Halloween pics..

Well I figure I had better post Halloween pictures before Thanksgiving is here and I have to post about that too. I'm not quite sure why I have such a difficult time updating this blog, I have plenty of things going on, but for some reason it is a pain in the butt for me to actually have to blog about them!!?? Anyways here are some pics of Brooklyn in her cute costume, my aunt made her skirt and vest for her and I think they turned out pretty darn cute!

cutest little pirate girl I ever did see :)

and here with her trusty side-kick!

Here is a picture of Mary Jane taking Brooklyn for rides on the dolly at the deli. Mary Jane (at 83 years old!) works on the gift side of the deli and Brooklyn LOVES her!! But, I'm pretty sure the feeling is mutual! Mary Jane is an amazing person, she gave birth to 16 children, and now has 60 some-odd grandchildren and I believe 84 great grandchildren! As you can imagine she has many stories to tell!!

Last week we were able to go stay in Page with Shawn for a few days. Brooklyn absolutely loved being able to see her Daddy at work! He went on a couple of flights while we were there so she was able to watch him take off and land numerous times. She loves helicopters!! Every night when Shawn would go to the base to check out we had to tell all the "helcrs" goodnight and that we would see them tomorrow! She was quite funny! Also while we were there a joyous event took place... she pooped on the potty!!!!!! YAAAYYYYYYYY!!!! Since she has only pooped in her diaper once! She doesn't pee on the potty often, but we'll be working on it soon. For now I am just glad to have her going on the toilet!!! She is also learning her ABC's. In the last three weeks she has developed a love for the book "chicka, chicka, boom, boom" and we HAVE to read it EVERY night. At the end of the book we sing the ABC song. She's getting pretty good only missing about 8 letters total!

The big number 2!

We celebrated Brooklyn's birthday a couple of weeks ago, I cannot believe she is already 2!! It makes me so sad to think of how fast she is growing, but I love all the new things she does and to see how she is developing so I guess it's kind of a lose, lose situation!! But, I love her soooo much!! She is very smart and quite obedient for being just 2 years old. She know "the rules" and mostly sticks to them, which suprises me sometimes! She is very good at cleaning up after herself (Shawn says my OCD is wearing off on her, but I'm not so sure that's a bad thing!), She loves to sing songs, draw pictures, and play, play, play! For her birthday this year we decided to keep it very low key. When she got up in the morning she opened presents from Shawn and I. Then we went and watched Ryan's soccer game and went to lunch at McDonald's. It was her first time playing in the playland and she thankfully was not too fond of it!! We then came home and rested for a bit and then met for pizza, cake, and ice cream at the park. We only invited Shawn's sisters and parents, and my sisters, brother, and parents. We all had a great time and it was much less stressful!!!

The birthday present tower! oh so excited!!

The loot!!!

Shawn's sister got married the next weekend. The wedding was beautiful and the weather was great. Congratulations Kari & Cody we love you guys and wish you the best!!

(Cody is determined Brooklyn will like him!!)

We learned about listening and obeying in nursery on sunday. These ears should help with the listening part!!! Love Them!

Shawn got a helicopter magazine in the mail the other day. Brooklyn had to stop and look at it on the way inside. I'm not sure if she was looking for her dad or just looking??

