Water Park

Ever since we went to Lagoon with the Bennetts, Brooks calls anything to do with a pool or water a water park. So that is what we have dubed the Washington City Community Center. Which I just have to breifly praise, if you live in So. Utah and have not been, that place is awesome!

The first few time we went, Brooks wanted nothing to do with the slides. We mosly just swam around with him or he'd belly crawl in the shallow water where these slided are. But the last time we went he was really brave and went down by himself, and then we couldn't get him to stop! He would totally live here if it were possible. We always have a great time when we go, and it's been so nice to be able to get out of the heat.

Family Pictures

We took some family pictures on Sunday. We tried to get out and do it early to avoid the heat... but it was so HOT even by 9:30. So we didn't get as many as I wanted... and none of Brooks by himself. He wasn't feelin picture day. So here are a few that we did get... neither my sister's little girl or Brooks would really smile at all. We'll have to give it another try when it starts to cool down again.

The Movies

Saturday we took Brooks to see Toy Story 3. We were a little nervous because it's pretty spendy these days to go to a movie and we were afraid he might not watch the whole movie. But he loves the other two and watches them pretty much all the way through at home, so we took our chances...

Brooks was so excited the minute we got there, I think all the people and getting pop corn and candy was such a big thing for him. When we got in the theater he was a little antsy at first, but it was really cute to see him sit in those big theater chairs. His feet didn't even reach the end.

When the movie started he was in awe... a few times he tried to get up so that he could go sit somewhere closer. I think he wanted to go and lay on the floor on his belly, that is usually how he watches movies at home... but I just told him that he had to stay in his seat, or we would have to leave and he stayed put for the rest of the movie.

He was such a good boy, and is getting so big. We had so much fun going to a movie with him. Our first family movie was a big success!!

These are a few of our favorite things.....

Do you have that song in your head now? I do...

Patrick -

For the life of me, I cannot figure out why this is one of his favorite things....

Pat really takes such good care of both of our cars, my car is a 98 and we always get comments about how nice it is. Once, at Jiffy Lube, the mechanic actually asked Pat if he would sell it to him. I am so ready for a new car, but it's nice that I have such a good guy to keep the one I have now in such good shape. If you can't tell, this is a picture of him cleaning my engine... I have a hard time cleaning it period. Which Pat likes to tell me I don't do enough of. But the way I see it... If I let it get dirty enough, he does it for me :).

editors note: I took these pictures yesterday... this morning Pat washed both of our cars... see he just does it for me, I don't need to ;)

Kimi-

(Brooks had to pose while I was taking these... we call that his mean cheezer face)

These have become my babies! Pat built me these fabulous flower boxes for mother's day this year. Aren't they cute? I told him he should build more and sell them... We did a veggie garden in one of the big ones. The tomato plants are going CRAZY! We tried some strawberry plants, but I think I'm going to move them out and plant some peppers... the strawberries that do start to grow, just get eat in by bugs. I am so proud of my green thumb this year, I use to have a hard time keeping house plants alive, but all of my plants (even my indoor ones) are really thriving. It has become one of my most favorite times of the day... to water and check on them. We are gonna have more tomatoes then we know what to do with soon!

Brooks -

What can I say, he gets a 99 cent car when ever we go to Walmart... by the looks of things, we go to Walmart WAY too much!

Then there are his Disney cars, which I'm afraid to say is the result of his mother's collector itch. I always look for a character we don't have when we are in the toy section... He loves his cars, he has to have them to sleep, to take a bath, to take with us when ever we go anywhere... I always find them in my purse and in the diaper bag. He puts them there, not me. I think it's because if we forget to bring them, mom always has some on hand. This is his major "sharing issue" the one thing I cannot get him to share. Hopefully he grows out of that!

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 :)