Happy Halloween......A Week Late!

I realize it has been forever since my last post and many have given up on me, so that is why I am glad that a holiday actually arrived so I COULD have something interesting to blog about! OR something not so interesting because I lost the cord to my camera so I can't post any of the adorable pictures of Brooklyn as none other than a Michigan Cheerleader, or of the crazy annual Halloween party we get suckered into hosting every year! We did have a blast and were glad that all our friends that we invited were able to make it.

This Halloween was extra fun because Brooklyn actually got the concept. Instead of saying 'Trick of Treat' though she would say ' I want tandy'! She did get a little freaked out though after the third house because we pushed her up to all the doors in her stroller, which put her pretty low to the ground, only to have almost every door that opened up to us also had a dog that would come running out to greet our daughter is ironically terrified of anything with fur. So we called it quits a little early but it was still a blast. I'm sure I'll find the cord to my camera around June so I'll post the pictures then!

Family Pictures

It's pretty sad when the best family picture that I have to choose from is the one posted at the top of my blog! Somewhere between our last family picture and now, Brooklyn has completely forgotten how to smile. Holly did a wonderful job, and I'm still surprised that any of them turned out based on how they started out. We took these pictures in Island park and I managed to forget about half of what I needed. I forgot Brooklyn's curling iron, hence her flat hair. I also forgot her headband, and her shoes (what does she ever need shoes for??!!?). I was pretty annoyed before the pictures were taken, so really it is a surprise that I don't have a smile more like Brooklyn's in all the pictures too!! Here are some of my favorites, and some of my not so favorites......... I'm sure you will be able to tell the difference!

News You Never Want to Hear

Saying that things around our house have been pretty tough lately is an understatement. Jonny's oldest brother Jason who is 33 had been having some pretty scary problems with his eyes starting about six months ago. Though he went to a number of doctors and had a number of tests run, the doctors found nothing to be concerned about. The family continued to worry though because his symptoms continued to get more and more frequent. So last week Jason went to the hospital for a follow up appointment for another MRI. Unfortunately this MRI proved that Jason's anxieties were not un- founded because it found a cancerous brain tumor. He had surgery to remove the tumor on Thursday which went really well. Unfortunately the doctors also discovered that the tumor was a Primary tumor, meaning it originated in the brain which makes this type of cancer so much more serious. The doctor who has been working with Jason told him that this type of cancer gives its patients 1-4 years to live. Though those of you who know the amazing people the Fishers are know that they are going to fight hard, and pray even harder.
I
can't describe the devastation this family has felt the last week, but along with that has come at times a great calmness to Jason, his wife Heather, and many members of the family who have been touched by the spirit as they have prayed and been part in giving priesthood blessings to Jason. Anyone who knows Jonny and his two brothers knows that there was never three brothers who were more different, yet so alike. They laugh at the same dumb jokes, they are obsessed with Michigan football, and when Jonny hangs out with them for too long he talks just like them! I guess as the younger brother he still wants to be just like them :)

I don't anticipate updating the ups and downs that will no doubt be ever present during this process. I will let Jason and Heather share what they feel they want to share through this difficult time. Jonny did set up a blog for Jason and Heather to keep family and friends informed but I'm not sure they have begun to use it yet. I will add them on my blog as a link and when (if) they begin using it.

Family Reunion

We just returned from yet another successful family reunion at the Fisher family cabin in Island Park. I would have to say that I probably get more excited about these reunions than Jonny does, and it's his family! Brooklyn had so much fun just crawling around in the dirt and playing in the sand with what seemed like the hundreds of children that were there. We had a blast and enjoyed being with everyone again.I only took pictures on one day and it was the day that there was a carnival for the kids with face painting, a fish pond, cookie decorating, and a pinata. Here are a couple of pictures of Brooklyn at the Carnival.


Here she is showing off her beautiful face painting done by Aunt Heather. She really did love it. She got a fish on one side of her face and a flower on the other.

This was Brooklyn trying to crack open the pinata. Or at least trying to hit it!



Here are some random pictures that I took a while ago of Brooklyn standing. I've wanted to post them for a while so here they are! Isn't she such a big girl? We take the couch cushion off and it's just about the right hight for her to stand. She loves to stand up and down like this while sitting on the couch and watching her favorite movie Elmo.

I Hate Tags!

I have put off doing my tag for a while now, but since I got the same tag twice, I suppose I will play along. I am sure you are on the edge of your seats dying to know eight MORE things about me! Here goes.....

Rules:1. Each player starts with 8 random habits/facts about themselves.2. People who are tagged need to write a post on their blog about their eight things and post these rules.3. At the end of the post you need to choose 8 people to get tagged and list their names.

1. I am a very sleepy person. Jonny says I am a three year old trapped in an adult body. I rarely go a day without a nap and if I do I'm not happy about it. When camping, visiting family or friends, you can bet I'm the first one to call it a night.

2. I get sooooo car sick I don't even like going to Wal-Mart if I'm not driving. Reading in a car is out of the question along with turning around to give Brooklyn a sippy, or to pick up a toy she dropped. Those things alone can make me queasy for the next twenty minutes! Unfortunately for Jonny, on vacation he loves to drive all over the place sightseeing and exploring. My upset stomach puts an end to that fun real quick.

