Christmas, Round 2

We spent Christmas with Charlie's family down in Osceola. When we arrived home, there was snow everywhere! Osceola had a couple inches while our house survived a blizzard. You can kind of see in the picture the house across the street-the snow is all the way up the their front door, there are steps up to that door under all that snow!

Saturday night, when we arrived home, we let Brooklyn open up the rest of her Christmas presents. She was real excited to unwrap an Elmo doll. It sings and dances the Hokey Pokey.

She unwrapped her new shirt from Uncle Ryan and wanted to put it on immediately.

One of the coolest presents was a book. Not just any old book but a voice recorded book. Her Grandpa and Grandma Nelson recorded their voices reading Twas the Night Before Christmas. Being that they are so far away, she can now hear their voice whenever she wants.

Brooklyn test riding her new rocking horse. We were blessed with many fabulous gifts this year, thank you to everyone!

Our Little Helper

Brooklyn loves to help out around the house. Whether it is closing doors or pushing the buttons on the washing machine, she is eager to participate. In the last couple weeks she has taken a liking to sweeping. She will go and get the broom or swiffer out and just start sweeping.

It is a little big for her but she handles it pretty well.

After getting back from California over Thanksgiving, we decorated the Christmas tree and decided to go ahead and get the miniature one out as well for Brooklyn. It is her tree and she is allowed to take her ornaments on and off her tree. It is working pretty well as she leaves the big tree alone. We were surprised on how much help she was decorating the tree. She was able to hang quite a few ornaments on the trees by herself. :)

Brooklyn hanging an ornament on the tree followed by some good old high fives.

A California Thanksgiving

This year for Thanksgiving, we headed out to California to visit Valerie's parents. It had only been two months since Brooklyn and Val's trip but Charlie had not been out since March. The weather was fabulous while we there which doesn't always happen in Monterey.

Brooklyn's sleep schedule was a bit off while we were there. She was waking up around 5:30 AM! She was still on Central time:) With her getting up so early she fell asleep on peoples laps a couple times. Here she is with Grandma. They were watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. Brooklyn woke up a couple times to clap for the parade only to lay back down and go to sleep.

Getting some quality time with Great Grandpa Rey on Thanksgiving.

Grandpa Nelson is always willing to share his favorite type of cookie with Brooklyn. Here she is enjoying her Oreo. By the time she was done, it was all over her-including her toes!

The Friday following Thanksgiving, Val's sister and her family came down to visit. Above is Brooklyn with her cousin Autumn enjoying a ride on the bike together. Brooklyn is three days older.

Autumn pushing Brooklyn and cousin Coral.

Look Grandpa!

Saturday afternoon we headed over to Monterey. This was Brooklyn's first trip to the beach. We have visited and looked at the beach before but this was the first time she experience touching the sand. She LOVED it! It was a real joy to see her so happy.

Brooklyn was a bit leery of the sand at first but within minutes she was picking it up and sharing with Grandma. Eventually the sharing turned into throwing it at Grandma:) Brooklyn was smiling ear to ear and laughing so hard.

Throwing the sand.

We also attended the local Christmas parade. Brooklyn was frightened at first by the motorcycles but enjoyed the rest of it. She was clapping and smiling at the acts going by. There were some entertaining groups.

Down to the Farm

The last two weekends we were able to head down to the farm. We hadn't been since Labor Day and Brooklyn has grown quite a bit since then and is able to do more each visit. Not much longer and she will know all the farm animals too.

Leafs galore!

Brooklyn had a blast playing with the leafs in the front yard.

We piled them up so she was able to walk through them.

Playing in the leafs wore Brooklyn out as she fell asleep on PaPa. He had a busy weekend with the trail ride and decided to take a little snooze himself:)

Snapped a quick photo inside the combine wheel while checking out the farm equipment.

Logan came for a visit over deer season weekend. It was supposed to be a guys campout weekend but it was rained out. That allowed Logan to come to the house and play with Brooklyn.

Here's Brooklyn showing Logan and Dad some of her wrestling moves.

