A Magical Fourth Birthday

Our sweet Brees Elizabeth turned four on Saturday, despite our protests that she stay this little forever. At four, Brees is the funniest little person I know.  She talks ALL OF THE TIME and makes us laugh constantly with her witty commentary.  She is a lover of the great outdoors, the first to wake up in the morning, and an expert gardener.  She loves ballet, singing, and doing any kind of painting/crafting project.  She is curious and sweet and we are so thankful that she belongs to us!

She woke up really early on her birthday and was so excited when she got her first birthday gift from her sister: a beautiful Elsa dress!  She put it on immediately and didn't take it off for the rest of the weekend.  Shawn and Isabelle spent the rest of the morning at a basketball tournament which gave me several hours alone with the little kids.  They "helped" me bake Brees' birthday cake: a french vanilla cake that we made blue to fit our Frozen theme.  We also made cupcakes, frozen hearts, Kristoff's ice cubes, and a platter of "We finish each other's sandwiches".  Brees helped me put up a few decorations, hand me downs from our sweet friend Lucy's Frozen party.  It was a quiet, relaxing morning and I was so thankful to have that time with her before her big party that afternoon.  We talked and laughed and I let her lick the bowl and eat as many chocolates as she wanted.  It was a very special start to a very special day.

Before we knew it, it was time for our family and friends to arrive for Brees' party. Brees didn't know it yet, but two VERY special guests were on their way all the way from Arondale.  We gathered in the living room, talking and laughing and trying to distract the kids as we waited for the most important party guests of all.  We heard a knock at the front door, a very familiar knock (the exact knock from the movie to be exact).

"Brees, I think there's someone at the door! Let's see who it is!"

She followed me to the front door, completely oblivious to what was going on.  When I opened the door, her little face lit up as she realized that Elsa and Anna were standing on our front porch!!  She literally gasped, her eyes wide open, and just stood there in silence.  After a minute of complete shock, she screamed, "Elsa!!!  It's you!!!!" and wrapped her arms around her favorite princess.  She tackled Anna next, screaming in disbelief.  It was the most magical moment!!!

She welcomed the princesses inside and immediately asked Elsa, "Do you really have ice powers? Please don't freeze my house, okay?  You have to promise.  It's my most favorite house ever, okay?"

The princesses were amazing: we were able to literally sit back and enjoy the show.  They played games with the kids, read them stories, and sang songs.  They gathered in a circle and all started to sing "Let It Go" together.  Within seconds, Brees ran out of the room crying.  I chased after her, hugged her close as she cried on my shoulder "But Mommy that's MY song!  I've been practicing that song for Elsa for a LONG TIME!!!". I couldn't help but laugh as I assured her that she would have her moment. As I carried her back into the room, Elsa and Anna had already picked up on what was going on and asked the other girls to sit in a circle around Brees, giving her her moment to shine.  She stood in the middle of the circle and went all out, singing with Elsa at the top of her lungs.  It was priceless and the whole room cheered!

The princesses gave the girls special pixie dust and told them to make a wish, a wish they could only tell their parents about.  Brees ran to me and said "I wish for a special doll", before running back to stand next to Elsa.  They closed their eyes and blew pixie dust all over our living room and I was actually really happy to have all of that positive energy in the room.  We moved into the dining room to sing happy birthday and open presents and enjoy our pretty blue cake.  I was so thankful that my friends and family stepped up and took over for me: my friend Mandy took all of the pictures, Gracie cut the cake and Ashley passed out plates.  Shawn and I were able to just sit with Brees and enjoy the moment and that is totally my love language.  One of my favorite moments was when Brees opened a special Elsa doll from her cousins, the very same doll she had just wished for with her pixie dust, and screamed "Mom!!!  It happened!!!!".

It was a day that I don't think that any of us will ever forget, one of those days that just sticks to your soul and reminds you of how blessed we are to get to raise these children.  When you see the sparkle in their eyes, when you witness their pure innocence and joy abound, it is inspiring.  The magic that we experienced that day will make me smile every time I think of it.  Shawn and I feel so blessed that God chose us to raise this incredible little girl.  She teaches us so much each day, encouraging us with her kind nature and inspiring us with her curiosity.  Happy birthday, little Breesie girl.  I hope that you experience a little magic each and every day, sharing your love and positive energy with every person you meet.

Brees Is Three!

At the beginning of the year, Shawn and I made a commitment to simplify the holidays this year, birthdays included.  Instead of big parties, we would go on adventures as a family, making memories instead of hosting big shindigs as we always have in the past.  The kids were completely on board from the beginning, loving the idea of picking their favorite destinations and activities all in the name of celebrating their big day.

This weekend, Brees was able to have her own special 3rd birthday adventure. She requested a "pink cake with purple stuff on top".  On Friday afternoon, while Belle was at school and River and Shawn napped, I made her a strawberry cake with purple cream cheese frosting. It came out horribly ugly (as all of my baking projects do) but really, really delicious.  She played at my feet the whole time I baked, helping me stir and licking the bowl clean.  It meant the world to me to have that one on one time with her on her special day, just the two of us in the kitchen.

