Daddy/Daughter Day

Brooklynn has had a weekend full of fun. Yesterday we took B to Kid's Planet, and then we stopped by our neighborhood playground on the way home. Once we got home, Brooklynn rode her tricycle down the road and back, and then again on her plasma car. She was worn out when bed time rolled around.

Today I had a massive amount of work to do (that's nothing new) so Nick decided it was time for a Daddy/Daughter Day! They headed out to the zoo and had a blast. Brooklynn's favorite animal was the giraffe, so Nick bought a stuffed one for her at the gift shop. We named her new giraffe, Raffi. Brooklynn's other favorite animals were the goats. Nick said she loved petting them. She did not, however, like the lion. She was ok with it when Nick was holding her, but once she got eye to eye with him through the glass she wasn't so enthused. They had to make a special trip back to the giraffes in order to calm Brooklynn down after her run in with the lion. But overall it was a successful zoo trip!

Fun Times

Brooklynn is loving her new class. It is so nice to pick her and see her get so excited about whatever it is she is doing at the moment. Today it was puzzles. She, and her buddy Jaylon, both came running up to me when I walked in shouting about the puzzle they were working on. Jaylon obviously wanted to come home with us and wouldn't let go of my legs! I'm glad B is enjoying her new teachers and friends.

Fun in the tunnel!

A blog, finally!

Ok, I thought I would have more time to blog this week, but I was wrong. I haven't gotten home until after 7 the past two nights. My student teacher starts tomorrow, so I am super excited about that!

Brooklynn is now in her new class full time. She seems to be having a blast every time I've picked her up. Her teachers have gone on and on about how sweet, smart, and talkative B has been the past few days. She now gets to go to the gym with her class, which I know she is loving.

Our sweetie pie

Sleepy Girl

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Cheese! Which is also what she has a mouth full of in this pic.

Bad blogger

I apologize for being a bad blogger the past week. I went back to school on Tuesday after all that time off thinking I was caught up. Boy was I wrong. Tuesday I got slammed with so much work that I have done nothing but work, work, work every waking hour. This hasn't left much time for blogging. I'm still trying to finish all this work, but I promise to make time for some updates this week!

Bloggin'

So a new show called, "Harry's Law" begins tonight on NBC. Nick got to watch the first two episodes in advance to review for his firm's blog. You can read his review by clicking on the link, Abnormal Use, underneath my Blog Roll. If you feel the need to leave a comment on Nick's writing, please do so here and not on the firm's blog. I promise to pass it on!

Happy MLK Day!

I'm Enthused!

This morning Nick and I visited a new church (hoping to find one that suits us) and the preacher's sermon was titled "Enthusiasm." His point was basically that people are closest to God when they are enthusiastic or excited about something. He also said that as we age we lose our enthusiasm for things and that we should work to find new things that excite us. I sat back and wondered what things I feel excited about. Of course, Brooklynn is the first thing that comes to mind, but what else? Ahh, yes! Tennis! With that being said, the first tennis major of the year has arrived. It's been a long wait since the US Open in August, but the Australian Open starts tonight and I am super excited! I can think of nothing better than sitting on the couch every night for the next two weeks while watching tennis on Nick's new 3D TV.

Whoa!

Brooklynn used the potty twice today! She went once at Mimi and Pops and then again before bed! I haven't even bothered much with the potty training, not because I don't think she is ready but more that I have no clue what to do. Lucky for me that B is showing an interest. She was VERY proud of herself today. Monday she moves up to the next class at school, so I guess it is time to have a conversation with them about potty training at school. It helps that she is moving up to a class with kids who are bigger and also in the potty training process.

New Things

Well it is back to school for both us today. I have a two hour delay plus it is a Teacher Workday, so it should be a pretty easy day.

We've learned a few things about Brooklynn over the past few weeks:

1- Brooklynn can now say all of her ABC's. Now we will start the process of learning to recognize them!

2- B can recognize and find all of the main colors (red, yellow, blue, green, pink, red, etc.)

3- She is beginning to recognize her shapes, most of the time she can identify them but still mixes them up occasionally.

4- B is starting to show fear. I'm sure this is completely appropriate for her age. For example, loud noises that she can't identify will send her running for Mommy and Daddy.

Happy Friday!

A Future Picasso?

Today we tried out Brooklynn's new easel and paint set that she got for Christmas from Gram and Poopa. We have a little cabin fever so painting seemed like something fun that we haven't done at home in awhile.

She cracks me up how she paints with one hand behind her back.

This was her third picture.

Making sure it is just right.

"FUN!"

Here is a video I took before things got messy.

Rabun Gap

Here are a few pics Aunt Carolyn emailed from Rabun Gap this afternoon. Beautiful!!

