Happy 4th Birthday, Landon Ryan Ball!

Dear Landy,


Oh my goodness!! Today is finally your birthday and you are four years old!! How we've been waiting for today to come! This is the first time you've really gotten excited over your birthday coming and you have proudly announced over and over that you will be four years old! I asked you if you would like Daddy and Mama to get you something for your birthday and you said, "Umm, a cake!" I laughed and asked if maybe you'd like a special toy or something just for you, and your response? "A cake, with CANDLES! My friends will sing 'Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday, dear Landon, Happy birthday to you' and then I will blow the candle out, like this (insert blowing out the candles whoosh)!"


Tonight, we will have our family birthday dinner of chicken scampi, because that is a favorite of yours and your brothers right now. You will get to eat on our special birthday plate, and Daddy will say a special prayer for you before dinner. Then, this weekend, you get to have a birthday party with all your special friends and aunts and uncles of the heart. :) You picked a Toy Story 3 theme and were so excited as we bought the matching paper goods.


You are the sweetest four year old boy! My little Landy. You've always been one to melt hearts with your smile, and my oh my, you can still pull that off!! I will just be sitting in a chair or making dinner or some other simple task and you'll come over to me and give me a hug or rub my arm or leg or very pregnant belly and smile that Landon smile up at me. Then you'll give me a kiss and say, "I love you, Mama." Sometimes you even tack on, "you're a good girl," to the end.


You are a big helper for Mama, always wanting to be in the kitchen to watch me cook, helping me pick up toys in your bedroom. You love your big brother, Ayden, and your little brother, Camden. You love to follow Ayden around and do what he does, but you also like to play with your little close-in-age playmate. It seems like you are either playing together like the two sweetest boys you've ever seen, or you are fighting like cats and dogs. But, you do love each other and have really learned to play well together a lot of the time.


You will be a good big brother to your new little sister in just a few months. You are so funny about it. If we point to my belly and ask whats inside, you tell us its a baby. But, then, you point to your own belly and say, "this is my sister!" I know she will feel like a precious part of our family when she gets some of your sweet kisses on her forehead.


Right now, your imagination is taking off! You and Ayden like to play pretend with the pirate ships. You will load the ships up with plastic army men, designating the good guys and bad guys and staging a whole, dramatic scene. You also build Gongman City nearly everyday out of some type of block: our Mega blocks, alphabet blocks, legos, trio blocks, the wooden blocks Daddy made you...or a combination of all. Gongman City is the place where the evil peacock Shen lives on Kung Fu Panda 2, and you love to build that tower. Anytime you build anything, you always run out and tell me to come look at what you made. When I get there, you hold out your hand and point to your creation and excitedly say, "See, see, see, see?"


You also still love to play with your trains and you love yourself some Toy Story and Cars. Its rare that we leave the house without a Lightning McQueen stuffed in your pocket. In fact, I think you might have had one in EACH pocket when we went to church Sunday night. But, generally, you need that certain ONE....don't ask me which, because all of our 273 Lightning McQueen cars look exactly the same to me. But, there's always a certain one you want, and you'll painstakingly sift through the bin of cars until you find just the right one.


You enjoy coloring and puzzles and the occasional book. Now that Ayden is reading, you prefer to sit in my lap and listen to him read over sitting down and letting me read to you. But thats okay. The other day, you were "reading" to Camden, and I was one proud Mama to see you tracking that print, line by line from left to right. Mmmhmmm, your teacher Mama was cheering you on over your shoulder.


You love your Daddy SOOOO much! I know that all of my boys love me, but you definitely all have a special connection with your Daddy, too. And, you have the best, you know. He loves to come home and wrestle with his boys or get down on the floor and play cars or trains or ships or puzzles or whatever else you come up with to do. Your Daddy sets a good example for you and your brothers, because he loves Jesus, he loves your Mama, he loves his boys (and soon daughter), and he loves student ministry and students. In that order, which is the way it should be.


You also love church. Sundays and Wednesdays are your favorite days and you get so excited when you know its church time. Mr. David and Mrs. Eileen are your Sunday School teachers, and you run in each Sunday and give them a big, "Hi!" On Wednesdays, you are forever talking about how you like Mr. Josh and you sing the songs you learn in preschool choir with gusto. The latest is Zaccheus, and we've had fun telling him to come down out of that tree! And, of course, our sweet Mrs. Jones, who teaches you on Wednesday nights. You love each other and she loves to teach you and your friends about Jesus.


