The same night as Brennan’s surprise party was Abby’s ballet recital. She’s a beautiful dancer. I was struck by how tall and graceful and pretty she is. She has so much presence on stage, but we can always still see that hint of self consciousness. She’s so great.
Here she is as a chimney sweep
It’s always so neat to watch your kids perform something they love to perform and do it well. We love Abby!
The kids got out of school a week ago. Last week I sort of gave them the week off, no chores, no real structure at all. I gotta be honest it was rough for me. I don’t do well with rigid schedules, I think I’m always way more ready for school to be out than my kids are, but the other extreme is NOT good either. I’m determined to find that happy medium this Summer. I feel strongly that my kids need freedom, they need to be creative and resourceful and to exert physically. Don’t get me wrong, I also think they need to work and help around the house, but I believe summers should be magic and wonderful and the fun should outweigh the not so fun.
I worked all morning to come up with my kids’ summer chores and a routine and some rules to reflect that balance. Here’s what I came up with:
9:00 am – get up, responsible for your own breakfast, clean up after yourself
9:30 am – chores (which should only take no more than 30 minutes, but I’m giving lots more time.)
11:00 am – read
11:30 am – FREEDOM!!!
Prize each week for kids who have chores done by 11 am all week.
No friends til chores are done and not before 11:30 am
No tv until 4 pm
Thursdays – no friends, cousin camp!
Guess what? When we called the kids together to present this to them. I got as far as have to get up by 9:00 am and eat breakfast right way when the wailing began.
They were offended that I am dictating when they have to eat breakfast.
There were even tears and accusations of making their summer like military school.
I know that we’re supposed to validate all of their feelings, I know we’ve probably scarred them for life -- but Brennan and I cracked up laughing, loudly, right in front of them. Military school? Really?
Brennan turned the BIG 4-0 on Friday!!!! What a geezer 
I told him we’d celebrate Saturday night since the kids all had parties Friday night. Saturday night Abby had her ballet recital which gave Brennan’s Mom the perfect excuse to come up. I’m so glad she did, I couldn’t have done it without all her help! Anyway, after Abby’s recital we left he kids in Jamie’s care, Abby pretended to be headed to a party at the -rink and hid in the backyard til Brennan and I left. I took Brennan to dinner and told him we had to pick Abby and her friends up at 10:15. In the meantime, Eliza (my sister) and her husband (bless you!) got their early and set everything up and welcomed the guests. Brennan and I pulled up and he asked if I was going in or he was. I quickly told him we better both go in cause the girls had their scooters and treat bags etc. Whew, I hadn’t thought that through all the way. Everyone was supposed to get their 70s groove on, a couple people really went all out and had some fantastic costumes. I wish I could have gotten pictures, you can see Eliza’s fabulous dress though. Anyway, we walked in and:
As you can see he didn’t even flinch, he did turn to me and say “exciting!” in a monotone voice. I think he was in complete shock.
After that I made read a little tribute that and then pulled out another surprise. You can watch below, skip my part you can’t hear it anyway, so if you skip to 1:37 you’ll get all the good stuff.
Untitled from Eliza Thompson on Vimeo.
After all that hoopla, we roller-skated! I haven’t skated for I don’t know how long, and I loved every minute! We had some groovy music and races and games and it was so much fun.
I hope Brennan got a taste of how much we all love him. I wish more of our family and friends who live far away could have joined us, but I’m so grateful to all who did come and make arrangements for kids, and drive a long ways! I’m so grateful Jamie was there to bring the big kids for their big moment and then take them home, take the babysitter who was home with Joshy home, and got everyone settled. Thank you!! We love Brennan. Happy Birthday!
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.
Benny has been anticipating being done with preschool for months now. It's not that he disliked it, he loved preschool, it's just that he feels it's more than time to move on to Kindergarten. I keep explaining that due to summer vacation, it will be a while. I also keep explaining that summer vacation is a really good thing. Anyway, Ben's preschool class had a little program and it was good stuff. Here are two clips of the highlights:
Remember how I used to describe this adorable little boy as the tyrant king? His charming smile
and his big blue eyes framed by the world’s longest eyelashes almost made you forget that he was ruling with an iron fist. Well, fortunately that little boy still has that smile and those amazing eyes, but he eventually accepted his place as a faithful, loyal subject to the one who dethroned him –
Tyrant King, II
Don’t be fooled by TKII’s big, soft brown eyes, and his chubby little man hands, or his rolly-poly-ness, or the way he smiles with his whole body. Also, don’t fall for his sweetest little “Tank you, Mama”. It’s all a part of his plan for total world domination. He does not mess around. And, for an aspiring world conqueror you’d be surprised at his attention to detail, some would even say his managing style is that of a micro-manager. For instance he insists on wearing shoes all the time, but not just for him, I have to wear shoes, ALL the time. He brings them to me and struggles to get them on for me. I usually oblige him but then as soon as he’s not looking I sneakily slip them off. This does not get past him – ever. When I’m on the phone he repeats, “Ah kalk” (I talk) over and over again until I let him. Once he has the phone he’s all laughter and smiles.
Anytime he finds a ball of any kind you better be ready to be receiving that ball. If you hear a little voice saying “Hie, hie” (hike, hike) you can plan on a football hitting you upside the head if you weren’t watching. If he finds a basketball and starts saying “shoot!, Shoot” just drop whatever you’re doing and take him outside to the basketball hoop.
All day long he says “a piece” knowing surely somewhere there’s a piece of gum or candy that someone is holding out on him. If he catches someone eating something he feels he should definitely be a part of he says, “Ah hum” (I want some). If he can’t get someone to produce a piece of something to his satisfaction he then starts on a campaign for an “ahhh pop” (otter pop).
Today he found a sample can of baby formula (maybe time to clean out the pantry) and pitched a fit for about 20 minutes because I wouldn’t open the can.
Oh, and when he’s going down for a nap or bedtime, he does so under major protest until he’s gotten a hug and kiss from every single member of the family.
It’s not that he is trying to be a tryant king, it’s just that he has an opinion about everything. The saddest part is that he probably won’t be dethroned in the natural order of younger siblings, and his older siblings are putty in his hands - which leaves it to me and Brennan. Long live Tryant King, II!