She is too funny and way too smart!! Just now she got her stool and got some batteries out of the tool drawer cuz she couldn't get her cash register to work and thought it was out of batteries!!! It really scares me with how smart she is! In other milestone news, we have been binkie-free for the last three weeks!!!! I had been thinking that it was about time to get rid of them, but wasn't quite sure how to go about it and I wasn't fully commited yet. Since she was little she has never been allowed to have her binkie unless she is going to sleep, if we're traveling, or if she was crying unconsolably. I refused to have "one of those children" that walk around with their binkie all day and you can't understand what they say because it's in their mouth (hopefully I'm not offending anyone, I'm not meaning to!). For some reason I've just always found it so annoying! So, the other night at dinner she was throwing a fit because she didn't want to eat, well then she saw her binkie and started crying harder cuz she wanted it... annoying. So, I told her if she didn't stop crying it was going in the garbage. She didn't stop, so there it went, straight into the can! She eventually calmed down and I figured she'd throw a fit at bedtime for her binkie and I'd have to go get one of her others. But, bedtime came, she asked where he binkie was, I reminded her that it was in the garbage and that was the end! I could not believe it!!! I was astonished to say the least! I am glad it went so well because I wasn't even really planning on keeping it from her but when she accepted it so easily I thought heck why not?!!! She has asked for it a couple of time since, but once she's reminded of what happened and that babies need binkies not big girls she carries on like it's no big deal!!! Hopefully potty training will be as easy!! (and hopefully soon!)

MIA

Well I guess it's about time for an update. Since it has been sooo long and I've missed so much that has happened this is bound to be a long post, so here goes... The weekend of July 24th we had the Oliphant family reunion up on Duck Creek. We had a great time hanging out with family and enjoying the great outdoors.

Emily, Brandi, Vennalee, and Brooklyn trying to escape the downpour.

Brooklyn and Vennalee.

The next weekend I went up North with Shawn's mom and sisters for an overnight girls shopping trip. It was my first time leaving Brooklyn for more than a couple hours, which was very hard, but also a much needed break! We had a great time wedding dress shopping (for Shawn's sister) and school shopping for the grandkids. Shopping, Shopping, Shopping!!! I came home to my early birthday present, which I'm not gonna lie, I was not too pleased about! Now let me explain, it's not that I'm not grateful, I just wasn't positive that this was the model that I wanted. Before I EVER buy anything I always get online to read reviews and see where I can get the best price. Well I had wanted this particular model ever since I first saw it, but then I read a lot of mixed reviews about it, so I wasn't sure this was 'the one' any longer. But I have loved it so far, you wouldn't believe how many clothes I can stuff in there at one time!!

Then on August 3rd my mom had same-day surgery on her rotator cuff. She was recovering just fine until 5 days later she got a couple of blood clots in her lungs. She was rushed to the emergency room where she stayed for the next 5 days. She has been home since and is coming right along, if only she wouldn't try to do so much!

Brooklyn being a good nurse and feeding Grandma her food!

Story time.

Here are a few craft projects I have finished recently...

Shawn brought me a life flight t-shirt from work that has a helicopter on it and Brooklyn has wanted a helicopter shirt ever since, but I haven't been able to find one. So I made one! Also she has had this magnet board hanging in her room and I haven't really loved it (the frame used to be painted black). Well I mod-podged some cute scrapbooking paper onto it and clipped a flower to some ribbon that I had wrapped around it. 100% improvement, and now, I love it!

We spent Labor Day weekend on Kolob for our annual Jack Leavitt family reunion. Brooklyn and I camped all by ourselves since Shawn was at work. Which included pulling the tent trailer to the mountain and setting it up by myself (both firsts for me!), it sure was a lot more work doing it alone! But, we had a great time visiting with family, going on the zip-line, and once again enjoying the great outdoors!

Brooklyn and Copper digging to China!

and Brooklyn sharing her water with Copper!

Hudson, Traysen, and Brooklyn playing blocks.

Brooklyn and Hudson going for a ride!

Brooklyn and I both fell in love with "Dudson" (as Brooklyn called him) she asked for him for quite a few days after we got home! He is too dang cute and so is his little brother!

Last weekend was Shawn's mom's family reunion in Springdale. We had a lot of fun at the Hawaiian themed gathering!

The whole fam-damily. My very talented hubby!!

Brooklyn hula-hooping!! She must get her talent from Shawn!! Sorry the stupid video is sideways, I have no idea how to turn it, but it was too cute not to post!

Shawn decided that we were going to move Brooklyn from her crib in to a toddler bed last week after he caught her trying to climb over the side rail. Needless to say I have woke up and found her like this many times....

but I'm not quite sure what to do about it! any bed rail that I have found thus far won't fit a toddler bed! any ideas????? Poor girl!

