Life As We Know It: June 2008

Dallas World Aquarium

Our good friends Emily & Mark drove up from Temple to visit us this weekend. It was super fun! We checked out the Dallas World Aquarium on Saturday. I was very impressed! Well worth the ticket price if you are thinking about going.

Family Fun Ranger Game

Our most recent Family Fun Friday was a trip to The Rangers Ballpark. Brooke hadn't been since she was in utero. She had a great time, and she lasted well into the 8th inning!!! The only reason we finally left at 10:30 was because we were starting to feel like bad parents, plus we had a big day ahead of us. Rangers beat the Phillies 8-7 in a very exciting game.

We had pretty good seats. There's my man Michael Young (#10) basically a baseball toss away from us.

Concentrating on the game

Wearing Daddy's hat

She does look tired by this point.

But such a trooper!

Where my leg rolls at?

Brooke's leg rolls are going away. See evidence below.

I know I should not want her to have leg rolls.

September 07

But she's my BABY!

June 08

See? She's not happy about it either.

Rally Monkeys

David has been playing softball with our church class team, the Rally Monkeys, for a couple of years now. David plays catcher and all star slugger. He really enjoys this time with the guys. Brooke and I try to show support when we can; this week was special because we actually made it to our first 8:00 game. Usually we only go to 7:00 games because of bedtime and all.

David as catcher (yes I know, no helmet)...

...and warming up to knock it out of the park.

Softball games are also good times to catch up with other Monkey fans (their wives). Though lately, I have not been able to chat much in the stands thanks to my own little monkey. She spent most of the game chasing after this ball...

...and Allie. Thanks for sharing your pink ball and your YoGos, Allie. That was very nice of you!

Equine Adventure

Saturday we headed to the mall for lunch and a ride on the carousel. The princess and I rode first with a fancy honey hued horse with some seriously luscious locks.

Round 2 was atop this feisty mare. I think she's excited about her outfit-I mean armor. Check out that trumpet.

Which did Brooke like better? Hard to tell, but I think we now have some new cheap entertainment.

Family Fun Friday: Fair Park

>> 6/20/08 – family fun friday, summertime

Until today, I had not been to Fair Park in Dallas except to visit the State Fair of Texas. It didn't even seem like the same place without thousands of people and the smell of some kind of food being fried. We had fun strolling around the gardens, watching paddle boaters, and munching on some shaved ice. Brooke liked looking at the fish at the aquarium. Most of all we just enjoyed being together.

3 Fabulous Years

>> 6/18/08 – mushy

Happy Anniversary David!

The past three years have been a dream come true!

Like a Rock Star

>> 6/17/08 – funny, video

I don't know if you have to watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse to think this is funny, but David and I can watch this video over and over and still laugh.

Happy Birthday Mom!

>> 6/15/08 – birthday, grandparents

Mom,

We hope you have a fabulous day! We love you soooooo much and you are very special to us. Thank you for being the most wonderful Mom and Grammy ever. Here's a message from your sweet granddaughter:

And this was our first attempt, pre-nap (obviously)

Love,

Kimber, David, & Brooke

Father's Day

>> – celebrations, daddy-daughter moments, grandparents, mushy

I want to dedicate this post to two very special dads in my life.

To Dad

When God chose for me to have H. R. Greenlees for a father, I won the dad lottery. I KNOW that I have the best dad I could have ever hoped for. Dad, you have taught me so much about life through your example of unbelievable selflessness, perseverance, and optimism. You have always made me feel special, that I can do anything I dream of doing. While some men may be afraid to share their feelings, you have never had a shortage of uplifting, encouraging words and lots of "I love you"s. You may never know how important that is to me. Thanks for always being there for me. We's like peas and carrots.

Love always,

Sugar a.k.a. Kimber a.k.a Your Brown-Eyed Girl

Really I won the double lottery because I got the absolute best mom too! I know I am a great mom because I can copy her. My parents still love each other very much and have set an awesome example of marriage and parenting for me. Dad and Mom, I am so grateful for every minute with you. I love you!

To David

It didn't take long for me to know that you had a gentle and giving Christian heart, and that you would make a wonderful husband and father. I remember continually being impressed by each new thing I learned about you as we were dating. I started wondering how you could have possibly made it this far without already being married. You met and surpassed every criteria on my "wish list" for a husband. Then I knew it was because you were the person God made for me. I am so blessed to be married to you. And just when I didn't think I could love you any bigger, you became a father and my love for you kept growing. I am certain that Brooke will grow up a Daddy's girl just like I am. She will look back one day and tell you how much of who she is-is because of you. I look forward to growing closer to you through the years. I love you!

Love always,

Kim

Flashback!

Your First Father's Day 2007

Father's Day 2008

Had to throw in something funny...the girl likes corn.

More fun in the sun

>> – daddy-daughter moments, grandparents, summertime

Brooke's Grandma & Aunt Diana came in for a quick visit yesterday. David alternated between grilling an awesome meal and plopping in the baby pool with Brooke. I enjoyed cooling off by being splashed on the sidelines. Anyway, just had to include a picture of the two piece. Daddy says she can only wear this one in the back yard.

