space man

In November we went to the Kennedy Space Center.  B wore the space suit much to my delight.  He found the space helmet in the gift shop and he was very in love.  He understood that he didn't have the money to buy it.  He was quietly disappointed, accepting that fact.  Still, he was aware of how much it cost and compared everything to it. 

A the next week he saw a flyer with toys.  He showed me a doll house and said "Hmm, this is really nice and only $30.  The space helmet costs less than this."

When my mother in law asked what the children would like I knew he had one wish.  So she sent this helmet and he is happy.  Life is good.

Sweet boy

B has a new primary teacher and I know this teacher brings treats each week.  B told me about the treats and how he likes them.  I told him that was so nice and suggested that he could bring a treat sometime. 

Today I made muffins for breakfast and there were still a few left when it was time to go.  B got the idea that he would take them to his class.  He packaged them up in paper towels and a take out box. 

Through sacrament meeting and sharing time/music time he kept them under his chair.  Then he shared them in class.

His teacher thanked him and it was so sweet.

Apparently one of the boys in the class broke the box, and B was hurt by that.  But he's learning that it's oK to be sad and he can still be kind.

Surfing

B found this rock at the beach where there are many rocks.  He called it the safe rock and enjoyed pretending to surf and floss on the rock. 

B is so delightful and his delight in all things is really fun to watch.

He recently started riding lP's bike since his little one was mastered and required so much effort to pedal any distance.  Every day he asks me to ride bikes with him around the neighborhood.  It's such a nice activity for us to share.

look mom!

lP taught B to push off and stop on his bike.  He is so happy and independent now.  I love this little sweet boy.

amazing B!

B has started to take piano lessons and is having a wonderful time.  He's been studying now for 2 months and had his first "I'm tired" episode.  He has an amazing ear and has learned to play the melody of "Be what I believe" by ear. 


His neck is also amazing as seen in this picture of him sleeping during Saturday conference.

Bike!

B got too big for the training wheels and they wouldn't keep the bike steady.  For the last 4-6 months he hasn't been able to enjoy riding his bike.  He was becoming timid and afraid it would tip over, as it did many times.  On Thursday we had some really good runs and he was able to ride for 20 feet.  I'm glad he's making progress.  I know it seems like kids will never grow out of a phase, and then you blink and they are past it. 

Talk

Our church teaches children public speaking from the age of 3.  B will be giving a talk tomorrow and we worked on his talk today.  I prepared this prompt for each month with the theme for Primary.  By gave these answers so I wrote them down.  I think it's a pretty great and true talk.

That's my Jam!

While we were in Utah we visited our tuba professor Uncle Kronky.  He took the numbers in each of our birthdays, converted them to scale tones and made up songs.  It was amazing.  He also let each of the children play some of their songs.  When B had a turn Uncle Kronky improvised along to Twinkle, twinkle little star and others.  This picture doesn't capture how B was trying to swat at Uncle Kronky's hands.  B is leaning into Uncle Kronky to try and push him off the keyboard.

little boys

 B and L are such buddies.  I love how they work together for awesome.  B loves to question L knowing he'll say "yeah" to everything.  B will say "Am I so awesome?"
"yeah"
"Will you share that with me?"
"yeah"

B's hair was quite long and he didn't want a haircut.  I didn't really want to cut it in his sleep again since that is so invasive.  But I did offer him candy.  He chose a tootsie roll and held it so happily during the haircut.  His hair was so long I could just hold it in my fingers and cut it pretty fast.  His red hair is very forgiving of the not very even job I did on it.  I just wanted it out of his face.

L was very happy to have his bangs and ears trimmed up for the promise of candy as well.  I love these sweet boys.

5!

B was looking forward to his birthday so passionately.  He kept asking if it was his birthday, today, every day.  He was actually really looking forward to getting to choose a gift from the birthday box at church.  One day he cried at the end of sharing time because he thought it was his birthday, about 2 months before the day. 

We made a paper chain to help him visualize and count down the days until his birthday.  The Sunday finally came and he got to choose a gigantic sticky hand from the box.  It was everything he'd ever hoped for.  The next day, his actual birthday was low key.  We had a friend party on Saturday and lots of friends came.  We didn't make a big deal about opening presents but it was fun that once they were open, all the kids just played with the toys.

