New Years Eve & Holiday Fun

Can I begin by saying that Gary and I don't go on trips, vacations, etc. I know, I know, we should travel as a couple right? Well, we don't. Some may even be surprised to learn that we didn't go on a Honeymoon. We instead purchased our first house (we are so, so responsible right?). We figured that on our one year anniversary, we would go on that much desired Honeymoon. Well, one year came and I was well on my way to St. John's Hospital to have Brooke-so much for that trip huh?? We have tried a few times, though, over the last 14 months to occasionally try to slip away for the night or weekend-9 times out of 10 this doesn't go well, bad luck I guess. This New Years Eve was no different.

Gary and I were total totally excited to go to my friend Marci's lake house in Springfield, IL for New Years Eve. My sister Tracie was so nice and offered to watch Brooke for us over at my sister Amy's house. About 2 hours before we were to head out, Gary wasn't feeling on his "A" game. He fought past it, though, and we headed to the lake for an evening of fun. Poor Gary made it through about an hour of good times before he ended up in bed with the flu (it had been going around my family). I felt terrible for him!! I was feeling fine-that is until 1:30 a.m. Restroom bound I was for an evening of porcelain goddess hugging-I hate the stomach flu (and I was totally feeling for my friends in the adjoining bedroom...So Sorry Guys). Needless to say, we were out the door on our way back to STL by 9:00 a.m. My only hope was that Brooke didn't get the bug. I called Tracie to inform her of our 'status' and she informed me that Brooke did in fact catch the bug-and threw it up all over Tracie at a strong 5:00 a.m. What a trooper Tracie is-and what a story we will have to tell Brooke about her ROCKING God Mother :) After a good 24 hours we were all 99% better. So much for that fun get-away right??

We also did some new and fun activities over the Holidays including the Magic House and The Incredible Pizza Place. Brooke had a GREAT time at both!

Brooke riding the space ship at IPP (Incredible Pizza Place). It took her all the way up in the 'sky' and she was so pumped!!

Her favorite-the Merry-go-Round. We couldn't pull her off of this ride without a tantrum following! I guess we will buy one for our house....Anything to keep her happy...

Wait..maybe this was the favorite. The girls loved the car when it was stationary. As soon as it started to move, look out! If you look closely at their hands, you will see that Lily is driving, but Brooke is trying to get her hand in there-Lils is always in control. Brooke finally settled for pushing the horn. She does not fight the Lily.

To the Magic House! Brooke loved 'shopping' and picked out her own groceries to make us dinner with that night (of course). She chose a lime, potato, circle of meat (yumm!) pineapples and two Irish coffee creamers. Sounds delish right??

Brooke is pretty nervous around other kids still. This was the only activity (around older kids) that she wanted to try out. It was a bookshelf with a hidden tunnel underneath. She crawled all the way from one end to the other and loved it!

We cannot wait to try out other 'St. Louis' favorites soon!

Christmas 2008-a photo montage

At Norwood for the Meiners Family Christmas!

Brooke and Grandma at Norwood for Christmas!

Posing with the tree-best shot I could get!

Brooke with Santa (who looked mysteriously like her Grandpa!!)

Brooke having a BLAST with Uncle Brian & Aunt Lisa!!! We love having them in town!

Getting ready to open present at Grandma & Grandpa's house-looking a little mischievous!

Deciding to take it all off! She always is ready for a photo op-good pose Brooke!

Brooke running down the hall and finding what Santa brought her-a kitchen set!

She LOVES IT!

She HAD to get the phone down first and text all of her friends.

Tea Party Time! Gary was PUMPED!!!!

Christmas morning at mom & dad's-Maggie is Sasha Fierce.

Brooke's 2nd Christmas is complete! she had a BLAST!! Merry Christmas to everyone!!!

Family Fun Night-Fleming Style :)

Brian and Lisa (Gary's Brother and Sister-in-Law) arrived yesterday from warm and sunny Orlando to freezy cold STL. We are so excited that they have arrived and we started the fun with an evening of pizza and games at Mike & Lindsay's house. It was so much fun seeing everyone and we got some good pics of Brooke with her Aunts and Uncles. We cannot wait to continue the festivities this week! ! !

