Brooke is Growing Up

Brooke is getting big so fast. She loves to get into everything and climb. She's a happy, independent little girl and pretty easy going. It's easy get a picture of her with a smile.

We are moving

We are building a house at Octolli and Ironwood. Here is a picture of a spec. It's not the one we're building but it's similar to what it will look like. We should be in around August. I can't wait.

Brielle's piano, as per Jenny's request

Two posts in one month. That's good for me. Here is a video of Brielle playing some songs on the piano. She is very into piano right now and asks everday to have a piano lesson. Then she practices about an hour a day, really. I don't even ask her too, she just does it. I usually hear her start playing in the morning while getting ready or even still in bed. She has a really good ear and teaches herself songs by ear. I help her learn songs by reading music but she has taught herself about 40 songs. She has almost perfect pitch. If you sing a note for her, she'll hit the right note on the second try.

I never have seen snow

Brielle had never seen snow so we took a trip to Flagstaff after Christmas, just me Chad and the two kids. We drove up Monday, ate at Peter Piper Pizza and spent the night in a hotel. The next day we went to this snow play area that had sleding hills, sleds, and hot chocolate. Brielle loved every minute. She loved the hotel. It wasn't much more to upgrad to the suite so we did. It was nice because there was a small sitting area that had a couch that turned into a bed and a tv in that room too. Brielle got the big couch bed to herself and thought she was in heaven when we let her have popcorn and watch Wall E in her bed. She loved the snow too and spent the whole time sledding down the hill (she only went down the smallest hill of course). I was proud of her for not being too scared to go up and down by herself. She looked so cute carrying the sled back up the hill.

Brooke though, hated everything with the snow. She loved Peter Piper Pizza and the hotel (there was a mirror closet that she really liked). I think what she hated was being bundled up. She had a snow bib, snow boots, a big coat and mittens. She couldn't move and just sat and cried with her arms and legs sticking straight out. We didn't stay long, but Brielle was okay with how long we stayed.

Brooke's first brithday

Brooke turned one on December 28th. We had our version of a small party at a park near our house. We got a sub from Fry's, which was really reasonably priced, and invited our brothers and sisters and parents. It was really cold that day and Brooke slept through a lot of it, but it was still fun. Brooke got a new book and a ball popper.

Christmas Day

It was wonderful of course. Brielle was so excited. Brooke had fun even though she only got one present from us. She liked the wrapping paper the best anyways. Before Christmas Brielle had started to worry if she was good enough to get presents from Santa. I promise I was not threatening her or anything, she's just a worrier. We had lots of long conversations about how it's okay if she got in trouble once or made her little sister cry one day, it doesn't make her bad. It must not have soothed all her fears because on Christmas morning she kept saying "I really was good. I really was good."

After Christmas morning we left to visit family. We went and had Breakfast with my mom and the kids played football outside. Then we visited the Cotters at Charla's house. She had ham and a delicous lunch. Then we went to my dad's house and had some yummy Chinese Food.

Christmas Eve

So it's almost February, but better late then never right? For Christmas Eve we went to the Cooley Christmas Eve party at my Aunt Chrissy's house. It was great with good food and everything. For the program Brielle sang Parade of the Wooden Soldiers. It's really cute.