Brooke

Brooke is growing up so fast! She's still a bit small for her age, which may be why it's hard for me to believe she's 19 months. But she definitely acts her age - especially when trying to keep up with big sister and do everything SHE gets to do   =)   Brooke's always on the go, and is becoming quite the "entertainer" for our family...

Brooke's version of peek-a-boo... which always includes an uncovered eye because she can't stand not being able to see what's happening around her

Kate's 4th Birthday

Kate turned a very big 4 years old in April! My parents and John's mom came into town to help us celebrate. Unfortunately we had a freak blizzard as well, so our plans got rearranged a bit... but this sweet little girl didn't care. We had pink Disney Princess decorations, a cake AND cupcakes (Kate's favorite) and pizza with Crazy Bread (also Kate's favorite) - and she was in heaven  =)

The next day after the snow cleared a bit, we ventured out to Chuck E Cheese's with Kate's best friend, Mabry for some more birthday fun. It was the first time there for either of the girls, and needless to say they absolutely loved it!

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Kate is a beautiful little girl inside and out... her sensitive and caring heart for others and the Lord, is a wonderful gift that God has blessed her with. John and I consider ourselves incredibly fortunate to be her parents. We love you Kate!

Sisters and Best Friends Forever

As Brooke has gotten older, the girls are becoming closer and closer friends. I love seeing this relationship unfold because it reminds me of what I have with my sisters! I pray they are best of friends their entire lives... 

Mommy walked into Brooke's room one morning to find this reading session going on

Kate's typical pose for pictures is trying to keep Brooke still 

Craft time!

Playing at the library - one of our favorite things to do

Going to the pool - another favorite thing to do   =)

They loved watching Summer Olympics together - especially swimming and gymnastics (which meant there were lots of reenactments going on around our house)

Silly girls

Catchup!

The holidays were kind of a blur - a wonderful, fun blur  =)  but they sure flew by.  Even though they're super late, I wanted to post a few of pictures I happened to grab amidst the blur.  

These sweet little girls of ours - they make everything so much more fun... what did we do before them??? I am so incredibly thankful for the memories we get to make with them and our families!

Happy Halloween from Strawberry Shortcake and her lil berry

My precious family... we went to Indiana for Thanksgiving and the night before we flew out, my parents had a house fire. Praise God they made it out ok, but their home and all their belongings had a lot of damage (they ended up being out of their house for 5+ months). It made of a chaotic, emotional holiday week - but one where we all hugged each other a little tighter, and enjoyed every moment a bit more. 

PaPaw playing pool with the girls at the hotel game room, where they stayed that first week

And Gramma playing foosball  =)

Thanksgiving Day which got relocated to my aunt & uncles's house! John enjoying sitting at the kids table

Brooke's First Thanksgiving, with her Annie

Before we knew it, it was time for Christmas!

Kate was SO excited to go see Santa, and loved every minute of it! She asked him for a Belle princess dress and glass slippers  =)   Brooke on the other hand?? Absolutely terrified... look at that face!

On to Kansas for Christmas! MorMor and Grandpa loved having all 3 grandkids there together...

MorMor reading everyone the Christmas Story... and Brooke listening not-so-patiently

Uncle Grant passing out gifts -note Kate's Belle princess dress  (This is the best picture I got of the kids opening their gifts... it's a lot harder to capture with multiples!)

Stockings on Christmas morning - complete with sleepy faces and Christmas jammies   =)

Brooke's sleepy pose - literally every time without fail, she sucks her left thumb and with her right hand plays with her hair.  She had a wonderful first Christmas  =)

First Year of Preschool

Kate just finished a wonderful year of preschool at a local church here. We had it recommended by a neighbor friend, and absolutely loved it! Kate went just Tuesday and Thursday mornings, which ended up being the perfect amount of time for this year. She grew SO much relationally... she learned a lot too, but our decision to start her this year was mostly for the social interaction. Next year she'll do one more year there, but increase to 3 mornings a week... then it's on Kindergarten!!!!   =(  =) 

On her first day! She loved it right away

Her wonderful teacher, Mrs. Nuffer, in the Ladybugs class

Why do backpacks immediately make little kids grown up??

Her first field trip, to a farm

Riding the tractor train with her friend, Katelyn 

Pumpkin Carving Party with all the dads

The school's Christmas program, "Christmas in My Jammies"  (Kate's in front on the right)  =) 

Her proudly decorated mailbox for the Valentine's Party 

Taking her brand-new glass slippers for Show and Tell!

**So everyday a different kid would take home the Show & Tell bag, put something in it and bring it back to school. The children would all ask questions about the hidden item and try to guess what it was. After several months, Kate's teacher told us that she would always guess the item was "glass slippers" no matter what clues were given  =)  And it just so happens that at Christmas, Santa brought her glass slippers - so she finally got to take them for Show & Tell and for at least one day, the winning answer was in fact, glass slippers

Mother's Day Picnic - they provided lunch, and the kids performed some songs for us... the mommies loved it =)

Brooke's 1st Birthday!

We celebrated Brooke's first birthday with some friends, and John's family even came from KS! It was such a fun day... making things sparkly and sweet for Brooke's Winter ONE-derland  =) 

This girl tore into her cake! She absolutely loved it. Meanwhile we're all laughing at her, and she just kept looking at us like, what's so funny???

Our precious friends and family... what a blessing it is to have people that love and celebrate our girls with us!