Lollipop, lollipop, oh lolly lollipop

Jace's new obsession..

"Santa I poop in toilet, now I gonna get a princess castle"

Let me preface this video by explaining, I have been el Desperado in finding ways of convincing Brooklyn to poop in the toilet. Poop training has been a llllooonnngg road...very long. And frusturating as well. I have tried just about everything and nothing has worked, Brooklyn will tell me she wants to poop her pants. The first few times she said it I thought it was funny but after about 3 months of poopy pants the humor wore off. Anyway, I have now resorted to the concept of Santa and explaining to Brooklyn that Santa will bring her a Princess Castle (I happen to know that this is what Santa is bringing her) if she poops in the toilet. Last night, it worked...she pooped in the toilet. And we HAD to call Santa....just in case he wasn't looking!

It is beginning to look like Christmas

Oh Christmas Tree

Brooklyn trying to put her beads on the tree
Jace is pretty much obsessed with touching the tree

And again..

Kids with cousin Kayden in front of big Xmas tree at the Crossings

I love Christmas time!

Happy Halloween 2010

Halloween was fun this year! It has always been fun but this year was just a little more exciting because Brooklyn participated in picking her own costume (after about 25 picks), she decided to be a pirate. I do know her decision was solely based on the fact she got to have a sword. Regardless, the costume was adorable! Jace ended up being Brobee and the REAL Brobee should be worried because Jace made a really cute Brobee and could easily be his replacement.

Brobee

Arrrrggg, Pirate Brooklyn

We went trick or treating with their Martinez cousins, the Millers and Dylan (spiderman).

Brooklyn says "Come on kids, let's go!"

Double trouble, they are the cutest!

Brooklyn in action

Jace was not sure about the whole walking up to the door.

Jace, at the end..tired...and minus cute Brobee hat!

Me with the kids

Here are some from the kids visit to the Pumpkin Patch...in their Halloween T-shirt

HAPPY HALLOWEEN PEOPLE!

Labor Day 2010

The irony of this being a photo of our "labor" day was not lost on me :) :)

Brooklyn's in SCHOOL

It is hard to believe that Brooklyn is already in preschool. She started on Friday, November 5th. It is definitely true what they say about your kids growing up so fast. The last three years seem as if they all happened yesterday. Watching Brooklyn grow up is beyond words, it is the greatest pleasure of my life. Starting Preschool has been a big adjustment for Brooklyn. We both know she needs it and will love it....but we just have to get past the initial transition. She is so relieved when I pick her up and always says "You came back, I wanted you Mommy" in her sweet little voice. She misses Irene and vice versa. But every day she is getting better and better when I drop her off...less tears. Although, she has already started getting creative telling me right when she wakes up on school days that "her tummy hurts" - "she's tired and needs to nap at home" - "she can't go outside cuz it might rain" - this just validates in my mind that if she is smart enough to make excuses NOT to go to school she is definitely ready.

Her teacher told me after her first month that she is "sweet, funny, kind and helpful to others" at school. This makes me very proud of her. She really likes circle time and stays seated with others, asks questions, sings along to songs and shares during share time. This surprises me a little bit, just because sitting still for a specified amount of time is not typically on her to-do list. She also tells me proudly each day on our way home " I did not eat ONE bite of my lunch today" - and she is right. I try to explain to her this is not a good thing. But I also ensure I have a supply of snacks in the car for our car ride.

Congrats Brookie Boo on your first month of Preschool. There have been many tears on this road but fewer every day. Trust me, you are going to come to love Preschool. And, trust me when I tell you I will ALWAYS be there to pick you up.

Precious memories

Rewind a "few" years ago and this could easily be Eric and I as little kids. Our Mom would always let us lick the mixer sticks, it was something we looked forward to. Brooklyn and Jace are now my little expert mixer lickers! Great memories of Mom! And, Brooklyn even shared her stick with Jace....my Mom would be so proud of them!