And last but not least, my baby girl turns 2 this saturday!!! I cannot believe how fast she has grown. It makes me sad to realize how fast the time has gone, but at the same time I love to see all the new things she does! She is constantly keeping me laughing over one thing or another and I can't help but be grateful that she is my daughter and I get the opportunity to raise her! Here are some pics I took of her a couple of days ago...

Whew, that was a long post! Coming up next: Brooklyn's birthday and Kari's wedding!

7 years..

Just 7 short years ago I married my best friend and boy am I glad I did! I love him even more today than I did then. He is such a great father, husband, and truly my best friend. He keeps me laughing most of the time and I love him more and more each day. Happy Anniversary Babe!

My how time flies when you're having fun! We had a great 4th of July hanging out with family and lighting fireworks

This is how Brooklyn spends most of her days lately..

Shopping at Grandma's store, talking on the phone while playing with babies, or playing with the mega marble machine! She is definately the highlight of our lives! I am beginning to understand more and more of what she is saying and she just cracks me up! She loves talking on the phone, playing with baby dolls, picking on Copper, playing with marbles, dancing and singing, and being the center of attention! She is constantly saying "mom watch!" when she says this I am not allowed to take my eyes off of her for even a second or she starts all over again with whatever it was she was showing me! She loves to be outside and of course riding the four wheeler and dad's new dirt bike. She is becoming quite the "daddy's little girl" which makes it very heartbreaking when he leaves for his work week. She loves every kind of fruit she has ever tried, broccoli, pasta, and especially chocomik! I am constantly worried if she's eating enough cuz she's such a scrawny little thing (she's in the 2% for her ages' weight!) but it hasn't seemed to slow her down at all! I am hoping she will soon be more interested in becoming a big girl and going potty on the toilet (ANY suggestions would be MUCH APPRECIATED!!!!!) She loves having books read to her and we are currently working on learning her colors. And her hair is finally getting long and thick enough to try some cute styles... Love It!!

We're gearing up for a camping trip this weekend for a family reunion and hopefully it won't take me quite as long to finally blog about it, but until then...

Camping fun

Sorry, no new blog header yet, maybe soon? But on the bright side - WOW another post and it's not even been two weeks! Man I am starting to impress myself! Anywho... we went camping this past weekend at Yankee Meadows. It was great fun! Brooklyn was definitely in heaven, she loves being outdoors and to be out for three days was almost more fun than she could handle!! This was her first actual camping trip so I wondered how she would fare especially being away from her bed at night but, she did great. She loved her new camp chair and moved it from place to place for a good hour, I guess she was trying to get the best view, I don't know? It was great camping weather (all except for Friday night when a cold front moved through and I thought we might freeze!) We'll be going again in another couple of weeks so hopefully all goes as well as it did this time. And now for the pictures..

Kyson taking Brooklyn on one of her many four-wheeler rides


Just happy to be camping! and her make-shift table!

Some of the scenery. It was so beautiful up there. On the way up there were a lot of red rock formations that were so bright and then out of nowhere came some other formations that were gray and looked just like olden-days cement! It was really cool. I highly recommend the area.

And in other monumental news..... Mr. COW is back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just knew I was right and he didn't go to cow heaven! We couldn't be more excited for his safe return! and don't worry I was sure to rub in it to Shawn that I was right and he was wrong!

Recent Happenings

First and foremost, our missionary returned from Sao Paulo with honor, yaay!!!!! We are so excited to have him home! I'm pretty sure Shawn was almost as excited as Kellie was! I don't know what Shawn is going to do if we have boys! Brooklyn thinks Skyler is pretty alright too! She kept yelling and waving at him during his welcome home dinner! We missed him so much and are so glad to have him home! I love his cute accent and all the little quirks he picked up while he was gone! He is just too cute!! Shawn let him drive his truck home from church after his homecoming and let me tell you it was quite hilarious!! Each time he accelerated from a stop he had to stomp on the gas so he could "feel the power" so needless to say our ride was a little jerky, but very entertaining! Boys will be boys, even when they're men!!

