Just one year ago and my babies really looked like babies. Right now, I am listening to Brooks act like a baby (screaming at the top of his lungs because he doesn't want to go to the bathroom before bed), but they are not babies anymore. Boo, Hoo.

Tonight Greg bought Brooks a video game type thing (not the real deal, but close). It's amazing to watch him catch onto it and figure it out. He looked like a little MAN holding the controller. Yikes.

Chloe is doing her best to keep up with Brother. Tonight she even got to wear UMD PJ's and a UMD helmet just like Brother! (Pictures to follow). She isn't so much a baby anymore either, although she is closer to one because almost every minute of every day she is crying or whining! I wouldn't change it for the world, but I would LOVE for her to learn to talk. It would make everything so much more peaceful.

Speaking of peaceful, we don't have a very peaceful house at this stage in life. I continue to look forward to the day that Greg and I can hold a conversation. It will be great, although I don't wish these years away because I know we are blessed to be these two beauties parents.

We celebrated my Grandpa Doty's 91st Birthday on Friday. What a blessing he is to our family. You'd never know he's 91 years old.

He still shovels his own driveway and sidewalk (even though we tell him not too). Often, when we get there to plow him out, he's already been outside for a couple of hours doing it himself. I know that doing his own chores makes him feel good, so we just make a point now to get to Grandpa's as soon as it starts to snow.

He lost his wife a few years back (my Grandma) and we could see Grandpa dying right before our eyes. He spent time in the hospital for many different symptoms, many of which pointed back to "a broken heart" or "depression".

During all of this my Grandpa met a woman named Garnette. Garnette goes to the same church as my Grandpa and they had been friends for ages. Garnette was also a widow. They began to date and ALL of my Grandpa's symptoms went away. He was no longer sick. Garnette was all it took to heal my Grandpa.

They have been married now for lots of years (I think 7) and she is such a blessing to our family. My Grandma Doty even had said before she died, that if she died she'd want my Grandpa to marry someone like Garnette!

In our prayer for my Grandpa on his 91st birthday, we thanked the Lord for him and also for Garnette, who came into my Grandpa's life at the perfect moment (God's plan) and gave him several more years of life on earth.

We love you, Grandpa. Happy Birthday.

When Opa came to our house this week to celebrate Grandpa Doty's 91st birthday, he brought Brooks a little something special.

Now Brooks is officially a "Bulldog" and we are trying to figure out ways to get him to take off his jacket.

Yesterday, he wore it the entire time he was at the Depot, Aquarium, and Children's Museum.

He told his daddy that he wanted to make sure everyone could see it.

Chloe doesn't enjoy how Play-Doh feels between her sweet fingers. She wants it, screams for it and begs to be part of what "Brother" is doing, but when she is given the real life yellow stuff...she hates it!

So, after bribing Brother to share, dealing with him being selfish and having a temper tantrum because Sister has some of "his" Play-doh, she doesn't want it anyhow.

Oh, but wait...this is Chloe we are talking about. So, even though she doesn't want it (and actually as you can see she despises it) she also doesn't want it taken away from her. I am not sure how to win this battle. She cries if she has it, cries if she doesn't.

Oh, dear Chloe...you are so your Mother's child.

Eww...take it away...wait, don't take it away...but I hate how it feels...but I want it...Waahhh!

Brother continues to want to do anything and everything "real" hockey players do. He likes to have his occasional protein shake to get muscles (while sitting in Chloe's seat, much to her despise). He likes to obey like "real" hockey players. He likes to take a shower like "real" hockey players and he even likes to be nice to his sister like the "real" hockey players are. We are so thankful he wants to be a "real" hockey player. Those "real" hockey players sure are obedient. (wink...wink...)

Not sure why I need to share (or re-share) this photo. I guess maybe because this about sums up my little man and his zest for life. Although challenging at times, when I see a picture like this I can't help but count my blessings.

Chloe doesn't really like to dress up. When she has a skirt on, she pulls on it and wants it taken off. I guess that's what happens when you have a brother. Anyhow, she got this dress from her Oma and Opa for Christmas and she couldn't take the tu-tu off because it was connected. So, for a whole day I got to pretend she was a pink princess...all frills and girl...YEAH RIGHT! Check this out!

We went from "Joy to the World"...to "Bah Humbug!" in a matter of hours.

Our poor baby is sick.

He's been throwing up (the first night), fevering and other symptoms (you don't want to know about) since Saturday night. Today we will go to the doctor to evaluate and figure out what type of bug is eating his insides. Poor kid.

We are praying God will take away his bug and give it to his Mama or Daddy.

