Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Catching Up with Spring

So, I found these posts I had written but never published... 
So here we are... remembering Spring!!!

What he does when he plays with Play Dough...
make flags!
A sweet playdate with a friend from Coop...
painting a giant picture in the kitchen.
Snack time can also be art time with Coop friends!

A first grade science experiment...
experimenting with vibration
His "school"...looking up countries and their flags and coloring them.
It keeps him busy for hours.
A fun way to practice spelling words - shaving cream!
Afternoon art time... making trees.
Green Eggs and Ham!
Math is way more fun with a few snuggles!
Kallan being the Statue of Liberty he made himself...
Notice the statue "spike" on his had, his torch, and he's holding the 
flag of Ireland. (Why... I don't know!)
Seriously - melt my heart!
Bath time!
Our tub is getting smaller and smaller...

Kallan - All. The. Time.
More playdates with special friends!
These two... they were giddy over the dress-up tea party they planned.
Good Morning!  Our days start early around here!
I never want to forget...
Kallan - my one sock on, one sock off boy.
Every day... each and every day!
My master boat maker!
A fun spring project... making a rocket with dad.
Our family... by Ainsley

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

My boys...

2011
Liam (Age 6) Kallan (Age 1)
2015
Kallan (Age 5) Baylor (Age 1)

Sunday, March 22, 2015

Celebrating!!!

We celebrated Liam's #10 and Kallan's #5 birthdays together with 
our extended family.  It's always a fun time to celebrate our boys!
Liam's Top Ten Lists...
Favorite Songs
Favorite Foods
Favorite Outside Activities
Favorite Electronic Games
Party Favors (they are supposed to look like #10!)  :)
This little one enjoying the food!
Opening Gifts...
One of his favorite gifts...
Sweet and simple... a #10 made out of ice cream!
More World Cookies for this world-loving boy!
Happy Birthday to my sweet boys!

Saturday, March 21, 2015

A Letter to My 10 Year Old

March 21, 2015

My dear Liam,

I still remember it as if it was yesterday. The beginning of your labor.  The time of events as the day of your birth progressed.  Those first seconds of holding you and seeing you for the first time.  The moment you made me a mama. And now, today, it is crazy for me to think that ten years have passed of growing you, raising you, and being your mama.  Double digits my son!  Two whole hands.  I feel like I have blinked, and the little boy I used to hold and snuggle with has become this long-legged pre-teen living in my house.  Ten years buddy.  Today you are ten.
I’m not so sure I know how to be a mama to a ten year old.  Whether it is you being ten, or just the fact that you and I are going through everything for the first time together, I feel like I have to have my “A-Game” on all the time with you as we navigate these waters with each other.  You are strong son, you are intense, you have ideas and thoughts of how things should go… yet you still need the guidance and discipline from us, and sometimes those things don’t fit together so well.  But we keep asking God for wisdom.  We keep forgiving each other and getting back up when we have fallen down.  I know that God choose me to be your mama for a reason, and for that I trust Him that He’s going to keep walking beside us on this journey of a mama and her son and be with us all the way.


So who are you at ten?  You know what you want from each day.  You have a direction and plan from the moment you wake up and are ready to march in that direction.  You love sports and playing with friends.  You could be playing with someone all day long if they were available.  You are definitely competitive and that comes out whether you are playing a game of basketball or trying to get the last yogurt in the fridge.  Some words I would use to describe your personality right now is intense, energetic, strong, competitive, determined, loving, goofy, a people person, and a leader.  I see how God has wired you, and I can only imagine how He could use those traits for His glory in the future.  My prayer for you son, is that you would grow to use these traits to serve Him and move mountains for His kingdom.  
You are a sharp boy and school comes really easy for you.  You are really good at math, spelling, and reading.  You also have a big imagination and are great at creative writing or making up scenarios for your Legos or army men.  You love to build and create!  It’s amazing to me what your mind comes up with.  The other day you saw a picture of an army plane in the newspaper and suddenly you were inspired to make something like that.  Two hours later you came up with this amazing plane you had created out of Legos.  You also love to create on Minecraft, and it blows my mind away to see everything you design on it.  From tree houses and roller coasters to castles and ball field stadiums, it is amazing to watch you create, Liam.  The other day we were driving by a house, and you had to get home quick because something on that house inspired you to change a design on one of your Minecraft houses.  I love it!  Lately, I could see you being some sort of architect or designer when you grow up.  You definitely have the skills and creativity for that.   


