Whew!!! After all the counting down, its finally here - its your birthday!!!! Happy 5th Birthday, Camden Isaiah Ball!!! You have been eagerly anticipating this day for a very LONG time!! When we got to the one-month-out mark, you didn't think you could stand it any longer. And, oh boy, the last 10 days when you've been able to count down each day have been fun. And now that its today, I hope its a super day filled with lots of fun just for you!!
We have a full agenda with swimming and a special lunch and then your request of homemade pizza for dinner and no bake cookies for dessert. Oh, and there may be a present to open, too. ;) But, for just a minute, let me think about how big you've gotten over the last year.
You are so stinkin' funny....still! You still make silly faces, you still say silly things, and you still have a one-of-kind inflection in your voice. You are sweet and kind and ornery and all-boy. You laugh and cry and snuggle and build and imagine. The other day you blew me away with a truck you built out of blocks, and nearly everyday you and your brothers put on self-created costumes and act out Pirates of the Caribbean or Star Wars.
You are so excited to start Kindergarten this year. I know that you will just blossom because you are already a very smart boy. Last week, your brothers showed you how you can add numbers on your fingers and you haven't missed an opportunity to practice.
You are still super attached to your "night-night" which makes me smile. Even though you're such a big kid now, there's something sweet about seeing you wrap up in your night-night (soft side to you, of course), suck your thumb, and crawl into bed (or mine and Daddy's bed in the wee hours).
You are a rough and tumble boy and your legs always have the bruises to prove it. You love to play outside and to help in the garden. You absolutely loved your first year of t-ball and were so fun to watch.
You like to dance and sing and you don't tell me to stop (yet) when I join in. We love the Happy song and I may or may not have added it to our iTunes just for you and Landon. You also love to sing songs about Jesus. Yesterday, we were listening to the radio in the car and I heard you say to Landon, "Oh, Landon, I really like this song, don't you? Its about the Lord!" I just smiled and turned it up a little louder. You are hilarious to watch dance. Sometimes you just spin around and act crazy, but others you try to do the robot and it cracks me up every.single.time. I guess you get your dance moves from your Mama. Sorry about that. ;)
You are pretty crazy about your big brothers and your baby sister...and your mom and dad and the rest of your family. You are almost always the one to initiate "High-Low" at dinnertime....which means you determine the order in which we all go....and then you have a bunch of highs and lows every day.
You are so much fun, Cams. I'm so glad that God made you a part of our family. I am praying for all the great big things He is going to do in you and through you as you grow. I love you times infinity, buddy.
Mom
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Happy Birthday, Laney Kate!!
Laney Kate,
Oh my goodness, sweet girl - you are 2 years old today!!! I can't believe how fast the last 2 years have gone. Your Daddy, brothers, and I love you so very much and we are all looking forward to celebrating today! You were our little surprise and a bright spot during a hard time for our family. Your big brothers have been in love with you from the very beginning (well, mostly ;)) and they still are. I think they were more excited to tell you "Happy Birthday" this morning than they were for their own birthdays. They do, however, still call you "Goo" or "Baby Goo" a lot of the time....I apologize now for time when you hear this and do not find any humor.
I think the craziest thing for me is how much you have changed since your last birthday. Last year you were just starting to stand and take a few wobbly steps, and now you run all over the place...and climb....everywhere. Last year you still just had a little peach fuzz and the only way you could wear a bow was to clip it to a headband that you nearly always pulled off your head. Last year you were just starting to say a few words and now you have a whole arsenal of them.
Here are my favorites right now:
-You very rarely call your brothers by their names, but instead refer to them all as "boy" or "boys". This is especially true when you are tattling on them. ;)
-You will.not. say Caleb...you just call him Rylee and he does NOT think its funny...and you do...
-"Daddy" and "Mama" are two of my favorites, especially since your brothers almost always call us "Dad" and "Mom" now.
-You call your paci your "papi" and anytime sleep is mentioned you ask for it. Thats getting ready to end soon though, as Operation Break LK of Her Paci begins next week when the school year ends and schedules no longer matter.
Here are some of your favorite things right now: your family (including aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents), Kord, sweet tea, Doc McStuffins, Ariel, your "Down on the Farm" board book, baby dolls that you push in baby strollers or your toy cart, your paci, pestering your brothers, kisses, and outside.
My prayer for you this year is that as you continue to learn and grow and develop, you will begin to understand that Jesus loves you even more than we do. That you will continue to grow and learn and develop your personality - which, by the way, is the perfect blend of mischevious, stinker, and sweet.
I love you, Laney Kate!! You are my girl and I am thankful beyond words that the Lord placed you in our family. You were and are the perfect addition. I hope you feel special and know how loved you are today.
Happy 2nd Birthday!
