Pat's 30th

Not only did Brooks turn two in March, but Pat hit the big 30 as well. We had a combined party for Brooks, Pat and Pat's younger brother Daniel who's b-day is on the 25th. We had a really good time with all our family there. Pat's mom has one of those smart cars, the kind you wiggle the wheel to get it to move. She rode it and then let all my nieces and B push her, while she took turns giving them all a ride. These pictures are so funny!







































B, trying to keep up....
















Brooks thinks that the smart car is his, and usually has a meltdown if anyone else tries to get on it.

















Then we opened presents and blew out the candles on the cakes.

























(Pat's actually had 30 candles, and Dan's had 25... they look like they are on fire! he he)















mmmm yummy cupcake!
















The three boys really liked the kid's furniture Brooks got from his Mimi and Papa. These boys are so cute it's going to be so much fun when we can have sleep overs and they are running around getting in to trouble together.


























The aunt Erin found the funnest present of all.... the empty box that had his basket ball hoop in it that her, uncle Kyle and Jack gave Brooks. I think next year we'll just give him a big empty box :)

How old are you? "Do"

I can not believe it, but Brooks turned two on Sunday! Where have those two years gone? He is getting to be such a big kid. I love it because he finds new ways to make us laugh and new ways to amaze us everyday, but it also makes me sad that he's becoming a big kid. He's not my little cute, chubby baby anymore. I actually looked at him the other day and caught a glimps of what I think he'll look like as a young man.

We celebrated his birthday by filling his bed room floor with balloons while he was asleep. That was really fun when he woke up. Then we put candles on his pancakes and sang "Happy Birthday", which he hid his face through. Then we opened some presents. I have been trying to teach him his pleases and thank you's, so after every present he opened he said "taint toe". This kid is freakin adorable!


























Favorite toddler moments so far:

B - mommy?
Me- yes?
B -Be happy.

When he wants Pat or I to come over to where he is, he calls out mommy or daddy and then makes kissing noises like we do to get the dogs to come.

He's learning signs and random times during the day he tries to show us all the ones he can remember. In between each sign he says, "uhm" with a really furrowed brow of concentration look.

Lining up all his toy cars like a mini car show.
















Boondocks

My best mommy moment yet

I had the most wonderful moment with Brooks two weeks ago. It started out as a normal Friday and Brooks and I were busy playing and cleaning the house while Pat was at work. Round about 4:00 I got a call from Pat with some rather bad news. UTA was doing a mass layoff and Pat did not survive it. We were devastated! After a few brief exchanges to make sure that Pat wasn't joking (my husband the Joker) I hung up the phone and started to cry right there in the kitchen. I sat down and covered my face and all I could think of was, "What are we gonna do". Then I felt this little hand on mine. I looked up and there was Brooks. Looking at me with the sweetest expression of concern on his face. He started to pat my hand very softly and say "mommy" in a tone meaning, it's okay. Then he started to wipe the tears of my face with both his hands and kiss my checks, all the while in that same sweet tone saying "mommy". It was the sweetest moment I have had with him. I'm getting a little teary eyed just remembering. He did such a good job making me feel better. And despite how upset I felt, I couldn't help the overwhelming feeling that came over me that everything was going to be all right. Thanks to my baby boy.

Off to a busy start...

We have had a pretty busy new year so far. We went to the snocross at the Rio Tinto stadium. It was pretty cold but we bundled up in all our snow gear and had a great time! It was pretty cool watching them jump those snow mobiles. Brooks like the really loud noises they made and he thought watching them race was pretty cool.











































Pat got us some Jazz tickets for Christmas for the game against the Caveliers. It was pretty cool, mine and Brooks' first Jazz game. We didn't stay for the whole game, since they are so late. Brooks started to get pretty grumpy around 8:30 so we missed the game winning three pointer at the buzzer.
































































A few weeks ago We took the boys (Brooks and Jack) to an introductory tumbling class at "The little gym". It was really fun, and Brooks had a blast running and jumping around. He even did a forward roll pretty well (with a little help). He really like jumping around on this mat that the teacher filled with air, like those bounce castles. The boys had such a great time that we decided to sign them up for classes. It'll be a good way especially through the winter to get some energy out! Then after the class and nap time. We watched Jack for Erin and Kyle while they went to dinner. The boys had tons of fun playing with each other, especially when they both decided to attack me on the couch.












































































Then just today we went to the Living Aquarium with the Bennetts. Brooks loved all the fish! The best part was the open tank they had and we were able to touch sting rays. It scared the crap out of me... I'd never felt one before and they were soft and a little slimy and just as I touched his wing he turned really quickly around towards my hand and I yelped! Everyone looked up and I was totally embarrassed! Brooks was braver then mom and we couldn't get him away from the tank. Before we left Brooks managed to get a blue stuffed animal clown fish from his dad, which we he loving dubbed Moe and gives fishy kisses to!

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas...

We are getting so excited for Christmas. Brooks is going to be SO much fun this year!! I can't wait to hear the OH's and WOW's when he opens his toys. I am feeling a lot more festive this year than I normally do. I think it might be the snow up here and that it seems so much more fun with our little guy. He loves the tree and likes to point at all the ornaments (balls). He says "cool" when ever we see Christmas lights. This is to due with me saying at the beginning of the month... "look Christmas lights, coool" and now he says it every time we see some. That and "More". The kid is all about more :). Brooks is also starting to say phrases, at first we couldn't tell what he was saying but now we've come to realize that he's picked up on a few things we say to him a lot. Like when I ask him to do something for himself, like take his hat off, and he does it I say, "There ya go" and now he says it when ever he or Pat does something for me. He also says, "I want that" which is simply an upgrade from "more" his most favorite word. And Pat's favorite, he just recently started saying "I want daddy" when Pat hasn't been home the last few weeks before Brooks is in bed. He's been working late to finish a remodel he stared in September. Another development which must be a toddler thing, he has learned how to fake pout! At first he was doing this in the morning when we started taking him to daycare. But I think he's realized that it makes us feel bad because he will do it for just about anything now. He even makes sniffing noises and gets his eyes to well up...
Well that is all for now, we hope everyone has a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

A story that all the mom's will appreciate & an update

A few weeks ago I went to get my hair done (Thanks Ky). I went a little later in the evening so when I got home I expected that Pat would have Brooks bathed and in bed. When I walked in there were still running around playing. I asked Pat if he gave Brooks a bath yet (keep in mind B is now 20 months) and Pat said that he hadn't. I asked why and Pat replied, "I asked him if he wanted to take a bath and he said no. I couldn't help but find this very funny. Especially since B loves to say no... to pretty much everything you ask him. Too funny!

Pat recently got a new Job!! YEAH! He is the Safety Specialist for UTA's capital development division. It is a really good job and opportunity for Pat. He is really enjoying it so far. So I guess we are now officially Salt Lakers (or whatever), basically we are stickin around for a long while :) We could not be more excited that he got this great job. I am so proud of you babe!

A pumpkin patchin we will go...

I LOVE this time of year. Halloween is by far my favorite holiday. We took a trip to the pumpkin patch With Erin and Jack and had so much fun. Usually I just go to the grocery store and pick out our pumpkins. This was so much better!