Yes...were are still here!

OK...So we are alive and enjoying our summer.  We have been pretty busy and I have not had time to blog...sorry!  We have been through a lot these past few months and I honestly have not felt like blogging lately.  But....I promise to catch up.  Here are a bunch of photos of our fun so far this summer.  I'll add captions and videos later...I'm pooped. Time for bed.  I'll update you on all the fun soon! (I updated the captions below)

I have had so much fun swimming in Grandma and PaPa's pool this summer!

I am obsessed with jumping on trampolines.  I now can go over to my cousin Cassidy's trampoline to burn off some energy!

My Uncle Tyler loves to jump with me too!

Ok..so I didn't know Mommy snapped this picutre.  She keeps saying this is "wedding photo" material.  What does she mean? I was just peeing onto the chair after mom took my swim suit off.  I have been working on potty training.

A few times I have even gone through the day wearing big boy pants and no accidents.  However, then I like to hold my poop. "Poopy" is now my favorite word.

Last month I visited my Grandparents in St. Louis.  Here I am "cheesing" with Daddy, Grammy and PawPaw "V".  I had fun spraying them with a hose!

Drying off with Mommy after running through the sprinklers at Pops Blackmores home

I got to ride a train at the St. Louis City Museum.

Daddy and I walked acoss the pond

And climbed to the top of this thing that over looks
the city there too

I got to hang out with my friend Nicholas

He makes the best silly faces!

Why does Mommy insist of taking these pix of me?

I've been enjoying the splash parks with mommy, daddy and sometimes my school friends!

I got to watch my first Fourth of July Parade with my family.
(Cousin Cassidy, Cousin Oliver and Aunt Tara shown)

They pass out candy! How can that get any better?  My friend Davis was there too!

Happy Fourth of July...without any firecracker.  I was a little sad, but maybe next year!

Baby Oliver

Aunt Tammy and Cousin Oliver

Can I see?

What's he doing?

Uncle Brian and his new son.  Don't they look alike?

I'm going to have to get used to sharing my Gamma

Huh...this kido may be ok in a few years.  Right now
all he does is sleep.

peek-a-boo

-My little sister Tammy and Brian had their baby.....it's a BOY!  Oliver James was born on 4/21/12 via C-section.  He was 8 lb 5 oz and 21 inches long.  Both Mom and baby are doing great.  He has been such a good baby so far.  He likes to eat, sleep and poop....can life get any better?  ha.  He has dark brown hair, beautiful skin tone, and a sweet face.  He is adorable.  Everyone says he looks like his Daddy's side of the family.  Everytime I seen him, I can't believe how much that is true!  Brooks has been really good with him and has not gotten too jealous yet.  He does not seem to notice him too much....except when he breast feeds.  He was really confused about that at first.  I think he now gets it...but boy was that a funny conversation!  I think he will really appreciate how cool it is to have a boy cousin close in age as Oliver starts interacting more.  Congrats Tammy and Brian....we are so happy for you both!  

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Helping Daddy open his presents

Helping Daddy water our trees

"Pops" Blackmore came in for Daddy's birthday weekend and I would not let him go home!

-Josh's birthday was on 4/20 and his dad came in for the weekend.  It was jammed backed with fun, good food, presents, and the birth of my new nephew!  Yep....I have a new nephew and will post all about him on the next post!  Brooks enjoyed singing Happy Birthday all weekend long to Josh and helped open the presents.  He of course helped blow out the candles as well.  He was so good all weekend and I think that was Daddy's best gift of all!  Pops was sad to leave, but I think Brooks was even sadder.  He kept saying, "No home Pops".  He really enjoys his time with his Pops.  Brooks just has this infectious love and happiness.  He has this unbelievable talent for making you feel like the most important person in the world.

A little bit of everything...

Me and my buddy

Helping Daddy dig a hole

Planting 1 of our 2 tree seedlings

Patting the mud to make sure the tree is in there good!

Look at the mess I made!

One day this tree will be way bigger than me!

Eating some of Daddy's yummy ribs

I had so much fun on my play date.  We played on my swing set and
ate lunch at my house.  It was great!

-I've been a little bad with keeping up with posts lately...so here are a few weekends in one post.   Brooks recently had a fun play date at our house with some of my friends' kids.  They were all a little older, but he loved hanging out with them.  He was really well behaved and did a great job of sharing his toys. Can't wait to do it again!

-On another weekend when is was beautiful, Josh and Brooks planted 2 seedling trees.  Brooks LOVES "working" and doing things around the house.  He has a natural talent for these type of things.  I think he will be really handy around the house.  My grandfather "Mac" was a whiz at fixing things.  I think he gets it from Mac, my mom and of course his Daddy.  Josh also fixed his yummy ribs that weekend and Brooks was thoroughly enjoying himself!

Bunny Hop

Helping Mommy and Daddy dye Easter Eggs 

I had a blast hunting for Easter Eggs and loved my basket.