Love,
Mama
Oh my goodness, sweet girl - you are 2 years old today!!! I can't believe how fast the last 2 years have gone. Your Daddy, brothers, and I love you so very much and we are all looking forward to celebrating today! You were our little surprise and a bright spot during a hard time for our family. Your big brothers have been in love with you from the very beginning (well, mostly ;)) and they still are. I think they were more excited to tell you "Happy Birthday" this morning than they were for their own birthdays. They do, however, still call you "Goo" or "Baby Goo" a lot of the time....I apologize now for time when you hear this and do not find any humor.
I think the craziest thing for me is how much you have changed since your last birthday. Last year you were just starting to stand and take a few wobbly steps, and now you run all over the place...and climb....everywhere. Last year you still just had a little peach fuzz and the only way you could wear a bow was to clip it to a headband that you nearly always pulled off your head. Last year you were just starting to say a few words and now you have a whole arsenal of them.
Here are my favorites right now:
-You very rarely call your brothers by their names, but instead refer to them all as "boy" or "boys". This is especially true when you are tattling on them. ;)
-You will.not. say Caleb...you just call him Rylee and he does NOT think its funny...and you do...
-"Daddy" and "Mama" are two of my favorites, especially since your brothers almost always call us "Dad" and "Mom" now.
-You call your paci your "papi" and anytime sleep is mentioned you ask for it. Thats getting ready to end soon though, as Operation Break LK of Her Paci begins next week when the school year ends and schedules no longer matter.
Here are some of your favorite things right now: your family (including aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents), Kord, sweet tea, Doc McStuffins, Ariel, your "Down on the Farm" board book, baby dolls that you push in baby strollers or your toy cart, your paci, pestering your brothers, kisses, and outside.
My prayer for you this year is that as you continue to learn and grow and develop, you will begin to understand that Jesus loves you even more than we do. That you will continue to grow and learn and develop your personality - which, by the way, is the perfect blend of mischevious, stinker, and sweet.
I love you, Laney Kate!! You are my girl and I am thankful beyond words that the Lord placed you in our family. You were and are the perfect addition. I hope you feel special and know how loved you are today.
Happy 2nd Birthday!
Love,
Mama
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Landon's 6th Birthday
Dear Landy,
Holy Birthday, Batman!! You are SIX years old today!!!! Can you believe it?! Can I still call you Landy? You've jumped on the Ayden train and call me Mom about 80% of the time now, but so far you haven't told me that you don't want to be called Landy anymore. Don't grow up too fast...take it easy on this Mama!!
My little blonde-haired, blue-eyed boy. You probably look the most like your Daddy. You have a lot of his personality, too. You like to make people laugh. You get frustrated quickly. You love big. You are so smart.
This has been a big year for you, starting Kindergarten. I laugh at myself now...at how worried I was that you would struggle learning to read because you were a late talker and developed your language a little later. I had NOTHING to worry about! You are an amazing little reader!! Its been so fun to watch you this year as you've worked on it and become better and better. Now you can read stories to yourself or your brothers or sister. I loved it last week when you were reading your library book to me and Ayden kept inching closer to hear you. You did a great job!!
You are great at drawing!! Daddy and I are NOT, so I'm not sure where you came up with that talent, but you are a natural. Your pictures tell stories lots of times. My refrigerator is always full of your artwork. Its so cool to see you work at it. You make it look easy! ;)
You are a sweet brother, especially to Laney Kate. You still kiss her on the head as much now as you did when she was a newborn. You and your brothers fight a lot, but you also play together and laugh together a lot. Usually, the times you are laughing the most and getting along the best, you guys are doing something you shouldn't, BUT, you still have lots of fun together.
You are my Mr. Independent. I know its important to teach you to do things for yourself, but sometimes I just want to jump in and help when I see you struggling with something, but you won't have it. You like to do things all by yourself. Its a good character trait for you to have to be diligent and hardworking and to persevere.
Its been a year of loss, most notably for you, Poppa. How many conversations have we had about how Poppa is now in heaven with Jesus and has no more cancer and no more pain? You boys have been so curious. I love that we can all walk with the certainty that he really is with the Lord at this very moment.
Ah, Landy, what does this year hold for us? You are starting to understand more and more about Jesus, and Daddy and I continue to pray for the day that you decide to follow Him always. Maybe it will be this year. You are looking forward to playing baseball again. Now that we're through all 20 snow days we've had this year, we are looking forward to spring...and then summer!! No school!! Whoop Whoop!! Then 1st grade -what?! Ah, I don't want to think about all that growing up just yet.
Not today. Because today you are six. We will celebrate with a Batman party tomorrow night with our family...and missing some special people, too. In a few hours I'll be in your classroom with cupcakes and juice boxes for your friends. Tonight we'll feast on "chicken and pasta" per your request and you can use the birthday plate and our special birthday chair (remember, Mrs. Megan??). And at some point today, I'm going to curl you up into a little Landy-ball and smooch you and snuggle you and smooch you some more.....and then I'll rub them in to be sure you can't wipe them off.
