Lollipops and Field Trips

I know, I know, it has been a while.  In school news, I finished my busiest semester (3 classes plus work), but all is finished and I  moved on to 2 summer classes which are going well.  I'm still working over the summer, but half of my hours are work-from-home and 1 of my 2 summer classes finishes June 26th, so after that the summer will feel much more relaxing.

Eric is awesome.  The church is going well, and he looks after kid, family and home stuff in my absence without even blinking an eye.  I've been on multiple field trips with the boys this month- the post office with Isaiah, the zoo with Micah and the farm museum with Elijah.  Eric covered two school events- kindergarten tea and recorder recital tomorrow.  Micah is doing REALLY well with his piano lessons, and Elijah picked up the recorder pretty quickly.  Micah was the only one of the three boys to memorize all of his verses in Sunday School and received a prize along with 4 other children last Sunday (Isaiah and Elijah were just one verse short and seeing Micah receive a prize totally motivated them to try harder next time).

Which leads me to a great story.  Sunday afternoon after the church picnic, I walked into the entryway of our house to see Isaiah crying (not unusual) but it was unusual that he didn't seem angry or hurt.  I asked what was wrong because Elijah was standing there too, but Lij just shrugged his shoulders and went back to playing with the water balloon he was concentrating on tying.  Zay sobbed out... no...thing.... shoulders still shaking.

I gave him a minute to catch a breath while I set my stuff down, looked back and Lij one more time who looked back at me blankly and shrugged.  I asked Zay if he could tell me why he was crying.  Here's what he gasped out between sobs.

"Mommy, I couldn't ask for a better brother than Elijah" and he collapsed into my arms still holding back sobs.  I looked at Lij who promptly started talking.

"Mommy, Isaiah brought home the etch-a-sketch from church because he thought it was a prize.  I told him it wasn't to keep so I took it back over to the church.  I told him that I'd get him a real prize (dum dums and Twizzlers were the real prizes) and bring it back over to him.  Well, when I took the etch a sketch back, I forgot to get him a real prize and so when I got home and he was sad I gave him my lollipop."photo © 2010 Heather | more info (via: Wylio)


Isaiah again, clutched at me and held up the peach Dum Dum for me to see, proof of his brother's generosity.

Isaiah's Birthday

The chosen birthday meal- mac n cheese with hotdogs and ketchup.  Orange Kool-aid to drink.

Big 6 years old!

Isaiah had specific requests for his birthday.  He is a man who knows what he wants and isn't afraid to ask.  On Sunday, he addressed the Thorpe family at church.  He told them that his birthday was on Friday and that he wanted to come over to their house to celebrate his birthday.  He thought they should have a party for him.

Kym graciously offered to host if Kennady's softball game got rained out, but since the weather was looking nice, we told Zay that we'd have to make other plans.  He said, "Why can't we just go to Kennady's game?"  No reason at all so that's what we did... softball game for Zay's birthday followed by hot drinks and hockey with the Thorpe clan.

For his gift requests, LEGO.  No surprise there and he is still engrossed in his building and rebuilding.

Dear Isaiah, youngest in our family,
We see you as the 6 year old boy you have now become.  You articulate your thoughts so well, and have been doing so for so long, that you've seemed 6 to us for months.  You are patient and people-loving, quick to forgive and easy to get along with in general.  To say that everyone loves you is no exaggeration.  School is a breeze for you, when you have the time that you want to do your work.  You live, breathe and work at your own pace, and although we may at times try to speed you up, it often only results in our own frustration.  No one can argue with the quality you produce with your pace though.  Everything you do is done well if you care about it.  We love you so much Zay, and we can't wait to see what being 6 will mean to you.

Never met a stranger... literally

Isaiah has the tiniest bladder ever, so we stopped at a gas station to go potty on the way home from swimming lessons.  I was standing in line to pay for a drink (post-workout dying of thirst) while he went.  When he came out and joined me in line. We were standing behind a man, lots of piercings, tats, baggy jeans, black hoodie sweatshirt, you get the picture.

Isaiah was at eye level with the man's back pocket. I saw him staring intently at the contents of the pocket, and before I could say anything, he reached up and poked something sticking out of the man's back pocket.  I  tsked at him and whispered, "Zay, you don't touch people's pockets man."  As I said this, the man reached around to check his wallet and I noticed his other hand was holding his cell to his ear.

Just as I was thinking about my gratefulness for his conversation as it would excuse me from making apologies for my son who likes to poke people in the butt apparently, I look back to Zay to see him tapping the man on the elbow.  What?  I say, "Zay, he's on the phone.  Leave him alone."
The man then turns to us and says to the person on the phone, "Hold on, there's a kid here trying to talk to me and I don't want to be rude."  To Zay, "Yeah buddy, what is it?"
Isaiah, "Do you know you have a BINGO card in your pocket?"
Man, "Do I?"  He pulls it out.  Sure enough there is a scratch off BINGO card that I couldn't see because his sweatshirt was covering it.
Isaiah:  "Where did you get it?"
Man, "My girlfriend gave it to me.  I don't know if its a winner or not. OK?"  Very pleasant and polite.
Zay nods and he goes back to his conversation, turning around.  I looked at Zay with a perplexed look.
Zay said, "What?  I thought only kids played BINGO."

