The Holbrook Family

Monday, October 18, 2010

We Made It...

Wow I am behind, that's what happens when I think "Oh, I don't need to bring my camera, Mark can take pics on his iphone." Yeah but then I can never get the pics off his iphone! Anyway, we've had a fun festive month. We made it to Frightmares a few times...

We made it to Pack's pumpkin patch...

We made a cute little witch...

We made it to an extremely fun Halloween party Amazing Race style...I still think the Blue Werewolves would've won!

We made FHE into pumpkin carving night...

This was much more successful this year, last year was a flop but the kids enjoyed it this year, even though Kenya kept saying "ewww, yuck!" as she was pulling out the pumpkin seeds, she must have gotten used to it because later she was mashing all the guts and seeds down with her hands in the bowl just to feel it and couldn't get enough of it!

Charlie drew this face on a piece of paper and Mark helped his dream come true.

Kenya didn't really care about her face so I just carved something quick for her.

Kenya made it to the ball...

Okay so she was Snow White and Snow White doesn't go to a ball but Mark documented her phases of getting ready. First the hair (Which the first time we did it for the trunk or treat was a mess! Her face was black and her fingers from touching it all night and her hair is so blonde that the black kind of turned grey. I quickly learned for the next time to pin her hair back off her face and up off her neck which was better anyway because that's how Snow White's hair really looks and a little hair color 101-if coloring hair from blonde to black first spray it with orange to fill it and then the black, worked much better.

We made it to the ward Trunk or Treat...

But we were lucky enough to enjoy a free meal at Mark's cousins new Kneaders in Bountiful so we dropped off our Chili at the church, headed to Kneaders, stuffed our faces, and headed back to the church for the festivities.

See the yucky grey hair and dirty fingers and face? Not pretty.

We made it to Kenya's preschool program (with two extra kids in tow, that was a bit stressful)

Kenya sang her little heart out. In the middle of it I see her looking around and she looks at me and yells out "I see my gwandma and gwandpa!" Umm, no you don't, that's someone elses grandparents sweetie. Maybe her eyes really aren't working as well as we think. :)

Kenya with cousins Greta and Knox. We had Knox and his baby sister Emerson staying with us for a couple days, they were the two extra kids in tow.

We made it to Charlie's school carnival but for a very short time since we had 5 kids with us 5 and under and Mark left to go to his football game leaving me with the 5 kids to put to bed. He got his pay back though in the morning when I ran to the store and he got two babies with blow outs to clean up.

Phew! And we haven't even made it to Halloween yet!

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

3 Months

Little Lady Leila is 3 months old! Time is flying and I am absolutely LOVING this stage. She is such a fun good baby and so smiley! When anyone talks to her she just lights up, it is my favorite. Her cheeks and rolls are also my favorite. At 3 months Leila is

Sleeping 9-10 hours at night
Going 3-4 hours between feedings during the day
Smiling, giggling, making cute sounds
Loves sucking on her fists
Is holding her head up pretty good on her stomach
Only will lay on her stomach for a couple minutes before she is mad
Takes 2-3 naps a day
Doesn't want to take a bottle anymore (that's mostly my fault for not trying too hard, I need to get on that!)

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Black Hawk Farms

Kenya had a little field trip to Black Hawk Farms in Syracuse, it was a fun pumpkin patch. I didn't get to go with Charlie when he went a couple years back so this was a new field trip for both of us. I thought it was going to be freezing since it was freezing and raining that morning but when we go there the sun came right out and we were all boiling! Especially carrying a baby on the front of you, it was like I was pregnant all over again. :)

They got to pick their pumpkin, she's pointing to hers.

Kenya and her cousin Knox.

This picture was all her idea.

She's very much an individual. She's so different from Charlie in that she is happy to play by herself. She just wandered to all of the different slides and things to do not needing a buddy to go with, part of it is the age but even at home she doesn't really ask me to play with friends, she loves to play with cousins and friends when they're around but I guess I'm just use to Charlie who has been knocking down people's doors since he was 18 months and always wanting a friend to play with. She's content to watch princess shows, color, and play with her toys all by herself.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

A Name And A Blessing...

