Three – and lovin’ it!

Turning three was a big deal for Brynn this year.  I think she talked about her birthday and the fact that she was turning three for at least a month before her actual birthday.  Turning three for Brynn meant she was getting big and strong like daddy.  Every day she would say Mom watch and stand up and go “see how big I am getting now”.  This is in addition to the daily Happy Birthday song she would sing to herself and the confirmation from mom that I would have a candle for her to blow out on her birthday.

I'm Three!!

We celebrated her birthday this past week with a spaghetti dinner (at her request), a hot pink cake with sprinkles (which she decorated), a few presents, and of course – candles.  Happy Birthday to my Baby Brynn, you are growing up to be such a sweet little girl with such a kind heart and spunky personality.

Decorating her cake!

Happy Birthday to Brynn!!

Her favorite part!!

Lions and Tigers and Bears and Rides!!

Brynn had such a fun weekend she could barely contain herself.  The weather was perfect and the weekend was jammed packed of family friendly events.  Cameron and Brynn started the weekend off with their usual Friday night swimming date.  Nothing like burning off some energy doing cannon balls into the pool.  Go Brynn!!  Then Saturday we were off to a BBQ followed up by a trip to the Orange County Fair. 

It worked our perfect.  There was another family that was at the BBQ with children right around Brynn’s age.  So they ran around chasing each other and played so nicely together.  By the time we go to the fair Brynn and this other little girl were best buds.  We first checked out all the farm animals, including the newly born piglets that were teeny tiny.  But I still think the chickens were Brynn’s favorite.  The rides were a hit and the girls spent a good hour running from ride to ride holding hands.  What a fun but late evening.  We were all exhausted.

Fun at the Fair!!

Biker Babe!

The next day we were off to the circus.  Brynn was shocked by all of the animals.  She could not believe how large the elephants were.  She thought the clowns were pretty silly but was not quite sure what to think of the trapeze artists.  We all made it to intermission and it was time to go home.  Brynn was a trooper and did not complain even through the circus performance was during her nap time but we were all so exhausted from the night before and thought it was best to leave before one of us had a meltdown.  So home we went where we each took a 3 hour nap.   

Amazed by the Elephants.

Sunday Funday

What a great Sunday….  Pancakes for breakfast, a stop off at the park, a long afternoon nap, and making cookies in the evening.  Brynn’s favorite part of the day was making cookies for all the neighbors.  We rolled out green and red cookie dough (I guess we were celebrating Christmas in July) and used cookie cutters to make the shapes.  We made hearts, dog bones, houses, snowmen and gingerbread men.  She called the gingerbread men “Benjamin” and every time I tried to correct her she got more and more insistent that I was saying “Benjamin”.  Funny girl.  Once the cookies were done baking we had to frost them.  Brynn chose blue frosting with fish sprinkles.  I think we had all of the holidays and seasons covered.  Red and green cookie dough, heart and gingerbread cookie cutters, blue frosting and fish sprinkles.  They were very colorful and full of character.  All the neighbors loved them and Brynn was so proud of her cookies.   

Concentrating!!

So proud!!

Summer Fun with Grandpa

Brynn was happy to spend time with grandpa and grandma Belitz.  By late in the week of being gone from home and missing daddy, Brynn was ready for some rough housing.  Grandpa and Brynn spent hours playing, wrestling, tickling, and getting ice cream.  Grandpa hadn’t taken the golf cart to the camper yet so Grandpa and Brynn took off for the park.  Grandma Darcy and I just happen to catch them and rode in the back.  Brynn thought it was pretty cool and loved that it even had a radio.

Giggling with Grandpa!

Cheese!

Summer Fun for the 4th of July

The vacation wasn’t over once we left Sioux Falls.  We still needed to head back to Huntington Beach to celebrate the 4^th of July with Cameron.  It is always so much fun to live in Huntington Beach on the 4^th.  The City hosts so many activities and even has the largest parade west of the Mississippi.  The day started with a 5k run and ended with fireworks on the beach.  In between was a parade, BBQ, and pool time.  What a perfect 4^th of July. 

The rest of the 4^th of July weekend was spent enjoying the beach.  We settled in at the beach one night to have a bon fire.  We ate hot dogs, smores and drank hot chocolate till our hearts were content.  The next day was spent on the water with a quick stop at the ferris wheel.  Brynn was in heaven and was not scared at all. 

Waiting Patiently for Her Hot Dog

Touch Down

Catching Fish

Ferris Wheel

Learning to Ride Her Bike

Summer Fun at the Zoo

We made a stop off at the zoo to see the animals and catch up with friends.  This was towards the end of our trip to Sioux Falls and it was very hot that day so Brynn did her best to be on her best behavior.  It was a perfect morning.  I got to catch up with friends from high school and college.  Our kids all got to play together and enjoy the animals. 

Fun with Carys

Feeding the Goats

Kim, Berkley, Me and Brynn

Summer Fun @ the Cabin

Our next adventure was to the lake cabin for some relaxation.  We spent time with Grandma and Grandpa Bain playing in the sand, riding in the boat, and dressing up like a bumble bee.  Her cousins Aiden, Cooper, and Kinley were all there to participate and add to the fun.  Brynn just follows the two boys around wanting to do everything they are doing.  While Kinley is a little younger, so Brynn tries to get her to join in whatever she is doing. 

Lovin' on Grandma

 

Bumble Bee

Go Faster Uncle Chad!

Right Next to Aiden and Cooper of Course