I love you sweet boy. Have a fun day!!
Love,
Mama
Holy Birthday, Batman!! You are SIX years old today!!!! Can you believe it?! Can I still call you Landy? You've jumped on the Ayden train and call me Mom about 80% of the time now, but so far you haven't told me that you don't want to be called Landy anymore. Don't grow up too fast...take it easy on this Mama!!
My little blonde-haired, blue-eyed boy. You probably look the most like your Daddy. You have a lot of his personality, too. You like to make people laugh. You get frustrated quickly. You love big. You are so smart.
This has been a big year for you, starting Kindergarten. I laugh at myself now...at how worried I was that you would struggle learning to read because you were a late talker and developed your language a little later. I had NOTHING to worry about! You are an amazing little reader!! Its been so fun to watch you this year as you've worked on it and become better and better. Now you can read stories to yourself or your brothers or sister. I loved it last week when you were reading your library book to me and Ayden kept inching closer to hear you. You did a great job!!
You are great at drawing!! Daddy and I are NOT, so I'm not sure where you came up with that talent, but you are a natural. Your pictures tell stories lots of times. My refrigerator is always full of your artwork. Its so cool to see you work at it. You make it look easy! ;)
You are a sweet brother, especially to Laney Kate. You still kiss her on the head as much now as you did when she was a newborn. You and your brothers fight a lot, but you also play together and laugh together a lot. Usually, the times you are laughing the most and getting along the best, you guys are doing something you shouldn't, BUT, you still have lots of fun together.
You are my Mr. Independent. I know its important to teach you to do things for yourself, but sometimes I just want to jump in and help when I see you struggling with something, but you won't have it. You like to do things all by yourself. Its a good character trait for you to have to be diligent and hardworking and to persevere.
Its been a year of loss, most notably for you, Poppa. How many conversations have we had about how Poppa is now in heaven with Jesus and has no more cancer and no more pain? You boys have been so curious. I love that we can all walk with the certainty that he really is with the Lord at this very moment.
Ah, Landy, what does this year hold for us? You are starting to understand more and more about Jesus, and Daddy and I continue to pray for the day that you decide to follow Him always. Maybe it will be this year. You are looking forward to playing baseball again. Now that we're through all 20 snow days we've had this year, we are looking forward to spring...and then summer!! No school!! Whoop Whoop!! Then 1st grade -what?! Ah, I don't want to think about all that growing up just yet.
Not today. Because today you are six. We will celebrate with a Batman party tomorrow night with our family...and missing some special people, too. In a few hours I'll be in your classroom with cupcakes and juice boxes for your friends. Tonight we'll feast on "chicken and pasta" per your request and you can use the birthday plate and our special birthday chair (remember, Mrs. Megan??). And at some point today, I'm going to curl you up into a little Landy-ball and smooch you and snuggle you and smooch you some more.....and then I'll rub them in to be sure you can't wipe them off.
I love you sweet boy. Have a fun day!!
Love,
Mama
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Ayden
Dear Ayden,
How can it be that you are 8 years old? Weren't you just a newborn snuggled up in my arms just a few days ago? Time is marching by so quickly. It seems like you are just growing up so fast! It cracked me up how you watched the clock all.day.long. Your Lego Ninjago party was super fun and a big hit, I think.
The last year has been the best one yet. In April, you gave your heart to Jesus. Enough said. Even if nothing else happened all year, I would count it a success. At Christmas time this year, we worked the Truth in the Tinsel for the first time. About halfway through, you told me it was really fun and we should do it every year. Be still my heart. My prayer (you know because you hear it at night) is that you will learn to love Jesus more every day and that you will have a love for God's Word.
You continue to be one of the most amazing big brothers. Despite your "moments," more times than not you are kind, patient, forgiving, and encouraging. Anytime I want Laney Kate to say something, I just ask you to ask her, since she won't talk for me. You've worked with her to call you "Bubba" and I wonder if thats what she will grow up calling you.
You have sweet, good friends. You were so excited to have Cooper and Lane come to your birthday party. And, everyone here kept saying what sweet boys they are. Daddy said how thankful he is that you have them as friends, because we have spent lots of time praying that you would have sweet, good-influence friends.
I love that you still aren't too old to snuggle - and you actually like to!! Physical touch is definitely your love language. I love your creativity - the way you draw, build Legos, and see the world, in general. I am blown away by how smart you are and how easily you remember information. And your reading? Whoa. You read an entire Magic Tree House chapter book in 45 min. No big deal. ;) I also love that you are learning how to handle life when things are harder...even though I wish it wasn't so. Some things with school have been a struggle this year, and you maintain a sweet attitude. I love how funny you are. By the time you were just a few weeks old, we all said to each other, "What did we do for entertainment before he was born?" We just watched you all the time. And, still, you bring your share of laughter to our house.
