Preschool

My daughter started preschool this week. I just look at her and can't believe that she is big enough to be going to preschool. What happened to my baby?

The teacher, Miss Callee, is doing a 'cars' theme this year and all the kids are getting a 'license' to be on display at the school. I asked Brooklyn the questions on it, and here are her responses.

What is your name? Brooklyn

What is your birthday? July 15

What do you want to be when you grow up? Big and strong

What is your favorite food? Ice cream

Who is your favorite friend? My mom

What is your favorite color? Yellow

I though it was cute. She is a smart cookie...

Catch up..again. Sorry!

I know my last post was in the middle of July. It's really sad how fast time gets away from you. Brison has started taking steps. He can walk if you are holding at least one hand and he CLINGS to you as if his life depended on it. He will usually take a couple of steps and then his legs collapse underneath him. We are working on it. He also...somehow...started climbing down stairs. I'm glad that I haven't ever seen the transition from the top to the first stair...I think I would have a heartattack. I guess they all have to learn somehow..right? He climbed up on Brooklyn's 4 wheeler and watched me push the "magic" button and now he will ride it down the hall and back. He has to wait for somebody to turn it around..and he has so much fun. He has also started cheesing it for the camera! Pretty cute!

Brooklyn is just growing like a weed and learning like crazy...and totally turning in to a girl. And, apparently she has gone deaf. She will ask me if she can have some juice, milk, or anything that isn't water and I will tell her no. She will IMMEDIATELY turn around and say to Brian..or anyone in the area..."My mom said YES!" It's amazing! I don't even know that she has learned the concept of lying..but she's starting out great! She is also turning in to a drama queen. If she has something happen to her where she is mad or get's embarassed..she will storm out of the room and go into her room and slam her door. I can't wait until she's a teenager! She also has started to show the first signs of jealousy with Brison. Gavin was over playing the other day and they were getting along fine, and playing and Brison had woken up from his nap. I brought him into the living room and he was sitting on the couch and Gavin came and sat down by him and Brooklyn started pulling him by the leg to get him off the couch and to pay attention to her..and Gavin was still talking to Brison. She slipped and fell on the floor and stormed out of the room and ... you guessed it .. slammed her door. That's the first time I have noticed jealousy. I guess we'll see how it goes. She also is a dare devil. A couple of weeks ago we were boating. She has been doing so good when we go out. She will jump off the boat and swim around and not have to hold on to anybody! So, me, being the idiot that I am, decided that she should do the kneeboard by herself. We pulled up to the shore and I got out with her and got her on the board and they put the boat in gear and started pulling her. I told her to hang on and I let go and she went about 20 feet...turning back and looking at me in horror. She was just scared to be that far away on her own...in the middle of the dam. Because of her looking back, she lost her balance and she fell off the board. She started crying and had this HORRIFIED look on her face. I was swimming to her and she was holding on the the kneeboard..but she was just SCARED. I had never seen that look on her face. I felt bad. We have been out since then and she went on the kneeboard with me..although I don't think she was too happy about it. I just don't want her to be scared of it at the end of the season so that she won't do it next year. I guess I'll have to wait to put her on ski's for a little while.

Brian has been on his diet for about 8 weeks now and has lost about 60 lbs. He looks amazing! I know it has been hard on him...having to sit around and eat an apple while the rest of us enjoy a warm pizza...but it'll be worth it and he knows it.

Football season has started again and he is excited about that. He had his first game on Friday and Saturday started little league again. The summer is a killer because there are no games...and just the anxiety of August and knowing they are starting again. He has a lot of friends and he really enjoys being on the field.

I have had to quit the gym for a little bit. I have had shin splints for about 6 weeks now and it was getting to the point where I couldn't walk without wincing. I took a full week off without running and then I ran 3 times last week. I was feeling fine, but then Friday I was hurting a little bit. I think I know what is causing it...so I am going to test it out this week. I was really happy when I ran on Monday after a week off and was still able to run without stopping. Allison went with me on Thursday and I think I wore her out. I just looked at her and remembered being in her position...not quite in shape ( although she is not OUT of shape...just not able to do exercises after running 1.5 miles) and I don't want to get out of shape again. I'm nervous about winter...because I HATE being cold. I know that I won't get outside and go running in the morning. It's a good thing we have a treadmill!

Our friends were here this last week from Arizona. The Martin's are a wonderful family with Pata Martin, Gramala, Aunt Tawnie, and silly Dave ( because stupid is a bad word). It was awesome to have them here and to visit with them again. They come up every year for Campus Education Week. They love us enough that they drive EVERYDAY to BYU. Dinner is just a little later than usual because it takes so long to get home. Brison loved Pata and Brooklyn was spoiled...as always.

Sorry this was so long. I'll try harder...I mean it!

