Raptor Release & the Explorer Girls!!

3M sponsored a Raptor Release at the St. Croix Valley Nature Center... Daddy was golfing, so Mommy took us to check things out.  We got there just in time for the first release of 3 birds - then spent time exploring the park.  We checked out the landscaping, then moved on to the actual birds on dispaly from the University of Minnesota, before heading to the apple orchard.  At the orchard, we had a free hayride with Brandon and Blake, picked a few apples off the ground, enjoyed our free cookies... and just enjoyed the sunshine!  What a great fall day!

A big thank you to Mommy's co-worker, Cindy, her son, Andrew, and the Moss family for helping keep us in line!  There was so much to see and do - Mommy should have brought a stroller or something to keep track of us!

Carrots

 Each year, Daddy has tried to plant some fruits and vegetables in our terrace.  Some grow, some don't.  However, the carrots turned out pretty well this year.  With the early frost, it was time to go and pick a few carrots... we certainly learned a lot about pulling carrots - including how hard it can be to get them out of the ground! 

Who is going to inherit Daddy's knack for gardening and his green thumb, and who is going to turn out like Mommy (and her need for plants requiring little water, lots of sun -- or better yet -- fake!!)??



Pumpkins, pumpkins, we LOVE pumpkins!

Before Chelsea's shower, Papa Pizza and Grandma Banana made a detour to Papa Pizza's Pumpkin Patch.  They picked up a WHOLE truck full of pumpkins for delivery across the Twin Cities!  Of course, we were the lucky ones who got our choice first :-)  This was the first year Brooke could talk about the pumpkins while moving them around - and also help move the "big" pumpkins...  Her preference is still for "little" pumpkins, but she will try her best to keep up with her big sisters!

You might remember we have had our names "in" the pumpkins in the past...  Since Grandma and Papa aren't on the farm any more, they did not get our names carved in the pumpkins this year - but we still LOVE pumpkins!  And, our friends still compliment our "pumpkin patch" all the time!

(Daddy is working on his own patch for us - but this year didn't go so well... the birds ate the seeds, and the bees refused to help pollenate!  We have two sprouting - as it's starting to freeze outside.  Maybe next year?!?!?)

1st Day of Preschool

Today, we got to go to preschool ALL BY OURSELVES!!

Mommy and Daddy both dropped us off, and Ms. Tracy and Brooke came along to check things out.

We were so excited to be going...  we could not WAIT to get in the room!

Mommy picked us up after the first day... Did you know "Boomer" is the SuperStar of the Week?  Did you know we get to sing a "train" song to learn everyone's names?  Did you know I saved some of my strawberries to feed to the worms in the "compost" bin?  Did you know....!!

1st Day of Preschool - with Mom & Dad

It finally arrived!  Our FIRST day of preschool!!  We were so excited to go to Little Angels, we couldn't sleep very long.  Our class is the "Blue Stars", so Mommy helped us make blue pancakes for breakfast.  We didn't eat much - we were too excited to eat!

After breakfast, we got dressed in our new school dresses from Aunt Renee and Uncle David.  We got to use our new backpacks from Mom and Dad...  Brooke couldn't be left out, so she put on her new Cubbies' dress from Chuckie - and her new backpack from Grandma Candy and Papa Lollipapa.

Cy didn't want to be left out - he gave us "good-bye" and "good luck" kisses (kind of like the kisses he gave us the first time he met us 4 1/2 years ago!).

We dropped Brooke off at Tracy's, then it was time for us to head to school.  We were a little shy walking in - and Mommy shed more than a few tears that day.  We found our blue stars with our names on, then sat down for circle time.  (Mommy and Daddy sat behind us.)

After circle time, we explored the room with our passports to learn more about our preschool.  We also made napkins with our hands on them.  We both had Mommy and Daddy's hands, our hand, and our twin sister's hand.  Daddy drew Brooke and Cy's hands on Neela's, and Mommy drew them on Kylie's.  We wrote our names on them, and added other fun artwork.  We get to reuse these every day at lunch time to help keep the Earth clean!  (And, they got "kisses" stamped in them - just like "The Kissing Hand"!)

After preschool - and a few tears from Kylie about going by herself, and a few MORE tears from Mommy because her big girls are growing up - we had a special lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings!  We cannot WAIT for our first day on our own!!

Brooke turns 2!!!

Dear Little Bear.... Brooker Bear.... Brooke Elizabeth!

Today, you are 2!!  Where has the time gone??  It seems like only yesterday, we were telling your grandparents we had a present for them at Kylie & Neela's 2nd birthday party -- YOU!

You have done nothing but bring smiles into our lives - and we treasure every day with you!  You are growing so fast - and are so smart - we cannot imagine what life would have been like without our 3rd little girl. 

September 7, 2009: Welcome Brooke!

September 2010: Turning 1!  A busy little lady bug!

September 2011: Flip-flopping our way to 2!

You never cease to amaze us with all you know and say!  You remembered to tell Ms. Tracy about our Cubbies' dress.  You convince Mommy to rock you every night with "1 rock, 1 song".  You are trying to sweet talk us into the "big bed" in your room...  You love "sit down showers", and asked for "ice cream" and "chocolate" for your birthday dinner!

Happy 2nd birthday, Baby Bear!  We love you!
Mommy, Daddy, Kylie, Neela & Cy

(and your million other adoring fans!!)

Brooke's Flip-Flopping 2nd Birthday Party!

Brooke's 2nd birthday was all about flip-flops and sunglasses -- two of her favorite things!  We had sunglasses for every child, and lots of flip-flops came through our door!

Daddy decided to turn Brooke's favorite food into something grown-ups would enjoy, too -- a hot dog bar, with zillions of toppings!  Brooke, her sisters and the other younger guests enjoyed "plain" hot dogs -- and the grown-ups topped their dogs off with cheese, chili, pickles, onions, sauerkraut, ketchup, mustard...

When it was time for cake, Kylie couldn't wait -- and neither could Brooke!  Papa helped Kylie find a cupcake to "snack on", and Brooke could NOT wait to blow out her candle!  Daddy had to light the candle twice - Brooke blew it out so fast we didn't even have time to sing!

Brooke thoroughly enjoyed the cake - just check out her face!



Brooke also did amazingly well at figuring out how to open gifts!  She opened a few with guests around, then waited until her sisters were in bed to open more... and again, opened MORE the following morning!! She was STILL asking for "more presents" after they were all opened.

Kissing the baby doll



Cubbies' Dress from Chuckie

Sleeping Dora from Grandma Banana & Papa Pizza

It may have been Brooke's party day - but it was Hambone's REAL birthday (and Aunt Angie's friend, Erin).  We sang "Happy Birthday" to both of them - and Brooke had a chance to share ANOTHER cupcake with Hambone!

Every child left with a beach ball cup, and lots of candy from Grandma Candy.  When they were all gone, Brooke got to try out her own beach ball glass!



Happy Birthday, Baby Girl!