures back & love them. They turned out better than we expected, which is always a nice surprise. My favorites are the pictures with Belly! We will probably have to leave him out of the newspaper picture though! :)

We hope everybody has a safe & fun Halloween. Make sure to take lots of pictures of all your fun costumes! :) Belly is going to be a pumpkin....it is hilarious!


Lots of love,

Bryant, Danielle & Belly

Busy Busy Busy

Well, I see it has been almost 2 months since we have blogged last. I'm blaming it on Bryant, because I remind him at least 3 times a week that it is his turn to write...

Anyways, life has been busy lately. I am back to school and have been busier than ever. I have heard that the first year of law school is the hardest, the second year is the busiest, and the third year is the easiest. So far this seems about right, which means I am REALLY looking forward to next year! :) My involvement in law school organizations seems to have multiplied...and I am now the Chief Justice of Traffic Court & the Vice President of Advocates for Life (a pro-life legal group). I accepted a job at another Wichita firm for next summer, Hinkle Elkouri. I'm not looking forward to leaving again, but I guess that's months from now, so I should take advantage of my time at home until then. Bryant has been busy with work as usual...and even more busy keeping up with all the football games! We've been going to the KU home footballs this season and it has been so much fun! We bought a KU blanket today so that we won't freeze at the rest of the games this year. After KU's performance last night against CU we are looking forward to the basketball season.

I have been on Fall Break for the last couple of days and have done nothing but RELAX at home. It has been great. Thursday night we went to an NBA game, New Orleans Hornets v. Miami Heat at the Sprint Center in Kansas City. It was alot of fun and great to see Mario Chalmers & Julian Wright play. *We miss them!* Shaun, Whitney & Lyla came to the house Saturday night to watch KU play. The game was awful, but at least we got to see Lyla in her Jayhawk outfit...adorable! She is getting bigger and cuter everyday! Today we went with Mandy, Justin, and Alex to watch Ethan's Flag Football game. He did great...1 touchdown and he got 4 flags! :) Watching those little boys play (K-1st grade) is hilarious!

In recent family news...Jamie & Jill got married on September 19 and are already pregnant! :) Also, Justin asked Mandy to marry him! Looks like they are planning a Spring 2010 wedding! We are so excited about all the new changes going on...it's hard to keep up, but we love every minute! James & Kinsey Post also had their first baby, Tanner Hoyt Post, last month. We were able to see him while we were home for Jamie & Jill's wedding...he is a doll and we can't wait to see him again! :)

We finally took our engagement pictures last week and should be getting the pictures back in the next couple of weeks...I can't wait! We took Belly with us to get a "family" picture, although he wasn't what I would call photogenic or cooperative! Hopefully at least one turns out!

I started up a wedding website...check it out: http://www.theknot.com/ourwedding/BryantMuir&DanielleBerland2010

Okay...that's all for now! Bryant WILL be writing the next blog soon...I promise!

Love,

Bryant, Danielle & Belly

End of the Summer Update

Well...again I have to apologize for being so awful about blogging! Although, I can partly blame it on the fact that the past months have been extremely busy for us.

I am officially back home after living in Wichita for the summer! :) Bryant & I did a good job of visiting each other every weekend and talking lots on the phone, but it's still so good to be home! I spent the first week back getting some much needed house cleaning done...Bryant & Belly turned our house into quite the bachelor pad while I was away. Yuck! I didn't enjoy Wichita as much as I had hoped to, but a job is a job...otherwise getting the experience I now have was great!

I start classes on Aug. 27 and this entire week I have been in interview after interview...for NEXT summer! I can't believe we have already started the interviewing process for next summer when I just finished this summer! I am doing about 3-5 interviews a day this entire week, with a total of 18...so hopefully I get at least a few call-backs! (And hopefully for some firms in Kansas City!)

Bryant has been busy at work as usual...he got news yesterday that Hurricane Bill may hit the East Coast soon...if it does, he may be deployed depending on the volume of the claims. I'm crossing my fingers he doesn't have to go! He had a blow-out on his work car yesterday on interstate...luckily it all turned out okay (aside from the search for the spare tire!) Apparently in mini-vans the spare tire is hidden under the console between the front seats...brilliant. I also had some car issues in the last few weeks. We traded my 4Runner in and got a Jeep Commander...3 days later I hit a HUGE buzzard and shattered my windshield! Don't get too close...my luck might rub off on you!

