tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28002295924808963282023-11-16T06:24:21.344-08:00Adventure: DirksSo many amazing things happen in my life everyday. I want to encapsilate time and capture even the smallest memories so desperately...I want to share my blessings with my friends and family...far and near.Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17412124837935242974noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2800229592480896328.post-25609485584253885852010-11-17T21:58:00.000-08:002010-11-17T22:16:37.015-08:00My Heavens...Time is Zooming By...<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">First of all, my sincere apologies for being 'away' for so long. I have been warned by many creditable sources, that time disappears faster and faster the older your children become. I have to admit I totally thought they were full of BULL... But I have some crow to eat. I was reading my last post (which still tears me up) and it seemed just like YESTERDAY. Maxwell has been happily attending Kindergarten for three easy months now. How blessed am I that he loves school. He loves his teacher and he can't wait for Monday to roll around. He has wonderful friends everywhere (I wish I knew all their names), loves PE, loves library, his big reading buddy, and even lunchtime. But what he loves even more- is the first moment he walks in the door. He has 100 things he can't wait to tell me. The color of the day he received for behaviour, what book he read, how many different tag games they played at recess. All vital details of his day that I cherish. It is different for me to hear them. I am the type of momma that likes to witness 100% of daily activities. If they go to a birthday party...I'm a "stage one clinger" hanging around at the back of the room. If they have a Sunday School activity... I like to volunteer to help... so I can be apart of their activities and their lives. I try not to be over bearing or pushy or know-it-all... I just want to experience their life. It's very different for me to 'hear' of his day now. I have to admit I don't really like it...but I'm working on it diligently.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">I have also had the blessed opportunity to hear my son read to me for the first time recently. My son can read. He really likes to read too. I can't tell you how crazy wonderful it is... Once in a lifetime good. What doors will he open and what mountains will he climb? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Marren and Mylee have had an interesting time adjusting to Maxwell being in Kindergarten- Marren especially. During the first month of school... the local volunteer firemen come with their trucks, water hoses, lights/sirens, and fully uniformed to make an impression on children. Hero's to 95% of the children attending our preschool. One young strawberry blond (apart of the "not as excited" 5%) was extremely alarmed at their presentation of arms (so to speak). She was literally petrified and couldn't even talk about it for several days. I honestly believe she has always been afraid of firetrucks and firemen... I can recall that retrospectively. However, last year...when the firemen visited there was one major difference for my little Marren... Her big brother Max was right there with her and she knew she was safe...because he wasn't alarmed. She watched him and feed off of him and trusted him. For several days, Maxwell not being in her school with her really set her back and it nearly ripped me in two. I was darn near ready to try anything... I even thought about pulling her out of school for a fleeting moment. That, of course, would have been a terrible mistake.... but it was literally me lying to her and having the teacher rip her away from my neck to get away from her once we were inside the preschool. I cried all morning just imagining her being so scared. Completely out of character for my little army soldier!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">After a horrible week....Our wonderfully insightful preschool teacher had a brilliant idea. We reminded her the firemen were NOT coming back for a long long time and then gave her a timer. As soon as the timer would go off... I was walking in the door to pick her up. Just a little reassurance on her belt that I would be back for her....and she was cured. Nearly a miracle- in my opinion. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Mylee is an amazing creature. She is 2 and 2 months old. She calls my mom "mimi' 96% of the time. The remainder of the time she calls her 'Sally Brinkema'. NO JOKE. What a ham!!! She loves to just giggle, mirror Marren and Maxwell, play, color, cut shapes, eat...and mirror Max and Marren at any cost... One big detail to mention...Mylee loves loves loves LOVES to TALK. The girl never ever never never ever stops talking. She literally puts herself to sleep talking. There are days when I can't hear or even imagine I have said 3 words. She can out talk me 10:1. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The cooler months have been hard on Myles. She loves to be outside and exploring. She could be outside all day and never stop moving (or talking) all day long. I had both girls in the graincart with me for 2 hours one day during harvestwhich they loved. It was nearly one of the most challenging parenting time periods I have had to date. Both girls wanted to drive...at the same time. Then they wanted to sit in the ONE buddy chair at the same time. I finally put one on the floor of the tractor to my left near the door and the other on the floor to my right...NEAR all the tractor controls. Turns out...Marren knows how to operate an ignition key perfectly. We were changing fields...in road gear...with a truck behind me. Marren reaches up to the ignition and turns the entire tractor OFF!!. I had time to grab Myles (so she didn't end up like a bug on a windshield) put my foot on the clutch (cuz I hoped that would help somehow) and closed my eyes. We came to an utterly complete stop in 1 foot. I think we were only going 15 mph. But holy cow, was that exciting. The truck stopped...thankfully....and all was fine. Marren got a pretty good crunch into the windshield and I put my heart back in my chest... Mylee loved it... and Ross was less than pleased. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">No tangible harm done.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I have 100's of other wonder things that have happened, but I have bored you long enough. The long and short of it is... We are so blessed and have such a wonderful family and wonderful friends. My children are surrounded by wonderful people on the school bus, at school, at church... Our little town is safe and bustling. God is at work in our small corner of the world. </span>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17412124837935242974noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2800229592480896328.post-25588443628115669052010-08-25T21:20:00.000-07:002010-08-25T21:20:45.749-07:00"Kindergarten is AWESOME!!"<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidHjYvR7Y3Dk_QcHKKjbWZRzDitdO_89k-ggOxdkA0mAXLUDW94DS0XCZwZ5zY2F0C4WU8yeD1tdEwQrGKxfKtcAbr0dzg_QIEmf_805Pd7gww1hxfkJDyuTYjI2zsTvYaP03SUfOlanU/s1600/100_4878.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidHjYvR7Y3Dk_QcHKKjbWZRzDitdO_89k-ggOxdkA0mAXLUDW94DS0XCZwZ5zY2F0C4WU8yeD1tdEwQrGKxfKtcAbr0dzg_QIEmf_805Pd7gww1hxfkJDyuTYjI2zsTvYaP03SUfOlanU/s320/100_4878.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Max's new desk in his new room. KB</span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Miss Lingbloom is his teacher!