Soda Crackers

I've mentioned before that as part of their writing curriculum, the boys keep a journal that we write back and forth to each other in.  This week, Nathan's journal assignment was to write about a time when he was sick.  This was his entry:

Dear Mommy,

Remember when I was sick at Grandma and Grandpa's house?  You said I started throwing up when I was aslee.  I wished I hadn't eaten so much.  You and Dad took care of me until 2:00 in the morning.  I did not feel good.  I was sick for about a day and a half.  I did like the fizzy drink.  And the soda crackers were okay, but they are not my favorite things to eat.
                  
                                                                                                                                                         Love,
                                                                                                                                                          Nate

P.S.  I would NEVER live on soda crackers.

Such typical Nathan!  He never fails to leave me smiling.

The Cort Gester

Part of Nathaniel's handwriting assignment for today was to write a letter to Gareth and I.  He was looking especially pleased with himself when he finished and couldn't wait for me to grade his work.  It didn't take me long to see why:

 

It's good to be queen!  It's even better to have my own personal "cort gester"!    

Raising Future Husbands

I have long(okay, well, for 6 years) maintained (somewhat jokingly)that one of my biggest jobs as a Mommy is to raise my sons be great husbands. After all, the qualities that will make great "husband material" will also make them successful in many other aspects of life.

I've been fairly confident that Noah will make a great husband since he was a little guy. He's sensitive and gentle, quick to compliment, loves to give kisses and cuddle, likes to do things together, has already learned to put his clothes in the laundry basket, and likes to help with the laundry!

And now, I think I can add Nathan to the category of great future husband material. After a long day shopping, I came home and tried on the new shirt I bought. I walked out into the dining room, and Nathan looked at me and said, "Oh Mommy, if you wear that tomorrow, you'll be the prettiest girl at church".

A Hard Days' Night-Take 6

Poor Nate. I think he must have been tired last night. Gareth went to check on them, and Nathan was so tired that he didn't even wake up when he rolled out of bed.

Grateful That This One Wasn't Flat

As I sat by the window trying to get some school done this morning, I was interrupted by a small round face pressed against the window squealing with excitement. Nathan had caught a toad. All by himself! He was just so proud of himself. The toad was scared half-to-death and squeezed three-fourths to death. As for me, I'm just grateful that this one wasn't flat. Don't have a clue what I'm talking about? Just check here.

Bierre's Birthday Party

Last Wednesday night, as Gareth was tucking the boys into bed and praying with them, he asked them what kind of day they had. Nathan was very excited to tell him that he had a good day, and that the next day would be GREAT, because it was going to be Bierre's birthday. Gareth passed along this tidbit of news, and I assumed that Nathan would have forgotten by the next morning. But, he had not. He woke up very excited about Bierre's birthday, and I decided that I should go along with this idea.

So, after school and after play time outside, the munchkins brought all of their favorite stuffed animals into the kitchen and we set up a surprise party for Bierre. Nathan was SOOOO excited! I had to keep encouraging him to not bring Bierre out until everything was set up.

We popped popcorn, made lemonade, set out the bag of Hershey's Kisses that I had been stashing in the pantry for "sometime when I need them", and made a quilt on the floor where all of the animals could sit together.

Then, Nathan was sent to bring Bierre. When we saw him coming, we all shouted "Surprise"! I love this smile on Nathan's face. He was so pleased.
Then, we all gathered round to sing "Happy Birthday" to Bierre.

While the animals enjoyed "invisible popcorn" and Hershey's Kisses on their quilt, the "big" people sat up to bar for their popcorn and kisses and lemonade. The kids were especially pleased, because our friend and ace-housekeeper, Lindsey, was here and could join in. (By the way, every Mommy should have a Lindsey in their life! I look forward to Thursdays all week. Even if I haven't gotten to some aspect of the housework earlier, I know that by the end of Thursday afternoon it will all be done, my whole house will sparkle and smell good, my munchkins LOVE her, and she loves them, too!) It's great to have a Mommy's helper who has a sense of humor and just joins in when Mommy or the Munchkins cook up some hair-brained scheme or another.

Here are the animals enjoying their plate of Hershey's Kisses.

Afterwards, Noah led devotions for all of the animals and Rosie got out her current favorite book to show them the pictures.

A great time was had by all, and Rosie is now busy cooking up a plan to have her Bear's birthday party this week. (Think I might have started something here....)

But, it was a good reminder for me, that it doesn't take much to please my munchkins. Only 20 minutes out of my day, but Nathan felt so special, and I am sure this is a memory that he will look back on, knowing that His Mommy loved him and took the time to just play and be silly. Must make sure that I keep looking for those small (but intensely sweet) chances to do so.....

