Happy Birthday Brooklyn!!....(two months ago - yikes)

Ok, so this blog post is quite past due. I've decided that I am not a reader nor a writer. It is just so hard for me to get myself to sit down and do either of those things. I will however, make myself do it today. I just can't let more time go by without a little tribute to my sweet girl who turned 6 yrs old over the summer.

Brooklyn has brought so much joy into our lives, as well as left me puzzled from time to time. But, I suppose most children are that way. She is very unique from other normal children. I don't say that to be insulting, it's actually something I love about her. I guess I should correct myself and say that she is normal in everyway, except one! Her cleanliness. Most of our close friends and neighbors are probably aware of her compulsive need to have things clean and in order.

If I were to ask Brooklyn to make her bed I have to make sure that it is followed by "just do the best that YOU can!". And I usually have to repeat that about a thousand times. If not she would want to make her bed to such perfection that the stripped pattern on her bed spread would have to be perfectly straight with her bed. Each layer of bedding could not have any wrinkles on it. Her pillows would be set up just right (facing a certain direction, certain ones go on the right and other pillows on the left, each animal in a specific spot). So much so, that if I were to move anything out of its spot she would notice immediately as she came into her room. (I know this, because I've tested it. I switched only two pillows once on her bed and as soon as she came home from school the very first thing she said when she came into her room was "MOM!, who came in my room and moved my pillows!"

Just about everytime she goes to a friends house she will insist on cleaning their room. Toys need to get put away and beds made. I once overheard her say to a friend that was here playing, "I know! I have a great idea! Let's clean the playroom". The friend was not as enthused as she was to clean, but kindly watched.

It is not unusual for me to find her cleaning the bathrooms, doing the dishes or even vaccuuming out the cars (she asked to do that just yesterday).

Now most parents would think that is just "fabulous" and "amazing" and "how do I get my children to do that". But you see, I am just like Brooklyn!! I am very OCD with how things are done. Not necessarly getting them done (kids has cured that) but still how they are done. So you see this presents a little problem. I find myself having to walk away when Brooklyn is cleaning the bathroom because I know it is not getting done just the way I want it to. And no amount of training her on cleaing the bathroom will cure my OCD. If I am to feel it is clean, then I simply need to do it myself. I DO NOT do this however! I would go crazy!! I just tell myself over and over that it is ok how it is.

Anyways, I could ramble forever about these things. Brooklyn, is also super compassionate and very close to the spirit. She is a wonderful big sister and a huge help to her parents.

For her birthday this year we rented a 200 ft slip n slide a Peteetneet School in Payson. We invited all her friends and cousins (about 16 kids) and played in the sun and water for 2 hours. We loved it. It was probably one of the most fun and easy birthday parties I've ever done!

Fourth of July Fun

Fourth of July is aways fun. Fun for all ages. The grown ups enjoy lighting things on fire just as much as the kids. This year my parents were able to be here and celebrate with us.

My beautiful sister

My goofy hubby
Brooklyn

My mom was obsessed with sparklers. I had to tell her that she couldn't have any more and that she had to save them for the kids.

Hannah and Grandpa Bird and Harley (our dog....sort of)

The fire starters.

A Special Daddy Daughter date!!

A couple of weeks ago BJ took Brooklyn on a very special daddy daughter date. BJ and I are big fans of RSL (Utahs MLS team). In fact, we have season tickets and we go to every home game. We love to talk about it with the kids and teach them how to cheer, "Goooo, REAL SALT LAKE!!". So for one of the home games BJ took Brooklyn. She wore my jersey and cheered her little heart out. She even got a hotdog and cotton candy at the game.

Our first real camping trip

Over memorial day weekend we decided to go on an overnight camping trip. We went with some great friends of our. We had a blast! But in all honesty BJ and I decided we are more of the hotel camper type. The girls (me included) stole all the blankets from BJ. When we woke in the morning we found him sleeping in the truck with the truck running. Haha.. The kids loved it and ask all the time to go again.

Kids say the darndest things...

Today we decided to go on a family drive. As we were driving we past a church building. Hannah says, "look mom a wedding."
Later on in our drive Hannah notices the moon and thinks it is following us. Brooklyn replies, "it's just following us because the wind is blowing it"
We went to a park to play and Hannah got stung by a wasp. She wailed and cried the whole time saying that a bee walked on her finger.

Mom, Can I help you?

Another Hannah moment... I swear I have no idea how that brain of hers works. All I know is she can think quickly and it keeps me on my toes.
I was in the attic putting things away the other day and Hannah wanted to come up and help. She had already asked to come up the latter about a billion times and of course my reply was the same, "no sweetie it is too high and dangerous." I guess she had had enough of that answer because after telling her that for the last time she said, "ok mommy, no latter......" and proceeded to push the latter down the hallway so that couldn't get down from the attic.
I asked for it nicely back and then quickly got firmer and thankfully for my quick thinking too, I treatened no more treats and got the latter back right away.

Mom, I have to go potty....

So Hannah has been our little firecracker lately... She is definitely her own person. I'll share some of her latest. A couple of weeks ago I was out running errands with the kids. I stopped off at Staples in Provo. Now, what I'm about to admit is not something I am proud of, and will NEVER DO AGAIN. I left the kids in the car while I ran inside..... In my defense I locked the doors, turned up the AC, and turned on a movie. And, I only had to purchase 1 thing... Ok, enough about trying to defend myself. I told the girls to not get out of the car.. So as I am coming out of Staples I notice a car parked next to mine. I immediately feel the guilt for having left my kids unattended and hope that the lady that is still in her car doesn't notice my kids. After a few more steps I notice that my car windows are down and I can see that Hannah is out of her seat. When I get to her window I ask,
"Hannah, what are you doing?"
She replies, " I had to pee!"
I say, "oh no! did you go in your pants?"
She says, "nope"
I say, "did you go in the car somewhere?"
"nope"
"well where did you go?"
"I went outside."
I look down to see a pudlle, which I am standing in...
I say, "did you open the door?"
"nope"
"well what did you do?" I am still very confused. And at this point Brooklyn breaks away from the movie and informs me that Hannah went pee out of the window!
Hannah then says, "I will show you mom." And she proceeds to pull down her pants, climb onto her seat and then onto the door and wiggle her little white bum onto the window....
I couldn't believe it. I took a step back and sure enough there was a wet streak down the side of the van. So as you can see I will never again leave my kids unattended. I never thought it would be for peeing out the window though.