Blucies

Last week Brooke and I seemed to have something everyday. It was a beautiful week, not hot ... GLORIOUS! So we went to the park a few times to enjoy the beautiful weather. We even had some of the moms and kids from our ward come with us on Friday morning. And we got to go on a long walk one morning for my workout, which was so nice. I was really reveling in the cooler weather. It felt so good!

We only went swimming once, on Tuesday afternoon. We invited the Garrisons to come with us, which is always fun. Brooke is a little social one. I think she really enjoys being with people and needs to see people ... other than me. So I try to plan a few things a week with other people that she can enjoy.

She, of course, went to the Faucette's house on Tuesday afternoon while I taught Kelsey piano lessons. Kelsey is really coming along! I have never had the experience of teaching a new, new, new student. Most of the students I had before Brooke was born had some kind of musical or piano training, and I was just picking up. So, it's been kind of a challenge teaching a young child from the very beginning. But, I must say, it's been a fun challenge, and she's picking it up quicker than I thought she would. Not that she's not a smart kid or anything. I just think that musical concepts are difficult to understand for young kids. Anyway, we've been working on rhythm and counting out measures, which is really hard to understand. We listen to popular songs and find the rhythm, and clap it and count it, and then talk about how it relates to the music she has been playing. We have fun!

I think Brooke is quickly moving into toddlerhood. She's been screaming for attention more and throwing a few more tantrums than is usual. Plus, she has started throwing little tantrums at church in Sacrament meeting. People have begun to notice. :)

I can't remember the other things we did last week. We were busy with at least one thing everyday. It was a really good week!

Over the weekend, we didn't have plans. So, after nap on Saturday, we all went shopping to start looking at and getting things to do up Brooke's room. It's been a bit of a challenge for me, because I ask for Daniel's opinion about things, and he usually has an opinion to give, but then he'll turn around and say he doesn't really care and this is my thing. It's just a little frustrating to me, because I have a plan in my head and I do care, but I do some things to make him happy, and he doesn't seem to be happy about it either way. I think I might just follow my plan from here on out.

Yesterday was a busy one for Brooke and me. We dropped Daniel off at work so that we could do a little grocery shopping. We got almost everything we needed, but then had to run all over town to find swim diapers! Wal-mart was out, CVS Pharmacy didn't have them, and finally we found a small package at VONS. We got home, put groceries away, had some lunch and Brooke went down for her nap. And I got working on my to-do list. And I also started the dinner process.

After nap, we went to the pool. We had invited the Leishmans to come swim with us. We were there with them for about an hour and a half, and had lots of fun. But we rushed home when they left to finish making dinner. We had to skip showers to finish, because the Butler's from our ward were coming for dinner at 6pm. We probably could've showered, they were a little bit late. I made mock cafe rio salads, and they were delicious!

It was really fun to get to know the Butler's better. They are an older couple in our ward, whose kids are all married with kids, not living in the ward. Anyway, they've kind of taken to us for some reason totally unknown to me (ahem ... Brooke), and they've been so nice to us. We sit with them or very near them during Sacrament meeting often.

I got fresh blueberries at Sprouts yesterday when we went out shopping. They are FINALLY cheap! Last summer, Brooke couldn't get enough blueberries (and neither could I) when the price on them dropped and I could actually buy some. We bought box after box. And I've been waiting all summer for prices to drop so we could go Blueberry crazy, and they finally have! Hooray! But this summer, Brooke is talking a WHOLE lot more, and she says the word "blueberry" "blucies". It's so cute! I can't get over it.

Lately, I've been working on emergency preparedness research and putting together some stuff for us. I went through our 72 Hour Kits (and did some research on 72 hour kits), and found ours to be quite lacking. So, it's one of my later projects. Along with trying to put Brooke's new bedroom together.

On Friday, Daniel and I went to the temple to do a session. I was getting ready, putting on my boots (so Brooke put on her boots) and putting on my belt (so Brooke put on her belt). It was pretty cute.

Picture of the day for Daniel yesterday: she found his fig newton stash.

Watching Brooke play is sometimes very entertaining.

Brooke, in her cute little swimsuit.

Little buddies: Brooke and Lucy.

The Ghetty

Daniel and I had a fun date last night. We decided that we needed to do something from our to-do list. I came up with a big list of things that we can do after busy season. After busy season, we feel like we've been stuck apart and inside so much that we really want to get out and do some fun things. We had planned to go to the beach yesterday, but that didn't happen.

In the morning, Daniel went for a run, and Brookie and I went to some yard sales. There were a whole bunch happening yesterday in just the next neighborhood over. I'm not very good at yard sales, I think, because I never seem to find something we need or would use. But yesterday, someone was selling a little easel chalk/white board for kids, and so we bought that for $8. Brooke thinks it's pretty cool, so far. She likes drawing with the chalk.

We spent the rest of the day doing chores around the house and playing with Brooke. I did a little spin workout and read my scriptures while Brooke was napping, and then after she woke up and I had gotten ready, Daniel went to get a haircut.

