Update

I CANNOT believe there are only 7 more days of school left.  It’s actually kind of stressing me out because there’s a LOT to do between now and then.  Soccer season should be wrapping up here, but since week after week games have been rained out I’m pretty sure we’ll be doing make up games ‘til the Fall season.  With four of our kids playing it’s been kind of crazy.   Ben’s games are Tuesday nights, Nate’s Wednesdays, Abby’s Thursdays and Anna’s Saturday mornings.  Whew.  On top of the games all but Ben have soccer practice plus the usual things like Nate’s Karate twice a week; Abby’s Ballet and Activity Days, Piano and Play practices; Anna’s Young Women’s and endless homework – it’s a busy time of year!  It’s all fun stuff though so we’ll keep going, going going.

Joshua makes life around here anything but dull.  He wants to be “a-side” (outside) every second of his life.  Our neighbors have a little girl 10 days older than him named, Daisy, and Joshy loves her.  He always walks over to her yard saying “De-sey”.   Daisy is a doll and she happens to love me which I love.  The only problem is, is that I’m pretty sure if we put her on a scale it wouldn’t register anything.  Whenever I pick her up I’m always unprepared for how little she weighs and have almost launched her into space on several occasions.  Anyway, back to Josh, he’s a chatty, cheerful, opinionated little guy who gives us lots of reasons to vacuum, mop, sweep and smile.   I can’t get enough of “wub you, Mama”.  We love Joshy.

A month or two ago Ben became aware that ice cream trucks existed.   It kind of changed his life, the thought of playing outside and someone just driving up with a truck full of cold refreshing treats was just almost more than he could take in.  Then, a few weeks ago, the myth became reality.  The kids were all playing outside when the siren song of the ice cream truck floated into our neighborhood.  They all came running in begging for money.  I told them they’d have to use their own.  Ben didn’t hesitate, he ran faster than I’ve ever seen anyone run, right into his room for his little San Francisco Trolley wallet.  He solemnly turned it over to Anna who would help him handle this most important transaction.  He came inside with a blue popsicle and the look of 100% pure joy.  I honestly wonder if we’ll ever be able to top that moment for him.   We love Ben. 

Nate has been learning about biographies at school.  He decided he really wants to write biographies of some of his favorite athletes.  The other night when he went to bed he wrote his first one on LaBron James.  Since my scanner seems to have bitten the dust, I’ve typed the entire biography (as written) below:

Once there was an amasing NBA basketball player.  He is amasing.  I new him all my life he’s my favroite player.  He used to be on the Cleveland Chavliers and he was a great player then.  But now he’s on the heat and he is number six.  He is realy good.  He’s friends with Wade.  I love waching him playing assits with Wad and aleups they gest rock with each other.  LeBron is amazing.  His family is pritty cool.  His kids names are baby brons he has a wife.  He grow up playing and he is way better now.  Now he makes everything like dunks, aleups, threes, inside shots and gest everything he can do he hits them all the time.

I think that perfectly illustrates so much of what I adore about Nate.  He is so sincere and takes him self so seriously about things he’s passionate about.  Just re-reading his words I can see the light in his eyes when he tells me about it.  We love Nathan.

Abby is our child who currently has the most going on in her life, and yet it never stresses me out.  I just know she’s got things under control.   It’s hit me lately how much she’s grown up this year.  Her hair is long and always done now.   She’s looking long and lean and comfortable in her skin.   Abby likes planning ahead.  She and her friends often draw pictures of what they’ll look like as adults, and what their houses will be like.  She has even picked out the neighborhood she wants to live in.  It’s close to the grocery store and the school so what’s not to love?  That way her kids can walk to the store and buy candy when they want to and she can walk them to school and get her exercise.  Her friend wants a not too big house, but with a big yard for some animals.  Abby found the perfect one for her.   I’m thinking about turning the big decisions for our future over to her.   We love Abigail.

Anna just tried out today for a competition soccer league.  She made it and we’re excited for her to take her talent to the next level.  There are several girls from our neighborhood on the team, so it will be fun cheer them all on.  She’s so excited for Summer.  She’s done really well in her first year of Junior High, she’s worked really hard and deserves a big fat break.  Pre-algebra has been a thorn in both our sides.  She’s actually fortunate to understand it, but the homework is overwhelming and she’s so meticulous it takes a long time.  This teacher gives homework every chance she gets including every Friday.  Grrrrrr.  I’m proud of her for sticking it out.   She was invited to a special awards breakfast by her English teacher because she got a perfect score on her end of level test.  We love Anna.

It kind of blows my mind that Brennan and I are responsible for these 5 colorful, sweet, unique individuals I just wrote about.  We are so, so blessed.   Someday, Anna, Abby, Nate, Ben and Josh, when you’re old enough to understand how many mistakes Dad and I made and how many flaws we have, I hope as you read these posts you’ll feel how very much we love you all.  Not that loving you is a feat, you’ve made that easy, and not that loving you should compensate for our failures, it’s just that every person should know their parents loved them.  Every child should know that their parents were the luckiest parents in the world to get to be their mom or dad.  So please know of all the parents in the world, we – Dad and I, are certainly the luckiest.