Brenna's Birthday

 

 While I am a little late posting, our sweetie-sweetie, Lady Brenna McArthur had a birthday just 5 days after Grant. She is officially 4 years old!! She found it a little rough having to wait for her turn to be celebrated!  She would ask multiple times everyday, throughout the days between the 5th and 10th- "what time is it MY birthday?"  Luckily, the time did come!


She had a few little girls from the neighborhood over to have a bash.  We had rousing games of freeze dance, hot potato, musical pillows and don't let your balloon touch the ground.  All party activities seemed to be a big hit!


The girls decorated wands and had hot pink cupcakes, I mean really, what else could a girl want?!  We definitely have to work on the gift etiquette Brenna exhibited at both her friend and family party.  She tore through the presents with hardly a glance as to what was inside and a barely audible thank you escaped her lips.  She just had to get through each one in record time. 



We had Emree, Adi, Keira, Megan, Kinley, Brenna, Madison, and Kate (who is not big on her picture being taken).  Grant and Katelee were huge helpers and made the games extra exciting!  Dave was in charge of Harrison.  With a few minutes left of the party, Dave slipped out to get a haircut.  He told me he had put the baby on the bed in the basement sound asleep, barricaded with high pillows.  Well, just before parents came to pick up, I hear faint crying.  Sure enough, I open the guest room door and the cutest little sad face was looking up at me from the floor.  Somehow, he had taken himself off the bed (I like saying that better than fallen, I feel less guilt!), and crawled towards the door.  He just really didn't want to miss the party. 

 A couple days later, we had Brenna's birthday with the fam.  She requested a butterfly cake and it was delish!

She loves her new scooter!  She had been telling Aunt Shannon and Grandma that they needed to buy her one for her birthday...its what she wanted.  We decided that was good gift from mom and dad!

Brenna rushed into this world and has taken everyday by storm since.  She is a riot, honestly.  We frequently get comments about her 'being a character' or a 'spitfire' or 'she can hold her own.'  Which are all nice ways of describing her strong personality!!  She has adjusted to Harrison well in the past few months and told me that my baby is Harrison and hers is "Heresy."  It just seems fitting for her!  She stands up at dinner nearly every night on her chair turns around so her backside is to all of us and with hand on hip, does an impromptu booty shake.  Her daily dress-ups are one of my favorite from zombies, to bad witches, princesses; each costume decided by the scientific method of "eeny meeny miny HO."  When she was spotlighted at preschool, here is what she said about herself:


I am 4 years old
My favorite colors are pink and purple
My favorite food is chocolate milk
My favorite animal is ostrich
My favorite thing to do is play legos and toys
When I grow up I want to be a singer
My favorite place is camping in the mountains (yea, she has never been, but we have done S'Mores!)
If I had one wish, it would be for a meeting with Santa.

We love Brenna!!!  She makes our world an exciting place!!

Turning 9 and Feeling Fine

 Grant is now on his last year of single digits.  He is half way through his time living at home-that is a crazy thought.  He has been in scouts a year and recently earned his wolf.  Here we are after he pinned me!  I am kind of thrilled saying he pinned me, I never thought I would get to say a boy pinned me since I missed out on the 1950s, but scouts is giving me this opportunity!  Grant is a great scout and always thrilled to go. 

We celebrated his birth with some buddies a few days before his actual day.  It was my kind of party for sure-take them to the pool, no planning, no prep work, they love it, I love it.  We had donuts and presents after.

 Boys are so fun and crazy!  He invited Matthew, Kaden, Braxton, Mikey, Cameron and Easton.  Tyson joined us at our house after swimming.  Brenna and Katelee got to join in the aquatic fun.  Harrison and I watched from the bench.  It was not good planning on my part for the baby and me.  I made sure everyone had nice warm clothes because going into an 85 degree pool when it is 30 degrees outside can be a shock on the system.  Harry and I were wanting to shed our clothes, though, because we were sitting in our winter apparel in the sauna like room.  One of us stripped a little, I am not saying who!  Grant is the most gracious reciever of gifts.  He always is really thrilled with whatever, even if he knows he isn't going to play with it.  He wanted to give everyone a hug or high five after he opened their gifts.  I love it. 

We started this week with a really bad day for Grant.  He came out of school on Monday totally mad because his class didn't get to go outside for recess.  The TA said it was too cold, even though most of the other classes were out playing.  (I'm pretty sure she just didn't want to go watch them!).  Then, he went on to explain he had Spanish (he hates it!) and for PE they had to do jump rope!  Terrible!  So, I was hoping school went better on his birthday, and he said it was a good, so yay! 

We had a hard time thinking of what to buy him as a gift.  I loved when he was little and he would request toilet paper!  Now, for the past few years, it's been all legos and weapons.  That was exactly the phrase he used when I asked what he wanted "legos and weapons"  because he says "you can never have too many!" So, his request was granted.  Grandma and Grandpa gave him a whole ninja getup that he thouroughly enjoy and I forsee will get hours of fun out of. 

 

 I attempted a football cake. He was pleased, so I consider it a success.  Grant requested we order pizza from Papa Johns so he could get the garlic sauce-he is obsessed!  This boy is so awesome.  He is seriously a great person.  He has a tender heart that is manifested when his sisters have hurt feelings or when he picks up his brother to comfort.  He is the biggest tease and so much fun.  Grant is such a mix of Dave and me.  He is picking up the salesman side, as apparent when he approached me with the question, "what is preventing you from giving me more minutes on electronics today?"  My side shows through at times like last night when he was going to bed so sad.  What?  Sad after a great birthday?  He looked at me and explained that he had been looking forward to his birthday all year and then it was over so fast!  Did I not just post about how I feel the same on my birthday?!  We talked it through, but he still came out of bed a few times with those hurt feelings!  This dude is for sure special, not just on February 5th, but every day, every minute.