On the fourth of July, Brooklyn, decked out in her patriotic dress, plays on her horse swing. She enjoyed swimming, the fire works and having lots of company that day. The horse swing was given to her brother Preston by Grandpa Randall the day he came home from the hospital when he was born.

The summer of '96 left impressions in Greg and Susan's minds that Brooklyn definitely enjoyed swimming as much as fish. Each day she practiced jumping and somersaulting in while her brother Preston tried swimming under the water and sliding down the slide with dad. With eyes opened, Brooklyn swims underwater back and forth between mom to dad amazed at what she can see down there.

Attempting to contact extraterestrials, Brooklyn uses her new Christmas present. Surprised by the voice on the other end, she heard her brother Preston talk to her from his bedroom headset. Other favorite presents included her new bed, of course, as well as skates, Baby accessories, dollies, and a stuffed kitty.

Mom's influence and obsession with elephants obviously rubbed off on Brooklyn who enjoys the Dumbo ride at Disneyland in October. After going to Disney world in June, she was very built up about her trip to see the electric light parade before it ended. Though she was still scared of Mickey, she had a great time on all of the rides.