{Brooklyn} Halloween 2011 | Boo at the Zoo & Pumpkin Patch

I must say that October is a pretty fantastic month. It starts with Brookie's birthday and then continues with the Halloween festivities. It's the start of the holiday season and I'm really learning to love it. It's just a little confusing here in SoCal because it's definitely not holiday weather. There were a few days this month that hit the 90s. I'm kinda ready for fall weather at this point. 

Last weekend we met up with Brookie's cousins and went to Boo at the Zoo at the Santa Ana Zoo. It was pretty fantastic! This little girl loves to socialize and an evening out with friends is always a guaranteed good time. It's super cute....all the kids dress in costume and Trick or Treat between zoo exhibits. 

I'm sure I've mentioned in the past how I always stress over finding a costume (remember THIS post?). Brookie's costume came to me. She always mimics pirates, saying things like "YoHo, the pirates life for me" and "Arrrr".  When I spotted this costume at Old Navy, I snagged it. It was perfect! She loved it too, at first sight!  Then she got to looking through a costume catalog at DayCare and decided that she wanted to be a hotdog and that I should be mustard and her daddy should be ketchup. Seriously? The girl does not eat one of those three things! She told everyone she knew that's what we were going to be and did not forget it. It was kinda hilarious! But the pirate costume was purchased and I was not exactly thrilled about her being a hotdog. I know...I'm such a buzz kill. But how cute is she as a pirate...?

 We ran into the Semaans waiting for the cousins. 

Brookie love Uncle Al...

 Samira, the cheerleader, and Brookie...

 Brookie has a thing for monkeys, but she was especially enamored with this one...

 Brookie with her cousins Anna & Nick and her great Aunt Kathy...

 Of course her great Aunt Rose spoiled the kids with light sabers and all sorts of glow in the dark goodness...

________________________

We later headed to our annual Pa's Pumpkin Patch visit.

Me & my girl. These photos are rare (since I'm the picture-taker)...so I kinda love it!!!

 Brookie was so excited to go on the boat ride (she had already rode it once before with her friend Samira). This time she was solo and was not having it! The operator stopped the ride and returned our ticket. She always surprises me. Sometimes she is so fearless and other times she is such a shy and fearful little girl. At any rate, I love that she tries. This next image is so sweet of her ready to give her ride ticket. 

 Next up was the bumper boats with her buddy JonJon. 

 And then the cars. You can see this cute duo from last year here too. 

 Brookie loves Jake + Jon!

 Can you tell? It's so fun raising kids with friends. :)

 And then we were off to find the perfect pumpkin. 

 I think she found it! 

 The FORDS....

Happy Halloween everyone! 

So, what are you or your kids going to be for Halloween? Have a blast. xoxo

{Brooklyn} Happy Easter #3

This has been such a great weekend! One, it's the start of my Spring Break. Two, we had tons of fun celebrating Easter. And, three, I have a new outlook thanks to all of the amazing phone calls, messages, and comments I received after my last post from friends, family, former students, and even their parents. I was so encouraged by the outpour of support and love I received as they all took the time to share their stories with me. It was amazing and I've re-read them all several times. They made me laugh and cry and I felt understood by so many of you. Thank you. 

Brookie and I kicked off the Easter celebration by attending the Easter egg hunt at our church on Saturday with my good friend Jill. Which of course called for a cute dress (thank you Jill)! Any dress that twirls is a fave in Brookie's book. Her infamous quote is "look at me, I twirl like Dancing with The Stars". (Sorry, I'm a fan.) 

Although they made it a little easy for the toddlers to "find" eggs, Brookie still had a blast collecting them. To the point of an overflowing basket. 

 Despite the out-of-focus and blurryness, I love this next photo!

 And when she was bored with collecting eggs, the playing began.

Brookie loved her Easter dress so much that she insisted wearing it again today to Easter service. Considering we were running late, I didn't even attempt to fight that battle. 

We spent the rest of Easter Sunday at Dan's aunt & uncle's house in San Pedro. They have this amazing home perched at the top of the hill overlooking all of Long Beach, the port, and the harbor. It is always a place of peace and calm for me. Especially considering how amazing his aunt is. She is a montessori pre-school teacher and always has tons of activities and fun planned for the little ones (not to mention she has a mini farm with doves, pigeons, rabbits, & chickens. Yep, real live chickens on Easter!). All of Dan's family have children that range in age from 8 months to 15 years. There are a ton of toddlers and they have so much fun playing together. Today was no exception. We arrived at noon and stayed til 7pm, with no nap for Brookie. She was asleep by the time we turned off their street and is still fast asleep in bed.  It was a great day. And would you believe I forgot my camera at home? I was kinda bummed since B was totally into the day's festivities but also happy just to relax and take it all in. 

And might I add, I got to play with baby Owen much of the day. He's is Brookie's cousin that was born the same day as her little brother. I even bounced him to sleep and was reminded of those early days with Brookie. They seem so long ago. It goes so fast. I need to remember to set my challenges aside and enjoy each day because they really do just slip through our fingers. Do you remember her first Easter Sunday?

Easter #1 - 2009

Although I don't have images of our Easter Sunday, here are a few I shot in our home yesterday. All of these are shot in our spare bedroom with natural light streaming in from the windows to the right (thus the shadows).

Twirling...

 WHAT? You're looking at my camera and smiling? Yes! 

 The next image on the left is a fave because that's pretty much par for the course with taking photos of B these days. Do you remember the "no" days of your toddler? No camera. No dancing. No singing. No this. No that. It's endless. 

 What I really love about this next picture...it totally looks like me and my serious face. People I've always asked me if I was angry when I wasn't...that's just my look when I'm concentrating or thinking. 

 Okay, back to happy face (and another fave)...

 And a little monkey action to end our mini photo shoot.

I saw this post on a friend's Facebook and had to share about Easter:

Greatest man in history named Jesus, had no servants, 

yet they called him Master. 

Had no degree, yet they called him Teacher. 

Had no medicines, yet they called him Healer. 

He had no army, yet kings feared Him. 

He won no battles, yet he conqured the world. 

He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him. 

He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today! 

Happy easter to all of you :)

By the way, I've gathered up all of Brookie's easter basket gifts (minus the ones she's already played with and will remember) and have put them in a prize basket in the closet. I'm hoping to use this as a reward system for potty training which I'll be starting on over the break. Wish me luck! And I would love to hear what worked for you, parents!