2009 Christmas Card Pictures

This year we were faced with quite the challenge....taking our Christmas pictures with 2 dogs (one still a puppy) and a toddler. The dogs get so hyper with any sort of attention so I thought it was going to be impossible to get a picture worthy of sending out. So I did what any level headed person would do. I sedated them. (The dogs, not Brooklyn.) Luckily we had a few pills left over from Bella's surgery. Don't judge, I really didn't have any other option!
I actually did get some cute ones. It was amazing. However, there were many more that went into the reject pile. The following are some of the best rejects.

First, we attempted some with just Brooklyn just in case the ones with the dogs didn't work out. She wasn't exactly cooperating. She kept saying "No say cheese!"







Then we brought the dogs in. They were "tired" enough that they actually sat still for a little bit.


It got difficult when we combined all three.





Are we done yet?!

We knew it was time to call it a day when Maddie would no longer stand.

Going.....

Going.....

Gone.

When all was said and done Brookie needed some love from her daddy.

All in all it went as well as could be expected!

**For all you dog lovers, the dogs were just fine and had a lovely long nap that day**

Christmas Tree Shopping

A couple of weeks ago we set out on the search for the perfect Christmas tree. We thought we'd make a night out of it and go to dinner then the lot on PCH. That was the first place we hit (first of 5). The first lot had great trees and a choo-choo train, but it was a little pricey. So we decided to go look elsewhere. Long story short, we ended up back at the first place:)



Brooklyn was a trooper. She was rewarded by riding the train twice. She also seemed to have just as much fun running around.

Post Op

Last week Bella got fixed. She was a trooper and did really well. So well that last night I took a trip to the vet to get her some sedation pills. Curt's leaving this week for a hunting trip and I wasn't about to be left alone with 2 crazy dogs (one that needs to stay calm) and a toddler by myself. I definitely needed some tranquilizers, either for Bella or myself.

Brooklyn was so cute with her when she got home. She even shared her blankie. That's huge!

Curt built a nice little dog house in our garage. So far Brooklyn enjoys it more then the dogs do. And yes, once again she is wearing an outfit she picked out, along with her rain boots.

Where did she go?!?!

Somebody has invaded our home over the last few weeks. She looks just like Brooklyn, but it's not her. She no longer wakes up w/ a huge smile, she seems to be glaring more than smiling, her favorite word is "no" and she can cry at the drop of a hat. Who is this child?!? Where did my fun-loving, easy-going, always happy baby go? I want her back!

These are the looks I get at least 20 times a day. See?? It looks like her, doesn't it? But it's not.


At least she can still make me laugh. I think she's gonna be one of those kids. You know, the strange one that dresses herself for school. Her favorite new outfit is her Christmas sleeper from last year, rain boots and her koala backpack.


I really shouldn't complain. Even though she does seem to be going through some kind of evil phase, she really is a good girl:)

Halloween Night

Saturday night we had a great time at the Van Duyn's annual Halloween party. There was great food, great decorations, great conversation and a jumpy house!

This is the only picture I got of Brooklyn in the jumpy house. She got frustrated that she kept stepping on her dress.

So she decided to just make sure Wyatt was happy by supplying him with chips and kisses.


It's always been a dream of Eric's to be the Karate Kid. It was fun to see him finally live that dream:)

Brooklyn and Wyatt always have such a great time together! Won't these pictures be so cute on their wedding slide show one day?!



What a great night!!

Pumpkin Patch 2009

Curt and I have decided to start a new family tradition, In-N-Out then Pa's Pumpkin Patch. I was also hoping to get some better pictures. We dressed up in our best fall gear and headed out.
Brooklyn had the best time running around and kicking the hay.

Sometimes she just has to dance!

Featured below is her reaction to some boys running by and messing up her groove. She let them have it!

She was so excited to go on a ride all by herself!

Until it started moving...not a great picture, but you get the point.

We had a great time in the mirror maze. She loved looking at herself and we loved watching her run into the see through glass over and over:)


We ended the night by letting Brooklyn pick some mini pumpkins.


She finally let me take some pictures on the bales of hay since she had jeans on to protect her "bum bum."

What a fun and simple tradition, can't wait for next year!