brooklyn started her birhthday celebrations the day before her birthday. we start doing friend birthday parties around here at age 8. so this was long awaited! the girls sat out front anxiously waiting for the guests to arrive!
the girls basically created their own fun and i didn't have to do a thing! they jumped on the tramp with the sprinkler, played in our little pool, and the kendall's unicorn from last year was a huge hit for a lot of the party!
the only structured thing i planned was to make their own personal pizzas. they did it quickly and efficiently and then waited while i cooked them. they ate them with cheese balls and soda. suuuper healthy!
they sang to brooklyn and had cupcakes, opened presents, and then played some more!
at the end of the party, i had each girl tell brooklyn something they love about her. i definitely choked up at the girls' accuracy! after they did that, they got to pick out a friendship bracelet and a fluffy pen. brooklyn stamped little bags for them that already had little treats in them.
brooklyn loved every second and can't wait for her 12th birthday! (the next friend party she gets!)
her actual birthday... started with pink pancakes. a new tradition she said she's starting!
after pancakes, she opened her presents.
she lucked out that even though the clouds covered the sun, it was plenty warm to still swim at nana and papa's. her nana was nice and got in and swam with the girls. they loved it!
they swam forever! i had to bribe them with pizza pie cafe to get out. we got ready and then met james for a late lunch. it's not shocking that my girls have all picked this place to eat on their birthdays. they eat so well and always leave totally full!
james took the younger two home to nap and brooklyn and i went to pick up her new scriptures. i love how excited she was about this! and of course, she needed good scripture markers so we also ran to wal-mart.
boondocks was next up on the birthday agenda. the girls have a blast and james probably has just as much fun as they do! this year kendall was tall enough to drive her own bumper boat and it made her day!
brooklyn was the only kid on the track and she loved that! she looked way too big driving that car though!
we stopped at home afterwards for everyone to put on their pajamas, then we headed to my in laws' for donate cake. another favorite of brooklyn's!
we sang, ate donuts, and then stayed up late to watch dolphin tale 2. more like, the girls and i fell asleep halfway through and we basically zombie walked to our beds after. brooklyn said she loved her birthday and she's always so grateful for the whole day. bless her! she's now looking forward to her baptism and is counting down the days!
brooklyn jayde, i can barely even talk about the fact that you're 8! 8! i blinked the second you were born and now we're here. i love the girl you've become and i couldn't be prouder of you. your sisters look up to you and want to be with you every second of the day. you are so good to play with them and involve them in what you're doing. i see your testimony really starting to grow and i'm so impressed with how well you're learning the stories in the new testament. i'm beyond grateful that you're mine and that we get to go through this life together. i love you more than you'll ever know and i hope you'll always know how loved you are!
My dear little Brookie,
You're not so little anymore! I can't believe how much you've grown up and what a talented, hard-working, amazing and beautiful young woman you've become. You're mother has done an incredible job teaching you how to be a kind and helpful woman and I've tried really hard to help you learn to be strong and thoughtful. You are so special!
You're mother and I are so grateful for you everyday. We pray for you together in our evening prayers and we pray for you everyday when we speak with our Father in Heaven in our personal prayers. Brooklyn, I know He listens to those prayers because I can see how He has blessed you and helped us to be better parents.
You are such a good friend and kind to others at school and I'm so proud of you and the student that you've become. The harder you work in class and the more that you read, the easier your life will be as you learn and develop your mind and positive thinking. I'm so happy to hear your teachers tell us how much you help in class and how well you are learning the new lessons.
You're reaching an age where one of the most important decisions you'll make each year is what kind of "friends" you'll choose to associate with. Please sweetheart, be thoughtful and careful in the friends that you choose. Choosing good and kind friends will bring you tremendous joy and happiness, while choosing rude and disobedient friends can lead to great sadness and disappointment.
Be a leader in choosing the right and being a good example. Make the choice now, to always do the things that you know and feel are right and to avoid doing things that you know are wrong. Think about specific things that your friends want to do ahead of time that you know you shouldn't do, and make the choice to tell them that you've chosen to make your parents and your Savior proud by not doing bad things. I know how hard that can be and sometimes, we make mistakes. I hope you'll feel comfortable always talking to your Mom and me about mistakes you've made. We love you so much and we know how to help you feel better when you do make a wrong choice. You know I've made lots of them, but our Savior is always there, as are your Mother and I, to lift you help, help you learn, and make things right. There is ALWAYS a way!
Brooklyn, as you get baptized, I hope you'll pay special attention to your thoughts and how you feel. I'd encourage you to write them down somewhere that you will always be able to remember them. I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live and I know they will bless you through the Gift of the Holy Ghost you will receive when you're confirmed after baptism.
My heart is completely full as I think of these many things and as I think about how much I love you and how much you mean to me. You are amazing! You ARE! Please always know that and NEVER doubt it! I love you Princess! Even when I'm gone from this Earth, and I've moved on from this life, I promise you I will do all that I can to help and support you! Please be patient and forgive me for my own weaknesses. I love you more than I ever knew I could, in spite of my flaws. Be a good girl always, make us proud!
With all my heart and soul!
Daddy
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