Brady and Brody are five! They are so amazing. Well, to be fair, they were absolutely amazing from about 4yrs and 280 days - 5yrs and 15 days. This was the sweet spot of amazingness. They were incredibly interested in everything, so kind and sweet all the time, totally enamored with learning about anything and everything that they encounter. Pretty much after 5 years and 15 days old they learned how to wrestle, pout, and whine. While I am happy we made it to this point, it has tainted my outlook a little bit. If it is possible to be amazing but slightly less amazing than they were a few weeks ago, then that's where we are!
This year for their birthday they wanted a party and I am so glad they loved it as much as they seemed to think they would. We went totally commercial and did their party at an inflatable jumpy place. While not quaint or kitschy in any way, it was pretty darn low maintenance from our end which is what we needed for a December birthday party. We had all kind of friends join us to celebrate: friends from our multiples group, friends who we have become close with over the last several years and school friends whose company we really enjoy. It was so great to see all these kids that we really like and love playing together. Also, Nana and Aunt Kathy were there so it was extra fun!
On their actual birthday the kids woke up to presents, had lunch with Aunt Kathy and Cousin Jordan, I read to their classroom (last year's classroom tradition followed them into this year's classroom), had a small celebration at Taekwando and ended it with pizza for dinner (their request) and homade birthday cake. All in all it was a very busy and wonderful day.
This year for their birthday they wanted a party and I am so glad they loved it as much as they seemed to think they would. We went totally commercial and did their party at an inflatable jumpy place. While not quaint or kitschy in any way, it was pretty darn low maintenance from our end which is what we needed for a December birthday party. We had all kind of friends join us to celebrate: friends from our multiples group, friends who we have become close with over the last several years and school friends whose company we really enjoy. It was so great to see all these kids that we really like and love playing together. Also, Nana and Aunt Kathy were there so it was extra fun!
On their actual birthday the kids woke up to presents, had lunch with Aunt Kathy and Cousin Jordan, I read to their classroom (last year's classroom tradition followed them into this year's classroom), had a small celebration at Taekwando and ended it with pizza for dinner (their request) and homade birthday cake. All in all it was a very busy and wonderful day.
Brody:
Brody is sweetness and kindness wrapped in silliness and stength. He continies to amaze us with this althetic abilities. He is a social butterfly at school. When we get into his classroom in the morning he flits to and fro saying hi to friends and teachers almost to a point of distraction where he forgets to take care of his morning tasks. He is still very sensitve and will choose not to watch tense scenes in movies and hates when he sees meaness or when someone treats him meanly for no reason. Brody goes out of his way to say things to people that make them feel special and the boy can dance! He can break out some serious dance moves at a moments notice! I love his sweetness and his kindess and his chosen role as the protector of all. Brody has just started to get embarrassed more easily and it makes me so sad to see him start to decided what kinds of behaviors he is going to do in public and which he is not. He gets put off if he says something that makes everything laugh which is troublesome because he is so funny! Here are Brody's answers to his biyearly quiz and this year I added my commentary in parenthesizes.
Brody is sweetness and kindness wrapped in silliness and stength. He continies to amaze us with this althetic abilities. He is a social butterfly at school. When we get into his classroom in the morning he flits to and fro saying hi to friends and teachers almost to a point of distraction where he forgets to take care of his morning tasks. He is still very sensitve and will choose not to watch tense scenes in movies and hates when he sees meaness or when someone treats him meanly for no reason. Brody goes out of his way to say things to people that make them feel special and the boy can dance! He can break out some serious dance moves at a moments notice! I love his sweetness and his kindess and his chosen role as the protector of all. Brody has just started to get embarrassed more easily and it makes me so sad to see him start to decided what kinds of behaviors he is going to do in public and which he is not. He gets put off if he says something that makes everything laugh which is troublesome because he is so funny! Here are Brody's answers to his biyearly quiz and this year I added my commentary in parenthesizes.
1. What is your name? Brody McLean (said shyly, almost unsure)
2. What is your favorite color? All of them (he really does like all colors equally)
3. What is your favorite toy? Jack n the box (I have zero clue how a Jack n the Box came to be his "favoirte toy" or even a toy he asked for for Christmas but somehow it is and was)
4. What is your favorite fruit? Grapes (yes)
5. What is your favorite TV show? Busytown mysteries (has not seen this show in at least a year if not more)
6. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Hot dogs (though he never has them for lunch, he does love a hot dog)
7. What is your favorite outfit? Track suit (our family has a great love of the track suit and Brody was lucky enough to get one for Christmas. He loves it and wears it all the time.)