We had Jamie Sirius come babysit Brooke in the early evening. Daniel and I drove out to LA, to go to the Ghetty Museum, stopping once along the way to get a little dinner at Chipotle. Their veggie bowls are DELISH! Anyway, Saturdays at the Ghetty are pretty busy after 5pm. Parking is cheaper than usual and they normally have a band or some kind of party going on Saturday nights. We just wanted to go explore the place and see the art exhibits and such. We weren't really interested in the party; in fact, Daniel commented to me that he could do without the loud music. :) It was fun to see the art, though, and to walk around the gardens. It's really a beautiful place, and it's on a hill overlooking the city, so it has a great view. We've been there twice, and we've only seen half of what there is to see. It looks like we'll have to go back a few more times. :) It would be fun to take Brooke for a picnic there. A lot of families were there sitting on blankets out on the lawn near the gardens. I thought Brooke would really enjoy being around so many people and all that was going on there.

Beautiful view of the city. It was so clear last night!

We really like each other. And we don't go on very many dates, so it was fun to get out and be together.

Week in Review

On Tuesday, Brooke and I had our shopping day. We did our grocery shopping. After Brooke's nap, we hung out at home for a little while (I thought I was teaching piano lessons; but the Faucette's are out of town this week), and then we went to wash our quilts at a laundromat and picked up Daniel. I did yoga for my workout, to loosen up from the drive and stretch out. Since the drive, my sciatic has been bothering me again.

Wednesday we hung out at home. In the afternoon we had Siv and Thor come over to swim with us. I had a meeting that evening.

Thursday was kind of a crazy day. I woke up in a pretty awful mood, not sure why. I felt bad for Brooke all day. I was pretty short with her and had a hard time dealing with her little tantrums. Brooke and I took the car, and ran some errands in the morning. During her nap, I worked on projects, like usual. And after her nap, I drove her over to Stacy Hansen's house. She's my visiting teacher, and she has been insisting in taking Brooke for an afternoon to give me a little break. Which was probably good, because I was just not in the mood to deal with ... the baby. At the end of the afternoon, Lynn Lamb and I went to visit a new sister in the ward, and then went to pick Brooke up. It was a late night for her; by the time we picked Daniel up from work and got her fed, it was after 7pm.

I worked out/just did yoga, because I was super out of energy. And then I ate. And then Daniel and I went to bed.

My life is so boring sometimes.

Today Brooke and I are hanging out at home. I woke up early to workout and get ready. Brooke slept in way late. Daniel was already gone by the time Brooke woke up. We cleaned up a little bit, read some books, played with toys, had a late breakfast, went for a little walk around the neighborhood, watched the garbage trucks and had a snack before nap.

This afternoon, we'll have to make some good food. The missionaries are coming for dinner.

Picture of the Day: Peanut butter all over that cute face!

Happy 4th of July!

We went to visit Michael and Michelle and their boys this last weekend. We left early-ish on Friday morning (the 4th) to drive up to Orinda, in the Bay area. Brooke was pretty good, although I don't think she handled the long drive as well as she has done in the past. We stopped a few times on the way up, and she slept for about 45 minutes. She had fun looking at all the trucks passing by, and Daniel and I were eager to keep her entertained with them. When she wasn't entertained by things outside, she usually had a bit of a melt-down.

That afternoon, once we arrived at their house, we went to a little BBQ/swim party at one of their friend's house. Brooke and Daniel went swimming; I was feeling a little bit ... not in the mood to swim. I just hung out with Michelle and her friends. It was a pretty awesome pool those people had, though. It was long and just rectangular (instead of those pools with crazy shapes that are sometimes annoying), it had a diving board and this really fun slide. I think I want a pool just like it someday. :)

We all went home, and put the 2 little kids to bed (Brooke and Brixton; Brooke didn't have the easiest time falling to sleep that night. We went in to her after she had been really crying for a half hour. I think it was unfamiliar, and the surroundings were not what she was used to. We let her sleep with one of the boys' stuffed animals that she liked, and I think that really helped), and then Michael and Daniel took Damon to see a fireworks show. Michelle and I were content to stay home with the little kids and just hang out and relax. I was feeling a bit tired.

On Saturday, after Brooke's nap, we had a fun afternoon outing. Damon, Daniel and Michael went golfing. Daniel had never golfed before, so Michael taught him a bit, and they did a little bit of practice at the driving range before starting the course. Michelle, Brooke, Brixton and I watched them hit balls at the driving range (I think Brixton really wanted to be out golfing with his dad), and then we left to do our own thing.

In Orinda, this particular golf course was part of a big kind of park. It was up in the hills, and there were a bunch of fun things to do up there in the same area: a botanical garden, a petting zoo, a lake, a merry-go-round, and a live steam engine, along with the golf course. It was so cool, because there were all these fun things up in the same place, all next to each other. Michelle, Brixton, Brooke and I went to take a ride on the steamer. Brooke had a love/hate relationship with it. She loved to see it and watch it move, but she hated the loud tooting sound it made. The first time it came around and tooted when we got there, she was really scared and screamed. But she had fun riding it, and by the time we left she was more or less used to the noises.