Last week we went back to Stockton for the Rooks County Fair! We were able to go for the entire week and then some. I finally got to see Julie's engagement ring...and in case I haven't blogged about that...Nate & Julie are engaged! They are getting married next year and are having a destination wedding in Jamaica! :) We're so happy for them and really looking forward to another beach wedding! We're so lucky that our best friends are getting married to each other!

During the fair we went to motorcycles races, watched Nate race, went to the demos, saw Heidi Newfield and Jayme Johnson at the concert, AND ate a ridiculous amount of fried food! Sunday after the fair, Julie & I hosted a baby shower for Kinsey which was alot of fun! She got so much cute (tiny) stuff! She's due on Sept. 14 and they don't know what she's having yet...always something to look forward to! We will be back in town right after she's due for my brother Jamie's wedding, which happens to be on my mom's birthday!

During fair week we were able to see so many friends & family! Shaun, Whitney & Lyla were home all week too so we got in plenty of Lyla time! She is just perfect...lots of smiles (mostly for mom & dad) but there were lots for us too! Everybody fell in love with her at the fair...as if you couldn't! :) We got to spend lots of time with Jamie & Jill, Joey, and Hannah too (when she wasn't texting!) Seriously...she can text, instant message, facebook, listen to her iPod and download music ALL at the same time! (She's 12) We took turns staying at Ruthie & Verl's and my mom & dad's house, so we were able to see both of our parents alot too! Someday we'll live closer & we won't have to split the time up so much! :) I also got to go to Rock Haven Spa with Whitney, Kayla, Lindsey, LeAnn, and Laura the Friday of the fair...heaven! I can't wait to go back again! Bryant had some fun too...he spent some time out at the farm riding motorcycles and shooting guns with Shaun and went golfing on Men's Night with Verl, Brad & Shaun and another night with Jesse Stithem. Belly had a great time at my parent's house chasing cats and pretending like he is a farm dog! He got in the trash one night and ate several corn cobs (whole). He didn't feel so hot the next day...maybe he learned a lesson about eating out of the trash!

Looking forward to football season, Bryant got us season tickets! Rock Chalk Jayhawk!

Now I have to apologize again for writing so much! Sorry. :)

Until next time,
Bryant, Danielle & Belly

Mid-Summer Update

Well June is officially in the books. With Danielle spending the weeks in Wichita for her summer clerkship and me being pretty busy at work, it has been pretty dull. Highlights so far: Schmidt wedding in Daytona Beach, 311 concert at City Market, Fridays meeting Danielle in Lawrence for dinner and cocktails, golfing with Shaun on Tuesday nights, and of course getting to spend time with the getting-cuter-every-day niece of mine Lyla. The Kansas Basketball recruiting thing has been wild, but getting old. Excited for football to start.

Went to the driving range with Danielle the other day. She has already got some experience by playing with her firm in a scramble. She plays again tomorrow so we'll see if our day on the range helps any. She seems reluctant to take instruction from me.....

My XBox suffered from the Red Ring of Death, which means that it doesn't work and I have to send it in to get it fixed. Danielle took the Wii to Wichita and doesn't even use it. So I've mostly been watching a bunch of crappy movies and reading in my free time. I am currently reading 3 books, which I don't normally do, just having a hard time sticking with any one of them (except Harry Potter for some reason).

Belly seems increasingly bored with me. Danielle thought he looked fat last time she was home. I admit that neither one of us is getting enough exercise, just too hot. Also, he's a bulldog....and I'm lazy.

Well one more day of work, then off to Stockton for an extended weekend. Pretty excited to be home and see the fam and friends. Danielle's parent bought a camper, and then told us to bring the tent home, so we'll see if we make the camper roster or are delegated to the tent. Whit and Shaun promised they would be bringing Lyla home despite just being there for a week and a half and just getting back to KC on Sunday, so we are very excited to see her some more. I'm pretty sure I'm gonna be able to teach her to say "Uncle Bryant" for her first words. She's pretty close, but sounds more like a squeal/cry right now.

Well Danielle just called and apparantly I'm supposed to be packing so I can be ready to leave tomorrow. Slight chance of thunderstorms for the drive home. Better put the top up :(

All for now...told you it was dull.

-Bryant (Danielle & Belly)

Recent Pictures!

Life As We Know It!

Well it has officially been TOO long since we last blogged. I was reading the last post and so much stuff has happened I don't know where to begin. I'll try to keep it as short and informative as possible, using bullet points. (That's what the supervising attorneys at work tell me to do in my research assignments!) Here we go...

