Happy 17th Birthday Will!

Will - like your brothers' posts, your too is super late. I guess I thought I got it done but I didn't. I know that is shocking:). So year 16 was a good one. You started your Sophomore year in HS at Independence. You ran Cross Country for the second year in a row. Although you don't love it, you tolerate it and have made some good friends through it. You are not a super competitive kid so this is a good sport for you. It allows you to be social but still be alone. It allows you to challenge yourself without having to worry about letting your team down. You are a natural distance runner. I am not sure where you got that from.;0 This year you got a car for Christmas. It is a Honda Civic. I am certain that it isn't your dream car but you were still excited none the less. Dad and I wanted you to have a safe and reliable car. This checked all the boxes. Thank you for being a gracious kid and not complaining that it isn't a sports car. Conner and Braden are still your closest friends. Although you don't see them as much as you used to, time and space doesn't really seem to change much for you. You are my introvert. You enjoy your own company and sometimes like to fill your space with other people. Generally, you don't want to fill it with just people. You are intentional and want to use your time with the people that matter. It makes your friendship circle quite small but you like it that way. As a fellow introvert, I understand it. Will, so many teenagers these days give their parents a run for their money but not you. You are a pretty easy kid. Your Type B personality sometimes confuses Dad and I but we are trying to better understand your perspective. Not much frustrates you which works to your advantage. God knew you would have three younger brothers so he knew you would need an extra amount of patience. You are easy-going and don't let much rattle you. You take things as they come and make adjustments without much concern. This will serve you well and you will probably live an ulcer free life!:0 In May of this year, you made your public proclamation to follow Jesus and be baptized. Dad and I were both so proud of this decision. I know Jesus has been in your heart for many years. I know you were nervous about being in front of people, all them looking at you. But you did it and it was awesome! Granny and Papa came to see it. Nana and Pawpaw watched online from home. Everyone was really excited for you and of course, I was filled with joy, so I cried. I love you bud! Happy 17th Birthday!!

Happy 14th Birthday Sam! (Wow this is late!)

Sam - I am not sure where my post for your 2018 birthday or anyone else's for that matter went, so I will just get it done now!;) This was 7th grade and it was a bit of a rough year for you. Your grades were fine. Your friendships were great. You were just feeling all of being 13 and the hormones that come with that. Every day I would pick you up from school and ask you how the day was. Usually your response had something to do with the stupid kids in your stupid class were being stupid so your stupid teacher assigned you all a stupid amount of homework. A lot of things in 7th grade were stupid;0, thankfully you made it through without getting into a fight with any of those stupid kids or getting detention from those stupid teachers. And you seemed to always get good grades on all that stupid homework. Since you stopped playing soccer last year, this year you tried your hand at track. Although you're super fast, the coach was a little/ a lot disorganized so you really didn't get much exposure to the track. But, you got an idea of what to expect. You learned a little bit more and next year, you'll be ready to run all over this sport. Karl is still one of your best friends. His parents got divorced not long ago so I think you are a really nice constant to have. Although your interests are changing, you still love to hang out. You have a large circle of friends. Your inner circle is very small which allows a lot of room for a big outer circle and are always willing to make room for one more. This summer, I asked Will to start a workout routine with your boys. Of course, you are my rule follower so you took that to another level. Every night before bed, you do sit-ups and push-ups. You are a committed person and I admire that. You plan to do something and then just do it. It makes you a little challenging at times though because you don't like things up ending your plans. If we have something to do, you want to know about it far enough ahead of time so that you can include it on your calendar. In May of this year, you and Will were baptized. For many years, you have had a love for Jesus in your heart but you made that love public. Dad and I were super proud of that decision. Granny and Papa came to see it. Nana and Pawpaw watched online. It was a very big day for all of us. We were very excited and of course, I cried ugly.;) Sam, every year, I write your birthday post about you and your big heart and your big emotions. Every year, I think you hate it. But you know what, I think you are really awesome. You feel and that is fantastic. Your wife will appreciate that very much. I know you don't see it now but one day you will win big because of this. People are drawn to feelers. It makes them feel heard and understood. It makes you compassionate. It makes you pretty special. Happy 14th birthday Sam. I am sorry I am so late. I guess we were just busy having fun!!! Love, Mom

Happy 8th Birthday Mac!!!

