Easter

Addie and Aiden had a fun filled Easter this year! It was great seeing the excitement in their face when they found an egg and even better when they opened the egg and saw candy. Bethel had an egg hunt before Easter service at Fillmore Elementary and they had TONS of eggs. You really couldn't walk without stepping on one. It didn't take Aiden long to fill his basket....he even sweet talked someone into giving him a bag so he could continue to collect eggs! Addie also enjoyed hunting eggs but she was more interested in the candy inside the eggs. We enjoyed spending time with family and being outdoors to hunt mushrooms in the last few weeks. With all the rain it sounds and looks like a LARGE roaring river in the back yard. This has made me very nervous when going outside with the kids alone. Our flowers and plants are really growing...it is neat to see the surprise flowers that were planted by the previous owners. The kids and I plants flowers in our pots yesterday and I they really liked watering them.

Dentist Visit

The kids have been really into giving me puppet shows. :)


We finally went to the dentist for the 1st time:) The kids did great!! I was really nervous Addie would belt out her screams:) She didn't scream too loud. ha ha

We love our new dentist and the kids even got to pick a toy and balloon. That was a huge highlight. I'm really pumped b/c they have an amazing coffee and cookie area!! When I go to get my teeth checked, I will be getting a large coffee to go.

The kids have been going to the Elite cheer and Dance place for a play and share class. It is 1 day a week for 45minutes. It has been great! My kids are so shy! They are doing better but I think some of the bigger kids scare them. :) Addie loves the trampoline during free time and tells me she jumps like her cat Nala:) Aiden is in heaven when she says free time b/c he RUNS to the basketball goal and balls. I'm really glad we have been going this month and hopefully they will participate more each week.

Brian has been busy with work and working around our place. I'm so thankful for more daylight when he gets home from work. I know he is looking forward to having more time outside with the kids after work:)

My sister and her kids are on Spring Break this week so we are pumped to visit with them!

Way Behind

It is funny I have sat down and started writing a new post and something has made me stop...most likely one of my beautiful kids:) Seriously though I have many 1/2 finished saved postings that really are hard to finish now that we are in March. Goodness it feels great saying that out loud....meaning Spring is here! The last few weeks we have been able to spend many hours outside exploring our new property. Aiden likes to say "mommy I go on walk." I love to see them trying to figure things out and really get dirty in the mud. Seems unreal that my little boy just a year ago wouldn't touch the grass. ha ha One thing we noticed was Tulips beginning to grow! It was so exciting for myself (meaning I don't have to plant them:) ) and for the twins to pick at. I will soon post pictures b/c they look so neat. After working cleaning out all the dead parts to the plants and flowers I realized that I really enjoyed myself:) I've never really sat and worked at flowers or plants. I was lucky at our last place b/c it was already landscaped and we have plants and flowers here too but so many opportunities to split plants and add and change around. I'm pumped!

Addalyn~My sweet little girl:) Brian and I were laughing last night talking about how when Addie is good she is SO GOOD and when she is bad.....well she is SO BAD. ha ha Very true though. We've had 2 major fits that she got in trouble for and I think we are only at the tip of what is to come with her. Of course I hope I'm wrong. She is extremely smart so I though potty training would be quick and easy but she is being stubborn about it and I'm trying not to push it. She loves her kitty Nala and takes care of her like she is a baby. Poor kitty:) We have been going to a play and share class at a dance studio and she is enjoying the balance beam and trampoline. I'm thinking dance will come easy for her or at least I hope. She wants to be my helper with everything and she is constantly carrying around a baby or stuffed animal and telling me that she's taking care of it. The concept of family to her is daddy, mommy and baby. During story time at the library she walked up to the librarian and told her that the picture of the Hippo in the book was a mommy. She was hilarious! I just love her so!

Aiden~Boy is he all boy...I know I always say it but wow! He loves I mean LOVES to play ball. Any kind of ball. You have to watch out b/c he throws it to anyone that is looking at him. He'll tell you nice catch or even good throw:) He is constantly running and telling me how fast he runs. I think he'll be a fast runner like his daddy. He also loves to to jump on the trampoline and play in the obstacle course at the class. He runs around and really watches the older boys. During library he is such a sweet shy boy and sits perfectly still listening to every word the librarian says. He is really into walking around our place and digging in the dirt. He likes to walk to the creek with his daddy and watch the water (Lots of water). He is starting to have more of an appetite. This is a relief but he still has days of only eating 1 meal and maybe a snack.

