The Brooke Times: Men at work!

Mama went a little picture happy yesterday afternoon. Tommy wasn't thrilled but I did get a couple of smiles out of him. We had our weekly pajama day, which entails doing nothing but lounging, playing and watching movies. My favorite! (Okay, maybe it happens more than once a week you caught me! :)

I've been having the boys build and do puzzles. I've noticed when I play with them too there is less throwing toys around and more actually using them the way they are intended to be played with. The picture frenzy happened after Tristan went down for his nap so I didn't get the middle cutie in any of them. Next time, you won't be so lucky Tristan! ;)

I'm babysitting the sweetest little doggy named Versace. The kids love her and it makes me really excited to get a family dog when we get back home. (We don't want to travel home with a dog. It'll be chaotic enough with the 3 monkeys... boy do I pitty the fool who sits by us on the plane! Hahaha)

Landon loves his bumbo. Whoever invented it deserves a million pats on the back for this fabulous thing! I got it when Tommy was a baby and it's held up through all 3 of them. It doesn't even look warn out! Landon loves sitting up and being in on the action. I joke with Justin that Landon is really a 4 year old in a newborn's body. He never has acted like a newborn. He's been playful and curious from the start and he sleeps better than most 4 year olds!

I love his sweet little face. He just melts me. Time flies by in a blur I'm so busy, but I try to remember to take a time out to just breathe and look at how beautiful our kids are. They're feisty little things, for sure. But most days they give me more happiness than stress. (Give or take lol)

Justin has found a promising job for our transition into "normal" life. I can't really consider military life "normal" though it has been wonderful part of our lives. It's a career some soldier's in Justin's field go into after their enlistment and would still be working for the government. So we could choose where we live, not have to work on a military base, etc. while still getting excellent health care and benefits. It's an extremely great opportunity and we're getting his resume, awards, paperwork together so we can mail it in. 5 months and counting!!

This is the best smile I could get out of Tommy. He's much too big and manly to smile for pictures, or so he thinks. He was so proud of his "princess peach" castle. Yeah.. he's probably playing too many mario games. I'd also like to thank Jason Brooke for sending us a Super Mario Bros. movie. Tommy adores it even though I think it's the cheesiest movie I've ever seen. lol

Tommy starts school next year and it's perfect timing. I don't want to move the kids around to different schools so I'm glad we're getting out of the military in time for him to start. I've had "1st day of school" scrapbook stickers for 4 years so I'm getting pretty excited to use them. Hah, Tommy thinks I take a lot of pictures now. Just you wait, you haven't seen nothin' yet! His first day is gonna be huge!