California

Brock's Great-Grandpa Ball died a few weeks ago and we were blessed to be able to go up for the funeral. It was beautiful, and I learned so many more wonderful things about the man that we named our son after. What a great example he was to so many people.

Here is Tyce at the beginning of our trip...


And here is Brek...

We could not figure out why she was being so quiet and reserved...until she threw up 3 times our first day of traveling. Poor girl. I felt so bad for her. I guess she gets pretty car sick. She was a trooper.

And finally sleeping...

I kept trying to push their heads back. It looked so uncomfortable. But they just kept plopping back down.

After driving for 10+ hours with no DVD players (I didn't have time to plan ahead and get them before we left) just Mommy singing to them and playing games with them (I'm sure they were quite entertained :), we finally make it to Flagstaff to stay the night. We called ahead to make sure the pool was open and ready for us (my bribery for the kids). Said it would be, but when we got there it was not! So wait around in our bathing suits for a couple of hours (they said it was heating up and should be hot enough soon) and finally call it quits and go to bed. Wake up in the morning in hopes of swimming before we leave, ha! Pool is broken! What a disappointing stay.

Our next day of traveling (I promise I will stop talking about the drive soon) was much better. We moved Brek to the middle seat so she could see out the front and we had no incidents! It was also better for both of the kids because they were close enough to entertain eachother (which also makes it better for Mommy and Daddy!).

We finally made it to Sonoma, CA and had a great time seeing family and being there for Grandpa Ball's funeral. Brek especially loved being spoiled by her grandmas, grandpas, aunts and uncles and still remembers waterbeds, bandaids, and big marshmallows. We love ya'll! Sonoma is such a gorgeous area and while we were there we were able to see a beautiful winery. I can't remember the details but I believe they said it was one of the first in the area (maybe even the first?). Too bad we don't drink! :) jk

Here are some pics of the winery...




After our trip to Sonoma we went back down to Clovis where we got to stay for quite a bit longer than expected. It was lots of fun being spoiled and hanging out with Grandma Kim, Brandon and Kristin.


One of Tyce's favorite things to do was play on the stairs.

Brek got a "makeover" while we were there. She got her hair trimmed and done and got lots of new clothes from Grandma Kim. This is her and Grandma with her new umbrella.




Family pictures after church...


The boys...


Grandma Kim and her grandbabies (this was by the end when the kids had enough. the best picture)...


One of the kids favorite things to do while we were there was to go on walks with Grandma Kim. They liked to ride in Grandma's stroller rather than their double. They fell asleep on one walk...

Brek and her babies...

Brek went through a phase a little after she turned one when she was obsessed with baby dolls. Then she grew out of it. Here lately she has become obsessed again. It is really cute. One night she kept bringing her babies to me one at a time. She would bring one and want me to undress it, then she'd bring it back later with a pair of her own pajamas to put on the baby. Then she'd bring another and do the same thing. Over and over... And if you can't tell, her pajamas are just a little too big for the babies (size 3T). When she ran out of baby dolls she brought her Mickey Mouse. I went upstairs and found this...


She's a good mother. :)

Happy Birthday, Tyce!

Tyce turned one on February 4th. We took advantage of a basketball game cancellation due to terrible weather coming our way and had a fun party out at Nana and Papa's. Thank you to all of you who braved the cold to come party with us.






This picture is funny to me because neither one of my children would blow out the candle. Every time Brek sees a candle lit at our house she will blow it out and say happy birthday! She might be a little shy (wonder where she gets that from). Thanks Papa for blowing it out!




This is the day of his actual birthday. We made him some cupcakes. I think he liked them.

At Tyce's 1 year checkup he weighed 24 lbs and was 30 in long. I think that puts him 50th percentile for length and 75th for weight. He was amazing for the doctor and just watched her quietly the whole time she checked him. So it was pretty weird to hear the doctor say that he had 2 ear infections! He is just the chillest baby....when he wants to be! :) I just love him to death and have to squeeze him every time he walks by because he is just so cuddly. He has just about caught up to Brek in all he does. He wants to do everything she is doing and have everything she has (and vice versa). He has now decided that he is a big boy because crawling up the stairs and sliding down is not fun anymore. He likes to hold on to the rail and pull himself up and down the stairs. He has also discovered his voice the past few days. He is talking all of the time and Brock has even taught him a few animal noises (pig, monkey, cow, bear).