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVwbtxKouTEI6PvuyjIub9OZuey-YQWdA7JFQ6cTIgadpPAcREjJmitrqVkZlfvDfdduyW9Blw6FERHlSjBJqxLmWHWQpXH780lf_-xQysVJC2gvKx-zS9y_GOvOoBX8VCXifDaV9BXJQ/s1600/100_4884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVwbtxKouTEI6PvuyjIub9OZuey-YQWdA7JFQ6cTIgadpPAcREjJmitrqVkZlfvDfdduyW9Blw6FERHlSjBJqxLmWHWQpXH780lf_-xQysVJC2gvKx-zS9y_GOvOoBX8VCXifDaV9BXJQ/s320/100_4884.JPG" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">His sister's aren't quite sure what was about to happen</span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: large;">All day they looked for him... Mylee thought he took a nap </span></div><span style="font-size: large;">all day!!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjncoprkg_CdmAUkv_1NOwxI8FZQlx2ePz4J6EQidFpHVtoE6a2B23hT5uLYgkoUUy54JCPLYFU8VSHxxFchO4PnVQGWFnDcLQIX_M4QauOUap6sdH7oK35an4NOAsN0TZk8WVuP8r1xFw/s1600/100_4883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjncoprkg_CdmAUkv_1NOwxI8FZQlx2ePz4J6EQidFpHVtoE6a2B23hT5uLYgkoUUy54JCPLYFU8VSHxxFchO4PnVQGWFnDcLQIX_M4QauOUap6sdH7oK35an4NOAsN0TZk8WVuP8r1xFw/s320/100_4883.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: large;">My little man is so grown up. He was so ready to go...</span></div><span style="font-size: large;">He wouldn't let me take him to school. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">He wanted to ride the bus....and I let him...somehow.</span><br />
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</div><div align="left" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: large;">I must have asked him a 100 times... "Are you sure you want to ride the bus?" "Yes mom... that will be the best part!!" Oh my, I was SO dreading last Thursday. I had a couple severe breakdowns and I couldn't do anything about them. It's like I was someone else for several days. </span></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><span style="font-size: large;">Max LOVES school. He brings home tons of great worksheets he can't wait to show both Jeremy and I. He loves Jolly Phonics and he wants to read. Who is this kid? </span></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: large;">We ended last week with a bang... I hauled our new waterslide out perhaps for the last time this summer. It might get warm enough for another fun afternoon... but you never know. We had a blast watching the kids!!</span></div><div align="left" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcA4uSpQqniLsbguA3j3yndXGkZ6ZQK3DPDuFW284pg9pObYrsD5Jpu9sZhz-FgzLOy4DTgYs1_jCA6GNdVG0HM35M7hWSyB4QDZ_259sBen-BMIRvxwcnL9YtlgO-b76MGaMqA34cjoQ/s1600/100_4916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcA4uSpQqniLsbguA3j3yndXGkZ6ZQK3DPDuFW284pg9pObYrsD5Jpu9sZhz-FgzLOy4DTgYs1_jCA6GNdVG0HM35M7hWSyB4QDZ_259sBen-BMIRvxwcnL9YtlgO-b76MGaMqA34cjoQ/s320/100_4916.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It looks bad...but they went down together 100x's. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">She LOVED it.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">He taught her how to climb the ladder and then they go down in a pile...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">giggling the entire way!!</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1a8UCi-7V0z0nrQ5pf5UF8WNfO_k1U5LuZgRr-az0Kjn5BLRnkN-7_XNsFAFxqgGIvOl-TdytLVtYbwXls6Yeky50TSLE2hBS4NuCOBdpa7HUnGxBYOPCTWqvQCRgfDfpBjAiaT8Ila0/s1600/100_4923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1a8UCi-7V0z0nrQ5pf5UF8WNfO_k1U5LuZgRr-az0Kjn5BLRnkN-7_XNsFAFxqgGIvOl-TdytLVtYbwXls6Yeky50TSLE2hBS4NuCOBdpa7HUnGxBYOPCTWqvQCRgfDfpBjAiaT8Ila0/s320/100_4923.JPG" /></a></div>I can't wait to show them these pictures someday.... when they are my age. <br />
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</tbody></table>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17412124837935242974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2800229592480896328.post-84184279530611064902010-08-12T16:05:00.000-07:002010-08-12T16:15:57.713-07:00Summertime has disappeared....The summer has disappeared!! My Maxwell is going to kindergarten in exactly one week. Marren is headed to her 2nd precious year of preschool. Mylee is talking in sentences and just had her 1st gymnastics program last week. I'm not sure how we've made it to August already. I have dreaded this month for 6 1/2 years....<br /><br />Don't get me wrong...he's excited to go to Kindergarten. He's ready to ride the bus. He's ready to try the food in the lunchroom and he can't wait to play on the big playground. I, however, am NOT ready to send him off for the day...The school bus could pick him up as early as 7:30 am and he might be on the bus until 4:30 pm. Yikes. I know I'll get used to it. I know I'll love the time to clean house and to work and play with the girls.... but I don't think I'll love the time I spend away from him. Time has always been mine to manage and mine for me to fill for him. The day he was born I was SO relieved I had 6 years to NOT worry about him in a school...not under my watchful careful eye. Now here it is...6 days away and I can't handle it. <br /><br />For now... We're going to go shuck sweetcorn and go for a quiet walk on our long driveway. And pretend nothing is going to change for the time being. Yikes... I thought I be better at this...<br /><br />Sorry it's been such a quiet summer from me. I've been involved in several really great projects. I do have to brag about 1 project in particular.... I was the Entertainment Chairperson for the Nebraska Cattleman's Ball... We raised nearly $1 million dollars for cancer research. I can honestly say it was one of the most amazing things I have ever done...but I will NEVER do anything like it again. The time I donated was too precious. I worked on this project for nearly a YEAR...<br /><br />Now...on to the sweetcorn and the walk. <br /><br />Love to you all...<br /><br />BrookeBrookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17412124837935242974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2800229592480896328.post-67935278265403256732010-02-18T20:29:00.000-08:002010-02-18T20:42:15.570-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrHDtBh5DFyAIW4-cA9YFxZUV7cotCKO-fVJbFwky97ECrr6x8IYI8ZfplluckizGXH7sN_JIhbQczyzAZsjxO4n5yJVG3v8YoBV0nIDU_kRaGsxIAh5GeVaMd85UXkIPckYFieKfqpCQ/s1600-h/DSCN0652.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439809058212677026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrHDtBh5DFyAIW4-cA9YFxZUV7cotCKO-fVJbFwky97ECrr6x8IYI8ZfplluckizGXH7sN_JIhbQczyzAZsjxO4n5yJVG3v8YoBV0nIDU_kRaGsxIAh5GeVaMd85UXkIPckYFieKfqpCQ/s400/DSCN0652.JPG" /></a> Maxwell LOVES to swim. He is actually part fish!!!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUuCfaQAmVJlXqWHdkfW85j2wdzkN7rBlxNmKtMQXohRaX300xcLVmZGLs0qqIIhS8zMNjqLLeHGCpfFWLi8dqa0vSICO7SMuNaoiJUokCe5yiDv6UL7Iua_DJ2_H_55gZ2Grg9_J0DQs/s1600-h/DSCN0629.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439809048461452290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUuCfaQAmVJlXqWHdkfW85j2wdzkN7rBlxNmKtMQXohRaX300xcLVmZGLs0qqIIhS8zMNjqLLeHGCpfFWLi8dqa0vSICO7SMuNaoiJUokCe5yiDv6UL7Iua_DJ2_H_55gZ2Grg9_J0DQs/s400/DSCN0629.JPG" /></a> Bet you can't guess which one is Maxwell???!!!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4sBpur1I8KcH0ttvRTCiauul2CSOqDT8Ldbfbu_Y4eRbvrTMpqjsvQTGlbriwv8onxpeWEHERC3kw64QzWj6jmRSzoY0ZvEBfaD8h4NAcuIrTf01MvDLrr0eKXcVxY5BBW_5VulNTbgw/s1600-h/DSCN0627.