It's Friday!

It's Friday night, and I'm curled up on the couch with Abby and Nate watching The Grinch (the non-cartoon version).  (Emma is at a friend's house having a sleepover, so I just have the little ones tonight.)  I love this.  We're in our pajamas. Lots of snuggling.  Talking over each other in an effort to tell me everything that's happened in the past week.  Commenting on the movie we've probably seen 50 times.  I love this moment:  the beginning of a new week with them.  I love that they are still young enough to snuggle. I love hearing their stories.

We have so much to do this weekend:  put up the Christmas trees, assemble the Christmas train under the tree, make Christmas cookies....

But for now, we are snuggling, watching a familiar movie, and enjoying the moment.

I Am Thankful....for Nathan

This boy is the light of my life.  Just look at that grin!

He has grown so much this year...not just his height and his crazy shoe size which is bigger than Abby's.

He has grown in his interactions with adults, teachers and Sunday School teachers.

He's developing friendships at both his schools.  He makes friends out of strangers on the playground all the time.  He can ride a bike, roller-blade (really well!), whistle, snap his fingers (a new, endearing hobby, let me just tell you), swim, count into the 80's before he gets tired of it and just quits, spell three letter words, cook pop tarts and he can collect and take out the trash and the recycling (and he does it without complaining!).  He has such a "servant's heart" and loves to take care of everyone.  Nate is one of the most loving children that I have ever known.

Nate was the little boy hiding behind my leg with a binkie in his mouth...and it feels like that was just a month ago.  In reality, he has been growing and changing and growing-up right before my eyes. He is only half an inch shorter than Abby now, which causes her no end of consternation.  He loves to tinker with things....Nate has never been into trains or action figures or transformers....he likes them, but he would rather take a random group of small objects and put them together and take them apart.  I don't really have an explanation for this, but he loves to tinker.

I am so grateful that God gave me a boy.

I am  thankful that Nathan has a grateful heart.

I am thankful that Nate is making friends.

I am thankful that he is learning to read and write and color and count.

I am thankful that he is learning to persevere.

I am so thankful for Nate's love for all his sisters.

I am thankful that he still likes to hang out with me.

I am thankful for Nate's enthusiasm for life.

I am thankful that he can zip his own coat and tie his shoes.

I am thankful that his sister's have a defender.

I am thankful for the balance he brings to our lives.

And I am so thankful that he is my son.

Happy Birthday Nathan

First, try and pretend that today is October 27th...

Surprise!!

It's a BMX bike!!

And just the right size....finally!

(The minute we gave him the bike, it started to POUR outside....go figure.  He got to ride up and down the hallway and through the dining room!)

And some hex bugs from his sisters....

and some Super Mario Legos....

And of course, pumpkin pie (instead of cake) for dessert!

Could this six year old be any more delighted that it's his birthday?  When I went in to wake him up this morning, he was already awake and wanting to know "is it morning yet?"  We had covered his bed in balloons during the night, so that he was surrounded when he woke up in the morning.  At his preschool in the morning, he celebrated by bringing in ice cream cups....and he got to wear a birthday crown.  In the afternoon at Kindergarten, he celebrated again with brownies...and yet another birthday crown!  For dinner, we celebrated at pizza hut (and I remembered why I consider it a personal sacrifice to take my children to pizza hut...bleh!  But Nate loved it!)  And then we finished up with pie. 

By that point, Nate was still so excited and thrilled...the way that only a six year old can be....and I remembered how important all these simple joys are to my boy.  Simple things...a bike, balloons, ice cream, pizza, pie, a birthday crown, celebrating with family....and yet they brought such joy, excitement and delight to Nate.  Look at that face!

Nate you are truly our gift from God.  Your joy is contagious and your sweetness, generosity and loving heart are a blessing to everyone in our family.  Your place in our family is unique, as the only boy, and I am so grateful for that...you are already trying to become your sisters' protector.  I am so proud of the young man that you are becoming...of all the things you are learning...of the strength you are developing...and the character that is growing within you.  You are God's gift to me.  And I love you.

Carving with Cousins

This is not a job to be taken lightly.....

 ....it requires concentration

 ....fine motor dexterity...

 ...and a true artist's eye...

 ...and sometimes, even a helping hand...

But the results are a lot of fun!

 Cousins Lila, Silas and Eli joined us for the annual tradition of creating

pumpkin art.  Even Abby's best friend, Hannah, joined in the project! 

Eli's contribution to the pumpkin line-up was slightly more understated.

 Ta-da!



The joy of accomplishment!

Is it really that time again?

2nd Grade

(Could she be any cuter?)

 

5th Grade (seriously?)

 

Kindergarten

(love the missing tooth!)