We also went to the merry-go-round. Brooke and I had two goes on the merry-go-round. She really loved it. She rode both times on the deer; it was stationary, but the merry-go-round was really fast (probably faster than any other I've been on), so she didn't really need to be on an up-and-down one.

After that, we went to Chipotle for dinner, and then we went home to eat and put the little kids to bed. They were pretty tired, especially Brixton; it was a pretty busy, fun day. Michelle and I just hung out and watched Downton Abbey together while we waited for the boys to get back. They were pretty late getting home. They did 18 holes, so it took forever. I think they all had fun, though. Even Daniel, the cute newbie. :) He said he was sore the next day, though.

We went to church with them on Sunday. Brooke didn't handle nursery at all. New place, new people. I wasn't surprised, just kind of sad for her. Daniel and I had her in turns for the rest of church. After church, we fed Brooke and put her down for a nap. Michael, Michelle and Brixton went to look at a few houses, while Daniel, Damon and I stayed home. The boys played a game for a while, I read scriptures, and then we all fell asleep.

When Brooke woke up (and the rest of us), and Michael and Michelle got back, Brooke, Daniel and I went to visit my friend Madi in Walnut Creek. We had a nice visit. It was so wonderful to see her. I haven't seen her in over 3 years. And I don't talk to her much. She will often facebook me asking what's going on, but when I respond with questions of my own about what's going with her, she doesn't answer. Which means I never know what is happening with her. So going to visit was really great.

That night, after the littles went to bed, Michael, Damon, Daniel and I played a game of Settler's of Catan, in which Damon whooped the rest of us. He played a really awesome game, that little dude. :)

We had a nice visit with them. We drove back the next day, Monday. We left in the morning and drove out to Tracy. Daniel was meeting with one of his clients that is based there, and doing a little work. Brooke and I had a couple of hours to hang out and find some things to do. It was actually not easy. We went to a couple of parks and played for a while. But it was hot, even in the morning, and a bit humid. And I didn't have water. I was not feeling so well; very out of energy and a bit faint. So after about an hour and a half, we left the park and went to McDonald's. We got a couple of drinks, some water and some french fries to share, and just hung out. For, like, another hour at least. Daniel texted at one point saying that he was still working, so I got Brooke some chicken nuggets for lunch and let her eat while we kept waiting.

Anyway, at about 1:30pm, we finally headed out of Tracy to go home. We first stopped to get some food for Daniel and me, and also to get gas. Brooke was looking pretty tired when we rolled out of there, but it took her a while to fall asleep. And then she only napped for 45 minutes, her typical car nap.

It was a long drive home. Brooke was a bit restless. We stopped a few times, just to stretch out legs and let Brooke have a little break. And we got home around 6:30. Brooke had some dinner and went right to bed, Daniel and I unpacked, showered, ate dinner, and lazed around. ... well, I lazed around while Daniel took care of an ant problem we had. And then we went to bed. I was pretty tired and ready to sleep.

Lots and Lots of swimming. And Nutella.

We haven't had a whole lot going on this week. I've done some cleaning up (as usual), some working out (as usual), some food making (like always), and not much else.

Monday night we had a ward FHE activity. Daniel got home a little late, so we were late to the activity, but it was fun. We had some Chloe's Burgers for dinner (new recipe that I liked a lot), and Brooke played on the playground with the kids, and Daniel and I chatted with some of the adults there. We weren't there for long, because we had to get Brooke to bed.

We had the Garrison's to swim with us on Tuesday afternoon, which was fun. Lately, Brooke hasn't really wanted to be held when we are in the pool, which leaves her mostly playing on the stairs. It works out well, because I get tired of holding her. She's also taken to me barely holding her. I drape her arms over one of my arms, and she kicks her legs, and we swim around like that. It's kind of interesting, she gets tired of being at the pool sooner than I would expect her to. After being there for an hour, she's ready to go. Actually, we are in the pool for about 45 minutes, then she wants to go stick her legs in the hot tub for a while and then she wants to go. She's so funny!

Daniel had some missionary stuff to do on Tuesday night, and I didn't do much while he was gone. I think I worked out and then didn't feel good, so watched tv until he got home.

Yesterday, Brooke and I went swimming at the Faucette's house. They let Brooke use a little floaty ring that she had fun with. She floated around without any support from me, and she liked that.

Today we are just hanging out at home and cleaning up the house in preparation for our trip tomorrow. We are heading up to the Bay Area for the weekend to visit Michael and Michelle and their boys. We leave tomorrow morning. Let's hope the trip goes well.

I've been snacking too much lately on bananas, peanut butter and chocolate chips. Well, that is until I ran out of bananas. And then I ran out of chocolate chips. :) BUT ... I found a delicious new treat: Nutella (hazelnut and chocolate butter) spread around on a tortilla and rolled up. It really hits the spot when I need a little chocolatey snack! I think I'll go have one right now. :)