BROOKLYN TURNS TWO

I can't believe we are counting years, not months anymore. My baby.. my baby.. my baby. She's a big girl now. She was really lucky to have two birthday parties for her second birthday. The first she had on her actual birthday with her grandparents and cousins and the next was the following week with her little friends. I really could not love my little Brooklyn anymore. Everything she does and says is just so cute. Right now she loves going to her swimming class and soccer practice. Her two best friends are Ty Toolson and Evelyn Menasco. She can sing several short songs; some of her favorites are happy birthday, twinkle twinkle little star and row row row your boat. She also likes to quote nursery rhymes, and sing the A,B,Cs. She knows all her colors and is beginning to learn shapes. Brooklyn loves to read books all the time. Every morning when she first wakes up she runs with a book and we read several before bed each night. She's been in her big girl bed for a few months now and is doing great. I only found her sleeping on the floor one time. She loves to give a bear hug but is still really stingy with her kisses. Her "cheese face" is getting more and more intense, she now even clenches her first to really smile. Brooklyn says "OK!" to anything that is asked of her and skips off to do what she is told. She wears her princess hello kitty or mini mouse dresses to bed every night. She loves to eat and tries anything new we give her. She likes to give Lydia hugs/ tackles her when she gets really excited. Every day with this little girl is such an adventure. Happy second birthday Brooklyn, we could not love you anymore!!! 

^^The birthday morning started with a donut and a happy birthday song. 

^^the adult party goers (and lydia)

^^opening her gifts 

^^hello kitty tent time 

^^her hello kitty "happy birthday" princess dress.. we picked this out a few weeks in advance. she was anticipating wearing it for her happy birthday every morning 

^^all brooklyn's friends! {and some little siblings} 

^^trudy's arm around brooklyn's neck. i sure love toddlers 

49ers seat preview

One day while out with friends Rob casually mentions he purchased season tickets to the new 49ers stadium. {So much for discussing big purchases.} He has been so excited for the last year while the stadium was being built and now its finally done! We were able to tour the stadium, check out the museums and restaurants and see our new seats. They are awesome right in the center filed behind the goal post and not too, too far up. I have to admit I am pretty excited too. Having season tickets will be a blast!  

NAPA RACE WEEKEND

Rob and I escaped to Napa the weekend after the kids went back to Denver. Two weeks with five kids, we really needed a vacation! It was a trip sponsored through my work, the timing just ended up being perfect. Since I started my colleagues talked this trip up and how fun it would be. Let me just say it was a blast! We arrived on Friday and headed straight to the beautiful dinner. It was on a vineyard and was just absolutely breath taking. I felt like I was attending a wedding. Saturday we explored around Napa and Sonoma. We went to the race expo, olive oil and chocolate tasting, got a cute little lunch at a deli then hit the pool before the Crohn's & Colitis foundation sponsored dinner. We got to hear a young girl share her story about being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at just eight months old. Its amazing to hear what patients go through with this terrible disease. The next morning I woke up at 5am and it was time for the race! I loved {almost} every second of the run. I wish I had brought my camera, it was just so beautiful. The entire 13.1 miles was through the wine vineyards. Every direction you looked it was vineyards for miles. After the race there was a big bbq and party at the finish line. Back at the hotel we napped, ordered room service, watched a movie. The weekend was so relaxing and exactly perfect for what we needed right then. I'm definitely excited for the trip next summer!

^^this place<3

^^the race expos… the sun was very bright

^^the CCFA dinner. a 4 year old boy with Crohn's disease created the shirts.

^^all my gear ready for the race to begin

^^shower and room service.. totally deserved this! 

CANDLES & CUPCAKES

One of the things the kids love doing most when they come to visit is making candles at Glow. Its so fun because they each choose a theme and use their imagination to create it. I love that they can bring the candles to their home in Denver and have fun memories of the trip to California. Another day we  walked around Santana Row, played on the lawn and ate cupcakes. Even Lydia got in the action, chewing on a cupcake wrapper. Its so fun {and challenging} to have all five kids together. The little girls love having their older siblings around. We can't wait until October when you three come back! 

^^always trying to mimic her big brother