December 30, 2010

A GOOD DAY WITH A SCARY ENDING





Dear Kurt,

Today started off pretty normal.

You went to work.

Brooklyn and I hung out and played.

We met your family for dinner for one last get together before your uncle and aunt went back to Nebraska.

After some yummy frozen yogurt and Orange Leaf we went home.

That is when things got scary.

Your dad called and briefly told you that he was involved in a shooting at work and he couldn't get a hold of your mom and that we needed to call and tell everyone that he was okay.

And that was it.

No other information.

We spent the rest of the night watching the news and calling close relatives and passing the time with your brother and sisters playing Monopoly.

We are on our way to bed now with no other information other than that we won't be getting any more information for several days until they finish a protocol investigation.

Our imaginations are running wild and the whole situation is a bit scary.

Hopefully everything will be fine.

Sincerely, Lori



December 29, 2010

POSSIBLY NOT A PROFESSIONAL, BUT NOT A BAD START



I WILL BE SORE TOMORROW.

Dear Kurt,

Tonight you taught me how to snowboard.

You convinced me to skip the bunny hill and go straight for the mountain.

Okay, mountain might be a slight exaggeration but when you have to pass the bunny hill, which is on about a 5 degree angle, to get to where we were snowboarding, I think mountain is as good of a description as any.

The first time on the ski lift was a little terrifying. There was nothing holding us in! And it was pretty high up and windy! Needless to say, I held on for dear life the whole way up.

After we got me strapped to my board we attempted to make our way down the mountain. I'm pretty sure I fell at least 20 times just in the first 20 yards or so.

The next 20 yards weren't so bad. I think I only fell about 10 times. I was quite proud of myself until I asked you if I was doing pretty good... You responded "No. You are horrible. I've never seen somebody so bad!"

Humph!

Well, turns out that was your bad.

You told me yesterday when I was asking how to snowboard that I shouldn't lean back on my heels. Well..... turns out that was dead wrong. When learning you should almost always be on your heels!

Once I got that figured out I was amazing, right!?! (Don't answer that.)

The second time down I didn't fall even once!!! Woo hoo! I'm going pro now!

The third time down I fell a lot... on purpose. No really. I had to stop a lot because my legs were burning! Holly cow, I think I should take up P90X or something before we go again because my weak little legs were dying!

After that I forced myself the learn the zig-zag thing. What was the called again? because then I wasn't using my leg muscles as much.

But I was using my tail bone and face a little more. The zig-zag thing makes you go fast and that resulted in a little more falling than not.

LORI, SHANIA, AND KURT, TRYING TO GET WARM IN THE TRUCK

By the end of the night, I was beat. And so were you after you left me for a while to take on the actual mountain with your Uncle Jeff.

It was super fun. I would like to go again soon. After the whole P90x thing, of course.

Thanks so much for teaching me. And like I said when we finally made it down the mountain the first time "sorry I was wanted to kill you up there."

I love you so much.

Sincerely, Lori





December 25, 2010

CHRISTMAS DAY




BROOKLYN PLAYING WITH HER NEW DOG FROM GRANDMA AND GRANDPA BROOKSBY WHILE KURT PUTS TOGETHER A TOY.


Dear Brooklyn,

Merry Christmas.

I think you knew what was going on this morning when we woke you up because you ran straight to the Christmas tree and sat down like "Okay, I'm ready to open my presents." It was quite adorable.

So here was the run down of your second Christmas ever:

1. Wake up and open presents at our house.

2. Go to Grandma and Grandpa Killian's house to eat breakfast, talk to Uncle Ethan who is in Mexico, and open more presents.

BROOKLYN SQUEALING WITH JOY AT HER NEW DOLL.

3. Go home and take a short nap while mom and dad shower and get ready for the day.

4. Drop off last minute gifts to friends on our way to Great-Grandpa Killian's.

5. Go to Great-Grandpa Killian's for lunch, more presents, and to listen to the boys complain about the Laker's losing.

OPENING A PRESENT FROM GREAT-GRANDPA AND GRANDMA KILLIAN.

6. Go home for another short nap.

7. Web cam with Grandma and Grandpa Brooksby and Aunt Christina, which included lots of dancing.

8. Eat dinner.

9. Go to Grandma and Grandpa Killian's to hang out.

10. Come home and go to bed.

It sounds like it was a crazy day, but besides all the back and forth, it was quite relaxed.

