Drummer Girl

Although her parents are brass players, Brooke has always been attracted by the drums! At this point I would believe the trumpet OR the drums would fit her personality just fine. Today we visited her favorite "playground", Daddy's band room. One of the kids asked, "What if she wants to sign up for choir?"... does she even have the option? Our attitude has always been that she will be able to make those decisions on her own (well, after at least one year in band!).

Farmer Girl

Happy Mornings!

Brooke is usually a happy morning girl. She runs around the house getting into everything (at the moment she is spreading my cards out of my purse around the living room). She can easily entertain herself for a good chunk of time. The video below was made for her grandparents so they can have another dose of Brooke, LIVE!

Caitlin's New Car

Here's a video documenting our trip over to Seattle on the train to pick up my sister Caitlin's new Honda CRV.

New Tricks

Today Brooke had two new discoveries. The first was a new toy... the dishwasher basket. She put her shoe in the basket and carried it around the house. Stopped. Took the shoe out and found a new hole to place it in. Repeat over and over again!

Twice she put this blue dress on. The first time she actually got both arms through the arm holes! She took it off on her own and tried it again. I can't believe how grown up she is getting!

Chelan County Fair

We took the 25 cent trolley to the fair!

There were beautiful crafts of all kinds. I thought this was a great idea of using photos in a quilt.

The finest fruit you'll ever see!

Huge fruit and veggies... I should have put my summer squash in here!

Cows...

And pigs!

Brooke's cheeks get really red in the heat. We took a break in the shade and had some frozen sugary drink.

13 Months Old

Brooke is an independent, exploring, running, dancing, thirteen month old. She has so much energy and personality we are constantly laughing and trying to keep up with her. Brooke is constantly learning from everything around her as she plays and investigates her surroundings. In the last month she has learned how to throw balls, take her pants off (for the first time today), put beaded necklaces on, say "no!", and give the most wonderful kisses and snuggles. We are amazed at the words and sounds she continues to learn. She watches my mouth and tries to copy the words. She signs a few words, but seems to prefer trying to say them instead. Her favorite sign is for cheese (similar to clapping). Brooke is sleeping better at night and takes one nap from about 11:30-1:30pm.

Brooke-English Dictionary
All Duh = All Done

Dow = Down (and sometimes up!)

p, p, p = Up

Mama = Mama

Daddy = Daddy

Glee = Three

Ha-ee = Hi

Nie Nie = Ni-night

Hah Dah = Hot Dog

Now = No

Go = Go

Uh Oh = Uh Oh

Num, Num = Yum, Yum

Bah = Ball

A Oo = Thank You

Brooke's Favorite Animal Sounds:

Dog, Cat, Bunny, Cow, Horse, Elephant, Bear, Frog, Bee, Monkey

Labor Day Hike

Our friends Anne and Chuck joined us on a nice hike up by Mission Ridge today. It was a little cold but we all warmed up once we started moving and especially from Kent's warm lunch he cooked for us.

Etta let Brooke borrow this adorable outfit. There was a wild animal running around the woods today!

Rainy Watermelon Day

Who knew that a watermelon could be such a good drum!?

Today we decided to pick the smaller of the two watermelons we grew in our garden this year.



We cut it open and it looked and tasted pretty good.


This is the first time it has rained in a long time. We made sure to get outside for a short time and enjoy the cool wet weather. Brooke walked so many miles in her soft Robeez shoes that she graduated to waterproof real shoes! These cute cow shoes are called Squeaker Shoes. There is a removable squeaker that goes off if the child is walking properly (heel-toe). It's also a great way to hear where she's headed!

Happy girl (playing with her rocks again!).

Random Photos

Brooke has graduated from only emptying one drawer. I'm glad she is only tall enough to get into two of her drawers! I have given up on folding these clothes until this "phase" is over. Oh yes, and that is a rock in her hand... another favorite toy!

One of Brooke's favorite things is brushing her teeth. When I ask her to brush her teeth she takes her finger and rubs it on her teeth. She also washes her face which is actually washing her ear, but that's still okay with me.

Veggies from our garden! It has been so fun to be able to cook meals using our own homegrown vegetables, and more healthy too.

Brooke the Clothing Organizer

Brooke the Chatterbox

Brooke the Explorer

Brooke loves exploring the dishwasher!

Another favorite pastime that her parents are trying to stop is putting her dirty hands after eating in her hair. Yesterday is was the most extreme version we have seen after she was nibbling on a frozen banana.

Time for a bath!