Mr. Telephone Man

Hi, I'm Jace

This picture is such a perfect display of Jace, he is always walking around with his blankies with a cute smile and looks so sweet. He loves these receiving blankets, it doesn't matter which one (blue, pink, purple, beige), they just have to be the flannel kind. Good thing because we got SO many of these when we had Brooklyn!

"Did you take my candy, HUH?"

She is SERIOUS about her candy! I let her take her candy to Irene's and advised Irene that it could have a permanent home over there, since Brooklyn and Jace don't eat it anyway. Well, apparently when Brooklyn found this out she had to "call" Irene (with a camera) to let her know what she thought of that. Hysterical!

Who let the dog out?

It doesn't take much to get this crowd going!

Happy Birthday Matthew!

Oh Matt (As Brooklyn calls you) how are you already 1? It feels like we just met you last month. But that can't be true because we have a year full of memories with you (Thanksgiving, Christmas at Disneyland, birthday parties, Disneyland, Disneyland Hotel, Easter, weekend visits, Relay for Life)...and we look forward to many many more!

Happy Birthday Little Cutie!

All of the cousins helping with the gifts


Party entertainment = Tub of Ice

Cake is good! No napkins needed!

MUAH! Love you cuz

I will always have your back cuz!

Four the cutest kids on the planet!

Happy Birthday Matthew!

Sugar and Spice

Pants on the ground

Pants on the ground

Pants on the ground

Lookin' like a fool with your pants on the ground

I haven't watched American Idol in years but this "hit song" from a recent season did not go unnoticed...when I saw my little prince continue to pull his pants and diaper down in his first attempt to "sag" I thought of this song! Let's hope Jace's new trend is short lived.

Fall to pieces

Pictures like these make me fall to pieces.....

If you see her....move your toes!

10 seconds flat

Corn maze...in 10 seconds flat. Not bad!

Bonus video of the two of them in the maze....

Itsy Bitsy Spider...or something like that!

Brooklyn's version of the itsy bisty spider, this is hands down Jace's favorite song...and while he does not have the words yet he does hum along to it exactly and he can use his little fingers to create the spider (I need to get him on film too!).

"That's My Mommy"

Brooklyn took this picture of me, I was trying to take the camera away and she said "wait, Mommy, let me take your picture" --so I smiled while still reaching my arm out to get it. She then looked at it and said "That's my Mommy, so pretty" -- I thought it was so sweet! I hope she always is that proud of me!

Water Babes

Anyone that knows Brooklyn and Jace know they have a deep, deep love for the water. Therefore, it is no surprise how much they absolutely love swimming. They are both natural swimmers and seem to be at peace in the water. Brooklyn is a little dare-devil, she will jump in the deep end and have faith that someone will be there to catch her! Here are a few pictures and some video of the little swimmers in the pool in Arizona.

Jace's technique

Brooklyn and her sweet face that cannot hide how much fun she is having.
Getting his feet wet

This is funny, I put snacks on the table and Brooklyn tried to take them in the pool but I told her no food in the pool so she shoved them ALL in her mouth so she could get right back in.

Naturally, water time did not end in the pool...they played in the bathtub for an extensive amount of time as well :)

Brooklyn jumping in the pool to Niki, look how far she jumps in. And, you can see Jace moving along the edge of the pool, he found the drain and was very impressed.

This is a video of them both in the pool, hard to video since I had to keep my eye on both of them at all times!

Arizona Flashback

Here are a few pictures then and now of Brooklyn, Jace and I from almost three years ago and then now.

This is Brooklyn at 8 months and then now at 3. She wore her ASU cheerleading outfit to both games (supplied by Uncle Eric - THANKS!)

Here is Brooklyn, Jace (in my belly) and I at our hotel before the game almost 3 years ago and then here is us now with one of our favorite little cousins Adelle.

What a difference a few years can make! Our last trip to Arizona was for Thanksgiving, it was a great trip. This trip was just for fun and it was equally as fun although a few family members were left behind :)