This year, you will get to start preschool! Ah!! I'm not sure if I'm ready for that just yet, but I know you will love it! Sometimes you still ask if you can go to school with Ayden, so I know that you'll be ready when its your turn next year. And, of course, you are so very smart!! I still think of you as my itty-bitty Landy-boy, but the truth is, you are getting to be a big boy and you are ready to do big boy things.


You have learned so much over the past year. You are (finally) potty trained; you can get undressed and help dress yourself; put on your shoes; identify shapes, colors, some numbers, and lots of letters; put together puzzles; draw circles; speak much more clearly; and so many other things, I can't even list them all!


Sometimes, you discipline yourself. Just today you had to sit in time out for dumping Camden's puzzle on the floor (time-outs are becoming more and more rare, though), and after you sat the appropriate time, we had our typical talk about why you had to sit there, being kind to our brothers, and then you apologized to Cam and gave him a hug. A few minutes later, I was busy working on housework and caught a glimpse of you....back in time out. You sat yourself down there for a few more minutes, and as I watched from around the corner, got back up to play when you were done. You've also been known to put yourself to bed if you get tired. We'll wonder where you are and go looking, and find you sound asleep in your bed.


Speaking of beds, you and your brothers just got new bunk beds. A full size on the bottom for you and Camden, and a twin on top for Ayden. You are all sharing a room now as we prepare for the arrival of Baby Girl Ball, but you are all handling the change very well. You like being in with your big brother, and he likes the company. The only downfall is that the three of you don't always go quickly to sleep at bedtime...but we'll keep working on that. ;)


Well, Landy, I hope you have a wonderful birthday. I hope you feel special and loved and cherished, because you are. Daddy, Mama, Ayden, and Camden love you sooo much. And, Jesus loves you even more than us!! I can't wait to see what the next year holds for you.


Love,
Mama

Things That Make Me Go Hmmm.....

Here are my random thoughts from today (mostly). Things that made me think something along the lines of, "Huh?!" or "What in the world?!"....

Opening my refrigerator and finding an Iron Man action figure.

Camden's response when I so sweetly asked him if he was arguing with his mama, "Uh, yes, I am."

Walking around the corner into the kitchen to a hunk of nastiness on the tile floor. Oh, no worries, its a chewed up grape that someone grew tired of.

Camden telling me, "Mama, I'm actually scared." As if the boy even knows the meaning of the word!

Landon's ability to make a different "chuffing" noise for every train on Thomas' Sodor Island.

Finding two day old milk...I'm being real here, people!! I'm sure you know what it looked like!

The repeated disappointment on Camden's face when I open the garage door and he comes running to see Daddy, only to find....just Mama.

The joyful ecstasy that results when Daddy actually DOES walk in the door. Hello? Remember me? The one who changed your poopy diaper and wiped your nasty nose and let you watch Elmo for the love of Pete???? (Just kidding...I'm glad they love their Daddy and I know they love me, too. And, it really is something to see)

Ayden's fascination with adding the words "poop" and "pee" to nearly every sentence he utters.

My own musings that maybe I should let Camden stay in diapers forever rather than taking on a new potty training battle when the last one is still etched so freshly in my memory.

Thanks for coming along. Welcome to my crazy life. Some days it makes me crazy, but for the most part, I'm glad there's never a dull moment!! :)

Ayden's 6th Birthday

Dear Ayden,

Today you are six years old! I cannot believe it! It seems like just yesterday Daddy and I were bringing you home from the hospital. You are growing up so fast. But, you promised me that you would always be my little boy, no matter how old you are, so I am going to hold you to it.

This has been a big year for you because you started Kindergarten. I am amazed everyday at how well you are learning. Your reading just blows me away!! When Mama was teaching, I didn't even introduce these same concepts until the second half of first grade, but here you are, already reading like a champ just halfway through Kindergarten!! You sometimes say that you don't like school and don't want to go, but when you come home you are always excited and say that you had a good day. Mrs. Tracy is such a sweet teacher and has done such a wonderful job with your class this year.

