Bath-tized

 When Ian was about 5 or 6 years old, he was taking a bath when he called to me  to "come see".  I  walked in to see my little boy covered from head to toe in bubbles with the biggest smile on his face.

"Mom!  I just bath-tized myself!", he proudly exclaimed as the bubbles dripped off of his chubby cheeks.

 Being baptized is something that Ian has talked about for years and has looked forward to since he was a Sunbeam in church. 

In the weeks leading up to his baptism, he would ask me all kinds of questions, showing me that he was really thinking about his decision and what it would mean in his life.  He asked me about repentance and exactly how one goes about repenting when you have done something wrong.

He was very ready for this day and he wanted to make sure that I was too.  He kept asking me if I was going to cry at his baptism.  I asked him, "Do you want me to?"  "Yes", he would say with his cute little smile.

 Ian was very concerned about his white underwear.  He was not about to wear briefs!  He wanted boxers.  I searched and searched for white boxers- and found them at Target where I should have looked first! 

It was an awesome day, one that we as a family will always remember.  The last of our children to be baptized- such a strange feeling.   Time sure has flown by!

 Now before we know it, he'll be preparing to leave on a mission!

Congratulations Ian!  We love you!

30 years old!

My favorite picture from our last New York City vacation.

Today as Ian walked down the sidewalk to my car after school, he motioned for me to roll down the window.

He leaned inside and asked, "Can I sit in the front seat today?"

"No", I replied, "you are still too little."

"I am not!", he forcefully said. "In cat years I'm like.... 30 years old!"

Gotta love how his mind works.

Clever. Very clever.

One down, three to go.

All four of Ian's top front teeth have been wibbly, wobbly for the past month or so.

Finally, one came out yesterday (thanks to mommy's quick pull).

Ian was pretty excited......

and then he lost the baggie that we had put his tooth in for the tooth fairy. He was devastated. He wrote a note to the tooth fairy, promising that he would never lose one of his teeth again.

Then he cried himself to sleep.
In the morning, under his pillow was the money the tooth fairy had left him and this note.

Now he can't wait until the next one comes out!

The first and the last

Today was the boy's last day of school.

I thought it would be fun to take a look back at their first day of school pictures and compare them with the ones I took today of their last day.

Ian on his first day of 1st grade...

and on his last.
Isaac on his first day of 6th grade...
and his last.
I think they both look just a little bit older, and maybe a bit wiser too? I certainly hope so.

Here's to a fun summer ahead!

Snapshots of Ian

seven years old

very excited to be in second grade- in 40 days (but who's counting?)
loves a girl named isabel

cares way too much about what his hair and clothes look like
loves to play with his friends
has a great imagination
loves to play outside- in any weather
says the sweetest prayers
loves to draw

is becoming a very good reader
has a very tender heart
likes spiders and spooky things

gets whiny when he hasn't had enough sleep
has the most beautiful brown eyes
and millions of freckles

wants to be a professional football player when he grows up
weighs more than his big brother
loves to have bedtime stories read to him

there's no one like him

i love you my boy
happy birthday

The Skinny

"I'm NOT going to school then!" Ian shouted at me.

"Yes you are!" I said back. "I will take you in your pajamas if I have to but you ARE going!"

Now this is not my idea of a great way to start the day. What was all the shouting about you ask?

Skinny Jeans.

We bought Ian a pair about a month ago and it was instant love. He wanted to wear them every day, even resorting to pulling them out of the dirty clothes bin if I hadn't washed them yet.

So this particular morning, I had had it. I put my foot down and told him he couldn't wear them again that week. They needed to be washed!

It didn't go over so well.

So I made him a deal. "Wear your other jeans today, and I will go out and buy you a couple more skinny jeans so you will have more than one pair to wear." I pleaded with him.

He finally gave in and peeled his worn-every-day-for-a-week skinny jeans off and handed them over to me.

Off to school he went with his shoulders slumped and his head hanging low. "The girls won't think I'm cute." he said as he got out of the car.

He is in FIRST grade friends. Doesn't this seem a bit ridiculous to you? Geez.

So, I bought him two new pairs of not just skinny jeans, but SUPER skinny jeans from Old Navy. He fell in love all over again.

As he left the house in his new jeans, his head was held high, he had a bounce in his step and he smiled the whole way to school. As he got out of the car he said, "The girls are going to love me today."

"I'm sure they will buddy." I said. "But don't you think the kids like you no matter what you wear?"

