Love Notes

Nate and I have started something new. Actually, I started it and he is participating. I like to say that I am a romantic and love little ways to spice up our marriage. As I was cleaning out a box of things that was in my bathroom, I found a pretty little notepad. It has a hard cover with small sheets inside that were made to tear out. I set it on the back of our toilet, wrote a love note to my man and set it on top of the notepad. Alongside the notepad is a pen.

Let's face it. As a busy Mom, sometimes the only time you get a chance to sit down for a couple of minutes is on the toilet when you have to go. What better time to take those few minutes to write a note to your spouse? :) Because of it, Nate and I have had cute little note's waiting for each other. I have one when I get up in the morning after he's gone to work, and he usually has one when before he gets in the shower at night. It really makes my day to start it out by hearing that my husband loves me and appreciates a specific thing that I do during the day. And that's the great thing about it, too, is that you can tell each other how much you appreciate their hard work to keep the household running smoothly, or to provide for your family.

It's just an idea...we love it!

Celebrating Labor Day

So, I finally did it: I lost 5 pounds last month. Those 5 pounds have been haunting me for months! I literally worked my bottom off for this, I feel so much better and mostly I'm just so happy to have conquered my flesh! :) I'm hoping to lose 5 more in the next month, but we'll see how I do. In the beginning I wanted to lose 10, but I am trying to set more realistic goals for myself by doing it in 5 pound increments. Now I only have 5 more to lose! So, on this labor day, I am celebrating the victory of my labor to lose this weight! :)

Trip to the Park!

We took the girls to the park tonight right near our house. They loved playing with the little rocks the best!

Us on the way there...Cola saying "I love You!"
Brooklynne learning to enjoy the swing!
Getting ready to go down the slide. They are such cuties! We are having so much fun together, despite the big age difference.
Playing with the rocks
I love this picture. She put 2 Animal Crackers in her mouth and ate all of them with only her one little tooth!

Mom's Visit

On Tuesday we picked up Mom, Lydia and Nicolea at the airport for a week long visit! I was so excited and couldn't wait for them to get here! Mom brought us out to dinner on our way home which was really nice (except for Brooke making a huge scene at Chili's by screaming and crying). Here are some pictures from the last few days here!

At Chili's the night they got here (Brookie shortly before her big scene!:0) Coey, Ly and Isaac (the little boy I watch) getting ready to play in the pool. It's so small but they had a great time!
Brookie wasn't too sure!
Lydia had to rescue her :)
She did sit there for a little while but was shivering and had a big poochie lip :(

15 Months Old

Pretending to Eat
Look Mom! No Hands!

Little Brookie is 15 months old today. How time flies! I can't even believe that my little baby is almost a toddler (when she would actually start walking :)



Weight: Last I knew, 16.5. Still tiny!



Eyes: Are turning more brown. Most of the time they look green and sometimes more blue. She always gets comments about how pretty her eyes are.



Vocabulary: She now says many words on her own without promting, though she will say many repeating after me. These are the ones she says on her own: Momma, Daddy, Grandpa, Grandma (Ba-Pa), Diaper, Ducky, Quack-Quack, Doggie, ruff-Ruff, Uh-Oh, Ball, Drink, Yeah (literally answers questions that she has no idea about with a little 'yeah', all serious).



Sign Language Vocabulary: Please, More, Eat, Juice



Loves: The first thing that comes to mind, DUCKY! She wants it immediately when she wakes up and pretty much has to have it in the near vicinity all day. When it goes in the wash she cries and when it was in the dryer the other day she sat in front of the dryer saying, "ducky, ducky", until it was dry!



I'm so blessed with my little girl and so thankful to God for giving her to me!

No Fussing!

I feel like that's all I've been saying lately, repeating it over and over a hundred times a day to Brooklynne. I know what is best for her, and when she doesn't get what she wants, she whines and fusses. She doesn't understand, and I wish that she would just trust my judgment.

I'm sure that's how the Lord feels when he is trying to work out his will in our lives and let his infinite plan play out. We whine and fuss and ask the Lord why, and he is sitting in Heaven wondering why we won't just trust him. Has he ever let us down? Have we ever looked back in the end and regretted what the Lord taught us and how he brought us through each little stage in life? Of course not! Just like Brookie will look back one day and be thankful for the training that her parents gave her, realizing then that it was for her best.

