Brooke~the BIG Girl!!

I was making dinner the other night and Brooke wanted to be in the kitchen with the big kids! Here she sits three months old and room to grow still.......

Let's EAT!!

Look who's the 'BIG' girl now!!

FUN TIMES....

We had a GREAT weekend....the kids are still talking about it!! Saturday morning, Troy and Tyler got up and cleaned the church--Tyler LOVES cleaning the church!! They came home and we got everyone ready and went to Grandma & Grandpa's and Grandma had a YUMMY breakfast on and so we of course ate--THANKS GRANDMA!!!

We then headed over to Boise and met Sherri, Amber, Heather, Craig, and Corey. We decided to try and shoot some family pictures. We went to the Train Depot in Boise, which has some BEAUTIFUL places to take pictures. However, it was 30 DEGREES outside, just a tad bit chilly to try and get kids to pose and be 'cute.' They did pretty good under the circumstances. It was DANG cold!! When the weather gets warmer, we definitely want to go back and have a picnic and get some pictures, maybe the kids will cooperate a little better--wishful thinking I KNOW!! It was fun and a great memory builder though!! Troy was a GREAT sport--Thanks Honey!!

We then went to take the kids bowling and the waiting line was way too long at the bowling alley we went to, so we took the kids to McDonalds and then planned on going to a different bowling alley, but the 'open bowling' was not until later in the evening--much too late for our clan.

We ate at McDonalds and then Craig, Tyler, Brandon, Corey, Heather, Kara, and Emily had a BLAST playing on the playground. THANKS Heather--the kids are still talking about how you went down the slide with them. Amber of course, snuggled & spoiled Brooke while Troy, Sherri, and I just visited. It was actually pretty fun, even though we just hung out at 'McDonalds'--the kids did NOT bug us at all!! VERY NICE!! They were entertained and had a blast!!! We had the playground to ourselves for an entire hour!! We were at McDonalds for TWO and A HALF HOURS!! They had a game room off of the playground--Troy played everyone foose ball and of course--HE BEAT!! Kara was having such a BLAST--she had an accident--it was then, we decided we needed to end our adventurous day and head home.

We had a great time!! Thanks again Sherri for meeting us over there!! We had a TON of FUN!!!

Kara's Wish.....

The kids have all been talking about Kara's Birthday that is coming up in a week and a half. Kara is VERY excited!! We were all in the car and Tyler and Brandon were talking about how 'old' they are and how 'little' Kara is. Kara then said, "I am going to be FOUR on my birthday!" She so wants to be 'BIG' like the Tyler and Brandon! The boys both quickly corrected her and said, "No, you are just going to be three!" She then asked Troy, "Dad, will I be four on my birthday?" Troy said, "No, honey, you will be three." It was quiet for a second and then Kara broke the silence exclaiming, "DANG IT!" Oh to be OLD!!

Dr. Kara's Diagnosis......

This morning was a little crazy. Tyler had school, so I was getting his breakfast, lunch, and backpack already before the bus came. Brooke was wanting some attention and NOT being very patient. Kara came into the kitchen and said, "Mommy, Brooke needs you, I think she has a throat in her tummy!" I just looked at her a little confused and said, "OK." Emily has been croupy the last few days and had a yucky cough. The other night Troy just commented on how horse she sounded and that is sounded like she had a frog in her throat. That is the only thing I can think of where Kara was coming from!! I guess Kara needs a little more training and experience before she becomes our family doctor.

Another really good Quote....

Some really good advice.... A reminder that I NEED!!!

"As you create a home, don't get distracted with a lot of things that have no meaning for you or your family. Don't dwell on your failures, but think about your successes. Have joy in your home. Have joy in your children. Have joy in your husband. Be grateful for the journey."
-Marjorie Pay Hinckley

A GOOD reminder....

"You can shower a child with presents or money, but what do they really mean, compared to the most valuable gift of all-your time? Vacations and special events are nice, but so often the best moments are the spontaneous ones. Being there. Every moment you spend with your child could be the one that really matters."

~Tim Russert (from Meet the Press)

I read this and really liked it!! How true it really is...great reminder!!

Who's the BOSS?!

