We've got a FOUR year old!

Itty bitty cutesy Rhya is now a bouncy, independent but yet dependent, FOUR year old! She loves to remind us of this fact. Age is a BIG DEAL right now. We talk about it multiple times per day. 

She started off her day bounding out of her room, eyes still trying to focus, holding up four fingers as high as they could go. "I am FOUR today", she exclaimed!! Shortly after that, much to Rhya's delight, Auntie Sarah called and sang happy birthday.

The call gave her the itch for more, so she suggested that WE call people so they could sing to her. Ha. I explained that we don't generally call people on our birthday for the purpose of getting a birthday message, but we wait for THEM to call us. Then I discreetly texted Kayla and told her that Rhya was hoping like everything to get more birthday calls. Kayla happily obliged, and Auntie Jen graced the phone a little later in the day. All three far away aunties made her grin with glee on her birthday. 

We attended story hour in the morning, which is always a huge highlight. Then we had a few hours at home before Daddy came back from work. It was a gorgeous day, so we ushered the girls outside. Rhya was pleased to see Gpa, Nama, Mike, Kristina, Grady, and Rayna pull in. She assumed that they were just coming for a Papa Murphy's supper. We hadn't told her that a big surprise was about to arrive.

She was busy wacking weeds with her daddy and playing with her kitty and family when a rig slowed down and pulled in:

What could it be?

Our new milk cow, Clydette! Rhya knew she was coming, just didn't know it was to be on her bday.

Rhya held Sawyer for security the whole time. Whenever she doesn't quite know how to handle something outside she seeks out her furry feline and occupies herself with him. It's just automatic and makes me smile. 

Checking each other out

She was very calm right from the beginning and settled right in.

Clydette facts: 3 years old, due with second calf on May 3, 3/4 Guernsey, 1/4 Jersey

We finished off Rhya's big day with a pizza supper. 

Birthday Party post coming up next.

A Special Girl

Rhya was on a roll of making me feel huge the other day as I was getting dressed:
"Wow, Mommy, I can see your tummy sticking out from underneath your shirt. Do you think it's a bit small? Here! I'll help you pull it down. Ooof. Ooops, now, look! It's too low on top. Look, you can see THIS. You think you should find a bigger shirt?"
"Your undies are HUGE! Is it cuz you're an adult?"
Why is your leg so wide right there? (points to my thigh)"

Rhya is also very good at making me feel loved. Multiple times a day she comes up to me and whispers in my ear:
"You're the only Mommy I ever like/want!!"
She usually follows up with a huge bear hug.

Today as we were driving she polished off her second dried pineapple ring. It had been pretty quiet in the van, as Brielle was napping and Rhya was gnawing away at her goodie. Pretty soon she piped up with a huge sigh, "WOW, Mommy! That pineapple ring sure made me chew a lot! Now my brain is all tired out!" Looong pause... "It's my brain, right?" I informed her that yes, her brain was in her head, but it was probably her jaw that was tired.

Before bed tonight she asked,
"But WHY can't we see God?" I said, "We can't see him, but we can feel him in our hearts. He helps make us happy". She said, "Oh! Is that what the pumping is then? Mine is pumping fast right now"

And She's TWO!!

Brielle's big day arrived on Monday, the very last day of March! We've been prepping her, telling her that it was almost her birthday, so she was tickled pink when she woke up on Monday and Mommy sang Happy Birthday.

We kicked off the day by attending our weekly ECFE class. It's always a highlight, so it was extra special when it landed on her birthday. We brought popsicles for snack (I apologized in advance to the teacher, ha!)

After getting home my little 2 year old helper offered her great assistance in the lasagna prep for her bday supper. She was very peticular on lining up the noodles.

The sun had come out after naptime, so we ventured to the field out back and enjoyed some water fun. The water was really gushing through.

The next exciting moment for our little peanut was when a couple of cars rolled in! First it was the daily excitement of Daddy getting home. Next up was Uncle Mike, Auntie Kristina, and cousins Grady and Rayna. The final car was Gpa, Nama, and Travis!! She bounced around with everyone and worked up her supper appetite.

She pounded down her smoothie with whipped cream, and then finished the rest of her supper. No such thing as saving the best for last.

Lately, whenever we ask Brielle what her favorite food is, she gets this sly little grin, and announces, "COOOKIIEEE!!!" Then she rolls with laughter. To her excitement, after her supper was completed, I told her to get down and look into the oven:

Brielle successfully snuffed out the candles with tiny little puffs:

It is SENSELESS to leave any drops of ice cream:

Haha, very funny, Gpa! Not sharing!

After supper we had a little living room present fun:

Family picture. Baby number 3 wanted to say, "Hi, see ya in 8 weeks!"