Buddy, I can feel the subtle shift of a change coming. You are no longer a baby, a toddler, or a little boy. You are in full-blown boyhood now. Part of me wishes that I could keep you little forever. But, another part of me can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for you and your future...and I'm enjoying the present with you, too.
I love you so much, Ayden Parker.
How can it be that you are 8 years old? Weren't you just a newborn snuggled up in my arms just a few days ago? Time is marching by so quickly. It seems like you are just growing up so fast! It cracked me up how you watched the clock all.day.long. Your Lego Ninjago party was super fun and a big hit, I think.
The last year has been the best one yet. In April, you gave your heart to Jesus. Enough said. Even if nothing else happened all year, I would count it a success. At Christmas time this year, we worked the Truth in the Tinsel for the first time. About halfway through, you told me it was really fun and we should do it every year. Be still my heart. My prayer (you know because you hear it at night) is that you will learn to love Jesus more every day and that you will have a love for God's Word.
You continue to be one of the most amazing big brothers. Despite your "moments," more times than not you are kind, patient, forgiving, and encouraging. Anytime I want Laney Kate to say something, I just ask you to ask her, since she won't talk for me. You've worked with her to call you "Bubba" and I wonder if thats what she will grow up calling you.
You have sweet, good friends. You were so excited to have Cooper and Lane come to your birthday party. And, everyone here kept saying what sweet boys they are. Daddy said how thankful he is that you have them as friends, because we have spent lots of time praying that you would have sweet, good-influence friends.
I love that you still aren't too old to snuggle - and you actually like to!! Physical touch is definitely your love language. I love your creativity - the way you draw, build Legos, and see the world, in general. I am blown away by how smart you are and how easily you remember information. And your reading? Whoa. You read an entire Magic Tree House chapter book in 45 min. No big deal. ;) I also love that you are learning how to handle life when things are harder...even though I wish it wasn't so. Some things with school have been a struggle this year, and you maintain a sweet attitude. I love how funny you are. By the time you were just a few weeks old, we all said to each other, "What did we do for entertainment before he was born?" We just watched you all the time. And, still, you bring your share of laughter to our house.
Buddy, I can feel the subtle shift of a change coming. You are no longer a baby, a toddler, or a little boy. You are in full-blown boyhood now. Part of me wishes that I could keep you little forever. But, another part of me can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for you and your future...and I'm enjoying the present with you, too.
I love you so much, Ayden Parker.
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Marriage and The Church
Jesse made a statement to me today, and I can't get it out of my head.
"Its amazing how few people really believe in the sanctity of marriage, no matter what."
Wow.
We were so young when we got married. So very young. And immature. We didn't have a clue what we were getting into. Thank goodness we had wise and grounded believers around us to invest in us and give us wise counsel.
There are a few things we learned during our premarital counseling that have really stuck with us through the years. Mainly about conflict. I remember learning how to "fight fair" and not bring up a list of grievances from the past but to focus on the issue at hand. Not to use phrases like "you always ___" or "you never ___." We may not have a perfect record with it, but 11 1/2 years later, we still remember and do our best to be fair.
The other thing was this: Never, ever, no matter what, use the word "divorce."
We made the decision before we ever said "I do" that divorce would not be an option for us. Never. Ever. No matter what. We are committed to this thing. In it together. Forever. It's kind of a big deal.
And, boy, has it ever been worth the commitment. My 19-year-old-getting-ready-to-walk-down-the-aisle-to-marry-my-hot-high-school-sweetheart-self could have never known just how much work marriage is. Or how rewarding. At our wedding, I remember one sweet couple hugging us and saying, "This first year will be great. But, it will also be the worst year of your marriage. Because, every single year just gets better than the last." Profoundly true, my friends. I am so much more in love with Jesse than I was the day I married him. I loved him, then. But, after all that we have shared, its a deeper and more appreciative and a more thankful love than ever before.
Today, as we struggle with heavy hearts for those fellow believers around us that want to just give up and walk away, I feel like God spoke to my heart.
Marriage is meant to be the ultimate representation of God's covenant love and relationship with us. When Christians so easily walk away from their covenant with their spouse, how can we expect the world around us to see Jesus?
Why aren't we willing to fight for our spouse? Why do we take the easy way out? Why do we throw away those we once claimed to love? We make up excuses, we blame, we hide, we accuse, we try to justify.
In Malachi 2:15, God tells us not to break faith "with the wife of your youth." When we take our vows, we don't say "for better or worse....or until you hurt me too deeply or make it too hard or I find someone I like more" Its supposed to be sacred. Holy. Set apart.
