Brent's Birthday Weekend - Brent Turns 33 on September 4th!

Gary and I attended the University of Arkansas vs. Missouri State football game Saturday night in Fayetteville, AR. Sunday morning we left early to drive to Norman, Oklahoma. Brent turned 33 years old on September 4th. As long as I can I will always try to see each child on his birthday and have a birthday party.

For Brent's birthday I had two cakes: Fishing cake and a cheesecake.

Each year I try to have a cake with a theme of some important event in their life. This year I chose fishing because this summer Brent and Bennett had so much fun fishing at Nana's pond.

 This is the traditional birthday hat! Everyone wears it on their birthday.

 I have no idea why Brent is holding the bat. Honestly.We invited the next door neighbor, Owen, over because he had been over earlier and wanted some cake and we told him he would have to wait until the party. Sutton is sleeping.

 Brent blowing out the candles. We sang Happy Birthday first and we sounded like we were at a funeral.

There is a story behind this pinata. When Bennett went with me to buy party supplies for Nana's birthday party he had a fit over a pinata. I wouldn't get one as I felt it was a waste of money. When we got back to the house I told Jessica and she commented that Bennett had always wanted a pinata. Then, I felt awful. So, I got one for his Daddy's birthday. It is filled to the top with candy, Razorback tattoos, Razorback hog noses, and plastic toys.

 First, Bennett takes a hit. Nothing happens.

 And, then, another hit. Nothing.

 Again, nothing.

 Anna Claire takes a hit. Nothing.

 Another hit. Nothing.

 Brent gets out the baseball bat and he hits it. Finally, everything falls out.

 Bennett put on one of the Razorback hog noses.

 We did our usual....a trip to Bass Pro. Also, as usual, each child picks out one thing. Bennett picked out some animals and Anna Claire picked out a stick horse.

 We had our birthday dinner at a bar-b-que restaurant. Anna Claire took her stick horse out to eat with her.

 Bennett and Gary (Granddad).

 Bennett with the animals he bought at Bass Pro Shop in Oklahoma City. I was sitting next to Bennett and after I took the picture he leaned over and said "You are the best Ma in the world." "I love you to outer space."

 Jessica and Sutton.

 You can't take just one picture of my daughter-in-law. She is beautiful inside and out.

 Brent, Jessica and Sutton. Sutton is six months old.

 Anna Claire, Betsy (Ma) and Bennett.

Sutton.

 

 Betsy (Ma) with Bennett and Anna Claire.

 This was taken this morning before everyone woke up. Bennett didn't have on a pajama shirt and he wanted to cuddle with Granddad.

 Sutton and Granddad.

Before Gary and I left for Norman we went by to see his parent's. They are in their 90's and don't drive. A neighbor was having a garage sale and Papaw Orr (Gary's dad) walked over and bought this dump truck for Bennett. He tried to find Anna Claire something and couldn't. I thought this was the sweetest thing in the world. Bennett loves it. His neighbor, Owen, has one and Bennett didn't. He is so proud of it.

 Sutton didn't care for it.

 Granddad giving Bennett a ride.

We had a great time. I slept in the same bed with Anna Claire and Bennett. We have always done that. We start off with me telling stories. Then, Bennett asked me if I could pray because he was scared. Anna Claire said she was scared too so she wanted me to pray for her also. So I did. But, then after praying for humans Anna Claire told me Zebree (the stick horse) was scared so I prayed for Zebree. Bennett had all of his animals in the bed and he said they were scared. So, I prayed for the animals.

After all that it was time to sleep but Bennett kept saying funny words that didn't make any sense. Anna Claire would laugh so that would really motivate him to keep saying silly words. Then, both kids wanted me to tickle their arms so they could fall asleep. Do you know how hard that is with one child on each side and they want their arms tickled.

Then, I knew they were getting ready to really sleep because they started telling me how much they loved me but each one had to love me "more" than the other. Bennett started with "Ma, I love you to outer space." Less than a second later Anna Claire said "Ma, I love you to Heaven. Isn't that more than outer space?" I told them they both loved me the same and I love them the same. You just don't win that argument.

I got to rock Sutton this morning until he fell asleep. Jessica went out for a run. Even after he fell asleep I just sat in the rocking chair and kept rocking. He snuggled his little head in my neck and shoulder and it was so soothing for me. He loves to cuddle and he seems to really like to be entertained. When he was born he would just lay there and you didn't have to do anything. But, now with Anna Claire and Bennett playing with him all the time, he really does like to be in the action.