chris.reese.girls1.2.3.4

This year we did not visit the pumpkin patch as a family. I keep reminding myself that is OKAY. Traditions are still traditions even if you miss a year. Our Octobers tend to be on the crazy side and with Chris working late most every night and/or otherwise at the church, a day just never worked out. Brynn and Finley had their pumpkins from the patch field trip, so Paige picked out a few others at the grocery store so the rest of the fam could carve. Because of our aforementioned crazy schedule, we only had ONE free night a full week before Halloween, so that was the designated carving party day... Miss Finn cannot be trusted with any sharp objects. I'm not kidding. She sneaks the knives when she gets a free moment...this child is crazy, hence her being locked in her high chair for most of the party.  Brynn enjoyed every minute. Typical happy positive girl! This was Paige's first year doing it ALL by herself: the design, the carving and most of the scooping. At one ...

Our little Brynn is 4! I'm not sure how it happened because I made a deal with her last year that she would stay three this year, but she re-negotiated on that deal and decided to turn four anyway. Brynn is our sweet, loving, sensitive girly girl we adore having around. Here are a few fun things about Brynnie at age four:  She constantly conveys her love, by saying it or by flashing the "I love you" sign.  She loves to be loved and have/show affection. She loves to snuggle and be right by or on top of me. She loves to caress my hair. And at bedtime when Chris and/or I are tucking her in she caresses our faces as we chat before bedtime. She sneaks into our bed most every night and we cart her back to her bad after some snuggle time. No matter what, she tromps her way back around 7 a.m., which is usually my wake up call to get going for the day. She will usually snooze in our covers for another hour or so while I'm getting ready. She loves to watch me p...

Miss Brynnie was turning 4 this year and with our new family rules, an even-numbered birthday warrants a friend party. The first time I asked Brynn what kind of party she wanted she said "CUPCAKE," and never deviated once from that plan. She helped in all aspects of party prep including decorations, making cupcakes, etc. She LOVED all the hoopla surrounding her special day.  My sister, Rochelle, aka party planning pro, came a bit early with a few of her own decos and helped spiffy up my front porch and a few other spots. She's was also my awesome photographer during the party while Chris and I managed the kids. (Didn't get a good pic of the cupcake decorating table and kitchen decor...oh well. It was cute!)  As the kids arrived they decorated their bakery boxes.  We played "Pin the Cherry on the Cupcake." Brynn helped me paint that cupcake. She was sure proud of her skills!  We had a "Cake Walk" but instead of cake we had...

Little Brynn has had some notable events lately. She started preschool and we had our first field trip to a small local nursery/pumpkin patch. It was our last day of the 80-days-of-no-rain streak. Yay for no mud. Cute friends: Andrew, Owen, Camden, Brynn, Finley and Katie The hay play area. The farmer hid candy in here for our group of kiddos.  (We also had the entire place to ourselves, so that was super nice too) Hay ride Brynnie also finished out swim lessons. It was her special activity that she did all by herself. And with only one other little girl in her class it was virtually a private lesson. She made great progress. She still likes to cling to the side as much as possible before jumping in...Exhibit A: At the start of lessons in September, I could contain Finley in the stroller. The final few lessons she was able to weasel out of said stroller, so she ran "free". Yay for a little table and chairs for kids nearby. I can't te...