Love my Grandpa...

Brookie looooves her Grandpa. In fact, there have been times when I can't get her to come to me when she's in Grandpa's arms....we're so blessed that the kids get to grow up with their grandparents! They love them, so!

New Trick...

Well, Brooke still isn't walking yet (although she's certainly close), but she is however, CLIMBING!!! Yikes--why don't I remember this with Connor? She has to climb everything...her toy box, Connor's train table, her walker...she's actually surprisingly graceful, though, and hasn't had any issues getting down...yet. :)

TUB Time! :)

Award!

Thank you, Margaret, for this awesome award! :) You're so sweet!!!

The award states: "These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."

I'm going to award:
The (anti)Boring Blog
The Entertaining House
Our Million Dollar Family
Is it Fair?
Home is Where I Want to Be
Who Knew?
Life is Good
The Good Life with TWO Little Sweetpeas

Tagged!

Megan tagged me!
Here is how it goes: go to your 4th folder (where your pictures are stored) and find the 4th picture….and post it. then explain it.



This is a picture of our funny dog, Gracie! Gracie *was* baby number one, and prepared us greatly for what was to come when we became parents of babies who couldn't be put in a crate when a good night's sleep was needed! ;)

We got Gracie in April of 2004...I was determined to get a dog, and after researching thoroughly, we decided the boxer breed was the way to go--great with children, and short-haired, so my allergies wouldn't go haywire. One Friday evening after searching the ads online, I found one for boxer puppies not too far away, and I just had, had, had to drag Tommy to this lady's house and see these adorable puppies. Once we saw them, it was ALL OVER! Gracie kept coming back to me, and she had a little spot on her neck--which is how I recognized her. And, she came home with us that night! It's funny, because even though I picked her out, paid for her, and insisted on getting her, she's totally Tommy's dog.

Okay, there's my ode to Gracie! Sorry, you've had to relinquish your spot as the *baby* two times now, Grace, but we sure do love you, silly dog! ;)

Happy New Year!

Wow, I cannot believe it's 2009...another year! Where did the last year go? It has been FOUR years now since we were just a couple...we found out we were pregnant with Connor on January 10th of 2005. It's hard to believe that four years have passed since it was just Tommy and I, and Gracie was our "baby"..(poor Grace ;).

We thoroughly enjoyed the holidays as a family of four--what fun! Though I did realize that I haven't really had time to sit around and watch Christmas movies, shop leisurely, or just sit and reflect on the holiday season since the children were born, I wouldn't trade this busy and chaotic time in our lives for anything at all. I know in years to come I will look back on these sweet moments and wish for nothing more than to hold a sleeping baby in my arms, or watch the joyful glee on my little boy's face as he sees yet another Christmas train set, or asks me to sing "Away in the Manger" as we snuggle under the covers in his cozy bed.

We had a quiet New Years Eve with the kids, and as we sat sipping wine, and watching Brookie squeal and laugh at her big brother, Tommy remarked that he simply couldn't be happier, and I feel the same way! We are so incredibly blessed....and my top New Year's resolution in to REMEMBER this, each and every day....as stressful and chaotic as some days may seem, I resolve to appreciate the chaos, and cherish each day. We love all of our friends and family so very much, and we were so blessed to get to spend the holidays with many of you!!!!

Gramps and Brookie

Annabelle!

Christmas Eve

Cousins on Christmas Eve Day

Dinner with the girls!

Kiddos at Maria's Christmas Party

Maria's annual Christmas Party

Brookie and I, Lyndsay and Benjamin

Brookie and her beloved Auntie Anna

Brad in the boucer

The Cook Family!

Daddy and Connor having a sword fight!

Whoops...forgot to add these

NEW CAMERA!!!!!!!!!!!

Mimi and Grandpa brought over my Christmas present a bit early today...a Nikon D40! I am soooo excited and have been taking pictures all day! Here are a few "test shots". It's like uber-cold out today, so I can't even attempt to play with the natural light. THANKS Mimi and Grandpa--I loooooove my new camera!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

First Word!

