May Brag Book-Entry 1

Brookly's real Birthday- May 17th

A few surprises but mainly clothes:)

Brookly with Leah who came to help with the party

The crazy girls at the party with their new flipflops we made.

Brookly with Mrs. Chelpka her orchestra teacher who is so proud of her.

At the concert Mrs. Chelpka had Brookly come forward and honored her for being the only one from Brinton who made MYPO (Mesa Young People's Orchestra), the Honor Orchestra for Elementary students, as a 5th grader!

Brookly's new violin

Brookly with Caillou opening the boxes of foam with the new violin

I'm putting down the events that are happening as we end another school year in glory:) I'm so proud of my darling crew and all that they accomplish each year!! What a year this has been!!!

First of all I'd like to congratulate my sweet husband who finished, on April 30th, his last Masters class for his MBA with Ottowa University and will walk on July 31st! He met his goal of straight A's and I'm just bursting with excitement! It has been 2 years of missing children's events and taking a laptop to do homework wherever in the world his company sends him and sacrificing much needed sleep and it is all worth it!! I'm so proud of the example he has set for our children in determination and finishing what you start! It has been a very tough road with so many demands on his time and energy and many times he thought of reconsidering the choice to do this at this time, but we made it!! Wes, you are an inspiration to me and I love you dearly!

With May comes Brookly's 11th birthday and boy was it a fun one!! It started a little early with a huge surprise from the Pena's of a new violin! How do you even begin to thank such love shown? We are truly blessed with these dear friends and hope to always keep them a part of our lives.

Brookly wanted a friend party this year and since she hasn't had a party since she turned 8 we agreed. She invited every little girl she thought might feel bad if not invited and 14 showed up at our house Sat. the 14th for a fun afternoon of NO BOYS ALLOWED! I was a little overwhelmed with the noise that so many girls can make and I thought our boys were loud:)

We made pizza from english muffins and flipflops from fabric strips that I cut all week, watched Tangled, did nails and the girls played spontaneous telephone, chicken, and fall on the couch games. Crazy fun!! Our neighbor Leah Pittman, who is a dear friend, came to help for a while and we wore her out! Oh what fun it was to watch my sweet daughter with so many good friends having a great time! Brookly got lots of clothes and $ for more clothes. She is truly growing up!

My Sweet Brookly

for her 11^th Birthday

Kind, compassionate and full of grace

Truthful, talented and full of light

How blessed we are to watch you grow

Such beauty rarely is shown

For inside and out your love radiates

From the violin spins notes melodious

Only more beautiful is your angelic voice

The piano keys dance under your fingers

Your brilliant mind thrives in academic excellence

So many gifts you have and share

Your tenderness for those younger than you

Your love of home and family

Wanting to make a difference

Your possibilities are endless

Aim high, dream huge

We will watch you succeed

With Love,

Mom

Brookly My Sweet Girl,

You are such a light in our home. Your energy and love radiate to all around you. You are truly happy for you are making good choices and it shows.   You look for ways to help others and are sensitive to how others feel.  You are amazing!  You have been blessed with incredible music talents and I hope you continue to grow and develop them. You have an angelic voice that moves people to tears when they hear you sing.  You have a wonderful gift of violin and piano that have blossomed with the help of Aunt Adrian and Skype lessons.  This year you made the Honor orchestra for all of Mesa District as a 5th grader and made 13th chair-1st Violins!!  You have confidence and grace and your love of music and all things beautiful shines through you.  You are becoming such a sweet young woman and are the prized babysitter even though you're too young to go on your own yet.  You have gentleness and kindness that just pours out.  I pray you continue to prepare yourself to enter the temple and for whatever you dream of doing.  You recently told me you'd like to be a pediatrician and you'd be excellent!  What a blessing that knowledge will be to your family like your Aunt Julie.  Look to the goodness in the examples of the women in your life.  You are growing up so fast it's hard for me to think of letting you go out into the world.  You are strong and have courage in your faith and I know you'll be blessed.  You stay humble about your talents and continue to work hard.  That's what makes a winner.  I love you and am so proud of all you are doing!  Love, Mom