4th of July

Like usual... I don't have any pictures to post with this. Three days of celebration and I didn't take one picture. I need to get one of those small cameras and put it in my purse... anyway...

We had a great weekend. For some reason St. George celebrated on Saturday and Hurricane celebrated on Monday. We weren't complaining, it made for lots of stuff to do.

We started off by swimming at the Washington Community center Friday afternoon. This was our first visit and that place is a huge hit with the McCarthy family. Brooks was not so jazzed about going down the slides in the little kid area, but had a blast going down with Pat on the ones for the bigger kids. We went about 50 times around the little lazy river, and watched Dada go down the big slide. My only complaint... the water is a little on the cold side, and we could not get Brooks out for more then 5 minutes at a time. His lips were a lovely shade of purple by the time we left.

Saturday we went over to the park in St. George to check out the booths and rides. Not too much stuff for Brooks to do (or too much he was willing to do) so after some yummy fair type food and shaved ice, we took him over to Main where they have the fountain and little river thing. We hadn't been there before, and that place is awesome! Brooks had so much fun. The best moment; another mom had brought some big water guns (the kind you pump and they shoot a continuous stream) and she was letting all the kids play with them. This bigger kid ran by Brooks in the river and splashed him. Brooks yelled "Hey" really loud and sprayed this kid right in the chest and face. Pat and I couldn't help but laugh, I know we shouldn't have but this kid was like 11 and Brooks was pretty much picking on him. The kid was really nice thankfully :)

Sunday Brooks visited with Mimi and Papa while Pat and I went to Eclipse with my sister and mom. We aren't huge fans, but it was a little grown up time :) Then we went to Nana and Papa's house (my parents) for a BBQ with Jenny and Hailey. Brooks loves his cousin Hailey. He pronounces her name wuigy, it's really funny. I made Watermelon coolers, and later we lit fireworks and the kids played with some sparklers... Brooks didn't like the sparklers so much.

Monday we went to the Hurricane parade, which I gotta say was rather pathetic and disappointing... but I hear the 24th one is better. Pat and Jenny were laughing because I was standing out in the road with all the little kids helping Brooks and Hailey get some candy. Neither one of them was quite quick enough, and as Jen put it, Aunt Kimi was not afraid to throw some elbows ;). Brooks loved it, this is the first time we've been to a 4th of July parade. He is still talking about the fire truck throwing candy :). Then we went to the ATV rodeo up at the baseball fields. That was pretty entertaining, but really hot so we left pretty early. Then later that afternoon we headed to the Washington Community center again with Jenny and Hailey. Brooks was much braver this time with cousin Hailey around. We all had a blast! Then we came home and grilled some hot dogs, lit off some more of our own fire works and in a rare occurrence.... all stayed up till 10 to watch the big fireworks from a top our roof. This was pretty cool. Brooks like being on the roof more then the loud booms of the fireworks. As soon as they were done he quickly turned to me and said "Mom, I aunt to go night night." I think that is the first time I've heard those words uttered.

All in all it was a fabulous weekend!

The Comedian

Brooks is such a funny kid. He does something new and silly just about every day. Here are the top ten things that make us laugh

1. He will pick up our home phone or one of our cell phones and have a pretend conversation... usually with Papa. "Hi Papa...Yep, Yep.... laughs with his had covering his mouth... ok, ok bye"

2. There are these motorcycles in just about every toy isle, that have buttons that play this funky music.... everytime we are in this isle at a store, Brooks finds one of these motorcycles and pushes the button and dances.... we get a lot of laughs from people.

3. He calls Pat's step-dad Mark, Papa... and my dad "other Papa"

4. He likes being scared... I chase him and roar, and then hide some where and jump out and roar at him. When I stop... he says "Mom, roar... me?"

5. When he wants one of us to chase him, he shakes his bum at us. He bends at the waiste a little bends his elbows and wiggles with his bum facing us.

6. When you ask him if he did something ,like help feed the baby gitchens (chickens), he'll say "ya", if he's really excited about what he did he'll say 'YEE AAP"

7. Daily phrases... "Mommy, dany (candy) or wucka (sucker) pease, pease... and if I don't give in, there is a kiss or two to sweaten the request.
"Mommy, popsida (popsickle) pease? mmmmm, popsida, num nummy, pease, me?" He usually gets both, espeacially if he gives me kisses...

8. When he really wants something, especially any of the above, and I don't give in he'll come and hug me and say "ohh, mama pitty". I'm tellin ya, this kid has got buttering up down!

9. When he's up in the morning, and Pat isn't... he'll go in and climb on our bed and say "Dad! Up! no more night night!"

10. Bed time is by far the funniest time of day at the McCarthy res... when he realizes it's bed time he has a whole schpeal. Mom ine hungry, pay bad guys (this means Mario Bro's on the wii), I aunt caars, mom.. read? Then when we are finally settled in his bed, and I'm reading him stories he says " mom, I aunt wata" (in the past, if he's really persistant I would get up and go and get him water, he'd follows me and we'd start the schpeal all over, and I'd have to get him settle down all over again. So I have started calling for Pat and having him get it.) So lately, Brooks will say... "mom, I aunt wata." then immediatley yell... "PAT!..... WATA!"



Practicing our faces...












"Mean Face"

"Sad Face"

"Happy Face"

"Surprise Face"

And last but not least.... he was playing in our room last night, and suddenly said "Me, bad guy" and ran into my closet. He came out wearing some high heal shoes, and growling.... Why is putting on my shoes make him a "bad guy"?? This kid is a crack up!!

Jack's 2nd B-day and Lagoon

We made the trip up north last weekend to celebrate Brooks' cousin Jack's 2nd Birthday. I can't beleive these boys are turning two already. Brooks loves his cousin, and the day before we left I told him what we were going to be doing and he got so excited! However, he then proceeded to keep asking me that we go see Jack every hour for the next 24 :). We had so much fun celebrating with the Bennetts. Brooks "helped" Jack open all his presents as you can see. We didn't have a fight until later that evening when we were getting all the toys out of their packaging and Brooks and Jack did not want to share the Thomas the train. Pat's mom took some really funny pictures of them screaming at each other... I'll have to get them from her and post later.






































The morning before Jack's party, we all went to Lagoon. We had a really great time, the boys loved all the rides and Lagoona Beach. Brooks loved the car and boat rides. When I showed him these pictures after we were home again, he kept asking... Mom, me... cars? Meaning, can we please go to Lagoon right now so I can do that again. I wish we would have taken some of them all playing in the water too. These boys love each other!! Thanks Aunt Erin for inviting all of us!

This picture cracks me up.... so serious, they really are having fun!

Probably pictures they will kill us all for later... kissing cousins - isn't it cute though :)

Quick and Dirty... mostly pictures

This is just gonna be a quick post... just mostly of recent pics. We've been really busy since we made the move back to So. Utah. We have finally finished cleaning, painting, replacing and unpacking the Duplex. It's been nice to be able to relax and enjoy the pure joy of living in something large then 900 sq ft that has a yard!!

Pat built me some flower boxes for Mother's day which have been fun to plant in, and I love having flowers to care of! We also have a birds nest in one of our pine trees not too much higher then eye level. It's been really cool watching mom take care of her babies... I've taken a ton of pictures, but because of the needles in the foreground you can't really see the birds.


















Pat's little Bro got married on the 8th and Pat and I were both in the line, we had a lot of fun walking down the isle together.... again ;). And Brooks was such a stud all dressed up.

























We are really enjoying the warm weather and being close to our families... please let the storms keep coming so it doesn't get too hot :)

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.