Winter Garden Aglow 2013

We continued the tradition we started last year of visiting the Idaho Botanical Gardens to see the lights they put up for Winter Garden Aglow.

As soon as we walked through the gates Brooklyn said "Whoa!".  It is so pretty and festive to see all the trees and bushes lit up.

Her face looks so betrayed.

I have been talking a lot about Santa the past couple weeks to prep Brooklyn to meet him.  She has been pointing him out whenever she sees him on anything and will say "Ho, Ho, Ho Merrrryyyy!" (never says the Christmas part just merry).  We watched a few other kids sit on Santa's lap before our turn and I had a glimmer of hope she might be okay.  But as soon as I stepped up on the little stand he was on she grabbed onto me and started crying.  We got a pretty funny picture of her reaching for us (I was just a couple feet away).  Both Thomas and I were undecided on whether we would even have her sit on Santa's lap because she is not good with strangers and we didn't want to make her cry.  But we couldn't resist a Santa picture.  The whole ordeal lasted like 10 seconds and she stopped crying the minute I picked her up.  (I'm totally trying to make myself feel better about making my daughter cry).

Waiting in line to see the big guy.

She wouldn't be this mad if she knew what Santa was bringing her for Christmas ;).

  Prancer was even there this year! He was just chowing down, preparing for his big flight coming up. The hit of the night was the electric trains they have set up.  We stood for a good 5 minutes watching them and oohing and ahhing.
We wrapped the night up by going to eat at our fave family owned Mexican restaurant, La Tapatia.  Brooklyn is a gem at Mexican restaurants cause she can chow down on chips and salsa the whole time.  Made for a nice end to our family night together.

Turkey Trot Relay

This race we participated in this past weekend was the first relay I have done outside of high school track.  Each of our four team members ran two miles and then would pass the baton with the timing chip to the next team member.  Along the route there were rubber chickens. If you found one you got some kind of prize.  Also, the winner of the race wasn't the first team to finish but the team that finished the closest to their predicted finish time.  All members of the winning team got a free 20lb turkey. The team that won was less than a second off of their predicted time.  We were about two minutes off which I thought was pretty darn good.

Our team.

Our team name was "Save the turkeys eat BEEF"

Go Tommy Boy!

About to pass off the baton.

Our team members included myself, Thomas, Rebecca (another Team Beef member), and her friend Jennifer.  It was fun meeting these two ladies and getting in a fun run.

GOTR Fall 2013

I had heard about the program Girls On The Run through a blog that I read and it was a volunteer opportunity that really appealed to me.
Last spring I volunteered to be a running buddy during their end of the season 5K.  I was matched up with two fourth grade girls and ran next to them during the 5K for support and encouragement.
This year I decided I wanted to be more involved and become a coach.
I was at Longfellow Elementary which is in the North End of Boise.  I LOVED the girls that I coached and we had excellent parent support.  We had eight third grade girls participate this season.  Practices were twice a week for 75 minutes after school.
The program helps girls by getting them trained to be able to complete a 5K while teaching lessons about self esteem, friendship, body image, media messages, etc.
One lesson that we had that stuck out to me was on standing up for yourself and others.  One of the girls said that something her mom has taught her is that if someone says something to you like "You are so stupid!"  you look them straight in the eye and say very matter of fact "That's not the truth about me."  I got chills when she told me that.  I think it's so powerful for girls to be able to stand up for themselves and to like and respect themselves.  These third grade girls had such great confidence in themselves and I hope that remains with them throughout their junior high and high school years.
The week before our actual 5K race we had a practice 5K during one of our practices.  We had parents show up and run with the girls, music playing, a crepe paper finish line, and refreshments for afterwards.  We timed them all so that for the real 5K they could have a time to beat.
I was so proud of all our girls because the ALL smashed their times at the 5K race and did AWESOME!

One of our warm up activites.

The girls kind of loved it when the sprinklers would be on during practice.

High knees.  Brooklyn sat this one out.

The start of the practice 5K with some of the parents.

Dancing to the YMCA to get warmed up for the real 5K.

There was a booth set up where the girls could get temporary hair dye.

We braided the girls hair and added sparkles too.

Half of our team.

Sweet girl

Our community service project of picking up trash.

Love the facial expressions.

Ready to run!

