Those three little words..........

Most of the time "3 little words" signifies someone saying "I love you" but really I could give up that phrase all together just in order to experience 3 different words that were spoken to me the other night.....We have mentioned Brady is a little bit delayed in the speech arena, but he is making great strides lately and it is so fun to watch him finally put everything he has "known" all along to a verbal form of communication! He has been combining two words for a few weeks now and getting the hang of it more and more every day. The other day we were at Brooke's soccer game and when it was over Chris and I had the quick non verbal agreement (because really after 10 years do you even need to speak anymore?) of "yep its 6:30 where are we going out to eat?" So both kids hopped in Chris' car I hopped into mine and off to the restaurant we go......we literally drive not even 3 miles - we meet in the parking lot, I get out to help Chris get Brady out of his seat I open the door and he looks at me and just says.......

"MOM, MISSED YOU."

I was so excited and proud for the words and the advancement, albeit a little embarrassed that he only drove for 3 miles without me and acted like I just flew back from a hiatus in a foreign country. I just gave a look to Chris and had another non verbal conversation with him and it went something like this "Yes Brady, with those three words, you did just purchase a free pass to get whatever you want from you mother, forever"

We are proud of you little man!

"There's no place like Halloween night......"

I have changed my views on the election, I am now voting for whomever can move "Halloween" night to Friday night every year - This year was so much fun and I am not sure what to attribute it to, there were many factors.....
#1. I think it was because it honestly was on a Friday night - there was no school that day, I didn't work and there was no "rush" to be anywhere.......
#2. I think it was probably the nicest weather I can remember on a Halloween night in the Midwest.
#3. Both my kids were INCREDIBLY into it.
#4. Even when the kids were tuckered in - it was still Friday night and the adults could still enjoy the festivities around a bonfire.
At any rate it was a very nice holiday, enjoying it more and more as the kids get "into" the process of costumes and the nights events. What a year makes for the lil man, last year he was just a wad of fur stuffed in a wagon along for the ride - this year he was SO much more into it than I could have imagined. He is our shy one, so I thought he would be stricken by some of the music and decorations a lot of the houses had, but he wasn't phased by it, he watched his sister and he totally GOT IT. He hit about 3o houses and was always about 5 steps behind his sister, but tried as hard as he could to keep up. When 8:30 rolled around he finally gave in asked to sit in the wagon and just looked up at me and said "home, sleep".
Brooke was loving life, but really liked helping out the little ones this year, it was nice to see her slow down for them and include them! She is turning out to be quite the mother hen....I have already heard some comments from her teacher that should make conferences interesting this week .....
Anywho.....we had a great night and got lots of candy .... and even MORE pictures so Enjoy.....

Our very own Dorothy and Blues Clues!

Brooke wouldn't dare sit down on the grass she was so nervous that it would get wet or dirty .....
She LOVED this costume and so did I I reveled in the fact that she picked this and not some Hannah Montana or some Cheetah Girl costume!

Were not in Kansas anymore!

Brady would just yell to everyone "behlues chlues" it was a mouthful for him, but you could never get sick of hearing it!
I had to include this one just because Chris thought it looked like at any moment her head was going to start sadistically spinning and smoke would be coming out her ears in some poltergeist manner.

I got to volunteer at Brooke's school for her Halloween party, it was fun and she was so proud to show me around her classroom...
These kids are seriously spoiled as they have a sit down feast in order to fill their bellies with lots of bread to soak up all the sugar at a neighbors house prior to trick or treating.

Dorothy ran into Handy Manny while out and about...The group photo gets a little more impossible every year.

There is no place like home.....
Dorothy and Cinderella having a moment.
This was Brady Bugs first attempt at trick or treating and the big dude went all by himself.....look at Blue go on with his bad self! So proud!
Give me a V-dot the I curve the C - t-o-r-y....Are you kidding me all I have to do is say "teet" and I walk away with this.......Ummm yeah I am in!Getting dark out and not slowing down for a minute!Come on Cinderella.....Were off to see the Wizard .....the wonderful Wizard of Oz!
I am dunzo...this kid walked straight into the house straight to his room, said "jammies" and crawled into bed......I couldn't ask for an easier kid at night.

