Know-it-all

Yesterday's conversation as we pulled onto the street where Daddy works:

Brooklyn: "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!"
Me: "Ya B, this is where Daddy works. You're such a smart girl!"
Brooklyn states proudly: "I know."

Smartie-pants. Love that little girl!

Go Broncos!

We took the kids to watch the Boise State tennis team this weekend. Erik got them all decked out in orange and blue, so we had to take pics. Brooklyn of course just ran around the whole time, while I chased her. I guess they won too. Then we drove around different areas of Seattle we had never been. I have decided I want to live in Magnolia. It is a beautiful little suburb on the sound with tons of character. Just a "little" out of our price range, but a girl can dream right?

Brooklyn, the camera lense is NOT a phone, and your brother doesn't want to talk! "Can we just GO please!"

Happy baby boy.

Two of Brooklyn's favorite things, her toothbrush, and watching Barney.

Long white beards...

Attention old men with long white beards, white hair, and red shirts: If my daughter sees you, she will shout out "SANTA!!" with great enthusiasm. Don't be alarmed.

We saw such a man yesterday at Albertson's. Funny girl.

Moments like this...

I walked in the room and found my sweet kiddos like this: Just chillin' and watching Sesame Street.

Brooklyn decided Troy needed a kiss and a hug. Such a sweet sister.

How lucky are we?! Life doesn't get any better than this.

The Big 1-8

Clapping along to Barney, her FAVORITE show ever!

Yup, that's right, Brooklyn is 18 months! Yippee! Nursery, here we come! She went in for her first "official" day in nursery and loved it. She came home singing "Ring Around the Rosie." It took us a few minutes to figure out what she was saying and why she kept falling down (she was doing this on our bed). Pretty funny! It's fun to know that she is picking things up. She also picked up a new word...MINE! Yippee! :) So now everything Troy has, she takes it, and declares, "MINE!" Poor little Troy. She'll get hers though eventually. Watch out Brooklyn!

Brooklyn is still our little sweetheart and is never short on kisses, hugs, high-fives, and knuckles. She also LOVES the words no, "nana" (banana), GOOO!, Buh-bye, baby, MINE!, Doggy, What is it?, and many other words, I could go on and on. She loves to color, especially up at the table like a big girl. She has found a new addiction to Danimals yogurt, and still loves eggs for breakfast. She usually can eat 2! Brooklyn loves to drink out of a cup like a big girl, even though most of it usually ends up on her shirt and on her lap. She still really enjoys our runs together and loves pointing out the the "dog-dog's" to Troy and me. She has also started enjoying counting her fingers and toes with Mommy and Daddy's help, especially when she's getting her diapers changed. It's a great distraction to having to sit still for SO LONG! She has started tantrums (joy!), but quickly stops when I mention "Do you need GINGER in your mouth?" Well, most of the time she stops. I try and carry the ginger with me, it comes in handy I tell ya! :) She also LOVES to watch Barney and Sesame Street and gets SO mad when I turn the TV off. I think she would enjoy having it on all day if I'd let her (like her Dad I suppose). Brooklyn is such a great big sister and is sometimes the only person who can calm Troy down. He just beams when she comes around. I can already tell they are going to be the best of friends and I'm sure will get in lots of mischief together.

Her stats for her 18 month appointment are: 22 lbs 4 oz(10-25%), 32 in. long (50-75%). Troy is catching up FAST at 17 lbs 10 oz.

Happy New Year!

We had a fun New Years. We went out to dinner to one of our favorite restaurants (Simply Thai) with the Rigtrup's, and then partied for a couple hours at the Baker's. We came home, celebrated New Year's at 10 with Brooklyn by letting her bang on pots and pans, then put her to bed. Erik and I BARELY made it to midnight. We're such old fogies! Did anyone else tear up watching Dick Clark? So sad!

A couple of days ago, I was letting Brooklyn color, and this is how I found her. I had to get a picture of her next to her "work." Good thing they are washable! Little stinker. I'm sure we have many more years to look forward to her little shenanigans. It will get really interesting in a year with little brother in tow.

And the other pictures were just taken quickly before church. I finally put the finishing touches on her dress I made. Now I need a new sewing project!

Happy New Year!! Excited much?!

Oh, how she loves her little brother! Don't I look pretty Mom?!

Now THAT was FUN!

Our handsome man, always stuck in his swing!

"Cheese!"

'Tis the Season

Saying her new favorite word...NO!

Our little angelic child...

"NOOO! Not in your EAR!" The smorgasborg of sprinkels.

Mmm...frosting!

"What the heck is this thing for? Must be a frosting holder. Just give me the bowl, will ya?"

We had a fabulous Christmas, and we hope everyone did as well! We spent Christmas Eve night with our good friends. We had a nice candlelight dinner, frosted cookies for Santa, and watched the Nativity. Brooklyn had frosting EVERYWHERE! I'm finally letting my reigns out a little bit and letting her get messy. She really seems to enjoy it, as does Daddy. He likes to get her to touch her hair, ears, eyes, etc. when she's messy. Hence the picture with her finger in her ear (there was still frosting in there in the morning!). Anyway, Brooklyn loves going over there and playing with their dog Roxy, and their two kids Bailey and Gabriella. Thanks again Rigtrup's!

Brooklyn woke up Christmas morning at 5:30. She was just too excited (right, 'cause she totally knew what was going on, ha!)! We weren't as thrilled, as you can imagine. But we finally dragged ourselves out of bed at 6 to open presents. Brooklyn got a rocking horse, but her favorite present is definitely her new crayons. She can't put them down! Needless to say, we are now having to discipline as to WHERE she can color. Like most kids, she thinks the walls, her face and hands, and the floor are good to color on. Luckily they're washable. Troy got a couple chew toys and a teddy bear and is completely content with them. In fact, he was "playing" (or eating rather) with his new teddy bear yesterday and Brooklyn stole it from him. You would have thought she punched him in the face because he SCREAMED BLOODY MURDER! Poor guy, he's always having to put up with his big sis. But he sure knows how to get his mommy's attention!

We took the kids to see "Marley and Me" this weekend and Brooklyn really liked the first half of the movie. But when the dog started showing up less and less, she became restless. Troy enjoyed the WHOLE movie though. Good times!

We are so thankful for this wonderful time of year and the opportunity to reflect upon our Savior. We are looking forward to a New Year! I can't believe it's already here. 2009, here we come!!