Thankful

On Silas

There is something I need to put down in writing because time doesn't keep, does it?  The days move on and sometimes I am lost in getting everything done that I forget to take a minute and not only think, but to see.

Our youngest is four and a half.  It seems impossible, but with every turn of the calendar, I am watching the baby days fade into the past.  I truly, like every mom before me, when I was living in those days of nap times and diapers, thought they would never end.  

And part of me never wanted them to.  

There is a sweetness and delight mixed with the messy and the hard of infants and toddlers.  Everyone told me to cherish it.  So I did.  Not every moment.  And not near perfectly.  But I did.  

So now our oldest is 8.  And there aren't any diapers here anymore. And everyone puts on their own shoes.  And could kinda get breakfast if they needed to.

And listen, no one told me.  

No one told me how fun this age would be.  No one said the conversations would be so rich.  No one said he would be so funny. No one said he would help so much and understand so much and want to know so much.

Silas had a costume planned for Halloween but on the afternoon of the 31st, he decided it wasn't going to work.  So much to my chagrin, he announced he wanted to make something different.  I was less than enthused but encouraged him to figure it out.  And as I watched him pull it together, I couldn't help but jump in and make it as good as we could.

He decided to be a lion.

It was the best.  His delight made my heart sing.  There was nothing he would have wanted to be on Halloween night more than that paper-maned, karate-belt-tailed, red and orange lion.

I wish I could have bottled some of his joy.  As simply as I can put it, he was pleased.

Last week our CC community celebrated medieval day so the children dressed up.  We had a princess and a couple makeshift knights in Star Wars garb.  

But Silas, he wanted to be Shakespeare.  (Who we all know was in the Renaissance Period, but let's not get technical, k?)

The pride with which he wore that outfit made every moment of cutting and pinning the old sheet onto my jacket worth it.   

I kinda wish someone had told me to love the baby days but to know that some really precious days are coming.  

Silas, I want you to know that I see you.  We are in a whole new chapter now.  And even though no one told me, it is so so good.

When Brother is Sick

 Silas is not feeling well today.  He took a sick day from school.  And while he was asleep on the couch, I encouraged the twins to find something to do to keep quiet.  Without prompting, they both made something for Silas "to help him feel better when he wakes up."

Lieren proceeded to make him 4 different cards including the one with block lettering above.  One of her others said, "You are the best brother a sister could ever have" and another, "I am praying for you."  So very dear.

Simeon just made the one card but his Lego creation was darling.  It is "baby Silas with Mommy and Daddy pushing him in a stroller."

When Silas woke, Sim and Lieren presented their creations to the sick boy.  He fell back to sleep with the cards and Legos beside him.  And I'm sure he felt better.

Because Blaisey Rhymes with Crazy

Blaise had a Hoe-Down at preschool on Friday.  They were supposed to dress up like farmers.

This is how he went to school...

And this is how he came home, along with a mouthful of stories...

We just love this crazy kid!!

What a Weekend

So here it is Wednesday night and we are already looking toward the start of another weekend.  But even though that's true, this last weekend deserves a little recognition.

We started the weekend with Simeon deciding he wanted to have a sale on Friday afternoon.  He plopped himself down outside and made $20!

On Saturday we took a family day to the beach.  I am always amazed at how every time we go, there is a different adventure awaiting.  This visit did not disappoint.

Yep. That's a baby shark swimming at the feet of my children.

And then on Sunday our church had a Fall Festival.  We went to trick or treat with a few friends at my parents house before heading to church.

To say there were a lot of people at Bay Life on Sunday afternoon would be a gross understatement.  There were a LOT of people there.  But what a blessing to see our church minister to the community and provide such a fun event for so many kids.

My picture-taking on Sunday was sub-par to say the least. (insert eye-roll emoji here...ha!)

I won't say that Monday was our most productive homeschool day ever but we got ourselves through it and I may or may not have just sent the little kids outside to run off all their candy crazy.

Then Monday night we walked to the neighborhood across the street where another church staff family lives.  They brought several of the games from our fall festival home to set up in their driveway, which was great fun for the kids coming through.  We played there a while, did a lap around the block and called it a night.

I am not sure we've recovered yet.  What a weekend!