They both enjoyed their 2nd Birthday Party! We are really excited for a fun spring!

Good bye 2010 HELLO 2011

Here are some recent pictures from the last month. We had a wonderful holiday season! The twins have really enjoyed all the parties and fun festivities. Christmas was so much fun! Addie and Aiden had a blast opening presents and seeing family often. Garrett and Joscelyn are their cousins that live a little south of Bloomington and we were able to see them a lot. Addie and Aiden love them!!

Addie~She is really enjoying having daddy home this week. She likes to go out in the garage attached to the house to play while he is out there working on his "Man Cave."(that is what I'm calling it) Just yesterday she went up to him and asked him if he was going to the garage and when he said yes she goes "ok I get my jacket" and she went and got her jacket. She has also learned quickly this week that when she cries for daddy during nap time or bedtime he'll come and get her. Next week will be interesting and hard for them to realize it is just mommy. Addie has been playing with the cats a lot this week and she is trying to learn how to ride the tricycle but it is too hard right now. She continues to use the potty once in a while and I'm glad I haven't really pushed it...I'm thinking when she turns 2 we will start potty training. She really does a great job right now going when we are home. (Aiden is a different story) Santa brought her a doll bed,bath, diaper changing table combo that she loves. She got the movie Tinkerbell that she loves and is obsessed with Princess and the Frog. She got some great books, coloring books, doll stuff, and loves the cash register from Santa.:) She had a great Christmas!

Aiden~ What a handsome little man:) He got his first pair of boots for Christmas that he loves! I love to see him walking in them. Santa brought him a train table with a fun train set that he enjoys playing with. He also loves the Elmo Chair from Nana and Papaw Brinkman. He is funny and turns it upside down to sit in. (like a sled) He got a car track, cars, puzzles, barn with animals from mamaw papaw Cash, and tons more. He likes the same movies as Addie but also like Sesame Street movies and Merry Madagascar. He continues to be a picky eater but has really gotten taller the last 2 weeks.

The twins turn 2 in February so we are looking forward to their birthday celebration. 2010 was a great year! We can't wait to see what 2011 brings! Happy New Year Everyone!

Feeling a little like Christmas around here...

It has been very busy around the Brinkman house as I'm sure everyone else is too. We have a Christmas tree up (still up:) ) and the kids had a great time helping....if you call it helping. ha ha They love the ornaments and really enjoy having their very own tree in their playroom. Currently it is on the bookshelf b/c they were fighting over it this morning but overall it was a good idea. We have been outside in the snow already...the twins weren't so sure about walking in the snow at first or even touching it. Aiden of course loves the idea of making snowballs.:) Thank you Brian! If you know or are around Aiden you constantly have to watch him if he has a ball b/c he may want to play catch and he doesn't ask he throws first.:) I had my first real Christmas shopping adventure at Toys R Us the night of Thanksgiving. It was wild and fun! My mom went with me and we were able to get everything on my list and really didn't have a hard time. Other than the long line.. I know many people don't like the idea of the crazy shopping days but buying 2 of everything and having their birthday in Feb I was able to get stuff 1/2 price. Awesome feeling:) We are slowly getting things on the walls around here but with Christmas decorating that kinda took a back seat.

Addie~LOVES to shop and go places with me. When I put her shoes on she will ask me if we are going to Walmart:) I took her to Kohl's last night to get them boots. She tried on MANY boots and either said "too tight" or "I don't like em" GREAT....shopping is fun but frustrating b/c she has a very strong opinion. So needless to say I did not get their boots last night and will have to go get them w/o her so she doesn't have a choice:)

Aiden~He got his first haircut! I was giving Brian a haircut and he keep asking for one so Brian cut his hair with the clippers. Hilarious:) He looks so cute and grown up.

I'm trying to post pics I've taken lately with my new camera. (early Christmas present from my hubby:) )

Trying to catch up!

This was at Anderson's Orchard. They LOVED the apple cider slushy!

