

Tonight we had an animated discussion with the four younger kids (10, 8, 6, and 4) about why the movie was called Brave. I’m personally inspired to be a mom who’s “always there for my girls.” It is a great film with lots of take-aways. In fact, I’ve seen it four times now, and I cry. The three of us cried again at the end, even though we knew how it ended. My girls absolutely loved the opportunity to watch it again. It was so timely that the movie was released the day before her birthday. On Wednesday she was thrilled to add the golden bow to her ensemble and proceeded to have an archery tournament with her brother who had a bow of his own. So, I planned ahead and bought it then so that I wouldn’t forget or find out that they were sold out. In October when the Halloween costumes hit the stores, FishChick chose a Merida costume. All three of us sobbed, SOBBED at the end, even though we knew it was going to turn out okay. Months ago when the Brave movie was still in theaters, the girls and I went to see it. And we celebrated all the way around with a Merida/Pixar Brave birthday theme. We did some very girly things: gave the FishChicks a spa treatment, complete with bubble bath, toenail painting, and curly hairdos.

In honor of the big day, my sister came down to celebrate with us. And she was soooo relieved that we were, indeed, celebrating her birthday. But I actually planned ahead this time and went shopping early.

She thought she wasn’t getting any gifts. She was rather perplexed when I didn’t go shopping the night before her birthday. It is only in the last few years that FishChick6 has clued into the advent of presents, cakes, and celebrations. It seems like just yesterday that we welcomed our first daughter into the family!
