Mission Buds

We finally had the opportunity to get together with two of Jason's old mission companions.
We have kept in touch with some of them, but Jason hasn't seen Philly (right) since the mission. It's been a long time for all of them.
Thanks for the fun night guys (and wives!)

Nora and Beckam

Brooklyn using Beckam as the human log to jump over.
He quite enjoyed it actually.

Brooklyn's 4th Birthday Party

This picture was taken 2 days before the birthday party as I was making the cake and getting it ready to freeze. The kids could not stay out of it...and neither could I to be honest. This cake batter was exceptionally yummy that day.

The day of the party, Monga made the frosting. How many kids does it take to get frosting and powdered sugar all over the kitchen? Only 1!! but in this case there are 2. Monga just thinks it's so funny.

Frosting the first layer was scary getting around the edges of the pointy crown. I almost tore it off a few times.

See the size of picture I had to work with? Luckily Sleeping Beauty's crown is easy to free-hand, but I had to stand there scratching my head for a little while figuring out how to make this itty bitty picture transfer to the size of a large cake.

Papa had been working in Argentina, but flew to our house instead of going home just for Brooklyn's birthday party. He flew in for less than 24 hours to be with Brooklyn for her birthday. Wow, what a sacrifice!!! That's a whole-lotta-love right there. Thanks Papa- you are amazing!

Papa putting frosting on their noses. Beckam kept trying to reach his tongue up to his nose to lick off the frosting.

Aunt Sue always decorates her gift bags to tie into the theme of the party. Brooklyn sat there staring at all the pretty pictures of Sleeping Beauty and her Prince. Brooklyn tells me she can't wait until she can have a prince too.
But, first she'll have to go through the 'boys are gross' phase, then we'll talk :)

Her cousins, Draden and Aliah came down

The finished product!

She got four sets of fairy wings, and a never ending bag of dress ups and jewelry from Aunt Sue and Uncle Ken. So, we invite all little girls over to play anytime!

About to blow out the candles... she blew out each individual one with their own full breath.

Beckam had a blast with the balloons all night. They occupied him for hours.

Princesses were a sure part of Brooklyn's birthday this year.
We can't believe we have a four-year-old princess ourselves. How do they get so old so fast?
We love you B-Kate, Happy Birthday!!!

On Brooklyn's actual birthday, we met dad for lunch, but let Brooklyn choose where. Without a doubt, she wanted JCW's. So, that's where we went.

Monga was visiting for her Birthday, so we got to have her with us that week too.

Beckam was being such a snuggle-bear with his daddy!

The happy Birthday Girl!!!

Brooklyn brings us so much joy in our lives! She is truly an angel. She is also feisty and full of it sometimes- a little miss independent. She makes me laugh and is a very good big sister. Even though she is four and has seemed to outgrow her naps, I can still get her to snuggle with me for a nap every once in a while. I love those days!

Play Dough Wall

Brooklyn was playing with her play dough and after awhile I came walking around the corner and asked her where all her play dough went, she said it was on the wall. Confused, I walked around looking at the walls, but didn't see any play dough. Then, she said, "down here" and there it was underneath the bar counter on display. She had just slapped it up there like it was a sticker or something.

1st Day of Preschool

This was Brooklyn's first day of preschool in the 4 year old program.
Weeks before school even started, I tried prepping her for it, by saying all the fun things she'll get to do and all thew friends she'll get to make, but she always shot back at me with, "I don't want to go to school, I just want to stay home with you and Beckam." I kept thinking it would get better over time, but as the school year approached, she was still determined not to like it. She actually started fearing it and would cry when we talked about it. So, the day before school started, I asked her if she would want daddy to give her a special blessing to help her enjoy learning and have fun at school. She immediately got so excited! She perked right up and yelled, "YES- that would be so great!"
After the blessing, she was ready for school and I haven't heard another complaint out of her about it since!!!
Thank goodness for this special gift that daddy's can give.

Swim Lessons with Daddy and Papa

Picking up the kids after our Cabo vacation was just as much fun as our vacation I can truly say. After just one day of swimming, Papa had both of my kids swimming under the water, jumping in and out of the water, and swimming across the spa. By the time we got there to go swimming with them, the kids were doing things that made me scream in shock and horror. Monga and Papa laughed at me and assured me that it doesn't even phase the kids anymore because they are totally used to it.

My kids learned more in one day of swimming with Papa than they did in two months of swim lessons earlier in the summer. Their swim lessons did not even teach them to swim under water. I am so amazed at what they are doing now and how quickly they learned to do it.

Here they are all getting ready to dunk in the water together.

And here they are coming up out of the water together :)

Brooklyn paddling across the spa from one side to the other under water.

Beckam called these little fish "Nemo". If one floated away, he would yell "My Nemo!"
It was the best $2 purchase Grandma could have ever made.

I think Brooklyn and Beckam both actually turned into Nemo themselves.

Beckam practicing his paddling. Kicking across the water was a more difficult concept for him to grasp, but when he did it he was very proud of himself yelling "I did it!"

NO FEAR!!!

Brooklyn uses a little more logic and waits for someone to be standing there with their arms held out before she'll make the jump.

While Beckam has no problem dunking himself under the water to open his eyes and see it all...

...Brooklyn uses her trusty goggles to open her eyes under the water.
What a little goggle-nerd, but how smart!

Beckam and Dad looking at each other under the water.

Beckam would start laughing while under the water because Jason would make a face at him, and all you could see up top were a bunch of bubbles coming up from Beckam laughing.

There was also time for play of course.

Brooklyn came up out of the water and her goggles were filled halfway with water inside. She couldn't figure out what was going on. Papa took care of it for her.

Dad making faces at her under the water.

I admit that my kids are now better swimmers than I am- which doesn't say much I guess considering I have almost drowned now twice in my life thanks to the Ocean in Cabo.

They were so fun to watch- it was yet another highlight of our vacation!