Cousin Weekend

This weekend, the Kaller kids came over on Friday night for a cousin sleepover. The kids had a great time together and Aunt Kelly is exhausted...bloging at 7:00 a.m. in the morning on a Saturday. The night began with some playtime downstairs. Brooke was pumped to show off her toys since we were on her 'turf.'

The pony is always a huge hit. Brooke brought her out and was excited to ride around the room (or stand on the pony-circus tricks you know).

Then Lily arrived-Brooke's face was filled with fright. She knew that Lils would want to take over the pony rides.

Wouldn't you know-look who was defeated and had no problem expressing her frustration :) She moved on moments later-just likes to put on a show...

Brooke went to bed first (like mother like daughter!). The Kallers still wanted to party and Jack asked if I would take his picture with 'his friend Lily.' I obliged of course.

Then they were off to hold hands-so cute. They ran into the kitchen and back holding hands..this was when Jack was still excited to be at my house.

After this picture was taken, Lily went to bed like a rock star. A few tears and she was out. Jack on the other hand was a different story...I tried to put him to bed but no luck. He told me 'it wasn't fair' 'he didn't want to do it' 'he was not going to sleep in that bed...' Eventually, I won him over by staying in the room with him for the night. Don't worry, 5:00 a.m. came around and I recieved some pretty intense kicks to the face and arms and a 'your not my mom' before he went back to sleep. He is a true gem :)

Lily was up first and ready for her breakfast. 6:00 a.m. = party time! I didn't mind, though, because she slept through the night unlike Brooke and Jack-she got to have whatever dairy free breakfast she wanted :)

More pictures of morning fun to come.....tonight = cousin sleep over at the Kallers and party time for mom & dad Fleming!

Why mom doesn't do the laundry

Gary and I have an agreement-he washes and dries and I do the folding, hanging and putting away of the laundry. Well, since I was home for the last two days with Brooke (one being my day off and one being a snow day-yes, even companies sometimes have snow days!) I decided to be 'extra' great and do a load of laundry. Apparently, talking on the phone while loading the dryer was not a good idea. Gary came upstairs with my dry load and I guess I had thrown a wool sweater in the dryer...oops. At least it was mine and I have owned it for probably 4 years. I also didn't love it too much so it was cool.

Brooke was pumped too. Add some colorful tights, a onesie (as a makeshift camisole) and this girl just got a new sweater dress! Ok-I had to roll the sleeves a bit, but she can totally pull it off.

Aren't you loving the snow day bed head? Cute huh? The only thing better would be a picture of me trying this on. Don't get your hopes up-the sweater has already made it's way to the dress up clothes bin downstairs. She is going to be rocking the 2000's looks when she is in middle school.

A B C

This is Brooke's first poster. I am sure it will only lead to crazy boy band posters that are sure to come. After all, I totally had a Bon Jovi poster in my room-full door size and it was awesome. This poster, however, is educational and came from Aunt Maggie for Christmas. There are different alphabet squares all over the poster and you open them up to reveal all different animals that begin with that letter.


Great idea and Brooke totally loves it so I am game. However, there are a few interesting animal choices. Some of the ones that I didn't include below: Quahog, Zorilla, Viper and Tamarin. I mean whatever happened to snake, zebra, tiger, unicorn (ok-I know they aren't real..or maybe they are...but still!)? Ok, so maybe it is just that some of these letters are difficult to find an animal whose name begins with it, but Brooke is going to become a genius and I will have to start taking her to trivial nights with me!

South American Bird

Apparently a New World Monkey.

Honestly-Stinkbug was their 1st choice?? 'S' should have been an easy one. This should be self explanatory.

So we are totally moving on-no more, "Brooke, what does a dog say." We are going right into Tamarin and Warthog. We are going to blow people away at the Super Bowl with our party tricks :)

Snow Fun Indoors

I wanted for Brooke to be able to play with the new fallen snow, however, I am not quite ready (nor is her wardrobe) for her to actually go outside. So, we decided to be like the Kallers and bring the snow inside to us!!

At first, I think she was a little confused as to why I had brought inside a bowl full of white stuff, but eventually she got the hang of it-i.e. eating it.

Totally delicious!

Maybe not so delicious anymore..why is it yellow?? JUST KIDDING! I think it was a little too cold for her taste :)

Look at that amazing snow sculpture that Brooke built-all by herself of course.

We tried to share with Bella, but she was like whatever...I just totally made yellow snow outside..it's so 2o minutes ago.

Maggie's Room

I have been meaning to get this picture up for awhile now, so it is going to be a '2 post Friday!' When we go over to my mom & dad's house, Brooke LOVES to go in her Aunt Maggie's room. There are so many fabulous things to do in Maggie's room like play on her keyboard, take down all of the retreat candles and go through her entire closet. There are some GREAT items in that closet such as baby dolls, batons (we took this item home with us) and Trolls. The Trolls belong to me and when I was younger I thought Trolls were awesome. I tried to show them to Brooke and thought about taking them home with us as well. After showing them to her once and seeing the look of disgust on her face we opted not to bring the Trolls home. Apparently even my daughter thinks that I was totally lame for collecting these items. Maybe I will just put them all in the back of my car along with the beanie babies that I found and be totally cool. Thoughts?

Brown Bear Brown Bear

Obsessed. Brooke is totally obsessed with Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? She cannot get enough! I don't know if it is the Brown Bear, Red Bird, Blue Horse...I could go on an on...but this is her #1 choice each and every night (and day and afternoon) to be read to her. I love reading books with Brooke but sometimes I just want a little variety. Last night I tried The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Heck NO! She just kept slamming it shut. Apparently it is very below her. So, if anyone wants a reading of Brown Bear, just call me-I know it by heart.

More of a Lily picture then a Brooke, but my sister Amy called me today (she was watching the kids) and apparently, the two girls have discovered holding hands. Isn't that adorable??

I was a little surprised when I heard that Brooke was holding Lily's hand. I totally would have thought that she would want to hold Jack's hand. I think that she has a little cousin crush on him. It is a very Ike and Tina relationship. She pushes her down, steals her toys, makes her cry...but every time Brooke just keeps coming back. I hope she grows out of it (the cousin crush that is) :)

Big Girls

Brooke is a big girl. After talking to my sister Amy, I found out that Brooke has not been eating in a high chair or off of a tray for quite some time now over at their house. I was unaware of this and had been continuing to feed her off of her high chair tray. She had been beginning to throw a fit about this and I had no clue why. Well now I know-she is a big girl.

When we went over to my parents house two weekends ago, she sat at the little kids table in her own chair and ate her dinner off of her plate only getting up when she was finished. Well, we don't have a little kids table at our house-Grandma and Grandpa Johnson totally spoil their grand kids with their little kiddo table that Grandma got by dumpster diving..no joke here..as she would say, "her neighbors have good trash!" We do have a booster seat, though, that fits up against the table and for the last week or so Brooke has been eating at our table and she LOVES it! The little things in life right? She is so mature :)

Yes, that is still a bottle, but it does have a sippy cup top ok!! I am having a hard time saying no to the bottle at night...and in the mornng..

Brooke is soooo into politics. It was all I could do to pull her away from NBC this mornign while watchign the Presidential Inaguration. Gary and I are so proud-future senator? Maybe-she gets it all from her mother...I did go to Girls State you know :)