3.I love cereal. I eat it for Breakfast, lunch, and as a side with dinner. Though I love sweets, I don't like sweet cereal.

4. I Have yet to find "my thing". I have played most sports and still end up hiding in the back or sitting on the bench. I've attempted to sew countless blankets and skirts, but I end up swearing during most of it and it ends up crooked or un-usable. I have scrapbooked, made dozens of bows, and will hide both of these is anyone asks to look at them. I hate school and pass by the skin of my teeth. I've taken piano for years and can barely stumble through a song.(wow, I'm gonna need some help with my self-esteem when this is done!) Lucky for me though, I'm an under-achiever and like mentioned above, I'm much too sleepy to care!

5. I'm a neat freak. The only thing I don't underachieve at is keeping my house clean. I can't go to bed with a messy kitchen and I vacuum even it's clean just because I like the lines it makes in the carpet. I may be rubbing off on Brooklyn because she freaks if she makes a mess on the floor or her hands are messy or sticky.

6. It's no surprise, but I love staying home with my little girl. Though there are times I get a little bored and things get mundane, I wouldn't trade it for anything. I spend half the day thinking, "who gets to do this?" Especially when I get to nap with her, rock her, read her books, buy hamburgers and chicken nuggets and have picnic with just me and her at the park. It's awesome.

7. I still have the same best friends that I met in the 7th grade. Now who can say that! We still love to get together with all our husbands (those of us that are married) and it feels like old times. Too much like old times because our poor husbands can't get a word in and we laugh non-stop.

8. I'm too sleepy to think up an eight one. Any of my good buddies want to think up one for me?

I tag whoever wants to do it. I'm not even sure I have eight people to tag!

Hip Hip--Hippo Therapy!

It's a dumb name I know but Hippo therapy is a real thing and we have finally got our scaredy cat of a daughter to try it. You can Google Hippo therapy and find out tons on it, but I'll give you the shortened version of our new found hobby/therapy. Hippo therapy is basically riding a horse. "They" claim that horses walk very similar to humans, so if you put a child on a horse (there are all sorts of ways you have to do it), but if the child has mobility or strength issues, riding the horse will do wonders for them and actually give them the feeling that they are walking and strengthen all sorts of muscles. They also use this therapy for children with emotional or mental problems and it is supposed to calm them and help them in numerous other ways mentally and socially. Pretty cool right?

I'm kinda mad at myself though because all winter long I waited for it to be nice so we could start this therapy but stupid me forgot all about it earlier this summer because of all the other crazy stuff going on in our lives, and also Brooklyn is afraid of her goldfish (I'm serious), so what chance did we have of getting her on a horse? Well after weeks of trying, this past week she finally rode my parents good ol' horse Flicka (aka Ficka), several times in fact. She even got so relaxed that she sang and laughed while we rode. Now I hope the weather stays nice enough a little longer for us to keep up our daily horse rides and that I hope we will see these miracle benefits that should come from this therapy. Here are a couple pictures of our horsey rides.

If it wasn't for my mom's friend Gwen who goes dilegently every morning with her 18 year old son who is autistic, I wouldn't go either! Gwen chases down Flicka, gets her all harnessed, and then makes about 15 laps around the pasture by the time she takes her son and Me and Brooklyn. This is rare smile from Brooklyn while riding the horse!

Since we always go horse riding first thing in the morning, this was the first time Jonny got to experience the "joy" it is to ride around the pasture with our calm daughter!
For Family Home Evening we all decided to roast hot dogs and smores and ride the horses. I grew up with these horses and can probably count the times I have ridden them. I'm glad this therapy has benefited everyone being able to get together, and we actually remember that we have horses now!

Brooklyn puttin' on a brave face, but really wanting to scream her head off. She's pretty good if you make is seem like she's not on a horse at all. Having her sandwiched between four cousins really helps! I just love the fat little tummy poking out of her shirt. She had eaten about four smores by this point.

Normal At Last......

well as normal as things are around our house! For once I haven't had a list of things to post which in my eyes is a good thing. Things have definitely slowed down finally and we have been really enjoying the last half of summer. Brooklyn and I have fallen into a routine of going on a bike ride, then to the park for free lunch, then taking naps (including me), and usually followed by swimming at someones house and playing with cousins. Don't you love summer?

I dare say that I have never seen Brooklyn so happy. Don't get me wrong, the 'terrible twos' is a title that she rightfully deserves by the growing number of tantrums that just started surfacing a couple times a day! But never have I seen her able to explore and entertain herself. She has finally reached a level of independence that is a miracle to me. Somehow over night she has become my little helper and quite the jabber jaws. I laugh at her every day! I guess this all came as a surprise because I was sure that once she got those casts off it would take time for her to get strength in her legs back, but the opposite happened. She gained so much muscle from lugging those things around that she crawls better than ever and even stands (with her walker) occasionally. We videoed her standing for the first time which I'll try to post soon.
With weeks as fun as these it makes me wonder what we'll do to entertain ourselves come winter!