Brenika's Birthday! 6 Years!

I was so glad that I didn't have Kash on Brenika's actual birthday, but I felt really bad that I was in the hospital for most of her day.  I'm so thankful my mom was with her and she made it extra special for her!!!

She had gotten some Shrinkie Dinks from a friend at her birthday party a month earlier and had been begging me to do them with her.  It was always too hot to turn on the oven.  She had remembered about them and did them with my mom all day.  She was in heaven.

My mom made her a cute Happy Birthday sign and got her a balloon from the store so that when she woke up in the morning she was surprised and felt extra special.

She even got some balloons with helium the night before but by morning they were already flat.  Lame.

When we got home from the hospital late that evening, we had cupcakes that I had made weeks before and had frozen them, and my mom had frosted them for her.  She actually wanted to share them with the cute nurses at the hospital so she brought a few to them before we went home. 

I had a couple of presents for her but completely forgot to wrap them.  A new movie and a Jasmine dress up.

She was super excited and seemed to have a really wonderful day even though it wasn't the best situation for a birthday.  She has such a big heart and was more than happy to share her day with her new baby brother coming home.  Such a sweetheart.

I asked her these questions a few weeks after her birthday, but here is her answers. 

Name: Brenika Frandsen- 6 Years Old
1. What is your Favorite Color? Pink
2. What is your Favorite Toy? Coloring Books
3. What is your Favorite Fruit? pineapple
4. What is your Favorite TV Show? Strawberry Shortcake
5. What is your Favorite thing to eat for Lunch? PB&J with bananas
6. What is your Favorite Outfit? summer dresses
7. What is your Favorite Game? hide and seek
8. What is your Favorite Snack? marshmallows and trail mix
9. What is your Favorite Animal? giraffe
10. What is your Favorite Song?  Silent Night 
11. What is your Favorite Book? new library books
12. Who is your Best Friend? Dallis
13. What is your Favorite Cereal? Lucky Charms
14. What is your Favorite thing to do outside? swimming and run through the sprinklers
15. What is your Favorite Drink? bug juice
16. What is your Favorite Holiday? Christmas
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? stuffed grizzly bear
18. What is your Favorite thing to eat for Breakfast? pancakes
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? creamy baked spaghetti
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? an artist

A Very Merry UN-BIRTHDAY... indeed!

With my due date for this baby a few days before Brenika's birthday, I knew there was no way I was going to be able to do much of anything for her birthday.  With some thought and planning, I talked her into letting me do a summer party for her.  We decided together that since it wasn't REALLY going to be her birthday, we would have an UN-birthday party!  We themed it out like Alice in Wonderland.  It was super fun!!!

We did a tea party, played GIANT croquet, decorated mini cupcakes, and had cake and ice cream.  She invited 8 girls.  Which was 4 girls too many. HAHA  Next time I won't be quite so ambitious!  

I decorated the door like a rabbit hole.

Tea Party table

Balloons make a birthday party so much better.

Fruite

Pigs in a Blanket

Cheetos

Party Favors.

We put the mini cupcakes we decorated in their eat me boxes.

We live across the street from a golf course, and this side piece of grass isn't on the course.  So, we set up our GIANT game of croquet there.  You take pool noodles and tent pegs for the rings.  Then kick a soccer ball through and play croquet.  

Doesn't it look so great?!?!

Too bad it didn't last long.  They got so bored waiting for each other to take their turns.  I don't think any of them had ever played even the real game of croquet.  It was a bummer.  It was also BLISTERING hot this day.  They all came inside sweaty and bored.

I decided we would have them decorate their own mini cupcakes.  Um, big mistake.  They are just too little at 6.  I had to help them do the frosting, the sprinkles got EVERYWHERE, and it was more just a pain for me. I think, THINK, they enjoyed it.  I guess that's all that matters.  Proof that I was gloriously pregnant!

Cake Time!

I made a GIANT cupcake cake for the tea party.

This was the first time I had done the cake without ANY help from my mom at all.  I definitely need practice in my piping.  But, at least it tasted good!

I made the cake checkered to go along with the Alice theme.  

