Growing Up!!

Its crazy to see how quickly this little girl is growing up. Its been fun to watch her learn new things. Seems like everyday she learns a new word. Today's word was broccoli. She makes us laugh each day, except when we are trying to feed her. She is such a little stinker when it comes to eating. Her diet basically consists of eggs, Eggo waffles, oatmeal, and milk (and of course anything with sugar). We basically feed her breakfast for every meal. Here are some recent pictures of her.

Kelsie's new hiding spot

The Month of Love

Ah amore. I've always really liked Valentine's Day. It's such a simple holiday. I mean it is just fun to do something silly and romantic for your significant other.  If you are looking for something different to do go check out this link from the Dating Divas. I did it for Chad last year. Seriously, it was SO cheesy but we really had a good time. I didn't go as crazy as the author of the post but we did do the "love hunt".  I promise it's not as scandalous as it sounds unless of course you want it to be. 

Bown chicka bown bown.

This craft took me 2 years to do. Yes. 2 years. The person who had the kit at there house got sick of me and dropped it off :)

I saw this on The Idea Room. These little balls took me forever. And when I say forever I mean it. They are super easy to do but they are so tedious. I think all together each took 2 hours. The craft supplies were out on our kitchen table for about a week. Chad was in heaven:)

      I also saw this on the Idea Room but I tweaked it a little.

And one of Kels just for kicks. She was sitting in this drawer a couple of weeks ago so I said 'Wait! Stay right there! Let me take a picture before your Dad sees!' She was standing up while I got the camera and I hurried and got her out before she decided to bust it!

Shoe Crazy!!

Kelsie has been going a little crazy with shoes lately.  It is so funny how much she loves to try on Beth's shoes.  I was home watching Kelsie tonight while Beth was at work, and all the sudden she disappears from the family room and is not making a peep.  I find her in our closet and she is trying to walk with Beth's shoes on.  I took a couple of pictures and left her in there playing. Not before too long she brings out a high heel and is walking around the family room in it.  How is it that a 13-month old girl can already be so interested in shoes?  Now I know why Beth salivates everytime we walk by the shoe section in Nordstroms.  It starts when they are only 1-year old.

Our First Goose Egg

This makes ya feel pretty awesome as a parent when stuff like this happens.

She tripped and hit the door frame. We think. It was last night with the tears to prove it.

Must up date...must up date....Brown Christmas Party 2010!

This year's Christmas Party was held at our home for the first and last time. Haha. Kidding. Kind of. There was food, fun, pajamas, half eaten chocolate, and four little girls playing up a storm next to the toy bin. I wish I would have gotten a pic with all four of them together. Kelsie was handing out toys to everyone. It's was pretty funny. In about 6 months, I'm sure she'll be the one taking all the toys from everyone.

 "Hey Dad. Just playin' with my cous' and the dollar store beads I adore."

 Mmmmm....fooood!

 "I'm a model. You know what I mean and I do my little turn on the catwalk......"

 Brown? Goofy face? First in line for food? Yep. We're related.

Apparently people think our house is so clean you can eat off the floor. Well, I know for sure Kelsie thinks that. Haha. 

Can we say obsessed with playing games on the phone? Uhmm maybe.

Each Life That Touches Ours for Good

Sometimes it's as close as yesterday and others it feels like a million years back. 4 years ago today we lost "the party" in my family.

Pictures say a thousand words and this one pretty much sums my Dad up well.

Goofy face on, dinking on the computer, with a post it note by his side.

Goofy, because, well, he was a big goof. Someone to make you laugh as you came in the house and greet you with a hug and smile. Dinking, because he always had something to do on the computer. Whether it was our genealogy or trying to upgrade it. And the post it note was his form of organization. I can't tell you the fun they had at his work when they tried to figure out his filing system after he died. Yikes. His last big joke.

The Holiday's make me reminisce more and more each year that passes. On days that it's harder than most, it doesn't always work to tell myself that he is at peace from the worries of the world. You just have to cry it out. I try to remember things about him like his laugh and his mannerisms but it gets harder and harder. There are many times that I'm reminded of something he would do or say and I'm not as afraid to talk about him without tearing up. 

I miss having him around. I think I took it for granted a lot and regret so many silly things that relate to him. That song that talks about having just one more day is right. It would not be enough for me to have just one more day with him. I would wish for many more. So I'm pretty excited that I have the chance to spend eternity with him.

Our Number One's Number One!

         I still can't believe Kelsie is a toddler! It blows my mind that just a year ago I was holding a little baby in my arms. Well maybe not little in newborn baby terms but much smaller than she is now. As I was pondering every hour the night before her birthday and the day of, it made me a little teary eyed. I updated Chad constantly about what had been going on at 'this hour' or 'that hour' a year ago. It reminded me why I'm not having a baby for at least another year if not longer. Ha.
         The day started off with a bath. One of Kelsie's favorite things to do. She crawls in and out of the bathroom as I get the water ready.

       Then she did her usual rounds of the house. She kept chasing Chad around asking "When is the party going to start? When is the party going to start?"

       After her 2nd nap of the day, I caught her lounging on the couch with her Dad and a sippy cup full of milk watching a cartoon. Another one of her favorite things to do. And Chad's for that matter because he gets to cuddle with his baby toddler!

Some of the decor. It was a red themed party.

I made red velvet cupcakes with vanilla buttercream icing.

Kelsie opening her presents. She got a new book and a leap frog drum.

   Cousin Mary telling Kelsie how her drum is freaking awesome!

Getting ready to blow out her candles!

          Not exactly sure what to do with this big cupcake in front of her!

                                           Ohhhh. I think I ate too much!

Mmmmm? Maybe not!

And so her day ends with a bath!

          We have had just more and more fun with this little girl.  She likes to make this evil fake laugh now that I can't get enough of. It cracks me up. She also sucks in air and makes a funny noise and sniffs her nose to sound like a bunny. Sometimes she'll roar like a lion. She tries so say "I love you" and "Thank you" but pretty much just does the syllables with jibberish. She says baby, mama, dadda, bye bye and hi dad.  She pulls her self up on everything and walks around. She takes a couple of steps to us and will stand on her own for a few seconds. If I ask her to bring me something that she's holding she'll come over and hand it to me. 

          Kelsie is just so amazing. I love to see her grow and learn. We thank our Heavenly Father every night for sending her to us. She is such a blessing and I'm glad I get to know her and love her.