8. What is your favorite game? Chutes and ladders (probably true, he and Brady and Chris play all the time and the boys play by themseles)
9. What is your favorite snack? You know, hot dogs (i had no idea he loved hot dogs this much, but I love how he said "you know" like he was surprised I would even ask.)
10. What is your favorite animal? Cheetah
11. What is your favorite book? Star wars
12. Who is your best friend? Avi, Mom and Brady (Avi is a school friend that they boys are both very fond of)
13. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play with my brother
14. What is your favorite holiday? Easter and Christmas
15. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? stuffies-Ellie, wolverine, and huskey (Brody still uses Ellie as a pillow and sleeps with several stuffies)
16. What do you want to be when you grow up? Grownup (Hilarious)
17. Where do you want to go on vacation? Disneyland, but not driving! (also hilarious)
18. Who do you want to come over for a play date? Avi (duh)
19. Who do you love? You and Dad and Brady and Hank, Adrianne, Oliver, Dodge and me! (so inclusive my sweet boy)
20. What’s your favorite drink? Milk ( He is mostly made of milk)
Brady-
Brady is cerebral and thoughtful. When you look into his eyes you can practically see the wheels turning and him trying to connect one piece of information to another. He loves projects and GAMES. He could play 15-20 games in a row and is a master at cajoling someone else into playing with him. Brady will first ask if you want to play something with him and if you say no he will get the game out, set it up, start talking about it, call you over and show you something about the game and before you know it, you are playing with him just as he intended. This happens to Brody and I all the time. He is a strategizer and can determine the consequences of actions both on the game board and off. Brady still does things that he did when he was much younger like make a cute clicking sound with this tongue when he is about to eat something delicious and he will randomly yell out "I love you, Mom" when he is feeling lovey! I love seeing these shadows of my baby in the body of such a big boy. Brady is funny! He loves puns and other kinds of nerd humor. He gets a big kick out of things when he gets a random joke that I am telling that is play on words. Here are Brady's answers to our quiz.
Brady is cerebral and thoughtful. When you look into his eyes you can practically see the wheels turning and him trying to connect one piece of information to another. He loves projects and GAMES. He could play 15-20 games in a row and is a master at cajoling someone else into playing with him. Brady will first ask if you want to play something with him and if you say no he will get the game out, set it up, start talking about it, call you over and show you something about the game and before you know it, you are playing with him just as he intended. This happens to Brody and I all the time. He is a strategizer and can determine the consequences of actions both on the game board and off. Brady still does things that he did when he was much younger like make a cute clicking sound with this tongue when he is about to eat something delicious and he will randomly yell out "I love you, Mom" when he is feeling lovey! I love seeing these shadows of my baby in the body of such a big boy. Brady is funny! He loves puns and other kinds of nerd humor. He gets a big kick out of things when he gets a random joke that I am telling that is play on words. Here are Brady's answers to our quiz.
1. What is your name? Bradyn Oscar M-c-L-e-a-n and Brady (so specific, so Brady)
2. What is your favorite color? blue and golden (this has remained his favorite for some time)
3. What is your favorite toy? Batman Castle (he does seem to like this but not as much as some of the other game he plays)
4. What is your favorite fruit? Grapes (so true)
5. What is your favorite TV show? Justin Olive Kitty
6. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Pancakes (I don't think he has ever had pancakes for lunch)
7. What is your favorite outfit? Batman shirt, I can't find it, you remember right (he grew out of it but is not going to let me forget it)
8. What is your favorite game? Sorry (I'm surprised he could pick one, he loves all games)
9. What is your favorite snack? Popcorn (an infrequent treat but defiantly his favorite)
10. What is your favorite animal? Zebra
11. What is your favorite book? This is a hard one. Jack and Annie chapter book (The Magic Treehouse series)
12. Who is your best friend? Avi Brady is so fond of Avi)
13. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play
14. What is your favorite holiday? Halloween
15. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? my doggie
16. What do you want to be when you grow up? magician- that do magic tricks (not to be confused with a musician that sounds oh so similar!)
17. Where do you want to go on vacation? Nana's house (actually he wants to buy the house next door, but then it could be like vacation everyday).
18. Who do you want to come over for a play date? Avi (duh)
19. Who do you love? Nana, Brody, Avi, mom, Hank, Oliver, Dad
20. What’s your favorite drink? Milk (still milk all day everyday)
Cheers to five my wonderful boys!
Cheers to five my wonderful boys!
