Happy 13th Birthday Isaac!

Yep, this post is late. It's the holidays;). 2019 was the start of middle school. You attended Reynolds Middle School. Some might be nervous about starting MS but not you. Or at least you didn't let on if you were. You were cool as a cucumber, ready to take on this new adventure. You have a few classes with friends like Sam, Owen, and Grayson. The classes you didn't know anyone, you made friends. School was just school, at least for awhile... In March we went skiing in Colorado for Spring Break. You are a good skier but cautious and concerend about the safety of Mac;0. You take your time and do as you were taught. It is really interesting to me how you approach skiing. Most of the time, you don't care much to completely follow the rules. Skiing though, you really do as you should and go at a quick but reasonable pace. And you do not appreciate the speed at which Mac races down the hills. Thankfully we all survived without any broken bones or major accidents. At the end of the trip, Coronavirus took over the world. The slopes closed right after we left. There were lots of questions about this virus. It was scary. Hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, and toilet paper were hard to find. If you were lucky enough to locate some at a store, you were only allowed to purchase one package per family. With so many questions and so much sickness, you finished sixth grade online. You didn't love online school and preferred the social opportunities that school provideed. But you rolled with it and finished the year like a champ. You did miss the variety in the day so many times you would ride with me to the store. You did't usually go into the store because of all the germs but you went to just get out of the house. If you did go into a store, masks were required. That's the new norm. Thankfully, we managed through and got to summer. You continued with soccer for as long as it lasted. The season was cancelled mid-way through but you still love soccer. This was the second year doing "Monday Funday" or "Tuesday Put on Your Shoes Day" or "Wednesday Let's Be Friends Day" or "Friday Friyay!" during the summer. I guess Thursdays never worked for activities because I can't think of what we would have called it.;0 Not much rhymes with Thursday. Regardless, we had our fun times all the other week days. This idea started last summer when I was working 3-4 days a week. I spent the my off days running errands so I knew we needed to have a plan if we were going to enjoy the summer. This summer we went to the movies, the water park, Top Golf, and we even had a poker tournament. I think you won. One day we went to Outback Steakhouse to have steaks to try a new restaurant. Normally we are too cheap for that. One week we made our own movie theater at home and watched Toy Story 3. It was a dine-in theater with menus and wait staff (Mom). It was hard to get out and do stuff this summer because so much was closed but we made the best of it and purposefully spent time together. That was the point after all. We ended summer with the annual whipped cream fight. You're a little big to get in on all the madness but your friends come and you just attack each other. Seventh grade started up normally, an answered prayer. Many schools delayed the start because of Covid but Prosper kept it's original start date and we were all blessed for it. Lots of precautions were put in place but they made it as safe as we could have hoped for. Masks were required. Desks were separated. Water fountains are not in use. It's different but you're in the building learning so that feels like a win! We haven't yet celebrated your birthday but you have hopes of a trampoline part with the guys. I'm working on that. First, I had to finish this blog;0 Isaac, you just outgrew me.:( You are becoming an awesome young man and no matter how hard I try, I cannot slow it down. You are taking on new challenges all the time without fear or reservation. You are a good kid and care about what others think of you but in a good way. You might not show it but you care. You have a hidden, tender heart. Once in awhile, will you please let Mac hug you? I love you Ike! Happy 13th Birthday!!

Happy 19th Birthday Will!!

