Giggle gut

Ian has laughed a couple times over the past week but yesterday was apparently a very funny day. It is so fun to see him laughing!

SeaWorld

Last Friday, my buddy Leighanna and I drove to Sea World with the kids. We both have season passes and I think I would probably go once a week if I could. What's a little 6 hour round trip drive, anyway? Leighanna's husband Reid met us there. We had a terrific time! Let's go again! Here are some of my favorite pictures from the day.

It was really hot when we first got there (see the red faces during our lunch) but we cooled off in the little water area and the weather was great the rest of the day.

William, Reid, Brooklynn, me, and Ian

The Bond Family

Brooklynn clapping during the show

Brooklynn engrossed in the Shamu show

Trying to pet the dolphins

The Olympics--Dobbs' Style

The majority of us in the Dobbs' household were mere observers in the Olympics. We (particularly I) loved every minute of it and can't wait for the winter games in 2010!
Brooklynn, however, has started training in earnest to be a participant in future games. (Out of respect for the ancient Olympians, she practices her sports with as few clothes as possible.)
The trampoline
Hurdles (or high jump--at this stage they are pretty similar)
Gymnastics (this is our pull up bar)
Swimming
More gymnastics

Synchronized bell ringing (okay, I just thought it was a cute picture)

There were a couple exhibition events that will NOT be a part of our Olympics in the future--like the 10 lb baby lift and the freestyle stair tumble.

My Little Manipulator

I'm surprised how quickly kids learn how to get what they want. In Brooklynn's case, she always wants to stay up later and avoid going to bed. Her first tactic is to say, "Eat, eat, Momma!" In the beginning, this was 100% effective. I was so excited that my little girl who NEVER wants to eat ANYTHING was suddenly hungry. I admit, it took me a couple of weeks of her only eating one bite of something to realize she was just stalling. But as soon as we wised up to that maneuver, she was onto the individual attack. If John is putting her to bed, she'll say "Bookly sleep Daddy?" If I'm nearby, this is only 65% effective but if I'm out of earshot, it is 100% effective. John is a pushover and loves to lay down with her even though she only falls asleep this way about 1 time in 10. This is by far her best move and she uses it every night she can. She sensed my weakness and hit me hard during the Olympics with "Sit Mommy lap?" Ah, how could I resist a girl that wants to watch beach volleyball with me? Her most recent tactic hits my desire for family love and unity. As I'm laying her in her crib, she'll suddenly decide she needs to kiss Ian and any or all of the animals. Luckily, I am usually prepared for that attack and counter with blowing kisses (doesn't really satisfy her but makes me feel warm and fuzzy).

I'm a little afraid for the future . . .

We know how to pick 'em!

This morning when I went to get Brooklynn out of her crib, she had a big sticky mass in her hair. Upon closer inspection, I realized it was a nasty, squishy, booger! When I asked somewhat rhetorically, "How did that booger get there?!" Brooklynn showed me--finger in the nose, then in the hair! Ugh!!! In truth though, I'm not sure which is worse, the actual booger or what I caught myself saying next: "Brooklynn, only Mommy is allowed to pick your nose!"

TV

With the new fall season right around the corner, I thought I'd divulge my top ten favorite TV shows so you will know when not to call me (JK--we Tivo everything so I never watch anything when it is really on--except the Olympics and the commercials are killing me!) I know Coby Long will have nothing better to do up in Alaska than get caught up on all my favorites.

1. Bones
2. Psych
3. Smallville
4. The Office
5. Eli Stone
6. Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
7. 24
8. Lost
9. House

Okay, so I guess I only have 9. One and two are clearly defined and then 3 through 7 are neck and neck (and neck, etc.). I really like Lost but it stresses me out and is kind of depressing overall so that is why it is further down on the list. Nothing against House but the others are so much better!