Mural #1

This is Isaiah's mural choice. He wanted jets flying together. I still need to outline them in black to finish them off.

Funny Zay

Tonight at dinner.
Isaiah: Can I be done?
Me: (looking at his plate with 3 bites left on it) Are you completely full?
Isaiah: Yeah
Me: Are you sure you're full.
Isaiah: Yeah, let me check.
He stands up and starts bouncing, jumping up and down like a pogo stick about 10 times.
Isaiah: Yup. Totally full. There was no sloshy sound so I must be filled all the way up.

:)

Experiments

You asked for oatmeal this morning

I mashed bananas and mixed them in, since

they were going bad and variety is good

right?

Your first bite.

Gag. choke. big tears well up in your eyes.

You spit the mouthful back into the bowl

and look at me in despair and anger.

How dare I taint your favorite breakfast dish?

I'll put some chocolate chips on it.  Bananas are

good with chocolate right?

You nod.  Oh how you trust your

Mommy.

2nd attempt.

Gag. Choke. Alligator tears spill down over your cheeks.

You chew a few more times, moaning, apparently trying to

convince yourself that chocolate chips make

everything better

but they don't.

thin brown drips of pureed banana oatmeal chocolate chip

mush begin streaming from the corners of your mouth

swallow. I order. just swallow that bite and you

don't have to eat anymore.

um! um! You shake your head.

nauseated chipmunk cheeks puffed out.

Daggers in your eyes.

JUST swallow and take a drink

um!um!  moreheadshaking

don't spit that out.

ummmmm, moaning, desperation

you hold your mouth open like a baby bird

keeping the watery goo in, but taking some breaths

of air through your mouth.

gulp.

done.

drink.
finally.

You've earned a bowl of Lucky Charms instead.

Lesson learned:  mashed bananas in oatmeal sounds better

than it tastes.

Isaiah Sings

We were playing with the video camera on the computer tonight.  Isaiah decided to sing a couple of songs.

Zay turns 5

How can you say "no" to that face..., and yet we do- on a regular basis.

I can hardly believe that our baby is 5 years old. Isaiah, at five years old... if I had to describe you in a word it would be 'charmer'. Some distinctions about your blossoming personality right now include your precision in speaking. You speak with careful enunciation of every syllable which often makes your speech slow and deliberate but easily understood. Adults find you charming because you know how to make conversation, and any stranger can understand you well.

You can be strong-willed at times, and you are VERY independent. Often, we'll notice that you're not with the crowd and when we go looking for you, we can usually find you building in the LEGO box or squishing sand between your toes in the sandbox. You have no fear of being alone for long periods of time- which makes you GREAT at playing hide and seek.

We love your easy laugh and smile, and you show a special affinity for music and dancing. In church, most Sundays you'll sing along with the worship music, even when your brothers and the other kids are drawing or whispering to each other. You are a special young man, we love you tons and can't wait to see who you become as a 5 year old this year.

God Moment with Isaiah

After lunch today, I was still eating, the older two were gone from the table and Isaiah was playing with the LEGO pieces he "borrowed" from seminary childcare this morning. Here is our conversation:
Zay: Mommy, I took this LEGO from childcare.
Me: I know. You're borrowing it though right? We'll take it back next time we go because if we don't that would be stealing.
Zay: No. I'm steeeeeealing it. (mischievous smile)
Me: Really? Do you think that's OK?
Zay: ....(playing).... God sees everything doesn't he.
Me: Yes he does. I think God is disappointed when we do things we know are wrong.
Zay: .... (playing)... Mommy, I think I have a little greed in my heart.
Me: I think we all probably have a little greed in our hearts. What can we do?
Zay: ... (looks at me, looks back at toy)...
Me: We can pray and ask God to replace our greed with contentment. We can say we're sorry for stealing and he'll forgive us. Have you prayed about the little greed in your heart?
Zay: No.
Me: Would you like to pray now?
Zay: (immediately- like 'I thought you'd never ask) Yeah!
Me: Do you want to pray or do you want Mommy to pray?
Zay: You.
Me: (he grabs my hand) Dear God, we know we have greed in our hearts sometimes. Its hard to be content with what we have. Would you help us and replace our greed with contentment? Forgive Isaiah for stealing. He is sorry. Help him to know he's forgiven. Amen.
Zay: (smiling) Mommy, I think my little greed is gone. Just like that (snaps his fingers) God can just take it right away.
Me: So are we borrowing the toy?
Zay: YES. (He hops off happily playing)

WHAT IF # 457

What if I was stuck inside a top forever?

What if I had 8 arms?

Both said by Isaiah tonight.

Milestones

Some people run a marathon.

Others lose 100 pounds.

Children learn to walk or crawl.

I throw away a 7 year old baby monitor.

