Happy 13th Birthday Will!

Yes, I am late with this but if it was on time, it probably wouldn't have been from me;) So I will just say, "Better late than never!" Happy Birthday Will. I cannot believe that you are a teenager! I mean you look like one. You are already 5'5" and growing every day. You are taller than the grandmas, Aunt Heather, and me! You are built like the grandpas, long and lean! This year, you started the 7th grade. Starting 6th grade and middle school was an adjustment for you but fortunately, you seem to have found your stride in 7th. You are doing well in your classes and seem to like school alright. Of course, you would rather spend your time elsewhere but I think you enjoy seeing your friends and the time away from your brothers. Speaking of your brothers, they are kind of always up in your business. They like you A LOT, Mac especially. I know that they drive you crazy most of the time. Thankfully, you have a good heart and are pretty patient with them. You are a good example for them. You are rarely rough or loud which is a blessing. They take their cues from you. Our house runs more smoothly because of you. You are a great big brother. This Fall, you ran Cross Country for your school, the Roach Rams. It is a sport that you have never tried before but you got out there and really gave it your all. Dad and I were so proud of you. You worked hard and saw results. You tried something new and went after it. I hope this is something that you stick with. You are built for this kind of activity. You saw success with little effort. I can only imagine what you could accomplish if you really set your mind to it! When you are not at school, you like to ride your bike over to your friend Braden's house. You guys usually gather a few more boys and roam the neighborhood exploring all of the woods and creeks. When you are at home, you are on your iPad A LOT. I think you like putting your headphones on and drowning out your brothers. You play Minecraft and watch television shows. I guess you escape the Chism family madness:) You also play on the XBox and 3DS XL. When you aren't playing, you are reading or eating. Neither area can I keep up with you. If I bring home a new book, you read through it in 2 days or less. When I bring home snacks, well they go fast, as well! You are a growing boy. So, I guess you gotta fuel that growth. You love to eat beef jerky, sour cream and onion chips, pizza rolls, corn dogs, spaghetti, pizza, nachos, chocolate, ice cream, and cocoa puffs. You love going to Square Burger in McKinney but it is expensive so you usually settle for Taco Bueno:) You love lemonade and chocolate milk. You don't love carrots but they are the only vegetable you will willingly eat so you have learned to love them:) Time doesn't seem to fly but when I stop to look back, it doesn't seem that long ago when it was just you, Dad, and me. You are my first born and God knew exactly what He was doing. You are really a great kid and extend tremendous grace when I mess us. I think sometimes we are hard on you because frankly, you are the one we are always able to count on. So when you are out of line, Dad and I are REALLY lost! Thank you for being a model of patience and calm. Although you rarely get super excited about something, you rarely get super upset about most things. You have a tender heart and are a loyal friend 'til the end. You are becoming a man and it excites me to see what God has planned for you. Of course, it also makes me a little sad because you don't like to hug or snuggle anymore. But, that is they way it is supposed to be. You are preparing for manhood. Right now, I know you are figuring out who you are and really wrestle with the awkwardness of the early teenage years. You don't think too much of yourself and abilities right now. I remind you often of how amazing God is and of the awesome plans He has for you. Even if He doesn't make everything easy for you, know this is a gift. The people I admire and who have done great things in life, worked. Give God, and yourself, some time to do some incredible things in your life cause I know He will! I love you Will Chism. I am proud of you and proud to be your mom! Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday 10th Sam!

