Clowning around

"where'd everybody go?"

Have you seen my keys?

It was a busy November in the Broge household. The girls are growing and changing everyday. We are having so much fun together. Emma Jane took her first steps (yay!!!!!) and got four new teeth (boo!). Parker, in an attempt to be different, has decided walking is for normal people and instead crawls at lightening speed and walks on her hands and tiptoes. It is quite a site to see... I don't think she is too far off from walking like the rest of us boring folk. Emma Jane and Parker are playing with each other more and more. They hug each other when we ask them too and it is just so wonderful. Parker LOVES Emma Jane... and sometimes loves her a little too much and then there are tears because Parker just knocked her down again. Emma Jane has become an explorer- she loves to get stuck in places you shouldn't go and isn't afraid of anything. Parker is much more of a scaredy cat. Parker has said her first word and it was all too appropriate- Daddy. Parker loves Jason. They get so excited when he comes home from school I bet they wet their pants.
Anyway, Jason had TWO WHOLE WEEKS off in November and it was wonderful. We spent some time at home as a family and then headed off to Florida with my family for Thanksgiving. We had a great time. The girls ate their fair share of sand and seaweed and enjoyed the pool. Jason cooked a full Thanksgiving dinner for my whole family and it was wonderful!!!! Here are some pictures our of fun...

Playing with Tiffany, Hayden, and Preston

Parker on sand for the first time... trying to figure the shovel out.

Emma Jane eating sand and the shovel.

Touching the ocean for the first time- it was FREEZING.

Again... freezing cold water.

Having a seaweed snack.

On the beach with great grandpa! (Parker as usual didn't want to sit still for a picture)

Emma Jane and Preston learning about bracelets

Emma Jane and Parker were nice enough to show Tiffany all their toys

Parker and Hayden snuggling.

The delicious turkey

This picture is funny because it implies I had something to do with making the food...

more cuteness

hanging out

uh oh....

... somebody's cute

(hint...it's the little girl in the picture)

"Hokey Smokes!!" (title not approved by Mary Jane)

....really not anything else to say

"Where's Daddy?" or "The Great Search"

"Where's Daddy been?"

"I don't know"

"I heard him apologize for making mommy a "widow for two weeks"

"What's that mean?"

"dunno"

"Let's go find him."

"Maybe he's outside raking the leaves which are piling up..."

...nope"

"maybe we can call him...

...huh I can't hear anything"

"um, Parker, um that's not how you hold a phone"

"oh...yeah...so silly....let me try again. hello...daddy? daddy? I still can't hear"

"Parker it's upside...oh never mind. Hop on. We'll find him.

"There's daddy!!"

Cheesy post? yes.

But my brain is fried. Last couple weeks of the quarter were brutal, and unfortunately Mary Jane and the girls suffered for it. I was pretty much lost in the books trying to get things done. BUT....Quarter is over! It is break time and suddenly not only am I around, but Mary Jane has some time off as well!! Which means we are spending time together...all four of us! It is great.

Halloween and 14/11 months

It is hard to believe it is November. A year ago we were in the NICU pushing/ praying/ begging/ waiting impatiently to go home. Last year the girls were "two peas in a pod" for Halloween... this year they were lambs! I'm not gonna lie- they absolutely hated their costumes. They mainly hated the hoods- these girls aren't hat fans. They try to pull them off by pulling them down and guess what- that only makes the situation worse. But I tortured them anyway and made them wear their costumes multiple times. It was hilarious. We were fortunate to get to go to Chattanooga for Halloween the girls got to show off their costumes to alot of southerners.

Parker having a melt down in the costume.

Emma Jane post-meltdown which only stopped after the hood was removed and a shiny orange bag was put in front of her.

Someone trying to crawl (I honestly don't know which baby this is)

Daddy pulled out all the stops to get a smile.

The girls are very very very busy and never ever sit still except for one thing- Baby Einstein (aka baby crack). In the last month Parker and Emma Jane have learned a few party tricks. They can wave bye-bye, point to things, hold the phone (or anything really) up to their ear to say "hello", play peek-a-boo, and Emma Jane can stand on her own (Parker is close) but no steps yet. We are hoping for some walking action by Christmas. It is so funny how many things have changed yet some many haven't in the last year. Emma Jane is serious, thinks about things before she does them, and can be so so stubborn... but she also loves to cuddle and always appears to be really taking in and thinking about whatever you are saying to her. Parker... is a ball of emotions. She takes everything- everything that Emma Jane has, acts without thinking, reacts without thinking, and is fierce with whatever she does. My mom decided that Parker's water broke because she just wanted to be over where Emma Jane was. Here are some random pictures plus the monkey/owl pictures (which are getting harder to do)!

Pumpkins

This past weekend we took the girls to a pumpkin patch with the Ernst family. A good time was had by all. It was cold outside but thanks to a wonderful new fall wardrobe the girls were warm and cozy. They really enjoyed touching all the pumpkins but they quickly wanted to bite, lick, and chew on all the pumpkins as well...

Emma Jane isn't such a fan of hats.

About to go through the "corn maze" with Daddy.

GIVE ME THE CAMERA!

"Would you like some of my pretzel?"

"Well, you can't have any... ha!"

"Please let me get out of the stroller and go play in the cold mud."

The newest addition to our household.

Parker is so over the excitement of the pretzel now.