The Many Faces of Brooklyn

It's A Miracle

Brooke went to sleep last night at midnight (with mom & dad) and didn't wake up until 7:30!

Happy Birthday Jono!

Happy 4th Birthday

Sweet Katie-Bear!!!

{{click}}

random

The most clever nickname anyone ever gave me was Megs & Bacon. It never failed to make me laugh. I was thinking about that today and got a little creative with our family nicknames (maybe I was hungry too...)

Kater Tot

McKenna Banana (or Bonita Banana)

Brookie Cookie

Dave... any ideas?

Happy Birthday Staci!

Called to Serve!

Elder Brian Hopkin

And he has been called to serve in....

Mendoza, Argentina!

He will be leaving to serve the Lord on August 12th

Congratulations Bri!

We are so proud of you!

Brian on multiple conference calls while reading about his mission.

1 Month

Brooke is 1 month old!

(well, 6 weeks...but time is just going by

too fast for me to keep up!)

and this is why I get professionals to take pictures of my kids...
My at home attempt to take 1 month pictures:

Mom, what are you doing?

That flash is so bright I can't keep my eyes open!

Maybe if I push it out of the way...

Being so cute is such hard work...it's exhausting!

Things Brooke has discovered recently:

sunny weather at the park

her toys

her hands can reach for toys

her sister


the camera

a comfortable place to sleep :)

(LOVE this picture)

the following pictures was my attempt to capture her smile on camera

this was a great one
just imagine her arm not being in the way and it's a GREAT picture!

Mommy Next to Her Baby

I tiptoe down the hallway
to the playroom and peek my head in.
I like to watch you in your world
with your ponies all in a row.
You talk to them in your small sweet voice
and gently place them one by one
so carefully. I'm not ready for you to know
I'm here. For now
I just want to watch
long enough to breath in this moment
so I can remember.
You must have felt my eyes watching
because you look up at me
with your beaming eyes and cheeks
that always melt me.
You wave me over and show me a seat
right next to you so I can play ponies too.
The game is to line them up one by one
on the armrest of the fouton
and then to watch.
I place the mommy next to her baby.
Then I feel your head rest gently
on the side of my arm.
While we watch.

Sweet Sisters

2007:

Katie & McKenna

2009:

McKenna & Brooke

{tear::sniff}

Baby Brooke

By request...

This picture just makes me giggle...("what are you doing Mom?")

And in case you can't tell, she is VERY loved...

We love Grandmas!!!

We have been SPOILED ROTTEN for the past month having both grandmas here, one right after another. We've had yummy, home-cooked meals, extra hands to hold Brooke, extra eyes and hears to give Katie & McKenna all the attention they need, and extra rest when needed. It really has been amazing and made the transition a lot easier than I anticipated. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

Grandma Hopkn was the first to come. She arrived a couple days after Brooke was born and was here for two weeks. She was able to be here for McKenna's birthday which made that day extra special for her. Especially her Ariel cake, which I definitely couldn't have made on my own!
Brooke got lots of love from Grandma,

Katie & McKenna got to paint with Grandma,

and they went to the park almost everyday!

A couple days after Grandma Hopkin left, Grandma Jensen came! She was here for 1 1/2 weeks. (Most of the pictures from her trip are on her camera, but I do have a few). The weather wasn't as nice for Grandma Jensen, so instead of the park we went to a couple playplaces - equally as fun and special for the girls.
We watched General Conference with her and ate yummy cinnamon rolls.

The girls colored temples during one session,

We had moments of nice weather while she was here when the girls were able to play in the backyard. They especially loved lining up the rocks on the fence with Grandma!

(I know this picture is sideways, but I didn't want to upload all the pictures again just to fix this one - SORRY!)

"Keep Doing a Lousy Job"

In Stake Conference about a year ago, there was a speaker (sadly, I can't remember who) who talked about how difficult it can be to do all the things we're supposed to (i.e. FHE, read the scriptures, family prayer, etc.) when we have young kids. He talked about feeling like we're doing a lousy job because we can't get our kids to sit still long enough to teach them anything. Sometimes it is difficult to feel the Spirit when we're constantly struggling and wrestling kids to sit still, fold their arms, or listen. Sometimes it feels like it may not even be worth trying to do while the kids are so young. I have definitely had those feelings! Well, he encouraged us to "keep doing a lousy job" because that is exactly what we should be doing to build a foundation for our family on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Even if the kids aren't grasping the concept completely, at least we are teaching them that these things are important to us!

Well, that was a very encouraging talk for me - here is our family doing "a lousy job" :)

and then here is Katie's version in "Spanitch" :O)

Our Little Mermaid

If you're having trouble understanding, she's saying "how 'bout a little bit loud?"

