Brooke's First Day of Preschool.

Yes, I know I am a couple of days behind in posting this. A lot has been going on though!!

Wednesday, August 26th our baby girl went to preschool for the first time! WOW! Steven went in to work late so he could go too. His words, "Our baby only has a first day once." And how right he is. Here they are cheesing it up for me in our driveway.

We pulled into the parking lot early (thanks to an always prompt Daddy), so I unbuckled her and told her we'd wait in the truck until closer to time to start to go in. She got out of her car seat, sweetly put her hand on her Daddy's shoulder as if preparing him and said, "Daddy, you cannot carry me in here I need to walk." WOW.....such a big girl overnight!!

I should have thought ahead and taken more pictures of her at home. Once we got there she couldn't care less if Daddy or Mommy were there or not! Her walking in like a big girl! Of all the cute, girly backpacks we have around here she wanted the one blue, boyish one we've had for years.

This was as close to a smile as I got. I will take pictures of her classroom and post them later. I went into Mommy mode when we walked into the classroom and totally forgot.

When she entered her classroom she was so preoccupied that we had to force her to hug us bye.

I thought I would be an emotional basketcase, but I surprisingly wasn't. I had already straightened it out in my head that this is the place we CHOSE for her to be for her own well being, we weren't forced in anyway. With that said, I did see a tear or two in Daddy's eyes.

She did very well, no fussing, participated well......until she saw me come to get her and she was suddenly exhausted and ready to go home. After school, we had lunch together and she crashed for a much needed nap. As soon as she awoke she got all dressed in her princess garb and shows off her first day of school craft project.

Such a big girl. Time slow down a little bit!

Wagon Wheel fun.

Just as I promised, here are a few of my favorite pictures to come out of my parents front yard. I copied my sister in law in using this wagon as a backdrop.....and love it. I haven't however edited these photos as much as I plan to, but will share as they are and edit for my own pleasure later! ;o) I can see some good black and whites coming out of these, or having fun with editing colors with my new program.....so, I am sure they will be used for some calendar making later.

I don't know why this picture makes me think model pose.....she doesn't exactly look comfortable, but hey we were just warming up. Oh yeah, notice the stick in her hand in nearly every picture.

One of my favorites. Who am I kidding, I like them all!

I am going to edit out the stop sign in the background.....eventually.

A good one with Grandad.

This one I threw in to show the ornery look I get when she is up to something. It's not quite a smile....and her lips are tightened like her hand is doing something it shouldn't be. This particular time it was getting rusty and dirty.

We hope everyone has a good weekend. Brooke woke up this morning sniffing, sneezing and coughing her poor little head off. I hope it's just allergies again.....then again that seems to be pretty constant around here anyway.....welcome back to West Texas right?!

And a new best friend is made.

Lots of great pictures came out of Grandad's wagon out in front of their house. I will edit and bombard the blog with my favorites of Brooke and this rustic wonder later in the week. This morning, well one of my fav's with Brooke and my Dad.......

One of my fav's with Brooke and my wonderful Momma....notice she is INSIDE safely away from the lizards.....

NOW, on to the title of the blog today.....Build A Bear was advertising this awesome deal on TV. Originally it was going to be a date night thing with Brooke and her Daddy....until I realized Lubbock didn't have a store, but of course Albuquerque does! Granny and Grandad gladly obliged, drove all over the big City to get to the ONE mall that had this store.

We spent the next 30 minutes or so watching Brooke act as though she was in Disney World. She carefully went through every single option for her new animal friend, and I do mean every one. She picked up and checked them all out. She chose a cute pink/orange/purple tie dyed bear. Now on to help make it! She was given the choice of 'soft and cuddly' or 'big and strong' and she chose big and strong.....which meant lots of stuffing. Here she is pushing the peddle to fill up her new friend.

Now on to the heart. This was so cute, I wish now I had taken a video of her doing all of the motions the lady told her. She warmed the heart up, so her bear will always keep her warm. Rubbed the heart on her hip, so her bear will always be cool and hip. Held the heart to her ear, so her bear will always hear her secrets.

Held the heart to her cheek, so her bear will always be chic and cool. Kissed the heart, so her bear will be full of love. Held it tightly, closed her eyes and made a wish so her bear will help make all her dreams come true. Spun around, jumped in the air so her bear will always be ready to play.

Friends and Family meet the new addition to our family, "Martha." Yes, she picked out the name, the outfit and shoes she is wearing and now carries her EVERYWHERE with her. Martha has officially done the impossible.....replaced her beat up, dirty looking baby doll named Lucy!

I mentioned that she might get more clothes for Martha for Christmas if she's nice. This morning it sunk in and she's telling me Martha needs to be Ariel next, and yes of course they have Ariel outfits for the bears.....what a child's dream!

Up next, first day of preschool pictures. For those of you who don't know yet, she LOVED it!

We're Baaaaaack!

