Mom, Dad and Brynn

I don't have enough pictures of my mom and dad with Brynnlee.  During Kaleb's birthday party, I was able to catch a few good ones.

Happy Birthday, Kaleb!

Kaleb turned 6!  Kaleb thought long and hard about what kind of party to have.  He decided to have a party at home, and to play all the games that were his favorite from all the recent parties he had attended.

Charles had his work cut out.

We started by having everyone decorate a mask as they came in the door.

Once everyone arrived...

...the games began.

Nico was the best to watch play Pin the Tail on the Donkey. :)

Next was the Balloon stomp.

Then we played the hit-the-kid-with-the-tennis ball-tied-onto-a-string game.  That one was a favorite and lasted about 25 minutes, leaving Charles nice and sweaty.

Then the kids went inside for another balloon game, followed by presents.

 

Next was cake and ice cream.  We decorated it with a few of the boys' Lego Ninjagos, some old and some new.  When the kids at the party saw it they got all excited and said, "I want that piece!"  Haha!  Oops. 

Lastly, we had the pinata.  

Dad helped hold back the crowd so no one would get hurt.

Mom and Brynnlee played off to the side.

Agustin's dad taught us a new way to make a pinata.  Take a box, (we used an empty Otter Pop one) fill it with candy, and then wrap it with a gift bag.  Stick a wire hanger through the top, and you've just saved yourself $15 bucks.  Genius.

After the party, Ryan came to pick up his boys and he brought his 6 month old baby girl, Piper.  I took Piper to hold as soon as I got the chance.  When Brynnlee saw another baby in my arms, she lashed out in a jealous fit and screamed until I gave Piper back to Ryan. 

When Charles tried to hold Piper, she did the same thing!  These guys had to put some distance between their girls.  Haha!

Even when Ryan tried to move Piper closer to her, Brynnlee felt all threatened and moved back onto her daddy's lap, screaming, which must have scared Piper, because then she was in tears.

 Ryan said, "And here we thought you two could be friends."  Haha!  Someday.  :)

A little about Kaleb:

-Smart.  He used to get in trouble almost everyday in preschool. I would pick him up from school and his teacher would fill me in on his latest mishaps.  She would tell me how disruptive and disrespectful he was.  She would also tell me how old and wise he seemed.  Like he could just look right through a person and understand things that others couldn't.  I was nervous for him to start Kindergarten.  But he hasn't had a single problem... yet.  I think he was just bored in preschool, and needed a challenge.  In Primary his teacher has said the same thing.  She said that he seems very wise and witty.  It's true.  There have been a few times where he has caught me off guard with a witty quip and left me rendered speechless.  

-Athletic.  This year, Kaleb has tried T-ball, outdoor soccer, indoor soccer, and will soon start basketball.  So far, he seems like a natural when it comes to sports.  All of his aggression is put into good use.  When he plays with his friends he loves to wrestle.  Sometime's I'll look out the window into the backyard and see him and a friend swing each other to the ground, rolling around in the grass. When it starts to look serious, I stop them and ask them if they are fighting or wrestling.  They both just smile at each other and say "wrestling!"  Then I ask them if they are having fun, or trying to hurt each other, and they always assure me they are just having fun.  But sometimes, I don't know. Maybe I'm just being a mom.

-Creative.  Kaleb has an active imagine.  When he's playing with his Legos or his Super Heroes, I could just sit and watch him play for hours.  He's seems to disappear into his own little world.  His words become jumbled with fighting sounds.  And his sounds are great too.  This kid is all boy.  Except when a softer side of him emerges temporarily...

-Artistic.  Kaleb likes to look nice, and to make other things look nice.  Instead of constructing a sand castle, Kaleb's main concern was finding enough seashells to use to decorate it. When doing arts and crafts, Kaleb will take his time, and make it beautiful.  He also seems to enjoy photography.  Not only does he love to take pictures, but he likes to arrange his subjects in just the right way.

-Funny.  Kaleb has a great sense of humor.  He's not too sensitive, and he's quick to find humor and laugh or make a joke, even if the timing or subject matter is not appropriate.  And he can do so with an astonishing straight face.  It makes him even funnier.

-Particular.  He's particular about many different things.  One thing is how tight his clothes are.  The adjustable waistband in his jeans have to be as tight as possible or he's afraid they will fall down.  Now I understand that he has a very slender body, but he takes the tightening to an almost unbreatheable level. Same with the Velcro on his shoes.  He has pulled them so tight that the straps have stretched and hang an extra inch off the sides of his shoes.  He does NOT however like, nor give-in to the fashion trend of Skinny Jeans.  In fact, he says he hates them.  Kind of ironic, but hey, maybe he's just being practical... they can't be comfortable!

He definitely has character and keeps us all on our toes.  We love this kid and are so happy to have him in our family.  The first couple years may have been rough, but he was worth the time and patience.  Happy Birthday, Dude!

Brynnlee Starts Nursery

Well, the day that I usually look forward to... (when my baby turns 18 months and can spend the last 2 hours of church each Sunday in Nursery instead of with me) has arrived.  Only I wasn't looking forward to it.  I've kind of been a "mom with a baby or pregnant" for the last 8 or 9 years.  It's strange for me to go back to Relief Society without either.  In some way I felt kind of shielded from having to leave my comfort zone around others as long as I had a baby with me. I never had to be the one to start a conversation with someone because someone would always comment on my baby first, and then we could start to talk.  Babies are great Ice Breakers.  And I'm a little sad that my time with babies in class is over.

Brynnlee has been really fun.  She is so full of expression.  She has made so many people laugh and laugh because of all the faces she pulls.  She rolls her eyes, she gives a squinty-eyed "cheese" smile, she opens her eyes and mouth wide as if in shock, she looks at people out of the corner of her eyes, she bows her head down and looks up at you through her lashes.  And she will rotate through each of these expressions and more in 20 seconds or less.  She's a riot.

A few times in Relief Society she went up next to the chorister and helped lead the music.  She loves to sing... even though she doesn't say many words.

Even though she is so entertaining, she can also be a spaz.  You can tell she is the youngest, and the only girl.  She knows how to get what she wants, and the boys will do whatever they can to keep her happy.  It's endearing to see the boys be so submissive to their baby sister, but sometimes I worry.  What kind of girl will she turn out to be?  Strong and opinionated, that's for sure... but hopefully not to the point of full-blown diva.

On her first day of Nursery, I think she was a little confused to see so many kids that were her size.  She's used to bigger kids.  The only thing that comes close to a human relationship with something smaller than her is our friends' weiner dog, Sasha.  Which is why we found it hilarious to see how she interacted with the other kids in Nursery.  A couple times, I saw her squat down next to another child, snap her fingers and click her tongue while saying, "Sasha... Sasha." I almost died, haha!

I have such an attachment to this girl.  Especially with having Charles in the bishopric, it's usually just me and Brynn each Sunday once the boys go off to Primary.  So if she ever seems like she doesn't want to go to Nursery, I jump on that and keep her with me.  But unfortunately, she doesn't seem to have much of a problem there.  ;)  She growing up too fast, and I'm sad to see my baby go.