JUMPING OFF CLIFFS

BROOKLYN AND KURT WATCHING BRITTANNY WAKEBOARD

Dear Kurt,

I love cliff jumping.

So today while we were boating I convinces everyone to jump off some cliffs.

KURT AND KACEY PREPARING TO JUMP

It was awesome. I even got you to jump a couple times and you liked it... at least I'm pretty sure you did.

KACEY DIVING OFF THE CLIFF

I want to go again... soon.

Sincerely, Lori

WHEN CHRISTINA COMES TO TOWN, SO DO THE BLUE ANGELS

BROOKLYN EATING CHIPS AND WAITING FOR THE BLUE ANGELS TO START

Dear Christina,

I'm so glad you got to come visit for a week.

We did lots of fun stuff. We went boating, went paintballing, went to Rigby lake, went for a walk around the Greenbelt, played games a lot, took family pictures, had friends over, made treats, had a picnic with Natalie, etc., etc., etc.

CHRISTINA ALL GEARED UP FOR PAINTBALLING

CARRIE GOT PULVERIZED.

One of my favorite things was watching the Blue Angels. I loved it. I want to be one of them. It was awesome.

ALL SIX BLUE ANGELS FLYING RIGHT OVER US

ENJOYING THE SHOW

Well, I hope you had fun while you were here.

I love you tons and miss your buns

Sincerely, Lori

LICORICE FACE

Dear Brooklyn,

Today we went to Rigby lake.

You hated the water but you loved the licorice.

Sincerely, Lori

A STROLL AROUND THE GREENBELT

CHRISTINA, LORI AND BROOKLYN AT THE GREENBELT

Dear Christina,

Today we took a stroll around the Greenbelt.

We first attempted to roller blade around the Greenbelt but my roller blades were super uncomfortable to we opted to just walk.

BROOKLYN DROPPED HER BINKY DOWN THE CLIFF

A ton of people were there feeding the ducks. They brought whole loaves of bread. We had froot loops.... needless to say none of the ducks came to us.

It was a nice walk.

Sincerely, Lori

RELATIONSHIP BUILDING

Dear Kurt,

First of all.... You came home!!!! Yay!!!!!

BROOKLYN AND YOU WHEN YOU GOT HOME

I was so excited that Brooklyn and I waited outside for you to pull up for what seemed like hours... even though I think it was only 15 minutes.

BROOKLYN AND I WAITING FOR YOU TO COME HOME

I missed you.

Tonight our friends Kacey and Brittney invited us to a sweet relationship/communication building class-type-of-thing in Rexburg. It was really fun. We had to climb a log tower-like thing while hooked together with one of us blind-folded. Of course I had to be the one to get blind-folded, but you were extremely helpful telling me where to put my hands and feet. You even told me to use your head as leverage to get to another section when I could find a good foot hold.

BRITTNEY AND KACEY MADE IT TO THE TOP

I realized that we are a good team. Only once did we argue and it was even really an argument. You were untangling the ropes and I got worried and said "don't untie the rope!" and you said "chill out." Ha. That was all.

YOU UNTANGLING THE ROPES

You are amazing and I am grateful everyday for the relationship that we have. You are fun and kind and hard-working and loving and I love you so much.

Sincerely, Lori

WHEN KURT GOES OUT TO PLAY

Dear Kurt,

You cannot leave again because as soon as you did disaster struck.

First, Brooklyn fell down the stairs.

I was doing laundry downstairs and had the baby gate off the stairs. Then you called right when Brooklyn woke up from her nap so I put her on the floor in her room and ran to the kitchen to right down a phone number that you were giving me. The next thing I know I hear a thud thud thud on the stairs. I threw my phone and chased her down the stairs. Twice she stopped on the stairs and I almost caught her but when she would move she went tumbling down again.

At the bottom of the stairs I scooped her up and held her tight. She didn't even cry. She only let me hold her for about ten seconds before she wanted to get down and crawl around. She seemed just fine so I called you back only to find out that you were doing 85 mph toward our house and both your parents and your grandma were all on their way to our house. I had to call and explain to everyone that she was perfectly fine and as happy as ever.

BROOKLYN 15 MINUTES AFTER SHE FELL DOWN THE STAIRS

Then, Brooklyn hit her head for the first time. She was walking along the coffee table and somehow slipped and smacked her head right on the edge of the table. This time she did cry. Actually she screamed. For over ten minutes. I thought she was going to have a nasty bruise but so far there isn't even a red mark or a bump.

I think the moral of this story is that you cannot leave us again... right?

Sincerely, Lori

MYSELF AND MY TOENAILS

Dear Kurt,

This is what I am doing tonight while you are away at scout camp and Brooklyn is in bed.

I paint my toenails and lounge in a chair by my computer.

I am dreading going to bed. I hate going to bed alone. Boo hoo...

I can't wait till Thursday but I hope you are having fun and staying warm.

I love you tons and miss your buns.

Sincerely, Lori

A MONSTER IN MY HOUSE

BROOKLYN TRYING TO LOVE ON ME

Dear Brooklyn,

You have turned into a teething monster.

Not really but a little bit...

At least you are still sleeping. In fact you are sleeping really really well.

But when you are not sleeping you love to throw fits and act like a crazy baby but you do throw in a little bit of cuddling still so no worries, I'm still completely in love with you.

Sincerely, Lori

PAINTBALL, ICE CREAM, AND A BIKE RIDE

Dear Kurt,

Today was amazing. It was sooooo much fun.

We started off going paint balling with a bunch of people. Last time we went I wasn't very good but this time I was awesome! Once again I was the only girl (no big shocker there), but I definitely held my own against all the guys. I hit a lot of people and only got out when we were ambushed and it ended up being me against three people and then at the last second of the last game when I ran out to shoot the last guy from behind and ended up distracting him while you shot him. It was so fun. I want to go everyday.

