Sunday, February 10, 2019

SIX


I was prepared for five to feel big, I was prepared for it to be hard on my momma heart. And five is big - you started Kindergarten and started to do so much more on your own (namely in the bathroom - hallelujah!) But it didn't quite hit me like I was prepared for. Six, though... Six has knocked me down a bit. It's nothing in-particular. All of a sudden, you're just big! You look bigger, older. You act and talk older. And I didn't see it coming. I find myself just staring at you, in awe and wonder - how? when? why?!

For starters, you're just so dang handsome. I mean, those eyes...! And that sweet, sweet smile... You know just how to pull at my heart strings, boy.

But you're not just handsome. You've got the sweetest heart, and really, that's the most important thing. You're aware of age and so tender with the elderly and the young. You adore all animals and want to take care of them or leave them be in the wild. You're thoughtful and helpful, and you know that I appreciate those things so you're always looking for ways to love me in those ways. You're tentative and careful, observant, always calculating, and very reserved, only giving yourself to those you've deemed worthy. It is a rare and great honor to be invited into your inner circle.

You're crazy smart and crazy inquisitive - always asking, always learning, always curious. It's tiring, but so. so great! I am learning right along with you! I love watching your gears turn as you're thinking through something or listening to you process something new or recite what you've learned. You've grown a lot in school this year and are reading really well and are great at mental math! Science is our easiest subject, as you naturally gravitate toward it! Right now, you're thinking about being a scientist when you're older, or an archaeologist.

You are funny and silly and so very quirky! And honestly, a hefty does of weird! But we wouldn't have it any other way! You fit right in around here! Life with  you is just FUN!

You are constantly singing - songs about what you're currently doing, songs you've learned over the  years and now hear me singing to Judah and most often worship songs. You're always singing about Jesus and it fills my cup to hear your voice echo around the house! Maybe we are doing something right ;)
You rhyme, all the time, with made up words. You argue with me like crazy and it's gotten you your fair share of discipline. You push your sister's buttons but are simultaneously her very best friend. The two of you play pretend for hours on end!
You love the trampoline, riding your bike, swimming and climbing at the park and doing the monkey bars. You're a fast runner, too! You are a homebody, thanks to your mom, and are perfectly content to spend the day doing nothing too special, so long as we're together. It might take some coaxing, but once you're outside it's hard to bring you back in. You're an excellent hiker and are constantly building forts out of sticks, collecting berries, rocks and different kinds of pinecones. Animals and nature are your favorite things to learn about!
You love Legos - love, love love Legos! You're an incredibly talented builder and have such an imagination! I am honestly floored by the things you come up with - they're always symmetrical and realistic. It's so impressive, dude! You're talented and artistic, always drawing me scenes and pictures. Our house is littered with your papers and writing!
Blankey still goes almost every where you do, and I'm not looking forward to the day that changes. Please stay my baby forever! You still sleep with Wink, Rain and your newest favorite buddy, your cheetah Spotty. You take such good care of them.

Gosh, I could go on and on. There's so much that you know, so much that you've accomplished, so much that I'm proud of. So much that you've done and are and do! More than anything, I want you to love Jesus and love others. And at six years old, kid, you're doing a pretty good job of it. It's a learning curve, for both of us, but damn, this is fun. We feel so blessed that you've been given to us - we are so lucky! You are simply just great - every last (not so) little bit of you.

We love you Uriah Michael!

What is your favorite color? "Purple! You know that!"

What is your favorite food? "Uh pizza! And quesadilla and macaroni"

What is your favorite game? "Um, maybe Exploding Kittens"

What is your favorite animal? "A cheetah and a peregrine falcon"

What is your favorite song? "Rock You Like a Hurricane by The Scorpions" Well that was specific...! Haha!)

Who is your best friend? "Ramsey and Paxton and Chapman"

What is your favorite thing to do outside? "Look for bugs and jump on the trampoline"

What is your favorite holiday? "Christmas!"

Who is your favorite stuffed animal? "Spotty" (One of his only specific requests for Christmas was a stuffed animal cheetah. Meet, Spotty!)

What do you want to be when you grow up? "Scientist, archeologist, um, I don't really know" (I would add doctor or engineer or architect to that list) 

What is your favorite thing to do with daddy? "Play Legos"

What is your favorite thing to do with mommy? "My favorite thing to do with mom is... that's hard. Maybe read books" (Well aren't I a hoot...)