Guess what? My dear, sweet little Brookie-pie said her first word today, and I looooove her because....it was................Maaaaammmmmmaaaaaa!!!

YAY!!!!

She's so proud of herself, and crawls around saying mmmmmaaaaammmmmmmaaaaa, maaaaammmmaaaa...than claps for herself (and her audience of Connor and I)! I guess all these months of "coaching" really paid off! ;)

It's Snowing....and this is Brookie's first *real* snow!

It's a beautiful and snowy Saturday....quite unexpected, really. We had what I thought were just a few snow showers this morning, and because Connor has been quite the little devil lately, I decided there was no way we were staying cooped up inside all day...so, we ventured out to the mall. Well, apparently I missed the forecast that mentioned snow for today--it hasn't quit, and let's just say the drive to the mall was a little dicey, at best! But, we survived, and made it there, and back--with a fresh haircut for Connor, and a couple of cute sale outfits for Ms. Brooke in tow! Now, we're curled up on the couch, watching Rudolph and the snow from the living room windows!

Before we ventured out this morning we did a little photoshoot for the Christmas card (which I JUST NOW ordered---eeeeeks!!!!), and here are a few examples of what you might see on the card! :) Hope you're all as cozy as we are, today!

December!!!

Connor and Brooke's cousin Will!

Grandma Pat and Aunt Wendy!

The Family on Thanksgiving

OSU game crew!

Sierra and Connor chillin'

Brookie and her Gramps! (Like the cow? :)


Auntie Anna, Tim, and Brooke

I can't believe it's officially December!!! Wow! Above are some pics from the last week or so...will post more later, after I finish downloading the bazillion pictures taken over the last seven days!!! :)

Catch up!!!

All is well on the homefront! We had a great Halloween, and are now greatly anticipating Thanksgiving and Christmas! In fact, I brought out the coveted stack of Christmas books the other night, and Connor has been having sooo much fun each night cozying up to "The Polar Express", and other favorites. He actually has been begging to go to bed so we can read stories each night. Tonight, in the tub, he was pretending to be Santa Clause--picking me up for a trip on the "Polar Supress"...pretty cute! We're so excited to be getting to see so much family this month! Aunt Marce was in town last week, which was awesome. (she PLAYED with Connor--like down, on the ground--she obviously had boys! :) Andy is coming this weekend, and we're thrilled to see him, (Connor can't wait), and, of course, Auntie Anna will be here next Wednesday! Woohoo!!!! Aunt Wendy and Uncle Michael, Emily and Will are coming on Saturday for a whole week...we're super excited to see them, too--it's been over a year, and they've never met Brooke. So, lot's to look forward to, including visits from dear friends coming back into town! Yay! Here are some recent pics for those of you we won't get to see this week.


The kids after their naps today...I had to bribe Connor with a lollipop to sit here!



Brookie and her ponytails! ;) (Sorry about the drool on the shirt--I just noticed a tooth popping through).


And, ponytails, again! ;)

P-O-T-T-Y (dare I say it) TRAINED?????

Wow--those smart cookies that say when a child is finally ready to potty train, they will do it quickly and easily were sooo right! We've started and stopped training many, many times now...with down right refusal to go poopy on the potty, and lack of interest all together in peeing. Then, the other night, I asked Connor to go before his bath. Before I knew it, he had gone all by himself--standing up! Wow! So, yesterday, we started out the day in undies, and stayed in them ALL DAY LONG!!! He went poopy on the potty every single time he had to go (toy catalog in hand for some entertainment), and had only a minor pee-pee accident!!!!!!!!!! Woohoo!!! Today has been successful as well--a couple little accidents, but I think that's to be expected. Overall, I think we're on the right track, with great hopes of being TOTALLY trained by the end of next week!!!! Just think of all the money we'll be saving in diapers...cue the "Hallelujah Chorus"! ;)