Brave Anna Girl

Anna is 4!!!

My sweet little girl is getting bigger.  She is a talker and is constantly voicing everything that she is thinking and processing.  She bursts out laughing at the slightest excitement and has the biggest grin.  She is always up for adventures and is a great playmate who will even play the bad guy (with gusto and evil voice) if asked.  She is very kind and great at sharing to make things fair.  She is also very observant and will always notice and glowingly compliment you on a hair cut, new clothes, or project you are working on. She is mommy's "little girl buddy." 

Anna requested a "Brave Merida" party for her birthday so they could shoot arrows at a bear, so we complied.  She asked her hair be just curly to match Merida, so we complied-love it! We filled the backyard with her chosen friends (mostly cousins) and their families, along with her grandparents, for Pizza and games. (The camera got passed to Daniel and Richard Ross and they took some amazing pictures! I am so grateful!  So I have a few to share...)

 We started with a beanbag toss that I made this week (more details to come on it later!  I love how it turned out!) The littlest boys were especially enamored with it. 

 Stay on target...stay on target...

 Everyone got a turn and we had some really good shots!

 Each of the kids recieved their own pvc bow that they decorated with colored electrical tape and markers.  They were then given an arrow to go with it as we started out on our adventure- following the wisps to find our destiny!

 We followed the clues that were with each wisp and they led us around the house, and then into the deep forest.... 

Where the evil bear Mor-du was sighted!  All the kids rushed in to attack! Hooray for the clan!

  

 Anna the brave was right in the thick of it.
Love, love, love this picture.

This was her favorite part of the birthday party.  She told me over and over again about going on the treasure hunt into the forest to shoot the evil bear.  She was living the moment.  

 Bring it bear. You don't scare me!

 The bear was hit dozens and dozens of times.  Good thing it was an enchanted bear or it wouldn't have lasted a second.  It even gained life, along with many little legs, and ran all over the yard as it continued to be hit with shots until it was finally trampled :)  It was so fun to see how happy the kids were.  And they were so good and careful with their bows!  Maybe their parents will forgive me for arming their children...

They also got some good practice on the BYU target.

 A few tips was all it took to get everyone shooting well.

 We even got our photographer Daniel to give a bow a try! 

 Then the birthday girl got to open her massive pile of presents.  Merida gifts were plentiful as were other great, thoughtful gifts from so many people that love her.  She was a happy girl who cheerfully called out "Thank-oo!" after each gift. 

And a few of the wonderful people who joined in the party.

 My beautiful niece Paige.

 David kept busy going from person to person, grandparent to grandparent, mooching off food and especially birthday cake. 

 He loves people and was having so much fun watching all the kids and getting so much attention.

The proud, the strong, the happy girl cousins.

It was a great party with great people for a very special little girl. Thank you for coming everyone!  And Happy Birthday Anna girl!