You also learned this year that you were going to be a big brother...again. Surprise!! At first, you weren't all that excited about it. But, then, you said you guessed it would be okay to have another baby at our house...but you sure hoped it was a sister this time. I was holding my breath when it was time to hear the big news, but now we know that a sweet little sister is on her way. I can't wait for her to meet you. You are the BEST biggest brother. You take such good care of your little brothers and you always look out for them and try to teach them by setting a good example. I know you will be the same way with your sister. She, and Landon and Camden, are lucky to have you.

You are still so tenderhearted. You've gotten big enough that you really don't get into trouble very often...but when you do, its usually for having an attitude with Mama and Daddy. You are always so brokenhearted to be in trouble that I usually feel guilty for even getting on to you. Just know that Daddy and I are working to train you up in the way you should go. You also tell me about things that make you sad, like when a friend has to leave school because they are sick, and especially how it makes you sad that Grammy and Poppy and all of our family in Missouri is so far away.

You are also so funny. You have always kept us entertained, even from the time you were a baby. I remember when you were just a month or so old, Grammy said that she couldn't even remember what we used to do for entertainment before you came along. You get the fun-loving side of your personality from Daddy. You act just like him (and that's a good thing!!). Although Daddy and I do NOT think we need to start the whole boyfriend/girlfriend thing anytime soon, you have definitely been exposed to it some this year in school. A few months ago, you told me that so and so thought you should marry a certain girl from your class. I tried to play it cool and not totally freak out and give you the whole, "you-will-NOT-have-a-girlfriend-for-at least-the-next-27-years" talk. So, I just casually said, "Well, it will probably still be a long time before you want to get married. But, when the time comes, you just need to find a girl that loves Jesus and loves you." And, that was that. Then, the next week after I picked you up from school, that same girl came up again in our conversation, and you said "Mama, when we are on the playground I keep asking her if she loves Jesus, and she just runs away from me!!" I have laughed at that so many times!

Recently, you have started shortening words... Camden is "Cams" and Landon "Lands". You like to snuggle under the "covs" with me and your "Dads" and sometimes even like to call "Grams" on the phone. Your Daddy and I have gotten quite a kick out of your new language!

You love to play with your Legos that you got for Christmas and you are in kid-love with The Avengers. Honestly, I had no idea that so many different superheroes even existed, but you know every single one under the sun (and above and beyond that, too) and what their power is. Mr. Rusty has loaded you up with some sweet Avengers posters for your bedroom that are the envy of most of the other boys (even Daddy!). You are very creative in the way that you play, and you also like to draw. Daddy says you just may grow up to be a movie director because you show us a piece of paper with what looks like random drawings and scribbles, but then you proceed to tell us exactly what is going on, with exact detail. Scribbles become bombs blowing up, people in the air are being flown away by the heroes, random lines are spiderwebs shooting or laser eyes firing...Its crazy because you always know every little detail about what and why you draw.

You are sometimes critical of yourself. I think its called being a perfectionist, and, unfortunately, I think you get that from your Mama. Daddy and I have tried to let you know that we are always proud of you when you try your hardest, even if that means something isn't perfect. You are the exact way that God made you, and we wouldn't have it any other way!!

I love you so very much, big boy!! I am so proud of you and that little man that you are becoming. It thrills me to hear you talk about Jesus, and I pray for the day that you understand about the sacrifice of His life on the cross in order to pay for our sins and allow us eternal life with Him in heaven. I can't wait to see all of the things you will do for the Lord in your life and the ways you will serve Him.

You are precious to me.
There is no one like you.
You are the perfect fit for our family.
I love you to the moon and back times infinity.

Love,
Mama

Friends

A friend loves at all times.... Prov. 17:17a

Friends. I have struggled in the area of friendship for most of my life. I would have some great friends for a few years, but then, for various reasons, we went our separate ways. Maybe we no longer had classes together. Maybe we were no longer interested in the same things. Maybe our lives went in different directions. Maybe one or both of us moved. Whatever the reason, friends have been something that have come and gone in my life; yet something that I so deeply desired was deep, lasting, meaningful friendships.

Throughout my married years (which also, coincidentally, includes all of my adult years), the Lord has taught me many lessons about friendship. What it means to be a good friend. What it means to have good friends. The importance of having Christ as the center of a friendship. Even the fact that its okay to have a small group of close friends.

