A stormy sunset

We had a big thunderstorm roll through the other day at dusk and this was the scene from our house. It looked like the sky was on fire! It was so beautiful, we had to take a picture, and the pictures were so cool that we had to share. It kinda reminded me of the scene from Independence Day when the giant spaceships were rolling into the atmosphere surrounded by flaming clouds.

And this was the view of the storm from our backyard. It was a pretty mean looking storm.

Flap, flap, flap!

Brooklyn learned to flap like a penguin from a book that Grandma sent her, and it is one of her favorite things to do. I cannot wait to take Brooklyn to the zoo to visit some real penguins. Do they even have penguins at the Ft Worth Zoo? I hope so.

More beach fun

We went to the beach this past weekend and this time we let Brooklyn try boogie boarding. She was pretty good, too! She smiled lots and cried when it was time to get off the board.

This is just video of Brooklyn running around at the beach. She was the only baby there who was NOT afraid of the waves/water. And boy was she NOT afraid... which, of course, makes me afraid. We may have to enroll her in swimming classes very early.

Fun with the water hose

This is what we do when the pool is closed for cleaning but it is too hot to do anything but play in the water...

Finally Facing Forward

She's finally big enough to face forward!! So, we went out and got Brooklyn her front facing carseat. She looked so big in her old infant carseat and now looks so small in her new toddler carseat.

And the verdict is...

...no big deal mom. A carseat is a carseat. :)

She's holding Howard. He's her favorite stuffed animal by far and is her security "blanket". (Thanks Megan!!)

Fun at the park

There is a beautiful park not too far from our house that we have been to several times now, and we fall in love with it a little more each time we go. The playgrounds (one for tots and one for bigger kids) are very well kept. There is a quiet and gorgeous 1 mile trail through the forest of trees. It also includes a nature trail, which, as soon as Brooklyn is old enough, we will venture. There is a little pond with paddle boats, turtles and even alligators. And, to top it all off, there is a small sprinkler area for the kids to cool off in their swimsuits (which is Brooklyn's favorite part). The whole park is well shaded by huge trees and natural growth, except for some fields of golf course type grassy knolls. It is an ideal park and we love it.

Here are some pictures from our last park date:

Brooklyn really does like swinging; the first thing she does as soon as we get there is run to the swings. She doesn't laugh and giggle like the little baby boy was next to her. She just sits back and lets the wind rush through her... uh... scalp.

Of course, Mommy can still make her laugh no matter where she is or what she is doing.

Look at the background... that is what surrounds the playgrounds. Isn't it just beautiful??

Now, it's on to the sprinklers.

This girl loves, loves, loves the water... especially fountains and sprinklers.

Like I said... LOVES water.

... maybe a little too much.

Every time we go to the park, or anywhere for that matter, Brooklyn makes at least one new friend. She really is a social butterfly. Sometimes she'll just walk right up to someone and wave hello right in their face.

And this is the face we get when it is time to go and why we come back again and again.