Being Nathan's Mommy-

It's never dull. Take this morning as a case in point. I'm tidying up the house, and I give each of the munchkins a chore to help. I sent Nathan to put a card in the mailbox. A couple of minutes later, Nathan returns with eyes the size of saucers, and with a loud voice and big gestures says, "Mommy, I can't go play yet. I have something I have to tell you! I found a frog. I touched him! I was petting him." Now, this is indeed a big deal! Last year, Nathan loved to "hunt" for frogs but would shriek and wail anytime I would pick one up and try to get him to stroke it. So, I am suitably impressed and say, "Wow, Nathan! That's great! Would you like to bring the frog in to show Noah and Rosie?" Then it occurs to me, "Where is the frog?" Nathan says, "Sure, Mommy. He's a big frog. I found him in the road. He's a flat frog!"


Oh, NASTY! EEEWWWWW! EEEEEWWWWW! GROSS!!!!!!!!! UUUUGGGG! GROSS! (Sorry, I just had to get that out of my system.) Anyhow, I submit this as just one (of many) piece of evidence that life as Nathan's Mommy is a job worthy of hazard pay. But, it is never dull!

By the way, you young whipper-snapper ushers at church (namely Jon and Paul) who laugh at the industrial-sized bottle of hand sanitizer peeking out of the side of my purse, one day when you have sons this age, maybe you'll understand! :)

Birthday Pictures

Nate had a great 5th birthday! Well, he had a great 5th birthday if you don't count the part where he had to wait for Daddy to get home to open most of his presents-that part was torture.

But, Daddy eventually made it home, and the party could begin.


Scary, almost, the way that Nathan has become a 5-year old, including the need to make silly faces at the camera.


Opening presents was serious business.

Poor Rosie! She still can't believe that it's not all about her. She had a little bit of a hard time coming to grips with the fact that this wasn't her birthday, her party, or her presents. But, she did finally get the idea and enjoyed looking at Nathan's presents. Unfortunately, she has talked non-stop about her "pink princess birthday party" non-stop ever since.

Did I mention that Nathan shows all the marks of having indeed become a 5-year old male?

He loved all of his presents.

Most exciting was the fact that he got a tool belt with Nathan-sized tools just like Daddy's! After supper, they headed straight out into the garage for a wood-working project. He now asks me several times a day if I need a hammer for anything. He's just dying to lend me his hammer!

Since we were having a "big party" on Saturday with his friends, he agreed to save his cake for then. So, we had ice cream sundaes for desert instead.

Then, on Saturday, we got together with Nathan's 25 bestest friends and their parents and had a big party. Most years we only do a family party, but on their 5th birthday, the kids get to choose to have a party with friends. Nathan chose to go to Pump-It-Up, which has the coolest inflatable toys anywhere (and the adults get to play, too!!!!!). My apologies for the picture quality here. The room with the toys was poorly lit, and I just couldn't get my camera to cooperate.

Gareth hadn't been to Pump-It-Up before. I think he might want to go back for his birthday! He and one of the other guys did some racing down the slide, and at one point he actually slid clear off the end and went heels over head. He has some great-looking rug burns on his elbows.

Notice the Mommies hanging out in the background. Several of my friends and I have found that the best way to have a conversation is to take the kids somewhere to jump, then just sit inside one of the inflatables and chat. Seriously-in January I got to have over half-an-hours conversation with a friend, even though we had six kids between us!

Shhh-don't tell, but Nathan loves Ally! He's been quite adamant that he's going to marry her for 2 years now. No lovey-dovey stuff when they're together, but from time to time he comes to remind me that when he's too old to live with me that he's going to marry Ally. (Not sure what her Daddy thinks of this plan!)

After all of the kids had bounced themselves silly, we headed to the party room for cake and presents. Nathan wanted me to make a "swamp thang" cake on a beach. I have to admit, that I was disappointed in the outcome, but Nathan was happy with it.

How fantastic to have a birthday party with that many kids but not have to do any of the cleanup afterwards! And, Nathan loved the party room with the inflatable crown for the birthday boy to sit on.

Did I mention Nathan has become a typical 5-year old male full of typical 5-year old male silly faces?!

He's still pretty handsome, though! We had more girls than boys there. Just so happens that Nathan is friends with more girls than boys. Rosie sure was glad that Brooke is one of Nathan's friends, too.

And, Nathan likes little guys, too. He had plenty of younger kids he wanted on his invitation list, so we had loads of adorable babies for cuddling.

Makes me wish I had one!!!

Just look at those hands. She obviously enjoyed the frosting.

After wrestling with the "swamp thang" cupcakes, it was on to opening presents.

And, once again, opening presents was serious business.

Grateful, I was, that these arrows were suction cup-tipped.

Thanks to all of you who were able to come and helped make Nathan's party so special.

Happy Birthday, Nathan

Happy Birthday to the world's cuddliest baby.

(And the only one I've ever met who was born so chunky that his cheeks completely supported his neck while they rested on his shoulders!) Happy Birthday to the little man whose cheeky smile stole my heart in an instant,

and whose love for messes never ceases to surprise/disgust/amuse me.

Happy Birthday to the little boy who always has loved to make people smile. Happy Birthday to the world's best little brother.

Happy Birthday to the cutest little goofball

and bestest little cowboy around.

Happy Birthday to Inky's best friend.
Happy Birthday to one (of the two) handsomest little men I know

(even in heels and a tiara)!

Happy Birthday, Nathan!

I love you,

Mommy