Ode to the iphone

Dear iPhone,

I miss you.

I am lost without you.

Please come back to me tomorrow!

Love,

Brooke


(Tripp dropped my phone in his kiddie pool today whilst attempting to run from me. Oh HAPPY day!)

Tripp's 2 year photos

It's almost two months late- but I finally got around to taking Tripp's two year pictures. He is busy, busy, busy as you can see and I am way to big to be chasing after him and contorting my body in crazy ways to get a good shot. It was nearly impossible to get a smile out of him, he was way too interested in running around. Oh well, I guess that's how it goes at this age! 

And I'm done! Stop with the photos! 

Aunt Annie's in the Willis' Casa

I had a craving today. 


A craving for warm, soft, buttery pretzels. 


So... I searched for a recipe and made me some. I don't know why but whenever Marc leaves, I always bake. And... Hyvee had/has flour on sale for .$99. 


These were really easy and VERY yummy! 


I'm no Martha... but I'm learning! Baking is definitely a learned art; one that I think will take years to perfect. 


I have tons left over so I think I'll take some to the neighbors tomorrow. Look out Bible Study girls. This is what I'm bringing for our snack on Tues. 

I know... I know... I need a bit of practice at my pretzel twisting! 

The log one is Tripp's. He said it is a snake. 

This was the prettiest one I could muster.

Hot out of the oven with melted butter. 

I'm out of Kosher Salt so cinnamon sugar will have to do.

Melted butter, cinnamon, sugar and honey. This one was devoured in two seconds. Vida loved it. She started kicking in my belly as soon as I finished. 

Pretzel loaves for sandwiches. 

Here's the recipe. 

INGREDIENTS:

4 teaspoons active dry yeast 1 teaspoon white sugar 1 1/4 cups warm water (110 degrees F /45 degrees C) 5 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup white sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons salt 1 tablespoon vegetable oil   1/2 cup baking soda 4 cups hot water 1/4 cup kosher salt, for topping

DIRECTIONS:

1.	In a small bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
2.	In a large bowl, mix together flour, 1/2 cup sugar, and salt. Make a well in the center; add the oil and yeast mixture. Mix and form into a dough. If the mixture is dry, add one or two tablespoons of water. Knead the dough until smooth, about 7 to 8 minutes. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
3.	Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). In a large bowl, dissolve baking soda in hot water.
4.	When risen, turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a rope and twist into a pretzel shape. Once all of the dough is all shaped, dip each pretzel into the baking soda solution and place on a greased baking sheet. Sprinkle with kosher salt.
5.	Bake in preheated oven for 8 minutes, until browned.

Vida 25 weeks Ultrasound

We had to go in and have a second ultrasound once I was passed 20 weeks because it was hard to distinguish Vida's 4 chambers of her heat. So... just to be safe we had a second ultrasound done and everything is fine. I wasn't too worried- but you always get a little nervous when it comes to your baby. 

Here's here latest 3D image at 25 weeks and a few fun Vida facts from the past month/ 

It's hard to really tell... but to me it looks like she has Marc's nose and my lips.

Dear Lord, PLEASE let her have Marc's nose! 

She's healthy and weighs about 2.5 lbs. now. 

Kicked the other night at dinner every time we called her name. 

Get's really squirmy right when I'm ready to go to bed.

Starting to give me heartburn especially when it's time for bed. 

Right on time for her due date. Measuring exactly where she should be. 

Tripp's getting ready for her and reading his "I'm a Big Brother" book every night.

He loves to pat my belly and say "Hi baby."

26 weeks

I abhor taking or having my picture taken alone.

I get embarrassed and always make a goofy, uncomfortable smile. 

I can't help it. 

Wish I was one of those girls who posed and looked poised in a picture by myself. 

Just not me. 

So... here is rare moment. A picture of me alone. 

Well, technically I am not alone since I'm carrying a little one in my belly. 

So I guess it doesn't count. 

26 weeks down.

14 more weeks to go. 

20 lbs. heavier. Hopefully, not much more weight to gain than that. 

(Still puts me about 40 lbs. less than when I was preggo with Tripp. OUCH!)

Can't wait to meet our little Vida. 

A Thankful Moment

Matthew 19:14

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

Days like these I bask in the joy of how blessed I am to be a Mom. 

The simple, carefree days playing in the sun.

Thank you Lord for my sweet little man.  

Power nap

My attempt to wear Tripp out at the zoo failed.

 FAILED!

He passed out in the car on the way home for a short, ten minute power nap and now he's wailing in his room because he is NOT going back to sleep.

Awesome. I'm exhausted and now he won't sleep.

I have an urge...

I have an urge, a recent urge to dye my hair. Alone. No going to the salon. Paying no more than $10 for the box off the shelf.

I'm tired of roots, especially the grey ones I keep finding.

Do I do it???

And... I'm ready to go back to my natural color, which would mean no more blonde. I'm sure this is just hormones. The same hormones that made me want to chop my hair off, which I still regret to this day.

Oh...To dye or not to dye. That is the question...

Family pictures

It's very rare that we all get together in the same place but when we did- we tried to take advantage and get some family pictures. As you can see, trying to get two toddlers to cooperate is a bit tricky!

 Here's attempt number one at a family picture with the grandkids...

And here's the final attempt. I think it's number five! 

Don't you think this will make a great Christmas card! 

Chris, Marc and Dillon. Handsome men! 

Tripp has decided there is no need for anymore photos! 

But there's always time to get some love and kisses from your grandma. 

July 4th

They love to swing!

Escaping the heat. We only lasted about ten minutes at the park! 

Tripp got his first ice cream treat from the Ice Cream Man. A Shrek popsicle. His face was died green for the rest of the night. 

Rena and her mom and Delilah. 

Marc and his Mom

Listening to the band play. 

Watching fireworks. 

Love them in this picture! 

Ending a long day resting on Mommy's knee.