He looked back at me like I had just said the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard. "Yes, but they like me lots more in my skinny jeans."


What are we in for?

Thankful for...

Someday, I am going to miss the sound of splashing and playing while my little one takes a bath.

Someday, I am going to miss the hour long process that it takes to empty the tub of toys before draining the water.

Someday, I am going to miss hearing the imaginary wars and super hero tales going on behind the bathroom door.

Someday.

But tonight I heard and saw all of those things.

Tonight, I am thankful for little boys and all of their toys.

Thankful for...

I love looking through Ian's backpack when he comes home from school and seeing the projects have kept his hands busy that day.

First grade handwriting makes me smile.

Today, I am thankful for little hands and the things they create.

**No wonder he was starving when he got home from school today. Writing about all that food would make me hungry too! Yes I do, I like it too!

thankful thoughts~ day three

Today I give thanks for the lovely park that entertained two boys who have been so terribly bored these past few weeks while they have been off track. Even though they fought like an old married couple the whole time we were there- at least it was a change of scenery for us all.

Mama Sippy

This morning I walked into the kitchen and Ian was sitting at the island doodling on a paper while eating his breakfast. Over and over again I kept hearing him say:

"Sippy mama."

"Mama sippy"

"Sippy mama"

Finally he looked up and asked me, "What is it called again?"

I told him I had no idea what he was talking about. Somewhat frustrated he said, "There is a city or something called Mama Sippy."

"Oh! Mississippi!" I said.

"Mississippi! Yep. That's it." he said relieved.

Then he took his pencil and crossed out Mama sippy and wrote 'Mrs. sippy'.

Chili and Smashed Rocks

Ian and I had just climbed into our car when I reminded him to put his seat belt on.

His little voice from the back seat said, "Cuz we don't want to go to jail, huh mom."

To which I replied, "No we don't".

Then he said, "Because all they give you to eat in prison is chili and all you get to do every day is smash rocks."

Thank you dear movie makers for giving my son the motivation to stay out of prison. Had you chosen to show the prisoners eating steak and potatoes instead of the slop that Ian has interpreted as chili, I might be in trouble. And had you shown them playing basketball instead of 'smashing rocks' I might have lost him already.

One 6 year old boy has made up his mind that prison is indeed, no place for him. Chili and smashing rocks is the worst punishment he can imagine.

And for this, I thank you.

Goodbye Summer

We have had to say goodbye to summer at our house.

It was hard for some, a bit easier for others (meaning me).

School started for the boys this week....one in 6th (at the top of the food chain) the other in 1st (at the very bottom).

This will be the last year that I will have any of my children together at the same school. And to add to the fun, next year I will have one at each of the three schools- yikes!

Both boys seem to have great teachers and both came home with the same smiles they left with in the morning....so we're off to a good start.

First day of school smiles!
Happy 2010-2011 school year!

Cooking with Ian

Last week, I read Ian a bedtime story called, The Pizza That We Made. It's a fascinating read- full of rhyming, tasty words- you should pick it up sometime. (If you are reading on a Kindergarten level that is.)

At the back of the book, a recipe was included to make your very own pizza. Ian begged and begged me to help him make a pizza for lunch, but because the dough has to rise for 45 minutes, we never had enough time to make it. Until today that is!

He read me the instructions....
helped me pour it in the bowl.....stirred it and kneaded it.....let it raise and then.....
he put the sauce on, the freshly grated mozzarella cheese, and lots of pepperoni slices....put it in the oven....waited and waited not so patiently for the timer to beep......
and then proudly sat down to enjoy his slice of pizza. I know he looks a little unsure about eating it in this picture, but I assure you, he ate every last bit! It was actually very good. Nice job buddy!

Saturday afternoon....in pictures

(the bobbing for apples thing was totally his idea....silly boy!)

Happy Monday to you!

He's a First Grader!

Ian graduated from Kindergarten yesterday and I'm still in shock! I can't believe that for the first time in 16 years, I will have no children home with me during the day. Crazy!

Here are a few pictures from his Kindergarten Program.

Here is a slide of him and the picture he drew of Suzy Snowflake. See if you can find him in the group of kiddos below.

Saying goodbye to his Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Venning- a wonderful teacher!

Now he's in First Grade!!!!
And to celebrate, he wanted to go to In-n-Out Burger....yum!
Way to go Ian! You learned so many things this year! I can't wait to see all that you learn in 1st grade. Love you buddy!