Camping 2009

Growing up it was expected that we would spend most of our summer vacation camping.  I loved it.  Going to Redfish Lake was a favorite spot for me.  Unfortunately, Dave and I have never taken our kids camping until this last summer.  I regret to say that it was to the ward campout, and wasn't even in the mountains, back country.  It was a horrible weekend for a campout, but we endured well, and made up for the lack of sleep by taking a huge nap the next afternoon!  The winds were high, a train track ran right next to the campsite and "tooted" it's horn ALL night long and we woke up to a crazy rain storm.  Thank heavens for the heated hot tubs! 

Take ME Out To The Ball Game...

My wonderful husband, who has been gone most of the summer, drove home late one night, came into the bedroom, (3:00 a.m.) and told me to pack my bags, we were leaving by 6:00 a.m.! 

Now in my "tired" state, I tried to make sense of who would watch the kids, how I would miss the ward birthday breakfast and my correlation meeting on Sunday...but I couldn't pass THIS up:

It has been a dream of mine since I was little to attend a Major League Baseball Game, and in particular, the Rockies!  It was even better, because they were playing the Cubs that night!

Although they lost that night, they won the previous night and the next 2 nights! 

Go ROCKIES!

We didn't get a rental car on this trip, so it was really fun trying to figure out the transportation system from the airport, to the stadium, to our hotel and all around town.  We ended up using the train station daily for our transportation.  The stadium was just to the right of the union station and an outside mall, where only walking is allowed, was just to the left of it.  Needless to say, we did a LOT of walking, and talking and enjoying each other!  Thanks babe, for an incredible birthday present! 

(one more item crossed off the "bucket list")

I am 2 (and 1/2!)

Things Brooklyn Loves:

1-Her Mommy (daddy too, when mom's not around!)

2.  Her Binky

3.  Chocolate...Chocolate...Chocolate

4.  Doggies

5.  Horses

6.  Madison and Jacob

7.  Watching Moobies (Movies)

8.  Annie song, "The sun will come out Tomonnow", as she says it!

9.  Cupcakes

10. Drinking...juice, water, chocolate milk

11.  Gymnastics--she loves playing while Madison is in class

12.  Going to Nursery at church

13.  Laughing

14.  Out of the blue, running to mommy or daddy and saying:  I love you the most!

16.  Swinging

17.  Jumping on the trampoline

18.  Walking down to the "Billy Goats"

19.  Reading stories

20.  Bathtime

21.  Going to Krissy and Muggies house

22.  Lexi and Briana

23.  Her Grandma's and grandpa's

24.  Her pillow

25.  Taking naps

Dave and I took her to Red Robin for dinner.  Here is the birthday cupcake she found on her menu.  She tried to blow it out!

The Chocolate Malt they brought to us...Wow...all for me?

Eating the hotdog she loved SO much! 

Eating the dessert they brought for her Birthday...she is digging for the chocolate only!

Singing Happy Birthday to herself on the way home!

Her "doggie" birthday party

Her "doggie" cake

At the "Pet Store"

With her Grandparents

Brooklyn, We all love you so much!  Thank you for bringing so much happiness, laughter and sunshine into our family!

Our little "Ookie"

When Brooklyn was first born, everyone in our family each had a different nickname for her, such as pumpkin little, Brookly, bubba goo, and Brookie. Jacob, being just 2 1/2 decided he needed one as well, and came up with "ooka", which has occasionally changed to "ookie". Many people are concerned as she tells them her name is "ooka"! Thus, the title of this blog!

We have been so blessed to have this sweet (but lately naughty) little girl in our lives. Her timing was perfect! It was rough at first, as we had the ups and downs of wondering if the baby would make it and if I was really indeed pregnant or miscarrying. After the confusion settled, several blood tests and a second opinion given, we celebrated the fact that we would have another little one joining our family.

At the time, I was teaching Kindergarten at a school that would soon be closing. I had been hired at a new school being built and had been attending several Master's classes for the following year. During all of this, I was struggling to be a "mommy" to my 2 other little ones, working full time and trying to find time to be a wife and spend some time with Dave. I was really hitting burn out!

When I found out I was pregnant, and that all was going well with the baby, Dave and I talked many times and decided that it was time to stay home and finally be a full-time "mommy"! I was very nervous! However, I foresaw the future of getting 3 kids, 4 and under ready for a babysitter in the morning, surviving another year of isolation spending my breaks in my room pumping, getting home at 6 p.m. to fix dinner and put the kids in bed, NOT having time to spend with them, and I knew it was the right decision to stay home.

With Brooklyn, I have really understood the joys of parenting! I have been able to embrace the role of a mom, a role I found difficult to embrace with my older 2 as I worked full time and barely saw them during the week. I will always be thankful for those who so kindly watched Madison and Jacob during my first years teaching, and for the values instilled in their young minds. It was comfort for me knowing they were still being raised righteously while I was away. We were fortunate to not have to use daycare as our source of care for them. I really am not sure I can measure up to what each of you did, but I am so thankful that I can now be home with them.

So glad your are in our family!

Good-bye Nosebleeds

Our little Madison had been having really bad (severe) nosebleeds for about 2 years now, and they were getting worse. We decided that she has pretty high allergies and is always itching and rubbing her nose. Because of that, the membranes in her nose were very thin, causing her nose to bleed at the slightest touch or rub.

So this last summer, she was very brave and endured 2 different surgeries, 6 wks apart to have each side of her nose cauterized. Her first surgery was difficult for her and she had a hard time coming out of the anesthetic, however, the 2nd one was a breeze!

We are so VERY happy to report that we have only had 1 nosebleed, (due to being hit by a hula-hoop), but NOT due to itching her nose! So very glad she was able to have this done before starting kindergarten!