In Mark 10 when the Pharisees tested Jesus and asked if it was lawful for men to divorce, Jesus challenged them right back. He already knew Moses had commanded that divorce was sometimes permissible. But, Jesus said in verse 5: "It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law."
A marriage between believers is a picture of Jesus (the bridegroom) and the Church (the bride). We should hold it sacred. Jesus doesn't throw us away because we've sinned too much or messed up one too many times. Jesus doesn't work that way. Jesus is a perfect example of a 1 Corinthians 13 kind of love. And Jesus should be our standard...not the world or even other believers around us - because Jesus is the only perfect one.
God has used these verses to work deeply in my heart in the last year and a half: Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children, and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 4:32-5:2
I guess the message on my heart today is this: When the going gets tough, fight for your marriage. Be kind. Compassionate. Forgiving. Imitate God. Live a life of love. You won't regret it in the end. In fact, it will be more than worth it. Go ahead, give it a try.
"Its amazing how few people really believe in the sanctity of marriage, no matter what."
Wow.
We were so young when we got married. So very young. And immature. We didn't have a clue what we were getting into. Thank goodness we had wise and grounded believers around us to invest in us and give us wise counsel.
There are a few things we learned during our premarital counseling that have really stuck with us through the years. Mainly about conflict. I remember learning how to "fight fair" and not bring up a list of grievances from the past but to focus on the issue at hand. Not to use phrases like "you always ___" or "you never ___." We may not have a perfect record with it, but 11 1/2 years later, we still remember and do our best to be fair.
The other thing was this: Never, ever, no matter what, use the word "divorce."
We made the decision before we ever said "I do" that divorce would not be an option for us. Never. Ever. No matter what. We are committed to this thing. In it together. Forever. It's kind of a big deal.
And, boy, has it ever been worth the commitment. My 19-year-old-getting-ready-to-walk-down-the-aisle-to-marry-my-hot-high-school-sweetheart-self could have never known just how much work marriage is. Or how rewarding. At our wedding, I remember one sweet couple hugging us and saying, "This first year will be great. But, it will also be the worst year of your marriage. Because, every single year just gets better than the last." Profoundly true, my friends. I am so much more in love with Jesse than I was the day I married him. I loved him, then. But, after all that we have shared, its a deeper and more appreciative and a more thankful love than ever before.
Today, as we struggle with heavy hearts for those fellow believers around us that want to just give up and walk away, I feel like God spoke to my heart.
Marriage is meant to be the ultimate representation of God's covenant love and relationship with us. When Christians so easily walk away from their covenant with their spouse, how can we expect the world around us to see Jesus?
Why aren't we willing to fight for our spouse? Why do we take the easy way out? Why do we throw away those we once claimed to love? We make up excuses, we blame, we hide, we accuse, we try to justify.
In Malachi 2:15, God tells us not to break faith "with the wife of your youth." When we take our vows, we don't say "for better or worse....or until you hurt me too deeply or make it too hard or I find someone I like more" Its supposed to be sacred. Holy. Set apart.
In Mark 10 when the Pharisees tested Jesus and asked if it was lawful for men to divorce, Jesus challenged them right back. He already knew Moses had commanded that divorce was sometimes permissible. But, Jesus said in verse 5: "It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law."
A marriage between believers is a picture of Jesus (the bridegroom) and the Church (the bride). We should hold it sacred. Jesus doesn't throw us away because we've sinned too much or messed up one too many times. Jesus doesn't work that way. Jesus is a perfect example of a 1 Corinthians 13 kind of love. And Jesus should be our standard...not the world or even other believers around us - because Jesus is the only perfect one.
God has used these verses to work deeply in my heart in the last year and a half: Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children, and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 4:32-5:2
I guess the message on my heart today is this: When the going gets tough, fight for your marriage. Be kind. Compassionate. Forgiving. Imitate God. Live a life of love. You won't regret it in the end. In fact, it will be more than worth it. Go ahead, give it a try.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Camden's 4th Birthday
Dear Camden,
Four years old already!! Can you believe it?! You have been counting down for weeks, even though you don't totally understand the concept of tracking time. What an addition you have been to our family!! There were times when I wasn't sure either one of us was going to survive the 2s and 3s, but here we are at a brand new year!!
Over the last year, we've moved (twice); you've learned about our loss and heaven's gain; you've learned to write your name, circles, squares, triangles, and few other letters; have started to learn to use scissors; can put on your own shoes; can count to 20 every time and 30 sometimes. You continue to use words well, sometimes to your own detriment. If I've said it once, I've said a thousand times that its a good thing your funny. Its seriously your saving grace sometimes, but its also my favorite quality about you.
