2 kids...so very different.

I've been spending a lot of time at home with the kids packing and cleaning. I love how sweet and thoughtful they can be. This past week has been fun to just enjoy their great personalities.
I love that Brooke constantly uses the word, "WhoBuddy" in nearly every sentence. "WhoBuddy going to come with me?", "WhoBuddy's going to the park with us?" "WhoBuddy was that?" As hard as we've tried to correct her terrible English, I know that I will really miss her cute little words. I love that Dallin and I can just smile across the table at each other when she talks...we have a little bond when we listen to little red carry on with her incoherent conversations. I love that Brooke loves pink! Everything must be pink for her. She loves hanging out with just the girls and telling me how much boys smell. I love that she wants to read all day long and if I don't have a chance to read with her in the afternoon, she'll read to herself and make up stories to go with the pictures. I can't get enough of her smile and her darling freckles. Brooke creates instant joy!

Dallin is still asking a million questions. I think he has been in this stage longer than most, but I know that I will miss it when it's gone. He loves trying hard things and helping Brooke. Dallin has really become a big boy in the last few months. He loves being with Doug & gets really excited if Doug asks for his help with a project. Dallin is like Doug...he would prefer TV to a book any day and is constantly asking me to put on a show for him. For both my boys it's either working hard or playing hard. And they love getting the most use they can out of the couch. I love that Dallin takes care of Brooke. He always watches out for her. His primary teacher gives Dallin all the extra handouts and even brought an extra prayer rock for him to paint last week. She told me that she knew he would ask for an extra one for his sister. I hope he always takes such great care of her. Another random thing that I've noticed this week and love is that Dallin will just throw out random comments like, "Hey, I love your shorts." or "You look really nice today." Not only does he compliment our little family, but friends, neighbors, and random people in the store. Dallin is a delight.

Some fun quotes this week:

Dallin: "What day is it today?"
Mom: "Tuesday."
Dallin: "What does that mean?"
Mom: "Well...absolutely nothing."
Dallin shrugged his shoulders, said "Oh." and walked off. Some of the randomness I have gotten so used to.

Dallin at church was asked how he knows that the sun will come up everyday. His response, "Jesus always wakes up before the sun and then he gets the sun up."

Dallin asked why I wasn't eating breakfast with him on Sunday. I explained that I was fasting. A few minutes later he came over with a piece of his muffin and said, "Mom, you'll be so hungry if you don't eat...just eat this muffin. The church will never find out."

How did the kids get out?

This afternoon I was upstairs and heard the front door open. But because Doug was downstairs I assumed everything was under control. I should have known better! When I came down, the front door was still open and I found the kids running around in the pouring rain. I asked Doug if he knew were the kids were and he said no, but came running over. At first we were both bugged thinking of all the cleanup this would entail, but then we ran straight for the camera. The kids had so much fun in the rain!! (Don't you love the addition of the bug antennas that they found in the dress up box!)

About once a month I have to clean the play room. Usually my kids do, but they don't always put things in the right place and after a few weeks no one can find anything. I had just finished this task and was starting to sort laundry when I heard a huge crash. I ran upstairs and grit my teeth and groaned when I saw what had happened. When Dallin saw the look on my face he said,
"Brooke's awfully strong for such a little girl ...don't you think?"




Dallin & Brooke were so proud of themselves. They finally saved up enough money to get the ice cream play dough set that they have been wanting. It was so good to see them save and then combine their money to get something to share. They have so much fun with it & take great care of it.

Fishing with Dad

Dallin was so excited when Doug told him to get his shoes because they were going fishing. They both had tons of fun, but when I saw the pictures I was shocked to see where they went fishing. That is the pond in the front of Nova University. Right behind them is the large fountain!! Who fishes in a pond with a fountain? Doug and Dallin!! They actually caught a lot and had so much fun together.

Dallin and his friend Madison. He loves her! She's in school and Dallin thinks she is so smart & knows everything!

I asked Dallin what he wanted to do today.
Dallin said, "Go get a dog!"
Mom: "Sorry, we can't get a dog until we get our own house. What else do you want to do today?"
Dallin: "Move."
It's going to be a long 2 months!!

Dinner Conversation

Last night I was getting a little tired of the dinner conversation. It seems to me that every night, despite my best efforts, Dallin & Brooke end up leading our discussion. Doug and I usually have a hard time keeping up with the random thoughts and sentences that are shared between them. Not to mention all the strange questions directed at us! Well, last night I posed a question hoping to get a little more structured conversation. You can tell that none of us were feeling really adventurous...

Mom: "If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?"
Dallin: "Probably Ava's house."
Brooke: "The park...or Ava's house."
Doug: "A dark closet, alone, with a couch & TV"

Well...so much for conversation & ambition for that matter!

