All of the sudden, they went...

Caught her!...finally!

Marnie sings all day every day. She recites books from memory, and she sings. She even memorized all the songs Britt had to learn for his Christmas program at pre-school. Unfortunately for me and my camera, she doesn't usually perform if she knows she's being watched. If fact, her favorite place to sing is in the tub with the shower curtain closed. I finally managed to steal a video of her singing the ABC song. It blows my mind that she isn't even 2 yet.

{You'll have to turn your volume up. She sings in a tiny voice. :) }

my brownie batter babes

Polar Express ride 2010

A few years ago my mom started a tradition. One weekend each December is designated as "Grandkids Weekend." All their grandkids are brought to Granny and Grandpa's house for 2 days of fun. She and my dad plan all kinds of things to do: gingerbread houses, light parades, movie night, etc. It's a kid's dream come true. This year, they took all the grandkids (and their parents) on the Polar Express. I think the adults had as much fun as the kids (ranging in age from 22 months to almost 16). Thanks again, Mom and Dad!

Granny and Grandpa with their grandkids

Britt, enjoying the magical tunnel of lights

The Whitmer kids: Jorden, Jayden, Jillen, and Jensen

Marnie LOVED the sing-along on the way to the North Pole.

Ellee and the North Pole

Marnie and Emelyn ring their bells for Grandpa and Granny.

Britt and Justin admire Britt's new bell.

Our little family on the train


And thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Brimhall for watching this guy so we could go. :)

The last year I can count his age on one hand

I'm surprised but, he's five and I haven't cried. The night before Britt's fourth birthday, Justin and I tucked him into his bed and I dissolved into tears because I'd "never tuck in a three-year-old Britt again!" I got over it, and REALLY enjoyed having a four-year-old. Now I'm ready to find out what it's like to have a five-year-old. The night before his birthday, I tell Britt the story of his original birthday. I tell of how excited his dad and I were to be having a boy of our own. How I had to call my boss from the hospital and tell him I couldn't make it to work that day. How scared we were when after 36 hours, he was finally born but didn't scream and wail like I thought he would. How I fainted when they took us to see him in the nursery. How his Daddy sat with him on his first airplane ride at 1 day old. And all about the week (that felt more like 2 months) we spent in the NICU with him. This year, when I finished the story with how thankful we were to bring him home on Christmas Eve, he said, "mom, does it make you sad?" I told him, "Not sad, just sentimental for the days when you were so new and little." His reply was," I miss when you were little too, mom." Whatever that means. :)
I'm thankful every day for our Britt Garrett and the multitude of ways he makes us laugh. Our loving, smart, creative, handsome, sensitive, funny, charismatic, beautiful boy. These are some of my favorite pictures of his first 5 years.

party time

Any guesses what theme Britt wanted for his birthday party this year? :)

and by the way, this is hardly animal cruelty. i gave griz a big carrot for letting me take his picture while wearing the antlers.

Britt had a blast with his friends playing regular games like Air Hockey and Foosball, and reindeer games like Stick the NOSE on Rudolph, and Antler Ring Toss. He requested brownies in lieu of cake, so I found some suggestions about how to make reindeer cupcakes and applied them to round brownies. He was happy with them, so I was happy with them.

Afterwards, we had a birthday party with 2 Grandpas, a Grandma, and a Granny. :) Grandma Tara made a delicious texas sheetcake (with a huge 5 written on the top with chopped nuts) and we enjoyed more of the candy cane ice cream I made. It's nice being close enough to grandparents that they can be at every birthday party and Christmas program.


Marnie was a little jealous all day (kept saying, "Marnie happy day now? Marnie have party with cake?") so we let her have a turn blowing out the candles.