Brandt turned 11 today. I remember when he was born, just a little round thing, with his dimple and funny ears. I'm glad he still has a dimple, and a fun, mischievous streak to go along with it. Brandt is kind, patient with others, and inclusive. He's good with little people and with big ones, helpful and willing to work alongside us or set the table, as long as there isn't something on TV. He is a good reader, is developing a strong testimony, and likes to be with people. He's become more and more of a boy, which is good, and is nearing puberty. He'll have sudden mood swings that surprise and confuse me, and then Kent will say, "It's hormones," and I remember that he's eleven. Brandt likes to play with friends, swim, ride his bike, and watch TV. Did I mention that already? He's very funny, cracks jokes, and makes puns. He is creative in his play, still using his imagination to create all sorts of scenarios. He is well liked by his friend's parents, and I think that speaks volumes about how he is as a person. We love having him in our family and look forward to seeing what's in our boy's future. Brandt really is terrific.
The one and only request Brandt has made about his birthday was that he wanted to play laser tag, and he wanted to do it at Provo Beach Resort. Paul Moreland told him that laser tag at Provo Beach Resort is the best, and I promised him he could go and play. Our annual DeMartini canoeing day had to be changed, and today, his birthday, was really the best day for all involved. I asked if he would be willing to spend his birthday on the water, and he was, as long as he could laser tag the day before. That was perfectly reasonable, so yesterday we gathered boys and went to party at Provo Beach Resort. Brandt wanted donuts instead of a cake, also doable, and to shoot his BB guns after playing laser tag. Kent helped him set up some stuff to shoot at, we printed off targets.
The boys got to play two rounds of laser tag. The first round they were shooting against adults who weren't very nice and kept standing around next to them to shoot them as soon as their vests recharged after shooting them before. They were disheartened and didn't have much fun. However, the second round, they played against girls and walloped them. They exited exuberant and full of stories of their triumph. Yeah team Birthday Boy Brandt!
Luke, Crew, Will Weidner in the back and Houston in the front, Griffin,
Brandt, and Sam and Jarom Oyler.
Brandt and Sam looking beach ready!
On the way home, we stopped for shaved ice, even though donuts awaited. How can you say no to the birthday boy? When we got home, the boys shot the BB guns, we sang and ate donuts, and the party was over. So much fun to celebrate our so fun boy.
Birthday "cake"
Brandt got the big on in the middle.
Before we went canoeing this morning (separate post), we had french toast breakfast (Brandt's favorite), and let him open his presents. Today is his actual birthday, after all. He wanted his presents a day early, the same day as his party, but who get presents for their birthday on a day that's not their birthday? He had to wait!
Legos!
It's always Legos with this one!
Then after canoeing, we let Brandt choose where he wanted to go for dinner. He asked if we could go to the place "where they cook in front of you." So we did. I was concerned that neither of the children was going to like what there was on offer, but we ordered teriyaki chicken which they like, and hoped for the best. It was sort of a wash. Kent and I liked what we ate, Brandt and Blythe not so much. We picked them up Wendy's on the way home after we'd eaten. Oh well. Live and learn.
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