Friday, November 30, 2012

Annual Christmas Pics with Auntie Janice

We went to Sahuaro Ranch Park today for our annual Christmas pics with Auntie Janice. Despite it still being very warm outside, we were all festive in our red and green, had the tripod ready and determined to get great pictures! The girls had other things in mind though... Last year we only had one little munchkin to work with - Brooklyn was very cooperative as she was still in my belly. This year's a different story! LOL.

Not sure what was happening here, but we were obviously NOT ready!

Brought out the santa hats and they're STILL not looking!

Ahhhh - we're all looking! But Mommy forgot to take her sunglasses off!

Pretty good one...

This one's probably the winner from the porch - Brooklyn is even cracking a smile! The big kids were sweating, but it's all worth it!

The park is full of peacocks, guinea hens, birds, and even roosters! 


Here we are holding up the palm tree...

Brynn and Auntie Janice

The rooster!! Brynn got a kick out of him, "cock-a-doodle-doo!"

Trying again to get a good one on the bench but Brooklyn was more interested in what was BEHIND us, and Brynn was too busy eating a snack - AGAIN!

Moving on and packing up, time to go! 

We decided to take one (or 2) more pics right before we left and I'm glad we did. These came out great! Janice and I forgot to put our hats on, but we can't remember everything... at least we had the girls!

Merry Christmas!!!  XOXO

Friday, November 23, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving!

Well it finally happened... I ran out of space on the blog! At first I was upset about it but then realized I could purchase additional space for $2.50/month which is a great deal considering this is the way so many of you keep up with our day to day activities! Yay - so that's all figured out. I'm so thankful for this blog (& for getting 2.5 years free of charge!) I love keeping it up to date for all of you because it makes me feel like all of you live here and share in our fun, even though most of you don't.

Since it's Thanksgiving and a good time to remember all of the things that we're thankful for, I'll list a few... this is nowhere near my complete list. That would go on for pages and pages, but here's a glimpse: I'm thankful for my amazing family (that includes you Nana, Papa & Auntie Kim!)... we have all been through so much together and are better people for having gone through it. I've had the most amazing childhood with the BEST memories ever and I hope to be able to create such wonderful memories for our girls. I know I always say this, but seriously - thank you for EVERYTHING that all of you do!! We are so lucky and love you so much.

I'm thankful for my amazing friends. Without you, I'm not sure where I'd be in life today. You have picked me up when I've been down and I know that I can come to you at any time whenever I need something. I love how there can be weeks, sometimes even months that go by between us talking but we can always pick up where we left off and completely understand each other - thank you! XO

I'm thankful for Bryce for showing me what love is all about and for believing in me even when I don't. He makes me feel beautiful even on my "not so beautiful days". I often remind myself how lucky I am for him to have waited for me during some of the most difficult times in my life. My life is a dream come true now and I love him so much!

And of course, I'm SO thankful for our 2 amazing, beautiful, smart and sassy little girls!! They make everyday so fun and we have learned so much from them. I love when Brynn comes up to you out of the blue and gives you the biggest hug and kiss ever, and when Brooklyn knows that she's not supposed to be playing in Jack's water - but gives you that look and then starts splashing having the time of her life while her little face is glowing with the biggest smile ever! It's the greatest ever to watch them play together and fight together at times too... I hope they grow up to be the best of friends and know that they have each other to lean on forever.

Here's a recap of our Turkey Day...

It started it with the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade...

Then it was time to start cooking. Here's Brynn helping with the stuffing. This is the face she makes when you ask her to say "CHEESE"!! Nice smile huh?!

I caught her more than once eating the bread instead of breaking it up... oh well!

Happy First Turkey Day!!!

So - Brynn has been fighting her naps this past week. We're not ready to give those up yet so we need to come up with a plan. Anyway, yesterday she kept coming out of her room like 20 times and then going back in and shutting the door. It was about 3:45pm and finally quiet in there. After a while I went on in to make sure everything was ok and........... Can you find her?!?!?! Sleeping like an angel buried under her toys! 

Since Brynn was sleeping and it was almost time to eat, Brooklyn kept trying her hardest to get in her room to wake her up. She was giggling and laughing while I was running around trying to stop her - and take her picture too! 

Little stinker!

We decided to start eating without Brynn because we've learned from experience not to wake her! Bring on the turkey!!

Brooklyn LOVED it... I wasn't surprised since she has eaten everything I've ever tried to give her so far.

She even  had seconds!

Sleeping Beauty woke up! Brynn enjoyed dinner as well and even had a third helping of turkey!

Our Family! XOXO - and our pumpkin pie!

She loved this too of course!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Where Did the Past 11 Months Go?!

I was seriously starting to break a sweat trying to get a good picture of her for her 11 month birthday! She's quick so you have to get her on the go...

Stopping for a breath...

Here I am! Rounding the corner...

Ha! Now here's her real personality: a little scream, then...

squirming on the floor making loud noises and then...

Taking a break to see if she has your attention. It's almost like she's saying, "so, how was that one?!" STINKER! Happy 11 months baby girl - you have brought so much love and excitement (& appreciation for sleep whenever we can get it) into our lives and we love you soooo much! Only one more month to go until we have cake! Mommy will cry I'm sure - it's gone so fast. 

A Day At the Park

Brooklyn's 11 months today!! She's so big... we celebrated by bundling up in our vests and heading to the park (even though once we got outside, Mommy realized it really wasn't that cold. I keep thinking that maybe if we bundle up and wear some of our winter clothes, the colder weather will come - still waiting! It was really nice out though and we had fun. Here she is sporting her new shoes! She has no problem walking in them either. 

A successful slide run!

Why so serious?!

She could even walk in the sand... in between her eating handfuls of it!


Brooklyn met a friend, her name is Joy. So cute! She just wanted to hug and kiss her all morning!

Brynn met some friends as well!

Swinging on the big girl swing these days!

When we got home, they had spaghetti for lunch. Brooke went out about her usual business and while I was cleaning the counters off, Brynn was busy.............................

making herself look like Brooklyn!! It wasn't funny, but it sort of was so I had to get a picture.

Goofballs - they love to give me more work to do!

LOVE!




This pictures just make you smile, don't they?! Too cute.