OH "TWO"DLES!

I may have found a new passion of mine--party planning! I have never been more excited to plan Brenna's second birthday party on Tuesday. I found some of the cutest ideas on Pinterest (woot!) and ran with it. We kept the party small this year, only inviting our closest friends and family. (Last year we invited around 70 people!)

We got a lot of compliments on her invitation first of all. A big thanks to BlitzDesignz on Etsy, we found this to match our "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse" theme:

To start of her special day, Joe and I expended all our air blowing up almost 100 balloons to put in her room while she slept. I was so excited for her to wake up and see! I video recorded her reaction so we'd always remember the simply joy and awe that radiated from her little face. Maybe we'll do it each year, not sure yet!

I then brought her out and showed her her brand-new Minnie Mouse outfit she got to wear all day. Of course the party girl had to really get into the spirit!!! She helped me bake her cupcakes
eat the cake batter while I started preparing food for the party in the kitchen. While she was taking an awesomely long (3.5 hrs.) nap, my mom and I decorated for the party. When Brenna came out of her room and saw it, she literally walked around saying "whoooa...", followed by jumping up and down, & trying to touch each thing her little hand could reach.

I had help (from Pinterest & my fam) preparing the food! This is what we ended up serving:

It was a hit! Adults and children loved it and everyone was happy. Who doesn't like eating like a kid?? We all then headed to the backyard for a Scavenger Hunt! I'm sure I was more excited than anyone else about playing this! In the backyard, were 32 hidden circles that matched each child's game board (only 4 circles/child) where they searched for theirs with help from their parent. Each child got a prize for finding theirs... life is still fair when you're 1-4 years old, I think. =) The funny part is, we found two circles in our yard the next couple days, lol!

We brought the cupcakes up and the kids gathered around. Brenna sat there staring at her cupcake with more self-control than I thought she could ever muster. She then started singing to herself- "Happy Birday to Menna!" It was priceless! She really, really, really liked people singing to her. I could tell she felt very special. She even waited to blow the candle out till we were all done.

Presents were next & last! She had lots of help from her little friends/cousins who were there. She got lots of toys, books, outfits, a drawing board, basketball hoop, and her Precious Moments princess from her daddy that has the number 2 on it to add to her little collection. Her and I had practiced all day, and then the time came when I said "Brenna has something to say.." then she said, "Thank you everybody!!!" I was a proud mom, for sure! She then gave every single person hugs and gave her little friends their treat bag to take home.

It was a huge success and I am so happy that Brenna enjoyed her birthday so much this year! I feel like I could burst having her in my life every day and I am so glad we were able to make her day so special. Thank you to all of our friends and family who came and celebrated with us!

XOXOXOXOXXXXXXXXXXX

A special thanks to BROOKE, one of my bff's who came over to our house and took these adorable pictures of Brenna... she is a total professional to me! Thank you so much!!!

California Lovin'

Fiiiinally I was able to convince Joe to go on a vacation with me to California! (Thanks Carly!)  Most of you know that I was born and raised there till I was ten and then moved to Utah... never to return again, I believe (Not-so-thanks mom!) ;) I miss it, miss it, miss it. Always have, always will. I have great childhood memories of warmness, abundant ice cream and thrills.

So we hopped on a plane by 6 a.m. and got to Cali shortly after that. Can I give a quick plug for Jet-Blue??! These people know how to fly. Flights were on time both ways and each person gets their own TV, friendly staff, great snack choices and not to mention they were the cheapest flight. We had a lot of time to spare until our check-in time at the hotel. (Thanks Robbi!) We decided to stop by the beach, hit up the mall, get Thrifty's award-winning ice cream (!!!), buy tickets to the Angels baseball game (Joe's first time!), and get brunch at the cutest little place called "The Parkbench Cafe". We got to nap together, (parents, you know how rare all this is!) spend tons of time getting ready, and stay out as late as we wanted @ the Angels game. It was such a fun night!

Carly's wedding was the next day. It was so lovely! An outdoor wedding and reception. Such a fun event. Here's a funny side note.... growing up, my nickname was "Brittany Berry" and she just married herself a real "Berry"! Look who's the Berry now! I'm so over-the-moon for Carly and Matt. They will surely leave the same legacy as their parents have... 75 years of marriage between the two sets!

Our last day there was our SIX year anniversary. I can't even believe it. I feel so old and yet I'm proud of us for continuing to make this commitment to each other in life. Life is hard!!! It's not a fairy tale. I had really hoped it would be, though. I want to spotlight my incredible husband for a moment and explain the wonders of this man: He loves ME: crazy me, happy me, sad me, Brittzilla me, excited me, frustrated me & everything in between. He has always shown me such incredible unconditional love, and I think sometimes I just push his buttons to see how far it really goes. (On accident, of course!) He is quick to ask for forgiveness and seek peace in our home. He provides for his family without complaining and takes this instruction by the Lord very seriously. He compliments me and helps me around the house. He's a far better dad than I am mom. He is driven yet patient. Sure of himself yet humble. He has faith that can truly move mountains. I admire him and feel honored to have the front-row seat in seeing God transform him year-by-year into the man he's supposed to be. I know I love & need him even though I still find "marriage" restraining. 

Thank you Lord for not giving up on me "[a]nd I am certain that God, who began the good work within [me], will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns." Philippians 1:6.

*CHEERS* to ANNIVERSARIES!

Home, Sweet Home

Ya know, just been thinkin lately.... with all these awesome home decor pics I've been tagging, hearing about other people's redecorating ideas/projects, seeing the awesome results, etc. I figured out why I just can't get into it as much as I want to. The why? We don't have a house yet! Sure, we have a roof over our head and for that I've extremely grateful for, not to mention it's a pretty gorgeous place to rent. But it's not ours. Does anyone know what I mean?? 

See.. we had a house. For three years. I spent a lot of time and $$ decorating. Where is it now? Mostly sitting in the cold storage room. I wonder ------> will I use that again? do I still like this? when will I get to dust it off and put it back up? It's just not worth it right now (or the last fifteen months renting here) to decorate how I want to, to truly love the space we're in. So we've kept it simple and have been fine, but as a girl you think about these things. It's just in our DNA. :) 

We still have TWO years before we can even THINK about buying a house again (imposed FHA rules-boo!) and that still sounds soooo far away. Renting has its perks, sure it does. It has been less expensive and I enjoy the company of my family who lives upstairs. But I can feel myself getting caught up in the timing and daydreaming of our future home/rooms. I'm a do-er. I like to run with a great idea and do it fast. Now. Yesterday! Thank you Lord for continuing to grow me in an area where I need it: patience. =) 

I know, I know, I know that God knows and most days I really do rest assured without much thought. But today, I am a little anxious. But my biggest reason of all to find "our" home, is so Brenna has a home to come home to one day. There's just no place like home.