First day of Pre-School - Brooke

After having a fantastic year of joy school last year with another group of Moms, we all decided not to continue another year and to send each of our kids to preschool. We decided on a place called "Rainbow Station" and this was our topic of conversation all summer with Brookie. This girl loves, needs, and craves learning and structure so this was the perfect thing. We picked out her outfit the night before, made her lunch and were ready to go. When I dropped her off, there was no looking back for her so I got a good picture of how it would be next year dropping her off for Kindergarten. She has loved school so far and can't wait to go every Tuesday and Thursday. Hard to believe I have one more year until my baby starts school and our lives and schedules change forever!!

Brooke's FOURTH Birthday party

A birthday party fit for a true princess.

Months and months in the works we carefully crafted the best party we could with the know-how we had.

It had to be a big deal - birthday parties only happen every other year in this home!

Pure anticipation is all Brooke felt for months (while I felt nervous and hesitant at the task at hand) as we discussed in car rides, over dinner, in the shower how she wanted her party to be.

The main thing she asked for was RAPUNZEL, herself.

We told her it was impossible, that Rapunzel was quite the busy princess.

The dress she wore for the party was handmade by her Grandma Guerisoli. She was concerned about every detail but fell in love when it was finished.

We straightened her hair at her request because that was how Rapunzel wore her hair - simple and straight.

So the Guerisoli Grandparents showed up two days before for their annual summer visit.

And to work they were put, thank goodness they didn't mind.

I believe my Mother in law and I worked for 16 hours straight the day before and finished with braiding the braid that we displayed out front 1 hour before the party started.

But it was so worth it and so much fun.

My father in law thought everything we were doing was crazy but I told him, "I'm in my element!"

The looks on her face at each stage... and especially when Rapunzel waltzed through the door!

She sang for them, made lanterns, taught them a dance, did a coronation of the princesses, read a story, and presented them with a gift.

Brooke couldn't have been happier.

Isn't it the best to see your child have pure joy?

SUCCESS!

Happy Happy 4th Birthday, dear Brookie bear...

The 4 years that we have had you have been so so wonderful and I love being your mother!

Brooke and Brayden - May 2011

Alrighty... time to play catch up on the blog! Anybody still out there? This blog serves such a different purpose for me now than when I started it. It actually has become my journal and scrapbook. Plus, in the words of my friend, "Blogging is to 2007 as pinterest is to 2011." haha. So, if you're on pinterest, let me know!

A photographer in our ward was doing some mini-sessions at the end of the school year, so we took full advantage. Brayden was exactly 5 months here. I love how she captured all of the little features that I love in his face. He truly looks just as angelic as he is. And I can't believe how grown up my Brooke is. We just finished with her 4th birthday festivities, of which more posts will follow.

I'm just glad I have these pictures because it helps me feel like I am freezing time since they grow much too quickly.

Brooke Elen - 3.75 years

-sugar and spice, sassafrass all wrapped up in one little girl here!
-her speech has improved tremendously - we just have to master the 'f' sound
-constantly moving from one activity to the next and likes to keep me going with my responsibilities each day - a definite task master!
-so so helpful to her mama in almost anything I ask her to do, particularly loves to help me clean and cook... and quite good at it, too
-seeing a light at the end of the tunnel with the tantrums and meltdowns, we still have our days but things are getting better
-loves to make up games all on her own with random knick-knacks and toys, she is so clever
-eating like a teenage boy right now! she must be growing.. the other day I fed her a whole turkey sandwich, hummus with carrots, grapes, tortilla chips and an hour later she said she was hungry
-still loves pink (probably to an unhealthy degree), lipsticks and all things girl... one of her favorite things to do is try on lots of shoes in her size when we go to target
-she keeps me busy and on my toes and is my pride and joy
-and no one will believe me BUT.. I did not pose her in these pictures!

