Halloween

Brennan doesn't like things on his head or anything out of the normal clothes, so this is what we came up with for a costume this year ...

SURFER BOY

He wouldn't give a good shot of both him and his board!

He was not being very cooperative with pictures because there were too many other things and costumes to watch. We went to a little party here in TVA where there was a costume contest and cookie decorating. Later that night (Saturday) we joined some friends for more treats and hanging out.

They had sparklers left over from 4th of July and Brennan wanted to join in the fun. Taylor gave him his own and he did great until the second one when he got a little to curious as to what was on the end of the stick. He gabbed the fire with his left hand!!!!!!!!!!! He took his hand off and dropped it, to discover this middle finger was black. Still no sound of pain!!!!!! He then looked and Taylor and showed him and then ran over to me to show me. It was dark and he wasn't complaining so I thought maybe it was just ash. We went to wash it off and underneath the black was a nice burn. That night it because a nice blister that took up his entire finger (top to bottom)! At church during Nursery it popped so we cut the skin off when we got home and that is when he cried! Taylor thinks its because we took his toy away (a flap of skin). He hates band-aids so we have to tape them on which makes him mad because he can't bend his finger. Funny Little Boy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Open House

Over the past (almost) 24 months they have been renovating the Laie Hawaii Temple (which is a block from our apartment). In doing so they have an Open House allowing anyone interested to visit to enter and walk through to understand more of what happens there. Since we live so close they have asked for volunteers to help clean and host guests who come. I have had the opportunity to serve cookies, welcome guests with a 12 min video on the history and importance of temples, assist those in wheelchairs or those who aren't able to walk 102 steps as their tour guide, as well as clean. Taylor cleaned with me and did security last Saturday (he has been the Brennan watcher to allow me the chance to get out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!). The people that we have been able to talk to about their experience have been delightful! One lady told me how she heard about the event and it warmed my heart : ) Her sister who lives on Maui flew in for a few days and told her she wanted her to attend and Open House with her. This lady was a bit taken back because all these years she didn't know here sister had a house over here on Oahu ; ) What she didn't understand was the fact that is wasn't the type of house she was thinking. As she walked up to the temple it made more sense to her. She proceeded to tell me that as she walked through and talked with people it was obvious to here that THIS (the temple) was her sister's extended family and home and she never knew what she had been missing out on!

I wish I could have more time to serve there but since I am due on the 19th they told me they didn't want me to be on my feet that long : ( I am extremely grateful I at least had the few hours I did because it was an experience not many get to have.

After the Open House is done on the 13th they will close it for a time to do a super clean after all the thousands have walked through and then it will be dedicated by the Prophet and President of the Church Thomas S. Monson on the 21st. After that point only worthy members of the church will be allowed to enter and perform the ordinances for themselves or for those who have past on.

Bounce

About a month ago, the married housing (TVA) here on campus where we live, had a Family Day. There was anything from clowns, to games, to food, to water activities, to bouncy houses ...
Needless to say Brennan had his first bouncy house experience and this is how it went for him : )

Always something new

You can never leave Brennan unsupervised for a second and if you do ... you find him doing things like this ...

He climbed on the toilet first then reached the inside of the sink in order to get a grip to pull himself up to the counter. Then it is into the sink and on with the water. His toothbrush was on the counter so he decided he would use it. It used to be grabbing the toilet paper and running around the house with it still attached but he has moved on to something more adventurous. He keeps us on our toes!!!! The only rest is when he is napping and even then he is here there and everywhere on his bed! I told Taylor the other day that the baby moves more than I remember Brennan moving so things could get really interesting : )

Little helper

Brennan is at that stage where he wants to be in the middle of everything you do!!!! Here a few pictures from my phone I have captured of his longing to be of help and feel needed : )

It does help that he loves water!!!

We have had to hide the broom in the top shelf of the closed or he drags it around all over the house!

Helping fill the flour bucket is so fun ... until Mom closes the lid :'(

Not only is he helping with things around the house he is catching on to babies and their needs/wants! We were at a friend's house, who have a 5 month old, and Brennan saw the bottle on the floor. He quickly picked it up and ran to the bedroom where the baby was, not understanding that he was already sleeping, Brennan just knew this is what makes him happy and wanted to help! Also it has been a long process but he is learning what soft means. He has 6 weeks more practice before it's no longer other babies, but his own sibling (who will one day fight back :) I'm sure).

Cheap entertainment

With the web cam on our lab top came software to spice things up a bit. As we have Skyped with Taylor's parents, all of his grandparents, my brother Brian and my sister Sara we have enjoyed this feature! A few Sundays ago we decided to play with it more now that Brennan is realizing that it is him being recorded. Here is what he came up with...

Brown Fun

It just so happened that our friends the Browns came the very same week Gina did. They were even on the same flight over : ) While they were here, we had the chance to watch their little girl, who is 2 months younger than Brennan. Randomly enough they will have another one in February so the new babies will be 3 months apart : ) They went snorkeling and played around at the golf course and this is what we did with the kids ...

Took them to the Dole Plantation where we ate, played and went on the train. Our favorite part was while we were waiting for our food, we had the kids in the backpacks next to each other and this is what Brennan did : )

We have our hands full already!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A few days later they had us over to play in the pool and have dinner.

Finally, they took Taylor and I snorkeling because neither one of us has ever been. Much to our surprise they bought us gear so we can go anytime we want now!!!!! THANK YOU BROWNS!!!!!!!!!!!! Here are the two pregos : ) and the kids playing while us adults took turns adventuring.