july 4th

this year for the 4th we went down to watch the NY fireworks. Aubrey, Casey, and Jack came and spent the weekend with us. It was awesome to be SO close to the fireworks. There is nothing like watching the fireworks with the NY skyline in the background.
All of us before the fireworks started. We were right on the pier. it was AWESOME

Mya with Cindy and Brittany. She kept trying to climb over and SEE the water. We had to hold on tight to her or else I am sure that she would have jumped in

Jon and Casey

Before the fireworks Brooklyn brought face paint and the kids were having an awesome time of painting their face, arm, legs and toes.

We had a fun 4th of July can't wait for next year!!!!!

birthday round 3

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROOKE!!!!!!!!!!!! Yesterday was brooke's real birthday . We had a fun day with our 3 year old. Jon and I decorated the downstairs for her birthday. We put streamers up all over and had balloons and things for her. She had her favorite breakfast of waffles and sausage. After breakfast we opened her presents. Jon picked out a dora backpack for brooke and a new outfit. We bought her new "running" shoes but they were too small. We took her shopping to find a new pair but Brooke only wanted to try on the glittery shoes and sandals....not regular sneakers, so we will try another day to buy those for her. One of Brooke's all time favorite activities is to go swimming. The pool opened up just for HER birthday.........ok well maybe the pool opened up for memorial day...........but we will let her think that it opened up just for her bday.

Here are the girls all dolled up and ready to head out to the pool.
Here is Brooke modeling her new outfit, complete with her dora backpack. mya is modeling her new outfit as well.........
brooke opening up her presents on her real birthday
Brooke makes me laugh. I think that she should have been born in the 80's and been an aerobics instructor. She loves to wear her headbands like a rock star. This picture was taken for aunt whit-e. She is going to be so happy that her niece still has awesome fashion skills

After the kids were done swimming we ALL went out to dinner at a hibachi restaurant..........and when I mean all i mean all 13 of us. My brother and his family, my parents, Gpa and ty. We then went back to my parents for cake and ice cream . Brooke we love you and hope that you had an AWESOME birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!

birthday round 2

"Aunt" bonnie wanted to give brooke her presents but she was going to be away for Brooke's bday. So we decided on thursday to have a little get together in my mom's backyard. My mom was watching my niece/nephews (avery, jordan, and mason), and Natalie (the girl that bonnie babysits) all came to my mom's for the party.

Bonnie bought Brooke some new clothes and a dance outfit. She would not take the dance outfit off. She looked so cute with her black dance outfit and really cute blue ruffly skirt. Thanks "aunt" bonnie!!!!!

birthday round 1

Jon's parents came into town at the end of April.......... I think.................Anyways they came into town and brought Brooke her presents. We decided to have an early party for her since Jon's parents never get to see Brooke open up the presents that they buy for her. Brooke insisted on wearing a princess dress and of course Mya had to wear a dress as well. They got all dolled up to open presents and have cupcakes.

Brooke opening her presents with the help of sissy
Brooke got a dora mermaid that she can take in the bath. I think that she slept with dora for the first couple of weeks.
Brooke posing with the grandparents. We were glad that they could stop in and see us before they had to go back to Idaho
Mya enjoying her cupcake. my little girl loves her sweets

random updates

So I was told that I needed to update my blog. Since I always do what I am told............here are some random things that we have been up to since last time.

Brooke went through a stage of not wanting to sleep in her bed. She would make herself a bed on the floor in the hall for naps and one night when I was on my way up the stairs to bed I came across this.........
Mya loves to be in dark confined spaces. She likes to play in the closet, in the wine cooler in the kitchen (and no it is not stocked with wine). She recently discovered how fun it was to play in the dryer.
Jon, Ty, and I went to see a Yankees game sometime in April. It was fun to go to the new stadium. It was my first time ever going to see a professional baseball game.

spring.......

A few weeks ago I told Brooke that we could go and look for a new dress for church. She was so excited to pick out her own Easter dress. Of course Mya wanted the same dress as her big sister. Brooke and Mya wanted to wear the dresses all week long. Every morning Brooke asked if it was Sunday so that she could wear her new dress.

Mya actually sat down for three seconds and said "cheese".
Brooke is in love with her new blue purse that grandma/grandpa drussel bought her. She carried the bag with her to church b/c it matched her new dress. We all know that she does not get that from me. Brooke has more of her Aunt whit-e in her. Especially when she wore her pink high heel princess shoes with her dress to church.
Jon's dad is working in PA for two weeks so he drove up over the weekend to see the girls. We went out to dinner saturday night to the cheesecake factory and then he came to church with us on sunday. It is fun for the girls to see him. thanks for driving up grandpa!
Mya outside on st. Patrick's day. She would not let go of the neighbor's chalk box. She looks so cute and innocent in this picture.
the girls posing for their annual st. Patrick's picture.

Winter

We have not been up to much this winter. Whitney left for her mission the end of January. That was a dramatic time for me in my life. It is hard to go from talking to her every day to not talking to her at all. But life does not revolve around me......

The kids loved to play in the snow. We got a couple of big storms in February so we spent most of our days playing in the snow.
Brooke loves to wear her bathing suit and one day she found the swimming tubes for the pool. She really wanted to use them, so I told her to put them in the tub. They had the best time "swimming" in the tub.
Brooke insisted on pulling Mya around outside.
I love this picture of the two. They were actually somewhat cooperative. They are in a fun stage of life where they love to play together and make each other laugh