Brooke was starting to wind down, but once we let her sit on the 'big girl' couch with Lindsay she was game on once again :)

So pumped that her FL Aunt and Uncle were in town!! Brian totally wants matching GodDaughter/GodFather PJ's.

She is oh-so relaxed on the 'big girl' couch-hanging out with the fam-raking in (and LOVING) all of the attention!

I think that Brian was also trying to make Brooke smile-even though she couldn't see him. She looks more confused..what do you think?!

Nativity Scenes & a door bell ditch

Last week, while we were putting Brooke to bed, the door bell rang. It was dark outside and there wasn't any way I was going to answer the door so I sent Gary. There was no one there. When he looked down, though, there was a Nativity Scene in a box. Strange right?? We took it inside and chalked it up to a neighbor wanting to leave us a surprise Christmas gift...without a note...but ok.

Two night later, another door bell ring. This time we were not home as my mother in law was watching Brooke. When I came home that night around 9:00 p.m. I noticed two glass figurines at the door step. Two sheep's and a Shepard...ok, what is going on?!?! I asked my mother in law what she thought and light bulb went off that maybe I should open up the Nativity set. Low and behold, there were no 3 Kings or Baby Jesus. When would they arrive??!!

The next evening I was resting (fighting off a nasty cold) and Brooke was playing. Bella started baking like a mad women so Gary headed to the door to 'catch' the door-bell ditch in action. When he opened the door there was a little boy with Baby Jesus. Gary thanked the little boy and looked up to see three cars and about 25-30 people standing in front of our house!! They burst into song-Silent Night-only to be followed up with a enthusiactic We Wish You A Merry Christmas. They gave Gary a bag a treats and a smile :) Gary had to ask, though, "are you from our neighborhood?" They said, "no, not really, we are from the Frontenac Ward." Well, ok. They also asked us if we knew who lived at another house down the street because they accidently got our three kings-I wonder if they are totally confused??!! Poor Gary was left alone outside for the festivies, while I was inside getting mad at him for wondering what the heck he was doing!!! What a start to a great Christmas Season! :)

Laundry Basket-what fun!

Last night while I was finishing dinner and Gary was working on the computer, we turn around to find Brooke on the couch-all by herself squealing with excitement! For a second we couldn't figure out how she had gotten up there (Girl has short legs). Then we saw that we had a laundry basket out. She had climbed onto the basket and then crawled onto the couch and she was PUMPED. Of course, then she kept standing on the couch, etc so that party had to end. However, for the next 30 minutes she would climb on the basket, and off the basket-it is so fun! Sometimes she even just likes to sit on it and read. She is so 'wild!'

This move from the laundry basket to the outomen did not work out so well-this move is going to take a little more practice.

It kind of looks like she is trying to get on a pommel horse or something-not quite sure, but she looks so determined!

Lost and Found

This weekend was pretty exciting as we found something that we had been searching a very long time for and it is all thanks to a couple of friends that decided to stop by on Sunday. My friend Marci was in town from Chicago this weekend and she and her boyfriend came by on Sunday afternoon to see Brooke (so nice of them!). Gary and I decided to 'straighten' up the house a bit so that they didn't totally think we were slobs...I was cleaning the main room because Bella had recently gotten sick all over the couch. I had cleaned the mess up, however, the cushions still needed to be vacuumed. There was not enough time so I contemplated turning them over. When I had reached in to try and turn the cushion over, I saw what I believed to be a key ring that my sister Amy would have perhaps left at my house. I went to grab it and realized it was Gary's missing wedding ring!! He had lost it almost a year ago-maybe on purpose??!! We were so excited! I went and showed Gary and then realized I better check the inscription to make sure it was his-my brother in law lost his too so there was a chance...There it was 10/07/2006. Yeah!! Now he will have to get used to wearing it again :)

Brooke's Aunt Marci is constantly spoiling her!! When Marci and Sean came by to visit, they came bearing a gift for Brooke-another ADORABLE outfit! How cute is this little number??

Practicing her 'serious' model face..fierce.

Just kidding! I Love my outfit and look FABULOUS!

Full body shot.

Thank you so much for making me look so cute Aunt Marci-I just love my new sweats!

Brooke-Warrior Princess

Is this not the funniest thing that you have ever seen?? A guy at Gary's work got this hat for Brooke as a Christmas gift-I don't think that she needs anything else-I love it!!