Brooklyn - 3 years old

I wanted to document some things about Brooklyn right now at this age so I don't forget.  Read if you're interested :)

She is full of personality!  I don't know how John and I made such a social, outgoing girl.  She says hi to everyone, asks them their name, and then tells them her name.  She'll tell them random things that are on her mind or things that I've recently done to her - for example, at the park yesterday went right up to my visiting teacher and told her that I washed her mouth out with soap that morning (yup, I sure did!).

She is smart.  Sometimes I think I am too hard on her and forget that she is just 3.  She loves to talk non-stop all day, sing, and is at the stage now of asking me questions about whatever I'm doing.

She loves to help me cook dinner every night and no matter how long it takes, sits on the counter and "helps" the whole time. 

She is a great big sister.  I love that my kids are old enough now to play together (well mostly Brooklyn telling Jake what to do).  Jake loves Brooklyn and follows her around wherever she goes and tries to do whatever she is doing.  They definitely have their moments of teasing/fighting, but for the most part get along.  I also love that Brooklyn will stand up for Jake - the other day at the park I heard her tell another boy to be nice to her brother, as she had her arm around Jake.

She is so excited about her little sister.  I think she will be a big help to me with her siblings.  She will come up to my stomach a lot and "tickle" it and talk to her.  I'm so excited she is getting a sister.

She's a good mix of being a girly girl/tom boy.  She definitely loves chapstick, dressing up, going to dance, but also loves playing soccer, practicing dribbling, playing super hero's with the boys at preschool, etc.
  
She loves swimming, riding her bike, playing with friends, playing at the park or in our backyard, play doh, going to the kid care at the grocery store, dance/gymnastic class, "reading" books to Jake, music class, preschool, nursery, and taking care of her baby doll.   

Her birthday interview (that I hope to do every year on my kid's birthdays to see how their answers change over the years):

How old are you?  "3"

What's your favorite color?  "purple"

What's your favorite thing to eat?  "mac n' cheese and applesauce"

What's your favorite treat?  "starburst"

What's your favorite animal?  "cow"

What's your favorite book?  "Good Night, I Love You"

What's your favorite song?  "Child of God"

What's your favorite movie?  "Mulan"

Who's your best friend?  "Reese..and Hannah....and all the Bowen's"

What's your favorite thing to do?  "play with toys and play doh"

What do you want to be when you grow up?  "a mom...I don't want to be a dad"

January randoms

The lighting is really bad in this picture, the wall looks yellow but it's actually white, but I finally printed off and hung up our family pictures!  John doesn't understand why I insist on getting family pictures taken every year and then they just sit on our computer....GOOD POINT :)  I didn't have any matching frames so I bought brown and red spray paint and loved how they turned out.

Jake has been such a sweet boy lately.  It makes me sad that he won't be my baby anymore when his little sister is born.  I love having a boy.  He was waiting patiently for me to brush Brooklyn's teeth one night and fell asleep on the couch like this.

The same weekend of Brooklyn's birthday, John's sister Shari and her family stayed with us.  My brother-in-law Brad's mom got re-married and they came for the wedding.  Lucky for us it was in Arizona!  Even though we were both so busy that weekend with activities going on, it was so fun to see them.  My kids could watch and follow these boys around all day.  This picture was of them eating breakfast together one morning.

Naughty naughty!  Every once and awhile if I get my work done early and Jake is still asleep, I will lay down for a bit.  But I'm always in for a treat when I wake up and see what I find.  On this day, Brooklyn threw every stuffed animal we own in Jake's crib and several other toys.  And as normal, was naked when I found her (she is slowly getting better at keeping her clothes on).

Brooklyn got this teepee for her birthday.  The kids love it!  It came a few days after her birthday and was a fun surprise for her.  I ordered it from Etsy and can be set up inside or outside.

Brooklyn had her first dentist appointment and did GREAT.  I was actually surprised at how well she did.  I knew she should be fine, but she was chattin' it up with them the whole time and even kept her mouth open when they weren't working on her.

