Happy Birthday Brooklyn!

This girl is so dear to my heart! I love her so much!

It was an early morning...

Until she realized she had whip cream.

We had a pretty low key day, but gave her exactly what she wanted. She dictated that she wanted pizza, an ice cream cake and the Sweetwoods. Genevieve and Sadie

Caroline

Boston's cheeser smile

Brooklyn's genuine excitement

Holly and Ryan

Maggie, Brooklyn, and Genevieve

Presents!

Brooklyn's face in this picture is everything! She is so full of life and love. My heart just may burst!

At age 3 Brooklyn: • Has trouble annunciating her “L”s and “R”s • Knows her ABC song, can count to 20 and identify numbers 0-9, knows all colors and some shapes • Loves to color and paint – she will do this easily an hour a day • Loves to read books • Works the TV remotes better than Boston • Loves to sing • Loves Elsa and Anna from Frozen • Loves dress up • EVERY time we get in the car, she asks if we are going to Genevieve’s house • Is VERY opinionated about what music is on in the car • Her favorite color is still blue, favorite animal is horse • Every time we play “I Spy” in the car, she begins with: “My favorite color…” instead of saying, “I spy with my little eye” • Regularly asks, “ When I’m five can I go to kindergarten? And when can I drive?” • Loves to work with Daddy in the garage She is also quite mischievous. She colors on the walls, dumped a whole cup of chocolate milk on our only computer rendering several keys useless, and so many other crafty misdoings. But I wouldn't trade her for the world.

High Jinks in January

For New Year's Eve we went to the Sweetwood's house for some food, games, and a sleepover! We had a blast with these crazy kids! Erin, Ryan, Holly, Ryan, Drew, and Michelle

Londyn, Genevieve and Sadie reading scriptures before bed. :)

Since Boston's diagnosis of Sensory Processing Dysfunction, we've made some changes to get him emotionally ready for kindergarten. Boston needs more sleep in order to cope better, but napping isn't conducive to an all day kindergarten schedule. We decided that Boston would get more nighttime sleep with Brooklyn as a roommate instead of Sadie. They are in bunk beds and we only had a toddler bed for Brooklyn. Ryan flew into action and whipped up this bed frame for $40.

I was impressed he came up with the plans himself and it even had a headboard.

Sadie loves her new bed and Boston gets an average of 45 min to an hour more sleep per night. Win win.

The kids skyping with Grandpa and Grandma Alkema

This girl gets away with so much! She has me wrapped around her little finger!

Visiting the Cardon family is always a blast! Hannah, Sadie, Eliza, Brooklyn, Christopher, Boston, and Jane

Raeanna, Paul, and Ryan

Haha! Paul!

Raeanna and Erin

Ryan turned 34 in January. Can I tell you that this man is AMAZING??

He ended up having 2 birthday cakes. One from the Cardons and then another one from the Kelleys. He sure is loved! Ray and Ryan

We had a random mid-week/mid-day date to finally go see the Star Wars Movie for some birthday fun.

Brooklyn insisted on dressing as a super hero fairy who loves her monkey.

Boston has a difficult time managing his emotions when there is a lot of noise. His auditory processing is very sensitive. (for example: Sadie figured out years ago that it "hurts" Boston more to scream at him than to yell at him) The occupational therapist put him on a desensitization program to decrease his sensitivity. Twice a day for 10 weeks he would wear these headphones with music programmed to desensitize him. This will help him with the normal noise/chaos of a kindergarten classroom.

We were soooooooooo excited that Aunt Ashley moved here to be closer to us!

Sadie wants to be an artist when she grows up.

I just love this freehand drawing!

She requested a picture before church one day.

This girl loves to feel fancy.

That wraps up January besides Brooklyn's 3rd birthday, but that will be another post. So long folks!

The flurry of December 2015

We traveled to Utah for a wedding, a funeral, and Christmas. It was a crazy month, but we were really glad to spend time with family. The kids were ridiculously excited to see snow! Several times a day the kids would get all their snow gear on and trek out into the cold. Each time they would only last about 20 minutes and would come in shivering. It was pretty cute.

I think my family is so funny.

I crack up every time I watch this next video. Brooklyn gets stuck, almost waist deep in the snow. Her reaction is pure terror. Haha!

My beautiful Grandma Donna Nielson passed away days before Christmas. We were looking forward to seeing her on our trip, but she went to be with Grandpa.

It was a beautiful celebration of her life. She will be missed!

With the funeral came lots of extended family. Aunt Chris, Uncle Glenn (Daphne is the baby) and Aunt Diane.

I finally got to meet my newest niece, Daphne.

We had a fun night chatting with Uncle Bryant, Aunt Diane, Uncle Glenn and Aunt Chris

Two days later we had a wedding on the Alkema side of the family. Brooklyn sure missed her Papa Rich

Mom! Take a picture of my rose!

I love this picture of the Groom and Mother!

We are so happy to have a new sister-in-law! Congratulations to Nate and Shelley!

It was also our first time to the Payson, Utah Temple. It was gorgeous!

Papa Dave snuggling with Brooklyn

We got to see our dear friends, Camille and Briant Brown while we were in Utah. We had keep up the tradition of playing games late into the night. We were driving out of their neighborhood when I made Ryan turn around because we forgot to take a picture.

This was indeed a special Christmas because ALL of my siblings came for Christmas! This hasn't happened in years. My brother, Dustin and his family drove in from Oregon. Here we are making gingerbread houses. Sam, Boston, Henry, Broolyn, Sadie, Leslie, and Payton

These pictures were too funny to omit. Sam, Boston, Charlie, and Henry are the only ones looking.

We also went up to Woods Cross to see our friends, the Pages. We just love them!

I'm so glad that Ryan has kept in touch with Marilynn all these years!

My Daddy whipping up some fancy breakfast

Building a snowman...

The snowman later gained a mohawk after some consecutive days of snow. Apparently he didn't melt until late February.

Uncle Bryson and Boston at Costco

I found the kids all coloring quietly by the Christmas tree.

I found them sitting like this at the piano. It was SO. DANG. CUTE! Sadie, Jessica, and Brooklyn

The girls went out for pedicures. Leslie, Lauren, and Katie are pictured, but we didn't get a shot of my mom and me

For years, every time we have a new addition to our family, my mom and I make a stocking. She generously waited for me to arrive so we could make this one together.

Boston was loving on Daphne.

We all took turns with that cutie!

Papa Dave reading to Charlie

Some Christmas morning fun

Holy Cannoli! That was one packed trip! We had so many fun nights playing games and chatting. I loved spending every minute with family and friends!