Photo-A Day: Days 2-5

...a continuation of our holiday photo-a-day project:

{Day 2}: Christmas Books

Reading has been VERY important in our world of late. The literacy light bulb has flipped on and he is slowing understanding the letters make words which make sentences which make stories. He is excelling in school WELL beyond what his little extra chromosome is "supposed" to allow him to do. Every night we read, two, three, five books as he falls asleep on my shoulder. Happy I'll have a bibliophile in the home with me. 📚

{Day 3}: Gingerbread Houses Are Evil

Who invented these pre-fab things?! And why does it take three adults with multiple degrees, one of which who is a paid engineer and general contractor, nearly loosing their salvation to prep the houses while the four children stare at us like we are buffoons? Why are we not smarter than the ancient cookies and Spackle-like frosting??  Next year, it's milk cartons, superglue & candies that are actually eatable...the way the Jesus intended. 

{Day 4}: Movie Date
As a single child of a single mother, he oddly craves quality time. I know when he needs it and he certainly makes it known when he is receiving it...gobs of kisses all over my face...even in the middle of the movie theater. 💗

{Day 5}: The Last Four Words
When BFFs live 1,598.2 miles apart AND there is a Gilmore Girls revival on Netflix, you get creative (which was good because we needed a support group at the end!)

To be continued...

Photo A Day 2016: Holiday Edition

This is year three of our Photo A Day: Holiday Edition project. Year one was a bomb--I seriously hated it. Year two was actually a lot of fun.  I found that knowing I was carrying the camera provided some unintended structure to a time of the year that can be quite overwhelming. Year three...I'm looking forward to it! I have no idea what the next 32 days will bring, but I'm excited to see what it looks like. Here we go!

{Day 1}: Head of the Table
He weaseled his way to the head of the table and made himself at home. After leading prayer ("Dear Jesus. Thank you. Amen") and singing the doxology, he ate two bites and promptly fell asleep in my arms. Whoa tryptophan!    For him I am thankful.

Happy 6th Birthday Isaac!!

Happy SIXTH Birthday, Isaac!

My baby boy isn't a baby any more...he is SIX. Being six means standing tall and running fast and telling jokes and desperately trying to learn how to snap. Six is getting angry at your mom sometimes, and helping your friends and being in love with your kindergarten teacher. 💗 

It's not five any more. Five year olds need to take naps every day. Six years don't need naps...they just fall asleep on the couch at 6:45. Five year olds have to stay in the cart at the grocery store, six year olds get to scan and help bag the food. Six year olds can write their name and know all their shapes and colors and numbers. SOME super special six year olds are even at the top of their class in knowing all their letters...upper AND lower case.  (YES!) 

Six is a year of growing and responsibility. It's discovering your limits and finding ways to surpass them (in a good way). It's swimming across the pool by yourself and finally figuring out the bike. It's a BIG accomplishment being SIX. I think this boy of mine is going to do just fine. 

Turning six involved a full weekend of celebrating: A special lunch at school on Friday, a swim party with friends on Saturday, and going out for ice cream on Sunday. I want to take FULL advantage of celebrating my boy. I want him to know that ESPECIALLY TODAY he is loved, he is wanted, he has a hope and a future and throws of people who want to celebrate exactly who he is. Too many babies enter this world without joy, without wonderful expectation. And sadly I suspect when my little chromosomally-enhanced boy made his first appearance six years and an ocean ago,  there was a gasp of hopelessness instead of a prideful burst of joy.  I have set to reverse that! So we will celebrate!  And celebrate BIG on this earth the way I know our Heavenly Father celebrated when Isaac was born. So happy birthday my little man. YOU. ARE. LOVED. 💖

Waking up a six year old!

Happy Birthday lunch at school

Birthday sundae!