We had a couple days that we enjoyed each other and took a few good pictures. This posts highlights a few of those fun moments starting off with our handsome little boy.
We absolutely love when are girls get along. They do play so well together at times and than they are at each others throats. Today was a good day and they are so cute together.
They love their little brother and often try to play with him. They haven't tried to dress him up but he often has to sit on their lap or be pushed in the stroller.
Brooke is such a character always doing funny things and seems to live a life of fun.
One of the few times Levi seems to like the swing. He obviously was having a good day.
We love these pictures of him right out of the tub. He hates taking baths, but loves to be naked, but loves to be wrapped up. Can't quite figure him out but we love his dimples.
Brooklyn became very interested in going to the bathroom on her own in the last few days so we figured we would give it a try. Celeste went out and bought incentive treats, lots of cool aid, and cheese puffs (apparently the cheese puffs help you go more often, you knew). She was doing pretty good with peeing and really good with pooping but he ended after about a week. We will pick it back up in a few more weeks. However, the best part about this experience was Brooklyn running around the house half the time with no pants on and the other half of the time she tried to put her underwear on but it would end up on her head or when it was around her waist, both legs were in the same hole.
We are not quite sure what happened this time around but we guess when she put one pair on and notice it didn't cover her crotch she put on another one and another one and another one. Seven pairs of underwear she had on, all with her legs through one leg whole and still exposing her underparts:) It was pretty funny!
Our little Brooke is TWO and she was lucky enough to get to spend it with family out in Utah this year.She had Grandma and Grandpa, the Kents (minus David because of wrestling...which is sad because she loves David!) and Robert, Kari, and Dax there. She is really into animals so we of course did a barn yard theme. She is starting to talk more which is good for all of our sanities. She loves to run and chase and to do whatever you are doing, especially workout with us. She has started to want to potty train which has been a train wreck at times and we have to call every pair Abby or she won't wear them, because the first pair she put on had Abby from Sesame Street on them and also because she can say Abi because of her cousin Abi. She had so much fun playing with all the girls.
Brooke also really loves babies and likes to take them with us all the time. She hushes me when she has put them to sleep and then cries and comes and gets me because she can't get the door open to check on them.
We took her passy away which has not been fun either! After a week we are finally doing better, but she does better if Brindi sleeps with her, which doesn't always work out well because she is such a tease and drives Brindi crazy. Most of the time they both end up sleeping on the floor and we have to move them to their beds. The sad thing is Levi sleeps way better than Brooke and doesn't take a passy. We love our little Brooke. She brings a ton of joy to our lives!
Happy New Year! We were able to spend New Year's eve in Leamington in our Petersen tradition of playing rook all night. This is one of my favorite family traditions. The best part is obviously my grandpa and grandma Petersen dominating the cards. also before Mike and his family left for Japan, he left a lot of fireworks in my dad's garage. We stumbled upon them and used them to ring in the new year for the kids in the back of Amy and Bret's yard.
One of my conditions of going out west for the Holidays was having snow. Luckily we got a few good days of snow. Snow is something that doesn't happen a lot in Missouri and when it does it is more ice than actual snow and it only lasts a day or two if we are lucky. A couple must activities when it snows is pulling a tube behind the 4-wheeler and than sledding/tubing. We did both why we were here. I was able to pull most of the Kent's and Wardles around. David also pulled a few kids including Brindi. Oddly enough, I never pulled Brindi. The highlight was throwing Jaxon. David also fell but I think it was on purpose to make me feel better about my hopeful crazy driving. Below is a couple videos of the action.
We also headed over to the Lynndyl hill for some sledding and tubing. We had a pretty good turn out and some very fresh snow. It was great!
Grandma Lovell and Ashley
Aunt Jackee and Emilee
I think this is Jaxon and Jordan going down the hill.
Aunt Jackee, Emilee and Brindi.
Grandma Lovell hitting the slopes
Ashley on the slopes.
Emilee was great with our kids and she played/tubed a lot with Brindi and Brooke. It was great to see cousins playing together.
We also had to have our hot chocolate milk and cookies. A Lovell tradition for tubing.
Sexy Lips!
