Life with the Brudfam

Eight was great...

but nine is better.  At least for Blue Eyes who celebrated her 9th birthday at the end of July.  How did she grow up so quickly?  She is full of life and energy, the perfect balance between silly and tender, and we can't imagine our family without this little miracle who came into our family at just the perfect time.

Good morning, sleepy head.  The birthday girl requested cherry turnovers.  And her wish was granted.

Every birthday girl gets to go do lunch alone with The Guy and me.  Blue Eyes picked the Art Garden....the sugar cookies are the very best there. We ate on the patio.

Blue Eyes also requested to stay home and BBQ steaks.  How could you say no to that happy face?

So cute.

It was our lucky day that Aunt Heidi happened to be in town.  We miss her so much since her prince charming swept her away to Wisconsin. Good thing she comes to visit every summer!

Freckles helped me get the cake ready and light the candles.  We had the same yummy cake that The Guy had at his birthday (you can buy them at The Store).  Delicious.

Blue Eyes especially loved the little flag garland we made for the cake.  I guess it made up for the fact that I forgot to buy candles and was only able to scrounge 3 candles from the bottom of the cupboard.  Tsk.

The birthday girl's wishlist.  Selena Gomez items topped the list, but didn't make the cut.  My favorite item is #23---the catch-all item.  I'm pretty sure #17 is a sure thing.  And we are working on #12.

She ended up getting a purple beach cruiser with a basket, which she loved!  After dinner, we made wish #21 come true:  Ramona and Beezus (not in 3D).  What a cute film.  And a perfect day.

 

Blue Eyes and her Daddy

Blue Eyes loves her Daddyio...

She sent him this e-mail the other day:

hi i miss you and i love you but i love you better than missing you.

Goodnight, sleep tight

Nearly every night when I go and tuck Blue Eyes and Freckles into bed, they want me to cuddle with them in bed and tickle their arms or their back.  Since they love to sleep together in Blue Eyes' queen bed, I can lay between them and they both rest their heads on my chest while I tickle them to sleep.  I love it when I hear their breathing get heavy, and feel their bodies go limp.  It usually doesn't take more than five minutes before they are off to dreamland.  And I stay a few extra minutes, praying for them and sending them subliminal messages that their mommy loves them and that they are powerful and capable girls. And asking for angels to watch over them while they sleep and protect them until tomorrow night, when we replay the bedtime routine.

s.e.v.e.n....

Seven years have flown by and my baby is no longer a baby.  At seven, she is now...

• no longer sucking her thumb (thanks to the enormous contraption in her mouth)
• so full of life and energy and emotion 
• still loves to cuddle (hope she never outgrows that)
• reading chapter books 
• loves to play and entertain herself 
• keeps us laughing  
• has the prettiest blue eyes 
• still has a temper (must come from her father's side)
• loves to draw little pictures & write little notes  
• collects all sorts of things and hides them in purses, pockets and nightstands.  

Little blue eyes, how we love and adore you.  Happy Birthday! 

With her new roller blades, helmuts & pads.

silly girl

After the girls left for school one morning, I came across this note while I was cleaning up. I couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Twas the night before Valentines

A few photos of what was going on at our house on Wednesday night...

Freckles made a Valentines mailbox for school from a cardboard gift box I had. She painted it white and then made pink and red XO's and hearts. I outlined it all in black marker when she was done and cut a slit in the top. It's one of my favorite boxes we've made--and it was so quick!

Blue Eyes and Freckles gave Sweetheart candies and helped eachother write their names on them. Necco Sweethearts are a classic.

Drama Queen didn't have to give any Valentines--the whole sixth grade went bowling and to lunch at a pizza place instead. She kind of missed making them (and receiving them!).

Happy Valentines Day

Today I feel very grateful for a rich and full life and for so many people to love and who love me back.

I am especially glad to have the Guy back in town after a 4-day golf trip down south. It took him nearly 12 hours to drive back from St. George in the horrible weather yesterday. Here he is in his golf attire right before his getaway. Didn't his mother teach him never to swing a golf club in the house?