You are a good brother. Landon is your buddy and you have missed him being gone to preschool this year. Sometimes you play well together and other times you fight like crazy, but I know you love each other. You are the same with Ayden and Laney Kate. Yesterday you were trying to wrestle with Laney Kate just like you do your brothers, and thats not even close to the first time you've been too rough with her. But, if she is crying, you are always quick to sing to her. And she stops. Every.single.time. You always start with "Jesus Loves Me" and then if she needs more you add in "My God is So Big" or "Who is the King of the Jungle?" or "Jesus Loves the Little Children" or sometimes you sing them all. But, she always stops - at least while your singing.
You love a good laugh. Sometimes you get your laughs by picking at and pestering people, or sometimes you tell jokes, but most times you're just Camden. The things you say make me laugh every day. Your four-year-old sense of logic cracks me up and the questions you come up with blow my mind.
Your most favorite thing to play, for the moment, is superheroes. You and your brothers put on your costumes every day and run around the house staging battle after battle. You love to be Batman and chose a Batman birthday party. But, you also like to be Iron Man, SpiderMan, and Bumblebee. You'll come out in your Batman costume and ask if I know who you are - and then you'll rip off the mask and ask who you are THEN. From Batman to Bruce Wayne or Iron Man to Tony Stark or SpiderMan to Peter Parker. I think you and your brothers (and Daddy, too) know everything about every superhero and supervillan under the sun. I just smile and nod a lot. ;)
You love having your cousins so close, but you miss our friends and family in Jacksonville (and you like to remind us that your brothers were born in MO, but you and Laney were born in Jax). When we mention Rylee and Caleb, you still sometimes get that turned around with Caleb and Luke and you ask why Mrs. Ash-a-lee's house and Mr. Johnny's house and Aunt Le-lanne's house and Miss Kelly's house and Miss Megan's house are so far away??
You still sleep almost every night with your night-night, and you still suck your thumb at bedtime a lot, but not every day like you used to. You are also starting to outgrow your afternoon nap, but Momma is hanging on to that for as long as I can. The only thing we've established in that regard so far is that when your 7 like, Ayden you won't have to take naps anymore.
You are a good helper, especially when its just you and me. You don't like to clean up on your own, but if I help you, you hop to it. And, you love to be in the kitchen with me, watching and/or helping me cook. But you think we need to get a boy apron for you to wear like Grammy has.
In the fall, you and I are going to be doing preschool at home, and we are both getting pretty excited about it. I'm looking forward to one more year at home with you before you go to school. Its fun to get to plan themes that I know you'll enjoy.
You have learned so much this last year and you have grown so much. You really are a good, big boy. I love you so much, Camden Isaiah. My prayer for you this year is that you will always love church as much as you do now, that you will learn and grow and have a passion for Jesus, that you will always have a tender heart under your tough exterior, and that I will cherish this time with you.
Happy Birthday, Cams!!
Love,
Mama
Four years old already!! Can you believe it?! You have been counting down for weeks, even though you don't totally understand the concept of tracking time. What an addition you have been to our family!! There were times when I wasn't sure either one of us was going to survive the 2s and 3s, but here we are at a brand new year!!
Over the last year, we've moved (twice); you've learned about our loss and heaven's gain; you've learned to write your name, circles, squares, triangles, and few other letters; have started to learn to use scissors; can put on your own shoes; can count to 20 every time and 30 sometimes. You continue to use words well, sometimes to your own detriment. If I've said it once, I've said a thousand times that its a good thing your funny. Its seriously your saving grace sometimes, but its also my favorite quality about you.
You are a good brother. Landon is your buddy and you have missed him being gone to preschool this year. Sometimes you play well together and other times you fight like crazy, but I know you love each other. You are the same with Ayden and Laney Kate. Yesterday you were trying to wrestle with Laney Kate just like you do your brothers, and thats not even close to the first time you've been too rough with her. But, if she is crying, you are always quick to sing to her. And she stops. Every.single.time. You always start with "Jesus Loves Me" and then if she needs more you add in "My God is So Big" or "Who is the King of the Jungle?" or "Jesus Loves the Little Children" or sometimes you sing them all. But, she always stops - at least while your singing.
You love a good laugh. Sometimes you get your laughs by picking at and pestering people, or sometimes you tell jokes, but most times you're just Camden. The things you say make me laugh every day. Your four-year-old sense of logic cracks me up and the questions you come up with blow my mind.
Your most favorite thing to play, for the moment, is superheroes. You and your brothers put on your costumes every day and run around the house staging battle after battle. You love to be Batman and chose a Batman birthday party. But, you also like to be Iron Man, SpiderMan, and Bumblebee. You'll come out in your Batman costume and ask if I know who you are - and then you'll rip off the mask and ask who you are THEN. From Batman to Bruce Wayne or Iron Man to Tony Stark or SpiderMan to Peter Parker. I think you and your brothers (and Daddy, too) know everything about every superhero and supervillan under the sun. I just smile and nod a lot. ;)
You love having your cousins so close, but you miss our friends and family in Jacksonville (and you like to remind us that your brothers were born in MO, but you and Laney were born in Jax). When we mention Rylee and Caleb, you still sometimes get that turned around with Caleb and Luke and you ask why Mrs. Ash-a-lee's house and Mr. Johnny's house and Aunt Le-lanne's house and Miss Kelly's house and Miss Megan's house are so far away??
