Brielle's Birthday!

This cute girl is FOUR!! I just love Brielle so much it makes my heart burst.  I have been looking forward to having a four year old for a long time.  I love four year olds! They are cute and say such funny things and have such a zest for life. Yep, that's Brielle! 

When we went to the Seattle Aquarium in August, Brielle saw the big Seattle ferris wheel (The Wheel) and couldn't stop talking about it.  She wanted to ride it so bad! So we decided we would go on her birthday.  

Well, after looking into it, kids 3 and under are free.  So we went a few days BEFORE her birthday.  Because that's how cheap we are. ha ha! She was so excited and didn't care which day we went! 

We drove into Seattle and when we saw the Ferris wheel there were lots of squeals of joy from these two girls! 

We had to wait for a bit to get on it.  Here's Brielle by a totem pole.  She loves totem poles! She gets really excited whenever we see them.  

When it was finally time to ride, Brielle was first in line.  She ran right up to the entrance way ahead of all of us! 

We got to go around four times.  The first time was super scary for each of us! It goes 200 feet above the Seattle harbor and honestly, it was really intense.  I was very brave...I don't like heights! We couldn't believe just how high it truly was...and kept going higher! But each time we went around we got more comfortable.  Except Rosalyn.  Roz was scared the whole time.  When the ride ended and we had to get off, Brielle was so sad and upset she threw a major tantrum right then and there.  It was so unlike her! She wanted to stay on and ride all day!  We will have to do it again sometime. 

A few days later, we got to celebrate her birthday! She wanted a "Frozen" theme.  The night before, I decorated the house and pulled out our frozen toys.  She was super excited when she woke up! She loved all the decorations just for her. 

Birthday breakfast! She loves eggs.  And that's what she wanted! \

She was a happy, bubbly girl all day long! 

 Such a fun, silly four year old! 

We got ready and went to Robinswood Park.  We met my friend Natalie there and her girls.  We had a great time playing together! 

Brielle brought a balloon along.  She carried it around the playground and everywhere she went.  It was really cute how much she cherished that balloon and I was glad it never popped! 

We got to feed the ducks! And then we had a picnic lunch all together. 

Here I am with Natalie.  She's moving, and I am so sad! Why do all my great friends have to move away?  We have 7 girls between us.  We have lots of great talks and I'm really going to miss her. 

We came home from the park and we all crashed at nap time.  Ah, my favorite part of the day. :) 

Then it was time to get partying again! We got up and headed to Newcastle Beach.  It was a perfect 70 degree day and we enjoyed the sunshine, and even made some new friends there! 

We left the beach and came home to dinner.  Brielle wanted White shells and cheese and that's what we had.  She calls it "seashells." That always makes me laugh.  

I got the girls all bathed and cleaned up and then it was time for presents and cake! I made an ice cream cake the day before.  Brielle loved it, and we all did too! 

 We gave Brielle a book that has princess puzzles in it.  She is a puzzle gal! 

 We also gave her a Frozen purse with some little things to put inside it.  She has been carrying her purse around, and she will fill it up with things before she leaves the house.  It is the cutest thing. 

 We sang and ate cake! 

 It was a heavenly day with our newest 4 year old.  She was cute, happy, excited, gracious, bubbly and kind to her sisters and friends.  It will be a day that I will always remember with great fondness. 

And now, like every year...here are a few things I want to remember about Brielle at age 4: 

• If I had to pick one word to describe Brielle it would be: Vibrant.  She is full of life and energy.  She is excited about anything and everything.  She lives life to the fullest and is glowing and happy most of the time.  Of course she's a regular kid with bumps and bruises and sadness...but she is a ball of joy and excitement as she goes through life!

• She had her 4 year old check up and she weighs 36 pounds and is 41 inches tall.
• Brielle loves art.  Drawing, painting, making things with play-doh, etc. 
• She loves to pull the paper off of crayons.  It drives me crazy.  But maybe the wrapped crayons drive her crazy?
• She is a typical 4 year old and loves sticker charts, and routines.  She always wants to know what is next in the day and what we will do tomorrow. 

• She is the sweetest big sister we could ask for.  She is very concerned and aware of Rosalyn and Adeline and makes sure they are happy.  That being said, she will still stand up for herself when Roz takes something she wants. ha ha.  

•  She "feels deeply." That's probably a better way to describe her than the word "emotional." Ha ha.  She feels deeply....she gets sad when others are sad, or if she has done something wrong.  She is very concerned when she sees another child hurt or crying and wants to help.  Tantrums are rare, but when she's angry she goes deep down inside and cries with every fiber of her being.  She feels happy goosebumps when something good happens on a show she is watching and she has this cute little squeal she does when she can't quite contain that feeling. She feels emotions deeply. 

• Brielle is getting very interested and excited about Adeline.  She is always tickling her to make her laugh, bringing her toys, and aware of when she's sleeping.  Every now and then if I get busy while feeding Adeline, Brielle will voluntarily go over to the high chair and spoon-feed Adeline.  It is sweet. 

• She loves to help me cook in the kitchen.  I have a natural helper whenever I'm making something that requires stirring flour.  She makes a mess every time, but loves it!
• Brielle does not like bath time.  She will get in if she has to, but I have to always coax her.  She will play happily once she's in the water.  But when it is time to wash her hair, she has a complete meltdown.  Every time. 

• She loves to help me carry things.  She has always liked carrying heavy things...even as a 2 year old.  
• She is a fast runner.  I don't think she is faster than other kids her age, but she has a great stride already and runs with this fierceness that always makes me smile. Her little arms pump and she has a very fierce look on her face.  She has a beginning stance that I taught her that I remembered from my days on the track team. :) We like to race in the front yard while we wait for Jeff to get home from work. 

• She loves to be the MC for our little shows we do.  She will stand up on the stage downstairs and say "hi everyone!" Are you having fun? Ok great! Now, Rosalyn will come up and sing "If you're happy and you know it."   

We love our little Brielle with all our hearts!