Cookies and Milk

I have been a total slacker. I think I was better at keeping updated when I worked full-time because we followed such a strict schedule. Now things at our house as just laid back and we do whatever, whenever (I must say I can't complain about that) but things like my blog do tend to get neglected. There are a ton of things in the last month that I should have blogged about (Brooke's birthday, Vegas trip, Easter, just to name a few :)) I apologize to all who stay updated on our family by reading this. I will try to catch up... someday. For now, you will have to settle for this.


Cole and Brooke were having cookies and milk the other night before bed. They both had the giggles and I couldn't help but snap a few pictures. I love that my kids are best buddies! They constantly have to know where each other are at all times. If Brooke is missing Cole walks around yelling "sissy!" sissy!" Cheesy, I know, but so cute.

Vacation

I was outside cleaning the car and the garage yesterday and Brooke was playing in the dirt. She went in the house for a minute and I assumed she was going to the bathroom. The next time I looked up this is what I saw... (yes, she is wearing her swimming suit)
It was only 40 degrees so I tried to get her to go back in and put clothes on but she was on "bacation" and would not put clothes on. I don't know how she didn't freeze but she played that way for over an hour! Crazy little girl.

P.S. Sorry its not the greatest picture, I took it with my phone.

Baby Girl to Big Girl

Newborn

3 months

6 months

9 Months

12 Months

18 Months

2 Years

2 1/2 Years

3 Years

3 Years Old

Brookelyn will be three years old next week so I took the kids to get their pictures last week. We didn't get hardly any of Cole because he was a STINKER but I thought the ones of Brooke turned out cute. I rarely do her hair down so I was surprised at how long it has gotten!

New Words

This is something I wish I would have done with Brooke so I could look back and remember. I am pretty sure she talked more than Cole at this age.

Here is a list of words that Cole says at 17 months. Most of them he puts together to two or three words.

Hows (Hallie)
Mom
Dad
Brookie
'On't know (I don't know)
gen (again)
Wan Mo (want more)
Baw (ball)
Ni Ni (night night)
purpo (purple)
ewo (yellow)
bu (blue)
geen (green)
piwo (pillow)
Root Beer
Git Dat (from a Black Eyed Peas song)
No
Co (Cole)
Uh uh
Uh oh
Uh huh
Goggy (doggy)
Horsey
Hi
Boo
Grandpa
Bro Bro (Brody)
Bway (Blair)
Grandma
Go
Bye
dat (that)
bi (bite)
up
ay (hey)

owsi (outside)

dop (stop)

down

gaga (garbage)

gagon (all gone)

done

oo it (shoot it)

fooball (football)

baball (basketball)

oos (shoes)

ew (new)

ot gog (hot dog)

coke

da doo (thank you)

hea (here)

boom boom

gus du (excuse you)

Jesus

Baby

Get Me

pwidy (pretty)

kuku (kucky)

cuke (cooke)

da (dog)

rarrr

hot

papack (backpack)

popa (open)
babye(rock-a-bye)
don't
daw (draw)

Read This!

This was on the news last night and I couldn't figure out how to post it on my blog. For some reason it just wouldn't paste. I sent it to my cousin Brie and she posted it on hers. Click here to go read it. It is heart breaking. As I was reading it I couldn't get it out of my head that it could have been me. The little boy is the exact same age as Cole and his brother about the same as Brooke. I can't count how many times I've left them alone in the tub for "just a minute." Never will I leave my kids in the tub alone again!

Big Boy

We moved our full size spare bed into Brooke's room in an attempt to bribe her to stay in her own bed all night. Instead of putting the twin bed downstairs to collect dust, I decided to put it in Cole's room. He was all excited and refused to sleep in his crib so I decided to let him try the big boy bed. It lasted about three minutes before he jumped down and came running out. Mom is definetly not ready for that! An hour of crying in his crib later he finally gave in and went to sleep. Silly boy!

P.S. If anyone has any suggestions on how to get Brooke to stay in her own bed all night I'm willing to try anything at this point. Everynight around 2 or 3 she comes and gets in our bed. Of course she gets in on Matt's side so he just scoots over and I don't even know she's there until he leaves for work in the morning.

Such a Trooper

Brooke had her tonsils taken out Friday because they were HUGE. She snored loud, had sleep apnea, and choked easily on food because of them. I am SO proud of her. She has been such a big girl. Matt took her bright and early Friday morning and she didn't cry at all. When she woke up after the surgery she just wanted a drink because she was thirsty. They got home about 12:30 (I stayed home with Cole) and she opened her mouth to show me her tonsils and her frog were all gone. (Blair told her she had a frog in her throat one day about a month ago and it has been there ever since) She ate about 4 bowls of soup, some cereal, and some pudding and was just as happy as ever. Yesterday continued with much of the same. Lots of eating and playing. No complaints! You'd never know she just had her tonsils out!! Today has been a little worse... I think she was just worn out. She has been asleep most of the day. Still not much complaining though, she's being such a big girl!

