On Facebook I keep seeing people posting pictures of their feet (a trend I don't really get) stretched out in really beautiful, relaxing places. And the post is always plastered with hashtags (another trend I don't really get... Do you use capital letters? Punctuation?) like #PoolsideParadise #BeachBummin #NotABadDay #FunInTheSun #ICouldStayHereForever #BeachDayForTheWin #LoveMyLife
Well...
I thought I would go ahead and give this trend a try.
Awe. Nothing like 5 inches of water in the backyard kiddie pool, a package of fruit snacks, and a sippie-cup of water to help you beat the heat and feel pampered like a princess. Honestly, does it even get any better than that?
It might actually... we can debate that later...
But for today, it was perfect! Brinlee found a cheap pair of swim goggles at Walmart yesterday and has been in a pool-kind-of-mood ever since. It wasn't going to work out today to go test them out in the real waters, so she settled for the miniature at-home version instead. And boy did these girls have a good time! We were outside all morning and only came in when I was sure they must be starving and sunburned (luckily they were only starving).
Though we all obviously look amazing, the one to really focus on here is miss Brinlee Bug. I mean just look at that grin!
That is the face of a gal who is freshly tubbed, scrubbed, and ready to hit the pillow, where she will dream about the awesome movie she just got done seeing on the big screen!
Yes, the day finally came. Brinlee spent the last several weeks trying extra hard to do all her chores, listen and be obedient, stay in her own bed all night, share with McKenna, and help and be kind, and today, it all paid off. This morning she earned the last square on her game board (and was more than pleased with herself!), so we bought us some movie tickets and enjoyed a family movie night out to the theater to see Finding Dory. It was a pretty cute movie, but watching these girls watch it was by far the best part! Brinlee was completely into it and even laughed out loud several times, and McKenna sat surprisingly well! All around a pretty excellent outing.
And some pretty perfect family time!
Way to go Brinlee! Thanks for being so awesome, you earned us a wonderful day!
It's officially Summer around here.
If the heat and humidity hadn't already given it away, the fact that the girls spent almost 35 minutes this morning crawling around and lying on the kitchen floor, while their breakfasts sat and got cold, would at least raise some eyebrows. And why the kitchen floor fascination you might ask?
Well, for the ant friends, of course!
Bugs are not at ALL my favorite part of the summer. But if we have to see any, I suppose a few ants aren't that bad. And boy do the girls love them. Brinlee in particular. This summer brought back with it her love of creepy-crawly creatures. And it seems to be rubbing off on McKenna. They chase those little black critters all over that floor! It keeps them pretty entertained.
And this little face keeps all of us pretty entertained.
McKenna is really learning a lot these days and is really showing off quite the little personality lately. We find ourselves doing a lot of laughing around here! Here she is "asking" for bites of daddy's dessert. Honestly. Big-mouth Bass got nothing on this girl!
It's fun that McKenna is finally starting to get into it a little more. And of course, Brinlee was just as into it all as she ever is. We spent quite a while in the doctor's office area today... big surprise!
I love watching these girls play and learn. It is my favorite thing in the world!
We did a double family date with some friends of ours the other night. They have a darling little one that's 4 months old, and they get a big kick out of our kids. Well, and our kids kind of get a kick out of them too. So it works out well all around!
We went bowling, which is a pretty classic good time anyway. But it turned out this was Brinlee's first time! So it was really a good time. And she loved it!
She did eventually get a strike or two, and actually came out with a pretty decent score. And now she's a bowling enthusiast. She keeps asking me when our family can go bowling again, and whenever she gets her hands on my phone, she hollers "Hey Siri, can you show me bowling videos?" :)
McKenna loves balls (or anything that even kind of looks like a ball), so she was in heaven! She didn't actually bowl, but she had a good time watching the game and stuffing her mouth with fruit snacks.
At the start of the game, we estimated what scores we would all get. And I came the closest!
Man. It feels like it was just yesterday that we were kissing those chubby little cheeks.
But, as it turns out, it's actually been 4 years since this sweet little princess joined our family!
Yes. 4!!
It's really not fair how fast time goes between birthdays.
Oh, but she is so fabulous! I did a little birthday interview this year, here's how it came out.
