A Belated Mother's Day

I missed writing, and thus preserving, my Mother's Day gifts.  Maybe on the actual day I could have given you some deep thoughts on what it means to me to be a mother or about the wonderful mothers in my life.  Not sure I have the time to produce that now, but I will not let these sweet gifts go without record.

First, William invited me to a Mother's Day tea.  Sweet boy...

He gave me many gifts...a hat, a picture of him, a plant with his handprint on it, a card, and my favorite his questionaire.  Here's what he had to say about me.

My Mom's favorite things to do with me is play kickball.
My Mom looks pretty when she goes to a wedding.
My Mom likes to relax by sitting and sleeping.
The best food my Mom makes is macaroni and cheese.
My Mom laughs when I spin around and around.
My Mom's favorite place to go is to a Chinese Restuarant. ????
My Mom always tells me secrets.
I love my Mom because she is my favorite Mom.

Daniel presented me with a card he made.  He had to choose characteristics of his Mom and this is what he chose: sires, swet, fun, funy, smart, kind.  He also gave me an apron he made.

Ironically, I had told Chris weeks before that I wanted a new apron for Mother's Day.  Not being the gift giving types here, I was happy to have actually gotten one!

Philip gave me this beautiful picture that I am seriously considering framing and putting in my kitchen.  The colors are so bright!!

He also gave me a book about us.  In it, he writes:

My Mom is special because she is nice to me because over springbrack she said yes to almos evey thing.
I love it when my Mom says yes.
To relax my Mom likes to read a book.
I wish I could buy my Mom some wood for a little cabin.
It bugs my Mom when we be anoyying to each other or fite.
My Mom's favorite song is Down town adey.  She sings like a girl.
When my Mom is driving she consentrats on the road.
My Mom's favorite t.v. show is Pride and Pregetist.
I love it when my Mom cooks cookies.  This is how she makes it.  Well she made the dough the she puts it in the oven for about thirty or ten menites then they have to cool off then we can eat them.
About the Author The author of this book is Philip Gill.  Philip is a first grade student.  He loves to bild and invint.  He enjoys playing football.  He is 7 years old.  He loves his mom.

Love my boys.  Love their teachers who take the time to make sweet things for me.  Love this job!

What a Difference a Year Makes

Woohoo!  It's summer.

Couldn't. Be. Happier.

William's last day brought the annual Westminster Spring Sing.  William did great singing on the risers!

It could have been a traumatic year for this guy...having to change schools in January.  But in typical William form, he did great.  Rocked the new class and made tons of new friends.  Such an easy kid.  About a week in at Westminister, my friend, Lynn, watched William walk into his class from the carpool line.  She commented that he had such a strut about him...like he owned the place.  He gets that, my friends, from his father!

And in the blink of an eye, the first day of school for these two...

became the last day of school.

What a year.  I would leave a big hole in our blog journal if I didn't take the time to record the transformation that took place in sweet Daniel.

Remember we cried EVERYDAY for the last SIX weeks of PreK.  The year was not without it's hiccups, but by January he seemed to have really settled in.  He loved his small class.  Made some great friends.  Learned a lot.  (He finished the year on a third grade reading level!)  Most of all I saw his self-confidence grow.  And grow.  And grow.

His teacher is truly awesome and we pray we get her two more times!

Philip, too, had a good year.  He excelled in all subjects. Made some new friends.  I was surprised by the jump of 1st grade.  Homework, tests, etc.  I also saw a little social change in the grade.  Kindergarten is so innocent.  1st grade brought a little more awareness!  P did great though.  So proud of the little boy he has become.

A great year.  We celebrated the last day with our first trip to the pool.  Popsicles for all.

Hello Summer!  We are glad you are here!!

The Uriah Cotton Patch Festival

Chris asked for a trip to the woods yesterday.  I desperately wanted to stay home and tend to housework, but the big boys begged me to go.  The plan was to wonder through the woods, check some game cameras, put out some mineral licks, and call it a day.  The usual.  That is..

Until we saw this...

We couldn't resist.  Had to go.

For $18 total, the boys each got a handmade wooden knife and gun.

Good ol' fashioned fun.

We finished the perfect day off with dinner on the back porch.

Future Farmers

We are used to tractors...

and bringing in the harvest.

These two may have a future in this gardening thing!

A Wonderful Weekend

So much to say and yet I am exhausted.  The Gills fit a lot into this wonderful weekend.  Can I leave you with a few words and lots of pictures.  I'll try to write more later!

First, my baby turned two.  We celebrated with a pancake breakfast.

Lots of family came to celebrate!

Second, my best friend got married.  Such joy to see her so happy!

Third, lots of good times with some of our favorite friends.  (C, I have lots of cute pictures of your crew to send you!!  Remind me!)

Finally, Mother's Day.  The boys showered me with lots of gifts that I want to tell you more about when there's time and energy.  We celebrated the day at church together and then with our mothers/grandmothers tonight for homemade pizza.  Wonderful ladies those two are!

"The Jump" and Why It Is Important

There's one thing I failed to tell you about our trip to the beach.  One story.  I omitted it because honestly I thought some of you may be frightened by it.  I sure was.  But the more I think it over, the more important I think it was.

When we first arrived Friday night, everyone was excited.  We opened the doors, unpacked the car, and stretched our legs.  It was already early evening, so we decided to go out for dinner.  Chris, William, and John took the dog out.  I went to the restroom and left Philip and Daniel on the balcony.

