Southern California trip

Our trip to visit family in Southern California was pretty fun and filled with lots of . . .family. :)  We stayed at my mom and Brooklyn just loved the cats; of course. On Friday we went to a place called Sky City (goggle it) very smart company idea.  They had 3 different rooms for different age groups full of bounce houses and bounce slides.  Brooklyn had so much fun we went to the older kids room, where the slides were steeper, but there was nothing that was going to stop here.  She is our little dare devil.  Plus grandma had just as much fun going down the slides and boy were they both warn out.   Brooklyn even did a few face plants, when her feet would get in the way. Pretty fun place.

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Saturday morning we were up bright and early, which was not any different then when Brooklyn and i woke up. . .around 5:30 ..ugh. But this time we were up with a purpose, to go on Aunt Rayna and Uncle Travis' boat.  Brooklyn has seen lakes before, but was never this personal with one.  This was her first time on the boat and in a lake..she acted how she acts most of the time when something new arises.  She was unsure, but trusting with mommy, she acted shy until she knew what was going to be happening.  Once she saw people start jumping in the water and wake boarding she was once again unsure of it all.  I am sure she thought we were going to throw her in next.  So she stayed next to Grandma.  where she was safe.  We stopped in a cove and jumped in, and yes mommy made Brooklyn come with since she LOVES the water...she EVENTUALLY enjoyed it..and swam a little on her own.  Next up, Rayna and I went on the inter tube.  Since i am pregnant i should of not done that either, but Travis promised to go slow...yes you heard me he promises..But i don't think that happened.  Brooklyn cried the whole time i was out in the water, poor girl probably had her life flash through her eyes. It was pretty fun going on the boat we had a great time.  And Brooklyn to this day will ask to go on the boat or when she sees one she wants to go back on it.  Funny how that works. 

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We spent Saturday evening having a BBQ and had my Dad and meg join us.  Brooklyn loved seeing papa and of course getting presents.  Rayna gave her an early Birthday present that was an adorable, i mean adorable hat and scarf she made with bows you can inner chance.  Meg and my dad bought Brooklyn a Snow White dress, since Brooklyn loves dress up so much.  We had a great time, playing with the marble game, going swimming, eating some BBQ and playing games as adults in the week hours... i think around 9..:)

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Thanks again for such a great visit Mom and Jessie, Rayna and Travis and Dad and Meg.

Heller Visit

Eric's parents came and visited us for the Columbus day weekend.  We had a lot of fun and enjoyed their company like always.  Brooklyn LOVED playing with them. 

 We went to the Living Plant Aquarium on Saturday.  Weird that a whole bunch of animals that are from the deep ocean are in the middle of a desert. Weird but very cool.

Brooklyn was very excited to go in. 

She was so amazed by all the fish she saw. she could not get enough

Looking at frogs

Very pretty.  I want a huge fish tank in our house now...makes it so peaceful. 

There was a part in the aquarium where you could touch the sting rays.  We did they are very slimmy, and the top of their head..their forehead was very rough. Brooklyn wanted nothing to deal with it.

Looking at the sharks

 Brooklyn giving the baby penguin a kiss.

After words we decided to go to FAMOUS Daves! yummy! We all enjoyed it very much

B. and Grandma coloring.

 Picture Perfect:  Trash can lid food and all.

 The Gang. 

 Sunday morning Brooklyn decided to help grandpa out with his breakfast, she got a fork and sat down next to him and eat up. 

 Play time with Grandma!

 YEAH! go girl!

 Awww sweeties. 

Hippo game with grandma

We had a very nice visit with the Grandparents, and i know brooklyn loved having them here.

Short trip to Southern California

Brooklyn and I took a  trip to California, for a few days. On our way from the Burbank Airport on my dad's Birthday we came across this.....yes it's the Back To The Future II car.  The Licences place read: BTTF II.  We thought it was so cool.  go figure, Eric and i just bought this movie on VHS the other day.  hehe.  

I didn't get to many pictures while we were down there, but here are a few. 

