Camp

Jeff and Monkey are gone this week at camp, they left Friday and camp started on Saturday. Monkey was very excited about this year there are a bunch of kids from church going and his uncle (my brother) who is 11 months older than him will be there too! I talked to Jeff on Saturday morning and he said that Monkey had a rough night...really hoping that was the only bad night he has. When I talked to him he said he had a hard time sleeping because he missed me. Poor guy. Jeff also said that the camp had a hard time placing kids in cabins because all the kids had requested to be with Monkey!!! There are 5 boys from church not including Monkey and his uncle all wanted him with them. He is just such a timid kid in big groups, he has always been better one on one. I really hope he can over come that this week and just have a great time! The only bad part of everyone requesting him is they couldn't fit all the kids in one cabin so they split them. But no one is in a cabin by themselves so that is good. Please just pray for him this week that this time builds him up and he doesn't get discouraged.

Unsure

I'm really unsure how to handle my oldest son. He is my quiet guy not much of a talker but I can tell things are bothering him. He lashes out in little ways like if I ask him to sweep the floor which is one of his chores he does such a bad job that he has to do it two or three times before it is acceptable. He is so disgruntled about doing said chore. I just don't know how to get through to him. Today he didn't want to go swimming but everyone else did so he just sat on the side staring with a mad look on his face. When I tried to talk to him he just told me to go away or would start crying. I just really fear if he keeps it all inside at the ripe old age of 9 what is it going to be like when he is 13 - 18 when the things he is going to deal with are extremely difficult and he will need me and his dad. I just want to cry and make him talk but instead all I found I can do is pray. Pray that I can take him to God's word and show him how much he is loved no matter what the world says. Pray he will open up with me and talk about what is going on. Pray that I can help him work through it when that time comes. Pray that I can be the best parent for him. I'm just so scared sometimes that I am going to mess my kids up. I just want them to be healthy and happy and know how much I love and care about them but I fail so I pick myself back up and try again. If you could just pray for me and this whole situation with Monkey that would be great. I pray that this upcoming week will be so great for him to be at camp away from life and be able to learn and grow in his faith. This is really vague but I think we have some really serious stuff going on with him.

9 years ago...

today I was miserably pregnant with Monkey. I just can't get over how super fast these years are flying by me. This is his last year in the single digits and then I will have half my kids in the double digits. I have to say that these last 9 years have changed me for the better. I love all the joy and love that Monkey brings to our family. Yes, he is a kid and he has a sin nature just like everyone in this world but he is a really great person to know. He is a super sweet guy. There is just something special about the bond a mother and son have it is completely different than mothers and daughters, not better just different. Want to clarify that for when my kids read this later on in life. Most of the time I can just give Monkey a look and he knows exactly what I am going to say. Parenting him is so fun yet can also be challenging. He is not my talker like the other kids yet when it is just he and I alone...it is like the flood gates of his lips have opened up, I so cherish those one on one times with him and I really need to make more of them happen. As of 12:05am on the 22nd I will have a 9 year old. Happy Birthday my sweet sweet Monkey!

End of Baseball season

Tonight was Monkey's last game of the season. It was a very frustrating game for me. Monkey had gotten hit the last two games so this game he was terrified of the ball. The first at bat he step away from the base at each pitch and struck out. He was mad at himself. Then the second time he was up to bat he REFUSED to bat. The coach even offered him some ice cream if he just stood at the plate...he didn't even have to swing. Just stand there. And he wouldn't do it. Because of his refusal the team got their second out of the inning. I was not a happy mom. He had a chance of getting walked because the pitcher wasn't the greatest. I just don't know how to get him over his fear of the ball???? I talked to him about how he has been hit 3 times and has walked away from all of them unharmed. At this point I just want to take him outside and peg him with some balls! I won't of course but I want to. He had such a great season and tonight just wasn't his night. The funny thing he still wants to play next year. But I'm not shelling out that kind of money if he won't bat. UGH Also just want to state that it stinks that the team with the worst winning season is going to the world series...how does that happen? Double UGH.

