Breanna is 5

When Breanna was born, I looked and her and I was amazed. I thought she was the most beautiful baby girl I had ever seen. I didn't expect her black hair and was overcome by the feeling that filled the room when she was born. The only way I could describe it was "sweet". She still has that calm and easygoing yet powerfully sweet spirit. She is still gentle and her big eyes and long dark eyelashes still melt my heart. Now she is also funny and quick-witted and quietly stubborn and wise. She doesn't talk about what she knows but I see it in her eyes-she gets it. Happy Birthday Breanna-I'm so grateful Heavenly Father gave you to me! You are a gift!

Birthday morning! Super Loopers for breakfast, at her request.

Who knew-this book has become her obsession-she just loves it. She says it's the "best birthday present ever." Perhaps it will make more sense when you see the picture of dinner. Paper horses. That's all it takes sometimes!

She got to wear a dress to school. Pretty much all she wants in life. She was so proud! I also made pink cupcakes for everyone in her class. Yum!

After school we went to a play place for a few hours. This is her being a horse, although she is really running like an ape. She can go so fast. I have never seen someone go as fast like this.

We had French Toast with real french bread, bacon and eggs for supper- again at her request. See all the colorful horses on the wall behind her? Yah, I basically print and help her cut out at least one horse a day. 

After supper when daddy was home she got to open her second present, a painting for her room. Growing up I had a picture of Jesus in my room and I loved to look at it and feel peace. I explained to Breanna that this picture reminds me of her because Jesus is so gentle with the lambs and because she is one of his lambs and he watches over her. I am such a spaz so she needs to know that Jesus is gentle and always loving and never yells. She does not respond well to spazzing and I try not to but you know, it's a process.

What she liked even more than the picture of Jesus, the bubble wrap it came in.

And finally, her cute little cake.

Breanna, your family seriously loves you!!!

Today when I woke up I prayed that I would feel like a good Mom. Of course I wanted to be a good Mom too, but when I sometimes worry that I'm failing at it it's nice to feel like it too. This little episode was the answer to my prayer. First, because she must have learned to be that sweet from somewhere; and second, because, well, three is a lot to handle :)

(Be warned-this little video is quite long and will most likely be entertaining to parents and grandparents only :)



Breanna just loves, loves the snow! She came home from school and refused to come inside. So instead I bundled up Afton and sent her out to play too. Half an hour passed of peaceful kids-playing-outside bliss before I heard the door open and Afton come inside. She only wanted me to kiss her little hands and put her mittens back on, then she went back outside to play for a while. I garnered up my courage and went out to take a photo.

~And Hot Chocolate with lunch~

Winter is such a quiet, comforting place to be. Today Afton sat at the window, silently entranced, watching the snowflakes fall. It was beautiful. I keep my calendar pretty open these days. I like to tend to my home and feel the calm draw my thoughts heavenward. I have so many goals and things I want to change about myself and things I want to do and decisions I want to make. It's hard. I'm working on it.

Candy and Ghosts

I have eaten so much candy today I am seriously bouncing off the walls. Yippee for Halloween! Ghosts and ghouls and pumpkins and monsters and candy!

Speaking of Ghosts-I've been exploring my genealogy lately. It makes me look at my life in a new light. I wonder if my Great Great Great Grandfather and his wife knew when they made that trek to America from England after being baptized that someday their offspring would be living such a charmed life. A house that is always warm, a school across the street where they learn a second language, a constant supply of nutritious food, lessons in music, dance, and sports with endless books to read and lots of parties to go to, lots of family around and especially the gospel.

We had so much anticipation for this halloween-a haunted house! A Halloween party! Halloween crafts! Halloween sugar cookies! Halloween library books and Halloween movies! (my kids' favorite was Scooby Doo.)

I am grateful for the life we have here.

 

P.S. I really want to start updating my blog more often!