I know you won't remember this Christmas but I hope I never forget it. You are an amazing child and I am so grateful that you are mine. I love you so much, Brooklyn.

Sincerely, Lori




December 24, 2010

ANOTHER HOLIDAY EVE AT THE DOCTORS OFFICE




Dear Brooklyn,

We spent some of our Christmas eve sitting in a doctor's office.

You woke up in the middle of the night not feeling well. You haven't been feeling great for about a week now but this was different.... and all too familiar. I was positive it was another ear infection.

And of course it was on the eve of another holiday.

So after some time rocking you on the couch while you fell in and out of sleep and weighing our options we headed off to the doctors to get you some antibiotics.



After a surprisingly short wait, my diagnosis was confirmed and we were off to our Christmas eve party at your great-grandma's where you spent half the night sleeping on Grandpa Killian and the other half snuggling with me, even with all the craziness going on.

So now you are curled up in your crib sleeping and the house is clean and ready for Santa to come. I hope you sleep well and wake up happy and excited for Christmas.

I love you very much.

Sincerely, Lori

December 21, 2010

OUR FLOUR WAR



WE STOPPED OUR FLOUR FIGHT FOR A FEW SECONDS TO TAKE A PICTURE.

Dear Kurt,

The second I got a face full of flour from you it was all out war.

A very short lived war, though, because you were holding Brooklyn and she didn't appreciate having flour thrown on her.

She also didn't seem to recognize us after.

I think I got the worst of because I had flour in my mouth and eyes and down my shirt. And I had to clean it up.

So just to be fair you better sleep with one eye open because right now I believe in the saying "Don't get mad, get even."

Ha, HA, ha Ha, hA!!! (evil laugh)

Sincerely, Lori



December 20, 2010

ONE OF THOSE DAYS


Dear Kurt,

It was one of those days.

One of those days where I would have gladly given away are child to the first responsible adult that would have taken her.
One of those days where no matter how hard I tried only two of the ten things on my "to do" list got done. And you did one of them.

One of those days where as soon as we were in the car headed for the grocery store I immediately decided we didn't really need anything there. You weren't convinced.

One of those days where Brooklyn thinks it's pretty funny to hit me on the head repeatedly with a book no matter how many times I took it from her.

One of those days where as soon as you started putting Brooklyn to bed I started the bath and didn't plan on showing my face to the world for a while.

One of those days where I sat in a hot bath for over an hour playing games on my phone and reading a book.

So right now I am going to curl up next to you on the couch and wait for the lunar eclipse to happen and hope tomorrow will not be one of those days.

Sincerely, Lori


December 18, 2010

SHOPPING, WRAPPING, AND ADDRESSING








Dear Kurt,

We spent most of our day and night shopping for Christmas presents, wrapping Christmas presents and addressing envelopes.

All of which could easily be my least favorite parts of Christmas.

But now I can enjoy some of my most favorite parts of Christmas: Giving gifts, listening to Christmas music, staring at my Christmas tree, thinking about my family and Jesus Christ's birth, and eating.

Sincerely, Lori


December 16, 2010

HIDING IN THE DESK







Dear Brooklyn,

Lately you love to hide in the desk.

You climb in there and pull CD's out of my CD case and throw them.

Sometimes you just climb in and shut the door for a while.

Sincerely, Lori


December 15, 2010

SHOPPING FOR CHRISTMAS BULBS




Dear Brooklyn,

I thought I had taught you not to touch the Christmas bulbs on our tree.

I was obviously wrong because when I walked into the living room you were filling up your shopping cart with as many bulbs as would fit in it.

You knew you were in trouble because you immediately started taking them out and throwing them. Yeah, like that would get you in less trouble.

Luckily none of them broke and you haven't touched them since.

Sincerely, Lori



December 13, 2010

A MONDAY NIGHT DATE



BROOKLYN AND GRANDPA KILLIAN WATCHING US LEAVE FOR OUR DATE.

Dear Kurt,

Tonight you surprised me with a date.

I love surprises but you are really bad at keeping secrets for very long.

But tonight when you told me we were going out I didn't expect it at all.

So we dropped off Brooklyn at your parents and went to a movie.

Seeing a movie on a Monday night is brilliant. We got an awesome parking spot and almost had the whole theater to ourselves.

