A Moment Captured

I found a picture of you.

You were maybe four or five years old, I'm not sure. You're holding a water gun in your hands, and the look on your face is so serious. I wonder what you're thinking about? Your mouth is open, just a little. What were you about to say, buddy?

The sun is shining on your soaking wet hair - I'm not sure if it's wet from sweat or the water gun battle - or both!  I see your little-boy-dirty-streaked face, with your eyes shining.  I remember that brown and blue shirt that you're wearing - how many times did I wash that thing?

I can even recall the smell of that little boy, with his ever-present wiggling, moving, noise, and sweetness.

I remember that day - it was warm, the sun was shining on us, out in the backyard. I look at that picture and it was only a handful of years ago, but so long ago, really.

 

You turned 11 a few days ago.  Eleven, my little boy with the bluest eyes.

 

I'm so proud of you!  You make me happy, and I have been incredibly blessed to be your Mom.

 

Happy Birthday, my sweetest boy.  I love you.

Eight

8

Eight. 

EIGHT!!


1) What can I give you to make you as happy as you have made me? Years and years we waited for you - praying, hoping all along. You were - and are - truly a gift from God.

2) Your energy is off the charts and I'm so envious.  You are always up for the next adventure; always ready to gogogo, run, play, and fight bad guys.  Keep fighting those bad guys, baby.  Always have fun!    

3) Try your hardest. Don't give up after stumbling. You'll truly learn from your mistakes - no matter how bad you may feel.   Don't stop trying - and don't stop learning.

4)  Those blue eyes just kill me - do you know how powerful they are? You'll probably break a thousand hearts with those baby blues.   Right now, though, you can just use your powers on Mom and Dad....

5) Be good.  Be kind.  Be strong.  Stand up for what is right, don't go with the crowd 'just because'.   Make up your own mind about what you will and won't do, don't allow someone else to change what you know is right...listen to the feelings in your heart and you'll always know you've done what is best.  

6) Do you have to grow up? I know, in just a few short years, you'll be driving. Driving!
Every year I think, oh I love this age - but every year it gets better. I can't wait to see how you change into the man you are meant to be. Just don't do it so fast, k?
7) Trust God.  He always knows what's best for you and loves you more than Mommy and Daddy ever could.

8) Eat your vegetables.  :)



Happy birthday my sweet boy.  I will always always love you, no matter what. 

Growth.

Sheesh.  My baby is growning up and I'm not too sure I'm all that happy about it! 
The boy has just about outgrown every pair of jeans that he owns!  This morning, I helped him get his clothes out for school -  as he pulled the jeans on I could tell they were a bit snug.  He couldn't snap them...."Mom, can you get this for me?".......let's see.....ok, suck it in......uh, no.  Too short and too tight!
To make matters worse, they were semi-new!!  (read: they didn't have holes in the knee)
Did he have a growth spurt that I missed?! 

Speaking of growing up.....

We took our new camper out for our inaugural camping trip this weekend!  We didn't go far, just up the road 20-30 minutes to FDR State Park.  Lovely place, lovely weather.  We hiked, biked, fished and roasted marshmallows over the fire.  Oh, and the boy found a girlfriend. 

Our campsite was across from the play area, so my Social Butterfly son spent a good bit of time over there playing with the other camp kids.  When he wasn't at the playground, he was whining that he wanted to go play with his new friends at the playground.  We soon found out why. 
Her name was Abby.  Or Addie.  Or Allie.  Something like that.  Anyway.  I believe it was love at first sight.

After breakfast Sunday morning, we heard the sound of kids on the playground, so he asked if he could go over to play.  He got dressed, then asked if his hair was still sticking up (he had a bit of The Bed Head going on).   I told him yes - did he want me to fix it for him?  Yes, please.
So, I moistened it a bit and tried to make it behave, which led to nice flat wet hair.. 
I asked him if he wanted me to dry it a little with my hair dryer.  Yes, please.
A few knowing looks over his head to the Daddy and we were done.
"Is it ok, Mom?"
"Is it flat?" 
Yes, baby.  You're perfect.

And just like that, my baby grew up.  He wanted to be sure his hair was ok before he went out to meet his 'friends', particularly, one girl.  As we watched through the camper screen, he walked toward the playground and the kids flocked to him.





We were thinking, though.  Our Social Butterfly who worried so much about whether his hair was flat, never thought to brush his teeth. 

Maybe I've got a few more years yet?

Finally!

Well, it finally happened.....

Ben lost his first tooth yesterday -  at church.  Pulled it himself, and boy, was he proud!
On the way out, as we were visiting with folks in the lobby of the sanctuary, he had to tell everyone!!   (And thanks to our sweet church family, they acted properly impressed with the show and tell! )   :)  

I wondered if he'd ever lose the first tooth, to be honest!  Most of the kids in his class have already lost several teeth - they started in kindergarten or first grade - and here my sweet boy is, with all his baby teeth intact, nearing the end of second grade!   Our crazy dentist told us last summer that the permanent teeth were there, and they'd come out when they were ready, but sheesh! 

So, he's a snaggle-tooth monster now.  Oh!  Almost forgot!  We had a visit from the Tooth Fairy last night too.  We weren't too sure of the 'going' rate for her services, but it seems that $5.00 is pretty popular around here, so that's what we did.   We put Ben to bed last night with his tooth safely on the bedside table so she'd be sure to find it.....the kid can NOT be still when he's in the bed and I could just imagine her search and rescue mission in the middle of the night looking for a lost tooth!  