This post is late. I know. That is how I roll. This was your senior year at Prosper HS. It is a gigantic. You have 811 kids in your graduating class. The school has over 4,000 students. Sam began his Freshman year at Prosper and I am so thankful he had you. You two rode to and from school together, creating many amazing and fun memories from the regularities of life. Your friendship with him is one that I have prayed about. You always have a friend, an ally, someone who really gets you, because you have each other. I pray that all four of you will have that bond with each other that lasts your lifetime. You also still hang out with some of your friends from the xc team but mostly you enjoy just hanging out in your room drawing and creating amazing characters. In March we went skiing in Colorado for Spring Break. You guys are great skiers. This is the second time we have taken you boys skiing. You took to it easily the first trip and the second time around, it was like riding a bike. YOu just got on and pedaled away. I do believe that you went down one run completely backwards but you did it with style so who is to say you didn't intend it to go that way? Even though Mac skis like a streak of light and dad and I are old, we all survived without any broken bones or major accidents. At the end of the trip, news of Covid 19 broke, closing the slopes closed right after we left. Because this was new and coming from China, we had more questions than answers. People were dying and no one knew how to slow it. Hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, and toilet paper were in high demand so people were only allowed to purchase in limited quantities. People had groceries delivered and even wiped it all down before it came into the house. Because of this virus and the rate of transmission, you spent the last 3.5 months of your senior year online. It was ok. The school administrators and teachers made the best of a tough situation. People felt really bad that the seniors were being given this for a final semester. So the community rallied around y'all. Families "adopted" seniors to shower them with gifts and attention. The Babb family took really special care of you. The school lined the road leading up to school with senior photo signs. It was really precious. Graduation was held at the football stadium so that families could socially distance. You were each given masks that matched your cap and gown. You were distanced in chairs covering the football field. The ceremony for 800+ kids was long but wonderful. It was a special time because this was the last year that Prosper would only have one high school. The fireworks rivaled any Fourth of July celebration. I was so proud to be a member of the Prosper community. This was a tough year but they went out of their way to make it amazing. They even had project graduation in the parking lot with giant screens for a drive-in movie. It was so sweet. Our extended family came into town to celebrate your graduation. You decided to attend Abilene Christian University in the Fall to study Digital Entertainment Technology. This was the second summer of our"Monday Funday" or "Tuesday Put on Your Shoes Day" or "Wednesday Let's Be Friends Day" or "Friday Friyay!" adventures. We must have been busy on Thursdays.;0 Regardless, we had our fun times all the other week days. Last summer when I was working 3-4 days a week, I was sad because I would spend my days off running errands. I knew we needed a plan if we were going to enjoy the summer. This summer we went to the movies, the water park, Top Golf, and had a poker tournament. One day we went for steaks at Outback Steakhouse. None of you had ever been before because frankly, we're too cheap. Ha! One day we made our own movie theater at home and watched Toy Story 3. It was a dine-in theater. It was hard to coordinate this summer because of Covid closures, your work schedule (AJ Lawncare), and mine. But we made some really fun memories and purposefully spent time together. That was the point after all. We finished the summer with the annual whipped cream fight. You don't get out there and participate but you are always there to help clean-up. Your Freshman year of college started up. Thankfully, ACU has worked to get you on campus and in the classroom. Many colleges are not. I am so thankful that Abilene is. You are going to have an amazing life experience. We are really gonna have a hole here at the house but we wouldn't hold you back from such an opportunity! Will, you are an awesome young man. You have become so much better than I could have ever hoped or dreamed. The world is just revealing itself to you. I cannot wait to see what all God has planned for you. I love you Will! Happy 19th Birthday!!!

Happy 16th Birthday Sam!