Brooke and I got back from our trip out to New Mexico to spend a week with my folks around 9 last night. We are both glad to be home, but the visit went by really quickly. I will try to focus on the wonderful fun we had while there on this post and not on the fact that I am typing this while home alone in this super quiet house because Brooke is at her FIRST day of preschool today!! I will also be posting LOTS of pics in the next few days to catch you all up on what we've been up to!

First things first, Brooke loves to potty on big potties because afterall she IS a big girl. And to make her more comfortable my parents got her a princess potty seat.....and of course before she could possibly potty on it this is the use she found for it.....no worries people, at this point it had not been used!

We played outside without worrying about mosquitoes, which was really nice. We were having a great time until.......she froze.

When I searched to find why she froze, this is the culprit. This little fella (along with lots of others) is the reason my mother pretty much refuses to go outside at her own house.....she feels about them the way I do about anything with more than four legs......although, I think they're cute and they eat the creatures I do not care for.

We got to spend some time with my niece McKenzie and nephew Cohen. Because Brooke is such a prissy girl at times these days she was ALL about McKenzie this trip. Here she is putting makeup on Kenzie in Granny's Mary Kay office. Talk about a great place to play!

McKenzie and Cohen happily entertained Brooke while the rest of us visited. Want to know the one sad part?! I didn't even get ONE picture of my own brother and sister in law! Sad, I know....and they both look so good too!! Will find a pic somehow!

Brooke discovered the little rocking chair that was my brother's, then mine, and now it fits Brooke perfectly. She moved this to whichever room we were in to enjoy because in her own words, "it's just my size."

Brooke and Grandad having fun on the four wheeler. Luckily the camera was with me when I was on it....hehehe....

Yes, I have pictures of Brooke with someone besides my Dad.....will share them next post. Here is Brooke playing doctor with my Dad. She loved the stethoscope!

We had great fun. More pics to come. I have to get at least a couple of things done around here besides downloading pictures before time to go get my big girl from preschool!!

Another week flown by.

Since I should be packing for our trip to New Mexico, I will make this brief.....well, brief for ME anyway. We had another busy, fun filled week! We had another swim play date with awesome friends, we got to meet Brooke's first teacher, and among other things we made a trip to Plainview to visit with Nana and Paw for the day where I actually remembered to snap a few pictures this time. Brooke and Nana swinging, and of course Brooke is eating a fresh, juicy 'mato' from Nana's garden.

Swinging with Paw....

Just chillin'.....isn't life as a kid tough work?!

Nana hand crocheted this awesome backpack for Brooke to take to school, and because she can be contrary (news to some of you I know ;o)), this is the only picture I have been able to capture with her wearing it....although she wears it all the time already.

Have I mentioned yet this post that there is never a dull moment around Brooke?! Well, there isn't. She is a character who loves to dress up....this particular morning it was a ski hat that says "cutie" on it.

Saturday we went to one of her buddies 3rd birthday party. She'd been looking forward to this all week, so I asked her if she was ready to go to Brooklyn's party and this is the look I got.....

It's has been a weekend tradition for Brooke to beg her Daddy to make pancakes for her. He always happily does it, but she has started helping more and more. Or as this picture shows, she's going to make a great supervisor one day. ;o)

Helping pour the milk.

Daddy always makes her some Mickey Mouse pancakes, which makes them even better of course!

Brooke has a very wild imagination, which I love! She is always coming up with something new, a new game to play, etc.....this pillowcase I made for her always ends up on her head, BUT when it does she says she's a grandmother.....um, none of our grandma's wear pillowcases on their heads, but OKAY!

Tomorrow morning bright and early Steven will put Brooke and myself on a plane to Albuquerque. We are going to spend the next week in Gallup with my folks. It's been way too long since we've been to their house, so we will go trash their place for a few days before preschool starts! I am sure there will be plenty of pictures to share! Off to pack!

Videos of my swimming beauty.

As with all other videos, you will need to go down below and pause my music player in order to hear the adorable sounds coming out of Brooke! I think you will really miss out on her singing if you don't!

If anyone wonders why she is getting thinner.....well, watch these and know she never sits still!

This first one is of her 'jumping' in her pool. She just discovered how fun this is at the big pool we go to, so now she had to try it in her froggie pool too. Yes, she constantly has bruised up knees and this is just one way that happens.

This second one might be my favorite. She LOVES to sing, dance and anything like it.....so, I finally captured at least a little portion of her doing it! If the video is moving....well, it's because I was giggling while holding the camera!

Another week in pictures.

I have been so bad lately about posting these pictures AS I take them, so you get them the week after all of the fun. It's been busy around here....you know, play dates, getting ready for preschool, enjoying the heat, etc..... I still enjoy every day with my angel, love every hug, and even normally find humor in the aggravations of a three year old. I will post some videos next of my little live wire playing outside in her pool.

Daddy came home early one day (after going in SUPER early) and this is how he woke Brooke up from her nap. She LOVES waking up to her Daddy.....it was too cute not to share. I love these two!