I have come to understand how blessed I am with friends. When Jesse and I sensed God's call to pack up our family and move 1,000 miles away from everyone and everything we knew, I was terrified that I would never again have friends. But, I do. Lots of them and all to His glory.

One of them I call my Mama. We have always been close and for the most part, even avoided all the typical pitfalls common to mother-daughter relationships during the teenage years. But, as I have become a wife and a mom, our bond has strengthened. She is the person I know I can talk to about anything and know that she is praying and will give Godly advice...in addition to just listening. And, in some crazy way, I think being so far away has given us even a new appreciation for each other...that our time together is more precious and not to be taken for granted.

Two of them I call sisters. I remember thinking as a teenager that Heather and I would always love each other - because we had to, but we would probably NEVER like each other. In my eyes, she always copied everything I did, had to go everywhere I went, and would always be the one to get me in trouble. In her eyes, I'm sure she saw me for the bossy and selfish girl I was prone to be. But, we DID get over all that and we DO like each other. We even cry when we say good-bye!! :) We enjoy each other's company now and look forward to spending time together and with our sister Katie. Katie was always my little baby doll. Since I was seven years older, she thought I rocked and I could dress her pretty much any way I wanted. Now, I look to her for advice on what to wear and what goes together. She's still my baby sister, but she's now fully adult. I love her and her tender heart.

I have three friends that are sisters of my heart. They grabbed me the minute I set foot in Jacksonville and have been there with me and for me every step of the way. They have laughed and cried with me, encouraged and prayed for me, and been, truly, my sisters away from home. I know to expect a text (or 3) when I am leaving MO, letting me know that they are praying for my good-byes to family. I can expect a hug the moment they see me and hear from them how much my family in Florida has missed me. They love my children just like their own nephews (and nieces soon). They have rejoiced with me and they have mourned with me, and I thank the Lord that he placed them in my life so that the burden of being so far from home will be a little lighter.

Then there is the sweet young couple who have been and done everything we've needed them to since we've lived in Jacksonville. They have watched our boys, hung out with us, supported our ministry, and even gave me a special gift for Christmas this year of redoing my living room while we were gone. The crazy part is, I think they even enjoy it all! They are precious to us and another answer to prayer.

There are others who have stepped into our lives and loved us. Each of them are so special to us and make life away from family not just a countdown to the next visit, but a life - with ups and downs and twists and turns and the unforeseen and the planned and busyness and play time.

And I just wanted to say thank you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7O9G2QTs9Eg

Tomorrow

We've been to the store...a few times...and with the help of Grammy.
She picked up this:
Then we got this:

And these things:

And we put it all in this (also compliments of Grammy):

And, tomorrow, I will take my precious firstborn to Kindergarten. At first, he wasn't so excited about starting school. But, as it gets closer, he's at least curious and anxious to see what it will be like.

I'm not ready. Wasn't it just yesterday I was bringing him home? Time goes by so fast.

We went for his screening a couple of days ago, and, according to the school secretary, he did great. I did hear him read several words to her and I know he is ready. We also got to meet his teacher, who seems super sweet. We are blessed to know that he will be in a school where he not only learns about math and reading and science and social studies, but also about Jesus. Its going to be a great experience.

But I'm sure going to miss having him around all day...and his brothers will, too.

Camden is 2

Dear Camden,

I can't believe you are already 2 years old!! You haven't acted like much of a baby in several months, but now you are officially out of babyhood and into toddler-land. It makes me sad that I don't have a little baby to rock and cuddle, but you are such a fun little boy that it seems like a fair trade. You have always tried to keep up with your big brothers; walking at 9 months, playing with the same toys, talking early. Now, you are all playmates. You love each other and you all love to play together. Lots of time you play Cars or Toy Story 3 or Thomas the Train with Landon. Or, Spiderman, Iron-Man, or other superheroes with Ayden. The three of you will give each other a sweet little hug that, in the blink of an eye, turns into an all-out wrestling match....sometimes in a fun way, and other times - not so much.

