What a day for a birthday!!

The day started out with cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Then in rare twist of scheduling fate, I didn't have to work AND I wasn't babysitting. So I arranged with Andrew's teacher to have me come in for the day and help during Andrew's class. Plus the local civic theater was at school and preformed a little play. Plus he got to bring in a special treat to share with his class... true to form, he chose pumpkin muffins (puffin munkins) with chocolate chips.

We then went and picked up AJ and hit McD's with a Playland (can you call it that when it has video games instead of a crawling apparatus?) for a birthday lunch.

We then hit the Gardens to see the butterflies again.

What Gardens trip wouldn't be complete without this picture.

Andrew really enjoyed looking up the butterflies in his little guidebook and trying to match them with the ones he saw.

After coming home a having some quiet time, Andrew had a few friends over for a little birthday party. We made homemade Subway sandwiches for dinner, opened some presents, split a pinata, and ate birthday cake.

Great day to turn Six!

I'm the mom of a SIX year old?!?

It's so hard to believe that my Andrew is Six Years Old. He's so big and has grown so much so fast. In fact, I when I go back and look at older photos, I often double check the date because I think the pictures must be older than they are, since he's changed so much. This boy's got growin' down!

Andrew, this is your Kindergarten year and you are absolutely L.OV.I.N.G it! I think you have a great teacher in a great school and I'm shocked almost daily at how much you are learning.

Your reading is especially exciting as I can actually watch you improve from week to week. Although it is somewhat of a challenge for your dad and myself as we can't exactly spell things we want to keep secret anymore. The surprise, lately, has been your interest in math. You are constantly asking us to ask you story problems and one of your favorite toys lately has been our little calculator. Funny, huh.

You are also WAY into video games. WAY into. Like WAY too much. And the funny thing is, is that we don't let you play them very often at all. You get to play Daddy's video game system like twice a month and your computer games a couple times a week and yet... that's all you want to do. So we try to use it as a reward for things well done and limit your games to educational ones.

According to you, gym class is your favorite thing about school and music class is your least. I'm not sure why you don't like music since I can never get you to talk about it much. But apparently in gym you play this "Spider in the Web" game that thrills you.

You love basketball-stay-up-late-Friday night. It's a family tradition that becoming a favorite among all of us... but you truly love sitting next to Daddy learning the game (as opposed to your brother who just loves staying up late regardless of the purpose.) You've gotten to participate in a few basketball classes this past year and fully enjoyed them.

Lately, your favorite food is Subway's grilled chicken sandwich with bacon on the Italian cheese bread. It's daddy's favorite and therefore it's yours, too. We find that connection a lot lately. You want to know what team Daddy wants to win, and that's your team, too. You want to know whose daddy's favorite player, because that's yours, too. I don't think Daddy minds sharing his favorites with you one bit.

 Most of the time, you play great with your brother. Really, great. And you are so helpful when it comes to him. Often you assist him without even me asking first. And the creativity you show to when you're together amazes me. I know that AJ is learning so much more with you as a big brother than he would without you.

Happy Birthday, Buddy. It's hard to believe how fast the last 6 years have flown by. I want to rub my eyes when I see how big you are, thinking they are playing tricks on me. Your vocabulary, your body language, your comprehension, your curiosity are all creeping closer and closer to a young adult. It's scary and thrilling. It's convenient and sad. It truly fills me to pride and awe watching how He's still workin' on you.

Book Review: The Secret

I must confess that I am tad angry with Beverly Lewis.  I just finished her book, The Secret (Seasons of Grace, Book 1).   I needed something to read and had nothing "lined up".  Randomly walking the library aisles I grabbed one of her books because "I've read one of her books before and it wasn't too shabby".

Now, I admit, I did note that it was a series book right off the bat and I hate reading series until the WHOLE series is finished.  But, the kids were left unattended on the kids side of the library, I needed to leave, and wasn't sure when I would be back.  (My library visits have dropped dramatically since I've been working).  So I grabbed it and headed out.

