Summer 2016 Part 1

We spent the first part of this summer going to physical therapy two-three times a week for Daisy's finger. Who knew such a small finger needed so much special care. Thankfully, her finger is pretty much 99% now. Only a scar. We spent so much time stretching and massaging her finger. It was a source of a lot of grief, but I am glad it has healed. 

It is too hot here. This was the first day of 110 plus weather. I decided that froyo was the only way to cope. It helped. 

Daisy and Rockwell have played so well together this summer. They really do like each other. I pray they will always be burrito buddies.

My sister-in-law, Heather, had her second baby in June. A few days before she delivered, we Brooks ladies went out for breakfast and pedicures. We were missing Heidi and Brooke, but I was so nice to go out with some of my favorite ladies. 

This is Brinley. Daisy was so pleased to hold her. Fresh babies are the best!

We spent a lot of time outside in the water. My kids are so beautifully tan. Daisy's little buns are so white compared to her legs. I love it! Heidi and I set up their "redneck" pool as she calls it. It was a hot day, but it was nice to get in the water.

We also went to Wet 'N' Wild for the first time. It was so fun! Daisy and Piper thought they were hot stuff being able to ride a few rides by themselves. Rocky was a fan too, until it came to the lazy river. He hated it. My kids have yet to take swim lessons, but that is a whole other story.

Aaron's Grandparents on their 64th wedding anniversary. They came to Show Low for their honeymoon. :)

I am always amazing at the drive of kids to play. I took this picture when it was 109 out. It was somewhat miserable, but the push through!

We went and saw Finding Dory and they had this Angry Birds photo booth set up. It was a good day. Although, I am sure this is where we picked up pink eye. The pink eye that moved from one person to another through my whole family (extended too) for weeks.

Memorial Day

This summer has been a busy one. It has also been a very good one. We kicked off our summer by going up to the Brooks cabin on Memorial Day weekend. It was fun, and our kids loved playing with cousins. Unfortunately, Rocky brought the flu with him. For almost the whole month of April and most of May, we had a nasty stomach bug come and go. Rocky took it the hardest. He had thrown up a few days before we headed up the mountain and thought we were in the clear. But, around dinner at the cabin he started to slow down, and I saw that look in his eye. I scooped him up, but it was too late. Grandma's living room got a nice coat of Rocky throw up. He then had some yucky poo for the next few days. One incident on the deck that I will never forget involved me having to use a garbage bag to catch the unmentionable so I wouldn't drip all over the house on the way to the bath. Other than that is was a great weekend. 

We tried our best to keep Rocky away from other kids. Hence the pillow. Luckily, no one else caught his bug. 

These two are best buds when we get together. Only two days apart and they have the best fun.

Such a nice picture ;)

3 Years Old

I know I say it a lot, but I love Rockwell. He is easy-going, fun, mischievous, and a tad bit of a sensitive boy. He is growing into such a big boy. I pretend he is still my baby, but it is getting harder and harder. He is on the verge of being potty trained. He is so ready but is very frighten of the porcelain throne. 

He loves Daisy. She is his best friend. I hope they always are good friends.

I was looking at my phone one day when I caught a glance of Daisy's old swim suit. When I looked a bit closer, it was Rocky. I just laughed! Only when you have big sister do you get to wear a girls swimmy.

Rocky loves cars. He got all of the characters from the movie at Disneyland as his souvenir and for weeks after all I would hear him playing was Cars. I found him in his closet one day happily playing. 

He turned three on December 10. We celebrated with donuts. He is a handsome boy.

This is Rocky's birthday interview. 

• What is your favorite food? - Cookies 
• What is your favorite color? - Blue 
• What is your favorite movie? - Race car, Lighting Mcqueen! 
• What is you favorite thing to do? - Video Games! (Dad got a Nintendo 64 and he love to just watch him play) 
• What is your favorite book? - Nemo (A seek and find book) 
• Where is your favorite place to eat? - Taco Bell 
• Who is your best friend? - Daisy ❤️ 
• Where is your favorite place to go? - Grandma's 

He still loves to snuggle which is a good thing because I do too! He is still a good snuggling size too. He fits perfectly on my lap. We snuggle most everyday. Ignore my creepy face in this picture.

Rocky got to start Sunbeams this year. It is amazing the difference between Daisy and Rocky. Daisy was so ready and potty trained. Rockwell not so much. I kind of feel like he is getting gypped a little bit on his toy time because of his late birthday. If he had been born only a few weeks later, it would have been a whole other year of nursery. Oh well! He has been going for a few weeks now, and I think he is growing into his new title of Sunbeam.

  

As you can see, he wasn't too excited.

Can I repeat how much Rocky loves Daisy. He looks up to her and loves to do everything she is. This picture makes my heart happy.

I took Rocky to reading time a few weeks ago at the library. The look on his face perfectly captures childhood to me. I love it.