Favorite Lines of the Week

Brooke: "Mom, you have sprinkles all over the legs." (goose bumps).

I told Dallin that I had to clean my room. His response: "Mom, just pretend that it is invisible...that's what I do."

Brooke: "Who-body sleep with us?" (Whose going to sleep with us).

Dallin while eating banana bread: "Why with bananas it still makes a healthy appetite?" (What?)

I gave Dallin a big hug and said, "You are getting so old." He pulled back and horrified asked, "Am I going to die?"
On Sunday he ate 2 jelly beans and then said to Brooke, "I can only eat half of these jelly beans because if I eat too much sugar I will die." (I really must be exagerating a lot when I tell him he'll get really sick if he eats too much candy!)

Brooke: "Him Dragon going to die that boy" (That Dragon is Going to Kill that Boy)
We've been trying really hard to correct Brooke's speach, but she is so stubborn. Last week while watching TV she said, "Him not scared."
Doug said, "Say, He's not scared."
Brooke: "Him not scared."
Doug: "No, HE'S not scared."
Brooke: "Those boys not scared."
Doug: "No HE's...say HE's."
Brooke: "HIM's"
We've got our work cut out for us!

Pre-Move Clean up

I can't believe that Doug graduates in 7 weeks! It is getting way too close and I decided that I had some serious organizing to do before I can even start packing. So over spring break I started, but bit off way more than any normal person should, resulting in an absolute disaster that has continued for many days. The kids have loved the mess! I've been trying to get stuff done, while still helping the kids. This resulted in hours of playing 20 questions and other similar games. I find that if I am talking to them constantly, I can continue to work and make headway. Here are my favorite rounds of "What Animal am I?"

Dallin: "Is it big?"
Mom: "No, It's small"
Dallin: "What color is it?"
Mom: "All colors"
Dallin: "Does it have fur?"
Mom: "No it has feathers."
Dallin: "What does it say?"
Mom: "Mccaaaw, Mccaaw."
Dallin: "Oh man, I know this one. I just can't think of the name. I know it...I know it."
After several minutes of thinking....
Mom: "It's a Mccaw."
Dallin: "I knew it, I just couldn't remember the name."


Brooke's turn (She picks the same thing every time...it's the only thing that she likes because it's pink)!:
Dallin: "what color is it?"
Brooke: "Pink"
Dallin: "Is it a pig?"
Brooke: "You got it...You got it Dallin!"

Dallin and Brooke have also enjoyed playing hide and seek in my big mess. Dallin came into my room and was hiding while Brooke was searching. (Dallin can hide in plain sight and half the time Brooke gets distracted by something along the way and forgets that they are even playing). So, after several minutes Dallin said, "Mom, Brooke can't find me because I am the Master of Disguise!" I wish that I had gotten a picture of his face as he said it. He is easy to love!!

Spring Break and Easter

The Easter Challenge:
Saturday night Doug went to the Priesthood session of conference and told us about President Uchtdorf's talk about patience and the object lesson that he discussed in his talk. Doug decided to give it a try with our kids. He gave them each a jelly bean and said that they could eat it, or if they didn't eat it and waited 5 minutes, he would give them 3 more. They were excited and here are the results...

Brooke ate her jelly bean as soon as Doug turned around!

Dallin saved his!

Brooke got a second chance, but really wanted that Jelly Bean!

She made it!!!

Dallin aced the challenge...Doug was very impressed!




Easter Morning

I have served in the primary presidency since we moved to Florida and have loved it. We have become really good friends with our president, Heidi. She spoiled the kids at Christmas and dropped off Easter baskets for the kids the week before Easter. Heidi is amazing and we love her so much!!! She was the best Easter bunny these kids will ever get!

Spring Break at Wolf Park

This spring break was really relaxing. We stayed home and enjoyed just laying around and being lazy. Wolf park is right behind our house and reminds us of home. We brought our beach chairs and lunch and felt like we were on vacation, camping in the mountains. It was very relaxing and just what we needed. (We planned to spend this week at the beach, but didn't realize how crowded and crazy it was here during spring break).

Neighbors

I love where we live, in fact most students can't wait to leave, but I am really going to miss our townhouse, the great neighborhood, the beach, friends, and so many other things about our time here in Florida. These are my kids friends that live down the street. They come to our door everyday at about 4:30pm and play outside with the kids until it's dark outside. It gives me time to get dinner ready, and my kids love running around with these guys! Dallin & Brooke think they are so big and love trying to impress the older kids.

Kids on the loose...

