Just a Few Funnies

Their fun forts destroyed our basement, but they sure enjoyed them!

As the kids get older, their cute little funnies seem fewer and farther between. I've managed to remember a few from this summer...here we go!

Funnies and Deep Thoughts from Aaron

"Does lightning bugs do sin?"

"You know Mom, judges are for God. This judge doesn't love God, so that seems like he's not really a judge."

"Mommy, what can I do? I'm hungry and I want to watch a movie!"

Me: Did you like your first day of kindergarten?

Aaron: Umm...not so much! There were lots of warnings and time-outs, and I don't think my teacher likes being a teacher.

Me: What do you mean?

Aaron: Well, she was really grouchy today, so that means she doesn't like her job!

(Second day of school) Me: Did you have fun at school today?

Aaron: Oh yeah!!! You were right Mom! It's lots better now! My teacher is nice now too!

"This puzzle is taking as long as it takes a grape to turn into a raisin!"

Funnies from Kaleb

"Holy cow Mom! These are the best cookies I've ever tasted!" Music to my ears. :)

While sitting in the stands at the high school football game, Kaleb looks out at the empty field and says, "There's the library!" Huh? I see a parking lot beyond the field, but the library is no where in sight. Then I see a trolley driving through the parking lot. Kaleb thought it was the book-mobile, but couldn't remember what it was called! :) Silly 8 year old.

Braylen

Instead of funnies, Braylen shows me what it feels like to have no idea what I'm doing. I can parent an 8 year old and a 6 year old, because I've done it before. I've never been the parent of an 11 year old before!

"For my birthday I want a cell phone, a laptop, and a tv in my room." Whatever happened to wanting toys for his birthday?

"I keep all my things in my locker at school Mom, not in a desk. It helps me get ready for middle school."

"I'm walking home from school Mom, and when I get home I'm playing Blazing Angels on the Wii." I give him the look...then he says, "Can I walk home, and then can I play the Wii?"

I love raising these boys, no matter how hard it is sometimes. :) I love watching them interact with their friends when they don't know I'm watching. Sometimes I look at them and wonder how can they really be mine? Then God nudges my spirit and says, "They're Mine, but I'll help you and Derek raise them for Me." And I just LOVE laughing with them. Even when I'm laughing at them. :)

Peace & Quiet

The birthday boy and girl at our family party. I love "sharing" my birthday with Braylen. :)

We've been back to school for 7 days now. Aaron's doing well in all-day kindergarten, which means I'm doing okay at home without him. He even earned his first "High 5" bracelet yesterday for going "above and beyond." Super! He's singing songs from music class around the house while Kaleb joins in. He can't wait to jump out of the van each morning, and is the only one of my boys to give me a kiss before doing so. The only wrinkle we had last week happened at lunch. I made Aaron a pb&j sandwich with chips, fruit, and a cookie. He didn't check his backpack, signed up for a school lunch, and picked...a pb&j sandwich. I'll swallow the $1.95 it cost me that day and chalk it up to a lesson learned! Tell Aaron each day that he has a lunch in his backpack, because chances are he won't look for one!

Now that my heart is settled in with my kids in school all day, I'm loving my time at home. It's quiet. I can come and go as I please. I get so much done, but allow myself to indulge in some "me" time as well. It's heavenly! I waited 11 years for this! :) Our late afternoons and evenings are packed full with activities, so it's an extra bonus to have this time during the day to get all of my "chores" done. Our house is clean (enough), the bills are paid, and supper is planned by the time 3:00 rolls around.


Not to forget my big boys, Braylen's 5th grade year is off to a good start. He's on the safety patrol, which is something he's wanted to do since kindergarten. He's been appointed captain for this quarter, and boy is he proud of that. :) When I can sneak a picture of him I'll post it. Derek and I both sense the extra need to pour into Braylen this year. Teaching him the importance of choosing friends with good character. What it means to be guilty by association. Doing what he knows is right even when nobody's watching. Or choosing to do the right thing when he's pressured to do otherwise. I'm trying not to smother him, but to watch over him from a distance and listen when he's ready to talk. Part of me will always remember holding his hand on walks and steadying his bike with my hand. But now he runs out the door and says, "My homework's done and I've practiced my piano--I'm going to play at Matthew's house!" And I let him go. My 11 year old son. :)

Check out their fort!

Braylen's room--I love how his tree worked out!

Kaleb's delighted to be learning how to type! He's also learning cursive handwriting this year. He's still a little boy when he plays with Aaron, but I've noticed he won't give me a kiss in the van anymore. Baby steps. The amazing thing is I can type all of this without my eyes filling with tears. They're growing up just like they should be and I'm excited for them! Thank you Lord!