Brandon & Kara have a lot of fun during the day while Tyler is at school. Tyler being the oldest and having (Grandpa Brinkerhoff's personality) is of course boss when he is here and Brandon and Kara accept that most of the time!! (Troy has often said we should have named Tyler, Jim--after Grandpa Brinkerhoff, since Tyler is a Mini Jim.) Brandon and Kara each take turns being boss and they take it pretty good from each other! It is fun to listen to them play and interact with each other. They were playing away and they both came running in to me and asked me to take a picture of them--they are funny!! Here it is!!



Good Buddies having fun!!

Make you SMILE.......

Here are a few updates on Brooke---

She is three months old already!! YIKES!! Sometime I would really like to stop the clock and keep her little for LONGER!! Time really is going by too fast!! She enjoys sitting in her bouncy and watching the other kids play!! She is beginning to try to talk--Tyler, Brandon, and Kara get a kick out of her when she tries to talk!! She really is beginning to SMILE a LOT!! The last two days she has been sucking on her hand--like she is trying to find her thumb--I wish she would--the whole pacifier thing is A PAIN--she would always have her thumb and Emily could not run off with that!! She watches her hands wave in front of her and it is very entertaining!!


I love her smile here with her mouth wide open!!


Too CUTE for words!!


Brandon really really LOVES Brooke and ALWAYS watches out for her. She can be crying and he is in the other room--he will stop playing and come running in to bounce her in her chair to make her stop crying! He is VERY SWEET with her!


Brandon is a SWEET Big Brother!!


Brandon--the first to find Brooke's Binky and comfort her! What a BIG helper!


Simply Sweet!!


Yes, this is the same Brandon that teases and bugs everyone else until they are in tears!! HE LOVES BROOKE!!


Brandon runs to Brooke and says, "Don't cry, Brandon is here!" I love it-he really can be very sweet!! Brooke LOVES Brandon!! I hope they stay good friends!

Shoe/Boot Fetish!!

Emily LOVES LOVES shoes, boots, sandals, anything of the sort---as long as they are NOT hers!! She ALWAYS takes her shoes off if she sees an extra pair of shoes laying on the floor and she will prance around in them!! Last night I got Emily undressed adn went back to get her pajamas and in my return, she of course had run off. Troy's boots were sitting out in the kitchen last night and I walked in to this........


Very PLEASED with herself, she got these big, honkin things on!!


How do you Work these things!?


HELP!! I want OUT--they are NOT as FUN as they look!!


Settling for something closer to her size range--she can actually move in these! I wish she would have stayed in the boots!!

Just Relaxing!!

Brooke absolutely LOVES her bath!! She would lay in the tub ALL day and kick and splash!! It is fun to watch her--I put her in her little chair and she always slowly slides down and off so she can be completely be in the water. She is a HOOT!!


Lovin Life!!


Thank goodness for Rubber Duckies!!

Lucky Kids.....

I swear we are the luckiest family ever!! Number one..our kids have the two BEST set of Grandparents EVER!!! We could not ask for better grandparents for our kids to have--my parents and Troy's parents are the absolute BEST people ever!! Number two..we are very LUCKY & BLESSED to have them both live sooooo close!! WE LOVE IT!!

Last Sunday evening Grandpa Lynn and Grandma Debbie came over after church and brought us dinner--how AWESOME is that?! Then we just sat and visited with them and they of course played with the kids!! Grandpa Lynn got down on his hands and knees and acted like different animals and let the kids shoot at them with their dart guns. Grandma Debbie also took a turn--the kids are still talking about how fun that was!! I am VERY BLESSED--I have the VERY BEST in laws ever!!

Last night Grandma & Grandpa Brinkerhoff came over and had pie and ice cream. The kids absolutely LOVE having them come over!! Troy had a good time visiting with my Dad and the kids of course eat the attention they receive from Grandma!! We had pie and ice cream and then just sat and visited!! Grandma sat and read to Tyler, Brandon, and Kara--they would have sat their FOREVER!! Grandma also sat and snuggled Brooke--then we put her in her bouncy chair and she slept. Emily of course played with Grandpa--she LOVES any extra attention--especially from Grandma & Grandpa!!