You still sleep almost every night with your night-night, and you still suck your thumb at bedtime a lot, but not every day like you used to. You are also starting to outgrow your afternoon nap, but Momma is hanging on to that for as long as I can. The only thing we've established in that regard so far is that when your 7 like, Ayden you won't have to take naps anymore.
You are a good helper, especially when its just you and me. You don't like to clean up on your own, but if I help you, you hop to it. And, you love to be in the kitchen with me, watching and/or helping me cook. But you think we need to get a boy apron for you to wear like Grammy has.
In the fall, you and I are going to be doing preschool at home, and we are both getting pretty excited about it. I'm looking forward to one more year at home with you before you go to school. Its fun to get to plan themes that I know you'll enjoy.
You have learned so much this last year and you have grown so much. You really are a good, big boy. I love you so much, Camden Isaiah. My prayer for you this year is that you will always love church as much as you do now, that you will learn and grow and have a passion for Jesus, that you will always have a tender heart under your tough exterior, and that I will cherish this time with you.
Happy Birthday, Cams!!
Love,
Mama
Sunday, June 23, 2013
That one time when I got locked out of the car...
Have you ever had one of those parenting moments when you realized you were one of those parents? You know, the ones who are irresponsible? The ones who you secretly cackle at and console yourself when you have an oops moment, because at least you didn't do the same thing they did.
Nope? Just me? Well, anyway.
A few months ago we had the pleasure of hosting some of our best friends as they visited from Jacksonville. Jesse and Rusty had been working off and on during the week on a new apothecary table for us to use as an entertainment center. {Thank you, Pinterest, for introducing me to ana-white.com and her wide array of "easy" to follow plans for countless pieces of furniture that I'm pretty much in love with and convinced I need. My husband thanks you from the very bottom of his heart. No lie.}
So, they needed a few accessory pieces for the table and Megan and I wanted to do some shopping anyway, so we added Lowe's to our list of places to stop. We had agreed: Megan and I would take Laney Kate and Jesse and Rusty were on Ball Boy duty. Great plan, right? Only those who've experienced the pleasure of going to town {yep, we have to go to town 'round here} with the Ball Boys will fully appreciate NOT going to town with the Ball Boys. They hate to shop. They are hard to wrangle. They want new toys. They aren't usually bad but I already get enough of "Oh, wow, you have your hands full" comments from strangers anyway. But, I digress.
Jesse and Rusty argued that it was only fair to divide the Ball kiddos equally. Cassie and Megan take 2 and Jesse and Rusty keep 2. We ended up with Camden and Laney Kate. {Insert: this is really just a set up for me to say this was all Jesse's fault. ;)} So, off to our first stop at Lowe's.
On the way to Lowe's Megan and I heard the muffler come apart on our Suburban. Its not a super big deal, but causes it to be loud and we don't want the stray (piece? part?) to get caught on anything, so we just have to pop it back together. I wasn't sure if it would be hot after driving, so I told Megan we'd do our shopping and then fix it before we left the store.
I was thrilled to find the items I needed on clearance in Lowe's. But, Camden was, um...a bit of a pill in the store. When we got to the car, he was in need of some discipline. So, I opened the driver's side door and put my things down so my hands would be free to dole out said discipline. Then I told Camden to get in his carseat and get buckled. You should know that he rarely obeys this directive on the first time, but this time he did.
I got Laney Kate in her carseat, shut the door and proceeded to try to fix the muffler. It was a little harder than I thought and I *might* have had to stop Megan from crawling her pregnant self UNDER our car. But a few minutes and several giggles later, voila.
I went around to my side and pulled the door handle. Locked. With my keys laying in the front seat and two children buckled into their carseats. Oh, and my cell phone was laying next to the keys. Crap. Apparently, during the discipline sesh, Cams accidentally hit the locks with his flailing arms. Go figure.
"Camden," I yelled through the door. "Try to get unbuckled and come open the door for me." He tried and tried and tried....and then tried some more. He can get himself buckled, but he can't undo it. After trying and failing lots of times he gave up and started crying. Megan and I are both standing with our faces pressed to the window and talking into the car, and we are getting questions like, "Are you locked out?" {Um, just for the record, I will not be asking anyone that question in the future.}
Finally, some guy came over to try and help us. He said sometimes the keys from the same manufacturer will work. But, of course it didn't work for us. That would have been too easy. So, we calls the police for us. Yes, the police. And they sent the firemen.