The Lord can teach you a lot through your children. That is what I am learning right now. Each time I say it to her, feeling my frustration rising, I think that the Lord must feel like that each time I don't want to accept his plan for me that day. Thank God for the lessons he teaches us through the little tiny people in our lives.

Great Truths About Life

These facts were collected by experiences of real children :).

• No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize a cat.
• Never let your Mom brush your hair when she's mad at your Dad.
• If your sister hits you, don't hit back. Parents always catch the second person!
• Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair.
• You can't trust dog's to guard your food.
• You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.
• You shouldn't wear polka dot underwear under white shorts!

At almost 15 months...

Brooke took her first steps last night! Finally! :) She's been standing up a lot more and I have been just waiting for her to walk to me. Last night I was waiting in my Mother-in-laws office after church with my sister-in-law and her kids and Brooke stood up and took 2 steps toward me and then took 3 more after that!

As a first time Mom I'm extremely excited and of course had to bore you all with my story. :) Hope you don't mind!

Let the Imagination begin!

Brooke "stirring" and "eating" her "food". Thus, the years of imaginary playing begin!

Thanks! You made my day!

What makes a woman's day in corprate America? A sale? An extra friendly client? Compliment from the boss? A long lunch break? Seriously, how good can a day be at "work?"

I know that no day outside of my home, working for someone else can compare to my days as a Mom. You know what makes my day? When my daughter and I are playing together and all of the sudden, she puckers her lips, goes "mm" and leans over to kiss me. It's when she smiles at me from across the room, laughs when I tickle her or learns something new. It's when she lays on my shoulder and sucks her thumb, totally relaxed in Mommy's arms.

The other day I took a diaper out and was getting ready to change her when she said "bi-per" ever so clearly. I was so proud of her! My baby said diaper! I was literally smiling for the rest of the day! :) Now that made my day.

How can a day out in the work force be better than that?

Bath Time at our House

Bath time has been becoming much more dramatic around here. Tonight topped it all. Sorry that I was laughing so hard...I just couldn't help myself! She actually did fully climb out once as I was trying to reach for the soap! And don't worry---once we stopped the video, it was not all fun and games! We are working on this problem until she will peacefully enjoy her bath.

CO. Trip Part 4--Trip to Rifle Creek

Us at Rifle creek, a spot that Nate's family went a lot when the kids were all really little!

Memories of years before...we were only sad to be missing Adam.
All the girls!

Brookie and Trini at Rifle creek, watching everyone dip their feet into the freezing cold water. It runs off the mountains, so when I say FREEZING...it is!!
Giving kisses!
Beautiful Family!
Verity wanted uncle Nate to take her in the water. Here he's stepping out after about 10 seconds--way too cold!

CO. trip Part 3--Scenery

The 2 couples went on a double date golfing at the most beautiful course in Colorado. I took several pictures to try to portray the beaty of CO., but it's very hard to capture it in a small picture. You almost have to see it for yourself!



I HATE mountains, but I loved Colorado. Go figure! It's really breathtaking and you can't help but praise God for his beautiful creation!

CO. Trip part 2

They had a little crepe stand there that you could put anything in. we had a strwberry cheescake crepe--it was SO good!!
There are a lot of beautiful flowers there.
Brookie turned on the T.V. and Trini and her were getting into the DVD player. It was pretty funny!
Walking downtown with daddy!
Brookie and Trini are becoming good friends, and it will be more so as they get older seeing that they are only 6 months apart!

CO trip Part 1

On Friday night we left for vacation in Colorado with the Simpson family. This is the first time that the Simpson's have been all together for vacation in over 5 years, and the first time I've ever been in Colorado. I have to say that it is absolutely breathtaking here! I will be posting pictures as I get the chance throughout our one week stay.

At our 2nd last rest stop before we got to Breckenridge. We were so happy to be almost there!It took over 21 hours to get there, which was not quite planned. We hit traffic and traveling with 4 kids 3 and under takes a little longer. :)
When we finally got to our condo, we were busy unpacking the van's and Brooke decided she was hungry. This was the result! :)
Our condo is walking distance from the cutest little town of Breckenridge. There are hundreds of shops and restaurants that you can browse through.
This morning, Nate, Brookie and I went to the store to pick up a few things and I took this picture of Brooke doing "thumbs up" which she now does on demand. My sister's and Uncle Greg taught her when I was away last week!

Last night all of us walked down to the town. You don't know how happy we are to be wearing hoodie's! It's about 65 here which is so beautiful compared to our usual 105 degree weather back home!