Bracken turned four this week. We had a day filled with decorating and baking, followed by days of celebrating. There was a lot of birthday celebrating this year. And more than a few times that we lit candles, sang Happy Birthday, and Bracken made a wish. We hung the birthday banner up, like we always do, and with Grandma Julie’s help we did even more decorating than usual. The sock dolls my mom made me when I was a little girl joined in the festivities. The theme for Bracken’s birthday this year was “blueberry blue” since it’s his very favorite color. My mom painted her fingernails for the occasion, a color she’s never chosen before, and said “the things grandmas will do!”
The dessert I made (banana chocolate brownies) turned out amazing. I was a bit unsure until I tried them. They were rich and I thought they tasted delicious with some frozen blueberries on the side. (The recipe was based on this one. I used: 2/3 cups sunflower seeds, 1/3 cup pumpkin seeds, 2/3 cup seedless dates, 1/3 cup cocoa powder, 1 banana, 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. I soaked the sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds to make them more digestible and then dried them in the oven with some coconut oil. I used eggs rather than flax seeds like the recipe called for. Oh, and my mom made a frosting with coconut oil, cocoa powder, and honey. It was really good.)
Jeff made Bracken a little wooden faery door for our faery garden. Bracken loved it so much I think he squealed when he opened it. Now Jeff wants to use that one for indoors and create another one for outside with a wood that will hold up in the weather better. I think it’s the cutest thing. Bracken and his friend experienced the joy of a pinata for the first time. That was fun to watch. Hitting it with a stick was much more exciting than the stuff inside.
Bracken got a balance bike and is slowly getting the hang of it. And the gift I’ve been wanting to get him for a long time… a slide! I really wanted to get a metal slide to put up in our yard for Bracken. The new ones cost a fortune so we thought about building one ourselves, similar to the slide we saw at the Waldorf School, but the supplies still would have been spendy. We lucked out and found one on craigslist. Stainless steel. 16 feet long. A dream slide! Family went in on it and we were able to purchase it. I’m so grateful and I’m really looking forward to watching Bracken and his friends using it. We rolled it into our front yard with the help of friends. It’s really, really heavy. Next we’ll get it set up. There’s still more celebrating to be had.
Denise says
Happy late birthday!!!
Dana says
Happy Birthday Bracken!!! You look so handsome in your new sweater!!
Earnest Efforts says
Looks like that was one spectacular birthday!!! and YUMMY!!!
taryn oakley says
Happy Birthday to Bracken!! What wonderful gifts and a wonderful celebration!!
grandma julie says
What a fun celebration it was!!! I am still smiling!! 🙂 Miss you guys!
Grandma Julie
Susannah K says
Happy Birthday Bracken 🙂 4 is so fun!!
Angela says
Happy Birthday Bracken! What a great celebration!
Holly says
Bracken ,HAPPY BIRTHDAY.Taryn,you will have so much fun with the age 4.This is one of my favorite ages.I love the door Jeff made him,he should start selling these,it is absolutely beautiful!!!!!Thanks so much for my last order,the beeswax is going to become Rose/lavendar balm for xmas!!!!!
Holly says
Bracken ,HAPPY BIRTHDAY.Taryn,you will have so much fun with the age 4.This is one of my favorite ages.I love the door Jeff made him,he should start selling these,it is absolutely beautiful!!!!!Thanks so much for my last order,the beeswax is going to become Rose/lavendar balm for xmas!!!!!