She'll probably hate me for posting this picture later but she was so out of it, it was funny!

It has been awhile since I last posted, but lets face it, there just hasn't been much to post about. Our ward split at the end of December and it has been a welcome change. We are much smaller now and most of the ward is made up of our neighborhood. That meant all new presidencies for everything because we lost so many people! Matt and I were supposed to be teaching the 10 year olds together but he was called to be the 1st counselor in the Sunday school presidency so for now it is just me. Although my class is a little rambunctious I enjoy them and they are great learners. It is a much welcomed change from the little kiddos I teach at school.

As of January 1, I cut back to two days at work and I am LOVING the time I have home with my kids. I am working hard to get my preschool up and going so I don't have to return at all next year. We are in the process of finishing a portion of the basement to dedicate just to preschool. Once that is done I am going to hold an open house and open registration so if you know anyone that would be interested let me know and I'll send them an invite.

MATT started school again... only 2 more semesters to go!! He keeps very busy between that and work but still somehow finds the time to be a wonderful dad and husband. He has also started studying for the dreaded CPA exam. The kids are SO excited when he gets home, they run to the door yelling "Daddy, Daddy!" He is also trying hard to exercise more and make use of the spin bike he got me for our anniversary/Christmas (which by the way I LOVE!!!)

BROOKE will be starting preschool in February and couldn't be more excited. She is so friendly and outgoing I'm sure she'll have no problems. She had her tonsils taken out last Friday... more to come on that in another post.

COLE is growing like a weed and saying new words everyday. Some of the newest are pillow, doughnut, and root beer. He knows exactly what he wants and if he doesn't get it boy he lets you know it. Its hard for me to believe that Brooke was only a month older than him when he was born. She seemed like such a big girl and he still seems like such a baby. Maybe its just because I'm not ready to let my baby grow up :)

That is about all that is new in our house. Boring, boring, boring :)

Christmas 2009

The Family and Santa

Party at the Armory

Angels & Wisemen
Happy Boy
Brooke & her ball

Daddy & Cole

My sweet baby, growing up WAY too fast. His favorite thing to say lately is "Santa, ho ho ho"

Pretty Brooke in her nightgown from Nanny Peg... just like mommy when she was a little girl. And her new "cheese" face. Brooke doing Grandma Beck's nails and hair. Nanny Peg had her turn later too :) She is definitely ALL GIRL!
Opening his toolbox with Grandpa Brad

So excited about the new train set... or the box, not sure which :)
Princess Snow white opening presents

Cole and Aunt Bla

Pretty pretty princess... like I said, ALL GIRL!

On the way to Cache Valley

Daddy and Brooke Christmas morning

Brookie taking care of her baby, Sally. She must go everywhere with us right now.

Cole's piano and microphone. He just screams into it and laughs.

What a wonderful Christmas we had this year. Our kids were so fun and it was so nice to spend a few days with family and be together! The holiday started out with the traditional party at the Armory with Grandma Lorainne (or Grandma Rain as Brooke calls her) and Grandpa Wendall and all of Grandpa Mike's siblings and their kids. The next day, Christmas eve... we had Christmas with the Matt's family. The cousins all had a great time playing games, acting out the Nativity, singing Happy Birthday and giving presents to Jesus, getting a visit from Santa, and of course opening presents. They are finally getting to an age where they are actually old enough to understand some of the traditions! My kids were both terrified of Santa, which surprised me because Brooke has sat on his lap at the mall this year and been just fine. We finally got her to tell him that she wanted a dolly with lots of hair. Usually, we go to my family's Christmas Eve party after, but they started early this year and it was almost over when we were done so we headed home to Syracuse. Brooke was asleep before we hit Gilsdorf's house and Cole finally gave in after several minutes of crying when we got home. The next morning, Matt got us all up about 8:00 and we came to see what Santa brought. Brookelyn was so excited and immediately ran to her doll and started ripping open everything. Cole wasn't nearly as interested in opening presents, he just wanted what was inside. Grandpa Mike and Grandma Karen came that morning to see what the kids got. After they left, we headed back up to Logan for Christmas with my family. When we got there, everyone was exercising or in the shower and Brooke could hardly wait to open more presents. She found a Dora suitcase in Grandma's room and just knew it was for her so she started hauling it around. To her surprise it was filled with princess clothes that she immediately had to put on and wouldn't take off the rest of the day. Finally, everyone was ready and the kids were able to open the rest of their presents. They couldn't have been happier! After that, it was off to Nan and Grandpa's for lunch and yet more presents. By about 5:00 and no nap, Brooke was ornery and exhausted so we headed home. Matt and I mostly enjoyed the classic family traditions and starting a few of our own. We got some great gifts, but really just enjoyed the excitement, anticipation, and cheer of our children. Now onto yet another year... who would have thought 2010 would be here so fast.