We blessed Leila on Sunday September 12. Mark gave her a beautiful blessing, I'm so grateful for him and the example he is to all around him. The spirit was felt strongly throughout the meeting and I feel so blessed to have one more beautiful, healthy child.

Leila wore the same dress that Kenya did, to me she is a perfect mix of Kenya and Charlie with her own little chubby cheeks.

Thank you family for all of your support and love for our sweet Lady Leila.

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Fair and Things

Took a trip to the state fair, 1 hour later and about $40 poorer we were on our way back home. I think we're good for a couple years at least. I don't feel a sense of tradition in this that others do.

Look at Charlie lookin too cool, don't worry he won't be looking so cool in a couple pictures from now.

We went down the yellow slide and of course Charlie wanted to race. He raced Mark and Kenya first and won.

Then he raced me and Kenya and did not win. Notice his face in the next two pics.

He was not happy!

But Kenya sure was!

We like good ol' fashioned cotton candy, we'll pass on the fried twinkies and chocolate covered bacon, thanks.

We had some whiny tired kids this night, maybe that's why it wasn't as fun as I thought it'd be.

After writing down "the list" I was able to cross some things off, it's amazing how just writing it down helps so much! I got the Halloween decor out (that wasn't hard, I have about 5 things, now I've added to the list buy more Halloween decorations.) I planned my meals for 2 weeks and shopped for them, I cleaned out the playroom, I made some bows during conference, I did some weeding, bought some bulbs but haven't planted them yet, started a book for Charlie, mailed some thank you cards, and did my laundry on schedule this last week. Just a tiny little dent in the list that I'm sure most can knock off in a couple days. It took me a couple weeks, but at least it's something.

Oh and just in case I forget...

Funny thing is she had a blow out shortly after putting this shirt on.

The World Through Kids Eyes

August 2013

Leila has officially stopped saying "I wanna hold you" :( She would always say that to us and I have never corrected her but I guess she figured it out for herself because tonight she said "hold me". She's growing up too fast!

November 2011
I told Kenya tonight that I was glad Heavenly Father sent her to me. She said "Why did Heavenly Father send me to you?" I said "well we were all a family before we came to earth, in heaven." She said "Mom, how did you get up in the sky?" "I don't know." I said. "Did Santa give you a ride?" Followed with giggles by both of us.

November 2010
Today I was telling Mark about how angry I got at Kenya for coloring on the table for like the millionth time. She heard me talking about it and said "You're not a nice mom, you're like the BEAST! I'm gonna put you in da gawbage and get a new mommy!" Then later Mark asked her when he was reading her a bedtime story "Kenya, am I the King?" She said "No, you're the debil (devil)." Charlie was drawing a picture of our family for school and drew me with my mouth open he said "Look mom, you're yelling." I don't think we're leaving the right kind of impression on our kids here.

July2010
Today Kenya came up to Mark and said "Daddy I have to tell you something." She then made him bend down so she could whisper in his ear "You're the best dad in the whole wide world." He thought maybe I told her to say that but she came up with it all on her own. She then did the same thing to me. I love hearing that little whisper in my ear.

June 2010
Kenya randomly makes comments on the baby in my belly, it usually goes something like this. "I like your big belly mom" then "I like your baby Leila." Then it's followed by "I have a big belly too." Tonight that was followed by "It's hooge."

March 2010
When Kenya is demanding something I will tell her she needs to ask nicely. She then yells at me "NICELY!" Not quite what I was meaning.
If you say something like "How are you doing?" She'll say "Kenya" instead of good, or bad, or sad, or happy. Kinda cute.
She's really starting to put her sentences together and express herself a lot better. It's fun to have conversations with her.