And this is just one of the many reasons I love him--He is a big goof! Nice touch to put on the apron and use the oven mitts when making PB&J's. He makes us all smile. And he has many other enduring qualities that made me fall utterly in love with him 17 {gasp!} years ago and 15 years of marriage have only intensified those feelings! He also went and helped at the school for me today--not just once, but twice! This morning for reading in Blue Eyes class, and this afternoon he is making Valentine's crafts for Freckle's class party. He's the best.

And Drama Queen is such a delight! She is a thoughtful, caring and conscientious daughter and I couldn't be more proud of her. Her antics keep us entertained. And Ferocious, the dog is pretty great too!

Sweet Freckles is such a determined little girl whose sweet smile melts my heart. She is so helpful around the house and makes life interesting for all of us.

And little Blue Eyes is growing way faster than her mother has told her is permittable and is therefore, not so little anymore. Her creativity and spark are always in action.

And little Iz feels like one of my own. She had a miserable day yesterday, throwing up and feverish, and is feeling a little better today. {Although I seem to have caught the bug from her.} She and I spent a lot of time cuddling on the couch and despite being extremely sick, she managed to tell me "tank you" when I would wipe her mouth and clean her up each time she threw up (which was probably 15 times!). Thanks to my mom for coming up and taking care of both of us yesterday--you're a lifesaver, Mom!

Since I am not feeling well, I think we'll defer our valentines celebration a day or two. My big plans of cooking dinner for the family and making lots of treats and goodies, just isn't happening today.

Monday night at the Brudfam's

Today the girls came home from school and each of them found a chocolate treat and a note on their bed. From their daddy, of course. He loves to leave little pillow presents and this time, he invited each of them on a special date this week. This is one-on-one time with Dad--every girl's dream. Well, at least for my girls.

Tonight it was Blue Eye's turn. She was requested to wear her best outfit and be ready at 5:00. She made me put ringlets in her hair, and was so excited for 5:00 to come. The Guy came and picked her up and I snapped this picture on their way out. I can hardly wait to hear all the details when they get home.

I felt lazy tonight, and didn't make dinner. So Drama Queen, Freckles and I headed out to Kneader's for soup, turkey sandwiches and key lime pie. I love that place. We had a great time hanging out and chatting. Somehow it is so much easier to go somewhere with two kids. There was no fighting or whining--just fun! We had to take a picture or two to remember the relaxed and fun evening.

Sweet little monkeys

Nothing makes a tired mom happier than coming home and finding the dishes done and the counters wiped clean. And nothing shocks a mom more than finding out that her kids did it, and it was their idea. Wow! Thanks Freckles & Blue Eyes (Drama Queen was doing her homework, and that makes a mom pretty happy too!).
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Who are we anyway?

This is not a philosophical question that will lead to a profound dialogue of who we are and where we came from. Rather, it is a simple explanation of who the Brudfam is and why we have a blog.

I had to explain to The Guy what a blog was and why on earth we would want to have one. I'm not sure I entirely convinced him (I think he has seen me spend way too much time reading other people's blogs), but he thought we could give it a try. There was one stipulation--that we all have code names. So here we are, code names and all.

The Guy is the one and only male in the household (besides the stuffed monkey).
The Mom is self-explanatory.
Next is our 11-year old, well, Drama Queen. Sometimes we call her TNT {not the dynamite, but the tv station--"TNT. We know drama"}. She loves acting, friends, music, reading, tennis and her stuffed monkey from Build-a-Bear.
Freckles is our 7-year old who loves art, singing and dancing, reading chapter books, and playing with friends. Some things she dislikes are being grounded, wrestling and being bossed around.
Blue Eyes is the only blue-eyed member of our family, hence the name. She is a typical 6-year old who spends her time drawing, doodling and practicing her penmanship {occasionally in places she shouldn't, like on the walls, her bedspread and other random places}, playing with friends, cuddling, smiling, and generally being a delight.
Life in the Brudfam wouldn't be complete without our little dog, Ferocious, who has earned that title by occasionally scaring small children who come to our home.