Birthday Party

Today we had Monkey's 9th birthday party even though he won't be 9 for another month! This week at his school they are having a basketball camp that most of his friends are going to so it worked out well to have the party after the camp! We were planning on being at the park across the street. We got there 5 minutes before the camp got out and I sent GlamorGirl over to the park with the pizza. About 3 minutes later it was a downpour. I ran across the street to get my girl and poor thing was standing under a tree with the pizza trying not to get soaked. But by the time we got back to the school we were both drenched and then it stopped. Ugh this weather! I didn't want to risk getting rained on again so we had the party inside the school. After party for kids who are older are so nice. They completely entertained themselves by playing different games in the gym. The party consisted of pizza, chips and drinks for lunch, playing in the gym, opening gifts, going outside to do some water balloon activities, and finishing at the park with some water gun fights! On the way home from the party Monkey said, "That was the best birthday party EVER! Thank you mom for putting it together for me." Is he not the sweetest kid ever?!?!? I feel guilty that I really didn't do much in the way of planning it but he loved it. He had 7 boys from school with him made 8 so it was a good even number!

Waiting and wondering...

I am sitting here almost 10pm wondering if my 10 year old is going to call me wanting to come home from her friend's birthday party sleepover. You see this is the first time she has done this. She has had sleepovers before but with only one friend. There are 5 girls at this party. She is prepped to call me if she feels uncomfortable or just wants to come home. We have a code question she is to call and ask, which indicates "COME AND GET ME!" How it works is about an hour later I call and tell them mom I need to come and get her because of a family emergency. I just don't know if it is 10pm now and she hasn't called am I going to be getting a call?!?! I really hope not because this girl is TIRED. Ok, I'm going to call her. She's not answering. Hmmm Not sure I'm ready for this independence! ****update she called this morning at 7:30am because she was the first one awake and didn't know what to do. I told her to go back to bed ;) I pick her up in an hour and a half!****

In other news, I just have to share the coolest thing! Jeff went fishing with a buddy Thursday after work until Friday evening. It was a short trip but he was 3 1/2 hours away so I was single parenting it. Thursday night as I was putting the kids to bed Monkey said his arm hurt. He had a scab that had obviously become infected. There was a red circle that was hot and puffy around the scab and one little line that was starting to spread the infection. I called my friend and asked what she would do. I really didn't feel like calling the doctor who would tell me to take him to the ER with all four kids in tow. She told me to use grapefruit seed extract with a little water and rub it on the infection. I also gave him a cup of water with two drops of the grapefruit seed extract. The next morning his arm was completely better! I haven't checked it today but I'm sure it is still fine. That stuff works as a natural antibiotic. If you don't have any in your house I highly HIGHLY recommend getting some. It has saved me on many trips to the doctor. When I think the kids are coming down with something I give them some drops in their drink. Many visits to the doctor have been avoided in the past year from our use of this vitamin/supplement! How cool is it that God gave us so many wonderful things that naturally heal our bodies. Our bodies are so amazing!

Field Trip

I got the pleasure of going on Monkey's field trip to the Museum of Science and Industry in downtown Chicago. One thing I love about his teacher is she always allows as many chaperons as parents who want to go. Most of the parents had two kids their kid and one more. One dad just had his kid. I like going on field trips for two reasons, I love spending that time with my one kid and their friends and two I always wanted my parents to go on field trip growing up, my dad went on one. It was the best one ever!!! I know that if I go on all of them it doesn't really make it special but I stay home and I don't want them to feel like I did as a kid. Also my oldest had a field trip that she told me not to come on and she explained her reasons. I didn't go because of her wishes and other factors. Back on topic...I really LOVE this museum out of all the ones downtown I think this is the most educational with hands on stuff to do. Our group consisted of 3 moms, one dad and the teacher and a total of 8 boys. We took them to the coal mine. I haven't been to that exhibit in years and I have to tell you it is WAY better than I remember it. We did the storm exhibit with the tsunami and tornado that was pretty cool. Went to the hatchery with the baby chicks. We did the water room which was a big hit. We got to see everything the boys wanted to see and do. It was just a really fun day. I also got to see my boy interact with the kids in his class. He is a very independent little boy and I am just so proud of him for being his own person. I love that boy with all my heart and I was so glad I was able to spend the whole day with him. I owe a HUGE thank you to my wonderful sister-in-law who came over and had some very special quality time with my little Peanut. The other three kids were pretty jealous that she got Auntie Liz all to herself and they have no idea that David spent most of the day with them. It would only add insult to injury ;)

A day for the record!