Happy birthday Mac. I know that it is already a few months past your birthday but life is always crazy so I am always playing catch-up! This past year has been a busy one for you. You started and finished first grade. Ms. Harmon was your teacher. Neither you nor I were super excited about this assignment but God knows better than us, doesn't He? Ms. Harmon was amazing! She loved you and you loved her. She even asked you stay late after school one day to help her assemble the incubator for the chicken eggs that you were going to have in the classroom. You were very excited about those chickens and the chance to help. You even had me make you a shirt that read "Chicken Power". First grade was awesome! You were a great student, regularly being praised by Ms. Harmon and other teachers for your good behavior and positive attitude. You also did well in your school work. You love math especially! You were a little sad at the beginning of the school year because your best friend, Affan, was not in your class. But, you are Mac and it didn't take you long to bounce back and make all kinds of new best friends. Ibraheem, Pratik, and Prady were some of your closest friends this year but everyone is a friend of Mac. You are personality plus and your friends and classmates think you are hilarious. Your brothers are still your best playmates. You do everything you can to keep up and rarely are left behind because of your efforts. Whatever sports or electronics the boys are into, you are right there with them. It might take you some extra time to catch up but you put the work in so that you can be part of the gang. Right now you play Fortnite and Roadblox with the boys the most but whatever the game, you are usually game. This year you continued to play soccer and basketball. You wanted to play about six other sports but we limited you to two. Julien is on both of your teams and you love playing with him. You play well together and really encourage each other on the field and the court. You are quite good at both sports because your very competitive and give it your all. You cheer when your team is successful and are visibly frustrated when you don't do as well as you would like. Mac, I think that last sentence sums you up pretty well. You are hard on yourself at times but always ready and willing to celebrate someone else's success. You are competitive and give life your best. You are still my kid that is always game for anything. If there is an adventure to be had, you are racing to grab your shoes! You have such joy and that is fun to be around. You are still my snugglebuggle and my Macadoodle. You love to give hugs and get really frustrated because Isaac doesn't appreciate your hugs. It's his loss though. You give the best hugs. You don't like to let go. I know you will outgrow that soon so I am soaking it up while I can. Thank you for keeping me laughing and smiling, Mac. Thank you for helping me to find joy in everyday. You are awesome, and I feel so blessed that God felt I was worthy to be your mom. Happy 8th Birthday Macadoodle. I love you!

Happy 10th Birthday Isaac!

Happy Birthday Ike! I know this is late but my posts seem to always be so I think that means that I am on schedule:) This year you began fourth grade. You finished up third grade with Ms. Fowler. She was super sweet and loved you very much. Mrs. Canine is also very nice and really enjoys having you in class. Both of them recognize your higher level thinking and your thought-filled ways. You are quiet in class. Your brothers don't believe it but that's what your teachers say. They say that although you don't speak up much, they know you are processing it all and really taking it beyond their expectations. You also participate in GT which you did last year too. It is only a few hours a week but you really enjoy the challenge of it. You don't appreciate the additional work but like the thought process. You have a ton of friends at school which again, your brothers don't believe. (You like to push their buttons.) Your closest friends are Antonio, Landon, and Alex. Antonio comes over at least three days a week to play. Thankfully, you and Antonio let Mac play with you too. He would be lost if you didn't. When you're not at school, you play soccer on the Sooners team. Dad is the coach again. Your team isn't that great but you don't seem to mind losing. You realize that in the end it doesn't really matter as long as you had fun. It's very interesting because when you participate in team sports, you are not super competitive. But, when you are challenging yourself in a new activity, you get very frustrated until you have mastered it. You might not be the first one to get it but you will be the one who, in the end, is the best at it. You got your braces off this past year. You are scheduled to get another set in a few years but your teeth look great, and it is so nice to see you smile. Isaac, you are a bit of hard kid for me. You are so much like your father. You are a deep thinking and question things. You don't have a problem following the rules but they have to make sense to you. I am a rule follower without question so sometimes I have a hard time understanding you. But, I have come to appreciate your independent thought. You aren't guilted into much and you rarely go into situations blindly. That is a quality characteristic, and although I don't understand it because that is not how I think, I definitely appreciate it. You hang with Mac most of the time whether by choice or default. Mac is a hugger right now, and that makes you crazy. You don't particularly like to be touched by people but especially Mac. Thankfully, I am one of the exceptions to your personal space issues. You are open to me, hug me, and like to hold my hand when you fall asleep. That might embarrass you one day but it makes my heart happy. It makes me feel extra special. So thank you for allowing me in. I love you Isaac. You might be a complex child but you are so worth figuring out and getting to know. I cannot wait to see what God has planned for you. Happy belated Birthday!

