Dining with Dads (Mom) and more

This past Thursday was the annual "Dining with Dads" at Brynn's school where dads, grandpas, uncles, father figures, etc can come and have lunch with their student(s). Dana was out town up north hunting with his dad, so Mom had to stand in. They had a great turnout which was really nice to see, but I have to admit I did feel a bit awkward as a mom there in a sea of dads...and one grandpa. I noticed just one other mom. I was glad I could go, though, since Dana wasn't able to. We sat by Brynn's friends Lily (bottom left of the below pic) and Melissa (right next to Brynn below). Melissa always cracks me up. Her dad was late getting to lunch and she thought he wasn't coming at all and she was really cursing him out..."he's going to hear about this when I get home!" haha. You should have seen her face light up when he showed up, though. It was so sweet.

They invited the dads (and me) out for recess with the kids after lunch. It was really cold out that day. Melissa's dad and I chatted (and froze) outside while the girls played.

Lily, Melissa and Brynn

Poor Clara. Apparently I had forgotten to bring her extra clothes (for the correct season) after she had her last blowout at daycare. So, this is what they had for her was shorts and no socks after she had an overflowing diaper on Thursday. So, we wrapped her blankie around her legs and put her mittens on for socks to get her home.

While Grandpa and Daddy were spending the weekend together, Grandma Holly came to visit. She was able to have lunch with Brynn at school on Friday and she and Brynn walked over to Hope to pick up Clara early from daycare.

Brynn made it to 3000 minutes of piano practice at her lesson on Thursday. She was so excited and proud, as were we. I love that Penny does incentives to keep the kids engaged and motivated. It is really encouraging for Brynn. Brynn has sort of gotten into texting at times, and had to text Daddy while he was away to tell him her exciting news. I thought her message was so cute:

For hitting 3000 minutes, Brynn received her next statue, Beethoven. As you might recall, she earned Bach as her first statue for 2000 minutes of piano practice.

On Saturday Brynn attended a birthday party at Courts Plus for her friend, Haylie, whom she knows from preschool at Hope and gymnastics. Rosha was there too! (Photo credit: Haylie's mom, Kelli). Brynn had a great time. It wasn't long after Brynn had gotten home from the party that Rosha invited Brynn over to play at her house, so Brynn spent the rest of the afternoon playing over at Rosha's. It was such a beautiful day outside.

Haylie, the birthday girl, is to the very left.

Rosha and Brynn

Clara being silly, as usual on Saturday afternoon:

More playing with babies. She found the doll stroller now and has been busy with that.

It was so nice out on Saturday, we hit up Tutti Frutti and had our treats outside. Don't mind Clara's messy Nilla Wafer face.

Uh-oh! The Fleet Farm toy catalog is out! Brynn got busy perusing right away. She keeps telling me she wants an American Girl Doll ($100+ if you aren't familiar), but she is planning on asking for it from Santa so that 'mom and dad don't have to spend all their money on it.' So thoughtful. :-)

The baby stroller again....with a big baby in it this time. Ha.

She loves to be wheeled all around in it.

Ooh, this chocolate factory business is starting to become the bane of my existence! It is so darn messy! Brynn was busy at it again on Sunday, making more confection creations.

I love bananas!

Clara has had so much happening lately. She sprouted her two bottom teeth recently! She is walking all over the place and learning more and more things. We were practicing naming body parts here. She knows her nose the best so far.