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439809043601159394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4sBpur1I8KcH0ttvRTCiauul2CSOqDT8Ldbfbu_Y4eRbvrTMpqjsvQTGlbriwv8onxpeWEHERC3kw64QzWj6jmRSzoY0ZvEBfaD8h4NAcuIrTf01MvDLrr0eKXcVxY5BBW_5VulNTbgw/s400/DSCN0627.JPG" /></a> I had one rouge crayon. She would NOT wear her tip!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hvH1qZUedBQivUvROqrpPFmT4BOqwPI49F2b55pNnzrfWdRXx3JUzeNJzNnxSx8eZzvyDDIdoyjyUZsJ_Gi5JFIhedzLscl0PSM2_1WOFkWF-IbcuiUy0TB5GWVdlm8kqCqwAmkTqn4/s1600-h/DSCN0657.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439809034240188482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hvH1qZUedBQivUvROqrpPFmT4BOqwPI49F2b55pNnzrfWdRXx3JUzeNJzNnxSx8eZzvyDDIdoyjyUZsJ_Gi5JFIhedzLscl0PSM2_1WOFkWF-IbcuiUy0TB5GWVdlm8kqCqwAmkTqn4/s400/DSCN0657.JPG" /></a> Best friends.....for a second. Fight like wet cats the next.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkFS1vOOA5C0jaeJcqOmzcDm_BcdcPiqVsZDZNts6_Ai1XozGfo3GN34nxG4wMAlMiq-cWjCiE2DW5QubSTYBdhYedjQee_u0OOLMM0mK1Gq0enXCBgQRc1TgCGre9gtzE-aWyZSBBDYM/s1600-h/DSCN0672.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439809018729159394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkFS1vOOA5C0jaeJcqOmzcDm_BcdcPiqVsZDZNts6_Ai1XozGfo3GN34nxG4wMAlMiq-cWjCiE2DW5QubSTYBdhYedjQee_u0OOLMM0mK1Gq0enXCBgQRc1TgCGre9gtzE-aWyZSBBDYM/s400/DSCN0672.JPG" /></a> Do I like the sand? I do. Do you like the sand? You do!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17412124837935242974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2800229592480896328.post-31012891869551069492010-02-18T20:09:00.000-08:002010-02-18T20:29:22.482-08:00A Month to Remember...I hopeI am in the market to buy, steal, kidnap, blackmail...a Sleeping Fairy. I have had 3 children. I have been very strict about bedtime routines from the get-go. Since Jeremy has been working for Pioneer...since the day we were married...evenings are the only time he and I get to talk for pretty much the entire day. Phone calls are brief and often interrupted by Pioneer business (as it should). I don't mind because we normally speak in the evenings. As children were added to the equation, evening discussions were limited to a few short phrases. Important...albeit brief. Therefore, the reason I have always wanted my children to sleep in their own beds. Do I mind them joining us in the weee hours of the AM. No. Love that. I am digressing...sorry<br /><br />MYLEE DOES NOT SLEEP. She hates to sleep. She doesn't apparently need to sleep. She doesn't nap. She hates to fall asleep. She hates her crib. She hates her nightlight. She hates to be alone. She hates her blanket, babies, bottles...Ocean noise maker that both Marren and Maxwell LOVED. Hates it. Screams when you turn it on. <br /><br />So where does that leave me? I am often having conversations with people on the phone or in person when I ...kind of....space off I'm so tired. I forget what questions they are asking me. I change the subject really abruptly. I start to tell a story and forget why I'm telling it and why it is relevant to anything or anyone. It's very frustrating. I don't know why people talk to me. Confusing I'm sure. I made a cake for some friends of ours the other day. Our nice friend thanked me for it on Sunday. I ...all of a sudden....discovered I was talking about cooking the cake too long...and you shouldn't cook cakes too long...and I'm sorry his was probably dry....and I probably should have made them another one.... Uh oh. I've done it again. After I realized it was happening again...I just froze my mouth and turned and walked away. He probably thought I was spaazing out!!! This is his formal apology!!! I'm sorry Troy!!! <br /><br />Lack of sleep isn't good for me. I used to complain when I didn't get 8 hours of sleep. Last night...I got to sleep until 11:04 pm. Mylee joined us in bed until Jeremy kicked us both out at 1:45 AM. We went to the couch and fought over a 3ft x 5 ft couch. She won. I find myself ...sometimes....asleep sitting up wherever I am posted. I wake up and move without remembering where I am going. I'm sure this isn't good I'm driving my children around. <br /><br />I am very careful and have given up speeding and cellphone use while I'm in the car. Unless of course, it's Jeremy calling. I answer it...cuz it's the only time we get to talk. Ha.<br /><br />Love to you all.<br /><br />BrookeBrookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17412124837935242974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2800229592480896328.post-21190062587260988462009-12-15T21:04:00.000-08:002009-12-15T22:14:35.953-08:00<span style="color:#33ccff;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">December to Remember<br /><br />Where is the time going? Why are we so busy? My children are only 5,3, and 1....What's it going to be like when they are teenagers....all at the same time? Ugh.<br /><br />I have a entirely new love of Christmas. As a child, I LOVED Christmas...all of it. The baking, shopping, gifting, wrapping, the cold, programs, lights, the sounds, Santa, The Christmas Story...All magically memorable. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Flashforward to today...Christmas through the eyes of my children is 100x's better. Yes, they love the Santa idea....but they LOVE the Christmas Story. We read it nearly every night before bed. They ask so many great questions and really are impressed the Baby was born in a barn. Max was sure the hay was itchy. Marren thought the Baby would be entertained by the sheep (not her exact words...but you get the idea). A different night Max asked about the star and how did they know how to follow it. How far did they walk? Did they have a car...etc etc. The star story, however, was a great introduction to a faith conversation for us. The simple faith of a child is so beautiful. They just have so much faith in everything and they trust...everything. That's what makes this Christmas season with my children so magical. It's not the tree...It's their eyes that light up with the twinkle. It's not the baking of or the taste of the food...It's their chocolate covered lips and fingers and teeth. It's not the story...it's the faith in the story. I can't wait to watch them experience Christmas. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Recently, we have been really pretty sick. Mylee has never had a cold, fever, cough or sniffle before 2 weeks ago. What ever she caught was nasty. Started loose stools and no appetite. Constant fever followed closely with the nastiest, greenest snot I have ever seen. Bloody noses. Rashes. Coughing. NO sleep. Constant whining. And NO sleep. I felt terrible for her. Then Marren caught it and I was a close third. Max kind of had a runny nose... but nothing else. We survived. That's all I have to say about that.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Marren is full of funny commentary these days. I popped around the corner one afternoon and found her coloring on the walls. I asked her if she wanted a spanking or a 10 minute time out. She thought long and hard and through her tears...decided she wanted a spanking. Which surprised me. I said "ok, come here". She just stood there..thinking. She finally said" Mommy. I want two small spankings...not one big one". That broke my heart. I gave her a small swat and made her wipe the walls off. Of course, I had to paint an entire portion of the wall...but it was worth it to see her little mind work and negociate a different resolution. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Marren is SO SO SO SO independent. She dresses herself everyday...several times. She washes herself. She washes her own hands. She wants to get in the car herself. Hates when I help her with anything. I appreciate and hate that. She is so much help getting out the door in the mornings for school...but at the same time...she is growing up faster than Maxwell by two fold. I am so proud of her and I see great, magical things in store for my little bear.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />Till tomorrow night...<br /><br />Love to you all<br /><br />Brooke<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#006600;"></span>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17412124837935242974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2800229592480896328.post-41581456737929568632009-10-11T13:43:00.000-07:002009-10-21T20:46:07.682-07:00A long lost update!!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn9Kw31283YSjIti8-RlgYFe_8hTp2m7b-Q-C2PCTYI8gGf5FqLufPyuf46M2NwO57hEvejMzBMQ8BL3eZR6cJv-M4S4Mjb9Jk1FC6IFehY1RGxRXU3I7nGtyfxF6haYwI0PluAhnQLwM/s1600-h/100_4346.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn9Kw31283YSjIti8-RlgYFe_8hTp2m7b-Q-C2PCTYI8gGf5FqLufPyuf46M2NwO57hEvejMzBMQ8BL3eZR6cJv-M4S4Mjb9Jk1FC6IFehY1RGxRXU3I7nGtyfxF6haYwI0PluAhnQLwM/s400/100_4346.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395265221397325650" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBica_yT2qVdw25id3ktNYQaAMLaTQ55wAUXAEkelE_nvtk0T7Fm8O9bDdmR07NyTvSqGbwtXQaqiwnVpBxi7zS71uFNBzVCP2M-Wx2c2wucjUapcBAQKBpnsiqMw19ZDEIADlWOgZCFs/s1600-h/100_4355.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBica_yT2qVdw25id3ktNYQaAMLaTQ55wAUXAEkelE_nvtk0T7Fm8O9bDdmR07NyTvSqGbwtXQaqiwnVpBxi7zS71uFNBzVCP2M-Wx2c2wucjUapcBAQKBpnsiqMw19ZDEIADlWOgZCFs/s400/100_4355.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395265218059326898" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTMTeRoaBXqJBGalL07EvI_L0TuJWBX-pQ-NMARINArgxM5FW7OObI_YH_cNDbeWKwGNOuXfIoocacKPAndIT66xnVFbkZKo29-YbhrL_emrGDxrsVUBGvkyvv8atVlPPiNhQt6q9hzog/s1600-h/100_4320.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTMTeRoaBXqJBGalL07EvI_L0TuJWBX-pQ-NMARINArgxM5FW7OObI_YH_cNDbeWKwGNOuXfIoocacKPAndIT66xnVFbkZKo29-YbhrL_emrGDxrsVUBGvkyvv8atVlPPiNhQt6q9hzog/s400/100_4320.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395265210349476370" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQivLWGh-HmETzJGcvvEWtBIApFJJT6hUvCAxIFrvNo0L6R7RoAchVbHK7m9K1TUG_etOGzNgP_PRMb2P99xQ1u5Fp86ln9j5XCvi1uAapkoz6bU7hNdfCnoPZ4T_kSEM3F07wPBMZ6vQ/s1600-h/100_4311.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQivLWGh-HmETzJGcvvEWtBIApFJJT6hUvCAxIFrvNo0L6R7RoAchVbHK7m9K1TUG_etOGzNgP_PRMb2P99xQ1u5Fp86ln9j5XCvi1uAapkoz6bU7hNdfCnoPZ4T_kSEM3F07wPBMZ6vQ/s400/100_4311.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395265203325971938" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4W_78Dh86k2svxGXOSI9w80KLMEX3S0MvQQ0oWgBRF3hy3YB9Z-LtrlJhbzux5Wr-v9N4flwsFcuIysCc8L65EV_k2FD-TLy_nPr9rEoCd_0SBKSLKsqQb1oy-_DdBLjov4qK-H_hZE/s1600-h/100_4359.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4W_78Dh86k2svxGXOSI9w80KLMEX3S0MvQQ0oWgBRF3hy3YB9Z-LtrlJhbzux5Wr-v9N4flwsFcuIysCc8L65EV_k2FD-TLy_nPr9rEoCd_0SBKSLKsqQb1oy-_DdBLjov4qK-H_hZE/s400/100_4359.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395265195260508946" /></a><br />Dear Friends and Family!!!<br /><br /><br /><br />I haven't fallen off the face of the earth....We are still here!!! I can't believe how busy we are. Marren started preschool on Monday...She was SO excited. We only have her going 2 days a week because she is still so young. I took her Monday morning...she just took off...found her name tag and waved 'Good-bye'...like she had been going to preschool for years. I was the only one with a tear. That's how I want it ...of course. She's always been like that though...Ready for the next step before she should be ready. <br /><br />And on top of it all... Winter has arrived and we have picked 1/2 of ONE dryland field. So...it's going to be a long harvest. Spirits are marginal. It keeps raining and snowing...so the crop doesn't have a chance to DRY down. We need to pick it at 17 or 18 percent moisture...Right now, it is sitting at/around 25. The problem with that is the stalk that holds the ear up so the combine can get it is decaying and dying too quickly with the cold/wet temps and the ear isn't drying down. Therefore, in danger of ending up on the ground and NOT in the combine. The Lord has a plan for us all...and I am pushing on that plan!!! Just ready to have 2009 in the books and off the minds of the men in my life. <br /><br />Maxwell is a busy preschooler. He, just recently, was convinced that his real name is actually Maxwell. Funny...I know. He was convinced that 'Max' was it and Maxwell was too much work to write and too long. Thanks to Marcia (his teacher) for helping me with that issue. Amazing how stubborn or REALLY <em>stubborn </em>he is. I wanted to put this 'issue' in words so later in life...I'll be able to 'remind' him of his little fits about his name. I truely believe it's because he would have to learn to write more letters...Heaven forbid!! He reminds me of his father more and more everyday.<br /><br />Mylee...my little peach...HATES to sleep. Loves to eat. Loves to follow the big kids around. Just recently, their new game includes running threw the house...SCREAMING...Chasing each other. No big deal if you get caught...Just the running and screaming is the game. Slightly maddening for me...The baby holds her own trotting right along with M1 and M2. She hasn't been damaged/injured too badly yet. Mylee is also into Marren's dress up shoes now. She works and works and WORKS at getting these high heeled pink/sparkley shoes on. Stands up. Falls down. Slips. Gets them back on only to have Marren run up and swipe them. I found another pair in Marren's closet...so I have hopefully eliminated that sad picture. Adorable is how I describe M3 with those shoes on. I'll get a picture here soon. Aunt Penny...we need to buy baby Frances some dress up shoes....they start early with those darn things!!!<br /><br />Jeremy is traveling ALOT lately. He promises this week is his last MIA week. The days get long and a bit crazy. The kids play in the basement all night though and even Mylee is spending more and more time down there. I hear crashes and blood curtiling screams quite often...but I haven't had any actual blood yet, so I'll continue to push my luck. <br /><br />Other than that...I am reeaaaalllllyy discusted with how sick the entire world is right now. The H1N1 vaccine ...being completely controlled by the US Government is just now getting out to clinics...AFTER most of the population has already suffered from this crap. Knock on wood...we haven't gotten it yet. I pray for the dozens of my friends that currently have it. Just fed up with the system that controls and supposedly protects us. I stood in line in Wray for 1/2 hour yesterday trying to get Mylee and Max a shot...Only to find out my BABY and my son...with a paralyzed diaphragm didn't qualify for the shot. I understand the priority level...I just don't understand why more isn't ready for us all that want and need it NOW. <br /><br />Miss you all and I'd love to hear from you Floridians!!!! <br /><br />God's Blessings to you All.<br /><br />Love BrookeBrookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17412124837935242974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2800229592480896328.post-90028129071222404242009-09-09T21:48:00.001-07:002009-09-09T22:27:08.640-07:00Pray for my friend....Hi loyal Adventure: Dirks followers!!<br /><br />I know it's been awhile...but I have a favor to ask of ALL of you.