Looks like school here in Greenville has been canceled again for tomorrow, which stinks because my class was going on our first field trip. Too bad it can't be rescheduled, which means I am about to spend a lot of time refunding money. Ugh.

Birthday Video

Nick figured out how to get our videos to post. I had given up, and it took him all of 5 minutes to figure out how to fix the problem. Here is Brooklynn's 2nd year video for those of you that have not seen it on Facebook. Make sure you turn your volume on.

Twinkle, Twinkle

Here is Brooklynn's version of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." Needless to say, she was feeling good this afternoon when she woke up from her nap. She sang the whole song with a play spoon in her mouth.

SNOW Much Fun!

Today was Brooklynn's first time in the snow. It snowed last year, but she was too small to play in it. We also didn't take her out in it at Christmas because she had a cold. So today was the day!

This picture pretty much sums up how B felt about the snow.

I see a smile underneath that paci.

"A Fairly Significant Event"

Really? This is the most snow I've ever seen, well, except may be that time Blake and I got snowed in at Papa and Nana's without electricity for 4 days.

This is what I saw when I looked out the window this morning.

I immediately got on my rain boots and took a walk down the street. Here are a few pics I took.

Our house

Tugboat was not sure what to think.

Let me back in!

Bring on the Snow!

Friday when I picked B up from school I mentioned to her teacher how much happier B seems this week. She was pleased, but then informed me that Brooklynn was about to be moved up to the next class. I was disappointed to hear this because I can really tell that B loves her new teacher. So it looks like we will transition to the next class next week. This will be Brooklynn's third class since starting school in August. The only thing that makes me feel better about it is that Sammy is going along with her.

Today was a busy day as we prepared for our big winter event! First we went to the gym. Nick had an appointment with a trainer. After his appointment I beat him in a game of Horse. :) In his defense, he had just been lifting weights for 30 minutes, so I'm sure that effected his game. Mimi kept B since the nursery wasn't open yet. Tuesday night we went for the first time, and B walked right into the nursery and never looked back. She had a good time playing with new toys and friends.

After picking up B, we went to visit Granny and Poppa. B had a fun time playing with all the dog's stuffed animals and the Mickey Mouse phone which she discovered while exploring the bedrooms.

Nick got the pilot light going on our gas logs this afternoon incase we lose power this week. He also went out and got a screen for the fireplace. We just haven't gotten around to buying one since we moved in. I think Nick did a pretty good job of picking it out.

Here are a few pics of B (and Nick) playing tonight before bed.

So the pantry is stocked, the gas logs are ready, and B has two gallons of fruit punch. I say bring on the snow!

Blake and Kaley

Congrats to Blake and Kaley on their engagement! I am so happy that Kaley is going to be part of our family, and I can't wait to get to see more of her once she moves to Greenville. Brooklynn LOVES her Uncle Blake and the last time she saw Kaley she ran across the room to her screaming with excitement! I love that!

My Social Butterfly

I am really pleased with Brooklynn's new teacher! She is so friendly and patient with the children and I haven't been this happy about her teacher since we left the North Carolina Goddard School. I can tell when I pick B up that she is really enjoying herself this week and is happy to be at school. I can also tell that Brooklynn is much happier at school than she was before Winter Break. That makes me happy.

Today when I picked her up, B grabbed my hand and walked me around the room while she pointed to all her friends and told me their names. Drayven, Robbie, Sammy, Davis, and the list went on. Of course, she always says Sammy's name with a little more excitement than the rest. As we were walking down the hall to leave, a classmate passed by with an adult and B said, "She's got Camden!" The adult said, "That's right B, it is Camden!" Then she pointed to a little boy looking out the window in the next classroom and said, "Caleb!" I have no idea if it was really Caleb, he was much smaller than B and obviously not in her class. I guess B has been making the rounds and meeting new friends.

A Good Start

Brooklynn had an awesome first day back at school today. Her new teacher also started today, and she bragged and bragged on B's behavior when Mimi picked her up.

Once at Mimi's house Brooklynn named all the colors in the crayon box!!

B has also discovered cereal, her new favorite food.

Back to Reality

Tomorrow it is back to reality. B and I had a great two weeks together and even more fun on the days when Nick didn't have to work and got to stay at home.

I have tried over and over to get B's birthday video to download. I know most of you can see it on my Facebook wall, but I am still trying to get it on the blog. Tomorrow I'm going to try using Nick's computer.

Brooklynn heads back to school tomorrow after two weeks off. Hopefully, it won't take her too long to get back into the swing of things.

Below is a pic of B munching on some very expensive Chuck E Cheese pizza.