These are the pictures that I found on my camera when I was getting ready to post this morning...Dallin must have had a great time. Doug was so mad when I told him that the kids got a hold of the camera. He was even more upset when he saw the picture below. Those are Brooke's little hands on his computer. Where were the parents?!?

Girls day out!

Brooke loves to have time just with me. Today we went shopping (grocery, but it doesn't matter to her), we painted our nails, and played dolls. It was a great day to be a girl.

Brooke: "Mom, thanks painting my foots. Girls paint them foots and Boys toot and them so funny."

That's my little Girl!!!

(Dallin wanted to put his feet in to show that he doesn't need nail polish. I never thought he would say that. He has always begged me to paint his nails!)

Miami-Dade Fair

The last two years we have gone down to the Miami-Dade fair with our friends Joe & Lucy. We were so excited when it was time to go again. It was cooler this year and we really enjoyed every minute of it. The kids loved the rides, food, and games. Dallin figured out that he was really good at the dart and balloon game and would have played all night if Doug would have kept the money flowing. Dallin won himself a stuffed tiger and then begged Doug to play again to win Brooke a stuffed monkey. She was so excited and Dallin was beaming when he gave it to her. Last year Dallin was really afraid of most of the rides, but this year was completely different. He was tall enough to go on most of the rides and he wanted to try everything. He even went on some pretty intense rides that made Doug and I incredibly nervous. (At one point I thought Doug might ask them to stop the ride...I was shocked at how protective he was. Afterall, he's the one that is always throwing the kids around & teaching them to do flips off my windowseal and onto the bed)! We all had so much fun, even Brooke who slept through at least half of the excitement. I may have to convince Doug to fly back out next year!!

Growing Up.

My kids are growing up way too fast for me, but not for them. I don't know what sparked the conversation, but this entire month Dallin & Brooke have been talking about what they want to be when they grow up. Dallin keeps saying that he wants to be an animal doctor...which is quite odd considering the fact that he is terrified of ALL animals!

This morning Brooke was snuggled up to Doug in bed and took his face asking, "Dad, can I please be a princess when I grow up?"
"Sure", was Doug's response. To which Brooke beamed and said, "Oh Thanks Dad!"
I love reading the kids stories before bed, but Doug loves to make up stories and tell them. The kids love the combination, but I think they are starting to prefer Doug's stories. They are longer and much more entertaining. Last night Doug told a story where Brooke was the princess and as he was describing what she was wearing in the story & her beautiful hair, Brooke could not stop smiling. She kept looking over at me with a whispered squeal. She loves Princesses and Brooke as a princess was almost too much excitement for her to handle!

We were at church a few weeks ago and three sisters in the ward sang a beautiful number in sacrament meeting. After they finished, Dallin leaned over and said, "Mom, is that what you want to be when you grow up?" I couldn't help but laugh and then I remembered a conversation that I had with my mom when I was little. I remember telling her how I couldn't wait to grow up and be the mom. That way I could do whatever I wanted and I wouldn't have to go to school I could just stay home and watch TV all day. I thought Mom's had it so easy...little did I know!!

They both need to stop growing up, but I love dreaming about the future with them.

A train to catch!

I just caught Brooke yelling at Dallin and had a hard time not laughing. She yelled, "Dallin, you kidding me? Me don't have time for this. Me have to catch the train. Me don't have time for you joking around. You drivin' me crazy Dallin...crazy!" Dallin yelled back, "Well, maybe I want you to miss the train." Then under is breath he asked, "Mom, what is she talking about?" Sometimes I wish I had a clue what was going on in Brooke's little mind...and I'm with Dallin, what train are we catching?

A good day...even though I'm cleaning.

I woke up happy today! I know this is probably normal for most people and it's hard to admit that this is the first day in the last week that I have been blessed with a great morning. The dark cloud is back & I'm hoping that I can get myself back to normal after my dr. appointment tomorrow. But for now, I'm so happy to be up, motivated, and alive.

I woke up to giant hugs & kisses and thought...truly, life could not be better! Dallin told me, "You're the best mom in the whole world...I love you more than a giant loves his mom!" Brooke echoed the same words (of course) and followed them by a huge squeeze. They are now downstairs finishing their breakfast and watching Jimmy Neutron (which Brooke claims she hates because there aren't enough girls in it, but I can hear her laughing uncontrollably as I type) and I'm blogging when I told the kids I was showering!

I have the best husband in the entire world and kids that make life a great adventure & a true joy. Those two things make my life perfect. I am so thankful...even if the cloud has only parted for an hour or two, that I have myself back this morning. I wish this illness would disappear, but for now it has and I am ready for a new day. Doug took the car today because he has patients in the Miami clinic, so today it's just me, the kids, and one really messy house! Let the cleaning begin!