What is your Name?Brinlee Kay Borup
How old are you?I was 3, now I am 4
What is your favorite color?Purple
What is your favorite food?Peanut butter sandwich with honey
What is your favorite animal?A spider
What is your favorite book? There's A Nightmare In My Attic, or A Drop Of Blood
What is your favorite song?Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam... Ooh, or Let It Go
What is your favorite TV show?The Magic School Bus
What is your favorite movie?Beauty and the Beast
What is your favorite game?Princess Go Fish
What is your favorite toy?Olaf. And I like all my movie character toys
What is your favorite treat?Cookies
What is your favorite thing to learn about?The body. Oh, and insects and spiders and bees
What is your favorite thing to wear?Princess dresses
What is your favorite holiday?Halloween, because we wear costumes and get treats
What do you want to be when you grow up?A mom. Or... maybe a princess
Who is your best friend?Alex
Where is your favorite place to go?That place we went that time that had a dragon ride and a roller coaster (Michigan Adventure). And I love COSI and the bug play place at the zoo
What is something you love to do?Just to pretend to be different characters. And to do primary, and joy school... and probably dance class and the park
What is something you are really good at?Cleaning up my room
What is something that makes you really happy?That McKenna and me can play, and when McKenna is not taking toys away from me
What is something you really don't like?Broccoli! And when my sister wants my stuff
If you had lots of money, what would you buy?A toy set of Mr. Incredible characters
If you were an animal, what would you be?A spider
If you had a magic power, what would it be?Power to fly
Where in the world do you want to visit someday?My grandmas and grandpas' houses
Who is the most handsome man in the world?I don't know who the most handsome man is, there is not a prince around here
What do you love best about your family?When we are all together and play go fish and do family movie night
What's your favorite scripture story?When Jesus died on the cross and came alive again in 3 days
She is so fun right now. I don't even know where to start with my favorite things about her. She is smart, sassy, independent, spunky, funny, curious, creative, loving, thoughtful, bossy, stubborn, goofy, happy, sweet, and basically just wonderful. I love to hear her "read" and tell stories, I love to watch her with McKenna, I love to have her help and company, I love to watch her learn new things and solve problems, I love to watch her play and be creative, I love to hear her pray and sing... I just love her!
I always talk like we will probably be a family that doesn't make a big fancy deal about birthdays. It doesn't need to be involved. Just nice, sweet, and simple. That's the ticket, right? But then when a birthday comes around... Golly I don't know, I kind of can't help myself. I get so excited! For this one especially! She is at such a fun age. And, it was her golden birthday. And she's totally into princesses right now. Can't pass up a birthday like that. The morning of her birthday started the princess fest, and we partied all day!
We did a little party. Well, more like a bit of a glorified play-date really. But it was perfect! She has several little friends that she loves to run around with and plays with often anyway. So we just went with what we know works and added a little extra fluff.
She went to the party store with me a week or so before her birthday and we bought some invitations that she delivered to all her friends. Then I made the mistake of letting her get on Pinterest with me to pick out some snack ideas. She was in love with everything, but in the end she made some pretty reasonable and impressive choices!
She decided on a Princess Ball and Brunch - which basically meant "Mom all my friends can come to my castle and play with my toys in my room, and use our imaginations, and it will be so fun! And then we can eat treats together!" And so it was. All of her friends were invited by her Royal Highness, Princess Brinlee, to come in their finest Prince or Princess attire and play and eat!
Brinlee had asked for a new princess dress for her birthday months earlier, and had been trying to do what she needed to do at home to earn one. As you can see, it all worked out!
Moms were not required to dress up, but Brinlee insisted that at least one mom be in costume. She went through my closet the morning of the party and came out with the perfect Anna costume.
Elsa and Anna, all ready to party!
Brinlee picked out McKenna's dress too. She was our blonde-haired little Rapunzel.
And she could not get enough of those balloons!
Believe it or not, once the party actually started, these are the only 2 pictures I got! Kind of sad, but they were just so busy! Once the kiddos started showing up, they were off and playing and we hardly even saw them! I't worked out awesome actually. They all laughed and played and danced upstairs, us mommies visited downstairs, we ate some snacks, opened a present or two, and then all the royalty was gone and our castle was clean before lunch! And they all had a Ball! (pun definitely intended) Perfect.
After the party McKenna went down for nap and Brinlee and mommy had some one-on-one birthday time. We ate more treats, tried out her new fingernail polish, played with her new toys, and giggled, and cuddled, and talked about how "Awesome my party was mom! It was so fun! My friends loved it! We had so much fun together, and they all wore costumes like me! Thanks for my party mom!!!"
That was probably my favorite part of the day. She's just so fun!
When daddy got home, he got an earful about the awesome party. Then we headed out for dinner. The special request of the birthday girl was Chick-Fil-A, of course. She loves that place because "the food is yummy... and they have a fun play place!!!"
Oh, and it turns out they also give free balloons and ice cream for birthday girls.
Sweet!
After dinner we went home for the traditional cake, ice-cream, and presents with the family. A classic.
And, to finish off the perfect day, we sent a very happy (and very exhausted!) little newly-turned-4-year-old girl off to bed with a pile of new birthday stuff, that she slept with all night.
Sheesh. I know I've said it a thousand times, but I could easily say it a thousand times more.
We. LOVE. This. Sweet. Angel. Girl!
Happy Birthday Brin Bug!
