Monday, May 27, 2013

Little Brant's Birthday 2013

Brant started the countdown for his birthday right around May 1st.  First he couldn't wait to see if it was in the 10 day forecast...then, how many days til the day...then to his birthday treat he wanted, instead of a party... but around May 12th things started to go wonky.  Mom Mom Dunny, Daddy's grandmother, went into hospice, and everything went on hold.  Not knowing what was going to happen, we prepped Brant, and were prepared when Dunny went to Heaven on the 18th.  

Realizing that we would be driving home on Brant's birthday, after the funeral, later that evening, we all gathered for cake and ice cream.  Mom Mom had taken Brant on a shopping spree, and Mommy and Daddy scrambled to get a Star Wars cake on short notice (thank goodness for Wal-Mart!).  It was just what we all needed, a happy occasion, but one where it still felt like Dunny was sitting at the table, eating her cake too. 



Brant placed the candle to look like a bomb attacking the Death Star

silly boy, all excited to celebrate with his cousins.  Henry is just overwhelmed!


3 D plates were lots of fun...



YES!!  So good to be in the right ball team area!  And let me tell you, that's some yummy ice cream!

Playing with the Hex bug habitat from Mom Mom and Pop Pop

Opening gifts from Mommy and Daddy and Henry: a cub scout camp chair, cub scout safety whistle, Skylanders, a Lego kit from brother and a Star Wars t-shirt


The next morning we loaded up.  We had promised Brant that if it was open, we'd stop at Taylor and Messick, a big John Deere store we always pass.  It's the "Home of the long green line" or something like that, but there are always lots and lots of tractors, combines and real farming equipment, not just mowers. It's also where Pop Pop's gator came from, and the little gator Brant loves.



Brant loved looking around, and picked out a new tractor toy.  Henry got one too, I mean, come on...you can never have enough!  Also, very pleased to get...a new battery for his gator.  The lady at the front desk overhead me saying something to Brant about his birthday, and she, in turn, told Brant to go pick out a hat!  He left with a load, including pens and notebooks from the employees!

We stopped for dinner at Brant's choice, Cracker Barrel.  I didn't get any photos of the special dessert and singing, because we were pooped.  With only an hour left in the trip, we were all antsy.

Grandma had the gate decorated with a banner and balloons, and more presents to open!

My mommy guilt got the better of me, because if you look back at all the birthdays for the boys, you see some family traditions.  Pancakes, parties, etc.  I guess I put a lot of extra pressure on myself, because Brant didn't even ask about those things.  He was happy to be with his family (and get presents! :-) ).  Maybe it's time to chill out Mom, because it seems that the lessons of love and family we've been trying to teach have been learned.

Happy birthday to our sweet 7 year old boy!!

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