Hanging out with the Family

Here are a few pictures of some recent fun times with cousins, aunts, uncles, etc...


Kyler looks way too happy to be playing with my kids. :)


We went to the park and had a picnic with Kenney and Elizabeth.




This is right before Brek dropped him on his head. Poor little guy's going to have to be tough.


Then we went to the playground where Tyce had fun playing in the dirt.


We met up with the Tipa's and Perkin's. Here are the kids having lots of fun on the swing.


One night we decided to compare Kyler and Tyce. This is the best picture. I'll spare you the booty shots. :)


Kacy invited us to come out and play in the snow. We went out to Mom and Dad's and took about 15 minutes getting ready. Finally headed out and lasted about a total of 2 minutes. After which we came inside where they cried for about 10 minutes. It was way too cold and windy to play in the snow! The next day though we went out and Brek had a blast. (I'm glad she got a good experience with the snow.)


Brek kept looking at Tyce and would say, "I don't like Santa Claus. Tyce is not Santa Claus."

Brek's Drawing Board

Brek absolutely loves to color these days. I think it's because she has discovered markers, and they are so much better than crayons (obviously bcz they can do much more destruction to my house). But I think the main reason why she loves them so much as compared to crayons is because she loves to use them on her new drawing board...


...Tyce's head!!!




She also likes pens.


She actually discovered her hands and arms first, then decided that Tyce's head was better.


Here she is with her marker. Yes, she's sucking her thumb while drawing.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas this year was great! All of my family came in for the holidays except Kevin and Kerry. We have had lots of fun hanging out with all of our aunts and uncles (brothers and sisters) who we haven't seen in a few months! (Brek is loving all of the attention)


Sunday before church


I had been bragging and bragging to everyone how Tyce was an expert on the stairs. Guess who fell down them? Poor little guy. This was on the 23rd. I guess he wanted to dress up as Rudolph for Christmas.


Christmas Eve my family always gets together for a big party at my Nanny and Papa's. This is the Mark Keys Family picture.


This is us after we had just gotten a belly flash from Richie!


Brek and Aunt Savanna


Brek and Aunt Tamra


My family always does a big production of the Nativity on Christmas Eve. This year my Aunt Diane sent costumes she had made for all of the kids to wear. They were so cute. This is Tyce as a shepherd.


Brek the wiseman


Brek hugging Kyler (baby Jesus)


Brock had an awesome idea to start a tradition of making our own stockings. We had a lot of fun sewing them while watching Christmas movies. I think this tradition will be sticking around for a while.


Brek was so fun this Christmas. Every present was amazing to her! After every one she unwrapped she had to go play with it. We were the ones that had to make her stop to open more presents. This is her reading her new book with Daddy (which of course she had to read immediately).


Ready to head outside for the trampoline.


Tyce and Brek in front of their new trampoline.

My Little Rascals

This blog post is dedicated to my 2 little handfuls. I love them! Here are some things they have been up to lately...


I don't know how but Brek managed to pull the seatbelt beside her up and around her neck. Scary, huh? Don't worry. She's fine.


Brek loves yogurt! I knew she was up to something and this is where I found her (of course making a mess as well).


This was Tyce's favorite spot to play.


Brek loves putting on makeup. She tends to put it on after I'm done getting her ready and working on Tyce. So we have to start all over with getting her ready. It takes me forever to get anywhere! But doesn't she look beautiful?


Having way too much fun with the cool whip.


Best for last of course. Brock poured himself a glass of milk and discovered this. Yes, it's a bouncy ball. Earlier that day Brek had been playing with the bouncy ball and I found her in the refrigerator looking for her ball. The lid was off of the milk and Brek was asking where her ball went. Oh dear. I guess we'll find out later. Brock and I drink different milk so it was his that the lid was off. I had forgotten about it until Brock was drinking his milk and said, "What the heck is this?!?" I died laughing.