Gracie May

I am an Aunt! Again! My brother Derek and my sister in law Jennie had Gracie last Monday, August 18th at 8:17 a.m. (Yes, I have already told the dr. my opinion about the birth time! HELLO! 8-18 at 8:18 would have been cooler...and I don't understand why he couldn't have waited 30 more seconds!) She weighed 3 lbs and 13 oz and was 16 inches long. Jennie has had a rough time with her pregnancy and little Gracie was 7 weeks early! She is absolutely adorable and I have tried to go and visit mom and baby when I could. Gracie will probably be in the hospital for a couple more weeks..and Jennie was able to go home on Thursday. My brother Derek has taken some wonderful pictures and I just look at these and am amazed at his talent! It not only shows us the beautiful little girl...it shows us the story of what her trial in her new little life is. Jennie is such a trooper and I admire her for her strength. Brooklyn can't wait to see Gracie and I tell her she has to wait for her to get bigger because she is too little, and Brooklyn asks if Gracie needs to grow strong, just like "Percules" which, in the Davies home means Hercules. She struggles with her H's. I can't wait until I can hold her. Although, after hold my 9 lb 7 oz baby...almost a year ago...I'm a little intimidated.

The longest blog ever!

It's been a while, and as you will notice, I have been EXTREMLY busy! To start out with...the 4th of July. To start the day, I was up at 5:00 a.m. and Allison, Lance, Derek and me made a quick trip to Pineview Dam for a good run..or two if you had the energy. Home for our hopefully new tradition of breakfast burritos. Then, I took the kids to get their 3 yr, 9 mo pictures. Aren't they adorable!



We had a BBQ at mom and dad's house. It was fun and tasty...especially the home made raspberry ice cream. Of course, we had fireworks! Brooklyn was a little nervous at the beginning, she wasn't sure about the noise. Brison slept through the loud fireworks.

The next week, on the 7th of July, we went boating. I was out in the water with Brooklyn and Brison and Brooklyn decided that she had learned enough from her swimming lessons (which have been for 8 days in 2007 and 2 1/2 days in 2008!) and decided to swim away from me and back to the boat....then come back to me and do it all over again! She is such the daredevil and I LOVE that she loves the water!

Brooklyn and Gavin are pretty much best buds and Brooklyn just loves to be with him. They were sitting in the back of the boat and they were singing the "Little Einstein's" theme over and over and over. It was really cute!

Subsequently, later that night, we did start up her swimming lessons again (postponed due to a broken collar bone!) She was still a little crazy with her jumping off the side of the pool.

By the end of the week, she was telling Wendi what to do. Which always makes a mom proud that her daughter is that bold and has no manners!

On Saturday, July 12th, I ran my 5k that I had been "training" for. I wouldn't say I joined Jim's Gym specifically to "train" for the 5k, but I couldn't have done it without the gym, that's for sure. I finished in 35:45. I was a little disappointed, because the day before I had run 2 miles in 20:11. It was funny though to have this 10 year old kid run up to me and ask "so, you run 5k's a lot?" My family was at the finish line...and the fact that I made it to the finish line without stopping was just the accomplishment I wanted to achieve!

After the race, we headed over to the park for breakfast...Dad has been helping cook it for the past couple of years because he is in the stake presidency for our stake.

Then, it was off to the parade. I tell Brooklyn that the parade is for her birthday...this year she asked if Buzz and Woody were going to be there....apparently we've been to Disneyland too much!

This last sunday, we celebrated "Princess Brooklyn's" birthday!


We had family over for a dinner and then presents, and cake and ice cream. I had asked her what kind of party she wanted and she said a "cinderella" party. So, that she got. I got her a cinderella dress, and cinderella jewelry, a cinderella wand and then she wore her crown I got for her at Disneyland. I know, it's partly my fault...but she is just too cute. She even got a birthday phone call from Cinderella! She was overly excited about the phone call. She ran around to everyone telling them that "Cinderella called...she's in Disneyland!"
She was very good at thanking everybody after she opened each present. She even thanked Aunt Shannon for her birthday card! She was spoiled, as always! I have never seen so many Cinderella gifts in my life! Do they really make that many different cards?

I did go a little overboard on the cake...but it tied the whole evening together! (some of you might be confused as to which princess is who. Let's just say my brothers had the camera!)
As not to be overshadowed, or forgotten, here is some pictures of Gus! Apparently, he was thirsty and adorable...as always!

Monday, we went to Murray for the Davies family party for the July birthdays. We went to Murray park and to the indoor pool there. Brooklyn could not get enough of the slide and Brison would have lived on the bottom of the pool if we would have let him! He was wanting to get down a crawl around...we had to find a pretty shallow area for him.

Then, Tuesday, Brooklyns actual birthday...we went to the Clearfield Aquatic center. We were there swimming for about 2 hours and she had the best time. Once again, the slide...couldn't get her off! She was upset when we left to go home.

I really wanted to do something with her on her birthday...so I took her to Cold Stone for some ice cream. She chose strawberry with Reece's pieces. Whatever kid..it's your day!

Can I go to bed now? And, call me insaine..but I signed up for 6 more weeks of Boot Camp!