barrett: 50 months old

Barrett, fresh from the pool!  Barrett has become a little fish like his sister, and loves swimming and playing with the pool noodles.  We're still working on him jumping from the side of the pool, but that's all good - his bravery will come with time.  He's just such a happy easy-going kid, and he's up for any activity - the pool, a bike ride, a trip to the grocery store, whatever floats your boat!

Barrett has recently latched onto the Mo Willems "Pigeon" books (he loves the Elephant and Piggy series), and "reads" them with me.  Barrett gets 3 books before bed, and usually it's all Paw Patrol.  Every night he climbs into bed, "reads" a couple more books to himself, then turns his light off and goes to bed.  

His newest thing is helping me cook breakfast.  Since I'm gone during the week before anyone else wakes up, weekends are mine for making breakfast.  It's usually sprinkle pancakes!  Barrett brings his stool into the kitchen, and wants to measure out everything, dump it all into the bowl, then asks for his whisk for mixing.  Adding the sprinkles to the batter might be his favorite part!

Likes:  Nella and Sadie - gives them hugs whether they like it or not!, breakfast for dinner, Power Rangers, playing with his Thomas trains

Dislikes:  going number two on the toilet, being without sunglasses in the pool ("It's too bright, Mommy!")

95 months old

One month until Britton turns 8!  We will be on our way home from Disney World on Britton's actual birthday, but we're planning a fun pool party for the following Saturday.  The theme is "Pusheen" (if you are not familiar with this adorable Japanese cartoon cat, just treat yourself to a quick Google search), and we're inviting Britton's friends from school and the neighborhood.  Britton is getting to the age where she can go to friends' houses in the neighborhood by herself, and play with them at the park by herself, and she loves the new-found independence.  It cracks me up when the neighboring kids all meet up at the park and play, because Jessica and I were the only kids on our street growing up - not until we could ride our bikes a couple of miles did we meet up with friends!

Britton has kept up with gymnastics and piano lessons this summer (with much grumbling), and swims in the pool daily.  She has a renewed interest in cooking with me, and this weekend alone helped me to make a Dutch butter cake, sprinkle pancakes, and toppings for our sundae bar.  Britton starts day camp the week after next - a group from the neighborhood is going, and she's excited!

We started the Harry Potter series this summer, and Britton is hooked!  The books came out when I was 18, and I read the first one, then made the mistake of seeing the first movie.  It didn't match up to what I got out of the book (which I had really enjoyed), and the movie disappointed me so much that I never read another book in the series.   Luckily, kids give you a reset button!  So I've gotten to read the books anew (we're on the third book now), catching Britton's enthusiasm along the way, and I've already ordered the fourth book!  The third book is over 400 pages, the fourth is over 700 pages, so these next two may take a while.

Likes:  Harry Potter (she's decided she wants to be Hermione for Halloween), Pusheen, her new Kindle (her old one's battery blew up!), doing cannonball jumps into the pool

Dislikes:  when Barrett annoys her, potato salad