Livin' the Life

I love my life!  I love being home with my two girls every day.  You won't find us home much of the time, but at least it's an option if we want it.  Our days are filled with beach, swim lessons, Disneyland, play dates at the park, shopping, or whatever we want to do.  I even cleaned my floors yesterday!  Because we've been so busy, I haven't been posting much at all.
I don't know why, but right after Brooklynn was born we bought these 2 day Disneyland passes.  Those two days quickly turned into annual passes and every Wednesday has been Disney day!  We pick up Toni on the way up there and then meet Becky, Hailey, and Chloe.  Most of the days we even stayed until close--my girls are troopers!  It does make it a lot easier that Toni is able to come with us.  Brooklynn usually just sleeps and eats the day away.  Bailey has been able to ride the tru big kid rides.  A couple of weeks ago, Toni and Aaron took her on Tower or Terror and Big Thunder Mountain.  She said it was scary, but fun and she talks about it all the time.  She is 39 1/2 inches tall and you have to be 40 inches.  We have been stuffing folded up napkins in her shoes, but this last time Toni just bought her some flip flops with enough height to make it work.  This last week was the best Disney day yet!  We went on the sneak peak of the new Little Mermaid ride.  It was a very cute ride.  I wish that Disney Wednesday could last all year long, but we didn't have enough money for those passes.  We still have one more chance to go this summer, but it may be too crowded even for us. 

Here we are on the Buzz Lightyear ride.  I love the look on all of our faces.  Also notice my super high score--baby and all!

In addition to all of our fun adventures, Bailey has been saying some super awesome stuff lately.  Two nights ago, she said the best dinner prayer I've ever heard.  It went a little something like this: 

"Bless that daddy will give me blessings and keep the monsters away so they don't come in our house; bless Brooklynn so she won't throw up; bless mommy will be safe."  There was more, but that was the best part.  I kept looking at her in amazement because her prayers usually just bless the food and amen. 

That night when I went into her room before I went to bed, I noticed that she had her field hockey stick next to her.  In the morning I asked her why.  She said, "To bash the monsters with!"  I don't know why  she is kind of obsessed with monsters lately, but if her field hockey stick keeps her safe that's great.  She has a great imagination and uses it often.  She will  just play with her toys and make up beautiful songs and funny stories.  And on most days lately, being three isn't that bad.

She's also in swim lessons and, finally, loving it!  The first three lessons she cried and tried to grab onto her teacher for dear life.  I don't know why she was so scared.  I think it was because she usually had one big intake of water through her nose.  I am not above bribing her to do things, so we started getting kids cones from McDonalds if she did good.  Both lessons this week were awesome!  She is doing so well and she might even start learning how to actually swim.  I'll bring my camera next week to take a pic of Bailey and Hailey at swim. 

Brooklynn has been such an angel baby.  The past couple of nights she goes down around 8:00ish, then I waker her up to eat around 11-12 and then she's down for the night.  She wakes up between 7-7:30!  It truly is amazing!!  She smiles so much more now and really wants to be able to talk.  She makes adorable little sounds if you talk to her.  I don't know if it's because there's so much less stress with Brooklynn compared to Bailey, but I'm enjoying this stage so much more. 

Other family news:

1. My sister Tera graduated with her Masters. Yeah for Master Miller! I'm so excited for her that she never has to write another paper again.  I'm glad that we were all able to help her celebrate her big day.

I love this picture of Tera!  She looks so cute!

I agree with Brooklynn that graduations are a little boring.  The only exciting part is screaming as loud as you can for the person who is graduating.  I'd like to think that our family is always the loudest.  Our screaming did wake Brooklynn up.

Mom & Dad enjoying the cermony

Hmm, what should I major in?

Toni & Aaron

Tera and her friends

A sugar addict at such a young age.  Look closely and you'll see that she's hugging a candy bar.

2.  Toni got a job.  I don't know if I should celebrate or cry.  I'm happy for her to finally end her search for a job.  But I'm sad that we won't be able to hang out all the time.  It's been so much fun to have Toni around.  I will be sad and Bailey will be sadder :(

3.  Kyle, Sam, Kate, Owen, and Josi are on their way here!!  They'll be here for about 10 days!  I can't wait to see them--especially baby Josi who is almost 1 year old.  We'll have almost the whole family together for a week and I can't wait!