October Photo Dump

I have started a "Random Brooklyn" file folder in my pictures for each month and I think I will just do a big photo dump at the end of each month from this file. I noticed while adding these pictures that Brooklyn really likes to imitate behavior she sees us doing often. For example, brushing out teeth, changing diapers, cooking. and driving. We better be on our best behavior always I guess! Without further ado I give you October's photo dump:

Wagon ride with Jax and David

Best buds.  Brooklyn and Hallie with Hallies mom Kelsie

That's a new face that she uses a lot now.  Haven't figured out what it is expressing yet.

She LOVES these cars!

Driving the bus.

Slides are a big hit these days too.

"Don't worry Mom, I'll get my own glass of water."

Loves to brush her teeth.  She will make a "wow-wow-wow" sound as she is brushing to mimic Thomas and I's electric toothbrushes.

The only way to cook when Brooklyn is around is to let her help.

She LOVES when we make juice in the juicer. She can drink more than me almost.

She is really into her blanket.  She calls it "blank" and wants to carry it around a lot.

Now that her hair can go in ponies and pigtails it gets a little crazy after naps and bedtime.

You wouldn't think that sucker can fit in her mouth but she squeezes it in there.

Loves suckers.

Likes to look out windows.

The cute dress Grandma Sandee made her.

the back.

Changing Elmo or her baby doll's diapers is a new activity she enjoys.

At tot school with her friend Anna enjoying some sensory play.

Our favorite activity of the week, Baby Signing Time.  The teacher is AMAZING and we will be so sad when it's over in December. When she gets out a book to sign and read the kids all circle around automatically.  It's adorable.

Halloween 2013

This Halloween Brooklyn dressed as a marathon runner.  She loves to run at this age so it was a very fitting costume.

Nana and Pops sent her a Halloween bucket which she loved and insisted on carrying herself.

Thomas had to work on Halloween but we stopped by to trick or treat and say hi.

Earlier in the week our friend Jillian invited us to trunk or treat at her church building.  Notice pretty much from here on out Brooklyn always has a sucker in her mouth.

Governor Butch Otter and his wife with Brooklyn outside the state capitol building.

On Halloween day we stopped by the Capitol building where Governor Butch Otter and his wife were handing out candy, books, and toothbrushes.  Three of Brooklyn's favorite things! She even let the Governor hold her for a picture!
For trick or treating we were invited to go with my friend Sara (my mentor teacher for student teaching) and her family in their neighborhood. Her little daughter Molly and Brooklyn had a BLAST!
I didn't expect Brooklyn to get so into it this year.  But this girl ran right up to those doors, got her candy, and would loudly say "Tank you! Tank you! Bye! Bye" as she got back in the wagon to go to the next house for more candy as quick as she could.
She also wanted to eat each piece of candy as soon as she got it.  She really got a sugar high and was laughing hysterically in the wagon with Molly.  It was pretty darn funny. 

Getting their pre-trick or treating funk on. Sara got them cute little glow in the dark bracelets and hand clappers.

So excited to get out and trick or treat.

Posing for pics with Minnie Mouse Molly

I love how happy she looks in this picture.

Hugs from Minnie.

Seated and ready to get rolling.

Molly wanted to pull her friend in the wagon.

Had to include this one cause in it Brooklyn's looking towards me and wanting me to open her candy right away.

Knock, knock.

Molly wanted to hold mine AND Brooklyn's hand.  (Sara and her mom in the background).

Another one I had to include. Once Brooklyn got her candy she was out of there so she could get more from the next house.

Going back for seconds in this one.

Jackpot! Full size candies!

Go Broncos!

Precious girls.

Melt my heart!!

Love seeing my girls this happy!

Anyone home?

 I decided to start implementing the "Switch Witch" this year.  Basically what you do is tell the kids they can eat whatever candy they want on Halloween.  Whatever is leftover they can leave out that night for the Switch Witch.  The Switch Witch comes and takes the candy but leaves a toy for them instead.  Once Brooklyn gets older she can choose if she wants to keep her candy but this year I didn't want it in the house for me or her to eat.  So I pulled out a few suckers and smarties for her, and the Switch Witch brought her a Play-Dough set, and sent the rest with Thomas to work.
Next year Thomas is going to try to get work off for Halloween.  It was SO adorable and fun seeing Brooklyn get into the festivities!