Brooklyn of course loves cats, and she followed this one around like no other.  While doing so, the cat was on top the of the stairs and she put her head through the Bannisters ( that by the way narrow as they go closer to the ground) So Brooklyn being a copy cat, did the same, and soon realized she couldn't get her head out.  she tried and then ended up, crying to have us help here.  Hoping she learned her lesson we let her continue and sure enough the cat did it and so did brooklyn again...

We Celebrated my dad's on the 24th, we all went out to dinner, Meg, Mike, Annie, Rayna, Alyssa and Brooklyn.  They brought him a nice looking piece of cake, that happened to be coffee flavored, not being the fan of coffee flavored stuff, my dad passed it onto Annie and Rayna who enjoyed it VERY much.  

The PaRty Group

We hung out with my sister for a day while we were down there.  Rayna got her a Birthday gift, which she opened early,  Brooklyn got a real wallet, she loves it and a marker coloring princess set.  Good Job Aunt Rayna

We had dinner at my mom's house with everyone, but not sure why no pictures were taken. We all had a good time.  Like i said this was a very short trip, we caught a flight and ended up switching planes in Phoenix where my other sister lives.  So we met them at the airport and they brought Brooklyn a gift ( for her upcoming Birthday)  They gave her a lot of treats to eat on the plane and on the go, a toy story alien that glows in the dark, shorts and a shirt. ( the outfit came hand cause she ended up going threw her clothes at the airport)  

I was amazed at how big the girls have gotten,  Aimee wrote a note to Brooklyn in her Birthday car and read it to her.  Impressed.  Emily was telling me about School and what she learned. gosh she is tall..Impressed.  And Cadyn "Bug" loves playing with her sisters and even Brooklyn, she tried coloring with her (above picture) Impressed

The Cottriel Cousins.

Summer Vacation Part 3: Southern California

Lancaster/Valencia here we are!

We got here at 12ish i believe on Monday the 7th.  We hung out and RELAXED.  It was very enjoyable.  We spent a lot of time in my dad's backyard.  Him and Meg (Step mom) re did the back yard and it was not all the way finished yet but it was still very pleasant to relax in.  Brooklyn helped Grandpa put up wind animals?

She very much enjoyed watching them move in the wind, They were alive. :)

She spent a lot of her time out side, so much to do.  She played with the dogs, feed the fish in the fish pond, played with the dogs, and swam.  One thing about Brooklyn is she LOVES dogs. She honestly adores them, it was so cute cause she was very comfortable with them.  My dad had 4 dogs all pretty good size and like people they play, the dogs bark, run and jump on each other.  Brooklyn would watch them do this and then try to join in with them. she would run to were ever they are and just watch up close.  

We were just kind of goofing off. 

This is Annie, Megs daughter, she was visiting the same time we were, so we got to enjoy her company and get to know here more.  Brooklyn once again really like Annie.  

My dad put together a play house for brooklyn.  And boy did she Love it.  Annie, Rayna (my sister, but no picture) my dad and i colored the house for her, flowers, picnic benches windows etc.  She very much enjoyed going in there with toys and peeking up from the roof. 

All smiles

Brooklyn letting the dogs smell her hand.  She learned a while back that she has to put out her hand for the dogs to smell her.  So she kept going up to the dogs and either two things. 1. Letting them smell her hand or 2. tried to bend down and give them a kiss on their noses.  I thing she got a few. :)

In the middle of the dogs "playing"

Grandpa and Brooklyn enjoying some time together.

Next up was to visit my mom and step dad for the weekend and head home.

We went to a fun and yummy BBQ place Friday night.  Brooklyn kept on dancing for the waiters.  What can i say, its in the family?  Then Saturday we went to City Walk at Universal Studios and enjoyed the sites. My mom and Brooklyn in front of The Hard Rock Cafe.

 Brooklyn and my mom reading Books.  One of Brooklyn's favorite pass times.  My mom got Brooklyn 5 little monkeys jumping on the bed book and she loved/s it.  My mom also just got back from Italy with my grandparents and her siblings and she brought us back some goodies.  I got a beautiful necklace from Molina, and a mother daughter necklace as well.  

Left to head home on Saurday night around 8:30ish and arrived home at 8:00 am.  Thanks to eric for driving most of the time, i love you baby! 

We had a good trip all and all. Once again i should of took more pictures. i realized i forgot to take a ton.  Surprise surprise, i know .