It was absolutely gorgeous outside today and tomorrow is suppose to be the same great weather! I packed a picnic lunch for the kids and we ate at the park and played for a little over an hour with some friends. Then down for a quick nap and then to get the kids from school. Then it was a quick dinner and off to drop Monkey off at his baseball game and GG at soccer practice. Then we headed over to the game. I let the little kids play at the park while we wait for the game to start. As I was getting the kids ready to head over I noticed something was up with Peanut's shorts. I asked her to come here because I wanted to see what it was she told me she pooped in her pants. I looked and she sure did. SO GROSS. This kid has been potty trained since she was 18 months old and I can't even tell you the last time she has had an accident. I was not happy. I had to take her home, clean her up and get GG from practice so we could get back to the game to see Monkey pitch. He was on the schedule to pitch the 3rd inning. We only missed seeing the very first pitch he threw out. He got the first batter out. Then the second batter out. The third batter hit a ground ball right to Monkey he scooped it up and threw it to first getting the 3rd guy out! I was so proud of him. I was so nervous he would be one of those kids that walked a bunch of batters but he didn't! YAY. Then the second time he was up to bat (I wasn't there for the first) they switched pitchers right when he got up because that pitcher had walked 4 guys. They put in their best pitcher and he struck Monkey out. But he did get a few good swings in there!!! I'm just so proud of him for trying. When I went to pick GG up at practice her coach walked over and told me how she had picked up a hot pepper off the ground and ended up touching her face which caused it to sting. I will NEVER understand what would possess my 10 year old to pick up some random food item off the ground. REALLY? When do they out grow that nastiness??? Well that was pretty much all our excitement for the day.

Monkey

I could of easily tacked this on to the last post about baseball but I believe this is worthy of it's own post!!! Last night Monkey had his normal Monday night practice. During the practice the coach had all the kids on the team sign the game ball from the first game. Then he awarded that winning game ball to Monkey for his excellent plays at first, getting the guy out and catching the pop fly getting another guy out. What an honor!!! I am just so proud of him. He has really taken to this sport and is making friends with his teammates. This has just been such a great outlet for him and it is worth the effort of all the running we are now doing. I love watching him grow in new ways! I love that boy.

Baseball

Well my Monkey had his first game tonight. I was really nervous for him and his team because they were playing a team of all 4th graders. This is the first time he has played on a team like this...I know I've already said that but it's true! He played several different positions which was good for him. Early in the game a ball came right to him and he grabbed it and got it to first base to get the guy out. I was so proud of him. He did it! Then later on in the game a kid hit a fly ball and he caught it! Another out for my little man's first game. He batted twice and both times got home. We did get pictures but we all know I'm just not that good at getting them uploaded and on to the good ole blog. Anyways, when all was said and done his team won by 2 runs. I believe the final score was 7 to 5. What a great way to start the season beating a team who has older kids on it. He also had a great cheering section of grandma and grandpa M and Aunt Becky along with me and Jeff and his siblings. We actually had to tell the kids NOT to cheer for him when he got up to bat. We didn't want him to get nervous or distracted. But once he got on we let them loose! I was frozen by the end of the game but it was worth it to see him play his first game! So far my kids are rocking the organized sports :)

A note to see the Teacher!

It doesn't put fear in me now that I am a parent but it sure was upsetting to Monkey when I had to go see his teacher. I went to the cafeteria like I do every Wednesday and say hi to the two older kids before I pick up the two younger ones from school. Today Monkey was almost in tears as he told me his teacher wanted to see me TODAY! I reassured him I would go talk to her before I got the kids as I had about 10 minutes, he was relieved. It is actually a pretty funny story why I had to go see her, when I called to tell Jeff what happened he just laughed! You want to know? Okay, I'll tell you! Monkey's class gets packets of past work sent home, about every 6 weeks, so we can see his progress and then we sign it. The last one he got sent home his dad and him got in a conversation about cursive. So Jeff used the packet to show Monkey the correct way to sign your name in cursive. However, since he took his time and did it the right way it looked more like a 3rd or 4th grader signed Monkey's packet. The teacher questioned Monkey about it and he told her what happened. She didn't believe him. She showed him the other packets that his dad has signed and the handwriting didn't match. Poor kid was terrified. She told me he stood there completely wide eyed because she didn't believe him! I had to go in and confirm that in fact his dad signed his packet! The sad part about this incident is that there have been some kids in his class that don't want to get in trouble for their school work that they forge their parents signatures. I totally don't blame her for questioning the signature!

My Oldest Boy

He is so creative and wrote the sweetest Christmas poem. I thought I would share with all of you!

Christmas

Christmas is a special day,
because Jesus was born on some hay.
He wasn't rich or ungrateful,
He never had to have a plateful.
Wise men and shepherds came to see him
while the sunlight was getting dim.
King Herod was really mad
but an angel told his dad.
Remember Christmas is a special day
and also remember that Jesus was born on some hay.