He was thrilled with the surprise this morning.  I think he's already wiggling the next tooth so he can get another visit from the Tooth Fairy! 

What a kid.



Question:   Um.  Where does one store a slightly used tooth? 

First Day of School!!!

Today is the day.  I have your clothes all ready.  I've packed up your backpack with your bright, shiny new school supplies.  I'll pull the camera out in a few minutes so I'll be sure to have it for the required First Day of School Pictures.  After breakfast, we'll get ready and I'll take you to school. 

I'm going to walk with you down the long hallway and insist that you put your hand in mine.  When we get to the door of your new classroom,  I'm going to kneel down (not nearly as far as last year, you're getting so big) give you a big hug and a kiss...if you let me.  Be prepared:  I know I'll try to sneak in another hug before you escape.   Then, I'll tell you to have a great first day of school. And remind you to be good for your new teacher.  And I'll miss you!  Another hug?  Maybe. 

You'll go in to your new adventure.  I'll smile and turn away, but my heart will still be there.   My baby is in the second grade.  

Liar, liar, pants on fire.....

These are the facts:   The little man came home yesterday afternoon with a bag full of gifts purchased from the Santa Shop at his school.  Knowing good and well that I hadn't sent any money to school, I asked him where he'd gotten money for gifts.  He responded that he'd found $10 on the floor at school, and used that.  I told him he should have returned the money to his teacher or another adult, to which he said he had.  Now, we'd probably been talking about this for 5-6 minutes at this point and this was the first time he'd mentioned giving the money to anyone .   So, I tried to get him to backtrack and tell me the whole story again.  I had a feeling we were jumping into something I didn't want to think about:  outright lying.

He re-tells the whole incident.  This time, of course, adding the fact that he'd given his teacher the money.  I stopped him mid-story and asked him if he'd told her he'd found it:  "No."    Ok.   Then, what did she say when you handed her the money?  "Nothing."  
Hmm.  She said nothing when a 6 year old hands her a ten dollar bill?  (I said I thought we might have a case of lying going on, I didn't say he was very good at it.)
I told him I would be seeing his teacher in the morning (today) and I'd find out the truth, and gave him ample opportunity to come clean.  Nothing.  He stuck to his story.   Fast forward to this morning, on the way to school.

Car:  I have a crisp ten dollar bill in my pocket and a bunch of questions for the teacher.  I ask the child in the backseat if there was anything he wanted to tell me before we got to the school and I spoke to Mrs. H?   Nope.  Nothing.  

School:  Money in hand, I say good morning to Mrs. H.,  then start to say,  "Ben told me he found...."  But before I could even get the sentence out, she had a smile on her face and was holding out a piece of paper for me to read.  It was an email from another parent in the class.  Needless to say, the story my child told me and the story related on the email were not the same. 

The truth:  The other child was sent to school with $20 to use at the Santa Shop.  He made his purchases, and should have been given $11 back.  The money was given to Mrs. H. to be returned to the child.  Mrs. H. confirmed that she'd given the change to the child with the instructions to put it way deep into his pocket, so he wouldn't lose it.   This is where my sweet child comes into the story (and this is also where the story gets a wee bit confusing).    According to the email, at some point during the day, the little boy gave my child $10 to "rent" a book. (?)  Not one to let money sit around for long, Ben went on a shopping spree at the Santa Shop.   I don't know what else the little boy told his mom, but I do know now that the story we got was a complete falsehood.  

Where do we go from here?  When given multiple opportunities to redeem himself, he wouldn't.  I understand that maybe he thought since the little boy had given him the money, he felt like he could use it as he wished - but why would he make up a story about finding it?  And then,  knowing I'd find out the truth, he doggedly stuck to his story?!  

Well, hopefully, there will be no bad feelings between the children, his parents and our family.  I don't know them at all, I don't even know which child it is in the class - but we've returned the money, so I hope this is over and done with.  Mrs. H. said she'd go over the incident with both boys today and see what she could do to straighten things out. 

What's next? 

First Grader

I've got your brand-spankin' new backpack all ready.   Your lunchbox is packed with all the things you told me that you wanted to take.  I ironed your clothes, for what good it'll do - they'll be wrinkled before they've been on your body for 30 seconds.   Got ya the fastest tennis shoes we could find - and after a day of arguing and whining practice, you can even tie the laces! Yay!  I even bought you new socks and underwear.   I want your first day of school to be THE BEST.  Top to bottom.

We celebrated your "Last Free Day" today, thanks to your Daddy.  We had a great time together,  just the three of us; our little family.   It was your special day.  
Roller skating this afternoon, you turned to us and asked, "Well, how'd I do?" 
I said, "Awesome!" 
Daddy said, "Great job, bud!"  
You said, "I was looking for amazing."

You got it, bud.  You're amazing to me.  And Daddy.   Happy First Day of 1st Grade my little man.   I'll miss you being here with me on my days off.   You go, though, and show everybody else how amazing you are. 






   

Welcome! (wipe your feet)

Ok!  I think it's presentable now.  Come on in. 
Whatcha think? 
Do ya like?  Do ya?  Hmm??

Smells clean.
No leaks.
Really like the fresh flowers.

Yeah, I think we're good for a little while.

Welcome!