She didn't have any cavities, but I did have to take her back it because part of a tooth in the back was cracked.  She did great at that appointment too.

I bought this beauty on Amazon and put it together myself.  I love putting things together - even better than Christmas to me.  I've started working more hours at work since January and thought I deserved a new desk :)  It shouldn't make me as happy as it does.

Family night at Freddy's - sooooo good!  I had never been there before but John had talked about it.  They had such good burgers, skinny fries, and shakes.  

Jake devoured his :)

cowgirl party

I've decided every other year I will throw my kids a themed friends birthday party (at least that's what I hope to do).  I did a big one for each of Brooklyn and Jake's 1st birthday, so Brooklyn was due for another since she just turned 3.

I chose to do a cowgirl/cowboy party because Brooklyn has friends that are boys and girls and I thought that was a good "theme" for both of them.

 It was a lot of work, but I started planning early so it was enjoyable to do!  We had 16 three year olds running around our backyard..it was a little chaotic at times, but fun and worth it to see Brooklyn's excitement throughout the party.

My cousin Kelsi designed the birthday invite for me.  Brooklyn hand delivered them all and I attached a bandana for each kid, pink for the girls, blue for the boys.

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I saw this idea of making each kid a stick horse as a party favor and wanted to do it.  I searched and searched on how to do it the cheapest way possible, especially if I was going to make 16!  Pool noodles it was!  I found these at Target.  I put 16 of them in my cart but when I got to checkout they rang up for $2.99 each.  There was no way I was going to pay that!  I thought the price tag below them said $.99 each.  I told the checker that and she said there was no way they were that cheap.  She called her manager and they ended up doing it for me!  I was so happy.  I think it helped that I had 16 of them in my cart :)

My friend Kara let me borrow a TON of cowboy stuff for the party.  Her husband is a big rodeo-er and had everything - I borrowed his saddle, hats, boots, ropes.  Nothing can beat FREE. 

This was the night before her party...she was so excited for it.

Her party was on a Saturday from 4-5:30. 

The set up:

We had kid friendly food at the party.  John grilled up some hot dogs, fish crackers "gold mine" crackers, rice krispie treats "haystacks", potato chip "horse chips", pretzels "straw", and my friend made cupcakes for it (the same amazing friend that did Jake's birthday cake and cupcakes). 

Most of the kids took a turn sitting on the saddle and getting their picture taken.

Reese

Parker

 Gracie

Lexi

Beckham

 Davidge

Jack

It was perfect to have the party in our backyard.  I just had parents drop off kids, but some ended up staying which was really helpful.  

cute Madison

Brooklyn was spoiled by her friends and got so many fun gifts.  Lucky girl!  I actually took and hid about 6 of them...she never noticed and I can give them to her another time :)

I think all the kids had fun.  They each got a cowboy/cowgirl hat, bandana, star sheriff badge, and stick horse to take home.  The stick horses were a hit!  I didn't plan any games to do because I'm not good at planning those, plus I figured they are 3 and wouldn't be too interested anyway. 

I loved planning this party and putting it all together...but was also a little glad when it was over too :) 

Brooklyn turned 3!

I still can't believe I have a 3 year old!  I love 3-4 year olds...they say the funniest things and are learning so much so fast.  Her birthday was on a Sunday this year (the 19th) so I threw her a friend cowgirl/cowboy themed birthday party the day before (more on that next post). 

On her actual birthday we went to church in the morning and then spent the rest of the day hanging out as a family and watching Brooklyn open and enjoy her gifts.  She helped me make her purple cake in the afternoon that she picked out.

She was so excited to open her presents.  She got a bike from John and I (which she had been asking for the last 6 months) and a helmet.  At first she'd tell me "I quit" whenever she'd get on her bike, but she is doing much better now and getting pretty good on it. 

She also got a stroller for her baby doll from my parents, a play phone from Grandpa and Grandma Mortensen, a Cinderella Lego castle from the Bowen's, and plenty of gifts from her friends at her party.  

She was really excited to blow out her candles but got shy once we started singing to her.