"I Gonna Have Two Snowman Bir'days!"

If you have talked to Brynnli at any point in the last year, she probably told you about her birthday. Right after her last birthday Brynnli started telling us: "I gonna have two snowman bir'days!" And for an entire year she didn't waver. We were a little unsure of how to plan a snowman birthday in September, but her summer "Frozen" party turned out great and she loved it! We can't believe we have a three year old!

Here's her cute invitation. 

"Come find out what Frozen things do in Summer at Brynnli's 3rd Birthday Party"

 Her actual birthday and her party were on the same day, so Brynnli woke up to an entire day of fun planned. Here's her cute birthday sign and presents from the family.

 Makayla and Caden might have been more excited to open presents and kind of usurped the opening of them, so we made them sit a good distance away from Brynnli.

Brynnli got some cute outfits, jammies, ice cream toys, and Doc McStuffins dress up. 

 We got to go to Caden's soccer game that afternoon and then rushed home to get all ready for the party. Brynnli loved her balloons.

 We had cupcakes with Olaf and snowflake decorations on top.

 On the table we had picture when Brynnli and the other kids met Olaf at Disneyland. We also had marshmallows, pretzels, chocolate chips, and orange tic-tacs with a sign that said "Do you want to build a snowman?"

"A kiss to melt a frozen heart"

 "Some people are worth melting for drinks"...

 The best part might have been the snow cone machine.

 Brynnli was so ready for her party to begin.

 And so were Makayla and Caden.

 Some of our guests enjoying the snocones...

 We had copycat Cafe Rio Salads for dinner then it was time to open presents...

 Brynnli got spoiled with clothes, Doc McStuffins toys, jammies, a princess tent, and Shopkins.

 After presents we moved into the garage (thanks to a rainstorm) for the Olaf Pinata.

 After the pinata we sang happy birthday to her and blew out her candles on the cupcake. I think Brynnli had the best 3rd birthday.

Brynnli is so lucky to share her birthday with Grandpa Craig. They were born on the same day, just 60 years apart. We sure love our two birthday kids.

 By the end of the night Brynnli was D.O.N.E!

Oh Brynnli, where do I even begin? We all love you so much. You are the perfect caboose to our family. We love how much fun you always have. You are truly the life of the party. I will never understand how I can be so frustrated with something you do to get in trouble, but then you do something silly, or give me that little Brynnli grin, and I suddenly forget you're supposed to be in trouble. I love singing our song in the morning when we drop the "kids" off at school: "It's the most wonderful time of the day when the kids are at school and me and mom play!" And I love that only after an hour you are missing Makayla and Caden and want to go pick them up. I love that you love to run errands with me and always ask to go to Target for popcorn and a drink. I love how you adore Makayla and Caden and try to do everything they do. I love the way you talk and say such sassy things. We are all so excited to see how you grow and learn this year. We definitely have a threenanger in the house. Hopefully you will be potty trained by next year! We love you so much Brynnie-Bear!! 

1. What is your favorite color? "Pink and purple"

2. What is your favorite toy? "It's a piggie bank"

3. What is your favorite food? "Um... Mac and cheese?"

4. What is your favorite show? "Doc McStuffins"

5. What is your favorite thing to wear? "What? I like my princess dresses... my Tinkerbell dress"

6. What is your favorite game? "I like all the games"

7. What is your favorite song? "Me and You. The one where you got married and daddy got dressed up"

8. What is your favorite book? "Um, the eleflant book"

9. Who is your best friend? "Kenzee"

10. Where is your favorite place to go? "Target and get popcorn"

11. What do you want to be when you grow up? "I want to be big"

12. What is your favorite thing about Makayla? "Um... we like each other"

13. What is your favorite thing about Caden? "We are best friends"

14. What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy? "Um play wis dad and go wis dad"

15. What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy? "Um go to stores wis you"

9/11... Sixteen years later

*Ironically I took a screen shot of my phone on September 11 at 9:11 p.m. 

Today is the 16th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on America on September 11, 2001. I remember I was in Logan attending my first semester at Utah State University. I had a cold and didn't sleep well the night before, so I was initially irritated when my roommates woke me up. My irritation quickly turned into anxiety when they told me there was a plane that had crashed through The Twin Towers in New York. I seemed to be glued to the t.v. for the rest of the morning as I watched the events unfold. Watching the news was sad, terrifying, and left me feeling helpless. I had only lived away from home for about three weeks, and I felt so unsettled at the news; all I wanted to do was drive home, but I knew I couldn't. 

I went to my classes,  but all we talked about that day was the uncertainty of what was going to happen. Would we go to war? Would there be other attacks?  It was a day, a week, a month, and many more years of uncertainty. The attacks on America killed almost 3,000 people and injured thousands more. It really was a day that changed America, in some ways for the better, and in some ways for worse. 

A few years ago Tyler and I went to New York and one of the highlights was visiting the 9/11 memorial. Although it was a sad part of our trip, it was very humbling to see and read about all the heroes and victims of the attacks. 

I hope to one day take our kids to New York, take them to the memorial, and tell them all about this day that changed America. 

Labor Day Weekend

We headed up to The Land for Labor Day again this year... really would we go anywhere else? 

Brynnli was a great helper at the store. They had these cute little shopping carts that were just her size and she got to pretend she was really the mom. She loved it!

 For Labor Day we had to do a few projects, one of them being tearing down the gazebo. Terry and Craig have been contemplating this for a while now. It is a lot of maintenance and nobody really uses it. Here's the last before shot with Colton.

 All of the kids got to help tear it down by hitting it as hard as they could.

 One last picture with Terry and Craig and all six grandkids. They like the grandkids more than the adults so they chose to have the last picture with them. No big deal... we weren't offended.

 And it's down!

 So naturally Brynnli climbed to the top.

 There was a wild turkey running around The Land. I think he was irritated we were in his space.

 I think the kids' favorite part was shooting the bow and arrow.

 Makayla has got some skill! She hit the target quite a few times.

Love long weekends spent with my family! Happy Labor Day!