From left to right

Top = Katelyn, Lauren, Quinn, Kira, Elliana

Bottom = Dirk, Brenika, Hailey, Jamie, Kindle

I am so grateful that Brenika has so many girl friends.  She is such a sweet heart and such a cute girl.  She has so many friends, and isn't shy at all.  They all had so much fun!  I'm glad I was able to do something special for her before the baby came.

Dirk turns 3!!!

It's crazy for me to think that my little boy is 3.  This time around definitely went by way too fast.  He is no longer my toddler.  He's a little boy.  It's downright weird.

I love that his birthday is by the 4th of July.  It just extends the celebration even longer!!!  

Dirk is obsessed with Disney's Planes.  He loves it, still.  It's been a whole year since the first movie came out, and he still watches it weekly and they are his favorite toys.  Planes Fire & Rescue was coming out the week after his birthday, so I decided to do a Planes Fire & Rescue theme for his birthday cake.  Since my parents were here, I knew my mom would help me with the cake!  I sketched out my plan for his cake, and got everything baked and ready before she got here.

For the mountain I baked a cake in my Pampered Chef bowl and we just cut it in half and molded it into a mountain shape then frosted it!  I love how it turned out.

His birthday was Sunday, so we celebrated it on Saturday evening.  We invited over our close friends, and the kids just played and had fun.  

Tyler, Dirk, Cooper

Tyler, Dirk, Brenika, Cooper, Hailey

I made him and Brenika some Super Hero capes.  Batman is on one side and Mr. Incredible is on the other.  It was so much fun to make.

Brette and Chase sent Toothless with Grandma and Grandpa, he loves it too!!

My parents got him this Semi truck that is like Uncle Nolan's truck.  So awesome. 

After presents Grandpa Charlie started playing games with the kids.  It's what he does best.  They played Mother May I, Red Light Green Light, and Simon Says.

Then he had them all lay down and watch the balloon float away.  Really, it's just so he can catch his breath. HAHAH  He's done it since we were little.  Love it.

Cake time!

Make a Wish!!!

He definitely LOVED his cake and all of his new planes toys.  I may or may not have gone a little over board when I bought ALL of the new Fire & Rescue toys. HAHAHA  

I started this questionnaire with Brenika when she turned 3, so I sat down with Dirk and asked him these questions all about him.  A few of the answers he wasn't sure what I was asking, so in parenthesis I put the real answer.

Name: Dirk Frandsen 3 Years Old
1. What is your Favorite Color? Blue
2. What is your Favorite Toy?  Tonka Truck
3. What is your Favorite Fruit? Pineapple
4. What is your Favorite TV Show? Pirate Fairy (which is a movie, his favorite tv show is probably Paw Patrol)
5. What is your Favorite thing to eat for Lunch? Sandwiches in a Triangle
6. What is your Favorite Outfit? Pirate Costume (or any of his planes shirts)
7. What is your Favorite Game? Shark Game (on the Ipad)
8. What is your Favorite Snack? Cheese
9. What is your Favorite Animal? Snake (I don't think it's really his favorite, not sure where he came up with it!)
10. What is your Favorite Song? Jesus Wants me for a Sunbeam
11. What is your Favorite Book? My Comic Book (it was a free comic book from a box of cereal and he seriously reads it all the time, just looking at the photos)
12. Who is your Best Friend? Cooper and Sister
13. What is your Favorite Cereal? Lucky Charms
14. What is your Favorite thing to do outside? Play with my trucks
15. What is your Favorite Drink? Juice!!
16. What is your Favorite Holiday? Halloween
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Captain Hook or Grizzly Bear
18. What is your Favorite thing to eat for Breakfast? Cereal
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Noodles! (he will eat anything with noodles)
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? Jack Sparrow, a Pirate (we just introduced him to Jack Sparrow, he's obsessed.)

I tried to get actual photos of him on his birthday.  He would not sit or stand very still, and wouldn't put down his planes.  I love that I captured him like this anyway, because this is just who he is right now!

I love this little boy.  He's full of energy, life, and still gives the sweetest hugs and kisses and tells you he loves you daily.  I can't believe he's 3.