LIFE IS GOOD!!! We truly are VERY BLESSED!!!


Grandpa Brinkerhoff & Emily


Grandma Brinkerhoff, Tyler, Kara, & Brandon sitting on the kitchen floor reading "The Three Pigs."


Brooke~cozy & comfy!! I love how her mouth is open!

FUN times!!!

Every sixth weekend Troy is on call for his job. This past weekend was one of those lucky weekends. We usually do not plan much for these particular weekends, because we never know when he will get paged out and have to go to work. He worked late Friday night, so the kids and I just had our own little movie night, which they absolutely LOVE. Saturday morning, we just hung out here at home and just relaxed. Troy has been working late in the evenings, so the kids really enjoyed being able to see and play with him. It was nice to just hang out and not do anything. We ate lunch and then the girls took a nap and the boys just watched a movie. Troy then got paged out at 3:00--UGH!!! Last minute, we decided to all ride over with him. His call was over in Nampa and it didn't take him long to fix the problem (it was only about 10 minutes)--the kids and I just sat in the car. We then all went over to Costco and wandered around in there and of course bought a few things. Then we took the kids to McDonalds and ate dinner. (I am sorry to say I didn't have my camera, so I have no pictures to post--BUMMER!!) This was our first that we have taken the kids to McDonalds and actually sat down and ate. We usually do Wendy's or Little Caesars Pizza and take it to a park and eat and let the kids play. It stresses Troy out to take all the kids to a sit down place and eat--he is FUNNY!! (We can't be the only ones with loud/crazy kids!) The kids actually did VERY WELL!! It was 6:00 by now and we were just kinda trying to kill more time, not wanting to go home too early in case Troy got called out again. We then went to Cold Stone and grabbed a treat. It was fun to just spend time ALL together as a family. It is a little hectic at times, dragging the kids in and out of the car and trying to go out and about with them--but it was fun and I know they had a great time--it was well worth the 'work out.' Thanks Troy for inviting us along with you!! We really had fun!! WE LOVE YOU--thanks for being soooo GREAT!!

Eternal Families

Last Saturday our Primary had a little get together to allow each of the primary children to meet their new teachers. Our kids were not feeling well so we missed out on it. At the activity, they had the children draw pictures of their 'Eternal Families.' Tyler and Brandon sat down and did their drawings today. Tyler did his on his own and Brandon had a little help, but for the most part, he did it on his own as well. My boys are growing up!! Here are their precious pictures!! I do have some pretty good boys. They teach me a lot everyday and I LOVE THEM VERY MUCH!!


Tyler's Picture


Tyler~5 1/2 years old


Brandon's Picture


Brandon~4 1/2 years old

Warm & Rainy Night Leaves us With...........

The minute the kids woke up this morning they went straight to the window to check on their snowmen and this is what they saw..........


...in the rain he melted, melted!


...remnants of Frosty's Face!


Little Frosty getting smaller every second!!


Poor little Frosty's face!!


When Troy got home from work last night we were building our snowmen, so he began building one and here is what is left! Tyler and Kara were impressed with the size!


Brandon was the smart one, he stayed at the front door!! It was cold!!


Bare Feet + Cold, Rainy Weather = BRRRRRRRRRRR!!!

Once there was a SNOWMAN....

Yes, I finally got out there in the snow and helped the kids build their snowman!! When Tyler got off the bus today, we went out and he built one of his own and then he helped me!! Brandon and Kara just played. It rained off and on today, so the snow was pretty wet and heavy!! It was 45 degrees when we were out there building it, so actually it wasn't super cold!! VERY NICE!! We really need to invest in some things to decorate a snowman with--we were pretty lame--we used suckers and then of course the boys' hats, gloves, and scarves--but it worked and the kids are THRILLED!!


Cute kids with Cute Snowman!!


I think Kara was cold!!


Ya just gotta LOVE them!!


Tyler did this one ALL by HIMSELF!!


Packin the snow down!!


Kara helping out!!


Cute Brandon!!


Tyler workin away!!


Complete with arms!! Kids are THRILLED!!!


Good ole FROSTY!!


Tyler's Proud of his Masterpiece!!


Brandon, Tyler, Little Frosty, and Kara