The End

Miracle on 34th Street

Last night we went to take the kids to see the play Miracle on 34th Street. My mom-in-law got free tickets and invited us to go with them. She got there super early and was the first person in line. When we got there we line jumped so we could sit with them. There is no assigned seating. Because we were the first in we got some really great seats. Though there wasn't really any bad seats in the place. Before the show started the kids were approached by the stage manager and asked if they wanted to be apart of the show. GG and Monkey were in the front row and they both said yes! Then he came back to the second row and asked Red who said yes but at the last second he got scared and opted out. It was really cool. They had Santa on the chair and a few kids in the play sat on his lap first and then it was Monkey's turn. Santa asked him his name. If he was in school. What his favorite subject was. If he had any brothers or sisters. If he helped out around the house. And finally what he wanted for Christmas. It was really cute and some of his answers were pretty funny and interesting. Like his favorite subject is Reading! I have struggled for so long to get that boy to read. It was funny the answer he gave for helping out around the house too. He does the dishes and the laundry...haha. He unloads the dishes with his sister and he puts his own clothes away after they have been washed and folded. Then it was GG's turn. Santa had a hard time with her name. One because it is unique and two because she talked SO quite. He had to repeat everything she said so that the audience could hear her answers! He asked her the same questions and the same two answers I thought were funny for her too! Her favorite subject she said was HISTORY! This was news to me. She has always LOVED reading and grammar. What she helps out with around the house was funny too. She takes out the garbage and rakes leaves!?! They did such a great job. People came up to me and them telling them how well they did. One lady even said that GG could be on the stage next year as one of the cast members! That made her night :) We had such a great time. The only thing I wish I would of done is gotten a cup of water for Peanut. About the last 30 minutes so was SOOOO thirsty. I was having a hard time keeping her quite. Other than that she did great and really enjoyed the signing parts of it but the acting parts didn't hold her interest that well. It was really a neat play and I'm so glad we went to see it. The guy who played Santa was amazing. My sister-in-law took some pictures afterward with the kids and Santa so I will try and get them from her to show you.

Parenting...

Tonight was Mom's night at boys truth in training (TNT). The things we do for our kids I tell ya. It was a theme night of western so I carried a toy gun in my pocket and wore a cowgirl hat and pig tails. Then they had us peel apples in a game...oy was that messy ;) I got to sing with my Monkey which I LOVE doing. Then we played games in the gym! That was interesting to say the least. This is the first year Monkey is in TNT so I had no idea what to expect from this night. The games are NOTHING like the Mom's night in GIRLS TNT! I actually got hot from playing the game. Though I will say it was a really fun game. It was a human version of foose ball. I heard something tonight during the devotion that I really think is quiet important. Wendy talked about how she knew that her mom loved her no matter what. I really hope and pray that my kidlets know that I love them no matter what silly or stupid things they do. I want to be their hero. Though I think role model would be a better term but this year in the boys TNT they are talking about heros. I hope Monkey knows I love him because I could of told him I wasn't coming because I am a JAM leader. Actions speak louder than words and I want them to know they are my first priority after God.

Teeth

I can't remember how much detail I went into about Monkey and his teeth...too lazy to go look it up! Anyways, the dentist sent us to the orthodontist to have them scan his mouth to see about his permanent teeth. Well his head is too small and their machine couldn't take a picture of his mouth. He is one of the smaller kids in his class, which makes sense since he is also one of the youngest. He is 49 inches tall and weighs 50 lbs. Well yesterday he tells me to come by him and he shows me that he has a second tooth loose!!! This is good news in one sense and bad in another. Good because it shows that he is just going to be a late tooth looser but he will loose them. Bad because his mouth hasn't grown much more to give those permanent teeth room to come in straight. I'm hoping that tooth takes about 2 months or more before it falls out. Then maybe he could have a 3rd tooth loose at his next dentist appointment and make our dentist less worried about him! Because I'm not at this point and I hate when doctors are worried when I'm not and then they start to make me worried when it is all for nothing. We've had this happen a few too many times. Our children are slow growers...

