Big Girl Brynn!

Brynn has been wearing pull-ups to bed ever since she's been potty trained. Each morning she would wake up soaking wet. I didn't think she was even close to having dry nights. The day after her birthday she woke up dry. Since I knew she had the ability to wake up dry I decided we wouldn't be putting a pull-up on her any more. She was really nervous to go to bed the first night without any back up, but I told her if she could go a whole week without going potty in her bed she could do something special. Well she made it through the week without any problems so she was able to choose what she wanted to do...she chose McDonald's Playland. We have only been there one other time when Darren was ice fishing. Brynn had swimming after school, I had to run errands, and I didn't have thing prepared (or even planned for that matter) for dinner. We were passing McDonald's and I surprised myself and pulled into the parking lot. Brynn's face was hilarious when she saw the Playland. Needless to say we spent quite a bit of time at McDonald's on a school night :)

The big girl herself!
Silly Cara! This REALLY grosses me out!!

Claire and Jen spent the night with us on Friday because Pete was laying tile in their kitchen so Claire got to partake in the fun adventure as well.

Brynn thought since it was lunch time we better eat here too. She even got to order chocoate milk with her chicken nuggets and apples! She is one lucky girl!! I had to keep reminding her that it was a very special day and that is why we got to come to McDonald's. Pretty cheap reward if you ask me!

St. Patty's Day!

The Leprechaun visited our house again this year. Ever since he did last year Brynn has been asking (almost monthly) if he would come again. Sure enough he did. Quite a bit of damage was done this year...a bunch of books were thrown off the bookshelf, Brynn's baby's high chair was put on the top of their house, the love seat was moved to the middle of the living room, chairs were knocked over in the kitchen, and the girls' milk and toilet water were turned green! I sure wish I had a picture of Brynn with the damage, but my super helpful husband cleaned it all up while I was getting Cara ready to go to Lynn's :(

Brynn wasn't quite sure why the Leprechaun only turned her and Cara's milk green...

Brynn ALWAYS has peanut butter toast for breakfast...except on St. Patty's Day. She decided she better have cereal to see if her milk was green.

Although Cara's carton of milk wasn't turned green the Leprechaun did turn her milk in her cup green!

For dinner we had green grapes (already eaten), green salad ("No thanks, Mom. I'm not hungry for salad today."), and pasta with pea pods, broccoli, and green beans. Yummy!

Since Katie had conferences on St. Patric's Day Henry came over to help us celebrate!

An attempt to get a good picture of my ladies...I'll keep trying!

Buggy turns 4!

Brynn turned 4 on Sunday, March 13th. To celebrate her birthday we had a ladybug party on March 12th. She had so much fun! It was certainly a day to celebrate what a kind, intelligent, beautiful, caring, generous, happy little girl that graced our live 4 short years ago. Man, we are lucky she's ours!

To start the party off we played a little pin the dots on the ladybug.

Nolan
Honrey
Logan

Aubrey (Carmen wouldn't let me blindfold Aubrey. What a party pooper!)

Beaner

The final product!

After pin the dot on the ladybug we played drop the ladybug in the bucket.

Cara

Honrey

Aubrey

Cara's best buddy, Eli

Success!

After drop the ladybug in the bucket and before our summery dinner (brats, turkey dogs, potato salad, watermelon, veggies and dip, and chips) we broke open the pinata Brynn and I made. I really didn't think it was strong, but it took MANY hits by the kids and then many by myself before it broke open...and the kids really didn't acknowledge the fact that it held candy :( Quite the disappointment to the girls who spent hours perfecting a ladybug pinata.

The birthday girl and the adorable (yep, I'm giving myself compliments) pinata.

Buggy

Ella

Cara Bean

Nolan

Henry

Logan

Do you see ALL the kids darting for the pinata? They barely could keep their hands off it!

As Brynn put it when she saw her pinata in the garage the next day, "My ladybug looks sad now, Mom..."

Yummy!

Henry, Auntie Key, Aubrey, and Aunt Carmen

Quick picture of ALL the kiddos at the party. Baby Evie, Brynn, Ella, Henry, Cara, Logan, Aubrey, Nolan, and Eli. It sure was a busy party!!

Man, I have talent I didn't even know I had! It took a lot to cut into this cake since it took almost 3 hours and quite a few beers to complete. The picture really doesn't do it justice!

Cheese!

That black frosting sure looks tasty, doesn't it?!?

After all the guests left the girls played a little horsey with Grandpa.

Sunday morning Brynn woke up to a decorated doorway. I really think this is her favorite part of her birthday...she even asked if I was going to decorate her doorway for her birthday before she went to bed the night before.

Birthday kisses!

Mmmm!

Brynn was invited to a birthday party on her birthday. I was really torn because we wanted to do something special with her on her special day but she was insistent she attend Megan's party. We compromised and took her out for lunch before she headed to the party. It was quite the stressful birthday lunch...the service was slower than molasses (at 11:15 in the morning), Cara was in no mood to be in a restaurant (come to find out she had an ear infection and wasn't just being sassy because she can), they mixed up our order and had to bring them back to the kitchen, and we were late for the party since we were at Applebee's for almost 2 hours! However, Brynn got to order chocolate milk and french fries because it was her special day so she really didn't mind being there for 2 hours at all!

Happy 4th Birthday, Brynn Tressa. We are so blessed to have you in our lives!