<br /><br />I have a dear friend. Her name is Shannon and her husband is named Luke. They have three beautiful daughters. A gloriously smart 5 year old...Josie. An amazing angel named Marie. And a brand new sweat-pea...Sarah Kate.<br /><br />Their daughter Marie passed away a week or so ago. Marie suffered from Leighs Disease...but I will tell you...This crippling disease made her voice and the voice of her momma loud and powerful. She was 2 years 5 months and 25 days old.<br /><br />Now listen up!!!...Marie was a 2 1/2 year old miracle worker. She directly and purely defined Jesus' love in it's simplest form. A gift from the Lord sent to us to embed compassion and hope in the hearts of everyone who saw her smile or read her momma's powerful blog. The love of this child so small so easily taught so many the love and Gospel of Jesus -- So Effortlessly!!<br /><br />I ask you to pray for a little peace for Luke and Shannon. And a little sunshine.<br /><br />Love and miss you all.<br /><br />Brooke and gangBrookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17412124837935242974noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2800229592480896328.post-71983030623061872062009-08-08T20:37:00.000-07:002009-08-08T21:14:46.582-07:00Uncle Bubba and Aunt Aly's Waterslide Party!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtpxC1eNYl_0FBfQ96RJxNkgaluh3ptvpv8EPem-KV-8hHKwIYYftSzn7UfJft04psJqAnvzenGoj3IcVIiQf0migEPJzrDkzXhNmtOcr7ZSqdCtxrJs2QX4EJIm2idL8ynvL_vYJ4BM/s1600-h/100_4154.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367812217892857906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtpxC1eNYl_0FBfQ96RJxNkgaluh3ptvpv8EPem-KV-8hHKwIYYftSzn7UfJft04psJqAnvzenGoj3IcVIiQf0migEPJzrDkzXhNmtOcr7ZSqdCtxrJs2QX4EJIm2idL8ynvL_vYJ4BM/s320/100_4154.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcpdEJ8FKWnTiYkda-1-_FfOJuVcFqgyp5HdB5Alq7hVQAQeBamTK70v6MEON6eRnO9Szzsv53VgzLl3j07DQ5f-uMYB-zdbdNDcWTB5CT4u32AllG6nDMoMwPgAzerrUbxu0qJNoxT3I/s1600-h/100_4117.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367812211959987602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcpdEJ8FKWnTiYkda-1-_FfOJuVcFqgyp5HdB5Alq7hVQAQeBamTK70v6MEON6eRnO9Szzsv53VgzLl3j07DQ5f-uMYB-zdbdNDcWTB5CT4u32AllG6nDMoMwPgAzerrUbxu0qJNoxT3I/s320/100_4117.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidUkOYzZwo3fSBRGl3Q1RBitjXtv7CP3RvuYatjvqEwcPmsM6JYG0GIT-5MMF3zhgK2wlItDOhKWkdJ7Bxtz3KE3KW47MOTLl8GnZz6jLo3w_8-KfZTkwwbEkexn7A0GHMgHLhb19h_no/s1600-h/100_4095.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367812206515191554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidUkOYzZwo3fSBRGl3Q1RBitjXtv7CP3RvuYatjvqEwcPmsM6JYG0GIT-5MMF3zhgK2wlItDOhKWkdJ7Bxtz3KE3KW47MOTLl8GnZz6jLo3w_8-KfZTkwwbEkexn7A0GHMgHLhb19h_no/s320/100_4095.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOssGScbyvE4DuCxmLgFLxVcPgQpGg_F2A9CMoFamg4NWApBqrCqMjXqOIcrjxwDlOsQD6ByuYxDgsXV_m_r9WohEGotcTJfMFVe8esLOTdROvYJvhFactTW-3JYk8yGk0gsWKUCkx8PU/s1600-h/100_4087.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367812204780005442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOssGScbyvE4DuCxmLgFLxVcPgQpGg_F2A9CMoFamg4NWApBqrCqMjXqOIcrjxwDlOsQD6ByuYxDgsXV_m_r9WohEGotcTJfMFVe8esLOTdROvYJvhFactTW-3JYk8yGk0gsWKUCkx8PU/s320/100_4087.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0wP29dOFge5P0RatoGLbgVWzkSaq9S2A-dAbTLfNCZPRcy47JuonBUkl7tFMWKX4kHBB87pIgReLLXn4eEP5OkDAhElVN8Wg2Mv0rWHNVOQP_HXGptuQdgX7ERpG8uWu4K6yeEO5MDFw/s1600-h/100_4082.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367812198115124866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0wP29dOFge5P0RatoGLbgVWzkSaq9S2A-dAbTLfNCZPRcy47JuonBUkl7tFMWKX4kHBB87pIgReLLXn4eEP5OkDAhElVN8Wg2Mv0rWHNVOQP_HXGptuQdgX7ERpG8uWu4K6yeEO5MDFw/s320/100_4082.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:georgia;">A big THANK YOU to Bubba and Aunt Aly for tonights waterslide party. My children LIVE to be in the water. They would sleep in the water if that were at all possible. The only quirky thing I want to apologize for to them is that my children are spoiled. To those of you I need to update...Ross and Aly live in the Sand Hills of NE Colorado. Most of you have visited...They have a well that pumps the water out of the ground. As do I in my house....All country folk have wells. If you know anything about waterslides...you know how much work they are. So I normally spend a good hour putting the slide up...normally (Ross and Aly have helped me the last few times...but I'm explaining why my kids are spoiled.) It is a 60 lb slide with 2 blowers. 2 extention cords. Long hose. Stakes. Oh yeah...the baby is freaked out by grass and bugs...so you have to carry her the ENTIRE time. Marren doesn't like Aly and Ross' dog so she is screaming at me the entire time from the hood of the suburban. Max is yelling at me to HURRY UP. You get the idea. Chaos. All the while, it is 189 degrees. 60% humidity and 65 dew point. I AM SWEATING. Every now and then I just put the baby down and do 10 things really fast while she's screaming at the tippy top of her little lungs. Then I accomplish the 10 quick things, pick her up, and she INSTANTLY stops crying. I finally get to filling the slide with a little water and ...BIG MOMENT....the kids go down 2 times. They are cold because the well water comoing from 300 feet below ground is ONE degree above freezing... and want to go inside and have hot chocolate. O MY Heavens. I can not handle that. To combat that from EVER happening again...I put hot water from the garage metered with cool water threw the slide. The water then is temperate and they love it. We spend nearly 3 or 4 hours in it then. The baby loves the little pool part and loves to watch the big kids go up an down a hundred times....Oh yeah, that's the rule...Max has to go up and down 100 times. He counts as far as he can pay attention and Marren chimes in with her own numbers from time to time. </span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Needless to say, now Ross thinks my kids are spoiled. Oh well. He'll have kiddy rats someday and I'll remind him ...nicely...about the hot water. Jeremy gave me crap only ONCE about how wimpy the kids were. I nearly took his little head right off his shoulders. </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Mylee is a true sweet pea. She is developing quite a personality. She knows now that if she squeals...I'm come running. So when Marren even gets close to taking her toy away, Mylee lets out this adorable...piercing pig squeal. Like if a baby pig is being dangled by his tail type of a scream (don't ask me how I know what that sounds like!!!). She is quite proud of her noise and I try to scold her for making it. </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Max is growing!!! He is eating. Sleeping all the time and talking NON STOP. His new thing is if I can't answer one of his million questions he wants to "google" it. Oh my. How did that happen. He is already a regular YOU TUBER. Granted...I keep him in the toy dinosaur and T _REX cafe section, but he is quite good with a mouse and the Red X. Jeremy had some other programs running and let him YOU TUBE for just a second. Jeremy came back not a few moments later and all of his programs were closed. Not saved. Over. Nice...Your 5 year old is out computing you. Marren is not far behind.