Family Date in the ER

Four weeks ago, on a warm Saturday night, we spent the evening in the ER. We were lounging around the house, I had just gotten home from shopping with a friend and was showing Brooke and Brent the news shoes I had bought. Brooke and I were in the bathroom and as we left to go out to the family room, Brooke turned and started running (because this girl does not walk anywhere) and ran smack dab into the corner of our dresser outside of our bathroom. She wasn't watching where she was going and her momentum was enough to hit in the center of her forehead and split her head open. She fell straight on her back and I watched the blood pour over her face, into her hair and down her clothes. It was really as dramatic as it sounds. She started screaming and crying and I knew she was in shock. I yelled for Brent and he later told me that he knew it was bad by the tone in my voice. He knelt down and gave her a blessing immediately and she was still and didn't make a sound. It took me a few seconds to THINK and then I realized - "duh! Get a towel to put on her head!" We gathered things as fast as we could and I drove to the ER. Brent sat in the back of the car with Brooke keeping her alert because she started to phase out a few times. We got right in and the first guy to look at it said it would definitely need stitches because of how deep it was rather than the skin glue. Brent still claimes he could see her skull. :) Brooke did amazingly well the entire time. They put her in a little straight jacket on the table and Brent held her legs while I watched from the other side of the room trying to hold myself together. What mother likes to see their child in pain let alone having to get stitches? They gave her stickers and plastic jewelry and you would have though that nothing had happened by what a great mood this girl was in! The prognosis: We will be putting mederma on the scar for the next year and a half and have to be extra careful of it the entire summer. We won't know for about 18 months what it will end up looking like but it is looking pretty good right now. It was a clean cut about an inch and a half. The week after it happened was a little rough trying to keep it clean and that's when Brooke really got upset. I found myself worrying so much about it and how it would look, thinking that I'd send her to kindergarten next fall with a Harry Potter scar. And of all places for something like this to happen to my little girl... right in the center of her forehead? Really? I wondered (and still am wondering) if we'd have to get bangs, but how will bangs ever work with her curly hair? HA. It was a valuable lesson for me to learn now. When you are a parent, things happen out of your control!!! We followed up with our pediatrician and he said if it wasn't looking like we wanted we would always have the option of meeting with a plastic surgeon in a couple years and there would be things they could do. Thank goodness, and hopefully we won't even have to go down that road. For now, we are constantly telling her to "watch her head" and watch where she's going because she can be a little klutz! Will post a more recent pic soon of what it looks like now...

Phone picture of Brookie and her 11 stitches - cute as ever

Halloween 2010

Having a tooth pulled (me) may have slowed us down a bit, but we still enjoyed a week of fun fall festivities.

Uhhhh... I'll be honest... I do NOT love Halloween.

EEK!

Seems that to be a good, crafty, involved Mom I need to do better, though.

Or maybe it is just my perception.

We did have an FHE where we painted pumpkins while having hot caramel apple cider with pumpkin cookies, enjoyed a trip to the pumpkin patch, and had a blast at a preschool Halloween party this month.

Brooke knew she wanted to be Sleeping Beauty (which she pronounces Sleeping 'Judy') months ago so there was no stopping her.

Okay!

Curling some hair and adding touches of pink eyeshadow and lipgloss to my girl... I can totally get excited about that!

I think we came out with quite a beauty.........

Our ward fall festival was great this year at our brand new Stake Center. The primary put on a great carnival, we had a chili dinner and trunk or treat in the parking lot followed.

Lincoln and Brooke at the carnival

Brooke and Dad (can't get over how much they look alike) waiting in line

Fish pond!

Best picture I could get of these two... Livvy tickling Brooke

And Brent getting a pic of Brookie truly being sleeping beauty was perfect!

Brooke Elen - THREE years old

LOOK at this big 3 year old Brookie!

Our girl turned 3 on July 23rd and this Momma had plans for a "Pinkalicious" birthday party. That didn't happen, but we had family in town to help us celebrate. For now, we'll be doing every-other-year-birthday-parties and she's already talking about it for next year.

She was pleased as punch with her new little swingset.