Carving out good times.......

We are in full Halloween mode over here - spent the night carving out the 'kins (it always ends up being a bigger mess than anticipated doesn't it?) But the kids liked it and the best part is salting up those seeds for some good eats. I have Brooke's Y5 Halloween party tomorrow, so I have just finished cleaning her costume, peeling the skin off of grapes to represent "spooky eyeballs", then the next day Parade/party at their daycare, all in time to get home and flail to a neighbors for a pizza party and trick o' treating with friends......Then we tuck the little ones and away in a sugar induced la la land and take a deep breath and be thankful that we don't have one thing planned this entire weekend.......

Extracting the seeds......there is something about the feeling of the goop just running in between your fingers that never gets old!

Brady was content with some stickers and a Sharpie.....

The finished product - apparently our pumpkin had a little too much candy......Ahh now onto the good stuff.........Seeds washed, dried and SALTED!!

Brady in full on instructional mode "this is hot" "seeds hot" "cook" "no touch"

We have also realized that we bought candy a week too early - that stuff is dangerous to have around - Brooke found some wrappers in the trash today and there was no way she was believing that a ghost or a witch ate it.....She just looked right at dad with that "we are going to have none left" look........
Okay that's all folks - have a great Halloween!

Getting Wiggy wit it.........

What a fun present Brooke got for her B-day a big tub full of dress up wigs.....Here is Brooke modeling off a few of the princesses........Let's just say this kid doesn't hate the camera....

I think this is Belle from Beauty.......

Cinderella with her Updo....at the ball....
Snow White....
And finally Sleeping Beauty....That's a lot of wigs for one sassy poser......

The trilogy comes to a close......

So Brooke and her friends witnessed the last of the HSM trilogy this weekend as she celebrated her 5th birthday with some tots at the theatre.... We were all waiting on bated breath to see what would come about with Gabriella and Troy's future.... (Disney you really threw us for a loop when WOW Troy picked BOTH basketball and theatre AGAIN! I am just saying its a good morale to the story but the adults are getting kinda bored......) She was very excited for this event - and dressed up to represent her favorite character, Gabriella.....

Here is Brooke posing with her cronies, Sharpay and Ryan and Chad and Taylor.......

The show was great, the kids did great, we had eight 3-5 year olds and only had to make a run for two bathroom breaks.... Thanks to the few grown ups who volunteered to stay and lend a helping hand!

The kids sat wide eyed and attentive to take in all the new lyrics and dance moves that will most likely re-enacted for the many months to come....They gorged themselves on corn, lemonade and sour sticks, cookies & fruit snacks (ha as I type this no wonder no one moved they had goodies galore......)

I have to add this one, cuz bless the little guy's heart....he was the only guy in the group so I was paying a watchful eye on him to make sure he was enjoying himself.......the first hour and a half he was jamming out bopping his head to the music, and then the poor little guy couldn't take it during the reprise finale of all the songs.....eyes roll back and out he went.....it was so sweet...Way to hang in there boy!

And no better way to polish off the afternoon with some gifties in the lobby......Is it possible that they make this much HSM paraphernalia? :)

Happy Birthday Brooklyn.......

If you build it, they will come......

This was just an adorable scene to watch from a far....the other day at Brooke's soccer practice Brady dragged Chris over to the baseball diamond (dragged is a little harsh - you don't have to twist Chris' arm too hard to venture over to the field o' dreams...) Any rate I watched the two men play a pretend game of baseball for a good 40 minutes - Chris would fake pitch a fake ball to Brady, Brady would then make a fake "crack" sound as he swings the fake bat and then immediately take off to run the bases. I thought awh that is cute, and kept waiting for him to come back over requesting a ball or a bat or something tangible, but nothing it seriously continued her entire practice completely happy with the pretend images..... it was odd that neither one of them thought okay this is getting old or boring - they were both in their glory just living the dream as father and son........

Enjoy they are right side up! :)

Happy 5th Birthday Brookie!