Emotional

The last few days have been quite the roller coaster ride for me and not in the good way. Two members of our family left to go to camp. I got to talk them the first night away. Monkey wasn't having a good time because he had gotten bit by mosquitoes all over his body and mainly his face. Poor kid hasn't even met any of the other campers and his face is swollen with bug bites. J said the first night he wanted to come home. Yesterday the rest of the campers got there. Monkey has never been my super out going kid that makes friends where he goes. He has pretty much had a built in friend since he was born in his big sister and she is really good at making friends at the park and then he plays too. As hard as this is on me I really think they will be a great experience for him to spread his wings and meet some kids on his own. He is a kid that will be just fine being by himself and couldn't care less that no one is playing with him. J said that he has been walking to meals by himself. That breaks my heart but I highly doubt he really cares if he walks with someone. His cabin leader is my sis-in-laws boyfriend so he knows him, which is good. I just hate hearing reports from J and Liz that he is not having fun. I don't want his first camp experience to be bad, but he is a different kid then his sister. So I am consistently thinking about him and praying for him. Then we have what is going on at the homefront. The first day wasn't too bad. I had a really sad Red because his brother and playmate left. He was super sad at bedtime because he was alone in his room. I offered for him to sleep in my bed with me. Half way through the night we had a really bad storm. Peanut woke up and got scared so she came to my bed too. Red didn't like the closeness of having 3 people in my bed so he want to his bed at that point. Then we had a play date with Peanuts friends (twins) and their baby brother. Their dad is at camp with our guys so it was nice to hang out and share our missing of the boys. They left after lunch and right in time for naptime. I put Peanut down for a nap and went downstairs to clean up after lunch. I hear noise upstairs and when I went up their Peanut was covered head to toe in my hair tac. Apparently she brought it to her bed and then put it all over herself then went into my bathroom to try and wash it off. So it was all over her bedding, the toilet, sink as well as her. I was so upset. I know I was a handful to my parents but I don't remember getting into stuff. ALL. THE. TIME. It never ends with her. The only time I can get anything done is when she is sleeping. And I have to stay close by to make sure she stays in bed and does fall asleep or we have episodes like the above mentioned. She is tiring to the core. I almost feel bad saying that I am looking forward to her starting school. I thought I would be so sad to send off my youngest but at this very moment it can't get here fast enough. We'll see what I say when it actually happens.

Seriously?!?

Wednesday nights Jeff is usually gone working with our junior high group at church. Most Wednesday nights I have friends lined up to come over and hang out while he is gone. For some reason I had a complete mental block that he was leaving last night so I didn't have anyone here to keep me company. Instead of being upset I decided that the kids and I would take a bike ride to the park. They wanted to go to the old neighborhood first and see some friends. Since we left right after dinner we had plenty of time to do both. We got the our old block and NO ONE was home, at first. Then Patti came out and we talked to her for a short time because she had a softball game she needed to get too. She just recently bought a trampoline and told me that the kids could jump on it. After she left I let the kids jump for a good amount of time. Then we were getting ready to go to the park. Monkey rode down to our old house, he wanted to climb the front tree. I went to get him and the guy who bought Jack's old house (our grandparent-like neighbors who passed away not too long ago) came home. I had heard he did a lot of updating to the house. I asked if I could see all that he had done. He isn't living there yet because the house still has more work to be done on it. As we walked to the door, GG found one of Marilyn's decorated rocks. She picked it up and just started bawling. The guy let her keep the rock, which made her day. The door that we went in is right next to our old swingset. The kids of course ran to it. Even though I told them not to. With in 30 seconds Monkey was screaming and crying because he got stung by a wasp. I told the kids not to play on it. What do you know, my little strong-willed stubborn Peanut didn't listen. Next thing I know she is screaming and crying. I run over to her and pick her up. I'm so surprised I didn't get stung. She had a wasp hanging from her arm. I shook it off. I saw 2 stings right away and I iced them. Once I got her somewhat calmed down I put her on the ground and looked the rest of her body over. She had 2 more stings on the other side of her arm. We were on bikes and I didn't bring my cell because I figured we probably won't need it but good ole Murphy's Law went into effect. The fire department isn't too far from the old house so we rode over there and had the Paramedics take a look at both the kids. We now know that neither one of them are allergic to bee stings. What a junky way to find that out! I think Peanut will be scared of any flying bugs for a very long time. I just still can't believe she didn't listen to me right after her brother got stung. I should of just picked her up and brought her into the house and not given her a choice. But I didn't and maybe this will be the life lesson that teaches her that "um maybe I should obey mom, she's got my back"

As I type this Red walks into my room on a day that is suppose to be 91 with a long sleeve shirt asking if he can wear it because he is really cold. Yeah, I have the air set at 78, it's NOT cold in here.

