the big 4

first of all, how on earth do i have a four year old already?!!!

brooklin couldn't wait to start opening her gifts, so i let her open a couple first thing after breakfast.  She got a new care bears movie from lauren and boring ol' clothes from mom.

brooklin's birthday just happened to fall on president's day this year so i convinced scotty to work just half a day and come play with us.  really, i didn't have to convince him too much, i'm in pretty tight with his "boss."

we decided to take the girls up to watermania just across the border.  it was both these girls' first trip into canada.  don't they look thrilled?  well, i guess lauren does.  brooklin was too busy watching her new movie.

since brooklin started swim lessons the beginning of winter she has been loving the water, even more than normal.  she always has been a little water baby.  she enjoyed showing off her sweet skills.  lol!

lauren is definitely another water baby!  yay!

we were so happy that the dahlstom's and the yorks could come up with us and play!  brooklin had a blast with her friends.

finally after getting back into the US, we had a quick dinner at brooklin's favorite, Billy McHale's.

and then we went over to grandma and grandpa jones's for cake and more presents.

we all had a really fun day celebrating brooklin's birthday. 

brooklin is such a fun little girl, with quite the imagination.  she is always wanting to play pretend.  she mostly likes to pretend she's a kitty or a bird and wants everyone else to be kitties and birds with her.  she is very smart and really enjoys learning.  she can write her name without help and recognizes most shapes and all the letters in the alphabet.  she kinda has a hard time with numbers, but we're getting there.  she loves playing board games and card games.  she really enjoys going to her sunbeam primary class at church, and she's usually really reverent in class, maybe because i'm her teacher.  :)  most days brooklin has a hard time playing on her own, she always wants to be playing with someone, and that someone usually ends up being me.  this makes it pretty hard for me to get things done around the house, but i try to remember that there will come a day when she won't want to be with me all the time, and i know i'm gonna miss her.  lauren is getting to be a little more fun for her to play with though, and i can't think of anything more precious than seeing my two little girls playing together in their bedroom.

brooklin's stats at 4 years:

weight: 33.8 lbs, just below 50th %

height: 39.3 inches, just below 50th %

oh how i love my little bug, and i love watching her grow and learn.