Happy 16th Birthday Will!!!

Will, you are 16! Oh my law! How did we get here? You would probably say that we got here because I never let you do anything even the slightest bit unsafe so there is no doubt how you got here. You were probably covered in bubble wrap! You think your brothers get to do all kinds of things you didn’t get to do, like play with knives and such😉 Little do you know how much I didn’t know when God made me your mama. You started the 10th grade this year. As usual, you took it in stride. You had already done 9th grade so this was old hat. Ninth grade was a bit of an adjustment. You started high school at Independence just across the street. It’s a big, beautiful school which I don’t think you appreciated. You were more annoyed that many of your middle school friends went to Heritage HS down the street. But, it didn’t take you long to find your way. You began running cross country. It wasn’t really something you were itching to do but we told you that you had to do something active so it is what you chose. You took to it quite naturally. You really only practice when you are required, and you still do really well. We keep trying to get you to do a little extra to see your full potential but that’s not of interest to you right now. And, that’s ok with Dad and me. You participate and have made some very nice, new friends. Cross country really helped you transition into high school. Practices began in the summer before your Freshman year so you walked in the first day of school with some familiar faces. Of course, you still have Braden and Conner that you are friends with from middle school. Those are still your best friends but they don’t run cross country so you don’t get to see them much. It’s a big school! You have run your second season of cross country now and continue to get better. I don’t think you enjoy it any more this year than last year but you enjoy the friendships so you don’t complain much about it. I feel bad for you. You have practice every morning at 6:30 am and have to be on the bus on Saturdays around 5:30 am. It’s harsh but you get up and get it done. That’s my Will. You got your license this year. You don’t have a car yet. I think Dad wants you to practice on our cars first. I would like you to wreck mine so I can get a new one but you never seem to want to drive the minivan when given a chance. I guess if you are going to break one, it will likely be Dad’s😊 . We are working on a car for you though. Strangely, you don’t seem to mind not having one. None of your friends have their license and school is too close to drive, so you just walk when you need to get somewhere. I am sure when you get a car of your own, you will find places to go. For now though, I’m ok with you just hanging out here. School is not at all your favorite. You don’t enjoy the pressures and are not driven by grades. A “B” is the same in your book as an “A”. I think a “C” is the same for you too. Sadly, your parents are wired differently so we prefer A’s but we have come to just appreciate you instead. Will, you are awesome but you are a bit challenging. You aren’t challenging in a normal teen way though. You are challenging because you are so different in the way you think about things compared to Dad and I. We are totally type A and you are more of a type B. We are driven by results, and you are not. We are stressed out, and you are not. So, you are definitely not a bad challenge. You just keep us on our toes and require us to try and think in a different way. You are a wonderful kid and I’m super proud of the man you are becoming. Your laidback attitude makes you easy to get along with. You rarely have conflicts with your brothers. They think you’re pretty incredible. You are kind and helpful. You are sweet to your momma, and I appreciate that. With four boys, many days I just need an ally. Thanks for being my ally. I love you Will. Happy 16th Birthday!

Happy 13th Birthday Sam!