Food & Care Coalition

I received this email recently and it really touched me. Maybe it was because this undertaking is being initiated by a friend/ward member/neighbor/and woman that Dave hometeaches; or maybe it is because the woman she mentions with a daughter who is homeless is also a friend/ward member/neighbor of ours; or maybe it is because I do feel like our family is incredibly blessed - especially during this time of economic struggle - to have a job, to have food, to have a house, to have each other.... Regardless of the reason, this email touched me. And I want to help.

And in case you want to help too, here's the email she sent:

Hi!

I have been thinking a great deal about the huge difference that a group of people can make when they come together. These thought have come because of an article I read in the newspaper recently. You see the Food and Care Coalition of Utah Valley is in the process of building a new facility. The Food and Care is known for providing meals for the homeless and poor. But they provide so much more than that. They have a work program where people can learn new skills and get experience and job training. They help clients find affordable housing. They have laundry facilities, showers and provide hair cuts. They partner with Lens Crafters, Share a Smile and the BYU Nursing Program to provide eye glasses, dental work and health services. They don't just give a hand out. They have a program set up where clients are required to "earn" these services by giving community service hours. They are out to change lives and lift people. And lives have been changed!

I have had the privilege of working closely with the Food and Care Coalition for more than 6 years. What they do is unique. It has been an honor for me to be a part of what they do. I have come to realize that the homeless are real people with real stories. Some have made poor choices that have gotten them where they are, I can't judge--I have made poor choices myself . Some have suffered things in life that have brought them to this place. Others suffer from mental illness they can not control and would not have chosen.

I was in church a few Sundays ago and a lady talked about her daughter who had ended up on the street despite her family's effort to help her. It made me realize just how close to home this can hit. Any of us may one day have someone we love in this situation. As I have worked with the clients of the Food and Care I have come to see the homeless not as a problem but as people, even friends.

The Food and Care has out grown their current building. They have undertaken to build a new facility that would make it possible to continue to provide their current services along with new services including: help with mental health, computer access for job hunting, resume writing and increasing computer skills, an on sight permanent medical and dental clinic, a larger dining room to serve the needs of more clients and on site residential housing. It is going to be an amazing facility where the homeless and poor can find help and hope.

They are currently short on the funds needed to make this happen. Grants have been written, moneys have been given--but it just isn't enough. I have had a few conversations with Brent Crane, the director of the Food and Care, about raising funds. It keeps coming to my mind that this should not be just one person's responsibility to make this a reality. One foundation should not provide all the funds to this project. The homeless are part of our community (no matter where we live) and we as a community should come together to help care for their needs.

So, what if each of us decides to help? What if each person who receives this e-mail sends $5 or $10 to the Food and Care? What if a few people decide that they are being especially blessed and can send $50 or $100 or much more. What if each business gave $1,000. Then what if each person forwards this to everyone they know and they forward it and they forward it. If we all did something, no matter how small, then I believe a miracle would happen and this building would be fully funded and completed on schedule--before the first frost hits the ground in the fall. And our homeless would finally have a home, a place to call their own. And the best part would be that it would happen because of the efforts of everyone, coming together as a community to help those in need. How cool would that be? We could make a miracle happen!

(Some of you may be thinking, "that's nice but I don't live in Utah County or even in Utah. One thing I have learned in my humanitarian trips around the world is that community is not defined by borders. Community is about people. That means we can all get involved.)

I know these are tough economic times . But maybe we could each sacrifice a little. Skip going to a movie, or eating out--even eating more simply for a week so that we could send in our $10 or $20 dollars (or more!). We CAN do this!

I know we have all seen the homeless. Perhaps you have felt guilty when they have asked for a hand out, or you may have felt helpless to really make a difference, some of us have felt fearful or even angry. Most the time we don't know quite what to do. Now today you do!

So, go right now--get out your checkbook, write a check and mail it to: The Food and Care Coalition 60 N 300 W Provo, UT 84601 ATTN: Brent Crane. under the for: write in "hope". Lets see just how much good we can do together. (You can also send cash). I promise to keep you updated on how much we have raised. By the way, this is not one of those scam e-mails. This a legitimate cause. In fact you can e-mail questions to Brent Crane at brentc@foodandcare.org at learn more about the Food and Care and see the progress on then new building on their web site at foodandcare.org.

Thanks! I won't tell you that if you don't forward this you will be cursed with warts, but I will tell you that if you DO send this e-mail on (and it may be the first really valuable forward you have ever sent) you will be part of doing something really good, something amazing and wonderful.

Thanks again!
Eileen B.