Mr. Braden Starts Preschool.

Our Mr. Braden started preschool this week...he was thrilled!!! He was so happy that his first day of school had come.  After seeing Brielle off to the big school he felt a little lonely at home.  Those two sure know how to fight but they have missed each other so much these last few weeks since Brielle started kindergarden.

Brielle told me the other day:

"Kindergarden is too long, I don't get to fight with Braden any more!"  

I just can't believe how big they have gotten.  Once upon a time, they used to be as little as Brooke.  It makes me so happy to see what good friends Brielle and Braden are.  They are best friends.

Crazy to think that Scott and I have 3 children! man! This guy at preschool today was asking me how many kids I had...it's still a little weird to say that I have 3! THREE!!! I think the guy was a little surprised himself! ha!:) 

The other day I went to the store with all three and I have to admit I felt like everyone was staring at me!:) 

I couldn't be happier though, so glad each of these kiddos are part of our family..

Braden did so well this first week of preschool, he's making new friends and adjusting well.  It's nice to have our school routine back! 

P.S. This is totally unrelated to Braden going to preschool.  Scott got this note stuck to his window today:

So funny! Scott says that it wasn't his fault that he park badly, it was another car that made a whole bunch of cars park weird.   

City life is interesting sometimes! At least she was funny about it!:) 

Brielle Starts Kindergarden.

I am one of those mothers that sends her children to school with mixed feelings.  I can't say I'm completely sad because I'm not.  I am excited for them to grow and learn.  But I just can't help to feel sad and scared to send my little ones out to the world to fend for themselves.  One hopes the world is kind to them. 

I guess, all that is left for parents to do is to teach them to make good choices and to be kind to those around them. 

Brielle was so ready to start kindergarden! She has been talking about it all summer long and how she is going to learn how to read! She can't wait! 

When Tuesday came around she was full of excitement.  I fixed her breakfast and she ate two bites and said she couldn't finish it because she was 'too nervous'! 

Braden was excited for her and a little sad that her 'favorite sister', as he tells her, was going to be gone all day! 

Brielle was SO excited to ride the school bus! Braden, Brooke and I went to drop her off.  We were so sad that Scott couldn't be part of it all. He, of course, had to be at the hospital bright and early.

This is Brielle's excited expression when she saw that the bus was coming! 

She gave us all hugs and kisses and went off to her first day at the big school...

I followed the bus to the school to make sure she would get there safely. I know I'm such a geek.  But I just  wanted to make sure! We are so lucky to have a few ladies from our ward who work at the school, so Brielle saw a few familiar faces when she got there.  One of them (our stake president's wife) was ushering the kids from their bus to the gym.  Brielle was so happy when she saw her! 

...walking to her new classroom.  Her teacher is very nice.  Brielle has enjoyed her first week of kindergarden.  She has been complaining though, that her teacher is not teaching her how to read yet!!! ha ha! She's sooooo anxious to read! 

She comes home a little tired from a full day of kindergarden but reports to like it! 

She is a good little girl and says she wants to be good and learn so she can get a little treat from the treasure chest her teacher has.  

We are so proud of our little Bri bri!:)

Three Weeks of Brooke.

I can't hardly believe our little Brooke has been with us for almost 4 weeks!

We are all in love with her and just couldn't imagine our lives without her. She is just a sweet, sweet baby. She is easy to please and has made this transition to having three much easier than I thought it was going to be.

She doesn't like tummy time all that much, but we make sure to have it at least once a day. She does pretty well at holding her little head up for quite a few seconds.  The older kids love her too much and sometimes fight on who is going to lay next to her...they are always in her face! Poor Brooke! She gets annoyed with them when it's too much!

But for the most part they are very gentle and sweet to her. I'm amazed at how much love they have to give. 

 I heard Brielle baby-talking to Brooke this morning:

"Hi Brookie Kate. Don't you know that you're special? You're special to this family?

Everybody loves you...daddy loves you. Braden loves you. Grandpa Clay loves you. Grandma Karen loves you. Abuelita loves you. Great-grandma Jensen loves you."

She named everyone!:)

It brought tears to my eyes!

What sweet children I have.

My heart has been so full these last few weeks.

Sleepy head.

Brooke loves being swaddled. Sometimes her tiny little feet stick out!

Braden has been so cute with his little sister and he says several times a day, "what a cutie pie" or "I just want to squeeze her!". He doesn't like it when she cries and tries really hard to comfort her.

The other day, this is the conversation we had while I was changing Brooke's diaper:

Braden: she's a cutie pie.

Denisse: why is she a cutie pie Braden?

Braden: Because she's so tiny.

Denisse: Why is she so tiny?

Braden: Because she's a cutie baby. She's our baby.

She's lucky to have such a good big brother.

...and all of a sudden Braden doesn't seem so little any more now that Brooke is around.  He's been my baby for so long! Now he seems like such a big boy! 

Brielle loves to be a little mommy!

They both ask several times a day to hold her. 

I tell Scott we have a serious baby! I had forgotten how serious newborns are until they start smiling! 

I've been enjoying the time I get to cuddle and snuggle with her.  No pushing away, she just lets me hold her close to me.  Such tender moments.  

My heart has been so full.