I am super late in writing this. Unfortunately, I am late in most things these days so I guess I am not surprised. But Sam, you are very special none the less. So, here goes. This year has been a good one for you. You began 4th grade. Mrs. Bendickson is your teacher. You had no idea about her so you were not super excited or super sad about being placed in her class. You were, however, very happy to find your good friend Karl in your class. He is one of your best friends so this was a nice treat! And so far, Mrs. Bendickson has been a sweet treat as well. She likes you and says that your classmates like you too! You are a favorite amongst the kiddos. You are a good friend. Mrs. Bendickson chose you for the trustworthiness award during the month of November. The honor was no surprise to Dad and I. You are a very loyal and honest son and friend. In the Spring, you started playing soccer again. Dad coaches your team and although soccer isn't your favorite way to spend your free time, you are a good sport and try. Your team name is the Fighting Irish, of course. The Irish weren't the best on the field last season but with each game, there was improvement. Whether you won or lost though, you boys were great sports and had fun! You played again in the Fall, and your team continues to learn, improve, but mostly, have a good time! When you are at home, you like playing games on your iPad or the Wii U and XBox. You play air hockey and jump on the trampoline. You really are game for just about anything if it involves the neighbor kids. Just about every day, you go looking for someone to play with on the street. Tyler (Baby Klyer), Spencer, Seth, Luke, & Cole are all regular fixtures at our house. They come knocking and whether you feel like playing or not, you always say yes to their invitations. That is probably the best thing about you Sam. You have a huge HEART! You do not want anyone to feel bad or be upset with you. You are a pleaser. And although this is a wonderful quality, it also causes you a bit of stress. You play often when you don't feel like it for much longer than you feel like it. Your heart is broken when Dad or I get onto you about something. You do not like to disappoint anyone. I often have to remind you how important it is to make sure that you save some space for your own happiness. Don't be selfish but remember self-care. Some things you love to eat and drink these days: string cheese, macaroni and cheese, cheese pizza, Wendy's & Whataburger (not McDonalds), Dr. Pepper, grapes (okay, you don't love them but they are the only fruit you will really eat), quesadillas, and Frostey Freezie Freezes (basically a flavored slush but we gave it a fun name). You love to play Minecraft, fighting games, and Isaac Tag. You hate trying to ride a bike and do not understand why anyone would EVER want to ride a bike.:) You LOVE sleeping in our bed, not so much because we are there but because you think it is really comfortable. One of your goals in life is to inherit our bed!:) You like to go on road trips when it is dark out. You like having friends sleep over but do not really care to stay at other peoples' homes. You told one mom that you had a rough childhood which is why you aren't a big fan of sleepovers. That mom finds you hilarious! That is you Sam. You are funny and witty. You are kind and tenderhearted. You are a great friend and have no enemies. You are small in stature for your age but your personality and charm is big enough to fill a room. Sam, you are honest and good. You want to please Dad and I but more importantly, please God. You are a special kid. Your name means "God listens". Thankfully God not only listens but dreams so much bigger than me. I could not imagine someone as precious as you. I am so glad God did. Happy Birthday Sam! I love you big guy! PS - Dad had "the talk" with you a few months back. True to Sam form, you had some thoughts, questions, and concerns on the matter. Dad secretly took notes because frankly, life is so much better when it's seen through your eyes! Here were just some of your responses: 1. Mind. Blown. 2. What kind of a sick world do we live in? 3. If I have to do that, I don't want to grow up. 4. So that's why I have a penis. I just thought it was a floppy appendage. 5. So since mom had three missed pregnancies, does that mean you made sex 7 times???? 6. How does it fit? 7. What if you pee in there? 8. Can't really eat the rest of my fries now. 9. What's it called again? A virginia? 10. I just thought you kissed, and then special chemicals went to the woman's belly. And if she had good food in there, she got pregnant. 11. I figured babies must come out the other hole where other stuff comes out. 12. So if when I get married I decide to do this, can I call you before to make sure I do it right? 13. Why would God make people do that to have kids? 14. Now I know why Will wouldn't tell me. 15. Well, now we have something else to talk about when we go out.

Happy 4th Birthday Macadoodle!

Happy 4th Birthday Big Guy! Wow! It has only been a year but you have grown so much in that amount of time. You have gone from the little boy that only Mommy could understand to the family chatterbox. You always have something to say and usually it is quite entertaining. Sometimes you appreciate the laugh, other times you get your feelings hurt. Thankfully, you don’t stay mad long. You are quick to forgive. When we tell people we have four boys, they look tired just processing the idea. At first, I had trouble understanding why. Life with you kids isn’t too bad. Lately though, I have come to realize that they are envisioning a life of four Macs and that would be tiring. I say that not to be rude but because life would be tough with more than one of you. You are sweet. You are loud. You are fun. You are slightly crazy! You are really brave! All of that packed into one little body is an awesome gift. Four of those gifts, would be a lot to keep up with. One Mac though, is incredible! This past year, you began playing soccer and you could hardly wait for each practice and game. You are aggressive and competitive. You want to be big like your brothers. You wanted a trophy! Your dad coached your team and that made the experience all the more amazing for you. You are starting t-ball this week! I can’t wait to see you take on this challenge. You have never played before, and we haven’t really talked about it. But, I have no doubt that you will love it and pick it up quickly! Preschool was a big part of your life this year. You were in the older two year-olds class because I was too chicken to begin potty training you. Thankfully, you loved your class and the potty training thing worked itself out. You are no longer in diapers!!! About this time last year, you found your dad’s beard trimmer. You made a nice little line down the center of the front of your head. There was no way to repair it so we had to just get it all shaved off. This was the day before we left for Disney World. We all joked that you kind of looked like a Make-A-Wish Foundation kid at the park. Too bad we didn’t get preferential treatment. Right now, you love guns of any kind and cars of all sorts. For your birthday, you just wanted Hot Wheels, Hot Wheels, and more Hot Wheels. So, you got Hot Wheels. You had a bounce house/water slide for your party and invited several of the neighbor kids. It was a big day, all about you. You do not shy away from the spotlight. You just soak it all in! Mac, as I mentioned, so many people think that four kiddos is too many. But for us, we cannot imagine not having our #4. You are the definition of FUN! You have such a joy about you. So often, you are excited about things we simply overlook. You find enthusiasm for often the mundane. I love that about you. You remind us how really blessed we are. Each day, we are given so many opportunities that we just don’t see but you do. I hope this quality stays with you forever. Of course you have your tough moments. You can get as mad or sad as you get happy and excited. Those are not great moments but often they make us giggle. You do most things in life with energy and that is awesome. You are my “snuggle buggle”. My heart melts when you say, “I wub you”. It makes me laugh when you say, “Grab me this” or “What the quwap?” You make me laugh. All the extra work and mental energy you require is SO worth it. You are such a special piece to our family puzzle. How different our picture would be without you. Thank you for being the light in our house every day. Thank you for being my Macadoodle, Mac, or MacArfur. (These are the only names we are allowed to call you, per your instructions.) I love you Macadoodle. I am so proud to be your mommy. Happy Birthday Mac!

