Spooktacular

This is the start of my attempt to get our blog up to date. In October we went to the this adorable farm right down the street from us that has a very cute little pumpkin patch and found our pumpkins.

Brooklyn was not about sticking her hand in the pumpkin this year, but being her dainty self, was trying to clean it out with a little spoon one seed at a time.:)

She was, however, loving painting the pumpkins.

Braden was all about sticking his hands in and getting dirty. He was loving squishing the pumpkin goo inbetween his fingers and trying to eat it!!

Just a few of our creations......spooky cat, Minnie, and Rapunzel. Can you tell who made the requests? :)

I took a few pics of the kids before we went trick-or-treating. We were so lucky this year to have such great weather.

The Cowardly Lion

Dorothy

My sweethearts

A little bit of Oz!!

The whole family plus Todo a.k.a. Izzy, Brian's parents yorkie. Also not pictured, we had a hand held scarecrow.

Brian made his costume out of spray painted poster board and completed it with a car funnel. It was so funny because he got all excited about making it. We had so much fun!!

Braden 7 Months

These are some pictures of Braden at 5 months when we took Brooklyn's 3 year old pictures. This little guy is not really so little!! At his six month checkup he weighed 19.5 lbs and 27.75 inches (90+ percentiles). He started army crawling right when he turned 5 months and really crawling right when he turned 6 months. He is getting so busy now, clapping, waving, going up stairs and standing up on everything.

Poor thing has suffered through 7 weeks of double ear infections.

Brooklyn - 3 Years

Brooklyn is so full of life!! That is what I love about her most! There is never a dull moment with her around. Just like her daddy:) She is cautious yet fearless, meaning she never gets hurt but will try anything. She came into this world knowing what she wants and can get a room full of people to do exactly that. Brooklyn is so loving and sensitive. Sometimes all she wants to do is snuggle:) I am constantly amazed at how intelligent and logical she is. I see a little scientist, who studies things or concepts and learn them in and out, wanting to know more. She loves to dance, sing, and make up stories. She is a little ham, who likes to tease.

 Our sassy, beautiful girl...

Q & A:

1. Who is your best buddy?

"Braden stinker butt, I like Baylor too"

2. What is your favorite thing to do?

"paint, I go to dance class and you watch me on tv"

3. What is your favorite color?

"blue and pink"

4. What is your favorite show?

"I like Doc Mcstuffins"

5. What do you like to eat?

"quesadiza"

Doc McStuffins Birthday

For Brooklyn's 3rd birthday we celebrated on September 13th with a Doc McStuffins birthday party. Brooklyn dressed up to look just like her :) Everything was purple and pink!!

We celebrated with a few friends, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. For dinner there was pizza and for dessert, we had stethoscope sugar cookies, bandaid graham crackers, cake, gumballs, suckers, and mints. Also, each kid got their very own big book of boo boos!

 B had a little cold at the party so we had two cakes, one small for her and a larger doctor bag for everyone else.

We had planned to go to the zoo earlier that day but it was canceled due to a trip to the ER for grandma Olsen. She was helping me setup chairs when her finger got caught between two while I was trying to pull them apart. Her entire pinky fingernail was ripped out of the nail bed and the tip of her finger broken :( She still made it to the party, thanks to a heavy dose of medication, stitches and cast! Of all the days to be doctored, she picked this one:)

Doctor Brooklyn got very spoiled with lots of fun and girly presents!

The last three years have flown by!! We are so thankful we were blessed with our sweet Brooklyn girl! Happy Birthday!!

The Fruits of Our Labor

This year we decided to plant a garden in corner of our backyard.

The only thing not planted with seeds were the tomato plants.

Booklyn got so excited about watering it every night with her very own watering can.

After months of growth....

We made pickles and still had lots and lots of cucumbers. We grew several tomatoes, a few peas, and lots of corn. We also still have a few pumpkins growing, just in time for Halloween:)

It was so fun and actually a lot less work than we had expected. We will definitely plant another garden next year!

Beach Bum

I think this says it all....

We spent a lot time by the pool this summer:) 

This little girl had so much fun.

Until next year...

July Festivities

We started our 4th by the pool at Stein Ericksen with Brian's Family. Baylor and Brooklyn spent most of the time jumping off the side, while Braden just got to put his tiny toes in.

Brian and his brothers perfected the synchronized back flip. (Please notice them all looking at the camera)

Dada and his little man....

Me and my girl.....

Then we were off to the famous stein BBQ with my favorite.....tomato bar:) Always delicious!!

The entire Olsen clan

Olsen grand kids.....

aren't they the cutest?! (I might be a little bias)

My sugar B

After the dinner we decided to pack some more fun into the day, so we headed to the Sadium of Fire for some Beach Boys entertainment. I think we may have over done it this year! Braden slept almost the entire time! Poor guy was tuckered out from our crazy event filled day. 

On the 24th, it is a family tradition to go to my Grandma Gardiner's house to watch the Liberty Park fireworks. I think this is the first year my grandma didn't step outside to watch the fireworks:( She is 92 and pretty weak from her cancer, but always happy to have us around.

Braden with Grandpa Gardiner