Dearest Evan, You're THREE years old!

My sweet boy Evan Francis Thrall,  (You say your full name just the cutest, I need to video that!)

You have been 2 and 3/4 long enough, and it has been a whole month since your friend's birthday party, I can't wait to celebrate today at your family party you actually being 3!

You are one very adventurous, creative, independent but lately still cuddly boy!  You love your brother so so much and the two of you really have become such pals and equals... Well, you may beat out your brother in some ways, but shhhh, we won't tell him that yet.  You know all the rules, but love to bend and twist them... but also love keeping your friends safe and announce to Daddy every night he gets home from work.. "Daddy, I didn't bit any friends at childcare today"  (And you haven't in many many months... it is just your routine greeting!)

We have had many adventures the last few months from a family vacation in Arizona.  You still play "Arizona" almost everyday and want to go hiking and camping.  We have gotten in a weekly round of 9 holes of golf and though you spend time on the greens, you want to race down me and be a Crazy Driver!  You got to go to Racine for a weekend with Daddy and grandparents!

And just a week ago you were a fantastic Bubble Boy in Auntie B and Uncle Sean's wedding! This 4th of July Cabin vaca you raced in all the McKinley races, fished and swam for hours, and stayed awake til 1030 to see all the firecrackers... just like we used to call you!  You kept watching for the Packer colored ones and you wore your Packer shirts all weekend to rile up Mama's family!

Right now you love to ask, "Why that called ______?"   You want to know how everything got its name and it is seriously super thought provoking to me!  You have been a little bookworm the last few month too.  I was worried you weren't going to enjoy books the same as your brother and me, but now you'd sit for hours with us reading to you!   You are beginning to love playing games like Go Fish, Sausages, Uno, Pizza Party Dice, etc.  You have your ABC's down and your counting is entertaining every time but getting closer!

I can't get enough of our conversations, our hand holding walks, you helping me with dishes and bubbles, and cuddleys! However, I am ok with the phases of you peeing on trees, obsession with porta potties, laying on my belly and telling me I'm having a baby, or harassing your poor kittes or Croix to pass fast.

But regardless, my always baby, Evan,
We love you for all that are, and all you will become!

Momma

Holiday Newsletter 2017

Dear Family and Friends!!

We hope your Holiday Season was wonderful and getting back to the grind has left your rested, energized and grateful for the life we all are lucky to have!  I know almost two weeks off of childcare was rejuvenating but I'm ready for my littles I missed greatly!  We had a lot of fun family morning outings to Chucky Cheese, Science Museum, and the golf dome.   Staying home fun included sledding, Nerf gun trophy battles, movie/picnic nights, Candy Crush, and coloring time.

2017 was a wonderful year with our boys becoming older and much more independent.  They are the best of brothers with full on forgiving fights (Evan usually "wins"!)  but then protecting each other from Dad's wrestle attacks and Mom's strict food and tv rules.  Evan is very efficient at cutting open packets of raisins and cereal and he has attempted some microwave popcorn once!  Ahh!  He has an amazing sense of humor and keeps us on our toes... Literally too with his working golf ball obsession all over the house!  Though most days he says "I do it myself", our favorite line when he is struggling with something is a LOUD "Need a little help here!"  And of course, he is very aware of his emotions. "I'm MAD... I'm FRUSTRATED".

Declan has become a young man overnight. After starting preschool, he has looked forward to learning, writing, cutting with scissors and reading.  Though his favorite thing to do is conquer games, Nintendo and over break we reintroduced Wii Sports and he legitimately sword duels/jousts Andy and me right into the pond!

Some favorite memories of 2017 include an adult only weekend getaway to Denver, boys trip to Michigan in June, our Fourth of July vacation to Fox Hills Golf Resort in WI, including Bay Beach Amusement Park,  Cousin's weekend at Whiteface, and the Renaissance fair.

2017 was a full year of fitness adventures for me.  I trained and competed in my first Speedgolf tournament, but I became a runner... Something I never thought I would say I was.  I ran the TC10 mile and the Mankato half marathon.  I coached with Beachbody and online wellness challenge groups throughout the year.  Though Beachbody and my wellness tribe will always be one of the biggest components of self care and training for new challenges, I'm not actively coaching this year to focus on childcare, 80 Day Obsession and future speedgolf training!  I am still happy to plug any of my friends and family into my community, Beachbody and support them with any health journey's though!   Andy has gotten back into racquetball and tournaments again as well!

Happy New Year!!!  Here's to 2018!

Love,  Brooke, Andy, Declan & Evan

My first Speed Golf tournament!

I was very excited when I found out I could do this Bob-n-Broc' MN Speed Golf tournament this year!

The weather was great, the sunrise a beautiful miracle morning, and Grandma Connie had our boys!  We were able to tour the course in Rosemount we never made it down to play with a dawn cruise around the first nine and Andy played the back nine while I watched him and warmed up with a jog.  

I beat my time goal of an hour and was hoping to be at bogey golf!

Memorable moments include a shorter par 4 I would have drove IF my ball hadn't cracked the NO CART sign by the green!

4 putting 16, 17 and 3 putting 18 hurt the heart a bit... wow the adrenaline gets you!  But before that I was hitting the ball (mostly) straight and playing best I have in a few weeks.

I met some great players from Missouri who travel all over, and seriously was tempted for a bit to go to Springfield, MO next weekend for their tournament if we didn't already have plans I'm excited about with the in-laws  (which will include some speed golf ;)!  Next year... Next year Springfield ;) Got some learning, new goals and practice to do... Onward to Mankato half for now... long run training commences and continuing my crosstraining with new challenge groups beginning tomorrow!


