A New Teenager in the House!

Brynna Annabelle is 13! 

We surprised our dancer with an extra special gift!

💜 9.20.19  💜

(BellaMei was still asleep.)

A trip to New York City at Christmas to see the NYC ballet and The Rockettes!

Her reaction was so sweet! 🥰✨ 

After school, we had Chinese take-out and celebrated again. (Braylee was at a golf match.)

I wanted her to have a little something now (since her trip isn't until December) so she got a little cash to use at the mall with her friends for her "party."

Brynna continues to twirl through life with a smile on her face! She loves exploring (though often can't tell you where she is 😆), crafting, and reading! We love her so!

Instead of a party at home, she requested a shopping & dinner date with her besties.  So that's what we did!

Happy 13th, Brynna Annabelle!

Meanwhile- Braylee was at the golf course today, competing in Sectional. She was disappointed in her finish, but she was pretty much right in the middle of all the golfers.  I think she did really well for a Freshman who basically just started playing in the last year.  Her personal best for the season was a 44 on 9 holes.  Then she was off celebrating her BFF's birthday!

Life with the Little Girls

Bria & BellaMei are closer in age than we've ever had before, and they are both pretty independent & bossy. Needless to say, some days are a bit exhausting. 🤪 But they are also super cute and can be the very best of friends!  With all of the big girls' activities after school and on the weekends, I really want to soak in these quieter moments with just the two little girls.

This tiny beauty was trying to convince momma that she didn't need a nap.

It's so hard to say no to those smiley eyes! 💗

I said, "Just rest until BellaMei falls asleep."  4 minutes later...

St. Louis

We made a quick weekend trip to St. Louis to take Xiaoyun to the Arch and a Cardinals game. Friday was the MidAutumn Festival so we celebrated with moon pies by the pool when we arrived at the RV park.

Every year, we skip the traditional mooncake and eat moon pies instead. Common mooncake flavors are red bean paste and roasted pork, which is why my girls prefer the chocolate type. 😁

I feel like this is a sign that I'm doing something right. 😂

Saturday, we went to the City Museum. We all loved it!

After stopping at a pizza place for lunch, Brielle & Beilyn swam while the little girls napped. Then we went back downtown to the Arch and game. We would have taken Xiaoyun to the top of the Arch, but she's scared of heights. 🙂

That trusty thumb ❤️

Brielle

Bria's attempt 😁

Same spot, 3 years in a row.
Their legs keep getting longer, and we keep adding to the group!

Pouting because Daddy said no cotton candy. It was such a fake cry. 😆

He was teaching her baseball terms. ❤️

As we were walking to the bus stop after the game, I realized I didn't have my phone! Panic sunk in quickly. Then Bria said, very nonchalantly, "Oh BellaMei knocked it down to the row in front of us." Alex sprinted back to the stadium and began searching for it.  A couple of kids saw him and started helping. He said he and the stadium attendant had basically given up when one of the little boys shot his hand up and shouted "I found it!" Alex thanked him with a $20 bill and as he was going back up the stairs, he heard the boy say, "Dad! I got $20!" I was so relieved, a little boy was $20 richer, and Bria was instructed to always tell us when things like that happen WHEN they happen.

Sunday, we went to the St. Louis Zoo. We hadn't been there since we were a family of 5!

This polar bear was a favorite of the day. Beilyn will probably be sick from kissing the glass multiple times.

 Home again with my squeaky-clean, sleepy little girls.