Derek's adjusting to his new role at work now that school is back in session. He's as busy as ever, but thoroughly enjoys what he does. The weekends are still warm enough to go boating, so that's exactly what Derek did with the boys and his dad on Saturday. Who says we can't sneak in a couple more trips to the lake, right? Until hunting season starts, boating is Derek's way of getting away from it all.

I wonder if Grandpa knows what he's in for?

Now that I've had my peace and quiet today, I'd better get to work. 3:00 will be here before you know it!

Time

Today I'm thinking about the passing of time. I turned another year older on Sunday, making me 34 now. But more life-changing than that, my kids started school on Monday. All 3 of them. I find it ironic that this major change in my life occurred the day after my birthday. In God's sovereign plan, He saw fit to give me a new beginning the day after my birthday celebration. I'm not sure I'd call it a gift yet. Give me a few weeks and then maybe I'll call this time with all my kids in school a gift.

For 11 years I loved on my babies, cared for my toddlers, and played with my preschoolers. As my oldest son grew up and went to school, I comforted myself with the fact that I still had his younger brothers at home with me. They needed me during those 7 hours he was in school. Then my middle son started school, and I clung to my baby boy like the lifeline he was. He would always be here with me, right? I snuggled with him and lived my life with him while his brothers were in school. We went for walks and painted pictures and read books. He came shopping with me and was my constant companion in the van as we drove around town. Even when he went to preschool for a few hours a week, I'd pick him up and we'd eat lunch together every day. Just me and my little boy.

Then Monday came. I walked him into school and let him go. Just like that, and my life is so very different. One day we're together, and the next day we're not. What took 11 years to build only takes one day to bring down. That's a lot for me to take in.

For years I told myself not to look for my significance in my kids, because one day they would be gone. But I confess that I didn't listen to that advice very well. I have greater confidence when my kids are with me. People smile at me when my cute little blond son is with me. Now I'm just me, and it feels a little scary. Like a part of me that was once there is not there anymore.

Allowing myself the freedom to feel these emotions this morning feels good. After being strong for my son, I can fall apart while he's gone. And after a few days of feeling like this, my new season of life will seem good and right. My mother-in-law told me this time allows me to rebuild and renew myself for the new things that come with growing boys. I love those words.

Braylen, 11 years old, 5th grade
Kaleb, 8 years old, 3rd grade
Aaron, 6 years old, kindergarten

"What the heart has once owned, it shall never lose." -Henry Ward Beecher

Between Birthdays

Here we are on August 13th--2 days after Braylen's birthday and 2 days before my birthday. Toss in back-to-school preparations and we have quite a lot going on! All 3 boys met their teachers and saw their classrooms today. I plan on savoring this school year with all of them in the same school, because it won't happen again. Watching Braylen check out his 5th grade classroom was bittersweet for me. How fast his elementary years have flown. Aaron's so ready for kindergarten; I don't have any worries about how he'll do. Kaleb's 3rd grade teacher makes school so much fun. I wish you could see what her classroom looks like. I could look all around the room for hours and still not see everything. Tonight while getting ready for bed, Kaleb told me he wants school to start tonight--not in 3 days! Yep, summer's been fun but it's time to head back to school.

But before we do, we've had a lot of fun in August. This month holds so much more than birthdays and the start of the school year. I don't want to forget it! The easiest way to show what we've been doing since August 1st is through pictures.

We played at this cool water park with friends and felt like we had the place to ourselves!

The wave pool was a favorite, but the rest was just as much fun!

The lazy river's not so lazy when Kaleb and Aaron are involved. :)

We spent lots of time playing in this lake. My favorite times out at our friends' house is when our entire family can play on these water trampolines. 6 adults, 9 kids, lots and lots of fun! You can't see it in this picture, but there's a water catapult on the other side of the large trampoline and I got some serious air time when 2 adults catapulted me off the end!

Who's having more fun--Derek or the boys?

Grandma took all the kids to the fair. What a treat!

A 3 seat ride for my 3 boys to fly in

Braylen brought a friend to the lake...he fits right in, don't you think?

