The Holbrook Family

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Independence Celebration

My posts are a little out of order, oh well...

We stuck around town this year for the 4th of July, well sort of. We drove down to St. George on Friday morning to check out a house that we put an offer on, then drove back that afternoon, with kids in tow. It kind of wiped us out for the weekend but we still had plenty of activities to go to. We went to the Centerville parade, last minute idea but the kids enjoyed it. That night we fought the crowds to enjoy the Eaglewood fireworks, always a good one. On Monday the 4th we went to a neighborhood bbq, then to our old neighborhood for an amazing fireworks show. It was so fun this year to see all the aerial fireworks that everyone was letting off. I am amazed at how much they cost though! At church on Sunday we had a great lesson on our free country. So grateful for the freedom that we enjoy, for our founding fathers and the faith and inspiration they had. My goal this month is to have a FHE lesson on what Independence day is truly about. I want my kids to have respect and pride for their country. God Bless the USA!

Leila was mesmerized for a few short minutes and fell asleep on our long walk back to the car.

Kenya helped me make these festive strawberries.

Leila learned to stand on her own.

Friday, July 15, 2011

Leila's Party

We celebrated Leila's birthday with family and had a bbq in our backyard. I wanted her party to have a "sweets" theme since she's so sweet (cheesy, I know), but when it came down to it I'm just too cheap to go "all out". But I thought it turned out pretty cute for going "half out". :)

Her cake took some time but I was pretty happy with the results, I am still learning though.

Singing "Happy Birthday".

She loved it until Kenya got in her "space" and tried to pick her up. Something I deal with all. day. long.

Gotta love this pic of Charlie helping Leila out.

She was very timid with her cupcake. Just picking at the frosting. Scarlett came in and showed her how to do it...

Scarlett is looking a little guilty.

Loved the giant teddy bear.

Happy birthday sweet girl!

Sunday, July 10, 2011

1 Year!

Sweet Leila,

You brighten our days around here. I love whenever any of us see you we just light up because you are beaming at anyone that talks to you. I love watching you charm strangers around you at Cherry Hill, church, the grocery store. Everyone smiles when they see you. How could they not with those gorgeous brown eyes and kissable cheeks. Thanks for always making me smile.

You have found your voice and started letting everyone know when you are not getting what you want. You shreek and screem a lot when you want out of your high chair, when Kenya or Charlie are bugging you, when you want me to pick you up. It's kind of funny that shreek of yours.

You love your momma, you'll follow me around when I'm in the kitchen and just wait for me to look at you and talk to you. You'll reach your little arms up for me to pick you up and kick and wiggle those toes and legs so fast until I do. I love it, I've never had a child want me so much, you'll just sit and crawl all over me on the couch or on the ground. Usually my children are running away from me but you don't. You love the water, bath time or swim time. You play at Cherry Hill so well and I barely have to chase you around because you stay pretty close to me. When I tell you no you listen to me sometimes, amazing. You're starting to pull things out of drawers, it's entertaining to watch. If someone says "where's Leila?" You immediately put one hand on your eye or cheek to play peekaboo. Sometimes it's your mouth and it looks like you're blowing kisses. You shake your head and swing your arms side to side when you hear music. You love books and will sit on my lap looking at them for a while. You're standing but not very close to walking. You love to "walk" while we hold your hands, not very sturdy yet but you think you're pretty cool and just beam with excitement.

You say dadda and mamma, you wave hi and bye. You've figured out how to use a sippy and have started drinking milk. You have eight teeth and weigh 18 lbs, which is surprisingly little for your age. You'd never guess because you still have those cheeks and chub on the legs. So, so, cute. Love, love, love you so much Leila and am so grateful for your little 1 year old spirit that graces our lives every day. Happy Birthday baby.

Love, mom

Monday, July 4, 2011

9 years

Another year of wedded bliss (most of the time. :)) Mark and I thought it was so great last year to just spend the whole day together, doing whatever we wanted that we decided to do it again this year. We went to the gym, dropped the kids off at kids camp, went to Kneaders for their fabulous french toast that we had heard so much about, came home and got ready, headed out again after lunch to Tomorrows Antiques, picked out our anniversary gift to each other, (some new chairs for our great room), did a tiny bit of shopping, went to see X-men, ate dinner at Mikados, ate frozen yogurt at Yogurt Stop, and finished the night off with a bang at Lagoon. A fun filled day for sure.

We did not take any pics except at Lagoon with Mark's phone.

Story behind this picture... at dinner our friends the Atkinsons happened to be there too so they joined us for dinner and somehow it got brought up that Mark and I took a lot of "breaks" when we were dating thanks to me and my indecisive nature. We took a trip to Hawaii after about 6 or 7 months of dating with Mark's brother and while we were there Mark was trying to do a little role reversal on me. I don't remember all the details but he was all the sudden feeling unsure of our relationship, which kind of pulled me closer (you know we like the whole hard to get thing), and by the end of the trip I told Mark I was ready to give 100%. When he told the story that night he said he dropped me off at my house in Provo after our flight home and I got out of the car saying "yeah, 100%!" doing this (above picture) hang loose sign, then called him before he got home to Bountiful and told him I wasn't sure again. It kind of turned into a little inside joke of the night because I did not do that when I got out of the car. I did however become unsure again. :)

On the sky coaster.
Happy nine years to my love. Thanks for not giving up on me and all my "breaks."

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Bear Lake

I ran my first half since having a baby a couple weeks ago. It's so surreal to me that one year ago I was in this same spot barely able to walk about to have a baby, the year before that I was running across the finish line of the half, and one year after having a baby I am able to run across the finish line again. It's just crazy what can happen in a year.

This race was HARD for me. Maybe it's because I didn't train very hard for it, maybe it's because I did two weight lifting classes that week and my legs were TIRED, maybe it 's because it was in Bear Lake and it's harder to breathe up there, maybe I was tired from not sleeping, or maybe I am just a WUSS and have a hard time being mentally strong but it was not a good finish time. 2:21. Ouch. That's okay though, I didn't think I'd get a record time. My friend Katie ran it with me, it was her first ever and she did awesome. She had to leave me because I was struggling so bad at about mile 10. My other friend Jen ran the full marathon and took second place for the women! She is born to run.

All in all a fun little weekend with friends. Oh and Charlie stole another little girls innocence from her with a kiss, this time it was Jane. That kid...

Waiting for the race to start.

Katie, Jen, and me at the finish.

At Jen's parents cabin, so beautiful. Katie, me, Holly, Jen.

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." :)