Breinholt Reunion...the beginning

It is time to play catch-up. We have been traveling for most of August and now I need to document all the fun we had. First up, the Breinholt reunion.

The Breinholt Reunion August 2nd-6th

Mom (and Dad) did an amazing job organizing our week of fun which was quite the task considering there were 37 of us (16 adults and 21 kids)! We stayed in a big log cabin in the mountains near Heber. The day we arrived Mom and Dad introduced the theme for the reunion...The Breinholt University. We all received a syllabus with a schedule and note taking space available for the classes we would be teaching throughout the week.

The Classes: Each family was in charge of a 30 minute class to teach each night.

Brad and Donna-- "Celestial Bodies in Motion"

Emily and Ben-- "Trigger Happy: Fundamental Aspects of Gun Safety"

Steve and Steph-- "Anyone can Act"

Chuck and Kim-- "Magic Aplenty"

Ken and Alli-- "Shanghai for...Geniuses"

Liz-- "Living the Happy Life"

Bec and Dan-- "Aerospace Engineering"

Here are the few pictures I took during our classes:

Tess's favorite spot to sit, with Aunt Stephanie!

Jake's Big Day

Today was Jacob's first day of Kindergarten. He has been so excited for the last year to be headed to Kindergarten but this past weekend, with the time drawing near, his mood changed. We went to the Open House last Friday where he met his teacher and was asked to put a sticker indicating his excitement for school on a big poster-board. Well, he was the only one to choose a nervous face for his sticker! All weekend he has been nervous! Last night Dan gave him a father's blessing and this morning he told me he felt better.

We ALL walked Jake to school and watched him walk down the hall to his classroom. At which point I had to give Dan a tug to head back home ( Dan wanted to go and have nap time too, I know better! :)

I had a busy day to keep me from tearing up. Tess truly missed her play-mate! Luckily she had a friend come for a visit this morning and then turned her attention to her baby sister for the rest of the school day, which Abby loved. It was cute.

Upon picking Jake up at school he told me his day was good and then immediately told me he didn't have time to eat his sandwich today. When I asked him about making new friends he told me "well, mom, I gotta get use to it first and then I can." We had special school bus cookies for a snack and called Dan. After taking to Dan for a few minutes he informed Dan that he needed to go...Tess was waiting for him on his top bunk (bed) so they could talk about pre-school and kindergarten. I snuck up there and listened to the cutest dialog. They both took turns telling about their day and then Jake gave Tess advice about starting pre-school. I had to muffle my giggles. (Of course my camera was out of batteries when I tried to record their conversation, doh!) Jake got the biggest kick out of talking to Grandma Barnhurst about school and finding out that she use to read the exact same book to her kindergarten class that he heard today.

Jake had quite the adult attitude when he came home from school...he came home instructing Tess! (that isn't new, just the manner in which he is doing it today makes me laugh)

Dan and I have a child in Elementary School, CRAZY!

ONE!!!

Our baby is ONE!

SHE:

--babbles non-stop.

--signs the words up, more, finished, and please. And says several words.

--is a sponge: mimicking and learning new things so quickly.

--sings on demand.

--says "hi" and waves at everyone!

--loves to eat any pasta.

--is always moving! We call her our little "wiggle worm"!

--is close to walking on her own.

--loves to play like the big kids do and be included!!

We had a simple birthday celebration and were lucky to have Grandma Barnhurst with us. Grandma, with the help of Jake and Tess, made her a brightly colored butterfly cake. Jake and Tess helped me wrap some "new" toys for Abby. She didn't know quite what to do with the icing on her cake but soon was devouring it all!!

Abby had all the help she could ask for...only she didn't ask! This picture of Tess just cracks me up! Tess is definitely a Branham (gritting her teeth at Abby all the time)!