All Aboard!!

Waiting for the State Fair Train

Wow...This is cool!

I loved watching the trees, cars and houses fly by

(If you listen closely...that is Brooks saying chooo-choooooo)

Just hanging out on the train.  I loved it!

Digging a hole to plant my seeds at the State Fair

Riding the tractor to the market

Watch out for Giant Pigs!!

My first Roller Coaster with Daddy.  I sat in the back 

and held my hands up in the air on the drops.  I loved it!

I liked the Truck Ride too!

I even rode a motorcycle...don't tell my Papa McCarroll!!

-Last weekend we took Brooks to the Indiana State Fair on the Fair Train.  It was so much fun.  Brooks had a blast!!  He LOVES trains and couldn't believe he was riding a "BIG" train.  What fun times!  He loved the State Fair too and cried when having to leave.  He got to ride on the rides, play a few games, eat yummy food, check out the animals, and go through the family interactive area.  We didn't even hit all the attractions.  What great memories.

-On a side note..I have not been as good with keeping up with my blog and I don't know if I mentioned that Brooks was diagnosed with asthma.  We were pretty sure he had it, but after visiting a pulmonologist, it was confirmed.  I feel bad for him..but it could be worse.  He just has to take inhaled steroids every night to help keep his lungs healthy.  We are hoping he will outgrow it. He also had an annual checkup with the allergist. He has outgrown his soy allergies, but not yet eggs.  The weird thing is that he has appeared to have outgrown a few of his tree nut allergies too.  The doctor was shocked about that one, as only 10% of kids outgrown them.  So...we are keeping our fingers crossed that each year it only gets better!

-Brooks is quite the character these days.  He says the FUNNIEST things and always keeps me on my toes.  He is challenging us with tantrums at times, but for the most part is such a good kid.  He has a mind of his own, but loves to learn from us.  He steals my heart with unexpected kisses and hugs.  He will randomly kiss me then say, "Mommy's heart happy?" or "Mommy happy now?".  It really is the sweetest thing. When I tell him..."I love you Brooksy", he responds with "Yeah Mom, I love you moon and back"  (his version of I love you to the moon and back).  He has a great memory and loves to help out around the house.  Brooks is still really interested in basketball and practices everyday.  Thanks to Papa McCarroll we hear, "Guard me" every evening or "Let's play basketball".  My dad has been playing with him and teaching him how to shoot, pass, dribble and guard.  It is so cute to see them together. I've seen a side of my Dad that I have never seen before.  It is so special to me.  We have been working on potty training...but UGH...we hit a wall.  I was so encouraged before with pee pee in the potty...but now he is refusing to go and needs bribes.  We still have never gotten any poop in the potty. Sometimes I wonder if it will ever happen.  I guess it will when he is ready.  Everyone tells me boys are harder to potty train (especially if they are the first born) and not to expect it until closer to 3 or later.  I guess time will tell.  School starts up again after Labor Day and he is so excited!  I can't believe summer is coming to a close for us.  It was a wonderful and active summer!

Videos

I have had a blast learning how to swim this summer with my Puddle Jumper.  I had fun hanging out with Cousin Cameron this summer!

I love going down big slides...I think Mommy was a little scared.

I got to hang out at Aunt Tara's soccer camp one day!

I love watching gymnastics on t.v. and had to try out some of my own Olympic moves

Love Bug

Young love

Helping Mommy babysit my Cousin Oliver

I was a little jealous of Oliver at first and wanted to be a baby too.

-Brooks has had a fun summer hanging out with his school friends during playdates.  When asked who his girlfriend is, he always says, "Georgia".  The photo above couldn't be staged and is just the cutest thing!  It is Georgia and him this summer at the Kids Concert Series.  It was one of the only times he actually was standing still and not running all over the park!

-We had the joy of watching my baby nephew, Oliver, or "Ober" as Brooks calls him.  Brooks was really jealous at first and would not share any of his toys.  He wanted all the attention.  He has gotten a little better at sharing and being nice to Baby Oliver.  It is an eye opening experience and a glimpse into what life might be like if we are able to have another baby ;)  There is something to say about spreading out the ages of your children!  Oliver is getting so big and so cute.  He is smiling and cooing all the time.  It is so fun to watch him grow up and I can't wait until Brooks and Oliver can run around chasing each other!

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!