A Few Videos To Make You Laugh!

Brynn busy making Valentines! She picked out hearts for me, Bryce and her!
(Brooklyn had her own heart she was making for her room)

BARNEY! The girls LOVE Barney now. Brynn is studying hard all the dance moves that they do and she dances along with them! Brooklyn gets so excited when she sees the purple dinosaur and keeps saying "ba", "ba". Here they both make the sound of the lion that they show before the real show actually starts.

Sister snuggles! See what I mean about Brooklyn being a bit rough... Brynn ended up with a big scratch under her eye tonight and I think I lost a chunk of hair. I was trying to fix Jack's collar and she came over, pulled my hair to try to get me up, then pushed my forehead to lift my head, then pushed me all the way back to the couch - and she's strong! She likes the attention on her - who doesn't?!


*** Oh, Random Fact: I made hot dogs for us tonight... thought 3 hot dogs, one for each of us, should be fine. The girls ate ALL 3 of them! and they were the extra long Hebrew National hot dogs!!! Geez... guess I didn't to eat that badly!

Carrots For the Horsies

The girls and I went down the street to go feed the horses today since Brynn has been asking for quite a few days now. She loves to eat carrots these days because she knows the horses eat carrots and she can't wait to ride one again. She is getting so much better at communicating these days (I've really noticed a big jump in the last week) and I can understand that she's trying to tell me she wants to ride them again! I love it! So Bryce and I are going to take her again in the next few weeks to ride a horse.

She tries so hard to talk to us and it just melts my heart! Makes it really hard to say "no" to her... even though sometimes we have too. Everyone keeps saying that once she starts, she won't stop - but I really can't wait for that day! (Ask me in 10 years and I may change my mind!) So what can she say?? Well (to name a few): Mom, Dad, Me (& she points to herself) - she shows me signs for big & tiny, she can say more, milk, up, , yes, open, help - and most of these are followed with "please"... she's very polite! and just in the last few days she's really been trying hard to put things together - like "Me" and then she does her sign for the airplane or whatever she's trying to tell me that she wants to do. It's baby steps and can be frustrating at times but she is trying so hard and I just love her so much!! Today she was pointing to the different size burners on the stove and showing me which ones were big and which ones were tiny. It's exciting that she's starting to do this stuff more spontaneously without us having to ask her.

The Golden Arches...

On Tuesday we had our night with Auntie Janice (she always helps keep me sane while Bryce is gone!) and we met at Hobby Lobby first to shop around a bit. Brooklyn had a blast with the bunny ears and Brynn loves carrying around her little basket and does her best to put "extra" things in there... which are always found when it's time to check out!

After shopping, we took the girls for their very first McDonalds experience!!! (Janice is quite the trooper!)

Brynn hardly ate because she couldn't wait to get on that playground...

Brynn was a little hesitant climbing to the top at first, but this little girl helped her out and then she was a pro!

Brooklyn, on the other hand, wanted to play with all the boys and she didn't care that they were around 10 years old. She was climbing UP the slide and making them all laugh! She also really took a liking to this little girl who was 6 and kept going up to her giving her the biggest hugs (hugs that Bryce and I never get!) - I kept telling the girl to be careful because she can be rough and you never know what to expect. Well, they both were so cute cuddling and hugging and it lasted for probably 5-10 minutes and then.... she tried to BITE her! OMG - she's a crazy girl.

Sweet little Brooklyn Jean... but you can see that "look" in her eyes! I'm always so afraid to let her loose while we're at play dates or at the library or wherever because she's quick and you never know which side of her is coming out!!

Brynn had a blast. I had to bribe her with a Barney show and actually get inside the play ground and drag her out!! Phew - we made it out alive. Note to self: next time we'll try McDonalds at lunch... may not be so crazy! THANK YOU Auntie Janice!!

A Fun Ride...

This is perfect... Brooklyn was getting herself in the wagon earlier today so I was pulling her around and hurting my back. After dinner she did it again and Brynn had a blast pulling her!! Perfect solution... tire Brynn out and keep Brooklyn happy all at the same time! They were so cute. Happy to see that the little beach wagon is still getting used!

Here we GO!

Bye girls! Love the little mullet. Almost time for a hair cut!! :)

Auntie Kristin Comes To Visit!

I was so surprised when I found out that Kristin was coming to visit!!! She was out here on business and was going to spend the weekend with us. We actually got even more time with her... Wed-Sun, it was so fun! The weather was great and Kristin was wishing she brought her bathing suit! We spent a lot of time outside watching Brooklyn literally bury herself in sand. Oh my... nice hair!

Of course she would want to go backwards down the roller coaster! THEN she wanted to cruise down the thing while riding on the handlebars!

Brynn, of course, was all into Kristin's bag AND her shoes! She loves when the big girls come to visit so she can "shop"! Just wait til Auntie Allison comes!!

The girls! We had such a great time and Kristin even got to help me pick out my dress which was extra special since she was like my first little baby while I was growing up (we're 8 years apart and I couldn't get enough of her when she was little! I still can't - I love her so much and so proud of her) The girls had a blast and Brynn is still getting a pouty face when she shows me pictures of airplanes - we all miss her! I also can't get over how much I think she looks like MaryBeth in the picture - so crazy!!

PIZZA Party!!!

Brynn is all about helping in the kitchen these days so I thought it would be fun to have a Boboli Pizza Party! She had a blast - Brooklyn too, especially once it was time to eat! By the looks of this picture it looks like she already taste tested the sauce...

Time for the cheese!

