Hair Bows!

How cute are these?! I'm pretty proud of myself and what I can accomplish while Bo takes his afternoon nap. I've been wanting to make Brooke some hair clips for awhile for the coming school year but I never got around to shopping for all of the supplies and stuff. I finally did and they turned out so cute I decided to include them with a birthday present for a birthday party we are going to on Saturday. I really hope the birthday girl enjoys them!

There Will be Music!!

How pretty is she?? Yes I've attached a gender to a piano...the Queen Ann legs make her a "she" in my opinion. This beautiful piano has joined our living room for the next 3 months and hopefully (fingers crossed) permanently after that. Bryan and I are so excited as are the kids which thus far have been following the new rules in our home regarding the piano perfectly. I love listening to Bryan play the piano. It is definitely one of the many wonderful qualities he had (and still has) that made me fall for him. I'm anxiously awaiting his piano music that my parents mailed out today and I'm more than excited to fill our living room with beautiful music! I'm hoping Bryan can teach me and Brooke some basic stuff and who knows maybe Brooke and Bo will want to pursue piano lessons in the future.

Brooke's Second Primary Talk

My sweet little girl gave her second talk in Primary this past Sunday. Brooke did wonderful and loves participating any way she can in Primary. I'm lucky enough to teach the class behind her and it's so fun to watch her enjoy Primary so much. Here is her talk which goes along with the Primary theme which is "The First Principles and Ordinances of the Gospel Make it Possible for me to Live with God Again."

Brooke's Talk

Good morning my name is Brooke Albee. Sometimes it is hard for me to listen to my mom and dad. My mom does not like it when I tease my baby brother Brody. Sometimes I take away a toy he is already playing with and he gets upset. there are times my mom says "Brooke please stop teasing your brother. It makes him sad and it makes me sad." And I ignore her and don't listen. My mom says that it is important for me to be good and kind to everyone and it is really important to practice good listening. Now I try my best everyday to be good and kind to everyone. It makes me feel really good when I practice good listening and make everyone happy.
When I am 8, I will be baptized and be given the Gift of the Holy Ghost. It is important for me to practice good listening now so when the time comes that the Holy ghost is trying to warn me of a bad situation or tell me to help someone in need, I will listen and go and do the things He asks.
I say this in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Recital Day

Brooke had her dance recital last Saturday and it was wonderful! Brooke did so awesome and I was one proud mama. I volunteered to help out with the dancers in the holding room and I had Brody with me so my family and Bryan could enjoy the show. Brody was so good as long as he had some boy stuff to do like playing with his cars. Brody was the only little boy in a room full of girls, he was pretty good and all the girls had plenty to do. Brooke is getting older, *insert tears, so I think this might have been my last recital as a parent volunteer. Next year I just might enjoy watching the entire show as an audience member.
I'm so proud of Brooke. Brooke loves dance and I feel badly that she has missed out on two recitals since her last at 2 1/2 because of all of our different moves in CA and out-of-state. It's so nice to be settled and to look forward to fun activities like this in the future. Dance starts up again in August, just before school, and I'm really looking forward to next year's recital.

Pre- Recital Photos

Last night Brooke had her Dance Recital Pictures done at her dance studio. I could not resist so before we left I snapped a few of my own pictures. Last minute it was decided that the girls were to wear their hair in a side ponytail. Bummer, Brooke's hair was so curly and adorable from the foam curlers I put in that morning (see post below). Perhaps next recital I will get to fix her hair curly, at least now I don't need to fuss with her hair as much as before. I've been watching her old dance recital tapes and I can't believe how much my sweet little girl has grown. We are super excited for Saturday and for Oma and Opa coming to visit tomorrow!

Recital Hair

It's Dance Recital Week! Yay! Tonight Brooke has recital pictures so I spent the morning, (a good hour and some) prepping her hair for tonight. I've never foam rolled her hair before so yes I practiced this last weekend so mama was ready and confident to do it this morning. I had so much fun though this morning playing around with her hair. It's moments like that, that make me so feel so blessed to have a daughter. Girl stuff is so fun! Lucky me gets to foam roll her hair two more times this week, once for rehearsal on Friday and then the big day Saturday!

A Week of Fun

We spent the entire week last week in CA. It was SO much fun. We got there Saturday late afternoon and that night Bryan and I were able to go on a much needed date while my mom and dad babysat the kids. We had Korean BBQ for the first time and it was so delicious and fun. On Sunday we had a little BBQ at a family members home and the kids got to go swimming. This was Brody's first swimming pool experience and his lame mother had forgotten to bring her camera. I feel so bad I didn't get any pictures of him, he loved it. The pool was so warm he started to fall asleep so after 20 or so minutes of swim time he was so ready for his afternoon nap.
Monday through Friday Bryan had to work. I was able to spend lots of time with my family and friends. Lucky me! Thursday night I went out to dinner with my two best girlfriends and we had such a great time catching up with each other. I miss them so much!Friday night was spent on a double date and that too was so much fun! Saturday we did a Porto's run. I have been craving my potato balls and cheese rolls for months! My craving was more than satisfied.
So this whole week of enjoyment has zero pictures to show for it. Sad I know.I was living in the moment. The picture above was the only picture I took of my two little babes this past week.
We had a great time and I'm hoping we make it back one more time this summer for a beach trip. It's good to be home and I'm super excited for Brooke's dance recital coming up in less than two weeks and a visit from Oma and Opa!