YOU SHOWING OFF YOUR EMPTY CUPS AT SCOOP JAM

Then we raced over to the Scoop Jam all you can eat ice cream event. It was good ice cream but we ate ourselves sick real quick. But it was definitely worth the free tickets you won off the radio.

Later we went on a bike ride. You hate riding bikes but our friends Jill and Jedd had a little baby seat on the back of one of the bikes for Brooklyn. Brooklyn loved it and it's a good thing I wasn't riding with her since when I put my hand back on the handle bar I pressed the front brake and flipped over my bike. It was scary but I stayed on my feet... thankfully because I would have gotten road rash all over my face otherwise.

It was a great day with you. I wish the summers were longer so we could have days like this all the time.

I love you.

Sincerely, Lori

BOATING MEANS PAIN

ME ON THE WAY HOME FROM THE LAKE

Dear Kurt,

Today we went boating!!!

Oh how I love boating. And you love it too which made for a great time.

I got to drive the boat for the first time since it was just you, Carrie, Shania, and me. I got to knee board and wake board until I had a nasty crash and my jaw started hurting like crazy (I guess boating a week after you get your wisdom teeth out is not such a great idea).

I also heard you did some cool stuff on the knee board and wake board... it's too bad you made me face forward the entire time I was driving so I didn't get to see.

Anyways, it was super duper fun. I can't wait to go again soon... and bring Brooklyn with us. She will love it too... Hopefully.

Sincerely, Lori

ARE YOU TEETHING, LITTLE ONE?

Dear Brooklyn,

Last night you could not sleep.

You cried and whined and tossed and turned and were miserable.

Are you teething?

I kinda hope so because I would hate for you to be sick.

Today you are barely eating and wouldn't finish a bottle and all you want to do is cuddle with me (I'm not complaining about that one).

I hope this passes quickly so you can be back to your happy, sweet little self and we can play all day. But in the mean time I am all yours to cuddle with.

I love you.

Sincerely, mom

FOURTH OF JULY CAMPING

Dear Brooklyn,

There aren't a lot of things that can beat camping on the fourth of July with family and friends.

Last year on the fourth of July you were curled up in my belly and every time there was a loud boom from the fireworks you would jump and try to crawl into my side. This year you were too tired to even care.

Today was suppose to be your very first boat ride outside of my tummy but the weather isn't cooperating. It is really windy. But we have a nice boating trip planned for this week so get ready because you are gonna love it.

Sincerely, Lori

INDEPENDENCE DAY... A LITTLE EARLY

Dear Kurt,

I know it's not the fourth of July but today we celebrated Independence day anyway.

A little frisbee golf and Panda Express with some Dallen and Katie. And I say a little frisbee golf because there was more trying to knock a frisbee out of a very thick tree then there was actually playing frisbee golf. But I think that was the best part...

Then a little shopping, a picnic, some games in the park, and the amazing Idaho Falls firework show. I do love the Idaho Falls fireworks. They are brilliant.

Then we finished the night with the annual root beer floats at Jill's grandmas.

It was a great day and I always love the fourth of July but I have to admit that I didn't take much time until now to sit and appreciate what we were really celebrating.

We are very lucky to be able to live in this country and be free to live as we choose to. I am extremely grateful to all those who fought to establish those freedoms in a time when doing so could cost them there lives and families. I am also grateful to those who have and are fighting to protect those freedoms. We are blessed.

Sincerely, Lori

CALMING EFFECT

Dear Mom,

So, last night I found out that there was a piece of gauze stuck in my tooth socket. I don't know how the nurse and I both missed it but it had been up there for almost 36 hours. When I found it I immediately tried pulling it out but it was stuck pretty good.

I kept pulling it out bit by bit but it hurt really bad and it started bleeding like crazy. I was pretty scared that I was going to rip the stitches out or cause some pretty bad damage so I was a wreck. Finally Kurt got me to pull it out all the way.

After that I was okay for about ten minutes until I sent Jill a text telling her what happened and she called me worried that I had pulled the gauze out that the dentist used to pack the wound. She told me to try really hard to stop the bleeding or I would have to go the doctor.

That scared me worse.

I kinda freaked out a little bit because the oral surgeon lives in Utah and I don't have health insurance and it hurt pretty bad.... so I called you. You were able to calm me down and explain what I should do and let me know it was going to be fine and answer all my questions without me even having to ask them. I hung up feeling much much better.

As soon as I hung up Kurt asked me "How does she do it?" He tries really hard and does a good job most of the time but I have to admit sometimes I just need my mommy.

So thank you for always being able to talk me through my freak out moments. You're the best.

I love you.

Sincerely, Lori

MY SAVING GRACE

Dear Jill,

Thank you so so so so so so so much for coming over yesterday to take care of me and my baby.

I know taking care of me wasn't really part of the deal but Brooklyn is so easy that I needed more taking care of then she did.

I owe you big time. You gave Brooklyn a bath. You went to the store to get me medicine. You made sure I didn't overdose, which I almost did. You made me lunch. You fed Brooklyn. You changed diapers, including helping me with a very bad blow out. You watched Brooklyn while I took a nap. You played with Brooklyn all day. You made me eat when I didn't want to because I was extremely nauseous but you knew it would make me feel better. You made dinner for Kurt, Jedd, you and me. And I'm sure there is a ton more that I don't even know about because I was drugged or sleeping or too sick to notice.

Oh, and you did all this while taking care of your baby too!!

You are the champion multi-tasker and get first place for having complete patience.

Thank you so much. I really don't know what I would have done without you there. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I have been brainstorming ways to repay you but in the mean time if there is anything you need then I would love to help you out.

Sincerely, Lori