(Skyler, Grandpa & Grandma Oliphant)

Also, Brooklyn finally got to meet her Great Grandpa Ron! He lives in Sandy and the one time we have made it up north since she has been born was this memorable trip, so she didn't get the chance to meet him. Sunday night he suprised us by showing up unannounced, but we were very grateful for the visit! Brooklyn LOVED him! She warmed right up to him and showed off for him the entire time he was here. Now for those of you that know Brooklyn, she does not warm up to people easily (most of my aunts carry candy in their purses so they can bribe her to give them loves when they do see her!) so we were all quite impressed! We visited for a couple of hours Sunday night, went and put flowers on my dad's grave, and then we met them and my two cousins for breakfast the next morning. It was so great to see him and Grandma Jean even if it was just a quick visit! My next task is to try to convince them to move closer, we'll see how that goes! Hopefully we'll atleast be able to make it up to see them this summer and hit the zoo!

(Gpa Ron & Brooklyn - Gma Jean, Gpa Ron, Brooklyn, Me, Cristina, & Kari)

We had a BBQ last weekend with some of my dad's family. My cousin has a little girl that is six weeks younger than Brooklyn and they had a blast together! In the past when they get together they just kind of ignore each other, but this time they actually played together! It was so cute! Hopefully they'll be good friends!

(Brooklyn & Katie)

And today we broke out the swimming pool! Brooklyn wasn't too sure about the cool water but she loved to stand in it and splash me and Copper! That entertained her for quite some time, until she found Shawn's peas!! She picked pea after pea, eating them as fast as she could! Hopefully there will be some left for Shawn by the time he comes home (it's not looking good so far!)

I must say I am extremely proud of myself at this moment, for I have actually posted twice within the same month! Although I have been too lazy to design a new header yet. Oh well, baby steps, baby steps! Until next time...

Pictures Galore

Yes, we are still alive and I have officially decided that I am definitely not a good blogger (or journal writer for that matter)! But I guess a post here and there is better than nothing, right?! Nothing new in our lives. We have been trying to enjoy the good weather as much as possible before the summer sun becomes unbearable! And now for the onslaught of pictures...

Watermelon... oh the joys of summer!

Shawn's dad got a new lawn mower so we gladly accepted his hand-me-down rider. Brooklyn now insists on helping her dad mow the lawn! It's almost better than going four-wheeling!

As soon as we could we headed up to Kolob to try out the fishing. Brooklyn quite enjoyed going around the lake on the boat; well at least for about the first two hours, then she got real tired of it, real fast!

So we spent the remainder of our time exploring the shore. This was the inside of one of the cabins by the dam.

She then tried to find the largest rocks she could lift so she could throw them into the lake! Notice the strained look on her face :)

She didn't much appreciate the one fish that Shawn did manage to catch!

I just thought this picture was too cute to not post!

Shawn's sister just got a Pomeranian puppy, which Brooklyn absolutely adores!!! We puppy-sat him while they went to the movies and Brooklyn thought she was in heaven. She was not pleased when they took "HER" puppy home with them! We will be puppy-sitting him again this weekend, man is she really going to be upset when they take him after having him for 2 days!

In other sad news, our neighbors have taken away the cow that lives across the road from us. (I'm sure they just took him back to the ranch to roam free with his other cow friends, Shawn on the other hand insists he has gone to cow heaven and the owners will not run out of hamburger for a while. I firmly disagree, or maybe won't agree, I'm not sure which). Anyways Brooklyn has been rather bothered that the cow has not been in the field for the last few days. She used to check on him frequently throughout the day, mooing at him, and showing her baby doll the cow. Hopefully she will forget about him soon - it reminds me of where he could (or could not) be every time she moos at the empty field!

and last but not least, I finally finished another project!! Yay for me, I love them! One project down, an endless amount to finish!