Marlee's birthday present and early Christmas present from Santa!

This year for Marlee's 1st birthday present and for her Christmas present from Santa, she got her very own buggy (golf cart)!!!  Bear, Santa, and I decided that since she liked to ride on the buggy so much that we should get her one of her own since she has been so good this year!  Marlee loves, loves, loves her new buggy and is so happy riding on it.  Her face just lights up when we take her for a ride :)  Her smile just melts our hearts and we are so happy that she loves her new present!  I snapped some pictures yesterday while we were out for a ride.  She loves to bring her Sissy (Gracie-our dog) along for the ride too!  Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas Marlee!  We love you! 

The front of her golf cart!  Look out, Marlee is driving! :)

MGB Groves stands for Marlee Grace Brooker groves, a company Bear and I formed for our groves in honor of Marlee :)

Happy 1st Birthday and Merry Christmas Marlee!

First fire in the fireplace for this winter season :)

Last year, Marlee was just a baby and loved swinging in her swing in front of the fireplace.  Bear, Marlee, and I all have a love for a beautiful fire...they are so mesmerizing!  We wondered now that Marlee is crawling around and taking steps how she would do with a fire in the fireplace.  I, as a worrying Mommy have been so worried about her wanting to go right up to the fire and crawl on in  it because its so neat.  We have been working on not letting her climb up on the brick in front of the fireplace and always say "HOT" with our hand hoping this would help when it came time to build a fire.  Today, it was a chilly day and perfect for our first fire.  Bear got busy building the fire and Marlee and I were preparing dinner...once we walked downstairs to where the fire was...it was already a beautiful fire!  Marlee crawled over to where Bear was sitting by the fire and held her hand up saying it was "HOT"!  YAY!  She was listening and learning as we were teaching her!  Proud Mommy moment :)  She loved the fire and was so good about not going up to it unless Bear and I were up at it.  She would stand back far away from it and just look in amazement.  We are looking forward to some more cooler weather hopefully soon, so we can build another one! :)

Last winter in front of the fire in the fireplace. :)

This winter in front of the fireplace...look at how she has grown!

Marlee telling Daddy that the fire is "HOT"...notice her little hand :)

"Big Girl" Seat

Marlee received a new "big girl" car seat for her birthday from GiGi and Papa and this afternoon we decided to try it out.  We were going out to cut some firewood with Daddy and thought this was the perfect time to ride "big girl" style.  I have to admit, it took me a bit to figure out how to secure the seat in the truck but finally I did!  Marlee was so proud to sit her new seat for the first minute, but...then she was not too sure about it.  She could see Bear and I now that she was facing forward and wanted us.  She didn't want to be strapped down...she wanted to be up front with us.  Poor baby :(  We sang songs and made the ride fun and soon arrived at the pasture where Bear could roll the window down and then she was happy.  She loved looking out the window at the cows, trees, and feeling the cool breeze on her face!  We gathered firewood for our first fire in the fireplace tonight and headed back home.  She likes riding in her seat when she is close to things she can see, but just going down the boring road...she is not too fond of her new seat.  I know it will just take time to get used to her new seat but in the meantime we are still using her infant car seat most of the time since she still only weighs 19.5 pounds and fits in it still!  I love this picture of her in "big girl" seat!

December MOPS

Today Marlee and I attended MOPS at Grace Bible Church and had a fun time celebrating the Christmas season with our special MOPS friends.  Marlee and I have attended MOPS now for a year and enjoy going to it each month.  This month we had a gift card exchange, made a cute family photo ornament, had a cookie exchange, heard a special message, and shared sweet fellowship with fellow Mommies.  We are already looking forward to seeing everyone again in January!

Marlee and Mary Kate playing together at MOPS :)

Sweet friends at MOPS :)

Amy, Marlee, and I at MOPS :)

Dirt is so much fun to play in :)

Marlee loves being outside playing and this afternoon we did just that.  We played in the yard and practiced walking.  She can get a good grip in the yard with her little toes and is now taking up to 10 steps at times!  She then found a pile of dirt and thought that was the greatest thing ever.  She had lots of fun playing in the dirt and the picture below with show just that.  I let her get as dirty as she wanted to because dirt will wash and you're only young once!

Frostproof Christmas Parade

Tonight Marlee and I attended the Frostproof Christmas parade.  We met up with our friends Jeremy, Ashley, and Ben to watch the parade together.  My brother brought my nephew Easton up to the parade also.  I have to say the parade was really, really good and the kids loved it.  There was just the right amount of floats in it and lots of candy being given away.  We all had a great time!  Enjoy the pictures :)

Marlee and I with Ashley and Ben before the parade.

Our group watching the parade :)

It's snowing!

Ben and Easton after the parade with all their candy! :)

Brannan, Tim, and Auburn's Baby Shower

This afternoon, we helped host a tailgate "Auburn" themed baby shower for my best friend Brannan and Tim. We are so excited about the upcoming arrival of sweet baby girl Auburn.  The shower was precious...I don't think we missed an "Auburn" detail and there were lots of family and friends there to celebrate this special occasion.  Marlee is so excited to have a new friend on the way and I can't wait for Brannan and I's sweet girls to grow up together! 

The Daddy to be and Mommy to be with their adorable gifts from the hosts and hostess.

Marlee and I dressed in our orange and navy clothes!

The precious cake!

The Hostess and Mommy To Be :)

Leigh Ann and JB had sweet baby puppies and Marlee loved playing with one of them.

Maysen and Marlee had fun playing together at the party!

Look where we found Ellie (our Elf)

This morning when Marlee woke up, we started searching for Ellie (our elf). Look where we found her!!!

Sebring Christmas Parade

Tonight Bear, Marlee, and I at attended the Sebring Christmas parade.  We sat and enjoyed the parade with special family and friends.  Marlee had a great time seeing the floats with the all lights and hanging out with her sweet cousins and friends.  :)  A fun evening with lots of memories shared!

My sweet family before the parade!

Sweet cousins enjoying the parade together!

Marlee enjoyed watching the parade in her cool car!

Sweet cousins and friends enjoying the parade together!

Marlee visiting with Santa after the parade!  She just kept staring at him :)

Ellie the Elf has joined the Brooker Family

Ellie the Elf (from the Elf on the Shelf) has joined the Brooker Family!  Ellie is a girl elf (notice her adorable skirt in the picture) and surprised Marlee this morning with a fun Christmas toy and poem.  We found her on the mantel by the stockings.  Marlee is very intrigued by her and I often catch her just looking at her.  I know Ellie will always report good behavior back to Santa about our sweet baby girl.  I can't wait to see where Ellie surprises Marlee tomorrow. :)

Ellie the Elf :)

Marlee with the Elf on the Shelf book...a precious story :)

Marlee's diapers are beginning to look a lot like Christmas :)

Marlee's diapers are beginning to look a lot like Christmas or Santa I should say! :)  Today at Target, I found her Santa diapers!  They are precious!!!  I couldn't resist them! 

The front :)

The back :)

Cutest diapers ever...of course the model makes them so cute!