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Marren is turning into a little diva. No one can tell her what to do. Help her. Look at her when she's not ready. Interesting. Jeremy is finding this extremely frustrating. I think it's good for him. He doesn't know how to bridle this spirit. He's in the process of reading acouple of Dr. Dobson's suggestions about a spirited child. We want to bridle it...not extinguish it. On a happy note...potty training is going better. I followed my sister in laws advice to have Marren clean herself up after an accident. Marren was APPAULED that I would suggest that and decided to not let it happen again. Now ...it HAS accidently happened a few times...but it's much better. She calls her undergarments..."UNDERWEARS".... "PACK PACK" for backpack. "MI EE" for Mylee. I need to remember more... I should correct her...I know. But they are so cute.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>All is all...Our lives are so full of the Lord's Blessings. Wonderful rains this week brought much needed moisture to our grass and dryland corn. Preschool starts in a couple weeks and I'm not ready for that. We have several activities to accomplish yet in the next few weeks. The Chase County Fair is next week and JJ and Gabby White will be here for that. That will be fun to watch the boys together. God is so good to me. I remember to thank Him every moment I can. </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Love to you all</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Brooke</div></div></div></div></div>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17412124837935242974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2800229592480896328.post-58024250984481399182009-07-29T21:08:00.000-07:002009-07-29T21:51:20.877-07:00Where has the time gone???It has been too long since my last post. Sorry about that! A lot has happened in a few short weeks. My most enjoyable moment was my trip to San Diego. My sweet husband worked extra hard and won a trip for the two of us to Sunny San Diego. What an incredible place! 75 degrees everyday...all day. 69 degrees all night...every night. All year long. They receive 10 in of rain a YEAR. We had a great time together. We hadn't been on a real "trip" together since before we had children almost 6 years ago. Maybe one trip to Wyoming for a weekend...but not this big. I'm not gonna lie...I needed it. I remembered what it was like to be a functioning member of society. A woman. A wife. A normal tourist...I was able to get up...get myself ready and walk out the door for a day's worth of activities. Just my purse and my camera in tow. <br /><br />To be honest...I felt pretty lost without my little gaggle. Yes....if you see me at the grocery store with all of them...it's like I'm a cat herder...But none the less...I've been put on this earth to take care of those three "cats" and I don't want it any other way. The "free" Hyatt massage was INCREDIBLE....but my little gaggle is all I missed while there. <br /><br />They were in extremely good hands. Nanna and Papa Rick from Kansas kept them. I was worried most about the baby. I am still nursing and she is a HUGE momma's girl. They only had one really rough night. I am comforted by the fact that Papa wanted to rush her to the ER for just screaming uncontrollably....for an hour. If something had really been wrong...He would have been all over taking care of it. <br /><br />We've had our local county fair this last week. Max LOVES the fair. We aren't involved in 4-H yet or any of the judging events yet (or maybe NEVER) but he loves to see the animals and the combine derby and the stock car races. <br /><br />Friday night...Max was SO excited to see the stock car races. It was 100 degrees that day so I made him wait until 6:30 to go to the fairgrounds. We arrived and met Aunt Aly and Uncle Bubba (Ross) at the hamburger stand. It took us awhile to get the Methodist Church specials all the while the races started and an ominous storm to the north was bewing. I figured it would miss us or just rain. I normally completely over react to storms and that bugs Jeremy. Plus...I don't want to freek my kids out about storms. So...playing it cool...we sit at the little lunch table area and hand out all the food and drinks. Mylee is on her 2nd bite....Max and JD head for the races and Marren is stacking her chips. I look up and see nothing but a HUGE BLACK HORRIFING dirt cloud moving at supersonic speed right for the grand stands. NO JOKE....I didn't truely know if the grandstand were gonna be standing after that hit. I grabbed the stroller...Screamed to Aly to grab Marren. Ross grabbed the brand new...uneaten food...and I screamed at everyone to run to the 4-H building. Just as I had taken 10 steps we were OVERTAKEN with the most horrible wind/dirt storm I have ever been out side in. You could only see Mylee's little white teeth and the whites of her eyes she was so dirty. Marren had buried her head in Aly's shoulder but her head was completely covered with dirt. I had maybe mentioned ...calmly...earlier to Jeremy that if a storm hits...we'll be in the 4-H building. He had remembered...THANK THE LORD...and somehow made it to us. It was really scary. I don't mind if I'm caught in that type of situation...but I do NOT allow my kids to be in a dangerous weather situation. Not my style. We couldn't see...breath...Dust bowl images were popping into my head. Ross decided it wasn't going to get any better so we all grabbed a child/stroller/dumped the food/ and headed to Blisties for a pile of french fries!!! We lived but were quite a site in the restuarant. <br /><br />Updates on the kids: Mylee is walking. She has, actually, been walking since about 9 months. She will be 11 months in a few short days...breathtaking! She has such a sweet personalilty. Smart. Loves to eat. LOVES to watch Max and Marren play. Tries so hard to follow them and keep up. She is such a joy ...yet so much work. <br /><br />Marren: What a little mastermind. Loves to figures something out. Can open any pill bottle...pickle jar. Refridgerator. Can almost cook her own breakfast. She just pushes a stool over to where she needs to be...and does it. Today i found her in Jeremy's sink. No stool. Soap covering her little body. Water flowing from the faucet. Innocent looking as you can image. How on EARTH did she get up there???? All the way to Kansas...Max was really anxious to get there. Every town he would ask the stereotypical : ARE WE THERE YET? Marren replied everytime " NO MAAXXX. Not YET!!" <br /><br />Maxwell: My handsome little man. He loves to swim. Is actually- part fish. He could spend hours swimming in Holyoke's baby pool. There is nothing fancy about our baby pool...but it is perfect for us. Mylee is safe at the zero entry end. Marren loves the middle shallow part...and Max loves the 2 foot. He is so sweet and smart too. We're not starting him in kindergarten this year. He's not ready. Next year will be perfect for him. Maturity. Writing his name. Sitting still. His only interesting quirk...He talks ALL day long. I remember a few short years ago he wouldn't whisper a word. He was 2.5 before he would say more that 5 words. NO JOKE. Now he speaks 5 billion words a day and fights to not sleep at night ...to just keep talking. I love it. His little mind is so busy and so curious. <br /><br />One of my favorite things that happened this week was something Max said.<br /><br />Mom plops down on the floor...tired...needing a hug.<br /><br />Max walks up: 'Mom...do you have too many kids?"<br /><br />Mom: "Oh Max, No. Why would you say that?"<br /><br />Max: "You look tired mom. Do you want to send one of us back?"<br /><br />Mom: "What? Absolutely not!! Where would I send you?"<br /><br />MARREN pipes up:" Yeah Mom. Let's send the baby back!!!"<br /><br />No joke. I was astounded she was even listening. Thankfully the baby didn't hear her say that!!! And I never did find out where "back" was!!!