Our unit is on the second floor.  The balcony is quite safe...completely surrounded by a brand new railing that is very secure.  Underneath us is another unit's balcony surrounded by grass.

I thought nothing of leaving Philip and Daniel out there alone.  When I returned from the bathroom, only Daniel was on the porch.  I asked where Philip went and he replied, "he jumped."  Daniel was calm and matter of fact.

I ran to the door to find Philip screaming and coming up the stairs.  He was covered in blood...his face and arm especially.  I was dumbfounded.  While Philip can be quite a climbing monkey, he almost always has good judgment.  His father firmly asked, "Son, what were you thinking?"

We cleaned up all the blood and were glad that it appeared he only had a busted lip.  He explained that he heard Dad outside talking, didn't see anyone inside, and was afraid we were leaving him.  I think this explanation was an afterthought.  My boys seem pretty secure that we would never leave them and Daniel, who is most anxiety wrought, was very calm when I met him on the porch....stating only, "he jumped."

So why did he do it?  I simply think he did it because he thought he could.  James Dobson says in his Bringing Up Boys, "one of the scariest aspects of raising boys is their tendency to risk life and limb for no good reason."  I have read many parenting books about raising boys...most state in some form or fashion that a parent's one goal is to keep them alive past adolescence.  Big job.

So then why do I think his jump is important.  As parents, we intuitively protect our children from pain.  But pain teaches lessons.  Don't get me wrong, had I been on the porch, I would have definitely said NO!  However, I wasn't, and I think that's okay.

Chris just finished reading Malcolm Gladwell's Blink.  While I haven't read it, he has told me just about everything in the book...think verbal Cliff Notes.  In it, Gladwell discusses how the sub-conscious makes decisions quickly based on previous experiences.  Aha!  Perhaps somewhere down the road, Philip will be forced to make a quick decision and this experience will guide that.   Maybe it's attaching the safety harness when climbing a tree during a deer hunt.  Maybe it's a peer pressure induced jump to impress his buddies.

As a mother to four growing little boys, I sometimes feel as if I am constantly running a risk assessment in my head.  Possible head injury, no go.  Potential for bruises or cuts, try it.

For example, several weeks ago, Philip and Daniel decided to try riding their bikes down the steep grassy hill in our front yard.  A neighbor the same age thought about it too.  His father held him back, stating that it wasn't a wise decision.  I let mine go.  Helmets on, I decided the most likely injury would be scratched up arms and legs.  Turns out, we had none.  They do it all the time now.

Boys need to take risks.  Parents need to let them.  We certainly can't protect them from everything forever. Why not give them the space to make mistakes while our influence still holds weight.  Let's build up their sub-conscious with small errors, so they can make better decisions when it really matters.  Of course, let's keep them alive, too!

Hurry Up May

From today until May 24th when the big two get out of school we have:

Field Day, Mother's Day Tea, John Dawson's birthday, a best friend's wedding, a Pentecost celebration at Sunday School, Mother's Day, Daniel's "birthday" at school, two teacher's birthday celebrations, a Spring Sing, a church dinner for 30 at my house, a class picnic, last day of school parties for all, and on and on...

I am ready for no lunchboxes, no clean uniforms, no spelling words, no math facts, no obligations.  I am ready to say, "Well, the boys are home for the summer.  I better not." when asked to make a commitment.

I am ready for more of this...

and this...

and this...

and this...

and this.

I am ready for you summer.  Till then it's back to work.

Is Everybody Ready??

You came down the stairs at 3:05.  Evaluations didn't start until 5:45.

You were wearing a grey t-shirt tucked into your grey shorts.  Black no show socks pulled up to your ankles.  Tennis shoes.  And a smile.

Your brother mentioned gently that you might want to untuck the shirt.  Thank God for big brothers.  He even offered to help you warm up.

But, I must backtrack.  Last week, I mentioned to Philip that Christ United Methodist Church had a summer flag football league.  I asked if he was interested.  He said yes...you did too.

I then, mistakenly  mentioned that you would be on a team in which you might not know anyone.  I couldn't stand with you and it might be a little scary.  I talked about commitment to a team and what that means.  (I only did this thinking you weren't quite ready for the adventure and was afraid you were committing to something you didn't know much about.)  You replied, "okay...when does it start.?"

Philip, on the other hand, got cold feet.  It was only with your encouragement that he reconsidered.

You rocked the evaluations and kept a smile on your face the whole time.  I think we are about to have a little fun!

This latest adventure into extracurricular activities has once again proven just how much you have grown up this year, sweet Daniel.  I have seen your self-confidence grow immensely and I love every minute of it.  Your Daddy and I are so proud of the boy you are growing into!  Keep up the good work.

*The title is something John screams in his car seat often.  I'm not sure where it came from!!

A Weekend Getaway

About a month ago, we planned a weekend getaway to the beach.  Little did we know, the highs would barely climb out of the 50s!  The wind was intense and led us to leave the boat beached all weekend.  A good time was had by all regardless...

After these pictures, the boys traded in pants and jeans for bathing suits!  They did swim for a short while before their chattering teeth got in the way.

Saturday afternoon, we ventured to Fort Morgan.  A great way to spend a windy day.

We even found a sweet treat after climbing lots of stairs!

Regardless of weather, it was wonderful to get away from it all for a weekend.  We can't wait to go back next month.