Brynna's Seventh Birthday - Ears Pierced

 There is something you should know about Brynna. She is my child who swore up and down that she was never, ever getting her ears pierced. So imagine my shock a few weeks ago when she came to me and said that she was ready to get them done and wanted to do it on her birthday. I told her my rule always was that her and her sisters could get them pierced whenever they were old enough to want it for themselves. So we planned on making it a birthday wish come true.

She was all ready to go and sat down in that chair, swallowed hard and said she didn't want to do it anymore. I told her she didn't have to, but was she sure about her choice. The lady who did the piercing was great and told Brynna she would show her everything she was going to do and if she still didn't want to do it, she didn't have to. So Brynna watched, decided to go ahead with it and then came the moment of truth...

 

 The child did not flinch, whimper, or even say "Ow!" she literally said "That didn't hurt at all!!"

 I was so proud of how great she did and she loved her new, pink flower earrings.

 Ivy is waiting to get hers done on her 8th Birthday, but we didn't want her feeling left out of the fun, so the girls picked her out some pink, butterfly clip-on earrings for her to wear too. They also picked out a Best Friends necklace to wear together and got matching dress-up make-up kits....You will see the blue eyeshadow aftermath later in the day. ;)

 Two cute girls!

 Crazies!

 Best Buddies!

 The ear piercing experience went so flawlessly that we decided we were up for more fun! So the girls and I decided to keep an eye out for matching BFF shirts. We lucked out finding some at The Children's Place that even had one of Brynna's favorites on them...monkeys! Then as we were getting ready to check out we saw some cute hats that were on sale and the girls were in love. They REALLY wanted matching hats too! I told Brynna that I am pretty much a mean mom 364 days of the year, so since it was her birthday she could do whatever she wanted! That was a very good answer for her. The girls were so sweet and must have each said thank you a dozen times a piece.

It made me so happy seeing them having fun and enjoying the one-on-one time with each other without siblings or other distractions getting in the way. It was all about them and it was so much fun! Next we jetted off to pick up Maryn from her party and we were off for more eating...

Brynna's Seventh Birthday - La Parilla

It had been a few hours since we had eaten and Brynna had said she would like La Parilla for her birthday dinner. So we picked Maryn up from her friend's pool party, ran home grabbed Justin, Lauryn, Devyn and Brynnie's presents and scooted over to grab some of our favorite quick, Mexican grub.

 Her sisters' present to her was a big bag full of all kinds of summertime trinkets from the dollar store. Brynna just kept pulling and pulling and pulling more stuff out of the bag! Pool games, floaties, jump rope, balls, bubbles, goggles, you name it! She was in hog heaven! We just won't tell her how far you can stretch $15 bucks there! ;)

 Devyn must have gotten a spicy chip. That's a definite deer in the headlights look!

 Lauryn was so good natured about all of the hullabaloo being about Brynna. She didn't fuss, complain, or get jealous once all day. She was just so happy for her sister!

 Brynna had gotten money from Grammy & Gramps, Nana & Papa and Aunt Jill. So adding another $7.00 from Mom, Dad and her sisters elated her! She was feeling rich!

 Love notes!

 Brynna opening her present from Mom & Dad....what could it be?!

 A new foal for her doll Jenny! Maryn got one for Christmas and Brynna decided she wanted one too for her birthday. Now their dolls can do horse duty together!

 Can you see the girls broke into their new make-up kits on the way home from the mall? I told them the rule was no leaving the house with make-up on. But since it was a special birthday day, I had to shelf mean mom and let them do what they wanted! ;)

 Sisters!

 Brynna had mentioned that she DID NOT want anyone singing to her because that would be so humiliating! (Do you think she is my daughter?!) ;) I mentioned to her if she was sung to there was usually free ice cream or something involved. That changed her opinion pretty quickly and so through the whole meal she kept giving me the earnest eye as if to say "Mom! Do they know it's my birthday?!"

 Right before we left she heard some clapping and singing behind her and before she knew it a big sombrero was plopped down on her head!

 She loved it and hated it all at the same time, but was happy about the birthday dessert!

We had to woof down the treat though because we were running late for one more surprise of the day...
 
**Don't forget to check out the last birthday post on the next page!!**

Brynna's Seventh Birthday - Pool Time!

 What Brynna didn't know was that her momma had planned a pool UN-party! I decided how could I botch swimming and cupcakes? So I invited a bunch of her friends from church over to the pool to hang out with her on her special day!

 Lauryn, Brenna, Brynna, Ivy, Maryn and Emalee

 Devyn with our favorite sitter in the world, Shea (Ivy's big sister) and Lauryn with Shea's cousin Aspynn.

 Brenna Vickery and Brynna doubling as a submarine!

 Maryn had been a pool baby all day long but was ready for more! It's not always easy to have a day be all about someone else, so for her to be able to join in at the end of the day and be a part of the party was fun for her!

 Ivy, Brenna & Brynna - three little buddies!

 I swear I could pinch this kid! She is just too dang cute!

