Fall Fun 2010

 We spent a lot of time this summer at Papa and Nana's pool.  This is Ethan and Cameron wearing Papa out!

 Bobby (Sharon's nephew's daughter), Sharon, and Brookers.  The girls moved on to wearing water wings this summer.  Cameron did a wonderful job jumping into the water and swimming back to the steps by herself.  Brooke started wearing water wings and by the end of the summer and she was even keeping her head above water by herself!  So proud of you Brookers!

  A bedazzled Brookie.  And some very clean girls.  Not sure why Cameron is picking her brain...

 One happy Cameron.  The girls were having a snack before Cameron's first ballet lesson.  Her friend Erin took her as a special guest to class.

 Brooke has had a tough transition into me working again.  OH- I got a job as a "learning specialist" in Farmington.  See bottom of blog for details..  But obviously, she is happy here.  Well, it is snack time so yeah, she's happy.

 Cameron is showing off her sweet dance moves.

 You are awesome Cameron!!!  She did very well on her first ballet dance class. I would love to put her in class each week, but they offer on Saturdays at 11am and we are so busy on the weekends.  So I think we'll have to table this until next year... We'll see.

 Maddie and Brooke playing together.  Tim and Scott went to the cabin so Terry, Max and Maddie came over for a sleepover party!!!  It was fantastic for everyone.  We went to the park and ate pizza.  Then the kids were banished to the basement to watch a movie and Terry and I watched adult tv!!  Wait.  I mean tv shows that are not rated G. Then the kids went to bed and we watched The Hangover.  So funny.  Wine and a funny movie!  What a great night!

 Mr. Max

 Cama lama ding dong.

 Mad Pants playing playdough

Today we wen to an apple orchard in Lakeville. Terry, Scott, Max and Maddie.  Poopa.  Megan and her kids Maria , Carmen, and Benji went too.  I tried to get Cameron and Brooke to take a picture together, but stubborn Brooke would not agree to it.

 

 Not in a photographic mood apparently.

 Good try Cameron.

Maddie and Cameron at the orchard.

 Poopa and the grandkids.

 Superstar

 Haystack fun

 Aunt Terry with the pink girls.

Max racing Cameron on the tractors.  They charged $2/kid !  What a rip off.  I was disappointed.  This was parents pushing their kids on a play tractor.  Really?  I feel this needs an REALLY? With Seth and Amy episode.  SNL.

 The Poops with the Brookster.

 Don't remember this because you will see this on our xmas card soon!

 What a bunch of innocent darlings... ahem.

 Silly girls

 Poopa and his kiddos.

Terry with Max, Cameron, and Madeline.

So I finally got a job in Farmington.  I am a "learning specialist."  I teach 2nd grade writing to all the second graders at Akin Road and then travel to Riverview Elementary where I teach 2,4.5 grade math.  I love the district and both schools.  Everyone is positive and friendly.  I am fine with leaving the girls.  My daycare lady takes Cameron to preschool twice a day.  Brooke likes going to Anji's house.  There is no fighting in the mornings, which is wonderful. The only issue I have is that Cameron is not napping.  She was already moving in this direction late summer.  She is so wonderful and happy when she naps.  Otherwise she is so short tempered that it is a struggle to have fun with her in the evenings.  So that is sort of a bummer.  Brooke has taken on a violent streak.  She often abuses her sister by pulling her hair and/or hurting her.  I have had to model to Cameron how to defend herself and tell Brooke NO!  She has been getting better though.  I have hope. Otherwise life is fantastic!

Fall is in full swing - my favorite season.  It is the start of birthdays galore and all the fun holidays!  I decorated for Fall already! 

Tim is in 3 fantasy football leagues and is busy with baseball and football.  I will soon be busy with the WILD!  They traded Boogaard.  So I am pretty upset with the team. But I know they didn't do it to hurt me...  :)

Jill and Family.



Heat Wave

Summer has flown by. I truly don't know where each day goes. It is already Wednesday! We have lots of fun swimming at Papa and Nana's house, going to the beach, parks and playdates with our friends. Cameron eating cake at Maddie's 3rd birthday party.
Brooke is trying on all of Maddie's glamorous gifts.

This is a talent show at our friend Kelly's house. Cameron, Grace, Anna (both also Rogge's- no relation) me, Brooke, Rachel (with baby Hazel in womb...) and Dresden.

