Happy 1st Birthday!

Brooke turned 1 year old today!!

She is such a fun little girl. She has quite the vocabulary already "outside, food, mommy, Jesus, shoe, sorry," and her favorite word "doggy" to name a few. She is very energetic and takes off up the rows at church anytime she gets a chance. She is a very good eater and can really pack in the food. She eats as much if not more than Kaylee does. She likes to spin in circles and say "wheee!" She sure is a sweet fun little girl.

I saw this poem on a friend's blog and thought it was very appropriate. There are often toys all over my floor and I get a little embarrassed when people come over. This puts it into perspective.

Some houses try to hide the fact that children shelter there. Ours boasts of it quite openly, the signs are everywhere. For smears are on the windows, little smudges on the door. I should apologize, I guess, for toys strewn on the floor.

But I sat down with the children and we played and laughed and read; and if the doorbell doesn't shine, their eyes will shine instead. For when at times I'm forced to choose the one job or the other, I want to be a housewife...but first I'll be a MOTHER. ~ Author Unknown

Yesterday we found the dress up clothes Grandma gave Kaylee for Christmas last year. They had fun dancing in their pretty dresses. Brooke actually wanted me to put the dress on her and was mad when I took the red ridding hood off her. I think Kaylee is going to want to wear the ferry dress all the time now.

Last week was my birthday. This is the only picture we got from the day. Jake had class all day and then a class that night so there wasn't much of a party. Kaylee and I made cupcakes though and some nice girls from our ward brought me some treats -one a cake and the other brownies.

The swimming pool at our complex is closed so we've had to bring out the blow-up pool on the porch. There is a really nice pool on campus that we went to on Tuesday night. I forgot my camera but the girls love playing in the water. I got a gym pass so I can use the campus pool and gym. I'm pretty excited about that. I haven't been able to use a gym since we left BYU-I. I have been getting workout DVD's from the Library, but they can get a little boring. I think we'll head to the pool again tonight!

Rain

Since I lived in Washington I thought I knew all about rain. The rain in Washington was nothing compared to the rain here though. When it rains it pours!! The street was like a river although you can't tell so well in the video. Brooke thought it was very entertaining.

Texas Update

I guess I should give a little update. We've been so busy unpacking, and getting all settled. Things are getting better here. Our ward is very friendly. We have been invited to Sunday dinner the past 2 weeks and have another "appointment" this Sunday. I've also joined a walking group and have been to playgroup. Kaylee still doesn't have any good friends yet and keeps asking if she can play with Nathan and Sam (her Washington friends -she has also asked to play with Chris and Danielle too).

• Jake has survived his first week of school. He is still trying to decided if he just wants to get his Masters or his PH.D. He is able to take the bus for free to school everyday so I don't have to take him. There is a guy from our ward in his classes so they go to the gym afterward.

• I just got a job with Summit Health! I am an independant contractor for their flu shot clinics and heath screenings. It should be a good job that won't take me away from the girls too much.

• Kaylee and Brooke want to play outside all the time but it is way too hot outside. I'm looking forward to fall for the cooler weather. It is actually raining today so it seems like home.

• Brooke is walking all over the place. She takes off out the front door any chance she gets. Kaylee has become our dishwasher (our dishwasher here is terrible so we wash dishes by hand now) and she really enjoys it.

Well that's our update for now. I'll post some pictures of our place once I hang all the pictures up.