Last, but not least, we wrapped up our crazy birthday season with Brynn turning 8. As always - when there's a birthday, there's a party. Brynn decided that for her birthday party this year she wanted to have a cooking party "because cooking is one of my talents." Gotta love that girl. She pretty much planned the whole thing and I just helped get supplies and execute it. She wanted a pizza birthday cake which she bakes and decorated on her own and it turned out cuter than anything I could have whipped up. For the party she wanted to decorate aprons, make pizzas for lunch, make snocones and cotton candy with Grandma's machines, and decorate cookies. It all sounded great to me and I didn't really factor in the amount of sugar consumption it involved until the actual party when girls started turning away cake and cookies because they had had enough treats. This party confirmed one thing: 8 year old girls are so much cuter and calmer than 8 year old boys and doing parties with them is actually fun and not just complete chaos.
To finish off her birthday Scott and I took her out to dinner at none other than Red Robin, which is a much bigger deal now that the closest one is clear down in Provo instead of right down the street like it was in Omaha.
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| Paige, Maggie Glahn, Brynn, Kristi Bushman, Rachel Hale, McKella, Kennedy Hale, Andlie Allen, Addi, Ashlyn Embley |
8-year-old Brynn
- Brynn can be extremely shy in new situations and has been know to duck her head or hide behind me when talked to by someone new. But give her a little time to get comfortable and make and friend and she becomes a completely different person.
- When in a comfortable environment, like at home, she can talk up a storm. She often tells me, "I talk a lot when I'm excited." which is very true.
- Still is extremely nervous around dogs and pretty much any other animal. She is slowly developing some better coping skills and handles situations when dogs are around better.
- Is a Social Butterfly and loves her friends dearly. She can make friends with just about anyone given a little bit of time.
- She is a picky eater but is trying so very hard to like new foods. Still isn't a big fan of meat or veggies, but lives off a diet very high in different forms of bread and cheese.
- She is generally a peacemaker in our home. She is a wonderful playmate for Mason and Miles and is like a second mama to Ryan. She is so responsible and mindful of other people.
- She continues to be a great little athlete and does well at any sport she tries. In the last year she has tried out swim team, tennis, soccer, volleyball, basketball, and softball.
- She is doing well in piano even though it doesn't come as easily for her as other things. She has to use a lot of GRIT and mental toughness in the first few days of practicing new pieces when it feels very difficult for her. She is making great progress.
- This girl LOVES music. She has created a playlist of pop songs that she loves to listen to while she does her jobs or anytime we are in the car. She loves to sing and dance.
- Brynn still has a pretty significant fear of the dark and being alone. Having her bedroom downstairs in our new house has been hard for her and she keeps a night light and reading lamp on in her room all night. Even then it's not uncommon for her to end up in our room during the night.
- Is starting to allow me to do cute braids and twists in her hair without pulling them right out.
- Is a great reader, but does not have a passion for reading the way Mason and I do. She prefers to read books that she can finish in one sitting to long chapter books that she loses interest in before she can finish them. She does enjoy listening to longer audiobooks.
- Brynn doesn't really ever throw fits but she is a world class pouter when she is tired and doesn't get her way.