Thanks for taking me out! And for surprising me!

I love you so much.

Sincerely, Lori


December 11, 2010

DANCE PARTY



YOU AND CLAYTON LEARNING YOUR DANCE MOVES.

Dear Kurt,

I love Dance Central!

We borrowed the game from our neighbors and played it for a while with our friends, Danielle and Clayton.

It is super fun.

Danielle and I would have a dance battle and then you and Clayton would have a dance battle. All the while we were laughing our heads off at each other and taking embarrassing videos of silly moves.

We are definitely going to have to borrow this game again for a few more dance parties. It was so much fun!

Sincerely, Lori




December 10, 2010

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS


THE MUSIC HOUSE.

Dear Brooklyn,

Tonight we drove around looking at Christmas lights.

The whole time you would point out the car window and say "wow" every ten seconds.

BROOKLYN ENJOYING THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS.

Our favorite was the music house. The lights were set to music. It was pretty cool. But we didn't stay long because all of a sudden you thought you were going to starve to death and started crying and signing food over and over again.

Next time we will bring lots of snacks so we can enjoy the whole show.

Sincerely, Lori



December 9, 2010

READING TIME





Dear Brooklyn,

I love our reading time together.

Sincerely, Lori


December 7, 2010

WHEN YOU PICK A FIGHT WITH A VAN




Dear Mom,

Today you had a fight with the van.

The van won.

In fact, the van put you in the hospital.

8 stitches and a headache later I get a text message from Christina with several sad pictures of your forehead.



I was instantly worried and called right away. You said you were fine.

It brought back bad memories of when you fell off a ladder six years ago and ended up with some nasty head wounds. We joked that it was a good thing I wasn't there today because I would probably just have told you over and over again "It's so bad, mom, you're gonna die!"

In all seriousness, I am so sorry you got hurt today.

Please be more careful.

I hope you feel better soon and heal quickly.

I will call and check on you tomorrow.

I love you so much!

Sincerely, Lori



December 6, 2010

DECK THE HALLS... AND THE BABY




Dear Brooklyn,

Tonight we all went Christmas shopping.

It was not a good idea.

You have become a pain to shop with. You won't stay in the shopping cart. You won't let me hold you. You run around the stores trying to pull things off the shelves. Then you scream when I pick you up and won't let you down.

At least with your dad there one of us can shop while the other chases you around.

Ok. This was not suppose to a letter where I tell you how big of a pain you were when we went shopping tonight.... or any night... ok, I'm stopping.

Tonight your dad and I also finished decorating for Christmas.

You decorated yourself.

You are the cutest part of Christmas... even if you do make shopping a pain.

Sincerely, Lori




December 4, 2010

A CHRISTMAS TREE AND A CHRISTMAS PARTY





KURT AND LORI AFTER THE CHRISTMAS PARTY


Dear Kurt,

Today we bought our Christmas tree.

It took us a while to decide and by the time we picked one out Brooklyn's nose was bright red and my fingers and toes were frozen. But it was worth it because our tree is gorgeous. I love it. Now if we only had more than 20 plain Christmas bulbs and three short strings of lights to put on it.

It looks like I need to hit the after Christmas sales this year to buy us some decorations so that next years tree will not be so bare.

But for now our beautiful Christmas tree is all we need for our home to shine brightly with Christmas spirit.

Tonight we went to your work Christmas party.

It was filled with great people, amazing food, a cheesy movie, a game (which I won), generous gifts and lots of laughs.

The Christmas season is now in full swing around these parts.

I am loving every minute of it.

Sincerely, Lori


November 29, 2010

WE MADE IT SAFELY HOME



BROOKLYN SLEEPING ON THE WAY HOME FROM CALIFORNIA

Dear Kurt,

We made it home.

It was a long slow drive that we had to finish up this morning. The roads through several spots were covered in snow and ice and it was pretty windy.

I'm glad we made it.

Today Brooklyn woke up with a horrible diaper rash. I guess we haven't been changing her diaper rash as much as we should since she is on antibiotics. So today is a naked day. Brooklyn has been playing with her diapers more then she has been wearing them.


BROOKLYN PLAYING WITH HER DIAPER

Well, I am tired and have lots of laundry to wash and put away.

See you soon.

Sincerely, Lori