Here we go - Brennan is ELEVEN!
The 13th
On his birthday, he took swiss rolls to school for his treat to share with his classmates. For dinner he picked potato soup and rolls. For his dessert, he picked variety cheesecake.
For his gift, we gave him $50. It was a big drawn out tear-fest the night before because he felt overwhelmed by indecision, and Ryan and I couldn't think of anything to get him. Sigh. This way he can pick something when he wants something, rather than stacking a birthday gift on right after all his Christmas gifts.
Urban Air
I think Ryan is officially sick of this place, but like the other boys, Brennan picked for his activity to go to Urban Air with his friend Jackson Carroll (there are two Jacksons that are both his best friends). Ryan picked him up, and they drove there together.
Jackson got him a Walmart gift card. Jackson also came over to play at the house for a couple hours. He's a nice kid. They had a great time, and Ryan wants a break from the place!
***
Oh Brennan! We had a few easier years in there (age 8-10), but I think we are headed into some more nightmare ones. I think his teen years are starting now, at 11, and that doesn't bode well since Collin really is 13. Yikes!
This kid is a ball of pent-up anxiety. He doesn't talk about feelings, and he can never make a decision. He keeps secrets, and he's a spectacular liar. So far, his secrets and lies have never been a very big deal, but we all know how dangerous middle school and high school are. I'm so grateful he's got Collin by his side, but... I'm terrified. I wish he would talk to us (Ryan and I), but when we press, he shuts down even more. Sigh.
Brennan likes art, coding, Minecraft, and YouTube science videos. He likes to stay home - more than anyone except Ethan. He likes comfortable jammies, tagless shirts, back rubs and lotion. He still gets random rashes/hives, and his skin is crazy sensitive.
He rarely feels strongly about anything, except food. He is very opinionated about food. He still hates anything with marinara sauce, though he does eat pizza now. He likes rich, creamy soups and casseroles (which my tummy hates). He also loves meat - steak, hamburgers, carne asada, etc. He won't eat any pasta or rice. He does do rolls and bread though. Very picky!
Brennan is a very talented artist, specifically drawing. He goes to an art school after school each Monday, and they do acrylic painting, watercolors, clay, charcoal, and pencil. His favorite is by-far pencil and charcoal, and he's really good too! Ryan put up this display wire in the Lego room upstairs because I was having a hard time finding good places to display things on the main floor. He's embarrassed about it, but I love it!
Collin and Brennan share a room, and it has been the best. When asked who his best friend is, Brennan answers without hesitation that it's Collin, and vice versa. I don't know if it's because we have moved so much or because of Covid and lockdown, but I can't complain. Collin already has a strong testimony of the Gospel and a desire to choose the right. Brennan is still learning.
Brennan is super smart. In Math, his teacher lets him take the end-of-unit test on the first day of each unit. If he gets 100%, then he gets to do the spiraled-6th grade curriculum for that unit. When that happens, she literally gives him the material, and he teaches it to himself. The teacher is available for questions, but she is - of course - busy teaching the 5th grade content. There are no other kids in his class also doing the advanced material, so he has to be self-motivated. It's amazing! If he misses even 1, he has to participate with the class for the month-long unit. He hates when that happens, which so far has only been once. He's a great reader, even though he doesn't love it. He read about one Diary of a Wimpy Kid per day of Christmas Break, so thank goodness there's like 15 of them! He and Collin read in their room before bed on non-school nights. I'm excited for the extension opportunities that will be available to him at the middle school next year through gifted & talented and honors classes.
With a January birthday, Brennan has one more year of Primary as the big dogs. He still sings in singing time, and he loves his teachers, so I think it will be ok. He already sees all the work that Collin has to do (passing the sacrament, organizing the deacons, bringing the bread, teaching his quorum, planning activities, visiting the inactives, etc.) that he knows that he's got it made waiting one more year. He does enjoy attending his weeknight Primary activities twice a month, and I'm glad he has such great dads leading that group.
Brennan is my most inquisitive child, and he always needs to know why. Unfortunately, he is also the most mouthy of my kids, always responding with a smart-aleck retort. He almost always catches me off-guard. His reasoning and sarcasm are not bested among the other kids, though Ryan can usually deal jab for jab. Sadly, I'm usually dumbfounded and just send him to his room.
There's Brennan! He has grown up so much since we moved here, and we really have had a good couple years. Here comes teen B though...