Now, for Marci's benefit, my favorite reality shows:

1. Survivor
2. American Gladiators
3. The Apprentice
4. America's Next Top Model
5. Groomer Has It (yeah, I'm probably the only person in the universe that watches this show)
6. Jon & Kate + eight
7. Biggest Loser

Since most of my favorites are an hour long, you can see why I am so in love with my Tivo? What did we ever do without it?

"A bug! A bug!"

I admit, I have always felt a certain amount of pleasure because Brooklynn seems a lot like me. She loves animals, has a great sense of humor, is brave and adventurous yet painfully shy, and doesn't mind getting dirty. Not to mention that she is brilliant and gorgeous ;)! So I am completely mystified by her recent fear of bugs. I've tried to tell her that most bugs are nice and have even caught and squished some for her to show that there is nothing to worry about (I used to catch grasshoppers and pull their legs off for the chickens to eat when I was younger). But still, whenever she sees an insect she'll shriek "A bug, a bug! Scared! Hug, hug!" and come running for me to save her. Now granted, I'll take all the hugs I can get but I still can't quite understand the fear--especially since it suddenly appeared out of the blue a couple days ago. Oh, well--I guess she has to be like John in some ways!

Firsts and favorites

Ian's first trip to the dog park (okay so you can barely see Ian, but I promise, he's there in the stroller)Brooklynn taking her puppy for a walk My first bath with Ian. I decided I like this method. John and his mom singing Beetles' songs (the picture is fuzzy because I was so far away--I was afraid that if they knew I was taking pictures they would stop singing). John's parents were on their way back to St. George after completing a mission in San Antonio. We're sad it is over--we saw them more in the past year than we normally get to.
Momma Brooklynn carrying her baby around in a sling.

Why we invested in a pull-up bar

This didn't really bother me in the beginning but then our little gymnast started doing it while Ian was in his swing! A little too stressful for me!

The Temple

A little while ago, I had the opportunity to go to the temple with my father-in-law and brother-in-law to do baptisms for some of Greg's family. It had been a while since I had been to the temple and even longer since I was able to do baptisms. I had such a wonderful time and it brought back some special memories. Growing up, we lived only about 5 minutes from the Jordan River Temple and could see it from our upstairs window. Because it was so close, we often went to do baptisms before school. Even when I was at BYU I tried to go do baptisms at the Jordan River Temple when I was home. It is such a special and peaceful place to me--made even more so because John proposed as we gazed at that temple, I took out my endowments there, and Brooklynn was sealed to us there.
After we finished the baptisms at the Houston Temple, I was able to stay a little longer (thanks to my mother-in-law for watching the kids while John worked on an Elders Quorum project) to do initiatory and a session. I was enjoying being there so much that I was tempted to stay all day! Later, I was thinking about my wonderful day and how I could recreate that feeling in my daily life and I thought I'd share some of my thoughts:

• Start with scripture and prayer. My father-in-law read scriptures to me on our way there and I think it really helped put me in the right frame of mind.
• Surround our home with pictures of the Savior. While in the baptistry and later in the chapel I found myself gazing at the pictures on the wall, thinking about the stories they portrayed and felt my love and appreciation of the Savior grow.
• Be more kind. I think one of the reasons the temple is such a peaceful and safe place is because the temple workers are so nice! I never have to worry about feeling dumb when I go down the wrong hall (which I do every time, by the way) or temporarily forget what I'm doing.
• Make time for reflection. I loved my time in the temple when I wasn't doing anything else but thinking--whether I was in the baptistry, chapel, or celestial room. It was nice to take time to review my life and remember the things I'm so profoundly grateful for.
• Serve others. I sometimes forget that I'm doing work for other people while I'm at the temple because it does so much for me but I wonder if it does so much for me because I'm helping other people.

Thank again to my father-in-law for inviting me to go along with him to the temple!

"Bookynn & Inee"

Brooklynn is in love with baby Inee (as she calls him). Here are a few pics of the two of them together.