• I finished my first year of law school! I am officially a 2L and 1/3 of a lawyer...scaaarrry.
  
• I moved to Wichita in the middle of May and began my summer career as a law clerk for the law firm of Martin Pringle. At first I was extremely homesick, missing Bryant, Belly and our home, but now feel a little more comfortable in my new surroundings. The firm is great! I really enjoy all of the attorneys I work with and even like doing the crazy research projects that they give me. It's still hard for me to believe that I'm dealing with "real" clients with "real" legal issues. They have been keeping me incredibly busy with work, social events, and lawyer league softball. (16 different law firms in Wichita get together every Tuesday night...play softball, drink beer, and then go to a bar for more beer following the games.) Luckily it's only semi-competitive. :)
  
• Lyla Blake Fuller arrived on May 18, 2009! As you all already know by now, Whitney & Shaun had their first baby girl almost 3 weeks ago...an early surprise! She was born the day after I left for Wichita...apparently she didn't hear me when I told Whitney to make sure she had her on the weekend so I could be there for her arrival! :) She is perfect! :) She is doing great, and is at home with her mom & dad who have already gotten this parenting thing down! Bryant has gotten to see her a few times and I have only gotten to see her once...he keeps rubbing it in too! He has been bragging about her to everyone we know...I know of at least 3 guys that are already wrapped around her tiny little finger! Whitney & Shaun are doing great! They are glad to be home with Lyla and I'm sure Bentley is equally pleased.
• Bryant & I were able to go back home for Memorial Day weekend. It was, as always, a great time! We hung out with family & friends on the newly created sand beach at the cabin and enjoyed the jet-ski and boat! Verl took the boat out and Bryant skied...luckily Verl was nice and Bryant didn't end up too sore! ;) Belly loved being at the lake too! He was pretty excited to swim around and of course bring us any and all sticks that he could find in the water. We also got to see my parents a few times for some food and laughs! We drove Bryant's Jeep Wrangler home with the top down which was alot of fun! I learned how to drive a stick-shift! Turns out it's not that bad-Bryant's a pretty good teacher...it takes alot of patience to teach me! We even got to take the Jeep through the river!
  
• Our friends John & Laura are officially Mr. & Mrs. Schmidt! Bryant & I went to their wedding in Daytona Beach, Florida a little over a week ago. It was perfect and so much fun! We were able to go Thursday to Monday so we had plenty of time hanging out on the beach with some of our favorite people! Everything was amazing...we ate, drank, laughed, and played in the sun & sand. I'll let Bryant blog more about stories from the trip! :)
  
• After getting back from Florida we were able to stop in and see Lyla, Whitney, Shaun & Ruthie. I finally got to hold her...she really is just perfect! I was thinking about taking her home with me, but I'm pretty sure Bentley wouldn't have let me get within 5 feet of the door with her! :) He seemed a little nervous when I picked her up out of the crib...he's keeping a good eye on her! Whitney looks amazing and definitely does not look like she was pregnant less than 3 weeks ago! I'm really looking forward to seeing Lyla again this coming weekend, although I'm sure Bryant will try to see her earlier this week...lucky! :)
• This past week has been great! After getting back from Florida, Farmers sent Bryant to Wichita to help out with claims...which meant that we got to be together this whole week! We were both pretty busy during the week with work, but we managed to make it to the firm's softball game where we both played. I was awful...and managed to strike out...TWICE! Bryant did a great job and I was able to introduce him to several of the attorneys I work with. The next day they all told me what a great guy I had...as if I didn't already know! :) They also said that he is more than welcome to come back and play on our team anytime!
• Finally...this weekend we stayed in Wichita and got to know the area a little better. There really is alot to do here! We had some really great dinners and went out on Saturday night with my friend Alicia, Bryant's cousin Carver and Carver's brother-in-law Austin. Carver's wife Cherina was out of town, so we didn't get to see her...guess we'll all just have to go out again soon! :) We had alot of drinks and alot of fun! It was sad to send Bryant & Belly home today, but I will get to see them again this weekend for Bryant's birthday! I think we are planning on going to a concert or a Royals game...should be a great weekend with lots of stories to blog about!
  

Okay...so maybe this wasn't short! :) I'll make Bryant do it next time...his blogs are much more entertaining! :) Hope everybody is enjoying their summer!

Until next time,
Bryant, Danielle & Belly