Rocky steals my phone a lot. He doesn't know how to open it, but he can open the camera. I find a many photos like this one. The view from Rockwell's world.

Rocky has a lot of girls cousins. He loves the though and they seems to love him back.

Last week Rocky was sick. He had a fever and was feeling kind of punk. In the afternoon one day, Daisy tucked him in on the couch so she could dance with and audience, and he fell asleep. You know my kids aren't feeling well when they fall asleep somewhere that wasn't there bed.

Rocky is a bit mischievous. He spits a lot and asks to go into time out (he has learned that time out is the nicer of my punishments, so he has started to request it when he know he has been naughty). He likes to have fun and play. I catch him playing in my pantry all the time. For some reason the cans must seems to make good toys to him. He likes to tease Daisy and it kind of infuriates her sometimes. He sneaks in to bed with me and requests milk all day. He is a picky eater but will eat anything if tricked to. The other day he gagged down some broccoli, and I told him he could spit it out if it was going to make him puke; He refused to spit it out, swallowed and was very proud of himself. He is also talking so much! I love to hear his little mind make connections. A few weeks ago, we ordered pizza for dinner and while we were waiting he asked for cereal. I replied and said we were having "pizza, pizza" like the old little Cesar commercials, to which he replied and said, "cereal, cereal". It made me chuckle. Another time I was on the phone with my Mom, I hung up and Rocky asked me who it was. I told him it was Grandma to which he said with all the enthusiasm he could muster..."I love her!" It was too cute.

Rockwell makes me heart so happy. I am thankful for him everyday. 

I Don't Know Quite How it Happend...

We got a dog! I think anyone who knows me has heard me say, "We will get a dog when our youngest is old enough to pick up the poop." That is not how it played out though. Aaron's mentor at work had one more golden doodle puppy in his litter, and when Aaron sent me her picture, I knew I wanted her. We got her two days before Christmas. She has been in our home about two months and has doubled in size. Her name is Winnie, and I think we kind of like her. Wish us luck as we attempt to train her!

Christmas 2015

The month of December always goes by too fast. I love this month. I love the music, friends, family, and food. I love my kids and the magic they bring. 

Daisy was very kind and informed us that it was Rocky's turn to do the start this year. He was happy to do it.

Isn't our tree beautiful! I know Aaron hates the leaves, but this was how our tree looked the first part of the month.

We had the Brooks side over to make gingerbread houses and watch the Christmas devotional. I hope the we started a new tradition.

This is a horrible picture. But I was trying to capture my favorite decorations. I love the Nativity, and how I had it set up.

My favorite night of our Christmas celebrations was this night. We stayed home and watched Home Alone. I also attempted cinnamon rolls for the first time. I was so happy when they actually turned out pretty good.

We went to the Fleming Family Christmas Party per tradition. I love that my kids always get to see Santa and cousins.

 Rocky's face cracks me up in this photo. I don't think he is quite sure here...

Daisy had her Christmas Program. I didn't get any good pictures, but she took it very seriously and did a great job.

We got to go up to Pinetop the weekend before Christmas to spend time with my side of the family. I love when we can all get together even though it is always for a short time. The plus was that there was a lot of snow to play in.

I love all of these pictures. I think they speak for themselves. Fun with family.

We went and saw the new Star Wars movie late one night and when we got back this is how I found my nieces and nephews sleeping. Not too comfortable.

It snowed while we were there. It is just good for your soul to see snow falling every now and then.

It has been a while since I have been to my Mom's house around Christmas and I loved it. I snapped pictures of all the decorations that I remember from growing up that have survived the years.

This is my Mom's very old nativity. I remember playing with them. There used to be more pieces. I probably wasn't the only kid who was tempted to play with this nativity.

This was always one of my favorite ornaments.

Along with this one.

A trumpet.

And a big ball of glitter. These, I was taught, belong tucked deep into the tree to make it look fuller.

We also had a get together before Christmas with just Aaron's side. I didn't snap a lot of pictures, but I did get this one of Jeremiah winning our new found Left, Right, Center game from Nathan and Kim. It was fun. I love these people! 

At some point during the month Daisy stole my phone and had a little Christmas photo shoot with Rocky and herself. I love these photos. All taken by either herself or Rockwell.

We spent Christmas eve with Heidi and Jeremiah. Christmas Eve is my favorite night of the year. Even as an adult, I love the anticipation and the magic. We ate out and then went back to my house for cinnamon rolls and A Christmas Story.

I think we made them pose...

Our traditional Christmas Eve jammies were also opened.

I didn't snap many pictures of Christmas morning. I decided to just enjoy it instead of taking pictures. Now I wish I had taken some more pictures. This year Daisy wanted a baby crib, play dough, make up, and shopkins. Rocky wanted cars.

We spent the day at Grandma Rena's. It was a nice day. We spent the whole day with family.