March 2010
At dinner we were discussing how babies just drink when they're newborns and don't eat food. We asked Charlie if he knew what they drank and he said "yes, milk from your..." he paused for a few seconds and we were anticipating what was going to come out, then he said "from your belly!" What innocence.
February 2010-
Kenya has been saying some cute things lately most mornings she comes into our bed and snuggles in right in the middle of us. This morning she snuggled up next to Mark, put her hand on his cheek and said "daddy you're my sweetie girl." We had to laugh. Last night we were in the car, Mark was on the phone and Charlie was being really loud so he turned around and grabbed his leg to get him to be quiet. Charlie started crying and Kenya got really mad "don't hurt my sista! You otay Charlay?" We explained it was her brother and she said it all over again, this time with brother. She's been calling a lot of people her sister lately, she's a bit confused.
I made chocolate football cake bites for the superbowl and whenever she finishes her food she says "I want a hapball!" The first couple times I didn't know what she was saying until she ran over to them and pointed, now we know that hapball is football.

July 2009-
Charlie was asking me if his dreams would come true (I thought he was referring to bad dreams because he's been so scared of having bad dreams lately thanks to watching "Thriller") I told him they wouldn't come true and he kept asking me about it. Finally he said "Well daddy's dream came true when you were his wife!" Awww, thanks bud!

June 2009-
Yesterday Charlie randomly said to me "You know mom Jesus is sad when you're mean to me." I guess what goes around comes around. He also told me as we were reading "Little Red Cap" (the real Little Red Riding Hood story) "She shouldn't have lied to her mom" he said. I said "No she should've minded her mom and not gone off the path." He said "well sometimes I lie to you." At least he's honest, well sometimes. :)
May 2009-
Kenya loves the park. Every time we drive by one she freaks out "side, side! Mama side mease, meeease!" (slide please) she says "mease" all the time, it kills me! So cute. She also loves to say "go way!" Every time she's mad at someone or we're trying to get her to do something she doesn't want to its "go way!"

February 2009-Charlie said a prayer the other day that went like this "Grateful we could go to Disneyland, grateful for Halloween, grateful for Christmas, in the name..." That was it! Kind of funny.

December 2008-Last night when Mark was putting Charlie to bed Charlie said "Dad, I think Jaxon isn't choosing the right." Mark said "Yeah, how come? " Charlie said "Because he likes BYU and that's not choosing the right." Mark was pretty proud.

December 2008-

Charlie had a Christmas pajama party at preschool. He got a gift from his teachers. He opened it up and it was a blanket they had made for him, "Wow, a blanket!" I said. Charlie said "It's beautiful!" Then a bit later he was doing a puzzle while I was on the computer and out of nowhere he just says "Merry Christmas mom." He can be so sweet.

November 2008- With Christmas right around the corner and his birthday a couple weeks ago Charlie wants everything he sees on TV. He'll be upstairs watching TV and you'll just hear him say "How 'bout that!" And if it's a girl toy it's "How 'bout that for Kenya!" I don't know why it's "how 'bout that" but it puts a smile on my face every time he says it. It's too cute.

I love how honest Charlie is. The other day he went to the bathroom and when he came out I said "wash your hands" as he came out he got distracted for a minute and then said "Oh yeah, I got poop on my finger." And went to the bathroom. The same day he told me that while he was playing outside with his friend Brady he peed in our dirt, just randomly told me later that afternoon with a guilty look on his face. I was surprised because he hates peeing outside!

I took Charlie to Target to pick out a Halloween costume. I thought he would pick one out immediately and probably choose spider man or batman, well he wasn't really jumping on anything he saw, until he saw a transformer costume he said "I want to be a transformer!" I said "Ok do you want to be Bumble Bee?" "No, I want to be Octopus Prime!" I think it's so cute to hear him say it I haven't told him it's Optimus Prime.

One morning while we were getting ready for church Charlie in his best little sick voice says to me "Mom, (cough cough) I can't go to church, I'm sick (cough cough) see I have a cough.! Isn't he a little young to be doing that?

Last night I was kneeling down by Charlie as he said his prayers. This is what he said- "...Grateful I could go to preschool, grateful for daddy and Kenya," then he reached out and stroked my hair, "and grateful for mommy's hair." He was so happy yesterday when I came home from work and my hair was done and not in a pony tail anymore.

Charlie's Aunt Kristen asked him one day "Charlie what did you do today?" He said " I played with Samara." She said "Oh, is that your friend?" "No!" He said, " she's my husband!"

