The Holbrook Family

Monday, December 29, 2008

Happy Holidays

Thanks Jayme for the cute holiday pictures! Check out her blog we're missing the "naughty or nice" picture but you can find it there. She does an awesome job!

Merry Christmas! I'm a little late with this post, just like everything lately, but that's okay. It's been a busy week! We had a great Christmas. Charlie was so excited for Santa to come. We had Christmas Eve at our house with Mark's family minus his sister Maurena and her hubby Nate who finally had their little boy Samuel on the 19th (almost 2 weeks late!). We got to go visit them that day and I forgot my camera. :( He is a cutie though.

Mark and his brothers Bryan and Rick

Me and my sisters in law Kristen and Christie (Rick's wife).

Charlie and his cousins Ricky and Hallie (2 of Rick and Christie's kids)

CHRISTMAS MORNING

Charlie woke up at 6:50, not too terribly bad especially for him but he couldn't wait very long so we had to wake up Kenya shortly after. She's still waking up right here and has her Christmas morning hair style. :)

When Charlie came down to our room he said "Mom, Santa came! I saw the presents and Kenya got a kitchen!"

Giving her lamb loves

She loves these babies! It is so cute to see her play with them.

She loves this gift! She has been playing with it so much, feeding the babies, pushing them in the stoller, putting them down for night night. It's so cute. Note the dolls she won't let go of.

Charlie was waiting pretty patiently until the end to open up his big gift from Santa. He was so excited to get a big race track that he wanted and hasn't stopped playing with it.

My mom and Rick came up from Arizona this year, it was great to see them for Christmas!

That night we went to Jared and Amy's for dinner. They are great hosts and we had a fun time.

The three babies. Greta, Knox, and Kenya

Sailor, Kaia, and Harper

We had a wonderful Christmas! This year Mark and I decided not to get each other anything since we need a new video camera (Santa did manage did get us each a new pair of shoes though) but I was totally content with watching my kids enjoy their presents, it brings the excitement of Christmas back again, (and no this does not mean you're off the hook for all Christmas's now Mark) :) I'm so grateful for my family and feel so blessed!

Friday, December 19, 2008

Let It Snow!

I have to say that I'm loving the snow right now! It has come at the perfect time and I'm excited that there will be snow for Christmas this year. It's the snow in May and June, okay March and April too, that kills me! Charlie is having a blast playing in our yard and tonight was Kenya's first official trip out in the snow! She loved walking by Mark as he cleared our drive way. Then she found the sled so I took her around on that. Charlie was pretty excited about this little hill that was created by our neighbors snow plow. He has a four wheeler with a shovel on the front. Let's just say Mark is envious and our 3 wheeler or the hand me down snow blower is now not good enough. He doesn't usually want things so this is unusual. We'll have to see if we can talk Jeff into letting Mark borrow his toy instead. :)

Sledding down the "hill"

Loving the snow instead of the dirt/mud on our yard.

Still trying to ride his scooter in the snow.

Little snow princess. Her eye is still crossing sometimes. :( Dr. Hoffman says it's not severe enough to need another surgery yet and her eyesite is fine. She also has a flat bridge on her nose so it makes it look like they're crossing even more than they are. Even still she's a cross eyed cutie.

A Warm Welcome

Our friends Lynette and Nate came down from Seattle last week so we were so excited that they got to come over and spend an evening with us and Paige and Russ. Lynette and I use to be neighbors when she decided she was too good for Farmington and had to move to Seattle! :) It was through her that I met Paige so I'm glad she left me a friend in her place. :) Anyway we had a great time just talking and laughing all night. Our kids love playing together and Charlie was in heaven, staying up late with a house full of kids. It took him a few days to catch up on his sleep but it was still worth it. :) Thanks for the visit guys, still hoping one day you'll move back!

Friday, December 12, 2008

As Charlie would say...How 'bout that for Kenya!

Kitchen for Kenya?... Check! I have been on the hunt for a while for a kitchen for Kenya for Christmas, a lot of looking on line, you know-finding one, finding it's sold out, looking on ebay, debating on which one, reading reviews, you do know right? Please tell me I'm not the only one who does this! Well I thought my search had ended a couple days ago when I found a kidkraft silver and red one for a great price (I decided to go gender neutral for obvious reasons,) then I came across one at Down East from here. I didn't pay much attention to it at first because it was totally broken on the showroom floor but thank you Lindsay who brought to my attention that they might have some more and they did still in their box! This retails for $249 so I was feeling good when the price tag said $99 but it got even better when they were giving an addtional %25 off! I love a deal, as I was driving home I was thinking I should've bought two in case anyone else was looking for a kitchen. So I've decided to share the deal with all of you! Thank you Down East, you have one happy mom.

Here is a tiny picture. No fridge though, just the stove/sink.

Friday, December 5, 2008

No Naps?

It's 4:00, Kenya has been in her crib since 1:30 and she's still not asleep! What is going on! I took her binky away for her naps a week or so ago and wasn't very consistent with it for the first few days but for the last 3 days I've stuck to it and 2 of the 3 days she hasn't slept! I didn't think she needed it that bad, she doesn't have it at night anymore so I thought this would be easy. She doesn't really cry either, she's just jumping around in her crib, squealing, and talking. What do I do? I'm hoping if I stick to it then it'll work out and get back to normal but what 18 month old plays in their crib for 3 hours without falling asleep? Charlie is still taking naps, I know she's not ready to give them up. The crazy thing is that she's as happy as can be. I just went in to get her out and she just laughs at me. Who is this child? She's a different one. :)

Thursday, December 4, 2008

The Lights!

We had a grand idea to go see the lights at Temple Square on the night that they lit them. Not such a grand idea after all! It was so crowded! We rushed through and went home. It was still fun but it's much more enjoyable when there's not so many people there. We decided to take Front Runner out there. It was our first time so that was an experience too! Kenya just wanted to do laps climbing up and down the stairs the whole way. My mom watched me wrestle with her, trying desperately to keep her entertained on my lap so I wouldn't have to follow her around while she did another lap. She later said to me "Your kids sure don't have your personality, you were such a mellow easy baby!" No fair, when am I gonna get one of those! :) The funny thing is that I thought Kenya was going to be my laid back child and she's totally turned on me! They are definately "spirited" kids but we'll keep them!

We managed to get a shot without somebody walking through the picture.

My mom and Rick on the train.

Kenya's great in this stroller for about 5 seconds if it's not moving.

Cami and Rich and their kids Kaia, Sailor, and Luke. It was Cami's birthday, Happy Birthday Cami! It was a fun filled day of black Friday shopping! I'm so grateful to have such a great friend for a sister.

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." :)