You are 100% (maybe more) an adventurous, fearless, carefree little guy. I often refer to you (in a good way, of course) as monster, stinker, or bully. You climb like a little hooligan....if you can't reach it, you use something to stand on. You started using the stepping stool to get on the kitchen counter, so I put it away. You improvised by pushing your little table over. Once I put that up, you started carrying in the laundry baskets and turning them upside down. It's impossible to Camden-proof the house. You are, thankfully, staying in your bed....although for a few weeks we resorted to, ahem.... alternative forms of keeping you safely in bed at night. ;) But, if you wanted out, there would be no stopping you. Some people suggest that I put a baby gate on your bedroom door....and that makes me laugh, because you can climb over one of those in a matter of seconds. You scare me, sometimes more than your brothers did, because you aren't afraid of anything.

You are also a big talker. You are great at letting people know what you want. You speak in sentences already and can say what you like and don't like. You are incredibly smart...and even know how to tease. You like to tell people that your name is "Landon Ryan Ball," which only serves to aggravate the actual Landon. But, you say it with an ornery little grin, because you know exactly what you're doing.

Sometimes you get cranky, but lots of times you are a happy little man with the cutest little smile, dimples and all. Your Daddy is your favorite person. You run to him when he comes home from work, ask for him when he's gone, and tell others about him. You are enjoying books more, although you really prefer to look at them by yourself, and not for Mama to read to you. You like to color, although you have to be heavily supervised. :) You've become more of a picky eater, but you like yogurt, mac and cheese, chicken nuggets, and pasta. You like to pretend to talk on the phone, and you love to go to church.

You have learned a lot in the last year. You feed yourself, drink from your own cup, talk in sentences and say lots of words, run, play, tease, and hide. You put yourself to sleep as long as you can suck your thumb and hold your "night-night". You have a better memory now, and remember most of our family in Missouri. You know our special friends from church and lots of our students by name. You can undress yourself and almost get your own flip-flops on. You like to brush your teeth and hair and take a bath. You like to say prayers and sing songs. Your favorites are "Jesus Loves Me," "Rain, Rain, Rain," and the Veggie Tales theme song. You are a great dancer. You like to watch Boz, Tangled, and Toy Story 3. You can count to nine and know a horse says "neigh" a dog "ruff".

You are a precious little boy, and a perfect part of our family. We love you so much, and we are excited to see what your third year holds. I can't wait to see how you grow and change this year, and all the new things you'll learn. I'm so thankful that God sent you to be a part of our family. The last two years have flown by, but no matter what, I'll always treasure your sweet baby soft curls, dimpled grin, and slobbery kisses. As you get older and even more independent, I'll hold tight to these days when you still want me to kiss your owies and scoop you up for a hug and kiss. As you begin to understand more and more about Jesus, I'll always remember your first innocent little prayers, repeating after me that you're thankful for you family and your night-night, and your bed, and the adorable way you draw out "aaaaaaaaaaamen."

I love you, monster man. You've wrapped yourself around my heart just like your big brothers. I always thought I wanted a houseful of girls, but this mama couldn't be more thrilled with my three crazy little Ball boys. You keep me on my toes. You keep me laughing. You keep me exasperated. But more than anything, you fill me with joy.

As I wait (and wait....and wait....and wait) for you to fall asleep to tonight so I can sneak in and smooth your curls and tuck your blanket in around you, I'm saying prayers, thanking God that He trusted us with you.

Happy 2nd Birthday, Camden Isaiah Ball!! I love you!

Mama

Aydenisms

Here are few of the latest "Aydenisms" - cute little things that our oldest says (well, we think they're cute anyway).

...When trying to explain why he can't clean his own room: "But, Mama, I'm just a small little boy."

...Having a discussion about football with me: "Hey, Mama, why does my Daddy like football so much?" Me: "I don't know, buddy. He just does." Ayden: "It's probably because I like it so much!"

...When praying for Poppa to feel better as he continues to recover from cancer treatments: "Help Poppa get lots of good extercise in his new pool, and help GiGi make him some soup, and help someone to come play checkers wif him, because if he plays checkers, then he will feel better."

...His response to Daddy asking him to go play with his brothers so Mama and Daddy can talk without interruption for a few minutes. Jesse: "Hey, buddy, go play in your room with Landon and Camden. They need you to teach them how to play together, and share, and play with big boy toys." Ayden: "But, Daddy, I already did all that today."

...When Jesse was in the backyard, being our hero and spraying to rid our yard of the ants that had taken over, Ayden started a chant that his brothers quickly joined in on: "Go, Daddy, Go Daddy, Go Daddy, You can do it, Kill the ants!!"