Wow Sam, you're a teenager! I cannot believe that we are here. It feels like time creeps by until you look around and see that one of your kids is already 13! Ugh!!! This past year you began 6th grade, middle school. Of course that was a bit of a stressful adjustment for you. It is for most kids but you especially. You had a locker to be able to work, eight classes to find and keep organized with, and then the whole puberty thing. It was alot for a year:). The first couple of weeks were rough but you got to know the school counselor and realized that God put special people in every place to see you through this new journey. Your teachers weren't all favorites but you loved Coach Swanson for ILA. You were not a fan of your gym teacher. Your dad started calling him Coach Up-downs because you were stuck doing Up-downs on a regular basis in class. Apparently your friend Jason was a bit of a rebel rouser in class which got the whole class in trouble. He was not your friend for long.:( Karl is still your best friend. You played soccer with him on The Fighting Irish and had a few classes together at school this year. Although you didn't get to see him as much as you did when you were in elementary together, you still made lots of memories. You have lots of close friends so your social circle is wide. Tyler, Baby Tiger, moved away this summer so you miss him and the fun he brought to our house. We miss him too! You played your last season of soccer in the Spring. You were fast and furious. I am not sure you were a lover of the game but you gave it your heart and were ready to move on. This year you plan to use your fast beetles to run track in 7th grade. Thankfully, Coach Up-downs moved to another school and so did Jason so hopefully PE and track will both be pleasant experiences. You are a pleaser and rule follower. You don't like getting reprimanded. You work hard to do as your told and hate getting in trouble. The idea of it gives you anxiety. Anxiety is something you struggle with from time to time. It doesn't hold you back but causes you some discomfort now and again. Dad and I are working hard to help walk you through it but you are managing it pretty well on your own. Sam, you are a homebody. You would generally rather stay home than go out. You love playing with your brothers so you are content to just hang here. At times you squabble with Isaac and sometimes Mac. Lately I've noticed that you are a wonderful sounding board for Will. You allow him to vent and take his side as a great brother should. I love your heart and your fight. You want fairness and a black and white world. I do too buddy which is why I appreciate those qualities in you;0 You're finding that this isn't always the case, bummer, but you're growing up and adjusting. You're a kind, thoughtful friend. You can still cry big crocodile tears that break my heart but you also have an amazing laugh that fills me up. I love you Sam. Happy Birthday!

Happy Belated 7th Birthday Mac!

Happy Birthday Mac or Happy Belated Birthday Mac! Of course, this is late but filled with no less love;) Year six was exciting for you. Then again, you are an excited kid so probably every year is exciting, year six included. You kept busy for sure! You spent your free time playing soccer and basketball and you were quite the baller. The basketball team parents continually asked how much basketball you had played before this season. Your dad and I played it cool when we told them that it was your first time playing and that you have three older brothers so that makes you competitive. We wanted to brag about your natural abilities but we didn't because we're nice like that.:) The soccer parents were the same calling you the soccer star! You are a natural athlete and you hustle so you take care of things on the field or on the court. You are fun to watch! You started Kindergarten this year. You were very excited and loved making all kinds of new friends. Jihoo, Grant, and Affan were some of your best friends. Ms. Carlton was your teacher, and you loved her. She was a born Kindergarten teacher with a tiny voice and silly personality. You really enjoyed kindergarten except for the fact that you had to go everyday;0 That was an eye-opener and hard adjustment. Thankfully, you managed to make it just about every day and your classmates were happy about that. Apparently, you were quite the entertainer. Your teacher gave you the end of the year laugh award because you could always make the whole class laugh. She said that even if you came in and just said, "Hello", you had the kids in stitches. That does not surprise me. You are hilarious at home too. You have such a joy for life. You laugh big and smile even bigger. Of course, you get angry and frustrated at times, mostly at Isaac, and that anger or frustration is big too! You just emotion big;0 You are game for anything, anytime. You just seep joy and others want to be around that. You have a blast with your brothers and they are your true best friends. You call them "your boys" sometimes, and that makes me smile. They look out for you and you look out for them. You work hard to not get left behind by them but honestly, I don't think they wanna leave you behind. You're Macadoodle. Mac, you are the youngest of four boys. Some people would get lost in so many shadows but not you. You make your own spotlight. You are my snuggle buggle. You are witty, creative, and full of life. I love being your mom and experiencing life with you. You make me smile everyday. You are a precious gift and I cannot wait to see what this next year brings. I love you Macadoodle! PS - This is the year you created the "Aye Chihuahua song" and would have lived at Chik-fil-a if they would have let you;)