Braelyn Paige- My First Baby

This birthday post for Braelyn is a little late because my computer has been down with a virus.

Braelyn turned 4 on January 17th. She had been asking me for weeks if I thought she was four yet. I kept telling her that I wanted her to stay 3 for one more year and not get bigger. She would just smile and say, "I was your first baby and I always will be." She had her party the day before but I will post about that when I can get the pictures up. Her actual birthday was on Sunday so we made a special breakfast and did presents before church. Kevin asked her how it felt to be 4 and she told him that she wouldn't be four until we got to church. I started getting worried she thought it would be a party for her when she asked if the church would be decorated for her. When she waled through the chapel she waved at everyone and blew kisses like she was in a parade. Luckily we saw our friend Chris first, who knew what the day was, and she made a big deal of it being her day, and after that whenever someone stopped to say hello I quickly announced it was Braelyn's birthday and everyone gushed over her. She loved the attention and couldn't have been happier when she got to go to the front of Primary and have the birthday song sung to her. We had her favorite dinner of chicken nuggets and fries with oranges. It had made me a little sad to think of singing Happy Birthday by ourselves, so we invited 2 families over and had fun playing and talking and they made it a lot more fun to sing and blow the candles out.
I snuck in her room after she had gone to bed and couldn't believe how quickly four years can go. Most days I feel like I am already living with a teenager full of attitude but most of the time I am grateful to have my little buddy around with me all day. She is such a big help, she loves to help me cook, she loves to do her chores and sweep the floor. Her favorite things to do are play dress-up, she changes clothes at least 3 times a day, play with friends, and go anywhere with Dad. She often tells me, "I want to go do that by myself, just drop me off and get me later." Yeah, right. She is always happy to wake up in the morning and always asks me how I slept. She makes her sister laugh when they aren't teasing each other, and loves to be with her uncles.
I'm so glad she was my first baby, she definitely prepared me for the rest. Love you Brae-Brae!

Florida 2.0- Freeze Warning

We got to visit Orlando, and vacation in Flroida for the second time this year, last week because Kevin had a conference there. We went early and did Disney World with some of Kevin's family from Utah. The first thing we saw when we drove in was the huge flashing sign warning of a "Freeze Warning." I was glad I had thrown in the winter coats and gloves at the last second.

We started each morning early so we could be there by the time the parks open. Kevin said he had been vacationing with me long enough that he couldn't stand to sleep in and wanted to get in as much as possible. The girls and I seemed to catch up with him by the time we hit the first ride.

Here are just a few highlights of the week:

-Berkley's face while we spun so fast in the teacups that I was worried she was going to pass out, while Braelyn and Kevin laughed hysterically.

-Seeing how brave Braelyn is. She didn't chicken out on any of the big rides, and hearing her yell, "That was totally wicked!!!" after each one.

-Having Berkley walk right up to Goofy and snuggle in for about 5 mintues and not budging a bit.

-Watching my girls while they watched the light parade at night and being more excited than I have ever been because I was able to enjoy through their magical view.

-Taking Braelyn on the Tower of Terror and laughing so hard we can't catch our breathe

-Having everyone around us laugh at the girls' enthusiastic dancing whenever Kevin would play "Single Ladies" from his phone

-Seeing my niece Addy again and seeing how fun her personality is, and seeing all 3 little girls in pink ruffly pajamas

-Finally getting to meet Mickey and hearing Berkley yell, "Mouse, Mouse!"

-Seeing Belle talk to the girls like they were best friends and watching Braelyn hug Aladdin with huge stars in her eyes

-Watching fireworks over Cinderella's castle, holding my baby, with Braelyn on Kev's shoulders, knowing most of my dreams have already come true!