Just wanted to send out a quick note with some pictures and video (thanks to grampa Tom for the pictures!)

Braelyn is really loving her “goldfish” swim class.  She can now float on her back ALL BY HERSELF and then roll over onto her tummy.  She can also jump in from the side, swim around Chris and then back to the wall, as well as swim underwater to Chris in the middle of the pool.  When she is able to roll from her tummy to her back unassisted, she will move up levels to the “jellyfish” class which Chris also teaches.

Braelyn and Casie also LOVE their newest outdoor toy -- the Bubble BBQ, sent over from San Diego from Gramma Sheri.  They enjoy jumping up to pop the bubbles together and chasing them all over the backyard when they blow in the wind.

I was able to catch some of the antics of the bubble play on video -- hope you all enjoy this as much as we did!  Have a good week

We have been busy these last 3 weeks and hope you are all doing well!

First off, Braelyn started an art class and dance class right after her Birthday. She loves the art class and painted a dog and cat figurine (which Casie promptly took out in the backyard and ate!!!!) and made a horse and rose out of clay which are still surviving The class goes in 3 week cycles so she is off from that right now and during the next session will be sand art, more painting and other messy stuff!!

The dance class is a combo tap, ballet and tumbling which has not gone over well. She likes the tap but she says that the ballet music makes her “too sad” and she cries during that whole portion. Since it is close to her nap time, I thought maybe she was overtired too which added to the sadness. This week we are switching her to a combo jazz and tap class in the evening with the hopes that she will be well rested after her nap and that the music will be more upbeat!

We also had Casie spayed 2 weeks ago and have been on the constant “puppy patrol” trying to keep her calm so she doesn’t rip her incision. This is hard with any puppy but add in the fact that she is a Golden Retriever, extremely excited and feels perfectly fine despite her incision and that makes for a very tough job!! The vet did a great job with her and said she was a model patient and got lots of attention from the vet staff When we brought her home, she was wearing a pressure bandage and full body gauze suit to keep her from getting to her stitches. It only lasted about 2 days and then she had bitten a hole in the sleeve so we had to put her into a tank top to keep her covered!

She and Braelyn are proving to be best buddies and Braelyn is always laying down next to her in the hall, hugging and kissing her and asking me to take pictures. I obliged her……

Finally, I had to include this last photo because the circumstances around it were so funny The other night my grandparents were here and we were all downstairs at my parent’s house playing in her playroom. She looked at my grandpa and said “Grampy, would you like to wear this hat because you have a bald head!” All of us started laughing and she made both Grammy and Grampy wear hats and take a picture with her.

I hope to have some video of her dancing soon to post, as well as several other songs that she can sing. She is establishing quite a repetoire and will probably soon be singing in shows at Disneyland because of her liking for princess ballads!!! I also hope to have a post from Matt soon telling you all about his new job and how it is going after the first 2 months or so.

Because Matt isn’t going to be traveling as much this season, we probably won’t be getting out to see everyone as much as we’d like, but we are thinking of you all and hoping that things are going well for you during these difficult times. Take care!!!!

MLB Mama

Hello Everyone!

Not too much new to report but I thought you would enjoy these new pics and videos from our star performer

This video of Braelyn singing is a song from Sleeping Beauty called “Once Upon a Dream”.  Here are the words:

I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream.

I know you, the thrill in your eyes is so familiar to me.

And I know it’s true that visions are seldom what they seem,

But if I know you, I know what you do,

You loved me at once, the way you did once upon a dream

Crazy Casie….

Hope you have a great weekend,

MLB Mama

Happy Holidays Everyone

For those of you that don’t know, we have a tradition in our family started by my Grandma Hillery that every year in December we get together and bake and decorate gingerbread cookies.  This started when I was only 2 (and was the only guest at the party!) and has now evolved to include all of my cousins, good friends, and our kids!!

We have hosted the past few years as the parties get bigger and bigger and have outgrown my grandma’s condo and this year we had 14 people all rolling, cutting and decorating as well as listening to Christmas music, eating and enjoying each others’ company.  Our guests included Grandma, My Aunt Jana (and her grandaughter – too young to enjoy the dough but happy to be here all the same!), Cousin Michael, Cousin Lauren, Cousin Gabby, Brother Chris, Justin, and high school friends Jim and Jessica Scott and their girls, Allison and Chloe.  Braelyn had a great time this year and Matt & I are always so excited to see her when she is having so much fun!

Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in all of the Holiday hustle and bustle and we forget what this time of year is really about.  It’s not about presents or shopping or buying things, but it’s more about the simple things like dinner and singing and talking and making cookies together with people you care about.  Hopefully you get to do a few of those things this season before it passes us all by.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and a Happy New Year!!

Love,

MLB Mama