Brennan is 3!!!

Happy Birthday to our Sweet Baby Boy!

We started the day off normally since Papa had to go to work, but he got out early so we were able to keep our plans to go do something fun for lunchtime.

We went off to the Nut Tree shopping plaza in Vacaville where they have an outdoor play area for the kids that includes a train to ride and a carousel. Mamma bought tickets for both of these and we did the train right away but then played on the other stuff for a bit before doing the Carousel.

Bren decided he wanted to get on the merry-go-round so Mamma pushed him and that wasn't a problem until Mamma misread the look in Bren's eyes and thought he would like to go faster. Bren wasn't holding on quite as well as Mamma thought he was, so, um, yeah he went flying off. Poor Bren. He bumped his lip a little on the bar upon his "forced ejection" from the moving merry-go-round, but not to the point that there was any mark or bleeding...thankfully.

And this place has that rubber matting that you see in playgrounds now so it was a soft landing. He did say, "Me scare!" and cried a bit. I told him I was sorry and that if he wanted to go on again, I'd keep it slow and not fast. He already does understand the difference between slow and fast, but if he didn't, he would now.

Bren wouldn't get on right away. Instead he had to show Mamma how fast was appropriate. No one else was on the merry-go-round at that moment and he took that chance to school me on what his desired speed was before he'd get on again. Having taught Mamma her lesson, he felt confident to get back onto the merry-go-round and Mamma did take it nice and slow. Another girl got on in the meantime for a few rounds and then she got dizzy and then Papa and Alex got on and Papa ran the merry-go-round at that point.

Then we were off to the Carousel where Bren found a black and white kitty like Cleo so he was excited to ride the "Cleo Kitty." The Carousel attendant had Vin and I take the boys to the middle row and strap them onto their animals and hold onto their legs. It didn't go very fast thankfully.

Once all the stomach churning stuff was over, we went to eat at Fenton's Creamery. It was kind of pricey and the food wasn't all that great. I asked Bren if he wanted a Grilled Cheese or a Cheeseburger and he answered, "Grilled Cheese Cheese Burger." Mamma got creative and ordered one of each and split them between the 2 boys. Alex was perfectly happy with that arrangement. And I got fruit for one and fries for the other and then split those between the 2 so that neither of them were eating the "rotten-no-good-for-you-but-yummy" fries exclusively and they both got fruit.

We were going to get Bren a scoop of ice cream but Alex melted down and Bren was ready to go so Vin dropped Alex and I off at the house and he and Bren had some Bren/Papa time getting some Christmas shopping done.

When they got back, we gave them dinner and then had Cake! Bren's apparently all about the frosting now. Alex actually didn't like his little piece and handed it to a gleeful and more-than-willing Bren. This routine happens every night but it's normally Bren handing whatever off to Alex.

Mamma and Papa were supposed to be going to the Squadron Christmas Party tonight, but Mamma woke up with the sniffles and Papa started getting them as the day wore on so we happily, but stuffily, stayed home.

Thank you to Lindsey Rueff for *almost* watching the boys for us tonight! Better luck for both of us next year for our hubbies' Squadron Parties.

Bren got to play with his toys and stay up an extra hour. Here's hoping he and Alex don't come down with these awful snifflies. Crazy to think they can avoid it, especially with the 2 of them sneezing tonight, but here's hoping anyway.

I'd love to share pictures, but my stupid computer isn't letting me. Will post them as soon as I can figure out what's going on.

Love to all!

-Shannon:)