Other than that I have been bad at writing out our menus for the time we have lived in this house. I have made 3 new recipes. Fire roasted Chicken Salad (Everyone LOVED), Stuffed Acorn Squash, (it was ok) and last night I made Rolled Eggplant, Jeff LOVED it, I thought it was pretty good, the kids did not like it one bit, it was a little too spicy for me but not too bad.

No more summer crazies...

Now that this is the 5th week of summer break the kids summer crazies have settled down and we are getting into a routine again. This week we started "school" hour. The kids got all the workbooks from the year from school and instead of throwing them away I thought lets finish them. This is the second day and the kids are LOVING it. Even Peanut is getting in to it. After breakfast we clean up the table and the kids do the work I have planned for the morning. They haven't asked if they can go outside to play instead which means they are really enjoying it. They love to be outside with the neighbor kids but they would rather have school time with mom then be outside with them. I am loving the one on one time I am able to have with each of the kids. I'm not really teach them new stuff I am having them continue with the things they have already learned to help them retain them for next year. Speaking of next year, I am really excited for Monkey to have the teacher that GG has had for the last 2 years. I think he is going to grow leaps and bounds with her as his teacher she is just THAT good. Other than that Monkey had an eye appointment last week and was told he needs glasses for school. Neither J or I wear glasses so I had a really hard time hearing that. I kept asking is there anything we can do to help his eye sight. The doctor kept telling me no. Well she said it to quickly and without much thought that I decided to do a little research of my own. I can across a method for restoring eyesight. It is called the Bates Method. It has been recommend by a doctor that I completely trust, here is the site. He used it on his own eyesight. There is a video and then an article about the method. I am so excited to start using this with him and see if his sight improves!!!

What to title?!

At nap time today I laid with Peanut and stayed in the room until I thought she was asleep. As I left the room I thought I will be able to blog about how much better today went with nap time. Even if it still took her 45 minutes to fall asleep. I came back in the room 25 minutes later to her having taken off both her socks, her sitting up reading a book and books all over the room. UGH. I was mad. We had to be leaving in 15 minutes for a doctor appointment and she wasn't going to be getting a nap in that amount of time. I let her come out of the room but she had to sit in the time out chair. I thought she would fall asleep on the way to school to get the kids but she didn't she ended up falling asleep again at 4pm. This time instead of letting her sleep I woke her up as soon as we got home and told her she is going to bed at 7pm. She said, "ok" it is now 7:45 and she is still not sleeping. And so the battle continues and I will win!!!

Other than that issue the older kids don't have school tomorrow so they are going with me to my Bible study. The two oldest are joining a homeschool group during the time of the study. GG is really excited about it but Monkey is not. He doesn't like change and I think it is funny since he is the one who wanted to be homeschooled first! We shall see how it goes tomorrow. Silly kid that is all I have to say :)

Also my sister in law and two nephews are in town. They got in last night and Isaac went to Cubbies with Red and they had a blast together. Well apparently, Red had to poop at Cubbies but he didn't want his leader to go get us and said he wanted to wipe himself. Yeah, he doesn't really know how to do that yet. I guess he did a pretty good job so I told him today that I will start working with him to master wiping his own bottom. Which means I will only have one child that needs bathroom help. That seems a bit weird to think about but exciting at the same time!

Happy 7th Birthday Monkey!

We got woke up this morning to the phone ringing though we didn't get it in time it was Aunt Virginia and Isaac calling to sing Happy Birthday to Monkey. Then he got a video on the computer from J who had to leave for work at 6am. That was really sweet. I just can't believe my oldest boy is 7 years old! If you are interested in reading his birth story click here.

Let me tell you about this little boy! He has the best imagination out of anyone I have ever met. He could entertain himself in his room for hours upon hours. I like to sneak in and listen to what he is saying it always puts a smile on my face. Though at times he can be deafening LOUD! He has always had a very gentle spirit and it has become even more so the last week. Though I'm not sure how to help him anymore. At bedtime, now mind you he is VERY tired for a long hard day of play, he starts crying. When we ask him why he is sad he tells us that he feels bad for all the wrong things he did that day and then he lists them out. It is terrible for him to carry around all the guilt of sin. We have been talking to him in length of how once you have apologized those wrongs are forgotten. How God doesn't want him to carry guilt because he is forgiven. His heart is just so precious. I am so grateful for having him in our family. I love you little man!