-We had a pretty laid back Easter Weekend.  My family was on their way home from Flordia, so it was just Josh, Brooks and I for Easter.  The Easter Bunny did a good job of hiding the eggs and Brooks really enjoyed finding them all. He has a good eye!  He also liked all the goodies the Bunny left for him.  Brooks enjoys arts and crafts, so dying the Easter eggs was a blast for him.  

Conner Prairie Playdate

I'm going to ride that Hot Air Balloon

behind me someday!

I'll settle for a fake horse for now

I learned about wagons and old houses at Conner Prairie

They even had a train table! I enjoyed playing with my friends.

And by myself...

-One of my good friends was in town with her kids from California during Spring Break. Since I did not go to Flordia this year.....I took a few days off to hang out with Brooks. We met my friend, Nikki, as well as Megan and her kids at Conner Prairie (an interactive colonial museum...I guess). It was a lot of fun! Brooks got to pet baby animals, walk through historical homes, explore bridges, and play with trains!

-Brooks and I also went to Sky Zone. It is the wearhouse full of trampolines that I blogged about earlier. Brooks has been asking to go there ever since. He had a blast! He jumped for 30 minutes straight!! I could hardly keep up with him. Despite not being in Flordia with the rest of my family....I enjoyed hanging out with my buddy.

Family Baby Shower #2

Hanging out with my Uncle Tyler

(us boys need to stick together)

Chilling with Daddy

Mommy and Grandma

Hanging out with Aunt Tammy's niece (Madeline)

on Uncle Brian's side of the family

Hey..what ya doing?

I don't think she's too sure about me yet.....

-My sister Tammy was given a family baby shower by her father and mother in law. It was so nice of them to include everyone. We had a great time hanging out and celebrating baby Hartley. The food was so yummy! Brooks enjoyed socializing with everyone and getting to know Madeline. He tends to be the life of the party in those situations.....wonder where he gets that from? (maybe his daddy?)

-Tammy is now officially overdue...poor thing! She was due 4/16 and will most likely be induced next week. Will Baby Hartley ever get here? I can't wait to find out if I have a new niece or nephew!!

(Thanks to my niece Cassidy for taking all the fun pictures!)

There's a First for Everything...

My first Lil' Kickers Soccer Class

Mommy put on my shinguards "no hurting" and soccer shoes

I couldn't wait to join the fun...check out the cool uniform I got!

Of course Mommy made sure I had #4...that was her number.

Meeting my new friends

We even got to play with a parachute!

-Brooks had his first soccer class last weekend. He was so excited to run around and kick the ball. He did pretty well and had so much fun. He looked so cute with his soccer uniform, shinguards, socks and shoes! He left right afterwards to drive to St. Louis with Daddy. This was the first time Josh has taken just Brooks out of town without me. I was a little sad and missing my boys. But, it was so good for them to spend that special time together. They drove in for Great Grandpa's Birthday....Happy Birthday! It was a nice birthday surprise for Grandpa. He also got to hang out with his Pops Blackmore and Great Aunt Marsha. He was a tired boy by the time he got home Sunday evening. I was glad to have them home ;) When he got home a found Brooks now has his first second year molar. Lots of firsts for little Brooksy this past weekend.

Great Grandpa, Daddy and me!

Acting silly with Aunt Marsha

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Brooks kicking ALL the balls.

(sorry about the poor video again)

Brooks kicking down cones

(I got a kick out out of the fact Brooks holds his

hand up to have the ball passed back to him. He did it several times

during the class. It's like he setting up a play. Too funny)

Shin guards

Grandma and Papa got me these indoor soccer shoes,

shin guards and socks. I could NOT wait to put them on.

Ready!

I woke early from my nap because I wanted to

put my shin guards back on....I love them!

Nice Shot!

-Grandma McCarroll stopped by before nap time with a surprise for Brooks. It was indoor soccer shoes, shin guards and socks! He loved them and wanted them on right away. It was like he has been wearing them all his life. He thought they were so cool. He refused to take off his shin guards before nap...so some compromising had to be done. He even woke early from his nap because he wanted them on...too funny! (but not for mommy). He enjoyed kicking the ball with them on. The reason for getting the "gear" is because we signed up Brooks for a toddler soccer class. It is for 2-3 year olds and is purely for FUN! So, don't start thinking we have gone crazy....nope...just want Brooks to have fun running around with kids his age. (of course doesn't bother me that soccer is the sport of choice!). There really are no other "organized" sports related activities for kids this young. Most start at 3-4 years of age. So...why not? It's in the genes :) It starts next Saturday....so more to come!

He also loves practicing his B-Ball skills (then watching himself)

in prep for some March Madness.

Sweet Side of Brooksy

It was quiet one morning while I was doing a few things

around the house. So I peeped into the living room....

and this was what I saw.

Close up shot of Brooksy hanging with his buddy, Brutus.

Just melts my heart :)

I also caught Brooksy doing his best at carrying a tune

to "twinkle twinkle". So precious...