Well our lil' girl turned five this week and what a whirlwind it has been....having a birthday in the middle of the week with all that goes on, anyway makes for some crazy nights! Anyway the princess woke up on Thursday morning to a present on her pillow to this moment still is one of the favorites....she has been PATIENTLY waiting to turn five because that was the magic age that she could then have GUM......So at 7:01 she unwraps three packages of gum, that unfortunately came attached with
#1 you can't have it in the morning,
#2 you can't chew it at school,
#3 you can't tease your brother with it or show off
okay then have fun with that.......She understood, but at 4:01 when she arrived home from the bus stop it was immediately gum in mouth and snapping it every two minutes...... Then on to soccer practice and her choice of restaurant...if you remember she is allowed to pick her b-day dinner....(last year it was Pickles and cottage cheese) this year she choose Brann's I mean I know it isn't creme de la creme, but it ain't pickles and cheese.....Then home for cake and presents. Thanks to all the family members for sending their goodies she LOVES everything! And thank you Mom for buying out Kohl's High School Musical inventory!
Seriously still sideways....If anyone has suggestions I am all ears....
This is Brooke dawning her new cheerleader costume - please pardon the loud mother CACKLE that accompanies this..... She apparently didn't eat enough at Branns!



Also a new revelation in the turning 5 week - she is now unassisted on her bike - LOOK MA NO TRAINING WHEELS! She had some stiff competition as some neighbors also learned very quickly so she I think felt the need to hang with her peeps.




So my little Brooklyn you have had another great year - as always some ups and downs. Two downs that I can specifically remember very clearly....umm you moving out of our house and the second when you had your entire room removed from you.....but the rest were mostly ups - you have grown and matured more than I could have imagined keeping us laughing the entire time. You have started the public schooling system and it couldn't be a more perfect fit. My little bookworm I hope you continue to learn and explore and try new things! But it is weird in the week prior to your b-day as I was thinking WOW I HAVE A FIVE YEAR OLD these were some random conversations we had and I remember going - YEP she really is 5 and learning and understanding more every day......

1. Umm Mom Benjamin Taylor is always kissing me out on the playground.
2. Mom, who is the first kid in the worlds mom? Well maybe it was God?, No way mom he isn't a girl, well maybe god is a girl. Mom do you have God's phone number we need to call and find out.
3. (when describing a situation at school) then soso did this..... Brooke who is soso......."mom you know when you don't know their name and you just say soso....." oh you mean so and so......
4. (when talking about a friend) "Mom she didn't really think that through first....."
5. (telling the lady that is cutting her hair) "Don't cut it too short we need to be able to see the bugs" (after we received a letter from the first week of school of a lice case) oh vey...
6. "mom what are you thinking?"
7. Mom can I ask you a silly question? How am I ever going to decide what to name my babies....
Don't worry Brooke you have about 100 years to decide..... Mom how are babies made? Really? you turn five and immediately have to ask this? I quickly reverted to oh look "Higgley Town Heroes is on!"

At any rate we have had another fun year with you little one and look forward to the many more adventures that years six will bring!
Happy Birthday sweetie.

My lil' Pumpkins......

We have been enjoying the unseasonably warm October weather while visiting a local orchard....... Nothing says fall like a hayride, cinnamon doughnuts and a pecks of apples......

I know I know the outfits....Just imagine if they were twins how ridiculous they would look then!

Having Fun with our "mini" pumpkins - seriously mom can we go get a "real" pumpkin now?

Don't worry sista...... I will protect you from these ginormous pumpkins that might crush us....mom we didn't mean this big.......

The colors are starting to change.....which makes fall one of the best season's here!

Okay on the count of three make the most awkward smile that you can think of.......

Big man on Campus.....