I woke up this morning to a strange breathing in the room. After determining that it wasn't Eric, I noticed a small lump on the couch and yes, it was the source of the raspy breathing. Isaiah must have gotten up sometime in the night, come into our room, and snuggled onto our couch. He even made himself a pillow out of a blanket and covered up with another one. I had no idea.

It was an obvious sign that he has grown. I'm sure he'll still yell for his mommy another time or two in his life, but basically it occurred to me that he now knows how to get what he needs without much help from me. And when he needs help he'll ask, but for the most part, he's pretty independent. The youngest. The baby.

And the monitor has been struggling for a while now, buzzing, zapping, barely picking up sounds anymore, yet every time I've tried to cease its use, I couldn't sleep well.

But tonight, I believe its gone for good.

Milestone.

Halloween Costumes

(I'm catching up since I just now downloaded pictures.) Isaiah can be such an enigma. I'm still not sure about that kid- just who he will be or how to best to handle him. But I know one thing for sure. He LOVES to be in control. I know all toddler/preschoolers like to control whatever aspects of their environment that they can, but Isaiah takes this game to a whole new level. Halloween was a perfect example. He had wanted a wizard costume for weeks. We picked out fabric together, made it together, hot-glued beads on the cape together, and he even wore it around the house all day a few times. Then, the big day comes around and all of a sudden he decides he no longer wants the wizard costume. He has no idea what he wants. It wasn't a battle worth fighting, so I just let it go, let him wear whatever he wanted and painted his face for him at his request. I still have no idea what happened, and no one really asked about his interesting "costume". Oh well.

Isaiah sings

I've been trying to record video of each of the boys singing. So far I've been successful with Zay and Micah. Elijah's is hardest to catch because he doesn't like an audience to his vocal talent and it usually involves lots of crazy dancing. Isaiah learned this song at school and sings it around the house often. And I love the paradox of cute songs while playing with potentially dangerous fake plastic weapons. Zay and I are the only 2 people in this house looking forward to snowy weather. :)

Isaiah-isms

Kroger = Krogert

Black olives= Black Ol-O's

His brothers correct him, but he says he likes his way better.

I love that about him, but only when this stubborn confidence isn't enacted against me. Selfish but true.

Brotherly Love

On Friday nights the boys look forward to switching beds. Its a tradition. They never forget. Last night Micah slept in the spare room, Elijah in Micah's bed and Isaiah in Elijah's bed. Isaiah was having a hard time staying in bed. After several warnings, I moved Isaiah back to his own bed. As I was leaving the room, Isaiah wimpering in the background, Elijah whispered to me, "Mommy, I'm really sad for Isaiah. I think I might cry." I said, "I know, I'm sad for him too, but he knew what would happen if he kept getting out of bed. He can try again next week." Elijah tearfully chokes out, "Next Friday is really kind of far away. Can I let Isaiah have my bed tomorrow night and I'll sleep in his?" Such a sympathetic little guy.

Preschool- Isaiah

Isaiah's first day was terrific as expected. He fell asleep on the bus on the way home. A friend from my school looked after my class so that I could come home and put the baby of the family on the bus with Eric. The highlights of school, according to Isaiah, are that he gets to eat pizza and chicken nuggets for lunch every day (2 days of school so far). He also loves the "Quiet Place" station in his classroom. It is a little tent with a sleeping bag and stuffed animals inside.

Gift

Me to Isaiah at bedtime tonight: "Good night sweet-pea."

Pause from Zay and a grin as he replies: "Good night mac and cheese."

He keeps a smile on our faces with his quick witty responses and reactions. I was reminded today from a sermon I listened to that every ounce of joy, grace, and love we experience is a gift. So, thank you Lord for the gift of Isaiah tonight.

He's holding up his favorite PJs in the picture- blue checked boxers.

Knock Knock Joke- Zay Zay

Knock Knock. from Erin Crisp on Vimeo.

Pictures

Happy Birthday to Isaiah!

r

e

(yesterday)
Dear baby boy,
You're definitely not a baby anymore! You have a great sense of humor, always laughing at funny things your brothers do. You are a social butterfly. Everyone you meet is your friend; you talk to them immediately and tell them that you have two brothers- Elijah and Micah. Every fiber of your being wants to be bigger than you really are. You are frustrated by all of the times that your brothers prove themselves to be bigger, stronger, faster or smarter than you. But you don't let it get you down for long- you just work harder to beat them next time.

You love wearing boxers and a muscle shirt to bed at night instead of PJs with cartoon characters on them. You play alone just as well as you play with other kids, and you're interests are varied at this point. One day you'll be content to paint and color and the next day you want to run, jump and ride your bike all day. After the busy play though, you're never to busy to curl up on the couch beside me in a big fuzzy blanket and snuggle in close. Your strong will and temper are never far beneath the surface, but no one can stay annoyed at you for long. One big smile and kiss blown my way and you're completely forgiven.

We love having you as a part of this family littlest one. We can't imagine our lives without you. Thank you for the joy, smiles and warmth you bring to us every day.
Happy 4th birthday!