<br /><br />Love to you all<br /><br />Miss you<br /><br />God's Blessings<br /><br />BrookeBrookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17412124837935242974noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2800229592480896328.post-36708722117800166502009-07-09T21:19:00.001-07:002009-07-09T21:59:16.774-07:00Story Time...I was just reading and article in my REAL SIMPLE magazine. It is one of the few magazines I allow myself to enjoy. Normally, the articles I read are about organization...how to make my day smoother... efficiency... recipes... time management... you get the idea. The Lord intervined tonight. I don't like to read the "What makes you feel beautiful" articles. They are normally full of fluff fashion tips and make-up techniques that I could care LESS about. I do care that I look presentable...but fashion is not a priority at all....And I suppose that shows. Back on track... The article that I paused for a second to read is entitled: Spending time with my kids...by Kathryn Harrison. It kept me interested because she is mother of 3. Her oldest is a boy...second is a "sassy" little sister, and a baby in the Snugli dangling from her chest. She continued to captivate me by making fun of her nursing bra... her hair hadn't been highlighted in months... her extra baby weight... and her lack of sleep...and her lack of a shower. By this point, I am seriously interested. This woman has something to say and I am going to read every word. She had my attention!!!<br /><br /><br /><br />She goes on to tell me that it has taken her 3 children to realize how beautiful she is. Not because she is a mother... But solely because how beautiful her children are!! She is walking down a sidewalk with all three children -hand in hand- and she says " I feel as if I were wearing a dress encursted with precious stones, reflecting the sun's light." You can be a great and trusted friend...a dedicated volunteer...a good Sunday School teacher....but each of those things are gratifying, but NONE of them make her feel beautiful. I COULDN'T SAY IT BETTER! From this moment on, I never feel more beautiful than when I am with my children.<br /><br /><br /><br />My children make me feel beautiful..even with all my -challenges-!! We all have our insecruities and they arise in a crowded room... But at home... taking care of them... I am indestructably ...irrasistably beautiful...even if only to my children and hubby...but they are all that matter in that moment. The Lord knew I needed to read that.<br /><br /><br /><br />What is going on with those beautiful children of mine?? I have several funny stories.<br /><br /><br /><br />First: Maxwell: Setting: Blisties (resturant)<br /><br /><br /><br />Maxwell Thomas is obsessed with water. Water slides. Water parks. He has always wanted to have our own "water park". He has asked every relative he has...several times...for them to build him or make him a water park. At dinner the other night. He sighs a loud Maxwell sigh. Shakes his head. Looks right at Jeremy and says " Dad, it's time to build a water park. I'm ready." Jeremy replies: " Son, water parks take a lot of money to build and we don't have enough to build an entire water park." Maxwell replies: " That's okay dad. Let's just go find all the people we know with wallets and take their money out of it!" Seriously, he's 5 and he already is looking for investors!!!!<br /><br /><br /><br />Marren: Setting: Home<br /><br /><br /><br />Last night Marren had an epically bad potty accident. I'm used to it. Deal with it... clean it up... and move on. Only problem...Marren is almost 3 and could care less about these accidents. I asked her why she had this accident and she told me..." Oh well mom. Guess I shouldn't go to preschool. Now clean this up!!" I'm not sure she cares...What do you think?<br /><br /><br /><br />Mylee: Setting: Kitchen.<br /><br /><br /><br />Mylee has been pretty fussy lately. I'm not sure if it's growing pains, teeth, attachment problems. We're not sleeping well and not eating the best either. The only thing she would eat of her lunch that day was her cookies. After 3 I told her "no no. You've had enough!" She howled and I gave in. After lunch I picked her up and was trying to clean up while holding her. I picked up one of the cookies and started to put it in my mouth. NO JOKE...she shook - excitedly-back and forth- her little 10 month old head and told me "NO NO". I thought I was having an 'out of body' experience. Who else is going to tell me what to do????!!!<br /><br /><br /><br />Love to you all.<br /><br /><br /><br />BrookeBrookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17412124837935242974noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2800229592480896328.post-50330831588010345032009-06-30T21:33:00.000-07:002009-06-30T22:23:03.029-07:00My surgery days are OVER!!!<span style="font-family:verdana;">I am tired of having operations. 8 to date. DONE with them. I want to go 20 years before I need another one. DONE. Tubes are officially tied. The tubes didn't hurt a bit. I have 3 more holes in my body with staples holding them together. Max thinks I have piercings now...for crying out loud. "Why do you have jewerlry on your tummy mom?" ug. Those don't hurt one bit! Want to know what hurts????? They have to blow oxygen into your body cavity so they can navigate around in there. When all finished...they try to get all the air out...but they leave a great deal in the cavity...MY CAVITY. And now the only way for that air to get out is to be absorbed by my cells. That process HURTS. I can't lay down. I can't lean back in a recliner. I can't ride in a car. Most movement or non movement HURTS. Feels like meat hooks being jammed into my shoulders. Graphic...I know. Sorry. Descriptive!! </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Enough about me. Kiddos. They are fantastic. Our new yard is kind of a dirt zone. Max and Marren make evening rounds at different spots in our yard. Big dirt pile is zone or stage one. Both children get COVERED in dirt here. They sit in it. They smush it in their hair. Stage two: soft sand behind house. This is where shoes come off and pockets are filled with beautifully white blow sand. Stage three: faucet. Okay. Now they THINK they need to clean their feet off...but a little water and a lot of dirt create a mud hole. Little feet and little hands love mud!!! This is where most of the already filthy dirty clothing comes off. Max normally splashes Marren first and then Marren gets mad and stomps at Max. Naked... What do y ou suppose they do immidiately after they take off their clothes? Option one: go to the bathroom or Option two: smash mud into places mud SHOULD NOT GO. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">That is normally where I stop it. They get put in the sink in the garage...Washed with strong hand soap. And hauled into the bathtub to have hinden dirt removed by wash cloth. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Mylee screaming through entire process because she is not in the bathtub with the dirt monsters and I can't hold, wash, scrub, excavate, and comfort all at the same time. Just as I get everyone RE dressed. Mylee entertained and dinner almost ready....IN WALKS JEREMY. He wants to know why dinner isn't ready and the house is a mess. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">I colapse on the ground.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">All kidding aside. Jeremy has been pretty awesome through this surgery. I couldn't have done it without him. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Love to you all.