Yes, the fireman. You know, the ones in the small, inconspicuous truck? The one that doesn't have sirens and lights? You know...except the exact opposite of all that. In the middle of the Lowe's parking lot and with a crowd gathered around. It took them for-e-ver to get it unlocked. They tried the driver's side door, then the passenger's side door, then back to the driver's side door before it finally unlocked. Oh, but then the car alarm went off. Seriously, there was no escaping the humiliation.
At least they were nice about it. And, thankfully, they didn't ask for my name and address to turn me in for child abuse or neglect. So, thats a plus.
Once they were done, Megan and I got the heck out of dodge in a hurry. Once we were away, I was able to laugh. BUT, you better believe that I called Jesse to tell him all about what HIS son had done. He just laughed in a a way that said, "Better you than me." Mmmhmm. Megan told me that the story needed to be a blog, so here ya go, Meg. This one's for you!! :)
Nope? Just me? Well, anyway.
A few months ago we had the pleasure of hosting some of our best friends as they visited from Jacksonville. Jesse and Rusty had been working off and on during the week on a new apothecary table for us to use as an entertainment center. {Thank you, Pinterest, for introducing me to ana-white.com and her wide array of "easy" to follow plans for countless pieces of furniture that I'm pretty much in love with and convinced I need. My husband thanks you from the very bottom of his heart. No lie.}
So, they needed a few accessory pieces for the table and Megan and I wanted to do some shopping anyway, so we added Lowe's to our list of places to stop. We had agreed: Megan and I would take Laney Kate and Jesse and Rusty were on Ball Boy duty. Great plan, right? Only those who've experienced the pleasure of going to town {yep, we have to go to town 'round here} with the Ball Boys will fully appreciate NOT going to town with the Ball Boys. They hate to shop. They are hard to wrangle. They want new toys. They aren't usually bad but I already get enough of "Oh, wow, you have your hands full" comments from strangers anyway. But, I digress.
Jesse and Rusty argued that it was only fair to divide the Ball kiddos equally. Cassie and Megan take 2 and Jesse and Rusty keep 2. We ended up with Camden and Laney Kate. {Insert: this is really just a set up for me to say this was all Jesse's fault. ;)} So, off to our first stop at Lowe's.
On the way to Lowe's Megan and I heard the muffler come apart on our Suburban. Its not a super big deal, but causes it to be loud and we don't want the stray (piece? part?) to get caught on anything, so we just have to pop it back together. I wasn't sure if it would be hot after driving, so I told Megan we'd do our shopping and then fix it before we left the store.
I was thrilled to find the items I needed on clearance in Lowe's. But, Camden was, um...a bit of a pill in the store. When we got to the car, he was in need of some discipline. So, I opened the driver's side door and put my things down so my hands would be free to dole out said discipline. Then I told Camden to get in his carseat and get buckled. You should know that he rarely obeys this directive on the first time, but this time he did.
I got Laney Kate in her carseat, shut the door and proceeded to try to fix the muffler. It was a little harder than I thought and I *might* have had to stop Megan from crawling her pregnant self UNDER our car. But a few minutes and several giggles later, voila.
I went around to my side and pulled the door handle. Locked. With my keys laying in the front seat and two children buckled into their carseats. Oh, and my cell phone was laying next to the keys. Crap. Apparently, during the discipline sesh, Cams accidentally hit the locks with his flailing arms. Go figure.
"Camden," I yelled through the door. "Try to get unbuckled and come open the door for me." He tried and tried and tried....and then tried some more. He can get himself buckled, but he can't undo it. After trying and failing lots of times he gave up and started crying. Megan and I are both standing with our faces pressed to the window and talking into the car, and we are getting questions like, "Are you locked out?" {Um, just for the record, I will not be asking anyone that question in the future.}
Finally, some guy came over to try and help us. He said sometimes the keys from the same manufacturer will work. But, of course it didn't work for us. That would have been too easy. So, we calls the police for us. Yes, the police. And they sent the firemen.
Yes, the fireman. You know, the ones in the small, inconspicuous truck? The one that doesn't have sirens and lights? You know...except the exact opposite of all that. In the middle of the Lowe's parking lot and with a crowd gathered around. It took them for-e-ver to get it unlocked. They tried the driver's side door, then the passenger's side door, then back to the driver's side door before it finally unlocked. Oh, but then the car alarm went off. Seriously, there was no escaping the humiliation.
At least they were nice about it. And, thankfully, they didn't ask for my name and address to turn me in for child abuse or neglect. So, thats a plus.
Once they were done, Megan and I got the heck out of dodge in a hurry. Once we were away, I was able to laugh. BUT, you better believe that I called Jesse to tell him all about what HIS son had done. He just laughed in a a way that said, "Better you than me." Mmmhmm. Megan told me that the story needed to be a blog, so here ya go, Meg. This one's for you!! :)
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