But, truth be told, all this girl really wanted were some pink cupcakes. Now that, I could do!

G & G Guerisoli in town for the blessed day.

While we sang Happy Birthday...

When asked where she wanted to go for her birthday dinner, of course the reply was, "pizza." So we took it up a notch and went to our favorite place, Grimaldi's.

I am in awe when I see this picture but this completely embodies who Brooke is as a three year old. Loves to match her clothes, shoes and accessories perfectly, and takes her purse and sunglasses everywhere we go. 3 going on 13?

Straight outta bed to open presents.... happy with her first barbie and pink car for barbie!

Even happier with pancakes for breakfast... yes we are sorely out of order on this post

A great highlight to the day... our best girl, Olivia comes to give her a present! Naturally, a dress that they both have and can match in at church.

Daddy let her stay up past 10:00 to watch a movie with the adults on the big day in which she also indulged in THREE cupcakes. I'd say she made out very well.

Things about Brooke at three years old:

-37.5 lbs and 38 inches

-Loves ALL THINGS PINK. Everything MUST be pink. Example: When I tell her what we're having for lunch that day, she asks if it can be pink... whatever it is.

-She has a strong personality with big emotions but always makes transitions very smooth. Easy to potty train, easy to transfer to a big-girl bed, etc. I am grateful for this.

-Gives a kiss and a "wud" (love, or a hug) multiple times a day, and is very affectionate. Always wants us to cuddle her before bed and in the morning and is very particular about being in between Brent and I.

-Can be heard every time she goes #2 on the potty saying, "hey you wanna come see the poop?" This is hilarious and is a result of us having celebrations earlier on when she was learning. She just can't give the party up.
-Loves shopping and especially loves trying things on in the dressing room. I suppose I started her a little young on this.

-Loves all things "girly" and I love this, too. We went and had our toenails done at the nail salon and it just felt so natural to do! Something I will continue to take her to do until she's too embarrassed to go with me.

-She's very particular about what clothes she wears and that they match well.

She loves having her hair done, and almost every day says to me when getting dressed, "I want to look so cute." Along with this, she loves packing her purse full of her sunglasses, fake phone and wallet, and her 6 princess lipglosses that she loves to apply all at once.

-She's been known to tell us to change because we don't match or she doesn't like our outfit.

-She also loves balls and does very well at playing basketball with her little hoop, kicking the soccerball, and throwing the frisbee. This summer, she became a natural at swimming. She can swim on her own for about 20 feet! Naturally, Brent is very proud of this.

-She is very concerned about equality among those she is with. If we don't all have the same thing on our dinner plates, or if only she and I get an ice cream cone, she's always concerned that Brent doesn't have one.

-She has a budding testimony of the Savior and loves to have Family Home Evening. She loves to talk about Jesus and Prophet Monson.

-Her speech and vocabulary has drastically improved from even six months ago. We are still working on the k and g sound as well as the f and sh sound.

-She's very tech-savvy and can navigate our iphones as well as get to Sesamestreet.com on the laptop on her own.

-Her favorite song is "circus" by Britney Spears, much to Brent's chagrin. She loves rockin' out to it.

-She is very shy around strangers and people she doesn't know.

-She can be a big big TEASE. Especially her bff, Olivia which makes me feel bad. She loves to test people to their limit just to get a reaction out of them. A trait she inherited from her father. :)

-She is an extremely good eater and especially loves her sugar, just like her Mama.

-Her nicknames are: Bub, Bubby, Boppy, Boppenheimer Schmidt (her personal favorite that Brent made up), Brookie-Nookie, Bop.

-Can recognize and name all of her Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles and cousins. Pretty good for not living close to any of them!

-She still loves playing in water and makes me crazy when doing it.

-Loves puzzles, Sleeping Beauty, the movie "Pollyanna", the book Pinkalicious and talks about her new baby brother that is on the way to everyone.

Did I mention that we're having a BOY? Hooray?

Love you so much, Brooke Elen.