Mark sold his car and Charlie was with us as we dropped it off to the new owner. Charlie said "Dad, where is your car going?" Mark said " I sold it, it's going bye bye." Charlie said "All our of our stuff going bye bye?" I hope we're not traumatizing him! :)

Charlie has been learning about the Holy Ghost and he seems a bit confused at the concept. Today out of the blue he asked me "Mom, where is the Holy Ghost?" I tried to explain to him that he's a spirit and he can bring good feelings to you etc.. Then he said "Oh, can I touch his blanket?" (This is what a ghost is to him, somebody with a blanket over them.) So then I explained that he's not a real ghost he's a spirit and he doesn't have a body etc. Then he said "Yeah, but he almost has a body, and when I pull off it's blanket is the Holy Ghost a girl or a boy?" Let's just say he's still confused. :)

We went to Discovery Gateway today and as we were walking in there was a little person standing by the entrance. Charlie looks at me and says "Mom, that was a wittle mom." I thought that was pretty politically correct. :)

Today at church Charlie was playing with some cards on the bench during sacrament when I looked over at him he seemed to be pondering something and said to me "mom, am I going to get baptized?" I said "Yes, when you're 8 you can get baptized." "But I want to get baptized now!" (The lady sitting in front of us turns around and whispers "precious." :)) I told him again he could when he's eight. Then he said "Can daddy help me get baptized?" I guess he is learning something in primary and FHE!

Almost every morning I have a battle with Charlie on what he's going to wear. At least the mornings when I care what he wears and want him to look decent. Last night he got to pick out a movie to rent, he chose a Buzz Lightyear one (this is his latest obsession.) This morning I brought out some clothes and he saw them and said "No, not that shirt! That shirt won't make me Buzz Lightyear!" I said "Oh, what shirt will?" "Come here, I'll show you." And he took me into his room and insisted that he wear a white baseball T with green sleeves. This is the closest shirt he has that resembles Buzz Lightyear's costume. Pretty creative kid.

Charlie is in sunbeams now but we've been watching Cami's kids this weekend at her house so he went to nursery today with his cousin Luke. When we got home I asked him what he learned in nursery. He said "nothing." I said "didn't you have a lesson, you must have learned something." Very adamantly he responded "No we don't learn anything in nursery, we just have snacks!" No wonder why he loves it! :)

Cami has a piano in her house and yesterday towards the end of Charlie's nap Luke started softly touching the keys. Charlie woke up and came out of the bedroom with his hands out to the side palms facing up and said in a sweet surprised voice "I wake up and heard the piano singing." Mark and I thought it was too funny.

Those of you who have been around us probably know that Charlie hates my hair in a pony tail. I have no idea where this came from but for about a year he has been like this. It's getting better but at first he would throw a huge fit and say "Don't cutta your hair!" Then I explained to him it was a pony tail so it became "Take out your ponytail!" And he would grab my hair and try and get the elastic out. He's made progress over the past year, it went from forbidding it to throwing a fit but on occasion after I explained to him I was going to the gym or didn't have time to do my hair a few times a day I could make it through the day. Now He doesn't immediately respond to it when he sees it but at some point through out the day he'll comment on it. The other day he was going down for his nap and he said "Mom when I wake up will you take your ponytail out?" I can't believe a three year old boy could care so much about a ponytail! So much for short hair, he probably wouldn't speak to me for weeks! :)

After we sold our house we moved into my dad's. Charlie loves being around his grandpa and the other day he was sitting on the potty and I said "Charlie, do you need help?" and he said "no, I want grandpa to wipe me!" I said "no, grandpa doesn't wipe you, just mommy." So a couple days later he says to grandpa "Grandpa, are you a boy or a girl?" Grandpa said "I'm a boy." Charlie said "if you're a boy then you can wipe me!" Don't know how he decided that one but I guess he's got it all figured out!

Kenya has been sick the past day and tonight at dinner Charlie said "why isn't Kenya eating?" I said "Because she's sick." He said "Oh, does she have a snotty nose?" I said "No, she has a tummy ache." "Oh, did she eat an egg?" "No, I said ache, not egg, it means her tummy hurts." In classic Charlie response to everything "Oh." :)