Hogle Zoo, Rodeo, and Puppies!

The weekend of the 24th Brandon, Brooklyn and I headed down to SLC to visit our friends, Landon and Amanda. We had such a good time! We miss having them live right down the street in Logan, so we have to go to SLC sometimes to visit. :)We all went to Hogle Zoo! One fun thing that came from Brooklyn's NICU stay is that we get 10 free tickets each time we go to Hogle Zoo, for life! I know right, the NICU really takes good care of their families and babies that come there. Brooklyn pretty much slept through the whole Zoo trip, but woke up just in time for the train ride.We ran into some of Brandons family while we were there. The David and Becky May's family were up from Overton, Nevada. It was good to see them. Brandon and I were like little kids! Since Brooklyn was sleeping someone had to fill the role. :) Our favorites were the giraffes, black bears, penguins, monkeys and of course the elephants!
Amanda and I made some tu-tu's for Brooklyn. They were so easy and turned out super cute. We also bought tickets to SYTYCD when it comes on tour to Utah!! I'm am so excited to go!!
On the 30th of July we went with our friends Penny and Colby Jensen to the Famous Preston Night Rodeo. (Famous because it was the first night time rodeo!) The rodeo was so fun. Our seats were right next to the shoots and fence so they were pretty much the best you could get. It did make me a little bit nervous for Brooklyn when the bulls would come slamming into the fence!
On the 31st of July at 8:00am Maggie had her first puppy!! Four hours later she was done and we now have five cute little Shih Tzu puppies! There are three girls and two boys. The little runt is so tiny. Maggie never leaves them. We have to pick her up and take her to the bathroom outside, because she won't leave the box of puppies. Guess those motherly instincts have kicked in over drive. You really have to see them. They are so cute! Brooklyn just stares at them and smiles as they wiggle around. Our place has now turned into baby mania!

Lamb Days!

The third weekend in July is one of my favorites every year. It is known as Lamb Days! For those of you that don't know I grew up on a sheep farm with 3,000+ sheep. So, this hometown holiday of mine is super close to my heart. Brandon and I have known each other for almost eight years now, and this was his first Lamb Days. Due to missions, summer sales, etc. he was never able to attend before now, but believe you me he is now hooked and will be a Lamb Day regular.
It was also Brooklyn's first Lamb Days. She loved being out and about, meeting the townies. The parade was fun, my team took third in the softball tournament, my dad and uncle road the flags in on horse back for the flag ceremony, my niece and nephews sang in the talent show, we watched the volleyball tournament and mutton busting (kids ride wild sheep), the 6:30 am breakfast and lamb scram (town race) were also exciting. One of my personal favs was the fireworks.
Before Lamb Days I had a chance to catch up with Rachel Reid, Mindy Brotherson, and Brittany Walker. We had lunch at the Ftn. Green Park. It is awesome to have such good friends who keep in touch. Brittany left before we took the picture.Mine and Rachels little girls. They are almost two months apart. Can you tell who's is who's?Brandon and I also went to Penny and Colby Jensens Trailor with some friends to have dinner and roast smores. We taught several nice Chinese foreign exchange students to play baseball. It was a riot. The one Chinese man has seen one too many horror movies and would not put his knife down once it got dark! We thought it was so funny so we kept trying to scare him.
Summer has seriously been a blast so far. I love the summer holidays and fun things you get to do outdoors.

Fourth of July Weekend!!

Brandon had to work in Salem, Utah from the June 31st to July 2nd. So we headed down to my parents house a little early for the weekend of the 4th. Brittanie Hamilton's wedding reception was on the 2nd of July. She looked great and I was glad to see a bunch of friends from high school at her reception. Rachel and I sat at her book. We weren't really sure what we were suppose to do, but we designated ourselves her book girls! :) We all got out an line danced together. It was a blast reminds me of the good 'ole Snow College Days.Nothing quite like Moroni on the 4th! :) Brooklyn looked so cute in her little 4th outfit. The parade got very backed up due to the llamas. The fireworks in Moroni got rained out, so we just had our own little show at my parents housing, while singing, "God Bless America," "Sweet Caroline," and "We're coming to America." Brooklyn was just smiling at her crazy parents the whole time.
The one thing I did not enjoy about the week was when we tried to take Brooklyn to the movie theater. She kept crying so I'd have to take her in and out. She's just not ready for that I guess. The movie, "The Proposal," was good despite the fact. We also had a chance to get out with the horses. The horses just kept trying to eat Maggie.

Country Jams!