I can't believe time as went by so quickly! I just read our last post and I don't have a clue on what to write now b/c SO much as happened and changed. I guess I'll try to summarize:)

We now live in our new place! Living doesn't mean we are unpacked and set-up all the way but it's coming along. We only have 1 more room to paint and hopefully we can get that done before the holidays. The kids LOVE our new place. In fact they still say "New place" when we drive down the driveway. It is adorable to see them excited about our new home. They adjusted well moving out of my parent's home. I think it was the hardest on me leaving just b/c I really enjoyed the time with my parents. Back to reality I guess:)

We had a camp-out with family and that went well except I told Brian it gets DARK and I mean dark so I'm hoping we can change that. Living in Plainfield when you went to bed you could see the street light through the blinds. Here at night it is like your inside a cave:) I'm slowly getting a routine back and finding fun things to do about Putnam County.

Addie is really a talker! At times I catch myself talking to her like she is 4 years old! She understands and communicates so well that even the pediatrician couldn't believe it. Her new work this week is "different." For example she tells me she wants a different movie on, wants something different to eat, or wants to wear different shoes! Crazy crazy crazy! It is adorable b/c Aiden at times is like a parrot to Addie and repeats everything she says and nods to me agreeing with what Addie says. Ha ha I can't believe how quickly she has grown and I just love all her curly hair that is finally started to grow.:) Bedtime has been a challenge with her and Aiden b/c they want to sleep in "Mama's bed." I think this most be the in between time before they sleep in their own toddler bed. It is too cute seeing them in between Brian and I sleeping so peacefully. It is weird but sometimes I get flashbacks to when they were infants and I had them propped up against pillows in our bed feeding them bottles at the same too!

Aiden is very active! He runs everywhere and throws just about everything. He really likes our new cat Allie that was previously Brian's when he was in grad school. He likes to follow her around and chase her:) Aiden is so smart and really thinks! I've decided he is a problem solver.

Well, we've enjoyed Halloween and the kids did great in costumes and going house to house. (we only went to 5) They were Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse.

They are now tattling! ha ha I didn't realize that could start at the age of 1! I hear..."Addie take it mommy!" "Aiden hit.....go timeout!" Those 2 are most common but yes they are like narrators! ha ha I love listening to them tell me things and informing me of situations....they just act way too old! I seriously talk to them all day and enjoy conversations with me. Addie has a great confused look (wrinkled eyebrows) when I talk to her about stuff she doesn't quite understand. :) The "Whys?" are not making since just yet.

We look forward to the upcoming holidays and playing outside as long as the weather allows:)

Sorry about pictures not being very up to date.....I lost my camera during moving and so most pics are on our cellphones and we haven't loaded them onto the computer yet. More pics to come very soon!

End of August

On the walk to the lighthouse on South Beach. I was not letting the kids out of the stroller...it made me so nervous!

At the beach in Michigan:) Notice the gardening toys! Ha ha We forgot the sand toys and who would have thought EVERYWHERE we went was out! So gardening toys were the closest thing. They loved them the same.

This was the shopping and dinning area at South Haven. We really enjoyed this area.

We took a family pic at the same place in the zoo that we did last year but it was taken from Brian's phone.

The LOVED the Zoo!

Nana came along with us! We had a great time shopping and going to the zoo with Nana:)

The water animals were a hit! They loved to watch them swim by. Aiden is all bent down waiting for it to come:)

Our first family picture taken on our new place!

I posted some pictures from our 2 trips we took recently. We went to Michigan and Chicago. I think the kids enjoyed the hotel rooms the most:) In Michigan they ran around yelling and laughing the whole time! It was so cute to see them enjoy the new space. They are growing up so quickly:)

Addie is communicating so well it is scary. Just the other day I gave her a snack and she tried and it then said "I don't like it." She'll even ask questions! One thing I'm sure that won't change for a while is her concern for Aiden at all times. She is such a little mother to him.

Aiden is hilarious! He is really into jumping (trying to) and running. His knees have been consistently skinned up this summer from running to fast on concrete. He is also talking non stop. Addie calls him Aiden and Aiden calls Addie sissy:) They loved shopping on Michigan avenue in Chicago (so did Nana and mommy) and playing on the beach in Michigan. I believe we will be moving in our new place in 2 weeks from now. It will be a slow process of painting and unpacking.