Happy Belated 6th Birthday Isaac!

Happy Birthday big guy!!! As usual, I am late in writing this but as long as you are still 6 years-old, I think that it still counts:) This past year has been an great one. You started Kindergarten and you were very excited about it. You love and look up to your two big brothers. I think starting school gave you a hope that you would someday be as big, smart, and cool as they are. Little did you know that you were already awesome and smart before school began.:) But I guess hearing that from people other than your mother probably carries some extra weight. So, school has been a great boost for you. Your teacher's name is Mrs. Mauldin. You played soccer this year and love it. You also are playing basketball. Your coach, Coach Ollie, coaches both of your teams. The basketball team is new so you boys are still finding out what the game is all about but you don't seem to get too down about it. You are enjoying the learning process and you love defense! Whether it is basketball or soccer, you always favor defense. You are quick and aggressive but not a ball hog which makes you a pretty good teammate. You are fun, have a good attitude, and play hard. Your coach likes all of that so you get a lot of playing time. You also began piano lessons this year. You love music so I think you are going to really like learning how to make your own. You enjoy listening and singing in the car, on your iPad, watching videos, etc.. Some of your favorite songs are "Carry Me" by Jars of Clay and "Pompeii" by Bastille. Your dad and I hope that the piano lessons just further your love of music. You are a smart kiddo with good rhythm so I bet you will pick it up quickly. Over the past year, you sure have grown up, Ike. Until recently, I thought you were kind of a stubborn kid with a not-so-awesome attitude about most things. Little did I know how much you would change. You actually have become one of the more agreeable kids in our household. You are open to new activities, new foods, and new experiences. You have a good attitude about most stuff. You are even beginning to enjoy your younger brother. Mac things you are amazing and his celebration of all things Isaac can be a bit tiring. But for the most part, you seem to take him in stride. You make his day when you ask him to play with you. You still play with Sam a great deal too though. At times even, I think Sam gets a bit envious of your new friendship with Mac:). I love the fact that you boys are ALL good friends. You all play together so well and really include each other. That does this mama's heart good. I mentioned that you have always been a bit more stubborn than some of the other boys. Although you have matured a great deal over the past year, that stubbornness has not gone away completely. You have kind of tweaked it to look more like determination:). Any goal or task you set out to accomplish or complete, you stick at it until you get it. You a determined little boy. It is how you have learned to read, swim, ride a bike, even color better. You just keep doing it until you have mastered it. At times this can be tiresome, especially for the mom who has to chase you back and forth down the street helping you get the bike going, but this quality is teaching you so many new skill and it will serve you well throughout your life. Isaac, I am so proud of you and the boy you are becoming. You love to snuggle, and I love that too. You are quick-witted, deep-thinking, and really quite interesting. Thank you for making my job more fantastic, more challenging, and more entertaining. I love you buddy! Happy Birthday!!!!!

Happy 12th Birthday Will!

Happy Birthday big guy! I cannot believe that you are already 12! Throw a few more boys in the mix and the times just flies by.:) This year is a big year for you. You started 6th grade and moved onto middle school. You have a locker and change classes. That took a few days and a few hiccups to get perfected but you are cruising along now. You really like middle school and your friendships that you are continuing to develop that you began in elementary school. Your best buds are Caleb and Braden. Unfortunately, Braden is moving this Spring, and you are dreading it. He is a very good friend and I am sad to see him go too. You got a cell phone this year just before the start of the new year. It isn't anything fancy but you are super excited regardless. And I didn't realize how much I would enjoy you having a phone but there have been times that it has come in super handy. So, I am praying you stay out of trouble so it doesn't get taken away. We might both be in trouble then:) You and Sam elected not to play soccer this Fall but instead are doing a running club. Sports aren't really what interests you right now so this running club has been a nice compromise for all of us to keep you active. You do love art. You got to choose that as an elective this year. Of course, you are rockin' that class on your grade card! Will, you are an awesome kid. You have a really kind and thoughtful heart. You are sweet and patient with your brothers, and I could not do this mom thing without you! You love Jesus and are learning to really look to him during your times of doubt and worry. You are becoming a wonderful young man right before my eyes. I love you Willboy and am very proud to be your mama!