Brady bugs spent his first night in a BIG BOY bed last night! We forgot the toddler bed and went straight for the twin mattress... He was so excited to be a big kid like his sister. He spent 10 minutes just jumping up and down with Brooke like they were in some bounce house. Brooke was the big sister extraordinaire saying things like "WOW Brady is this your new BIG BOY bed, I am so proud of you" "Are you going to sleep in your big boy bed like sissy, I love you so much..." He did great Chris adjusted him before we went to bed since he was nearing the edge, but didn't budge after that, and then this morning I had to go and wake him up! Who knows what will ensue when he wakes up on his own he might go wondering around aimlessly, but I hope his regular routine of yelling "mom, dad" until we come get him will stay the norm. No telling what this will do to his nap schedule, but so be it the new milestones are too exciting oh and also I can't wait to rid our road trips of the pack and play and create that much more space to haul stuff along.....
Tonight he has said "me, bed" since 6:45 p.m. I am not sure if it is because he is excited about his new bed or if he really does take after his mom and has no problem turning in at am absurdly early bedtime! I held him off until 7:45 and not one peep......hasta la vista cribby.....
Congrats Brady - We are so proud of our big man on campus.......

Brady bouncing off the walls excited to venture into toddlerville.......

Check me out fools no bars to keep me in......

I took the risk of waking him up by snapping a photo at 11pm.....but how couldn't I?
The little man looked so dang cute with a moose ready to pounce on him......

Off in never never land......

Just calling to check in......

So after 6 hours of being away I phone my family to see how they are doing and let them know my plane landed and I am settled into my hotel......What I hear on the other end.......
"There has been sort of an accident" (as I hear blood curdling screams from both of the kids...) "Let me call you back our neighbor is about to SNAP Brooke's tooth back in...." Click.........
Really? I have been gone 6-7 hours and there is complete mayhem happening in the house and I am stuck in beautiful Kansas City for the next 5 days........ahhhh good times. So I anxiously await for the return phone call, I pace the hotel room, flip through the 10 stations about 400 times, organize my clothes, pace, try to have a conversation with my co-worker and act 1/2 way interested in what she is telling me.......
Then the call.....
"Okay here is what happened. The kids had friends over they were playing an intense game of "monster" Brady darted around the corner and Brooke darted around the other corner they connect head to jaw. Let me interject by saying we all know Brady has a large cranium, but now apparently it is made out of the same stuff bowling balls are made of....oh vey it is like a brick.... So Brooke hit with such force it actually knocked her front tooth backwards and it was hanging in back of her tooth line..... Luckily our neighbor is a dentist he came over after all the blood had been wiped up, Brady had been calmed down and examined her and literally SNAPPED her tooth back into place...... (my stomach is turning as I type this and somehow at the time I am thanking GOD for being in KC and not having to witness it!)" Chris then was the lucky recipient to take her to get Xrays the dentist said it will either tighten up or start to discolor and fall out. But he did confirm that she is YEARS away from her adult teeth coming down so oh sweet lord let this tooth adhere and stabilize.... did I mention if it gets infected they have to put her under to pull it out....Please Lord don't make me do it to both my kids one was ENOUGH! So anyway we have been eating a lot of SOFT foods & cutting up pieces as if she were an infant again.....but anything to avoid the following......
Thanks Hubbie for being Super Dad while I was gone - and dealing with this whole mess!

Foreshadowing......

I was driving in the car the other day thinking about what else ....my kids... but what struck me was how different the two of them are and I can already predict how their personalities are going to play such a big part in how the rest of their lives play out....This is how I envision it happening at this point in the game.....

My little Brooklyn I will not see that much of as she will be off running some game of tag and organizing some sort of club in high school.....She has already started to ask about college since we just visited ours, "you mean you get to LIVE at school" This one I see packing her bags and heading far away for college someday and then not returning home, she will be miss independent living in a big city and experiencing EVERYTHING! I love her zest for wanting to try and do EVERYTHING. My only hope is that she come back to visit us often or she will be threatened with us uprooting and moving in next door to her :)

Our little Brady man - appears to be the polar opposite he is a homebody. He loves to be involved with stuff when he is, but has no problem just hanging back at home reading a book or doing a puzzle. I sometimes take him somewhere and after about 10 minutes he just looks at me and says "Home." He on the other hand will go to college within five miles of home, he will have his mother/father do his laundry for the rest of his life and probably pay his parents rent for the remainder of his adulthood...... Sorry buddy the cooking will get no better so please venture off and experience all that life has to bring you when that time comes - but of course I will be waiting back home with a sippy cup of beer and I will pet your head as we snuggle and watch the nightly news together. That totally won't be weird when you are 21 - at least not in my eyes!