B saved my sanity with this super easy "cake".  We had gummy dinosaurs that lP bought for B a few weeks ago.  B is obsessed with doughnuts and it's been a while since anyone lost a tooth.  Grandpa bought doughnuts for the boys last year when they went camping.  Grandpa is out of the country on a mission, so there were no doughnuts this year for camping.  But we had doughnuts for B's birthday and that was a great treat.

sick maybe?

B decided he needed an ice pop enough to go lay in the tub sans clothes and try to throw up.  He didn't eat lunch because the free pizza was not as interesting as the free bounce house.  I think he just has never been this hungry in his life and doesn't know what these feelings are.  He was in such a tantrum and trying to make himself throw up, I was worried.  So far he's eaten an ice pop, some oj, taken a long nap and is working on a cookie.  So far no throw up. 

sweet moments

B prayed for the family and included the prayer that he would get to read a story with me.  It was sweet to be a part of his prayer and to answer his prayer.

B has been really interested in his birthday.  He is interested in becoming 5.  He is interested in being big.  He is sure that great things await him when he reaches 5.  He is also acutely aware of the birthday box at primary.  Today he cried at the end of sharing time because he really thought that it was his birthday today.  He buried his head against my skirt and just held on for several minutes.

Sometimes B looks so big in pictures and so capable in life.  It's hard to believe that this little boy is my very own boy.  He's quick to obey and very sweet.  He's also been sneaking candy and asks for candy for completing any task.  So we actually have less candy because he's so obsessed with it.  I'm a believer that kids should not be rewarded when they ask for treats.  There are plenty of times I would give him a treat but he asks so fast that I then say no.

still 4

B and L are the closest in age among my kids.  I can't believe that when B was L's age, and younger, he already had a baby brother.  I've tried over the last 2.8 years to make sure he wasn't too shorted for hugs and reading time.  I just keep it in mind that he was only 2 and 2 months old when he couldn't be the baby in mind.

P took B and L to a place with lots of sea creatures.  B is such a sweet big brother and takes such care of L.  P has a picture of B buckling up L on one of the rides.  And B was so brave to ride the S Express twice by himself. 

B is a bit more inclined to sneak food than the other children were.  We're trying to teach him to just ask.  Oh this sweet boy.

These moments

B spends so much time running around outside or on the computer depending on if he's allowed to be on the computer or not...  I love it when he is running around and I love it when he's doing cool things with manipulatables like these tiles, or puzzles.  He's still 4 and it is amazing to me how much he can do and enjoys life.

B loves strawberry jam on bread.  He loves to ride a scooter.  B loves to play catch wit a bean bag or small ball.  B sings a silly song called "Good Government" that he or lP made up.  B is so sweet and fun.  B goes to bed when he is tired and that is the most unusual behavior I've seen in my children, but also one of the best.

Sometimes we cry

B fell down at the park and wanted me to take this picture to see if he was bleeding.  It's OK to cry.  It's OK to have feelings.  I try to remember this when he's whining a lot or crying about many things.  It's OK to cry.

Nurture the Nature

B has a sweet way of speaking that makes everything he says seem right.  The other day L was throwing books on the table and I asked B why they were throwing books.  "It was not me." he sweetly replied.  Of course not.  His ability to clearly articulate and not contract words makes a huge difference.  If he'd said "It wasn't me!" I would not have believed him.

Someone for the ward was substituting for Sunbeams.  They said that B is a handful but that he's just so cute that no matter what he does, it's cute.  This is troubling but true.  I try really hard to teach him to be decent.

 B is very strong.  I don't know how he is even holding on to this pillar but he had to be told to stop when he was 5 feet off the ground because, yikes!

Grandpa took the kids to fly kites at the beach.  B waited patiently while the 3 older children were handed kites and set up.  Finally he got to fly one and he just kept holding on and flying it.  When I took the reel to wind it in I was amazed at how strong the pull on it was.  It was at least 10 pounds of pull that he'd been pumping up and down watching the kite wiggle for a long time.

 B has been blessed to have an amazing Sunbeam teacher.  She posted adorable movies and pictures of the children.  She sent home handouts that they remembered and cherished.  It was awesome.