SO much to be Thankful For!

SO its that time of the year again that you start thinking about how grateful you are for various things in your life. Not everyone has a perfect life and perfect families, but if you take a little time to look at what you have you will probably be amazed by how little you need to be happy and feel complete.

This year has been different for me, I think every month at least once I have thought to myself how lucky I am. This year we have celebrating new life, new careers/accomplishments, deaths, birthdays, and farewells.

I have been so blessed in so many ways. Looking back last year on Thanksgiving Danny and I sat at the dinner table just the 2 of us looking at our 3 day old baby girl with tears in our eyes telling each other that we are so grateful for the beautiful gift that we were blessed with and for each other. And to this day we still look at Brooklyn in awe and amazement that she is ours.

I am grateful that I have a loving husband that works so hard everyday to provide for Brooklyn and I. I love being able to stay at home with B and even Danny (its not easy at times, but amazing that we both get to see her grow up).

To our family and friends, not a day goes by that I do not think of all of you in some way or another and miss you terribly. I am so grateful that I have you in my life and that you are all so supportive, I know I can count on anyone of you when I need it. I know I do not tell you enough, but Thank you for being you, I love you.

This Thanksgiving was hosted at our house and yes I was very nervous. I have never made Thanksgiving dinner before and I did not have my parents a phone call away to ask my many questions to. Dad and Mom I learned that I should have paid closer attention to when you both made the holidays meals, the timing is not easy. Thankfully Auntie Dina was here to help. It was great to have Richards family, Grandma Etta, Auntie and Uncle here to share this special day with. After a long day of cooking and about 20 minutes later it was all eaten up, I must say it all turned out great. I was most excited to see and smell the Turkey browning. Just a few pics of the day.
Lucy always smiles
Jake and Lucy such brotherly love!
Hannah playing with B's piano
The only picture I took at dinner - Grandma Etta, Auntie, Uncle, and Danny
Clara going down the slide

Ah gotta love family!
B being brave and going down the big kid slide, of course I went down after and it is super fast! Can't believe she went down it a few times.
Not Thanksgiving without a little football in the park.
Auntie you can do it don't be afraid, what out it is a little fast.
It was a long day, B was enjoying cuddling with Auntie and Uncle. Thanks for making Thanksgiving even more special by traveling to be with us and Auntie for helping get dinner together it was a success with your help.

Birthday and DATE Night!

FIGHT, FIGHT this is how close to the glass we were it was quite a lot of fun! Gotta love neighbors that have season tickets in the 2nd row.
Danny and I on a date, it was strange. When we set down to eat dinner we both looked at each other and said we are on a date. We have not been out by ourselves since before B was born. Thank you Chad for the Hockey tickets and thank you Ricky and Steph for insisting on taking B so we could go out. It was a great evening.
Jake turned 7 and he had a kick ball party with his gift from Grandma Etta.
This was a great birthday party for us we celebrated and left B to hang out with the cousins while Danny and I got to have the afternoon and evening to ourselves. In Jake's goody bag was a whistle that Brooklyn learned how to blow into so we have a very proud little girl that can blow a whistle now.

Some Firsts

Brooklyn loves to give hugs to Garrett, G on the other hand not to sure about them!

Danny trying to wear a headband too!
Brooklyn opening up her first birthday gift from Aunt Jen. It was a Little People Nativity Advent Calendar that she LOVES, everyday she points at it and gets excited to place the animal or person.
B's first time eating with a fork, she likes to try and stab the food herself.

Road Trip to Oregon

So the pictures are out of order, but you will get the idea. In the beginning of November we took a road trip for the weekend to Visit family in Oregon and so Danny, his uncles and cousins could go hunting on Tonimaire and Russ's Ranch in Summer Lake. They had a great weekend doing the whole male bonding thing (Danny has those pics on his computer and I am to lazy to get them so perhaps another post, since everyone is excited to see dead birds!) So while they hunted and fished, Auntie Dina and I hung out with B and the other cousins that were in town. It was a great weekend as always when we visit them. Thank you for your having us.
When we got home being lazy with daddy. Oh and yes I have a thumb sucker (believe me I am so not thrilled about it I keep thinking of her teeth and it drives me crazy!!)
On the way home we left at 5am so she is in her PJ's I was in the backseat entertaining her.
Auntie, B and Cousin Bella watching cartoons.
B learing how to color for the first time.
Brooklyn's first trip to the Mongolian BBQ she was all over the vegetables.
Oh and the fortune cookie!
The first night we got there uncle was chading her all around she thought that was the greateset. I think her face speaks for itself, but here is a little video.

Pow, Bang, BOOM!!

So it was a beautiful day and we have not taken our Bronco out in a while so we drove 20 minutes to the local Desert and went shooting. I think it was so Danny could practice a little before going Hunting with family this weekend and for him to try to make me fell comfortable around guns. I have to say after this experience still not comfy with the idea or with them in the house until they are locked in a safe.
Brooklyn making Daddy proud, she was so happy. Do Not worry (Nana/Grandma) it was completly safe!
Just hanging out trying to avoid the wind. Thanks Uncle Blake for going to Napol this has been the greatest beanie!

Oh Don't I look like a natural (NOT). I was nervous and that baby is heavy.
So this is our beast, we have enjoyed many trips with it. When we lived in California we loved going out with the Barnett's to the mountains and desert, but since we have moved it pretty much sits in the driveway. We do not have anyone to go out with and it is not the greatest in the snow, so we are probably going to sell it and Danny's truck to get a 4WD if you know anyone interested let me know! It is a lot of fun.

A Berry Sweet Halloween!

My mini photo shoot requested by my lovely sister Cherlyn to send to Grandma and Papa. Since this was Brooklyn's first Halloween you get to see lots of pictures of her as a Strawberry. You know first time parents think everything is so cute that they do and you have to get use out of the costume since its not like she went Trick or Treating.

She was so cute and happy to be a little strawberry!

Carvin' Time!
YUCK! Get that out of my face dad. That is pretty much what I think of that slimy goo in pumpkins. Gross!
Ta da all carved and glowing.
50's girl Hannah, Indiana Jones Jake and Tinkerbell Lucy. On Friday night we went to Richards ward's Halloween party it was surprisingly not to cold considering it had snowed the day before.
Lucy after being smashed by Jake and being told that he did not break her wings!
Raggedy Ann Clara with Ricky
Brooklyn helping me pass out candy at the Trunk or Treat, she actually chewed open a box of nerds, a little scary when I heard her coughing and found the box opened. She was OK! I brought 4 bags of candy and still ran out of candy, I had know idea they had so many kids.
Halloween turned out to be a beautiful night the weather was great in the 60's and did not need to bundle up to go outside. It was perfect for all the cute costumes. Brooklyn was super excited to see other kids at the Ward Halloween Party on Saturday night. This is pretty much how she gets anytime she sees kids, I think she might be a social butterfly like her daddy.
We ended our night with a visit from the Wheeler's. Strawberry B and Monkey G, super cute and the only picture I could get of them together.
G and B helping pass out candy, the kids at the door were excited to see the babies and the babies were excited for the attention.

Punkin Pickin' Time

Linder Farms is a local Pumpkin Patch that is family owned and operated. We have gone there for the last 3 years, it gets bigger every year, but it's all about the experience. We meet Richard, Steph and kids at the patch. Daddy and B on the tractor ride to pick the pumpkins.
Searching for the perfect one!
We found them!

It was cold, she was not to happy to have her jacket and hat off to try and take some cute pictures, oh well maybe next year!
Lucy was not to sure of the swings, she never smiled and had a death grip on the chain.
Daddy spoiling B and giving her fresh donuts.