I told my Momma that she has been all about horses lately, so during one farm trip to Tractor Supply she asked for another little horse and I found a little kit to make her a bunch of cute, stretchy bracelets and necklaces with charms on them that included what else....horses. So, here she is wearing horsey bracelets, a horse shoe necklace, and a horse shirt while playing with her new horsey.

She still loves being my little tom boy, which I love.....but she has to have some girlie flare too, which makes it entertaining! This was just a precious smile.....with lip gloss, if you look close enough she also managed to get lip gloss all over her arm as well.

I just had to show off her breakfast hair do caused by her goggles....yes, I am sure that yogurt DID drip on her, but oh well!

Saturday morning Steven got up and took the farm truck to get it inspected. Brooke BEGGED to go with him, but since we don't have a seat in there for her....and it's possibly filthy inside, Steven told her she couldn't go with him to get the farm truck inspected, but she could go with him when he took HIS truck. After inhaling breakfast while he was gone she was very persistent about me getting her dressed very quickly. She was SO afraid Daddy would come home before she was ready to go. Even though it was near 100 degrees outside Saturday, she HAD to wear her "work boots." When I asked her why on earth she wanted to wear her boots when it was so hot outside her response was, "Momma, Daddy is wearing HIS work boots." Of course, why didn't I remember that?!

After Brooke's nap the two of us drove out to the farm to ride in the tractor with Steven for a while. She LOVED it of course, and I don't think he minded much either. After our tractor ride with Daddy she begged her sweet Unc Bro to take her for a ride in the golf cart, so of course I had to capture it while I could. Notice she still has the work boots on!

Look who else got sweet talked into taking her for a ride. Elise, of course. She wanted nothing to do with me driving the golf cart.....could have been because about 30 minutes earlier I got stuck in a ditch.....yep, you read right. The FIRST time in my life I ever get a vehicle stuck and it happened to be hot and DRY.....a definite blonde moment that I will never live down. Steven pulled the truck out with the tractor....hehehe, oops.

Sorry guys, I uploaded this picture before I rotated it....and yes, I am too lazy to fix it this morning. This was after a long day at the farm. She came home, ripped those work boots off and very quickly put princess garb back on. Cannot be TOO boyish for TOO long you know!

Yesterday before lunch she once again was well accesorized, and I wasn't going to let her go into a restaurant like that, so I took a picture of myself and my Princess.....but Daddy said to let her. She loved the extra attention wearing a crown got her.....sheesh.

She is such a good natured sweet hamm.....another full week of fun, play dates, birthday parties, swim dates, etc.....then we are off to spend a week with my folks in NM!

I changed my mind.

I have been fighting this internal battle with sending Brooke to a Parent's Day Out starting this September. Something about it wasn't sitting well with me, and it's not just because I am an overprotective Mommy who doesn't want to let go. Since I am a stay at home Mommy who is blessed enough to be here with her, and I don't feel as though I need time away from her, I wanted her to get the most possible out of her first school setting. Brooke has already shown that she learns quickly and will get in trouble when she gets bored, so I was getting more and more concerned about things.

Well, if you pray hard enough the answers literally fall in your lap. Another Mom that Brooke and I've known through her music class and play dates had told me about this small Christian school that starts kids out in preschool at age 3. If I were a dog you could have seen my ears perk up when she told me this. I spent all week/weekend doing research, making phone calls, and praying about it. This morning the phone rang and they had two openings left. Brooke and I got ready in a hurry and went and toured the facility. Now granted we've toured several places in the last 6 months. I have to say this is the first place I felt total relief and peace about when we left. This is a smaller preschool, no more than 10 students per classroom and their curriculum is amazing. I truly feel that Brooke will gain a lot from this place. I am not speaking harshly at all about the other place, just stating that THIS place makes me feel at ease with the idea of Brooke being in a preschool. Brooke already knows a lot for a three year old, and the teacher/student ratio here as well as the detailed curriculum is a lot more of what I want for my sweetie pie.

Before the month of August is over, Brooke will be starting PRESCHOOL!! Can you believe my baby is old enough for such a thing?! It's hard for me to believe, but I started a preschool when I was three.....and if any of you don't think I turned out okay, I don't want to know about it. ;o) She will be attending LWCLC (want more details email me, paranoia set in and I took the name off) . I will most likely still cry when I have to drop her off, but I will walk away knowing she will be getting a good start on learning all sorts of things. And, another selfish thing on my part. Since it's 9 to 12, I still get to have lunch with her and make sure she gets a nap! The best of both world's in my opinion!

*To be specific, Brooke will be attending Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 to 12. But, for other parents interested they do let you choose up to four days a week and they have extended hours available if you want them to stay until 2:30.

M M M M M!

My In-laws are guilty of getting me hooked on this latest treat. It is actually good for me, but when I am eating it I feel like I am indulging in something NOT good for me. It is 100% natural Pecan Almond Peanut Clusters from True North. AND, you can buy them at Sam's in a really big bag! Now Momma, I know you cannot eat peanuts but they also have almond clusters that are just as tasty!

Check 'em out here and try them! You will feel like you are eating something NOT good for you!