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br />brooke</span>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17412124837935242974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2800229592480896328.post-2358678116209681542009-06-28T21:59:00.000-07:002009-06-28T22:37:07.413-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJGUvqsWBQC4QWmimlkjwKyLn90hipwBk0ypqbfoLDQYhHBd7EnQFgQ4K8JYGs9aDJwA5JAKt9Njq7Y6LZpotYOx5Z43ZFKCNIx4IioDWoHy-MLv9EwbWuhpO_GmYQS_Pupkd3qd2QkA/s1600-h/IMG_14894-6.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352616188738658610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJGUvqsWBQC4QWmimlkjwKyLn90hipwBk0ypqbfoLDQYhHBd7EnQFgQ4K8JYGs9aDJwA5JAKt9Njq7Y6LZpotYOx5Z43ZFKCNIx4IioDWoHy-MLv9EwbWuhpO_GmYQS_Pupkd3qd2QkA/s320/IMG_14894-6.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibADtg07LO5ksU9Jh6K6cukxdX4WkCiBVVoqECX1wyDPO4jUE-NL4yOM7Ezy2efKTrybh6cffkRlDpNazITJlfM_TkSuFYmn-oVv28ydxtUkJSpraOAcnKz3Qks842L0TohSZB7BpK_4w/s1600-h/IMG_15014-6.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352616184838330546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibADtg07LO5ksU9Jh6K6cukxdX4WkCiBVVoqECX1wyDPO4jUE-NL4yOM7Ezy2efKTrybh6cffkRlDpNazITJlfM_TkSuFYmn-oVv28ydxtUkJSpraOAcnKz3Qks842L0TohSZB7BpK_4w/s320/IMG_15014-6.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjTQfFW7ZWlf8yA7qjqxeretkSUcdzcXAmyx1e6Pqa1RsPaMPHGNDSo5E2zbTrxtkU1bazfXmRhtWLi0AdmOBr_S69Wlu1whdlHr2gzF_rmvJeI09DjzjqeovB9R6sgaPVGkQB_EGlJg/s1600-h/IMG_15114-6.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352616180176765506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjTQfFW7ZWlf8yA7qjqxeretkSUcdzcXAmyx1e6Pqa1RsPaMPHGNDSo5E2zbTrxtkU1bazfXmRhtWLi0AdmOBr_S69Wlu1whdlHr2gzF_rmvJeI09DjzjqeovB9R6sgaPVGkQB_EGlJg/s320/IMG_15114-6.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw02jc_U6Q-h_po0jEEOhD36oBwOuWqdGGcPumHfE9y6FvKT9mF6YWK_uVjebQoLV6N3YEFtXWUHBcZqbXu_6qs0hmUL24F0lpXOsAoLfsL0bkX-KnrFgdeGyBtW3ef_VyW-aOwvivny4/s1600-h/IMG_15034-6.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352616176764850850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw02jc_U6Q-h_po0jEEOhD36oBwOuWqdGGcPumHfE9y6FvKT9mF6YWK_uVjebQoLV6N3YEFtXWUHBcZqbXu_6qs0hmUL24F0lpXOsAoLfsL0bkX-KnrFgdeGyBtW3ef_VyW-aOwvivny4/s320/IMG_15034-6.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmNzfZYWFUZpURjUZUfEvyIr0cz40o42ZD3coub7abI-Q7IwGXU3NfQEbERIDKU_Gz0tEk9BzQztM1QVCx-2wkm0oZnHl9SokSEXKbPjCtEF45sTlOhN3Ay80mNyIWylPewe9WHiWMCH0/s1600-h/IMG_14724-6.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352614767328020146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmNzfZYWFUZpURjUZUfEvyIr0cz40o42ZD3coub7abI-Q7IwGXU3NfQEbERIDKU_Gz0tEk9BzQztM1QVCx-2wkm0oZnHl9SokSEXKbPjCtEF45sTlOhN3Ay80mNyIWylPewe9WHiWMCH0/s320/IMG_14724-6.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAuKB6ByvlulI3fuX4TQvMZpXIM2RfzFFBjYMa0wUIKk_Z3xtextwZ74YCL7oG2bXVgliAU2k42Xid0gJzbIVDBiN0EnngkYwugZ0EBaqUPNAcQ8QLjvo0tUuy5_rLjKuG6fF_LCLzu4w/s1600-h/IMG_14544-6.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352611494495614690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAuKB6ByvlulI3fuX4TQvMZpXIM2RfzFFBjYMa0wUIKk_Z3xtextwZ74YCL7oG2bXVgliAU2k42Xid0gJzbIVDBiN0EnngkYwugZ0EBaqUPNAcQ8QLjvo0tUuy5_rLjKuG6fF_LCLzu4w/s320/IMG_14544-6.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Some pictures of Mylee @ 6 months. We had fun!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Well...the day has come. I'm getting my tubes tied tomorrow. Say a prayer...maybe two during the day tomorrow. I'm not too excited, but not too worried either. I've had 3 c-sections. This should be a walk in the park. Maybe a chance to take a nap...all day. My mom and dear sister in law are taking care of the gaggle tomorrow. And sweet JTD is spending the day with me. He is bringing his fully syncronized computer and is planning to steal hospital wireless. The kids haven't a clue. Hopefully, I'll be home by 3 or 4 and they'll never notice I'm gone. The only thing bugging about the surgery is...that something "unique" always pops up when I have something like this done. Depends on how long or well you know me...but DUPLICITY is a sensitive word for me. If you don't know what I'm talking about...guess. Ha. If you do...you know this is funny. What else could i have two of????? By tomorrow we may know. I warned the doctor. He's looking forward to the "discovery". </div></div><div> </div><div>The kids are doing great. Maxwell will be in his 5th week of swim lessons. He LOVES the water. He is now able to be in 5 feet of water and pretty much...knows what to do. BOB. Go to the bottom...push off...get a breath...go to the bottom...You get the idea. Pretty cool. Marren would NOT get in the pool with the instructor the first 2 days. Terrified would be how I described her. Not sure why. She loved the water when I was there with her or dad or our nanny. The third day...learily...she decided mom was going to be persistant and she gave in. The teacher is awesome with her. Very careful. I hope this week goes better. On the potty training note...She is convinced now that if she poops outside she can go to preschool. Now she wants to drop what she is doing and run outside to "go". Where did this come from??? She pees great...inside. Poop...still working on.</div><div> </div><div>Mylee needs her own paragraph. What that girl isn't into I'm not sure. She is walking. 9 months old and walking. I put shoes on her today and that poised a new challange for her. Walking with shoes on. Interesting. Her words to date: Uh oh. Momma. Dadada. Wa her (water). Paboo (peakaboo). AA-done (all done). She is my earliest talker. Smiles all around, but selective who she gives waves too. She LOVES to watch Max and Marren run around. She is completely entertained by M and M. </div><div> </div><div>What a blessing my life is. God is great.</div><div> </div><div>Love to you all out there.</div><div> </div><div>Brooke <br /><br /><br />ps Well...it's 11:15. I have 45 minutes until I'm supposed to stop eating and drinking. Not too happy about that either. I will eat something at midnight to just be a pain. Apple pie!!</div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div></div></div>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17412124837935242974noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2800229592480896328.post-35787191666982224552009-06-23T18:17:00.000-07:002009-06-23T20:10:20.018-07:00My First "Blog"...<span style="font-family:arial;">Wow. My first blog. Exciting. I have wanted to start this for a long time. I have two reasons. #1 to keep my dear Floridian family and my awesome Godmother and my great friends/family all over the world...in touch with my children's lives. Some of us live so far apart and only get to spend snapshots of our lives together. This will be a daily or weekly view into the Dirks' household. Let me tell you...there is A LOT that goes on everyday. Crazy things...like destin (over night butt cream) all over the bathroom...marren's hair...walls. Or Mylee walking and talking at 9 months old. Maxwell swimming across the swimming pool for the first time. Tremendous. Glorious moments that I want to freeze and keep fresh in my mind forever. I come to reason #2. I want to REMEMBER all of this great stuff that is going on. I don't want to find myself 50 and NOT remember the little good stuff that makes us up. Why is Marren so bossy?? Can a 9 month old throw a temper tantrum?? Does Max only eat 3 things?? I want to type it and publish it and keep it forever!!! </span>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17412124837935242974noreply@blogger.com1