Happy FIFTH Birthday, Brenden!

My wonderful Brenden,

For the past five years I've sat down to write these letters and tried my best to capture the awesomeness of you over the past year. How you've grown, what you've learned, what really makes you special.


This year I'm pretty sure I don't have the words to really do that. You have grown so much, learned so much and there is just so much that makes you special that I'm sure to leave something out.

You completed another year of preschool at Kids Kare and started Pre-K at Jenks West. The first few weeks of all day school were rough (anxiety about dams? Where did that come from?) but you've really gotten into the groove and enjoy your teachers and all of your new best friends.

You've had a blast playing t-ball and showed us that you have a natural swing. (That must have come from your dad.) We also learned that you do NOT like soccer, which is okay since I don't get that "off sides" stuff anyway.

In just a year you've learned how to spell your name and write it with both upper and lower letters. You're also learning to read, which is such a cool thing to watch. The look on your face when you figure something out is priceless. I hope that you always love learning that much.

Instead of Thomas and Diego your into Power Rangers Samurai, Ninjago, Beyblades, Batman, Spiderman and Scooby Doo. Your love of the color blue is just as strong as ever, which makes it pretty easy to pick out things for you.

You're becoming a very good big brother (although of course you have your moments). As I'm typing you're showing Lauren how to use your much wanted web shooter and being very patient when she doesn't understand how to use it. You love your little sister, even if she drives you nuts sometimes, and she adores you. She cries every morning we drop you off at school. "I want Brenden! I want my brudder!" I hope that you are always that close.

Every day you say something to make me laugh. Just yesterday you had a weird look on your face and when I asked what was wrong you told me you had "issues". What do you consider "issues"? Sneezing, coughing and hiccups. It's difficult to keep a straight face sometimes.

It only takes a second (literally) for someone to become your "best friend". You're so outgoing and can't understand when someone else isn't. (We'll work on that.) You're always the first to introduce yourself, with Lauren right behind you. I have never met two more friendly kids.

I didn't think it was possible to love you more than I already did, but I do, everyday. Every night I say my prayers with you and thank God that he let me be your mom, and I am so so thankful to have you in my life.

I love you my crazy boy.

Love Always,

Mom

Happy Birthday, Bre!!!

Sometimes you meet someone who you just KNOW was meant to be in your life. It's almost as though you've known each other forever...like your souls were friends in heaven and finally found each other on earth. That person understands you better than anyone you've ever met and accepts you for all of your faults and loves you anyway.

I was so blessed to meet Bre over 2 years ago. I'm glad our souls found each other.

Happy Birthday, Bre! I LOVE YOU!!!

We ALL love you! :)

Lauren at 2

Happy 2nd Birthday, Lauren!

My sweet, crazy, absolutely amazing Lauren,

I know I thought you had changed so much your first year, but my goodness your second year showed me just what the word "change" means. Last year at this time you were almost ready to walk. Now you're running me ragged at every turn. Last year you were still struggling with your poor ears and had a knot on your neck that caused me numerous panic attacks. Now you are happy, healthy, and have been ear infection free thanks to those wonderful tubes. Last year you could babble, say a few words that were clear and knew several animal noises. Now you know your letters, colors, shapes and spend most of your waking hours singing one song or another. (Jesus Loves Me, including sign language, is your favorite right now.)

You may have started out quiet and serious, but that is completely gone now. You have no problem running up to new people and asking for their phone, or waving and saying hello to someone that forgot to smile at you at the store. You no longer cling to me, screaming if I'm out of sight or even act as though I'm leaving. Dropping you off at school no longer requires ear plugs. Instead, you start squealing for Ms. Kim when you see the sign for your school and run to your classroom without even a glance behind you.

Studious!

I knew you'd be stubborn and impatient (from the very beginning!) but oh my goodness you are ornery! You love to rile your brother up any chance you get and have no problems fighting back when he does something you don't like. While I'm teaching your brother to just ignore you when you're acting that way, I'm trying to teach you that your brother screaming and crying is not the funniest thing you've ever seen.

Red Dorothy slippers and mud on your face. Trouble!

That's not to say you don't absolutely adore Brenden. He's one of your favorite people and you are finally big enough to run and play and keep up with him. If he's jumping off of the stairs onto a pillow you are right there with him. If he decides to roll around in the mud, you're not far behind. You love to cheer him on when he's doing his "tricks" and are always there to make sure he's okay.

