I got back from Las Vegas (as may be recalled from the last post), the day before Grant's birthday. It was Teen Eve, if you will. I got home in time for the Superbowl (Brenna asked why the players had binkies! Ha! Those funny mouth guards), and to wrap my head around the era we were all about to enter.
We had a great day celebrating our firstborn. He is a good soul. His heart is good and I do say, he is becoming quite the handsome fella. We are awaiting the official passage of puberty, but their are some certain signs...ahem, emotions at least. Grant decided to have a guys night out and hit the Black Panther movie with is buddies to celebrate his advancement to the teenage zone.
I pulled a stalked mom and followed them in to the theatre. He has gone to the movies with friends since and it has been mom free zone. He has recently started a 'movie group' with peeps from school. I have to regulate that he is not the only fella because he seems to be surrounded by ladies. Entering into this teenage zone, I just don't know if him being the only y chromosome around is normal or not. For now, the wing man rule stands.
After the movie, Dave took the boys for some real man food-Barbecue and then they had to hit up a declicous dessert spot as well for a pazookie. It was a good party for my amazing Grant!
Brenna boo had her birthday just a five days later...it happens that way every year! hahaha! She had a momentous birthday as she turned 8! We had a small friend party this year, which was declared as weird by our neighbor because there weren't a lot of people! We took them to Airborne to be wild.
She had invited a couple more buddies, but one was throwing up just before. Her mom almost sent her, and I was sweating having to clean up vomit from a foam pit. Luckily, she opted out.
The friends that accompanied us were:
Natalie Robinson, Kinley Smith, Madison Burgoyne, Kate Cowley and Lilly Taylor.
It was good sweaty fun!
We celebrated with family on her actual birthday with cake, ice cream and presents.
My spunky little firecracker is 8! Brenna is all intensity, passion and heart. She is luke warm about nothing. She is always all in and a natural bossy pants...um, I mean leader. She has become and incredible dancer and we love watching her do her thing. She claims 'dance is life.'
Loving holidays continued as we moved on to Valentines day. I was sickly, but we just couldn't skip our fancy dinner/dance. I love these traditions our kids anticipate. They better be perfect dates after these training sessions! Brenna's grade had a manners dinner where they got a partner and the boys pulled out the lady's chair, they talked to each other, helped with the door and tray, etc. Brenna was anxiously anticipating who her partner would be. She didn't want one particular classmate to be her partner. I don't blame her, since he called her a 'fat lard.' That typically doesn't set well with the ladies on a first date. Ha! Luckily, she was with a boy down the street. As you can tell, she was not disappointed with her 'first date,' Tyler Baker.
Harrison is currently fighting an Oedipus complex. I think it's fairly normal, but he would give Dave a run for his money right now. He attempts to attack me with lengthy kisses. Sometimes afterwards, he will gaze into my eyes and ask, "are you in love with me yet?"
All the romance was felt the night of the dinner/dance because on Valentines Day, Dave and I doubled with some friends to the Jazz game. And we pretty much were playing basketball with the team. I could hear them talk and nearly wipe their brows. It was pretty awesome.
School was extra busy for me that month as I was in charge of Literacy Week with my friend. We were able to schedule author, Jennifer Neilsen. Ms. Neilsen and I emailed all year and I felt like we became such good friends. That day there was an awkward hug or handshake moment, but overall it was such a great experience arranging it for our school. She motivated the kids to read and challenge themselves, to go for their dreams and work hard. It was fabulous.
We followed up with a reading minute competition. Both the girls were in the top twenty of their grades and got special prizes. We had a read-a-thon at home and read all day long one Saturday. It was fun fun fun!
Being able to celebrate 2 birthdays in February always gives me time to reflect on when they were born and how I knew when I first held baby Grant and baby Brenna that they didn't just start when they took their first breath. I knew their spirits were vibrant and real before. This year Dave's family said goodbye to his Grandpa. Grandpa Church was the absolute epitome of charity. He was modest and non assuming while wise and knowledgeable. We were very blessed to have him influence us.
Those same thoughts about life that I had with my babies gives reassurance that life extends not just before Earth, but after as well. We know we will see Grandpa Church, and all of our loved ones, again. For now, we hope to live up to the legacy they gave us.