On the 24th of July Brooklyn and I took off for a little Road Trip. One of my Best Friends, Ashly Lloyd, won tickets to Country Jam USA in Grand Junction, Colorado!! Lucky for me her boyfriend was unable to go. Grand Junction is just a little over an hour from Green River so Brandon's parents agreed to watch Brooklyn while Ashly and I took our little honkie tonk badunk-a-dunks to the concert!
We had so much fun! Swayer Brown was my favorite! Let's just say we were probably the only sober ones there, but we acted crazier then anyone else. You could tell we were the only Mormons there by the way we dressed, everyone else was wearing swimming suits and daisy duke shorts. Below is proof of the craziness!
We missed the memo to bring chairs. Nothing more country then sitting in the dirt.
I freakin hate, with a passion, port-a-potties!! SICK! They guy next to me seemed to enjoy it though.

The worst part about the concert was worrying about my baby the whole time and then having to go out to the car and pump. They gave out beads at the concert and I thought people were going to walk by the car and give me some. :)On Friday the 26th, the morning after the concert we left Green River at 7am to get to the SLC Temple for one of my friends weddings, Brittanie Hamilton. She looked so beautiful. I love going to weddings and being reminded of the covenents we make as husband and wife. It is always nice to be reminded of the promises and blessings. It made me miss Brandon. We had an awesome week, but it was good to get home.

Father's Day!

Brandon and I are blessed with awesome Dad's. They do so much for us and we love them. It was also Brandon's first Father's Day!! He is a great husband and father. I love watching him play with Brooklyn and seeing him be so cute with her. Happy Father's Day Pootie!!
We went to Green River for Father's Day Weekend and did some hiking in the San Rafael Swell. It was Brooklyn's first hiking trip. She did great!! She slept most of the way and when she wasn't sleeping she was just looking around and cooing.We also had some pictures taken of Brooklyn. Her 2 month old pictures. Here are a few that we liked.

2 months!

Brooklyn just turned two months old on the 9th of June! This means that we have now been out of the NICU longer than we were in it!! I'll forever be grateful for all the medical talent that they have at Primary Children's Hospital, as well as their kind and caring staff; but let's be honest . . . being there for a month was just not fun at all. Brooklyn is doing so well now, you'd never even know that she had a rough start in life.

At Brooklyn's two month appointment she weighed 11 lbs. 3 oz. and is 22.5 inches long. She's already starting to get little rolls in her thighs. She hated the shots like most babies do, and I think I hated them even more. Guess after all that she's been through what are a few shots. It seems like she is constantly discovering new things. She trys to focus her eyes on things so hard and it just ends up like this, cross-eyed. It's so cute!

When I was a little girl my mom use to put me in the freshly dried laundry, so I thought Brooklyn might like the warmth. She did, but so did someone else. :) Brooklyn and Maggie just enjoying laundry time.
Speaking of Maggie, we have decided to let her have puppies. This is Maggie with her boyfriend Tommy. They look so much alike it's crazy! Hopefully she'll have puppies in August sometime if all goes well. I don't have the slightest clue about breeding dogs.Here are my two most favoritest people in the world caught snoozing. Guess the NBA Finals aren't that interesting for Lakers Haters. Kobe is so good, that you have to hate him.

Besides watching the NBA Finals, Brandon and I are both big fans of "So You Think You Can Dance." Brandon would say, "You'd be surprised what you watch after you get married." :) We have a regular weekly party with our neighbors Fred and Chana to watch. Chana and I do quite the good reinactments, so if you've missed the show just give us a call! Go Caitlin! She's my fav right now.

Blessing Day!!

Brooklyn was blessed on June 7th 2009. I was so worried that she would start fussing or passing gas during the middle of the blessing, but she just slept through the whole thing. :) I am so proud of her father, Brandon, for giving such an amazing blessing and testimony. She looked so cute in her little blessing dress. (My Grandma Smith made the blessing dress.) Brandon and I are both so grateful that we have made it to this point, considering Brooklyn's kind of rocky start.
So many people were able to come to Brooklyn's baby blessing. We were planning on having the luncheon outside in our yard, but due to uncooperative weather, aka down pour, we had to fit 60+ people into our apartment!! We set up tables and chairs in the garage, and all over the house. Let's just say that it was more than nice and cozy. :) I felt so bad that everyone was so cramed, but it was so good to see everyone. And I'm glad we all fit somehow.

Brandon's brothers and dad with Brooklyn. (Shawn, Brandon, Pat, Nicolas, Keith, & Brooklyn.)

My sisters and I with Brooklyn. (Alyson, Me & Brooklyn, Jenny, and Jessica . . . Dad in background.) They were such a big help with getting everything ready for the blessing.
Four generation picture. Great Grandma Verla Smith, Grandma Brenda Aagard, Mom Amanda Brady, and Brooklyn Paige Brady. Don't we all look alike?! Kind of crazy huh?
Me and Brooklyn with my cousin Rusty and Brooklyn's second cousin Baylor. They are approximately 3 months apart. They are both so cute!
Brady Grandkids. (Elise, Baylan, Ava, Jocelyn, and Brooklyn.)
All in all, the blessing and luncheon turned out great. It was very memorable to say the least. We are so happy to have Brooklyn, our little miracle, apart of our family.