What is your favorite thing to do with Ezra? "Maybe jump"

What is your favorite thing to do with Judah? "My favorite thing to do with Judah is sorta just play"

What is your favorite movie? "Harry Potter, the second"

Who is your favorite superhero? "Um... Black Widow" (We haven't been into superheros much lately... I think he said this just for the name)

Who is your favorite princess? "Oh my gosh... Rapunzel" (I didn't ask, but I'm guessing because of her hair!)

What is your favorite book? "Harry Potter the third"

What is your favorite thing to play with? "Legos"

What do you do really well? "Build Legos" (So much more I would add to that!)

What do you like to learn about? "Snakes and reptiles and bugs"

What makes you happy? "When you help me" (I asked him "with what" and he just said anything. Funny thing is, letting him help me is his love language)

What makes you sad? "When I bonk my head" (Uriah has always been my most sensitive one when it comes to getting hurt. I wasn't surprised by this response at all!)

January

January started out ROUGH. I had almost forgotten until I looked at these pictures... Just take a look at the first one...! We were all sick for the first and larger half of the month. What a start to the new year. It took us down one by one and just kept circling back. I'm normally not a downer on January, and I'm not one of those people that feel like the month lasts forever, but this year might have been different. Despite two birthdays to look forward to in the month, it wasn't my favorite one. Thankfully, there were lots of smiles, laughs and love in the in-between, and we've made it through just fine (with a 29 year old and SIX year old in our midst now!) 

 ^^ Judah was the first to catch the stomach bug and we spent the first day of the year catering to his every need with a puke bowl at the ready. Gosh, sick babies is just the worst. ^^
 ^^ Ezra and Uriah went down next and for almost 24 hours, they were both puking every 5-20 minutes. Eventually, it became quite comical. I felt like such a MOM! Luckily, they're both old enough to aim for the bowl or make it to the toilet. ^^
 ^^ I came next. Yuck. Moms should not allowed to be sick. Stephen attempted to go to work but was sent home shortly after. Praise the Lord for two toilets in the house (and sweet, patient kids who are (mostly) capable of taking care of themselves and totally ok with days in front of the television) ^^
 ^^ It stayed with Ezra the longest. After a week we were all on the up and up - on to alllll the laundry and sanitation! ^^
^^ We started school back up on the 7th with our 5th unit - the solar system! ^^

 ^^ Rainy Sundays, cute babies in bathtubs, errands, a dead praying mantis (finally!), family walks and backyard rain play. A lot of our January was spent just us, keeping away from friends and busyness. It was quiet and simple and nice, but slowly I started to itch for more! ^^
 ^^ One of my favorite days of the month was spent at the zoo with my little crew. We opted to leave the stroller at home and Judah spent most of the time walking around the place following Uriah and Ezra. It was slow and wet and empty and just so much fun. It felt like Oregon and it felt good...! ^^
 ^^ TWO boys! I'm a lucky lady! ^^
 ^^ I woke up on my birthday to a sweet love letter and a sweet sleepy babe to snuggle. I got to go shopping (solo!) and eat all my favorite foods. I didn't do a single dish or fold a single shirt and I got to snuggle my hubby next to a fire under my homemade birthday banner (my only birthday request!) I felt spoiled and seen and loved and I am so grateful to be one year older and to get to do life with these people, big and little! ^^
 ^^ All the while Judah is still sick and Stephen is sick and my throat is starting to ache... January, are you over yet? ^^
 ^^ There is another January 12th birthday in "the family" and we got to celebrate sweet Ramsey Drew on a Sunday after church. We have been so blessed by this family and their friendship and I'm so happy we were able to love on their SEVEN year old! ^^
 ^^ Babies being cute, siblings being sweet, good friends, park days, amazing Lego creations and new rain jackets. Ordinary days with extraordinary kiddos! ^^
 ^^ We have all loved this solar system unit but I was especially proud of this moon study activity! The kids only cared about the Oreos, but let's be honest, me too! ^^
 ^^ Pre church naps and post church hangs ^^
 ^^ A day outside by the river - not much beats it! ^^
^^ Uriah wanted to go to Fairytale Town on his birthday (a post to come!) and this is Judah hanging out with dad while the kids go down the too big for Judah slides signing his "I love you". Melts me every time! ^^