Dallin Boy

Dallin is such an amazing person. He is kind, sweet, smart, loving, funny, and so much more. His favorite things to do lately are draw, color, and play soccer. We spend most of our days doing those things and he is a very creative little boy. Dallin also loves making up games for him and Brooke to play. Brooke is his best friend and they love each other so much and play so well together.

As soon as Doug gets home we hear, "You wanna wrestle?" over and over again all night long. Dallin loves spending time with Doug and especially loves to be thrown around and wrestled with. I love how much time the boys like to spend together! Dallin wants a baby brother so that there will be more boys than girls around the house.

Dallin loves learning and is constantly asking questions. I don't know why he bothers asking because most of the time he tries to correct my answers and tell me the real answer to the question. Dallin is curious about everything and wants to know why everything is the way it is.

Dallin's quotes,

As we were driving down a road with lots of trees and shade he asked, "Mom, what's wrong with the Sun? It keeps turing on and off really fast."

Dallin: "When I grow up, I'm going to marry Brooke."
Mom: "Honey, you can't marry someone in your own family."
Dallin: "Well you married Dad."

Dallin loves telling jokes (I think he keeps telling them and making more up because Brooke things they are hilarious). Here is his latest joke:
Dallin: "Why did the owl fall down?"
Mom: "I don't know, why?"
Dallin: "Because the squirl kept asking so many questions and he got tired and fell asleep and fell out of the tree."
Brooke then starts laughing uncontrollably!

Brookie Cookie

I love my Brookie! I thought that I would take a few minutes to write a quick update on her personality. Brooke is quite dramatic. Every is "SO" something...She's SO tired, or SO hungry, or SO mad, or she wants something SO bad. If she doesn't use the word SO, she uses a very descriptive word and exaggerates it so that you know exactly how she is feeling. I'm Starving, or Soakin' wet. Doug and I are still laughing over something she yelled at Dallin a while back. She has polly pocket dolls that she calls her sisters. Dallin was doing something that upset her and she yelled, "Dallin, you makin' my sisas mad...so mad." They are truely her "sisters" and she takes them everywhere she goes.

Brooke loves dolls and babies. She always asks Dallin if he will please be her baby. He's a great brother and usually will play along if she will be his pet dog later on in the day. Brooke wants a baby sister "SO Bad"! She always wants me to play pretend with her and her babies and she loves the color pink. Brooke enjoys coloring, watching princess shows, running outside, playing tag and hide & go seek, and reading books.

Brooke Quotes for the month:

"You are my baby mom. Me had you in my tummy and then I popped you out today."

I was trying to help Brooke get ready for her primary talk on Prophets and she said, "No mom, me tired of talkin' prophets and church, me talk to them about Princess and the Frog. K mom. Them like that so better."

"Girls go shopping, boys stay home and watch TV" (Brooke loves separating into boys and girls. Any chance she gets she will try to have the boys do something on their own so we can go hang out together.)

Brooke is really starting to love Primary. It has taken a couple of months, but she really enjoys bringing her Book of Mormon and sitting with her class. Her favorite part of primary is music time. I'm sure at some point she will have an amazing voice, but I never want to forget what it sounds like right now. She can't stay on key and she is really loud. It doesn't matter what song she is singing, it always sounds like a little out of tune song from The Little Mermaid. It's hard to hear any of the other kids over her voice. The adults are all laughing, but she gets lots of glares from the other kids!

Brooke is also now introducing herself as Brookie Cookie Chisholm to everyone she meets.

Umbrellas

Dallin and Brooke love Umbrellas! When we went to the dollar store to spend some of their hard earned money, they both just wanted umbrellas. They have been playing with them constantly and love having little picnics outside on their shaded blanket! They are easy to entertain!

Aunt JJ and the Boys!

Aunt JJ and the boys came down to visit this month and we had so much fun. We tried to pack the days full and enjoy every minute. Doug was able to take a couple of afternoons off and we spent the weekend over at Marco Island. Jackson, Watson, and Chase were so excited to try all sorts of seafood at Pinchers and we had tons of fun in the sun! The kids (including Doug) built some amazing sand castles and found some great shells. We had so much fun with JJ and the boys and are so thankful that they were able to come visit.

Trying to entertain the kids at Treetops Park. We were on a wildlife hunt!

We spent one evening walking down Hollywood Beach and getting ice cream. The kids were able to burn off some energy and we got a nice walk. I'm really going to miss the nice winter nights in Florida!

We went to Shark Valley and had a blast! It was fun seeing the boys get excited about the alligators and how close they were to us. It was a beautiful day and we had tons of fun. (We crossed Alligator Alley to get to Marco Island and the boys counted over 300 Alligators)!