It was fun to check the old blogs and old scores I kept!  And wow, I sounded a bit like a wellness coach then too, and truly had my first fitness change with accountability when  Speed Golf used to be the only way I'd run :)

Dear Evan! You're two years old today!!

Dearest Evan!

I really am just in awe of you everyday and the hilarious, determined, independent and happy 2 year old you are.  You truly go with the flow!   You laugh out loud anytime you hear the word funny or someone else is laughing, which in turn cracks us up and you laugh again! 

We love playing golf with you, driving a golf cart with you, and just being outside.  You love your Paw Patrol toys and are definitely a vehicle, car, garbage truck, motorcycle boy in ways Dec never was.  But you have a healthy fear Dad scared into you about cars coming on road and parking lots and always love to hold our hand!

As your language is exploding, I get sad about losing your personal "funny and cute" uses of words!  Whenever you want to do something alone, which is often,  you clearly say I ME I ME I ME!   You sort of know colors but more by milk cup colors of childcare friends.  You see yellow, you call it Jaxson.  You see red, you call it Gaga... which you can already say his full name but at least prefer Gaga more!   And it is getting less and less, but when I'm doing something you don't want me to do like sunscreen or diaper, you call me my daycare name, Brookie Cookie and not Mama!  

You still point out groups of everything as 2!!  I love your counting skills :)   Declan always asks you how many _______ in the world?  TWO you say while holding up 1 finger!  

 

It melts my heart everytime you get your brother to play or wrestle, say Declan's name with a smile when he enters a room, and how you just totally keep up with him! We  had a fun family filled Birthday week celebrating you at Fox Hills in WI and can't wait to see what the wonderful two's will be like for us! 

We love you for all that you are, and all that you will be! 

Love, Momma

Goodbye/Progress Photos.. ONE YEAR!!

My mission, my whys and reasons for coaching and sharing my truths on social media are two fold... 

First, I want to encourage everyone, especially women and moms, to not lose themselves in careers or parenthood but to pursue care and passions that helps them to be a better version of themselves.  Then, they can give the best version of themselves to their world and to their children.  

I especially enjoy doing this through wellness, nutrition and fitness so the odds are in their favor to be around as long as possible demonstrating healthy habits for all the influential minds in their lives! 

I will forever be grateful in this last year, one of the most challenging but wonderful years of my life, that I had personal encouragement through wellness challenge groups and Beachbody.  It may not be a route through nutrition or fitness for you at this time or ever, but I'll always cheer you on to find your route!   

Our challengers in June took their goodbye/progress photos today and are hiding their scales.  I didn't take half of these with any intention of EVER sharing them... but here I am, sharing a YEAR's worth of progress photos to say if you'd like to make a change, YOU COULD DO THIS!!!!   There was 6 months that were full of tons of ups and downs and almost quitting and restarting 10x... And over 6 months of obsessing over scale numbers... I've deeply ingrained now it is not totally about the scale but my why's, the energy, the personal development and challenges, the role-modeling for friends/family/children, my peace in the now and my health in the future... The below pics had scale numbers that ranged 15 lbs... And now I'm closer to the starting number than the lowest number but most confident in HOW I FEEL, what I've learned, and the tone I see. Many of us feel these are all things we need to learn on our own, but they aren't!  I couldn't have done it without others and I'm here to help ease any similar obsessions and anxiety like I had!!  And I just want to help encourage with daily motivations to overcome the resistance we feel.  

A favorite quote from a current book I'm reading has pretty much summed up what I'm learning and working on daily.   From Resisting Happiness by Matthew Kelly:   "Resistance hates ordinary, everyday actions.  Resistance likes to distract us, keeps us thinking about things we can do nothing about.  People tend not to put exercise, prayer and church, spending time with their spouse and children, and many other important "ordinary" things on their schedules.  As a result these things often get neglected and pushed aside.  

 THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS ARE ALMOST NEVER URGENT.  

THAT'S WHY IT'S ESSENTIAL WE SCHEDULE THEM. "    

Mid June 2016:  (All of these are core flexed) 

Dearest Declan, You're 4 Years Old!

Dearest Declan, You're 4 Years Old!

You are celebrating in Michigan today with Grandma Sue and Grandpa Tim and Great Grandpa Pete and Elaine!!!  You were very sad and telling Daddy you didn't want a birthday party because you weren't going to get a remote control car like you saw at Sandy Park.  But you did!  And you had the best early party via videos I saw!  Auntie B and I are here in MN just talking about the wonderful 4 years you have graced us with!!    

You are so inquisitive and curious and we love your never ending questions. Your imagination and play (albeit a tv combo of Pokemon, Paw Patrol, Octonauts and Puppy/Baby) take you on adventures I am so blessed to witness.  Your best friends are Charles & Finnegan but you three love taking the younger boys on your journey's.  I love journaling with you at supper and hearing your versions and the way you describe things! 

You are an amazing big brother.  I love when you talk to him and tell him what we are doing and how fun it will be.. or how you tell him the rules...  "Mom is just telling you the rule, and it is the rule so just listen..."     "Mom will win" you have said a few times with him!   (But news flash... Evan is winning way more than you did.... ) 

But on that note, you are a Momma's boy for sure!  You definitely don't care for having us leave and having babysitters.... or even Auntie B... you just go hang out in your room alone if you want to express that point!  But here is hoping a summer of some new experiences (swim lessons and VBS) and a new year help you get used to other people besides me.

I thank God everyday for making me your mom!  We love you through and through!!

Mom

P.S. Even though you were in a solid no pic phase for half of your three year old life, here are a few favs:

  Flaying Toddler

Science Museum

We started our family day at the Science Museum and finally joined with the membership my mom gave us!

I was worried it would be a little old for the boys but they loved it and they were busy exploring and playing and asking questions the whole time!