SANTA SHOOT 2014

Milkshake

We have a new kitty arriving at the Hogan house. We pick up Mikeshake one day before Thanksgiving. She's a white and grey kitty (shocker) that I found on Craig's List. I debated between and girl and boy kitty but went back to a girl. I hope Queen Mei Mei will be nice to her!!

candy corn witch

Brie and I were both candy corn witches for Halloween…this year was THE year where she finally gets it and is soooo excited to trick or treat. She and Mak were so cute tonight…"have a good evening" to everyone who gave them candy. Holidays have a whole new meaning now that Brie is in my life. So blessed.

1st Visit

After losing Hobie Cat, Brie had a lot of Qs about death and where we go. Luckily I have a good book by Maria Shriver that explains heaven which includes pets and people. Brie knows that the bones go in the ground and the souls are up with God in heaven. So, after Hobie's death Brie wanted to know where papa's bone are so I told her they are at the cemetery. She became intrigued when I told her we could visit and leave flowers so I took her this past weekend. She was happy to have a place to visit and she liked the big tree growing near his grave because it looked like a Christmas tree. I really applaud Brie for losing a pet and visiting her father's final resting place all in 36 hours. She's a very good little girl and very mature!

Hobie Cat

After losing a massive amount of weight and becoming frail, Hobie Cat went to kitty heaven to be with papa on 10/25/14 and Brie was able to process the event and understand it. She was ok with Hobie leaving us because she knew papa wanted his kitty back. Hobie really let Brie interact with her and was super good, never really clawing or biting Brie. I am hoping I can either let Brie pick out a new cat or maybe Santa will bring her one for Christmas :) We will miss you Hobie Cat

Pedicure with Mommy

Brie and I went to get our 1st pedicure today and she asked for blue and orange toe nails! That's my girl. GO BRONCOS

you've got mail

Today something really sweet happened. I always pull my car over on the way home and get the mail out of the mailbox. Today, Brie ask for an envelope that was some sort of bill from a magazine. She opened it, took the return envelope out and grabbed a crayon. She wrote on it for few minutes and handed it to me "look mom, you've got mail!" so I looked at the envelope and she had written "ANNA" "BRIAN "BRIE" with little hearts all over it. It was very sweet and I could tell she was proud she wrote our family's name on "the mail" for me :)

aloha

Brie and I took a fun trip to Waikiki Hawaii Aug 28-Sept 4 with my friend Dani and her daughter Ryann. We stayed at the Hilton Hawaiian Village and it had 6 pools, shopping and watersides. Great for mommy and daughter! We took a sunset catamaran ride with a really great crew and saw the coastline with all the hotels. We hope to join Dani and Ryann next year on the Big Island if it all works out before Brie starts Kindergarten. My baby is growing up!!!

paper airplane

Brie loves to take a plain piece of paper and make a paper airplane…and she's pretty darn good at it. She and Grumpa Skipper like to fold and bend the paper just perfect. Just like someone I know….her father!! Its cute to see what little projects she enjoys that her daddy did as well!

Business Trip

This week I am off to my 1st business trip to San Francisco. Lucky for me I have so much help so I can go. But memories of 2007 and my last PCBC with Brian flood my head. Oddly enough I am staying at the same hotel we always stayed at and I am going to the big ValleyCrest dinner that I used to be Brian's date at. Things have changed but its ok. I am excited to be in the city, walking to work and shopping my butt off. I really need this. Brie is really attached to me; rightfully so. I hope she does ok without me!

Jacaranda

Brie's memory is sharp like her father's. About a year ago while driving I told her the beautiful trees in Mission Viejo that have purple blooms are called Jacarandas. Pretty tough word for a then 3-yr old to remember. Fast forward to May 2014, Brie is riding home from grandma's house and honestly not feeling 100% after being diagnosed with strep throat. So, she's quiet as a mouse the entire ride. Watching The Care Bears in the backseat. Not the normal chatty Brie. We are about 5 min from the house and out of the blue, she said "Jacaranda!" and I was just amazed. Shows me that not only is really paying attn to what I say, she's remembering what I say a year later. She's a special little girl. Happy Memorial Day from the Hogan girls!!!

Brie's Lemonade Stand

Ballet and Tap class

earthquakes

We had a 5.3 quake last night and even though Brie was sleeping and didn't feel it, I made the mistake of telling her we had one. I had earthquake Qs given to me for 2 hours straight…did it just happen in my room mommy??…did my teacher at school feel it mommy?…did God do it?…did the earthquake happen in Germany too mommy?…did the lady at CVS feel it too? Can I ask her mommy?…and so on and so on….it was cute but I am thinking maybe I should have just let her sleep through it!! :)

Brie-Ski at Heavenly!

when I have a baby...

tonight Brie told me that someday "when I have a baby boy I am going to name him Brian" and that he won't look the same but he'll be really cute. I thought that was very sweet and mature of an almost 4-yr old!

My Beautiful Girl!