Be Mine, Little Valentine

Brooklyn and I enjoying our chocolate eclair cake. It was so easy to make and is one of my new favorite treats! I think I almost ate the whole pan myself...almost.

Our kids were sick on Valentine's Day so we stayed away from crowds or people altogether and celebrated on our family room floor instead! We ordered take-out and had an indoor picnic. It was actually reallly funny because Beckam kept eating the rose petals we had sprinkled out all over and Brooklyn was so excited to be having a picnic on the floor that she kept getting up and dancing around, stepping on our food and visiting each person sitting on the blanket.

Here's little man all bundled up.

Brooklyn loves to play with daddy anywhere, anytime. She adores him.

Earlier that morning, we bundled the kids up and went out to play in the snow for a little while- the doctor said the cold air would be good for the kid's to breathe in. Jason and Brooklyn stomped a big heart out in the snow. Beckam LOVED it outside, he snuggled on my shoulder and laid there watching the snow the entire time. He didn't move a muscle and was in the state of total relaxation.

It turned out Beckam had RSV!! You would have never known though, he laughed and played and smiled through the whole sickness and never had to be hospitalized...thank Heaven!!!! But, he never slept at night...which means I didn't either- and we're both really, really tired to say the least. I think my body just expects not to sleep anymore- like it's learned to live without it.

What sticks with you?

I was just realizing the other day how many wierd and random little things I do or say are from random childhood moments: some make me laugh, some psyche me out, and some just make me cry...but all interesting nonetheless.

I noticed that I shake water off of me after swimming before I dry off with a towel...why? I recall an experience from childhood when my family went to our notorious spot at Bear Lake. I got out of the lake, and shivering in my little 5-year-old skin, asked my dad for a towel. His response was, "just shake it off!" and I did!!!! Crazy how that has stuck with me.

Another thing that has stuck with me is snuggling. Everyone knows I grew up in a large family, so I never had a room (or a bed for that matter) to myself. Now, I seriously sleep with pillows surrounding my entire body...I'm not comfortable unless I am all snuggled up. If Jason's not right next to me, then a pillow is. Although, pillows are a nice replacement for the bumbs that once surrounded me from childhood years. Anyone who knows me or my family can just laugh at that one!

I would love to hear what has stuck with you! Hopefully I'm not the only crazy one.

Jarin and Megan get hitched!

Aliah (neice) and Brooklyn...always together.

The Wolfley family is now 47 members strong and growing! We don't really ever have to invite people to our parties, because we are the party! Brooklyn's favorite thing, besides putting on mommy's "lippie" (lipstick), is to be surrounded by all her 23 cousins.The wedding and reception were beautiful. Congrats jarin and Megan!
Megan's colors were shades of pink, so, of course, Jarin had some pink in his tie. He got a lot of flack from my brothers for that, but he looked so handsome!

Here comes the bride!

Grandma Kay and Beckam

This photo started out with just the adult women, but all of our children started running at us and pretty soon we we're overtaken. It's 'come one, come all' in this family!

Rev and Me

Brielle (neice). She looked so beautiful sitting by the window, I just had to catch it!

SOME of the cousins: Shayla, Jaeli, McKlaine, Brielle, Holden, Brooklyn, and Draden

my old man and me

Brooklyn and Beckam patiently waiting for the wedding to begin.

Shayla and Brooklyn. I'm in love with Brooklyn's shoes and she kept them on the whole time because they're so comfy. I've got to find them in my size!

Little princesses for sure

My handsome bro's: Jody, heath (can't see), Jarin, Lance, and Cameron

Brooklyn and Aunt Veronica

Brooklyn and Beckam

Papa came to Utah for a ski/work trip- Brooklyn kept getting into his bag to pull out Monga's ski helmet. It was pretty heavy for her head and funny to watch her balance it on her head.
Brooklyn walked up to me one morning dressed in her swimsuit and tight red pajama pants and said, "I'm ready to do my exercises mommy!"

Brooklyn loves hanging out with her baby brother

I love this face! This is the look he gives me when I walk into the room. He's just chubby and cheerful.

Baking Cookies

"Monga", which is what Brooklyn calls Grandma (Julie), had this apron made for Brooklyn. Brooklyn always wants to help cook- even if it's just pouring water- so this was a very practical gift for her.
She also likes to taste as much as she likes to cook...that's my girl!

Tasting the final product

Brooklyn frosted all of these sugar cookies...but if you look closely, you can see they all have a bite taken out of them too.

Her very own rolling pin too!

Monga was very brave letting Brooklyn scoop in the flour. Every time she dipped the spoon in, she would flip it out and flour would fly everywhere. It was cute. Now Brooklyn gets her apron out three times a day: once at breakfast, once at lunch, and again at dinner.

Christmas in California

We put on our A-game and did a little bowling. I don't really take bowling too seriously and end up goofing around most the time because I stink at it. I usually get one or two lucky strikes in and the rest I need bumpers for. I've decided it's got to be my weak wrists!! (or something).

Brooklyn kept putting her head in front of the conveyor fan for all the bowling balls. She kept herself amused and occupied. That's probably the same thing I would have spent my time doing at her age. hmmmmm.

I just had to catch Jason at the peak of his game. I would fall over if I bowled like that...how does he do it?!

Brooklyn, Steele, Shalice, and Amanda

Sydney (friend) and Brooklyn drawing pictures together, reuiniting at last. They haven't seen each other for a while and when they do finally see each other, they have each grown and changed so much. Brooklyn kept trying to show everyone her pictures, but the toy she had was broken and automatically erased right after she drew something, so we could never see it.

Instead of riding bikes on the beach, we decided to go on a duffy boat ride this time. The scenery is so beautiful. There are tons of amazing homes and decked out yachts that dot the sides of the bay. We just cruised around for a while, it was relaxing. It was colder here by the beaches than on the inland area, but coming from Utah, we could handle it.

Brooklyn's sleeves were soaking wet by the time Papa was done with her. She had so much fun with the water.

Daddy and Brooklyn driving the boat.

Beckam sitting with Aunt Amanda on the duffy boat. He was so uncomfortable in that life jacket, it was making him really upset that he had to wear it. His face just says,"get this thing off of me!"

Monga compares the kids to the jingle bears every year to see how big they get each year. These bears are so old, like twenty years old, but continue coming out at Christmas time looking brand new. They are the fluffiest, softest bears- they just won't flatten out. Your parents might have some old jingle bears somewhere. Quality just isn't what it used to be.

This is Julie's (my mother-in-law) village she puts up every year at Christmas time. Most of the little houses light up, so Brooklyn would lay down in front of it and just stare at the whole scene. When Papa came over to look at it with her she told him "Don't touch, Papa!" She didn't break anything our entire visit...whew!

Good thing Beckam is not a girl, huh! As Julie has been recovering from cancer, she took her wig off because she now has a good amount of hair that has grown back. She looks beautiful...but, the wig looks better on her than on Beckam.

This is Julie's dining room table for the Holidays. I don't give it credit through this picture, but she could honestly decorate for Holiday magazine covers. It was so beautiful.