Family Fun Friday, er Thursday

>> – family fun friday

We are trying to take advantage of Fridays this summer because David is only working Monday through Thursday mornings. I thought we could plan something fun to do together as a family every Friday.

Well we are off to a rough start. Family Fun Fridays were supposed to start last Friday with the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in Waco, which we could have dropped by on the way to NB. We were all set to go until we remembered that we were taking the dog with us and we simply could not leave her in the car. Doh!

This week we were determined to have a fun family Friday. Then our Friday started filling up with other things. Before we realized it, we were booked! So we decided to have it the day before and still count it.

We packed a lunch and headed to the Heard Natural Science Museum & Nature Center in McKinney.

We saw several exotic animals including a wallaby and this lemur trying to beat the heat (and boy was it hot)!

Slightly disturbing...

Blue skies smiling at me, nothing but blue skies do I see.

Stopping for lunch on the trail. Brooke is munching on a strawberry, her favorite!

Note: If you decide to go here DO NOT attempt to take a stroller on the trails as we did. Live and learn! Something cool they do have though is free baby backpack rental. Next time we will definitely utilize that option!

Yay for nature!

Back to the Braunf

>> 6/14/08 – firsts, friends, grandparents, the Braunf

Last weekend we headed to New Braunfels to celebrate Mom's birthday and Father's Day a little early. We always really enjoy ourselves, and this time was no exception. BIG bonus-I got to spend time with my friends Jennifer and Karene, two of my best buds in the world. Jennifer was in town for one of her rare trips home from Colorado where she now lives. I'm sure she's back there now enjoying some awesome weather. Here we are in front of the very tasty and unique Huisache restaurant. After lunch we headed to DQ for some ice cream, then to Landa Park where Brooke experienced her first train ride ever. Mom & Dad used to take us on this very train when we were little. Apparently back then it cost a quarter for a ticket. Surprise, surprise-the cost has skyrocketed to $2.25! Still pretty cheap entertainment though :-)
Brooke also enjoyed some quality time with Grammy. David and I went out to TWO MOVIES! We've only been to maybe one movie together since becoming parents, and this weekend we saw two! Yes, one of them was Kung Fu Panda that we only went to because my nephew needed someone to take him, but still we felt like rebels for all the nightlife.

I thought I would take this opportunity to break some pretty alarming news to all you readers out there that think I have the happiest baby in town. Yes, even Brooke has her moments, more so now than ever. Little Miss Independent has picked up a strategy for getting what she wants-throwing completely horrible fits! See proof below. I just didn't want you to be shocked if you saw it happen in real life.

And she's back to her sweet self for the trip home.

Little Red Wagon

>> – daddy-daughter moments, summertime

We broke out the red wagon from Grandma the other day. It was a big hit!

Thanks Grandma!

>> 6/10/08 – about me, friends

Tagged by Hattie...

Rules are as follows: Link to the person who tagged you. Post the rules on your blog. Write six random things about yourself. Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment at their blog. Let your tagger know when your entry is up.

1. I have the word "SUZUKI" burned into my knee... well really it just says "ZUKI". I was 15 and 4wheeling at my family's ranch in New Mexico. I thought I had made it through another wild riding adventure unscathed when suddenly my knee touched something really hot on the engine. Ouch. Now it just looks like a faded freckly birthmark.

2. I grew up working in the yard, building fences, fixing cars, and playing lots of sports. I never thought anything of it until I was all grown up and began to notice that not all girls do this. It was a great bonding time for me and Dad, and I hope Brooke grows up doing the same things with her daddy. Thank you Dad!

3. I didn't really like David after our first date. He was late to pick me up and he talked the entire time. The only reason we went on a 2nd date was because he asked and I couldn't be rude. Good thing I gave him another chance! Turns out incessant talking is something he does when he's nervous.

4. I do not know how to dive. I blame this solely on Miss Mary, my malevolent swim instructor. She pushed me, a five year-old terrified little girl, off the diving board into the deep end of the pool. My mom "had words" with the lady and we never went back for another lesson with her.

5. I want to move back to the Hill Country someday. It is home to me.

6. Among my top favorite material possessions is my down comforter. If I were to go on Survivor, that would be my one item. Also, I cannot sleep without covers.

I tag Dawn, Robin, Erin, Lori, Paige, & Emily

Summer Lovin'

>> 6/4/08 – daddy-daughter moments, summertime

I have been looking forward to sunshine, bare baby feet, and the smell of someone else cooking on the grill for some time now. I try to enjoy every season, but spring and summer are super easy for me. Today is David's last day of school, which means lots of fun family time in the near future.

Last Saturday we peeled our sweaty selves out of the car and into Target with a mission in mind... finding a pool big enough for the three of us to cool off in the back yard. We found that along with a fun floatie boat for Brooke, some splash balls, sunscreen, and grilling supplies. We plan to use it in conjunction with Brooke's baby-size blow up pool from Grandma.
We all enjoyed our first taste of summer with David's signature burgers and a dip in our new back yard addition. Come on over and hang out with us!

Kinsey getting ready to take a sip from the pool.