 Sophia and Emalee

 Brenna, Shea, Lauryn, Devyn & Aspynn

All in all, I was pooped at the end of the day but was so glad that Brynna felt loved and celebrated. I know being one of four kids isn't always easy. It means you don't always get Mom and Dad's undivided attention. I think that is what I was most grateful for today; being able to focus on Brynna. To let her know how grateful we are she was born and that she came into our family. To celebrate that she is now and forever will be a member of the Young Crew.

Pool Bums

   
    The idea of hanging out, half-naked, baking my pasty, white skin in the sun with both strangers and people I know, while constantly on keep-someone-from-drowning-patrol really hasn't been my idea of fun in the past. Not to mention my hellish word association with the word 'pool' after our nightmare experience in Oregon taking care of THE WORST pool of all time at the home we were renting. I thought I was damaged on pools and swimming for the rest of my life.

    But the pool in our neighborhood opened last weekend and my friend Laura convinced me not to be an idiot and go...and I have been back almost every day since. I don't mean to lay it on thick or anything, but I frequently find even more reasons to love our life in Georgia more than the day before. It just keeps on getting better; down to the little things like the neighborhood pool. I can park it in a chair and be three feet away from my two little ones in the two, kiddie pools and the two older girls can be right in front of me swimming in water they can stand in if they need to and still be close enough for me to watch without having to be in the water with them. Not to mention I don't have to dump or mix chemicals, vacuum, skim, pull dead rats out of the filter, figure out what the h*ll is wrong with the pump, take in water samples or any or that other garbage. I just show up. Blissful I tell you, just blissful. Also the neighborhood has an adult-only pool and a family pool that are completely separate. I never have to worry about annoying the weird dude, drinking a beer and working on his skin cancer next to me, because guess what, that dude is no where near me.

    In addition to my other issues, my aversion to being at the pool has stemmed from the fact that I hate wearing a swim suit. I just feel so dang naked, like the whole world can see your every flaw. But after this week, I have decided that I can be at peace with the fact that there are 13-year-olds with bigger boobs than me. And also the fact that no matter what I do, I have cellulite on the backs of my legs. Guess what, so do 98% of the other women there. Even the ones that look like they are best friends with the gym. And there we are, walking around half-naked, with our dimpled, posterior thighs and no one cares. People are so laid back, so real, so polite. I just love where we live. I may yet not be a completely lame mom this summer and happily oblige when the Little Women beg to throw on their swimsuits and head out to the pool.

Maryn's Awards Ceremony

Me and my Peanut

Yesterday morning I had the chance to attend Maryn's end of year awards ceremony. I was grateful for the opportunity to be able to be there for her and just her. So often when there is a bazillion schedules and many people to coordinate, one on one time can become few and far between with the kids...which is hard for me because I wish there was more of me to give. So chances like this were priceless to me.

Maryn and her teacher, Mrs. Hughes

This year has been full of highs and lows for Maryn. New school, new people, new experiences. It was a lot to navigate at times in her little third grade world. But through it all Maryn was able to find opportunities to let her talents shine. In addition to being recognized for her attendance, she was one of the two kids in her class who maintained straight A's the whole year through.

Accepting her award from the Principal, Ms. Suarez

Maryn was nervous about getting up on the stage in front of everyone to accept her award. As she tippy-toed across the stage to shake the Principal's hand my heart just swelled with pride for her. After she came down off the stage she ran to me with a grin and threw her arms around me and squeezed and squeezed before going back to sit with her class. I loved that she hasn't outgrown me. When other kids seemed embarrassed by their parents, Maryn sought me out...and it made me grateful.

I looked down the row at her and couldn't help but think, here was this amazing kid who shyly had no idea how dang awesome she is. A girl who has struggled with other people's perceptions of her at times, but has remained true to who she is at the core in spite of it. Smart, lovable, funny, introspective and imaginative. I hope this next year she is able to see herself for the true gem that she is. Truly, 100% one in a million.

 Maryn with Sister Johnston, or Mrs. Johnston as she is called at school. Judy Johnston used to watch Maryn and Brynna for me when they were little and I had to go to work. Now she is a teacher at Cherokee Charter Academy and I am SO GRATEFUL that the girls get to see her face and feel her loving hugs each day at school. I simply love this woman and am so grateful for her influence in my children's lives!!!

Brynna's Awards Ceremony

 

Brynna accepting her Presidential Award for Academic Achievement

I feel weird bragging on Facebook about my kids, but this is my blog and I will do what I want to! This morning I was able to attend Brynna's end of year award ceremony at her school. I was so proud of that little nugget and the good kid that she is. Not only was she recognized for her attendance and academic achievement, but was also one of the few kids in her class to receive a citizenship award as well. I whispered to her after it was over that I loved that she was smart, but I loved even more that she was smart AND had a good heart. That was what made me the most proud of all.

Brynnie and her 1st Grade teacher, Mrs. Welsh

**As a post note, we did not get the memo that kids had the option to not dress in uniform this day and could dress up for the awards ceremony. So when Brynna showed up in her P.E. sweats and many other kids were wearing dresses and ties I thought I was in trouble. But Brynna didn't even mention it bothering her. She just went with the flow. One of the things I love about Brynna is that she has an understanding heart. She's learned being my daughter, that I truly do try my best but often fall short and she is so often so forgiving of my shortcomings. I just love that about her! 
P.S. I still think she is a beauty even in her old P.E. sweats! ;)