The Holbrook Family

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Dad's Day

To the man of the house. He is pretty wonderful. These kids adore him. I adore him. We would be lost without him. Happy Fathers Day Mark!

I got the kids ready for church by myself, like I do every week because Mark has meetings. This morning was not a very smooth morning but when Leila reaches for Kenya's hand, Charlie carrying his scriptures in his hand and I get this view as we walk into the chapel it makes it all worth it and puts everything into perspective for me.

One of the many reasons why I love Mark and what makes him such a good dad...

I snapped the picture of him praying when I was feeding Cora one morning and he was going to work. He is spiritually strong and faithful, he is wise and I know I'm going to be sending the kids to him when they need some spiritual uplifting and counsel. But although he can be very serious he also knows when to let loose and be a goofy dad/husband. Like this picture he photo bombed. I was trying to get Cora smiling. My kids will have many memories of dad dancing and singing in the house. He knows how to have fun too.

There we go, no photo bomb and a smile. :)

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Let Summer Begin!

Summer so far has been going pretty good. The kids started off right away with swim lessons so most mornings we get up, get to level 2 (routine, clean room, school work, reading, practice time, and any chores I decide to have them do,) then head off to swim lessons. Sometimes this takes and hour, sometimes it takes three...

Charlie snuck Cora into his bed while cleaning his room.

Lazy(ish) mornings. I'm not too good at lazy mornings, I kind of like to get up and get stuff done.

Three pink princesses.

After swim lessons most days we've hung out at the pool. Cora is at the perfect age to just hang out in her car seat and nap under the shade. She's been a breeze. I do feel like I'm packing up the whole house when I head out with all four kids though.

Leila took this picture while we were waiting for swim lessons to get over with. I'm feeding the baby with my crusty looking face that comes so natural to me. :)

Charlie and Kenya both passed their classes and can move onto the next level which was great since I jumped both of them up a couple levels this year.

I found Leila's princes and princesses like this in her bunk bed...

Sometimes I make my kids run laps when they're driving me a little crazy and have too much energy. It works well...

Afternoons and evenings at Station Park. It's been so so nice to have this place a mile away. We love it there and it just keeps getting better with all the stores and restaurants they're opening!

Gelato at Harmons.

Loving summer! We go year round on July 25th so we're packing it all in!

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Blessing Day

Cora Mae was blessed on June 9th. It was a beautiful day and a beautiful blessing by Mark. I was grateful to have my brothers and dad in the circle. I can't believe we've blessed four babies now! Where has the time gone. She has been such a sweet spirit in our home. I love having new babies in the home. Everyone's demeanor changes when they see her and talk to her. Charlie and Kenya have been so good with her and helpful, Leila too. I am sad every day to see her getting bigger but also excited to see her develop and discover her little personality more and more. So grateful to have supportive family and friends. We had a brunch at our house after. I was so exhausted I couldn't help myself and laid down for a minute with a couple of people still at our house. I quickly fell asleep and woke up two hours later! I stayed up late and got up after feeding Cora at 5:00 to try and prepare for a smooth day. I was grateful for understanding guests who did not judge me and a husband who didn't question me. :)

A little blurry, Charlie took these for me.

Leila was not very cooperative, she's eating her toes here...

A very full grateful heart that these kids were sent to me. I pray that I can be the mom that they deserve. I never fully realized what a huge responsibility being a mom can be, I fall so short so many times and feel that they deserve better often. I am grateful for all they teach me and grateful that they continue to love me like I love them. We are all learning here together I feel, I will never have it all figured out but I am grateful for a loving Savior who has paid the price for my imperfection. Hopefully I will be able to be better and better through him and a continued effort on my part. It's not easy but they're worth it.

I've had all three girls in this dress now so it is truly a treasure. You can see in this picture how Cora is a good little mix but is taking more after Kenya I think.

I had to leave the chaos to go nurse her. I remember with Charlie not loving having to leave the room to go feed him sometimes, I felt like I was missing out on stuff. Now I love having the excuse to escape for a few minutes and have some quiet time alone with her. These moments don't last long, I want to treasure them.

Friday, June 7, 2013

School's Out!

School got out a little later than usual this year, June 7 to be exact and I really didn't mind it! Probably because of having Cora it's been nice to have the kids occupied with school but I was excited to get our summer started. I had some goodies on the table set up for them, this was mostly stuff I had collected over the last couple weeks that I would've bought and given to them anyway. Pool toys, new summer outfit and a couple treats. They were most excited about the Hi-Chews of course.

I wrote them each a little note on the inside of the poster...

I walked down to the bus stop with Leila. When they got off the bus a bunch of them said "1,2,3... School's out!!!!!" and started running. It was cute.

I just love these pictures of Kenya and Leila.

Some pretty excited kids!

Charlie's mad because he had lost his friend privileges that day and I had just reminded him of it. I don't even remember why. Probably not listening to us. We went to the pool with Mark and later had a BBQ and late night with the Nixons so he didn't really miss out on anything. I probably should've taken these pictures in the morning but the mornings get away from you..

First and last day of kindergarten

First and last day of second grade.

Here's to a quick fun filled summer! Starting year round school on July 25th...

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." :)