Happy 9th Birthday Sam!

Well Happy Birthday Sam. Of course, this post is late for your big day but that should be of no surprise. We run late alot these days:) And although this is late, were were on time celebrating you and all your 9 years. We celebrated with a gaming truck party for you and several of your friends. You had a blast with all your buddies! Sam, you are awesome. You are in 3rd grade now, and Ms. Brunner is your teacher. We had a parent-teacher conference this week and she said that she would like to have 22 Sams. She said that you are so sweet and a very hard-worker. She also said that you have a whole lot of friends in class. Really, neither your dad or I were surprised by all the kind things she had to say about you. We could say the exact same things and more. This year instead of playing a sport, you and Will are participating in a running club. You really want to play basketball, even talk of going pro;), but until basketball season starts, you are running. You are also very much into Minecraft. You play it on the x-box, wii, computer, my phone, really any electronic device. That is also what you and Isaac and Mac are dressing up for Halloween. Your bestest friend outside of your brothers is Karl from school. You two have great fun together. You are a fun and likeable kid, and I am sure many people think they are Sam's bestest friend. You are very inclusive and always open to new adventures. You work hard and love even harder. You take guilt very easily. I know that you got that from me. I do always want you to be thoughtful and considerate of others but guilt can be such a drag. I pray you become less inclined to feel guilty and instead just love others and let the rest go. I love you very much and am so proud of the young man you are becoming. You have a contagious laugh and are a great snuggle bug. You freely hug and that is awesome. You are obsessed with our dogs, Pepper and Stitches. You just can't believe how cute they are:) Sam, you are a sweet spirit, you love Jesus, and I am so proud to be your mama! Happy Birthday Sam!

Happy Belated 3rd Birthday Mac!

Happy Birthday Buddy! I am SUPER late in writing this post but frankly, life has been crazy busy. I will attribute most of that crazy to you;) so I hope you understand. Let me begin by saying that you are awesome! You are really a lot of fun. Everything is exciting to you. If I offer to take y'all swimming, you are ready to go. If I ask if you want a snack, you come running. If I buy bread at the store, you are over the moon! You are great and life to you is F-U-N! Because of this "go for it" kind of attitude, you can be challenging. You are always into something. I'm not sure I can really fault you for it though. You see your brothers doing things and you figure out how to do them too. And since there are four of you and one of me, you have some free time to get into some trouble. (You are too smart for your own good.) Last summer you wandered away from your dad at the family reunion at the Red Apple Inn in Heber Springs, AR. It is an older resort with lots of older people. It is a prim and proper kind of establishment. When we found you, you were naked and peeing in the Inn's fountain right in front of their floor to ceiling windows that looked into the breakfast brunch;) I think you left a long lasting impression on the Red Apple Inn and I am not sure we will be allowed back.:) This year you also cut your own hair with dad's clippers. You found them out on the counter and started at the center, front of your head. They were on the shortest setting so we just went ahead and had your head shaved. We were leaving for Disney World the next day and I think some people thought we had brought a child for the Make-A-Wish Foundation:) You love playing outside, no matter the temperature. If I say that it is hot, you say, "No, it not hot. It warm." You love to play all sports but you love just kicking the ball too. Right now, you want people to kick with you but you require that everyone begin with exercise. We probably spend more time "exercising" than playing soccer. And I will say that if anyone were to see what you have us do and the fact that we do it, they would think we were not right;) I think you enjoy seeing what you can make us do. And then laugh on the inside at how ridiculous we look:) Mac, you love to laugh. You smile a lot. You are full of life! Yes, you have moments of frustration and scream but mostly, you are joy. You are beginning to really play with Isaac who has kind of taken you under his wing in the last few months. I think you will be great friends one day very soon. Mostly right now though, you are my buddy. You kind of go everywhere with me. You always wanna go. You think I am amazing. The feeling is mutual;) Many of my errands are twice as challenging because you are my sidekick but they are also always much more interesting. They are always more unpredictable when you come along. Mac, I love you very much. And even though you create quite a bit more work, you are worth it. I love that when I call you dude, you say, "I am not dude. I am Mac, MacArfur, M A C." I treasure our bedtime together when you say, "Goodnight Mom. I wub you." It just melts my heart. I am so thankful that God gave you to me. You make me a better mom and a better person. Thank you for challenging me to be better, smarter, faster, and more open to all the little blessings in life! I love you and Happy Belated Birthday MacArfur:)