Other things you are doing lately… You are in your second year of piano and are doing amazing.  Sometimes your teacher comments that she can’t believe you have only been taking lessons for less than two years.  You have come such a long way in this short time, and we are so proud of you!  You have also played soccer, basketball, and baseball this last year, and you are hoping to take up golf this summer with dad. Of course we can’t forget the daily sport games with the neighborhood boys!  That’s an activity all on its own!  You not only love to play sports, but you love to watch them.  Royals baseball and Nebraska football are on the top of the list.  But any sport you would sit and watch if given the chance.  
You enjoy being a big brother and really love to help with Baylor.  You are good and usually patient with Kallan too.  You do enjoy teasing Ainsley, but you two can also be the best of friends and can have lots of fun playing together.  I’m thankful for the extra time you have to build relationships with your siblings and I hope these years of being together each day will only bring you all closer to each other.


You love the Ipad and Wii.  You love food, especially anything Italian, BBQ, or dessert.  You love to play jokes.  You love being first.  You love your gray fuzzy blanket on your bed.  You love music, especially Toby Mac.  You love to wear gym clothes, especially anything Underarmour.  You love to snuggle with mom and dad.  You enjoy reading books, especially graphic novels or mystery books.  You love one-on-one time with us.  You enjoy cooking and watching cooking shows.  You like to sweep your hair to one side. (All. The. Time.)  You like hugs.  You like to smile. You bring energy and life to our family.  You are one of a kind my son!
Liam, I’m reminded today of how much I love you.  I’m reminded that even though you keep me on my toes as a mama and don’t let me relax too much on this journey, you have taught me so much in these last ten years, and I am a better mama because of you and what God has taught me through you.  I continue to be humbled and blessed that He chose me for you.  Some days I wonder if I have what it takes to raise you into the man He desires you to be… but I’m confident of this my son… that He who has begun a good work in you will finish it.  And I get a front row seat!


I love you Liam!  Happy 10th birthday!

Always,
Mama

#10

My big boy turned 10. 
Double digits.
Two hands.
So hard for me to believe.  So exciting for him.
We weren't quite sure what would be a fun way to celebrate his birthday this year
but came up with the idea of a pool party. 
Fun for the boys... easy for me... perfect!
We had the boys over for supper and celebration ice cream sundaes.

10....

After supper we loaded everyone up and headed to 
a Marriott hotel right down the road 
for a pool party and sleep over.
One perk of Tim traveling alot is that he racks up hotel points quickly...
which means free hotel rooms for us.
The boys had a blast playing at the pool.
There is always something extra special about being able
to get a good swim in during the cold months of winter.

My littles even got to enjoy the water and celebrate their brother.

Baylor LOVED the water and didn't want to get out.
I'm going to have a little fish on my hands this summer.

After a good swim, Tim and the boys headed to their room and I took 
our other three home to sleep in our own beds.
 There the boys played games, watched a little TV, and snacked the evening away.
 Before bed, they headed outside for a little night time Frisbee.
So much fun!
 "Dad, can I just walk with my friends for awhile..."
 I think every one slept pretty good... 
and in the morning a hotel breakfast fit for four pre-teen boys.
 One last game of spoons before they loaded up and headed to our house
to have the birthday boy open his gifts.
It was the perfect party for this 10 year old!
And as a party favor, Liam and I sent his friends away
with a CD of Liam's Top Ten Favorite Songs.
Happy Birthday Liam... 
The big #10!