And now our summer's coming to an end. With the end of our fun activities comes bored and cranky kids. We've made muffins together. Played the Wii. Read books. Ridden bikes. Built forts. Good grief, we even suited up in flag football belts and played a few rounds of football just because the kids were driving me up the wall in the house. And it was at least 101 degrees when we did that. But I think the craziest thing the boys did to signal we need school to start was collect rocks in the yard, paint them, and glue lego pieces to them. They use them in their imaginary play as boats and tubes zipping through the water (a.k.a. living room carpet). I'm just happy they're entertaining themselves! Derek came home from work and joined in on the fun. If you can call it that. :) Oh summer, we will miss you!!!

11 on the 11th

11 gold dollar coins on 11 presents, 11 years old

Braylen is 11 years old today!!!!! I'm calling him my golden boy, since today is his golden birthday--he's 11 on the 11th. :) August 11th, 1999 was on a Wednesday, just like it is this year. Even though the years keep adding up, I can still remember everything about that day. I look at Braylen and it's hard to believe he was once a 6 pound baby. But he was. And a part of me will always remember him that way.

I decided to keep things simple today. Let him sleep in. Watch him go on a donut date with his grandma. Pick Uncle Eric's present out of the pile for him to open, since I knew it was something he could enjoy with his brothers. :) Fix lunch and get everything ready for an afternoon at the pool. Watch him have fun with his best friend, jumping off the diving boards and diving for rings. Prepare tacos, sweet corn, and watermelon for supper. Watch him open all his gifts and realize he didn't get any toys this year. Go for a family bike ride, dog included, and then come home to some ice cream cake. Summer birthdays are so much fun.

a hot sunny day at the pool!

hard to believe he'll need this hat, but it will get cold eventually

football gloves

My boy is growing up, but I still see some little boy in him. At least when it's just our family. That makes me happy. :) 11 years ago I became a mom. I blinked, and now I'm a mom of an 11 year old. At least that's what it seems like. Happy Birthday to our son Braylen Derek! Always remember to live like you're loved, because you are.

a gift from his brothers: a drawer organizer for his desk at home

11 things to remember about Braylen

1. He loves Under Armour clothing.

2. He'll eat anything.

3. His favorite color is green.

4. He laughs easily and frequently.

5. He has his own room, but sometimes he misses sharing one.

6. He's online more and more these days.

7. He prefers vanilla over chocolate.

8. Mountain Dew and Dr. Pepper are his favorites.

9. He's very much a people person, and his best friend is Matthew.

10. He still lets me tuck him in at night.

11. If it's a sport, Braylen's all over it.

Picture Perfect

A week at the lake. Plenty of sunshine and water. My family all to myself. What a wonderful week!

My guys

Check out Aaron's goggle marks

My turn to play :)

"Kings are Good"

Aaron drives the boat

Braylen's catch of the day

Waving to their Mama

Derek's turn to play :)

Trailering the boat

Brotherly love

Even Ginger loved our vacation

Drying the dishes as we clean up to go home

I hope our boys remember these weeks at the lake. I know I will. Someday Kaleb and Aaron won't want to collect rocks at the beach. Someday Braylen won't want to rock out with his brothers at the cabin. But right now they like to do those things. Braylen became Derek's right hand man this week, allowing me to step back and watch my boy do things men do. He also got up on water skis--hooray! Such a fun week at the lake. We waited all summer for this. :)

Catching Up

Before July turned into August, we let the boys participate in a very informal swim meet. Even our little Aaron swam a race: 25 meter freestyle. I was so proud of the boys as they showcased their hard work in the pool this summer. Daddy and Grandma watched from the side while I had a front-row seat in the water with them. :)

Remember the dirt pile? This is what the boys looked like after playing on it. Boys and dirt and sweat. That pretty much sums up our summer. :)

On one particular crabby day, with the boys begging me to take them to the store so they could spend their money, I caved. It's not my money, right? :) We hit the dollar section of one of our favorite stores and I promised to let them pick out their own purchases. Braylen chose gum, since he couldn't find what he was looking for. Okay, that was easy. Kaleb chose a toy tank. Now, the last thing I think we need is more cheap toys. But I kept my promise and said, "Good choice Kaleb." And what did Aaron pick? Plastic toy soldiers. I couldn't hold my tongue this time. We have 200 tiny toy soldiers at home already. Aaron pointed out these were brown and green, not just green like we have at home. With a little more discussion, I decided to let him buy them. Again, it's his money, not mine. But you know what? Those soldiers and tank provided hours of entertainment. See?

So now it's August, and several countdowns begin. The countdown to Braylen's birthday. And not just any birthday--his golden birthday. The countdown to school starting. Enough said on that for now. Pretty soon piano lessons will resume, soccer season will start, and Cub Scouts will begin. It makes my head swim just thinking about it. Vacation pictures to come...