We are at Dan and Chrissie's wedding reception in Eau Claire in August. They were married in Estes Park in June. Cameron was so happy to FINALLY go to a wedding reception because we did not invite her to the other weddings this summer!

This was actually today. The girls had a talent show (dress up and dancing) and then ate lunch at the island still in fancy clothes.

Brooke is upset b/c I stole her nookie for a picture.

This must be Cameron's favorite pose b/c she is often doing this when I ask them to take pictures together.

Cameron is a great big sister. She will hold Brooke's hand and then jump off the bricks together. Not that Brooke always wants Cameron to be bossy to her or help her.

Doesn't she have the best smile?

It was too hot to go outside. Cameron wanted to wear her jammies. It is about 4pm in this picture. We spend so much time outside that sometimes we have to take a sun break and be in love with the air conditioning.

Happy swimmers

Hugs for my sister Brookie Sue.

Hanging out.

Like I said, this summer has flown by. Really the whole year went by fast. Pretty soon it will be Halloween again...

Cameron is absolutely thrilled to be a flower girls in Auntie Beka's wedding. I am not sure she will be able to wait a whole year. Brooke will also be a flower girl, but has no idea about what it means. Her cousins Ethan and Hayden will also be in the wedding. Should make for some great memories! I can't wait either. I do love a good wedding and this one is the only one scheduled for next summer. I don't think I can only have one wedding to go to, that is just not enough.

As for our lives besides the girls... I have had a few interviews, but no job luck so far. I am still happy and hopeful. Tim really likes his job and that is always a plus. He works a lot, but has no complaints. Has gotten in a few rounds of golf as well.

July 2010

Chrissie's bridal shower in Eau Claire in June. Poopa and his basketball girls took care of Max, Maddie, Cameron and Brooke. Terry and I got to have a lovely evening kid-free at the shower.

The girls opting not to swim, but throw things in instead.

Max pushing Cameron on the horse swing. Cameron threw up the next day after doing this for too long. Poor baby.

Brooke got some new Ariel jammies from Aunt Terry. The girls are "matchy matchy!" now.

We spent the 4th of July at the cabin. They had such a great time. They had all the grandparent's attention. Tim and I got to relax a bit.

Say CHEESE Brookers!!! In their 4th of July gear.

It was heavily misting one morning, but that did not stop Cameron. She and Tim went for a walk and searched for that mysterious bass...

Sparklers. I was quite proud of her for holding it as she is usually a little chicken when it comes to things like this.

A few generations of sparkler holders.

Snuggle time with Poopa.

CHINDA!!! That means to feed the fish. According to Cameron.

Timbo taking Cambo for a kayak ride. She loved it.

Brookie watching dad/cameron kayaking.

She decided it looked fun so she went for ride too. She also loved it. I was surprised b/c she doesn't often like new things where she doesn't have control. She did great.

CHEESE Brookers!

Playing with Poopa. The girls loved being at the cabin and having so much attention. They were wonderful. We even went to the beach down the lane and swam there too.

This was how Brooke looked most of the car ride home.

Cameron and her best friend, Boti. You know it was a fun trip when the girls pass out before Hwy 8 and stay that way until we get home!

This is Brooke in Time-Out. She refuses to sorry when she repeated hits one of us. She will sit here for 20 minutes. I ask her every few minutes if she'll say sorry and quivers her lip and says, "no."

Finally she'll say "soppy" its so adorable! I just want to eat her up.

Raphaela's first wedding brunch. We went to four events for her wedding! I tough time finding four sheiky meiky outfits.

Japanese Gardens. Raphaela and Charlie had a lovely wedding. We went to a German bar before the reception in honor of Raphaela. We had some of the best food ever! Deep fried reubens! YUM!

Rachel, Kristin, Raph, and me. We are so hot! :)

This was our last of the four weddings. Summer of Wedding has come to an end. Kinda nice b/c now we have half of summer left and no real commitments. We get to do anything we want. Like running through the fountains at the zoo with our cousins and friends. We have yet to hit the beach or public pool. I might need back up for that!

Cameron and Brooke spent lots of time at Papa and Nana's this summer while we were at our weddings. Cameron asks each day to go back and go swimming. It's good to know that she had a lot of fun and was not sad. Although she likes to tell me how much she missed us while we were on "bacation."

Jill and Tim