HAPPY BIRTHDAY

yesterday was thing 1's birthday!

my baby is 9!

he's a good kid.

a happy kid.

he came out smiling.

he came out loving everyone.

as a baby he was always hugging and kissing everyone. mom and dad and all of his friends-especially the girls! he still loves everyone and has a really big heart. he is kind to people and really enjoys being with people.

he is responsible. i can trust him to watch the other kids. he keeps track of his things. as a baby he really loved animals and had a gazillion toy animals, he still does. every week or so he chose 2 that he carried around everywhere and played with all week. he only ever lost 1. it fell out of the cart in walmart and we never found it again!

thing 1 has a special talent for the scriptures. he reads and understands and remembers. when we read as a family he seems like he's not listening but when we stop and ask what we've read he can always tell us. he'll summarize the chapter for us. i have a hard time paying attention and following the story when someone else is reading them.

this is a blessing that i hope he treasures and uses well.

he is my first born. he's watched 3 others join our family and be loved and treasured.

i hope that he knows that he is loved and treasured. that he was adored just as much as the rest.

i hope he knows that we admire him and love him.

i hope he knows that we like him.

rockin'

yesterday, thing 2 had his friends over. this is how they spent their time.

did you notice the little head watching from just outside the door? this is as close as thing 3 was allowed to get.

i think i'm a bit twisted because i kind of enjoy hearing my kids interact in the "typical" brother,sister/sibling way.

for example...

big brother comes home with friends and quickly closes himself in his room.

little sister follows soon after clip clopping in her beautiful plastic high heels, up the stairs and down the hall. stopping outside of the brothers room she sweetly knocks.

brother answers the door, sees who it is and quickly, bluntly, asks "what do you want?"

she wants to come in she says so sweetly.

brother says NO

sister says YES

he yells GO AWAY

she yells LET ME COME IN in a whiny sort of way

he says firmly GO AWAY and shuts the door

little sister comes moping downstairs where she waits until the door opens and then she stands innocently outside, just watching, wanting to be a part of the fun.

sad, i know, but the exchange is so classic it just makes me laugh.

the boys are usually very good to her. she follows them around, runs through their kick ball games, bats her pretty little eyes at their friends and steals their scooters. all of which they put up with very sweetly.

free, free, free!

i've been a little busy,and a little distracted lately!

busy with kids & family etc. etc. etc. of course.

my distraction is possibly a bit embarrassing.

i joined that yahoo group called freecycle. you have probably heard of it.

i am usually a bit behind in things.

so, the few free seconds i have, i find myself checking my freecycle inbox!

it's amazing and interesting the things people are giving away or looking for.

and, i can check it with one hand-baby in the other arm squirming and wiggling-trying to get down and go somewhere-where i don't know!

so anyway, i had heard a lot about it from one of my new morning walking buddies.

i decided to sign up because thing 1 is learning the trumpet and wanted a music stand to use for practicing. i thought a music stand could be something someone might have and wasn't using anymore. so i posted my need and received one that same day. it's great! exactly what i would have purchased!

i also received an offer from someone whose father had made her one out of wood and she said she would be willing to part with it!! i could never have taken that but i was amazed at the generosity!

so far that is all i have had a need for but i can't help checking it. people are getting rid of some interesting stuff.

the philosophy behind the group is to reduce waste and consumerism!

i love that!

i love the idea of passing on and sharing what we are done with.

go sign up for the group in your area and start sharing! it's fun!!!

(do i sound like an advertisement?!-i'm not getting paid-it's all free!)

as for my time to post today? thing 3 and thing 4 fell asleep, at the same time this morning! first i took a bath. a nice hot bath! i always crave one when the chilly weather hits! and now thing 4 is screaming at me so my time is over! i'll be back!