I think they had fun and it was kind of nice that Brooklyn didn't have to compete with any of her other cousins for play time. Logan is the lone boy (for now ;) )and all the girls seem to look up to him.

Playtime didn't just consist of "jumping off the top ropes", a little coloring took place too.

Dance

Brooklyn has been enjoying to dance and sing lately. We will probably regret having her on the table later on, but we decided not to fight it yet. Plus, look how cute she is. :)

I think she's happy. :)

Trick or Treat

Happy Halloween!
Dad went with a scary pig, Mom went with an alien, and Brooklyn's was a baby vampire.

For Brooklyn's second Halloween we headed out to a local pumpkin patch. Here we are on our hayride. This place was perfect for us. Brooklyn isn't quite to the age where she can enjoy all the activities at the larger patches. There was no entry fee and the hayrides were free.

We headed home after picking out our pumpkins. It was about time for Brooklyn to have lunch. The pumpkin patch must have wore her out cause she fell asleep with a cracker in her mouth :)

Brooklyn modeling her baby pumpkin.

The day before Halloween, we carved our pumpkins. Brooklyn was more than happy to help Dad scoop out the guts of the pumpkin. She is such a good helper.

Brooklyn posing with the bigger pumpkins.





Halloween night Charlie asked Brooklyn if she wanted to go outside and of course she did. She was not loving her costume but once she realized she could go outside if she left it on and put her shoes on, she was willing to wear it.

Above is Charlie and Brooklyn heading to their first of three houses to trick or treat.

Brooklyn and dad returning home. Three houses was enough for her.

She loved emptying out her candy bag.

Brooklyn enjoyed one KitKat stick and had chocolate all over her face. We are looking forward to next year when she will fully enjoy the holiday.

Forking it

Brooklyn can officially eat food with a fork all by herself.

Animal Wrester

Since our return from California, Brooklyn cannot get enough of our cat, Andy Pettitte. She has always been a little rough but she seems to think he is her personal wrestling partner. Most of the time, he just takes it but she has gotten some minor scratches this past week.

Brooklyn hugging the cat.

Our future WWF star:)

Animal Lover

We traveled half way across the country and what Brooklyn enjoyed most was her grandparents pets. She could not get enough of them!

She would grab Thunder's tail and walk around with him. She looked like she was walking him with a leash but it was his tail.

Brooklyn loved the dogs as well. Cognac is on the left and Daisy is on the right. I think she preferred Daisy. Cognac is a big dog and she got knocked down a time or two on accident by him.

Brooklyn making room for herself on the dog's pillow.

Brooklyn taking a break with Daisy.

She wore herself out with the dogs and passed out on Grandpa's lap.

Playing with New Friends.

Brooklyn mingled and met some new friends on our trip. Even when tired, she found her energy reserves if a pint size visitor came over.

Brooklyn sharing with Daphne. Daphne is 8 months old and a real cutie. She is the granddaughter of Val's godparents, Terri and Gordon.

Daphne modeling the hat.

Val's cousin Charity brought over her daughter Paige. Paige and Brooklyn got to play a bit before Brooklyn's bedtime.

See you next trip!

California Trip

Brooklyn and I spent the past week in California visiting my parents. They last saw her in June when they came out for Brooklyn's birthday. Those three months have brought big changes, such as her walking:)

Test riding her new rock and roll toy. It is a rocking toy that turns into a tricycle. Brooklyn will enjoy this for years to come when visiting her California grandparents.

Brooklyn discovered address label stickers and thought it was pretty funny to put them on Grandpa's face.

Sitting on Grandpa's lap.

We made a trip to the aquarium. Not too many pictures were taken as Brooklyn was having a rough day.

We were treated to a delicious chorizo breakfast prepared by Brooklyn's Great Grandpa Rey. She really likes chorizo. Here is Brooklyn hanging out in Grandpa Rey's patio. Notice how clean it looks. He had just hand painted the tiles. 82 years and still going strong.

Brenda, Uncle Ryan, Grandma, and Brooklyn hanging out at Grandpa Rey's.

Hanging out with Grandma. We miss you already!