Brooke with her country waterproof system. All ready for tubing. Sadly I took her down the big hill and too much snow flew up and got in her face and that ruined any further tubing experience that day for her. See the video below for proof.
Celeste and Joe
Also a must when tubing is the train. We did several and this was one arrangement with Celeste in front followed by Amy and Kadee, Jordan, ?, Ashley, JaCee, and me.
Below are several videos of the experience. Tears, laughter, fear, wrecks, commentary, and FUN!
Merry Christmas from the Lovells. This year we decided we were going to stay in Missouri for the holidays. However, our plans changed a little as we seemed to be greatly missed by our family and with some assistance from my mom, we were convinced we needed to head to Utah for the holidays. 21 hours in the car with three kids under the age of four wasn't the smartest idea but we do feel it was well worth it. Actually, Brooke was the only one that struggled and cried a few times but who could blame her when you are stuck in a car for that long. Brindi and Levi was great and did really well. Below are our highlights from the trip. Warning it is picture overload but there are also a few videos.
We opened a few presents before we headed west to help reduce our baggage. The kids loved their bathrobes from Grammy which also matched Levi's blue bathrobe.
One of the things I demanded if we headed west was snow (as if anyone could control the weather:). Luckily we did get a couple days of snowfall to play in and tube.
JaCee and David were incredible with our kids. They were always willing to take care of them and play with them. Whenever David would come over it seemed the first thing he did was find Brooke. Thank you guys.
The girls loved being able to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa and all their cousins. Luckily, throughout the whole trip we were able to see all of the Lovells except for Mike's family.
Levi is a pretty good baby, but I was a little shocked how long he sat on Uncle Bob without making a fuss. It was great because it allowed Celeste and I to play a little bit with all the activities going on.
This was one of the cousin games the kids played to trade presents every time the narrator said the word "Santa." Celeste was actually the narrator and told a great story of Christmas. The video below has some of her story. A pretty creative women I married:)
I think this was the first year that Brindi was not concerned with sitting on Santa's lap. It did help that all her cousins were also doing it. She actually gave him a hug this year and as you can see below received a small gift in return.
Brooke on the other hand did not want to have anything to do with the man in a red suit. She was excited to see him and would say "Ho, Ho, Ho" and even shook her head yes that she wanted to sit on him but once she sat on his lap the tears came. Levi did great with Santa but than again he probably did not know what was going on but he is a great baby.
Grandpa Petersen with little Levi. Four generations!
One of the highlights of the Petersen Christmas party is the children nativity play. This year Brindi was a Angel, Brooke was a Shepherd and Levi was the star as baby Jesus. Grandpa Lovell narrated the scene which can be seen below.
Four Generations!
Brindi with Grandma and Grandpa Petersen. Four generations!
Everyone opening their Christmas pajamas.
Everyone Christmas morning.
Our girls were good enough this year to get a couple gifts. Brooke received a baby Belle and a little doll house with furniture and little people. Her favorite was the little dog that cam with it. Brindi received a baby Snow White, which is what she wanted, and a electronic learning book with games, pictures, music, and learning activities. They also got the game Candy Land and socks full of candy!
My beautiful wife who loves to pose for the camera:)
Brooke made Grandma Lovell play with her and her new doll house.
Opening Christmas gifts with all the family.
Books, dresses, crowns, princess shoes, bananarams, clothing, and Brindi's favorite a dream light. This was probably the highlight of the holidays for me. When she opened that present she was truly shocked and excited. Her face was priceless. Because she had already asked for the baby Snow White she had already started planning for her birthday and what she wanted was a dream light so it was a really big surprise.
As my kids hardly see their grandparents much throughout the year they clung to them almost the entire time which meant my dad had to do his work with the little ones climbing on all over him, even in the tractor.
Pounding nails with Easton and Felicity in Grandpa's shop. Apparently this is a must do at Grandpa's house for the little grandkids. There were hundreds of nails in that rail.
The girls being silly and trying to hide from their dad:)
We tried to stay somewhat active over the holidays by running several days and Celeste even used a DVD workout, which Brooke thought was pretty cool and wanted to try.
