The Holidays Went By in a Blur!

Grandma Tye time...

Brooke is a rock star... notice the microphone on the floor.

Thanksgiving in Eau Claire.  Poopa and Brookie having some fun.

Great Grandma Helen helping Brooke to color.  G-Grandma will be 97 this year!

Diann and Brookie.

"Brooke, don't eat the cookie dough..."  What a guilty face.  Totally caught in the act.

Terry and Grandma Sue helping to make gingerbread cookies.

Brooke reading a book while we decorate for Christmas.

Heading out in the snow.

It's the first snowstorm of the season. Brooke is having a lot more fun this year. 

Tim bought the girls shovels to help him shovel.  The snowblower broke and instead of fixing it he decided he'll shovel this year.  I declined to help.  I'll happily snowblow....  Little does he know the snowfall will be of record proportions this winter!

Cameron found her love of photography.  I showed her how to take pictures with our camera.  She posed us...and Aurora.

Brooke wanting do dance at Cameron's ballet "recital."

Miss Gwen and the girls

Cameron, Brooke and their friends Erin and Leah.

Off to see the Macy's top floor display and dinner with the Rogges.

Sassy pants Brooke.

 Maddie, Poopa and Brooke at dinner before the show.

 The cousins....

 Cameron and Max waiting in line.  So cute.

 Brooke is such a good kisser.

Brooke's 2nd birthday party!  So excited that the gifts were for her.

Mom and Brooke!  Happy birthday baby!

 Christmas at Papa and Nana's.  The girls all got matching Hello Kitty jammies.

 Christmas Eve...heading to Aunt Terry's house for Polish Dinner.

Christmas morning... both girls got a Jessie doll from Santa!

 Cameron's favorite winter snack is snow!

 The required hot chocolate after playing outside...

 Tim went to Scott's cabin for a weekend of ice fishing.  We had a party night.  Popcorn and a movie.

 New bed sets! We decided to get Brooke a big girl bed.  We were worried she wouldn't stay in it, but she never leaves it!  She waits in it until we come and get her.  So wonderful!

 We also got Cameron and new bed.  Her old one was a bed frame with a poorly attached headboard that rattled everytime she moved in the bed.  She loves her new bed.

 My school had a Sock Hop so my mom and I made the girls poodle skirts. 

They were really excited to go.  It was a little bit crazy and loud, but it was fun!

 

Valentine's Day.  Girls got books and a little bit of candy.  All is well with the Rogges.  Tim loves his job and is doing very well.  I love my job as well.  I never thought I'd be teaching second graders, but I love it.  Winter has been long and I cannot wait for some sun....

Fall 2010

 Super cool Brookers.

 Brooke in the corn maze in Farmington.

Jill and her girls in the corn maze.

 
 Cameron's usual pose - trying to get Brooke in the picture.

 Raphaela came to visit and we went to our usual semi fancy haunt.  Enjoy.  They serve a fantastic cheese plate.  We usually order the cheese plate, followed by 2 bottles of wine, followed by another cheese plate!  We found out Rachel is pregnant!  I dropped my phone- I couldn't believe it.  It's such great news for someone who has worked hard and been very patient to start her family.

 Brooke having fun in the leaves.

The girls loved to sing Happy Birthday to dad and have a party.
 Happy birthday to you dad!

 Mom and Brookie.

 Grandma Tye came for pizza and cake.

 Both girls were not to be ignored during gift opening.

 CHEESE Brookers!!!!  Love the cake face!

 It's a vest day!  Getting chilly out there!

 Lots of running and jumping in the backyard.  Tim blows the leaves in a huge pile.  Does anyone rake anymore?

 Rogge version of Where's Waldo?

 Happy Halloween.  The girls waited and waited and waited to wear their costumes and go trick or treating.  We went to a preschool Halloween party a few days before Halloween.  Cameron was so excited to go trick or treating.

 Brooke love it too!  She ran to each house and said her version of Trick or Treat.  It was super cute.

 My flower

 Papa and Nana came over that day to help finish carve pumpkins.  We started with two and ended up with five.  How does that work?  That is a lot of carving.  Tim uses a pattern and his dremel and drills a fancy picture.  This year we had Jasmine and Mickey I believe.

 Papa wimped out and drew his.

 Does this need a caption?

 Cameron and Nana

Brookies keeping an eye on Papa.

Halloween was a blast and now we've moved on to .... Xmas.  Where did Thanksgiving go?  Work is wonderful for us both.   I love teaching 2nd grade.  I am so thrilled to have this opportunity.  I always get placed in 6th - which I loved too.  But this is different.  And I am enjoying it.

The snowfall was a blast.  I forgot to take pictures. Cameron freaked out when I showed her the snow out her bedroom window.  We went out at 8am and played.  Cameron did not want to come in and Brooke did not like it.  She just need to learn how to walk in it better.  Tim and I make a HUGE sled track into our neighbors yard.  Cameron even rode it by herself.  What a tough girl.  Oh, she declared herself a "snow girl."  "I want to go outside.  I'm a snowgirl."  So the weekend was a blast. 

Our daycare called tonight to let us know that everyone but Cameron and Brooke has strep throat.  Now it begins.... I am having flashbacks of last winter and the puke fests.....

The girls are already asking for gifts - it's helpful when they mention what they REALLY REALLY want so at least I have a clue.  Cameron wistfully voiced that she reeeealllly wished it was her birthday so she could get a camera.  Good thing Poopa and Grandma are already on that!

Happy Fall to you!