Your empathy and willingness to share always surprises me. If one of your toys falls down you scoop them up, hug them close and ask if they're okay. You rock your baby to sleep, "change" her diaper, and give her kisses and hugs before she "takes a nap". If someone is crying or hurt, be it a friend, your brother, or even me, you're always there to comfort them and offer a toy to make them smile. I hope you hold onto that caring and nurturing part of your personality forever.

Lauren, you are one of the smartest, funniest, most inquisitive, bravest, most stubborn little girls I've ever met. The words do not exist to fully explain just how fantastic I think you are, how much I love you, and how very lucky I feel to be your mommy.

Happy Birthday, my sunshine,

Love Always,

Mommy

Weekend Roundup

A few highlights of our weekend:

• Okay, so technically Thursday was not part of our weekend, but it was still pretty awesome. We managed to snag 4 free tickets to see George Strait and Martina McBride in concert at the BOK center. (Thanks VetTix!!!!) Mike watched the kids while Tim and I joined Bre and Jake in a row that was extremely close to the top and more than a little frightening for anyone *ahem, ME* that has a fear of heights and falling. Still, it was a great show with some great friends. 

AHHHHHH!!

We had a great time, even thought I was terrified!

• Saturday we headed up to Independence, Kansas, to celebrate Lulu's birthday. (Lulu is Connie's mom, Grace.) We had some yummy cake, cracked up at the kids, and had a great time with family and friends. 

He wanted to wear his "tag" for Lulu. (aka: tie)

Great grandkids!

I still can't believe she's 70 years old!

The family.

Grandkids!

•  Sunday was a day of shopping. I'm not always the happiest shopper, but we managed to have fun even when the kiddos lost interest and started acting like we were shocking them with cattle prods. They both found some new tennis shoes, Brenden's light up of course and Lauren's are pink, and we bought a new lawn mower. 

Tada!

Beep beep!

Not exactly the most exciting of weekends. It wasn't filled with gourmet meals, exotic locales, or luxurious accommodations, but it was filled with a ton of love and two of the best entertainers I know. I wouldn't change it for anything.

Never a dull moment. 

Brenden's Annual Birthday Video for Tim

Happy Birthday Daddy!

(FYI: It gets a little loud. He is very much a 4 year old boy.)

You can find last year's video here. :)

Happy Birthday, Tim!

A very Happy Birthday to the most wonderful, caring, understanding, loving, supportive, and, oh yeah, totally hot, husband I could have ever dreamed of choosing me.

We love you, Tim!

A Big, 4-year-old Sized Thank you!

Brenden says, "Thank you! MUAH"

So much blue! So much fun!

Thank you so much to everyone that was able to make it to Brenden's birthday party on Sunday. We are so blessed to have such amazing family and friends. I wish I had a chance to talk to everyone for longer than 3 seconds, but that's the problem with knowing so many great people. :)

Thank you to Tim who was up so late on Saturday but who got up early with me, cleaned, cooked, and everything else that we needed to do. We love you!

An extra big thank you to Mike and Connie for bringing food, helping set up and being all around awesome.

And a HUGE thank you to my mom. This party would not have happened without her. She watched the kids, cooked, cleaned, and kept me sane. Love you, mom!

Brenden at 4

Happy 4th Birthday, Brenden!

My dearest Brenden,

I am still amazed that this perfect bundle of tiny baby fingers, teeny baby toes, and adorably squishy cheeks...

...has become this fantastic little boy.

You wake up every morning with a smile on your face, ready to meet the world. You love unconditionally with every fiber of your being and can find joy in the smallest things. 

You are the proof that every decision I have made in my life was absolutely the right one. 

I love you to the moon and back my snuggle bunny.

Happy 4th birthday.

Love Always, 

Mommy

Blue Cupcakes!

Since Brenden doesn't have school tomorrow we decided to celebrate with his classmates today. He was more than a little excited, to say the least. He was excited about his eggo waffle, he was thrilled with the fact that his jacket had a hood, and he was ecstatic that he had blue cupcakes to take to school to share with his friends.

The very happy almost 4 year old.

FOUR?!? When, what, how?!? Just...crazy.