Happy Birthday Brooky!!

It's Friday the 13th and it's "Brooky's" 2nd birthday! We had pancakes and 1/2 a cupcake for breakfast - they were happy!

After we went to Brynn's school, we had a play date at the park with our friends. and... MORE cupcakes!

We had more fun playing at home, skyping with Nana & Papa and opening more presents. Then we had spaghetti & meatballs for dinner and I guess you can get away wearing your "birthday suit" when you're 2!

Time for MORE cupcakes! They look happy! :)

She looks like she's going to attack that candle!

Make a wish baby girl!

She loves blowing out the candles so we sang a few times and destroyed the cupcake as you can see!

Then, one last present from Mommy, Daddy & Brynn... "close your eyes!"

A bouncy horse! She was in heaven

Jump, jump, jump!

Brynn's turn!

This was hilarious! Check out the videos below - you'll be entertained!

and now, just like that, she's 2!!! She has taught us a lot in the past 2 years... especially how to survive with very little sleep! She challenges us day in and day out, she's very stubborn, determined and hard headed - BUT she brings so much love and joy to our family and we wouldn't trade her for the world! Her smile, smirks and giggles light up the room and she gives the best hugs and kisses anyone could ever ask for. We love you baby girl!! (and we hope you spare us with those "terrible 2's"!! Haha)  

Giddy Up Horse!

Let's just say she got better each time she took him for a ride! This one should be on Funniest Home Videos!!

Fun With Auntie!

We had so much fun while Auntie was here... Brynn can't get enough of her and even makes her have "slumber parties" and sleep in her room at night! One night she left Auntie on the floor alone in her room & came into our bed at 3:30am! Poor Auntie...

Auntie got the royal treatment... the girls love to do her hair!

We went to Zoo Lights on one of the coldest nights in Phoenix. Brrr.... but fun!

It was great on a Monday night - hardly anyone there!

We saw the giraffes...

and so many beautiful trees

Right before the light show on the water began...

The girls!

The girls and Bryce!

Brooky loves the carousel! As long as they don't go up and down. 

Her smile couldn't get any bigger here!

So pretty!

The Zoo Lights gang... We survived the cold but were pretty numb by the time we went home!

Brynn was asleep - or frozen - by the time we left the parking lot!

Milk and Cookie Party Time!

Brynn was such a big help getting ready for the milk and cookie party! She's been excited for weeks so when it came time to start baking, she was right there by my side!

Chocolate Chip Cookies - yum! 

It's PARTY DAY!!! Brooklyn was having a moment right before her friends were about to arrive because she didn't want to get dressed. Since her idea of a birthday suit was not going to fly, we had many tears trying to put on her birthday shirt. She is so opinionated as such an early age - ugh. She picked out the baggy jeans and the "dorothy" party shoes! LOL. Anyway, to stop the tears we decided to let her see her new playhouse before her friends arrived. That put a big smile on her face!

They love it!

Brynn's perfect party pose!

The cookies are ready. We had sugar cookies, chocolate chips, chocolate fudge brownie cookies, gingerbread and ting a lings!

True statement!

Our Elf slept in a bowl of marshmallows

Birthday Girl!

Our girls LOVE our neighbor Jenna who lives across the street. Brynn wants to have a sleepover at her house already. Oh boy, they're growing up so fast!

Jax & Penny relaxing in the cozy cottage

Brynn and Auntie! Notice the blankets on the plants behind them... it's been FREEZING (for us) and below freezing at night so the plants weren't too happy. We lucked out with weather for the party. It was actually really nice and right as it was almost time for everyone to leave, it started getting chilly again.

We played Pin the Nose on Rudolph!

Ate pizza for lunch...

and had COOKIES for dessert of course!

Brooklyn loved everyone singing to her! 

Her new nickname given to her by Brynn!

I lost count with how many cookies this girl ate during the day. All I know is that she had so much that she couldn't take a nap... she was on a sugar high!

Presents!!

There she is grabbing another one!

Caught ya!

She was a MESS!

I'd say she LOVED her birthday party! Can't believe she's 2. 

Happy Birthday Brooklyn!! We love you!

What is she up to these days?!?! Well, she's still very stubborn, determined and hard headed. She throws a fit like none other if you tell her no. She's feisty and knows exactly what she wants. She does not want help of any kind because she can do everything herself (or so she thinks!) ... BUT, she also gives the best hugs and her smile can light up the room. She is quite the entertainer and we always get comments from people when we're out because she makes everyone laugh - she's a goof, or a nut as Brynn calls her! She is the messiest eater I have ever seen, but she LOVES to eat. There's not too much she won't eat and she loves to eat meat... chicken, pork chops, steak - you name it! We laugh because we have one carnivore and one vegetarian! She can say "up", "yes", "mama", "dada" and no in her own little way. She loves to try to sing even though she doesn't know the words but I think she will start talking soon. It's almost impossible to get her dressed because by the time you have her shirt on, she's already taken off her pants. It's an all day ordeal and then it's just time for PJ's. She loves to take off whatever you pick out for her and go into Brynn's room and wear her clothes - which of course fall off of her by the time she walks out of her room. It can get quite frustrating so I need to take a few more yoga classes in 2014 to remind me to breath! LOL

There's much more I could write but I'll keep it short - have to get to bed. She's a funny one and we love her so much! I can't believe she's 2 already - crazy, crazy.

It Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas!!!

We've been so excited to start decorating for Christmas so first thing Friday, we were at it! This picture was taken after a long day full of decorating but Brynn was so cute... She asked me what that was so I told her a tree skirt and then her eyes got really big and she said, "Oh - can I wear it?!?!?" Cutest thing ever! I wrapped it around her and then she was doing twirls in the living room!

While the girls were busy inside, Bryce ("Clark") was busy working outside. Um... the Santa is a little big!

Brynn LOVED decorating the tree!

and "Brooky"... well, she loved tearing everything out of the boxes and actually ended up breaking at least 5 or 6 balls. Why am I not surprised?!?! I knew she was up to something when it was too quiet!