The Builders

Happy Halloween from the Builders!
Brooke loves the TV show "Bob the Builder" so much that the whole family dressed up as the two main characters, Bob and Wendy. Big Bob (Brad), Mommy Wendy (me), Little Wendy (Brooke) and Baby Bobby (Bridger) had a great time last night camping out in the front yard around a campfire, drinking apple cider, playing with friends and handing out candy. Brooke LOVES Halloween now and had the job of giving candy to the trick or treaters. Brad also took her to a few houses, where she very quickly caught on. She'd ring the doorbell, say "trick or treat" and "thank you" and even tried to rush into several houses! This girl was not bashful!

Here are a few pics from the evening. Don't miss Bobby's toolbelt and the earrings on the Wendies!
Little Wendy

Baby Bobby

Big Bob and Bobby

Brooke and her loot

Our Bob-o-lantern

No worries, man!

While working on the Miata together, Brad taught Brooke a new phrase: "No worries, man!" This is what they say whenever there's a problem (like Brad's new amplifier not fitting under the seat as he had planned for eight weeks!). Brooke is his grease monkey buddy and has spent hours out there working with him this week.

On Monday she saw a firetruck at preschool and today she went to the pumpkin patch with her class -- very exciting! So much fun, in fact, that she burst into tears when she saw me arrive to pick her up! She cries almost every day when we drive away from school. I can't even tell her the night before school that she'll go the next day because she'll have a meltdown -- because she wants to go "right now"!!! Here's a picture of her ready for school today, wearing her pumpkin outfit that Grandmother gave her. She even keeps the hat on!


Fortunately, when she was so distraught that I had come to take her away from school, I was able to tell her that we were going to the park for a picnic with her friends, Grace and Garrett Russell (and their respective baby siblings, Daniel and Harper). They had a great time playing. Of course, all three toddlers had trouble focusing on eating and then had simultaneous meltdowns when it was time to leave.

Look at how long her hair is! (To answer the three most asked questions about her hair, no, it's never been cut, yes, those curls are completely natural and yes, I'm afraid that I might cut the curls off since they're all on the ends!)


Bridger didn't seem to mind, though. :) No worries, man!

Visiting grandparents

We've enjoyed visits with Gran and Granddad lately! Mom was a huge blessing and was able to come stay with us for Bridger's first week at home. She cooked, cleaned, made play dough, went shopping for us, drove Brooke to preschool, gave baths, read stories, organized two and a half years of Brooke's clothes and our baby things and was a first class baby and toddler entertainer! (All that while recovering from gall bladder surgery!) What a Godsend!!!




Granddad came this weekend and stayed for a couple of nights. We enjoyed a relaxing visit playing with Brooke's dollhouse, watching football, walking to the antique fair in downtown Crabapple, gleaning insight on our Founding Fathers (thanks to Dad's current literary interest) and getting our facts straight on Daniel Boone folklore.

Unfortunately, Brooke's been under the weather with a bad cough, a fever, new molars coming in and growing pains in her legs. Poor girl!!! I'll probably take her to the doctor tomorrow. She's in remarkably good spirits, though, and had great fun playing piano with Granddad, showing him her sandbox, pretending to take a nap with him and covering him with her blankets. Bridger enjoyed napping with Granddad (no pretending there!), his first trip to a restaurant (Chinese) and his second visit to Bruster's ice cream shop. He slept through the outings, but I'm sure he enjoyed the food once it got to him!



Brooke has also had a great time staying with Grandmother and Granddaddy (Nancy and Scott) lately. They watched her the weekend Bridger was born and also last weekend. Here's a picture of Brooke on her tricycle at their house. (I'm really glad she can ride down there, because the hill on our driveway is completely unsuitable for riding toys.) She frequently spends weekends with them; Brooke absolutely loves staying there. I'm so glad that she'll grow up with those memories. It's great that she's so comfortable in her home away from home. I can tell that they really have a special bond. Thanks again, Scott and Nancy!