I should have known better than to let the cheese lover in the house be in charge of putting the cheese on the pizza. She was putting one handful on the pizza and then two in her mouth!

Caught ya!

Pizza is ready to go in the oven!

Brooklyn's excited about that! FINALLY the pizza is almost ready! It's about time...

The all important taste taste....

It's a success! They giggled and held hands during their entire dinner!

Silly sisters!

Yay!! Brynn can cook!! Hip hip hooray! There was only one piece left of the pizza... and it was only the 3 girls eating.

Our Little "Twirler"

Brynn loves to "twirl" - anything! She twirls spaghetti, she twirls when she dances AND now she's twirling with her new hula hoop!! She even tried to "twirl" her pancakes this morning!

13 Months!!! What Is She Up To These Days?!

Well, Miss Brooklyn turned 13 months on Sunday and had her one year Dr appointment today... Dr. Nemivant said she's perfect and caught her little personality in action as soon as he came in the room - she was hiding behind the door taking her diaper off! She's a nut. He said that she can eat anything now except for honey and peanuts and we should ignore her when she throws her temper tantrums and let her cry it out in the middle of the night... it might be a few long weeks! She got 2 shots and didn't cry a bit - so brave!

She is now 20.8 pounds (Brynn was 22.1) and she's 30 inches (Brynn was 30 3/4). Since she has 2 teeth now and more are going to be popping out soon, she has started to brush her teeth! She also likes to sit on my lap now and look at books... I remember when Brynn started doing that and I love it! She also loves to climb and be chased... and play with whatever Brynn is playing with! She adores her big sister! She is a busy body and is in to everything so she keeps us on our toes. We love her so much and she makes us all laugh at her goofy personality!

Here she is in her new car seat facing forward so she can look out the window. We thought this might make her like the car a little more, but no luck...

Here she is doing the "Brooklyn style"... standing on the table and thinking it's the funniest thing ever! Oh man, this girl has had way more injuries in her first year of life than Brynn has had in her 2 1/2 years!!! (Thankfully nothing too serious... just a couple lost fingernails, a fat lip, cut toe and many, many bruises and bumps!) Such a goofball!

Can You See My Tooth?!

So little Brooklyn finally got her first tooth on her 1st Birthday, December 13th. It's taken til now to really be able to see it when she smiles. Her top left one has poked through - just barely but you can't see that one yet... you can definitely feel it when she bites though!

"Can you see my tooth now?!"

"How about now?!"

"Here it is!!"

Love this look... she was about to climb on top of the toybox but I stopped her with the camera! Ha - she was caught!!

Time For A Big Girl Room!

Since Brynn has been a "camper" and sleeping in her tent instead of her crib, we decided it was time to take it down, make more room and begin the transformation  to a Big Girl Room with a princess theme! We are not finished but at least you can see the beginning stages. Next we'll paint, do new curtains and jazz it up a bit!

Brynn was extra quiet in there one day while taking a nap and when we went in to get her, we found that she had gotten into the Vaseline and covered herself, her kitchen set and some of the carpet with it... lovely. At least she'll have soft skin!

Hello?! Can You Hear Me???

The day after Christmas, Brooklyn started talking on the phone - or... with a puzzle piece! Those puzzle pieces must have lots to say because she was going on for a while!

She wants to be like her big sister so badly!

When she's not busy talking on the phone, she can be found climbing on her train table!

Christmas 2012!

It's Christmas Eve and "Buddy" the Elf's last night with us before he flies back to spend the year with Santa at the North Pole. Brynn had so much fun finding Buddy every morning and she was VERY good at it!

Getting our carrots ready for the reindeer (hope they like their carrots shredded!) and cookies and milk for Santa...

This was too funny... I moved Brooklyn over so she could be a part of the experience as well and within seconds she reaches on in for a cookie. Just watch Brynn in these next few pictures. She put Brooklyn in her place!

"Listen - we do not mess with Santa's cookies, understand?!"

She didn't like that too much. This is the story of our life... one screaming and the other one cracking up!

This is our tree BEFORE we even put our presents under there! Thank you everyone for taking such good care of us - we love you all. You did way too much but we love everything and appreciate it VERY much! XOXO

The gifts from Santa (minus "conehead" Jack!)

The children were nestled all snug in their beds...

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care... (or entertainment center!)

Brynn and Brooklyn's special stockings from Donnie - so cute!

Merry Christmas sleepy head! Brooklyn was the first one up and although she looks really sleepy, she didn't waste time opening up a present. At least she picked one of hers!

Brynn loved her kitchen set from Santa and grabbed the phone right away to make some important thank you calls to the North Pole!

I think she's giving me that "no more pictures" look! Well, too bad!

Goofy girls!

Brynn loved getting the gifts from under the tree and would unwrap one, then go play with it for a while. Brooklyn, just wanted to eat everything! Daddy was busy putting everything together.

What's in here?!

Ooh - a Princess Castle!

Their farm set... or a fun box to climb on!

Baby Brooke and Mommy!

I love Christmas!!!

Snagging a candy cane. The LAST thing this girl needs is more sugar!

Taking a break to make a gingerbread train!

Choo Choo... the finished product! (A day later...)

One of the highlights from Christmas 2012 was the $3 Sit and Spin from Goodwill. Who would have thought?!

Wheeeeeeeeee

Of course little Miss Brooklyn would not want to SIT on it. "Can't we stand and spin?!"

She loves it!

We did a pretty good job of cleaning up as we go and still it looks like a mini tornado! Merry Christmas everyone!! We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas with family and friends. Thanks for helping to make ours so special! XOXO