Pictures (Including Easter)

Wendell wears an appropriate facial expression for holding a football. Isabelle has a gift bow on her head.

When Richard finished his 3rd year of vet school, he was ushered into his final year at a "White Coat Ceremony." Isn't my vet cute?

"Here's trouble." Richard with some of his friends. These guys are all so great.

Thanks to Shannon Palmer (!) I could go to the ceremony without the kidlins. (Good thing cus as far as excitement, it was not kid friendly.)

Isabelle and her best friend (next to her bro), Emry at the zoo. It's so adorable when they hold hands.

Wen in Daddy's hat. I can't look at this without giggling.

Easter

Nurturing

Love you!

Long time, no see the Brooksbys!

Well, hello. I can actually blog! We have a compter now (yay!) and we were able to set it up in a room where no child sleeps. Richard is working late so I'm here with a moment to spare,... well, not technically, but I'm choosing to blog cus I've wanted to for months and so other things will just have to be put on hold. Here are some pictures.


Cico Park





Decorating Easter Eggs!



Dancing and doing silly statues

I am SO in love!

Oh great. Now it's not letting me add pictures! I guess I'll do a video instead...

Well, since I'm just sitting here waiting for this to upload, I might as well type a little. I really should be getting ready for bed. It's way too late and I have an 8:15 hike in the morning. I feel like I've barely seen Richard this week so I'm glad it will just be short hike. It's for Relief Society so I want to be supportive, plus it may be my last chance to hike the Konza Prairie before we move. Plus, I enjoy getting to know the sisters in our wonderful ward.

Maybe I'll go eat a bowl of cereal and then go to bed. I'm disappointed I didn't get to upload more pictures. I don't know why it's acting up. We have 651 pictures and videos just from the last time we uploaded them onto the computer from our camera. I guess I'll just have to come on again sooner than later.

Richards been at the animal hospital since 7:30 this morning and it's going on 11:30pm. I get tired just thinking about it. This year is so demanding it's not even funny. But he's doing well even when it's hard. He's good at what he does. His teachers see that and tell him.

I'm doing well. Really well. I'm so very blessed. I need to get a handle on parenting a 3 and a 1/2 year old though. She's so sweet and wonderful but sometimes this feisty little creature takes over. The sad part is is that I think she learned it from me. My theory is if I were always 100% patient and loving, Isabelle would have a lot less tantrums and whoa-where-did-this-behavior-come-from-???? moments. I wish I were a better mom. Especially cus I love my kids so much and they really deserve the best. They are so good, holy even. How can we be worthy of children?

Well, it looks like the video didn't upload. RRgh. I'm attempting again. ...And the third time...

Now take note, the music playing in the background is not staged. It was actually playing when this occurred.

Too funny!! I just had to laugh (but ...not audibly). And now of course have to hide the Bisquick at all times.

Isabelle with one of her favorite friends, Emry. We met them at the community playgroup over a year ago and finally had them over for dinner. The girls were so cute- matching by coincidence.
Jumping on the couch.


Wendell playing with one of Isabelle's birthday present. He loves using the screw driver. I love how this tongue is out as he concentrates.

Cade and Wendell playing in the toy box. Cade's mom and I swap babysitting to go to institute. (Unfortuantely we only got to do it once and then our family got super sick- for the WHOLE MONTH of Feb.!!) The three kids played so well together.

Isabelle's 3rd Birthday- January 16th

Isabelle opening presents on the morn of her birthday. (Possibly not the best timing because then she didn't take a nap. Kind of anticlimactic for her special cake since she was right there kickin' around while I made it. So much for surprises.)


Isabelle's castle birthday cake Richard and I made. It's not the best picture, but I was hurrying because we were about to be late to the party. It's our first "special" cake we ever attempted. She just cared that was strawberry. (Strawberry was the kind of cake she said she wanted.)

Waiting to eat cake...

This is my favorite pic. (Thanks for taking pictures, Jeremy.)


We did the party at the Institute where there was more room. It turned out really well. We had music and dancing, toys and games like Duck, Duck, Goose. We had coloring and cake. We tried to keep it somewhat small.

Wendell being so super adorable!! PS he LOVES the bath. He is a splashing fish.


In Cali. when we went for Christmas.

Oakland Temple view. It was amazingly clear. Richard is the panorama pro.


Family pictures. Cousins Brooklyn, Porter and Wendell.



Love you guys!

Christmas Letter

Dearest Family and Friends,

Best wishes for a very Merry Christmas! We are so grateful for the gift of our Savior Jesus Christ, his everlasting atonement and the fruits of his resurrection. We know that he lives! We know that he overcame sin and death and paved the way for us to return to our Heavenly Father. We are so grateful to know that we can repent of our sins and shortcomings and turn our hearts to Christ that we might become perfected in him. We are so grateful for our Heavenly Father’s Plan of Happiness and that we have been blessed with the opportunity to come to Earth and learn and progress from our own experiences and trials. We are grateful to know that families can be together forever- even after this life- because of the sacrifice our Savior made.

We hope you are doing well! We are enjoying our time in Manhattan, Kansas and can’t believe we have less than a year and a half left here. Richard is very busy with vet school (at Kansas State University). He’s been doing more hands-on application this semester; it’s interesting to hear about the surgeries he performs. The final year starts at the beginning of the summer. He’s also busy with family, work and church. At church he works with the Young Men.

As Isabelle and Wendell grow up, they also grow closer; it is such a joy to see them personally develop in every aspect- including in their friendship. Isabelle still loves to sing-- (it seems like half of everything she verbalizes is a song.) She plays pretend a lot too: she talks on her “phone” or to a “friend” or has her lambs following her around the house. Two of her favorite activities seem to be Family Home Evening and interviews with Dad. She’s proud of her toddler bed and her potty. We can’t believe she’ll turn 3 in January.

Wendell Mac’s first birthday is coming up on Dec. 20th. He recently started walking. One of his favorite activities is to climb up to the back of the couch and stand on the window sill. He loves pens and pencils—he likes to draw with them or practice removing/replacing the caps. He is constantly on the go which makes diapering and changing clothes an… opportunity to burn calories.

Amy feels so blessed because her love and life is family and church. Wife, mother, homemaker, Relief Society worker, friend, missionary, are her priorities and she loves it. Right now she’s studying Jesus the Christ by James E. Talmage and enjoying it thoroughly.

We love you! Merry Christmas!
–Richard, Amy, Isabelle, and Wendell