So back to why I'm slightly miffed at Ms. Lewis.  I realize that series books have hooks at the end.  I realize they want to leave you hanging making you want to run out and grab the next book. But I've also read enough series to know that each book is usually, at least somewhat, self-contained.  At least a few of the strings get wrapped up.

I felt like this book just stopped in the middle.  Like maybe the original book was twice as long and they randomly opened to the middle and said, "Yep... that's a good stopping point." It's a good thing the next book is out and hopefully my library hold comes in soon. 

Ms. Lewis... if you stumble on my little corner of the "interwebs", please know that I'm only upset because your writing is a wonderful gut thing and I didn't want my escape into the Amish world to end.

Go to Sleep my Little Baby

Last night, I was telling the boys about the CD, 25 Lullabies Kids Love To Dream To, that someone gave us when Andrew was born. Forgive me, CD giver, if you are reading this... I forgot who gave it to us. But please know, it was well loved.

As I've mentioned before, Andrew was not a good sleeper the first year of his life.  So, we rocked and sang and sang and rocked and rocked and sang to this CD over and over and over and... you get the point.

Eventually we put the CD up for while.  Yes, 25 songs is quite a bit of variety, but as you can imagine, after night after night, we needed a break from it.  But now, Andrew is almost 6 and somehow the CD came up.  I did a little digging and put it on for the boys to sleep to tonight. They really seemed to enjoy it.

And OH... did the memories flood back.  The rocking. The singing. The snuggling.  *sigh*

Last Week's Haircuts: Faux Hawks

Before

After

I learned that I have Oh So Much to Learn!

Wanna know what I got to do last Monday? I was fortunate enough to meet up with fellow local bloggers, the #GRapGals.... at a nice restaurant... with no kids.... just girls. Good night... 'nuff said.

No really, I learned from these ladies, that while I love my little piece of the web, these girls are the pros, and I have so much to learn about growing a blog. They don't mess around when it comes to their "interweb" pages. :) I gots me a small-beans site, that's fo-sho!

My blog may never reached the far corners of the world, or even my city. And if not, that's fine. Heck, it may even be a good thing. But I'm thankful I got to meet these fine ladies. I'm having a blast following them on Twitter if nothing else.

I want you to meet them, too. I could link to all of them, but Savvy Chic Savings has already done all the work for me (plus she could save you some money, too).

Check them out.... aren't they all so cute!

Daddy can never get rid of these boots, now.

AJ in Daddy Boots - Age Three

Ages 1 & 2

Someday, he'll fill 'em.

Did you know Lowe's offer this....for free???

Last Saturday morning, Andrew and I got up and headed to Lowe's for their FREE Build and Grow clinic. I wasn't sure what exactly to expect, but we ended up having a really fun time.

He (we) built this cool Lowe's race car that is also - get this- A ROBOT! Is that right up Andrew's alley or what? The downside was there were 25 kids in a small cement training room all hammering away at their wooden blocks. I felt deaf when I left after screaming instructions to Andrew the entire class.

And get this... he got to keep his safety goggles and work apron. Plus he got an certificate and a LoweBot patch for his apron!

We will definitely be checking into this again!!

Ooohh... Oooh... Pick me... Pick me!!

Andrew's birthday is coming up and we have no idea what we are going to be doing to celebrate it yet. I'm hoping to win tickets to Playhouse LIVE coming to our town. What a great surprise that would be for him and AJ.

For your chance at the giveaway visit StacysSays.me

How Deep the Father's Love for Us.

How deep the Father's love for us; How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son; And make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss; The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One; Bring many sons to glory

Behold the man upon the cross; My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice; Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there; Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life; I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything; No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ; His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward; I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart; His wounds have paid my ransom

Why should I gain from His reward; I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart; His wounds have paid my ransom

written by Stuart Townend