Ms. Brooke reporting for class.......

Let's just say if Brooke doesn't become a teacher it will shock and amaze me. This girl is obsessed! I would say 85% of the time we are playing we are in class "playing school" If she goes to school that day she pretty much re-inacts her day and her students (me, Brady and Chris) listen closely, because if not we get a prompt "zip your lips and turn your ears on!" She really thrives on the teacher/student relationship and its a great way for Chris and I to get a recap of how her day went and see how much she is picking up from her teachers! So here is a lil video of when school was in session!

Leave no stone unturned.....

Seriously there is no safe place .....if there is a cabinet open he finds it, if there is a toliet seat open he finds it, if there is a toliet paper roll started he unrolls it, if there is a stove knob to turn on he turns it, if there is a dishwasher open he will crawl right inside (this one killed me :) ) I like to call him George sometimes cuz he is a curious one!

SNIP a de do do SNIP a de day......

Yes this is what my ever so comforting husband sings to me on the way to take Brady for Surgery on Friday......ridiculous! Anyway we have made it through the agonizing thoughts of putting our lil one under and hopefully making him a confident lil man some day! He did great and seems to be handling the pain (if any) amazingly well - I am not sure if the pain meds that they sewed in with the stitches is carrying him through and in a few days all hell will break loose - but so far so good! I am relieved it is over and look forward to a speedy recovery! Chris and I were anxious to get out of there and kudos to anyone who can work in a pediatric hospital you are some brave souls.....Chris and I know better, that is probably not the last time we will see the inside of a hospital because of our children, but if I never have to lay site on an infant or child hospital gown with a tiger on it (because that should make anything better :) ) that will be just fine with me.

In other news - Brooke and her dad have recently gone to the circus while it was in town and it was a huge success - she loved it and still talks about the elephants, motorcycles, and the guy who walks on the ceiling. It was fun to see her enjoy the madness of circus life and experience her own Utopia COTTON CANDY!! Here are a few snapshots of the event!

Everything coming up ROSEOLA???

So Brady Boo has been giving us a run for our money this week........ Fevers, little sleep, cranky, and rashes to boot. The poor little guy has a lot going on...... he has Roseola (a viral rash) and some sort of irritated bug bites. The doctor possibly thought it might be swimmers itch or a spider bite. I guess we will never know. So hopefully he is on the mend soon! He is not contagious, doesn't itch and probably looks worse than he is. Never a dull moment huh? And with this to boot he is scheduled to have surgery next week - we now will have to play that by ear and see how everything clears up. Feel better soon Butterball!

Reading, Writing and ..... GOATS????

Well it's that time of year - September has come and kids are off to school........Brooke had her first week of Farm Preschool last week and it was a hit! The first day they were able to go in and feed the horses and goats and learn all the rules about helping out with the animals - She seemed to really enjoy it and it is helpful that she has a partner in crime with her to ease the first day jitters.

In other news Brady boo thinks he is big man on campus...11 steps (in a row) this weekend - I hope he is getting there at least he is getting braver and trying on his own....

A weekend of firsts........

We had an action packed "last fling" weekend....Headed to Chi-town for some visiting and to attend the "last fling" carnival - something I probably haven't been to since my senior year in high school! Then off to Grandma's to get one last beach day in.... We had a great time - and the kids experienced a few FIRSTS.......

Say bye bye to Brady's mullet - he went in for his FIRST haircut - he was a bit wiggly but managed to get through it....... I mean as long as he had a wagon to sit in, a movie to watch, a truck to chew on, and his sister coaching him through every snip - what's he going to want next time a full marching band??????

The finished product - looking mighty dapper and albeit 10 years old all of a sudden!
Brady got to hang with his boy Gavin and was testing the waters so to speak by putting his face in the water for the FIRST time
Brooke was in awe of her bud Sydney and her goggles that "make her" swim under water......She was immediately impressed and decided to do her FIRST underwater swim......

She even attempted it in Lake Michigan to show off for Grandma!!

A random FIRST for Mom and Rachel was jumping off the high dive - ummm I will spare you the pictures....but seriously at 34 could it be that we have never gone off a high dive before?

The highlight for Brooke came when she got to go on her FIRST carnival ride! Can we say here we come Cedar Point!! This chick was in her element...... Her mouth seriously didn't shut the entire time on the rides - just sheer excitement and laughter as her veteran carnival expert Sydney showed her the ropes!

Some frog hopper (a.k.a The demon drop) not real sure why some carnival ride operator was bopping them with some creepy stuffed frog????

The dragon Wagon was the crowd favorite.......That is Brooke and Syd in the front car with their hands in the air waving like they just don't care!!!

Another FIRST and hopefully NOT LAST - Brady bugs took four steps for Coco and Pampy! Of course mom and dad were outside chatting it up and missed his longest bought on two feet.......Hopefully Pampy inspired him to get upright and moving!!

Hope everyone had a great weekend!!