Really??

I kept having to tell the kids to get off my dresser yesterday as I was getting ready for church. They love to sit up there and watch me do my makeup, but there really isn't room for them. And I know once they are up, the flips off and onto my bed and continued climbing are inevitable. This is the conversation that took place.

Mom: "Dallin & Brooke, for the hundredth time...please do not climb up here!"

Dallin: "If you don't want us to climb up there, then why did you put those metal bars on to help us climb up?"

Mom: "Those are the handles for my drawers, not climbing rails... they are to help me get in, not you get up!"

Dallin: "Oh...are you sure?"

I love the kid! I can't wait until it dawns on him that everything in this house is not set up just for his enjoyment!

Shark Valley

Doug finished his Dental Boards on Friday and we were in desperate need of a nice break. Luckily he had Monday off for Martin Luther King day and we were able to take a day trip down to Shark Valley with the Claytons. We saw probably 30 alligators in the first 3 miles of the trip. It was a perfect day and we had lots of fun biking with the kids. Dallin loved the giant "Daddy" alligators and Brooke was always looking for the families..."a Daddy, Mommy, and a baby one." We hit the jackpot with the babies towards the end of our trip and Brooke was thrilled. It was beautiful and we were able to see lots of wildlife and enjoy the Everglades.

Happy Birthday Brookie!!!

Brooke turned 3 years old on Friday. It was a great day for the whole family and we really enjoyed being able to spend time together. Doug has been studying for the boards every day and into the night this week, so it was nice that he could take a break to help us celebrate. He came home for lunch and brought Brooke a big bouquet of balloons! She was so excited and is very protective of her Tinkerbell balloon. We spent the evening playing games at Chucky Cheese and then came back for some cake. I can't believe that my baby is 3!! I can't believe how quickly these past 3 years have pasted by. She is such a beautiful person and I feel so blessed to be her mom. Love you Brookie!

Brooke loved all the "girly" stuff she got for her birthday!






Grandma Maggie & Papa Richie gave Brooke a bird house for her birthday. The kids were so excited to paint it and hang it in the tree! It was beautiful!!

Christmas

This year we stayed in Florida for Christmas. It was really great to not have to travel and to try and dig up some warm clothes. The kids were very excited about getting and giving gifts, but they were terrified of Santa coming to the house. Dallin said that he didn't want anyone coming into his house and that he was scared of the noises that Santa would make. They went to bed a little nervous, but that disappeared in the morning when they saw the gifts under the tree. They have had fun with their gifts and life has been easier for me now that they have some new things to help entertain them. Doug took a break from studying for the boards and we had a great break!

Dallin was really sick this Christmas & looks pretty miserable in this picture, but he had a great day. He went from loving pink and princesses to black and skulls! When we were at target months ago he left crying because he wanted this robe so bad. He loves to be comfortable and loves to lay around the house in it.

Brooke doing her favorite thing...Reading! She got some great books.

During the last few days of Doug's break, we took a trip to the Miami Seaquarium and had a lot of fun with the kids.

Thanksgiving in Naples, FL

For Thanksgiving this year Doug's parents came down to visit us. We were so excited for days before they actually arrived and we had a great time with them. A few hours after they arrived we drove out to Naples to start our vacation. Unfortunatly a cold front came in that day and we were a little chilly at the beach, but it was beautiful and it was fun to drive around downtown Naples with Grandma and PaPa.

We saw this pelican on the dock and watched it try to eat a large fish. It got stuck in it's throat and one of the fishermen had to grab it and dump water down it's neck and tried to loosen it up. The kids were a little spooked, but they loved watching all the fishermen.



Doug's parents took us to a great crab restaurant in Naples. The kids loved the food and even helped Doug with his crab. Brooke played cards with Grandma Maggie until our food came. She had tons of fun...we are so thankful for Grandparents!!

The kids loved the hotels that we stayed in. PaPa Richie loves to check out new hotels (and their continental breakfasts), so we got to stay in a different hotel everynight. They were all great and the kids thought staying in a "new house" was great! They can't wait to do it again.

Sanibel Island

Doug's parents love shells!! We stopped at Sanibel Island and collected shells and spend time on the beach. It has been one of my favorite places since we moved here and we had a lot of fun.

So many shells...Richie and Maggie were in Heaven!!

Grandma Maggie & Brooke loved rolling in their shells!

Next Thanksgiving stop...Marco Island

Tiger Tail Beach

To get to the beach we had to cross some mucky water that came up to our knees and at points a little higher. Brooke kept complaining the whole way saying that it was so yucky and she didn't like it at all. It was really fun for the rest of us though. The beach was really beautiful!

The Hotel! Doug's Dad splurged on an amazing room for the night that we stayed in Marco Island. It was the most incredible place any of us had ever seen. The view of the beach was so beautiful and the kids loved the pool. I'm sure none of us will ever forget that hotel.

Tree Tops Park

When we got back from our Thanksgiving trip to the West Coast Doug had to get back to the clinic. So while he was at school we took Grandma and PaPa to one of our favorite parks. We all had a lot of fun and we were really sad to see them leave later that day. It was a great Thanksgiving for us and we are so thankful that Doug's parents were able to come.