Bless his little sick soul.

We had ourselves a Merry Little Christmas. It might have been my favorite Christmas so far. We decided to do the "no presents for the adults" thing and it rocked. Instead, we were able to love each other up, spend time chatting, skating, sledding, praising the Lord, praying and watching the kids open presents. It added so much to our Christmas to have the no present rule. I would highly recommend it.

We got to serve at the Union Gospel Mission earlier in the week and enjoyed serving those who are seldom served. What a blessing to us. We went from there directly to Bentlyville which was amazing. The weather was perfect and the cookies and hot chocolate were Brooks' favorites.

We adopted two Super Hero kids this Christmas, too. We have never (to date) seen Chloe and Brooks behave in such rock star fashion. They were happy, obedient and full of love the entire weekend. They were so well behaved I actually am considering adding another baby to our family this year...NOT. Maybe a baby guinea pig for Brooks, but that's about it. Sorry, folks.

Little Chloe-Belle has come into her own. She is beautiful, fun and loving. She took very good care of her new baby doll, but mostly enjoyed the eating a sucker and sitting on her Daddy's lap the entire evening.

We got to go sledding and skating on Christmas Day and had a blast. Chloe loves to run around the ice, Brooks loves to skate and Mommy and Daddy enjoyed doting on our children. They most likely had the two best days of their lives. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were amazing.

Brooks loved his hockey gear. He was very precious when he opened his hockey mask from his cousins. While screaming with joy, he asked, "How did they know I love hockey?" Oh, sweet Brooks..they must have just known.

We are just so blessed. Blessed to have family, blessed to have beautiful children and blessed that we have a Lord who died on the cross, has forgiven our sins and gave us the best gift of all: Eternal Life.

Thank you Lord for it all.

Have you ever had moments with the camera where you are not even trying for a good picture and you get the best picture ever? That happened the other day for Greg. We couldn't get these two to look at us, have clean faces and smile at the same time again if we tried! I love when small things like this work out.

Fast forward to the next day when you put your baby girl, who isn't a baby anymore, in piggies on the top of her head. She's sweet, cute and looks just like her Mommy did when she was little. You grab the camera to take a picture of this sweet little girl and this is what you get no matter how hard you try.

But then there are the times when the girl has pure joy filling her body and she can't take a bad picture even with pizza all over her face.

Sometimes we just have to flash a good one even when Chloe is completely "Sweet November" with her pink boots, polka-dot tights, red skirt, pink heart jacket and sippy cup. We try so hard to coordinate her outfits, but sometimes when she's mismatched she is the most beautiful.

Before I forget...Did I ever tell "all" my readers how beautiful my little girl is and how handsome her daddy is? If not, you can see for yourself right here.

Enjoy!

If he's going to be a Bulldog he needs to learn to skate. He's doing "really good"... the worst in his class but in his defense the class is filled with 4, 5, 6 and 7 year olds.

The teacher didn't know he was 3 until after the first lesson. When she was told you could see a light bulb go off in her head...

No wonder he can't seem to catch on like the other kids.

Brooks loves is and told me, "When I fall, I just get up and try again. Just like Calliou!"

Yes, sweetie. Just like Calliou.

Here's the most random blog I've written. Bear with me.

Brooks likes to wear his hockey helmet while watching hockey on television, while watching Mighty Ducks on his I pod, while playing hockey with his indoor hockey net. So there you have it. Did you catch that? Picture it. It is sweet.

Brooks likes to do crafts with his cousins. Here is the "winter craft" we worked on last week. Today he was asking his TiTi if she'd come over and do a craft with him. She said she wasn't sure she'd be able to. Through tears and whining he says to TiTi, "I have never done a craft before. PLEASE?" Maybe I should show him this picture of the craft he's "never" done.

Oh, and Chloe's stinking cute. Like so cute it's hard to get upset when she cries every time she doesn't get her way or when she lays on the floor at skating lessons today because I wouldn't let her hold the Tupperware full of food she kept flinging all over the place. I guess she knows what she wants. I wonder where she got her determination from. I think I know, but I'll let you decide.

On a final note, I am convinced that I have the best husband in the world. I could list all the things he does that are just not normal for a husband to do, but you'd think I was lying. This man is amazing and I am sure that I love him even MORE TODAY than our wedding day. If that is even possible.

So there you have it. A random post about things I wanted to tell you. As I look at this picture from our wedding day (5 years ago in January), I can see that I need Botox in my forehead...bad! I can't believe how many wrinkles I have now compared to 5 years ago. Yikes. I guess that's what two babies and very little sleep will do to a person.

Goodnight.