After Belle came home from school, we dug out the party box (a box filled with banners and leftover decorations and streamers and party favors) and sent Brees to her room to "hide her eyes". Belle and I decorated the kitchen and dining room with a hodge podge of colors and sparkly things as a few of the cousins came in to help us celebrate.  We called Brees downstairs as we all sang "Happy Birthday", her little face all lit up as she took everyone in.  I made homemade pizza and we went through the entire cake as Brees opened up her presents: a Sofia doll from Belle and a balance bike from Mommy and Daddy.  She was so happy to have her pink cake, a new doll, and her favorite people all together.

The fun continued on Saturday when Brees woke up to her room filled with balloons!  She woke me up and said, "My room!  Balloons everywhere, Mom!".  We set out for a fun day, just the five of us, that included a trip to the bookstore, lunch at Brees' favorite burger joint, frozen yogurt, and an afternoon at the children's museum.  Every time we got into the car and made our way to the next destination, Belle would say, "This is your day, Brees!  It's all about you today!".  And Brees just smiled and laughed in her easy going, sweet Brees way.  It was such a special birthday weekend, so simple but full of quality time that I know we will remember always.We had the best time playing and laughing with our now 3 year old.
Doesn't get much better than that.

Happy Birthday Brees!

Time really does fly when you're having fun...

Wordful Wednesday: With Brees

Little Brees is not quite so little anymore.  She is a busy toddler with a giant imagination.  

She keeps us on her toes with her love of exploring, climbing, and getting into every corner 

of our home regardless of what baby proofing tools we put into place.  She was very quiet 

for the first two years of her life, saying only a few words here and there.  I didn't worry 

about her slow start to conversation, I knew that she would start talking when she was 

good and ready.  Because that's what she does with everything.  She is stubborn 

and determined and she will not try anything new until she's made her own mind up.  And, 

sure enough, she recently decided to open her little mouth and let her voice shine 

through.  She talks ALL THE TIME, very loudly and in full sentences as though she's 

been speaking for years now.  She likes to dance and dress up in her sister's collection of 

ballet costumes.  Shawn takes her into the music room and lets her play the drums 

and harmonica and she loves to pull the microphone down and "sing" into it.  She is a 

very adventurous eater and will eat most anything placed in front of her.  Except 

asparagus.  She HATES asparagus.  Brees is an outdoors loving girl and is happiest playing 

in the dirt.  She's one of those kids who always looks a little bit disheveled and I have to 

wait until the very last minute to get her dressed when we go out.  And even then she 

usually manages to get her clothes/shoes/face dirty.  And forget about hair bows or 

barrettes: Breesy does NOT play that.  Brees loves to read books and will beg you for 

"one more story, please please please!!" every single night before bed.  She sleeps through 

the night in her toddler bed but often takes quite a while to settle down.  Most nights, 

she stands at the baby gate in her bedroom doorway and calls out to Belle across the hall 

to come and save her.  And Belle almost always does.  The highlight of her day is watching 

her big sister get off the schoolbus and run down our driveway.  She seriously thinks her 

big sister hung the moon.  She knows exactly how to charm her Daddy into giving her 

just about anything and still likes me to rock her to sleep.  She has a bad temper but a big 

heart: it's hard to stay mad at her for very long.  She is nowhere near being potty trained, she 

is simply not interested and I'm not going to push the issue until she is.  Brees loves to 

cuddle and give hugs and kisses.  She is shy around strangers but warms up pretty quickly.  

She is warm, full of life, and makes us laugh on the daily.   She is a happy little old soul and 

I love her so, so much. 

 

Growing Pains

What is it about two year olds?  

How quickly our sweet, cuddly, easy to please babies transform into demanding
and opinionated toddlers.  The two year old version of Brees knows what she wants and 
works really hard to communicate her needs to you, sometimes in a not so nice sort of 
way.    She often speaks of herself as though she is the supreme ruler of our household, 
saying things like, "No, Mama!  Brees go outside!  Brees no go night night!" or "No, no!  That 
is Brees' cup!  Sissy no touch Bree's cup!".  Then she gives you the look: the one that says 
"If you cross me, you will suffer!!".

We try really hard to just be patient with our little dictator, understanding that so much of
her frustration lies in the fact that she can not efficiently communicate her emotions and
so she lashes out instead.  We try to redirect her attention when she gets upset and
unruly, even when this means literally having to pick her up, limbs flailing everywhere,
and carrying her to another room.  I try to keep my voice calm, quiet, and soothing
even though I am usually drowned out by the sounds of her "NOOOOOOO!!".  I remind
myself to lock up the crayons for good every time I find new drawings on the wall courtesy
of my little Picaso.  Shawn builds new barricades weekly to keep her off the staircase,
but somehow our little MacGyver finds another way up.  She is determined and stubborn,
just like her parents, and she makes us both laugh and cry with her antics.

But, eventually, she always gives in, raising her little arms and reaching for me, "Hold
Brees, Mama!".  And I pick her up, hold her close, and hum "Twinkle Twinkle", her
favorite song, into her ear.  And she gives in, forgetting whatever it was she was
screaming about.  I have to hand it to her: though she can be a drama queen, she gets
over things really quickly.  Before we know it, she's up and about and playing again, the
tears and heartache gone and forgotten.  She's back to being her sweet and cuddly self,
sharing and being a kind and loving girl.  And I hold onto those moments and let them carry
me through the tantrums.  I remind myself that we all have bad days, bad hours, bad
minutes.  Life as a two year old can be tough as our little toddler attempts to navigate the
world and make her mark along the way.  But we love her so much, it makes all the
"terrible" times pass pretty quickly.