Per my usual, this post is late. I'm usually late but this year I'm blaming it on Covid. This year you started high school at Prosper HS. It is a gigantic school with over 4,000 kids. Thankfully, you had Will to help you navigate. The two of you rode to and from school each day. What special memories you made with the regularities of life. Your friendship is sweet. One that I have prayed for you boys. We tell y'all all the time that you always have a friend, an ally, someone who really gets you, because you have each other. You've made some new friends and are still settling in. It's a very big school, easy to get lost in but you're making the best of it. You are participating in track again. I think you really enjoy track much more than xc. I think track is where you find friendships and it is where your work ethic really shows. No matter how tired or how much it hurts, you push yourself to the brink, beyond expectations. You're becoming very strong and determined. In March we took a Spring Break trip to Colorado to ski. You guys are great skiers. This is your second time skiing. The first time, you managed it but your style was a little odd. I just think you were trying so hard not to fall down. This time, you totally had it. You went fast and furiously, not backing down from the scariest of runs. Thankfully we all survived without any broken bones or major accidents. At the end of the trip, word of the Coronavirus began to circulate. The slopes closed right after we left. There were so many unknowns about this virus from China. Hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, and toilet paper were quite the commodity. If you found it at a store, you were only allowed to purchase one package per family. Because of this virus and the rate of transmission, you finished your ninth grade year online. It was fine for awhile but you struggled a bit with it. Academically you did fine but socially, it was tough for you. I don't know that you are a social butterfly like Mac but you need that face-to-face interaction. You need variety in your day but with a schedule. The teachers did their best with Zoom calls and such but it just wasn't the same. Many times you would ride with me to the store. You rarely went into the store because of all the germs but you went just to get out of the house. If you did go into an establishment, masks were required. That's the new norm. Thankfully, we managed through and got to summer. This was the second summer doing "Monday Funday" or "Tuesday Put on Your Shoes Day" or "Wednesday Let's Be Friends Day" or "Friday Friyay!" I guess we never did anything on Thursdays because I can't think of what we would have called it.;0 Regardless, we had our fun times all the other week days. This idea started last summer when I was working 3-4 days a week. I realized that we needed to have a plan if we were going to enjoy the summer. I didn't want the whole summer to just drift by. I came up with "Tuesday Put on Your Shoes Day". Most of you hated the name but at least it was something you all agreed upon. Some weeks we had to do stuff on a different day, thus the variety of silly names. This summer we went to the movies, the water park, Top Golf, even had a poker tournament. One day we went to Outback Steakhouse to have steaks because none of you had ever been before. We just don't get that fancy with ya;) We also made our own movie theater at home and watched Toy Story 3. It was a dine in theater. It was harder this summer to do stuff because so much was closed but we made the best of it and purposefully spent time together. That was the point after all. We finished the summer with the annual whipped cream fight. You're a little too big to get in on the fun but you help out and keep the kids in line. Tenth grade started up which was a prayer answered. Many schools delayed the start because of Covid but Prosper pressed on and was the better for it. Of course there were lots of precautions put in place but they made it as safe as we could have hoped for. Will is off to college so your partner in crime is gone. Papa takes you and picks you up from school now. It isn't the same but it is a different kind of good and wonderful memories are still being made. You turned 16 and you got your license!!! You do not love dad and I working with you on driving. Apparently we make you nervous. So, Papa lets you drive to and from school. Pawpaw took you out driving a time or two as well. I give you opportunities to drive but again, you don't appreciate my teaching style;0 For your birthday, you had some of your friends from Frisco over to stay the night and hang out. You are still close with Karl. Unfortunately, due to Covid, he was not able to come but you still had fun with Tyler, Collin, and Brooks. You hadn't seen them in a very long time. I think it did your heart good to catch up and laugh with old friends you grew up with. Sam, you are becoming a wonderful young man. You have a tender heart and that makes some days more difficult for you. That being said, once you figure out how to make that one of your greatest assets, your life will be blessed. You don't like when I talk about how you're a high feeler. Right now that just sounds weak to you. But boy, knowing how you feel, feeling it, and being able to express it will be a gift for your future wife and family. You are precious and stronger than you'll ever know. I love you Sam! Happy 16th Birthday!!!

Happy 10th Birthday Mac!

Wow! This post is late. I'm usually late but this one is horribly late. 2020 was a chaotic time so maybe that will be my excuse.:) This past year was full of activity. Then again, you are activity Mac. You have energy that doesn't end and an enthusiasm to be jealous of. You spent your summer playing with friends and swimming in the newly finished pool. If we invited one to come join, we invited them all. That is just the way you party, and I appreciate your desire to not want to leave anyone out. We also spent our summer doing "Monday Funday" or "Tuesday Put on Your Shoes Day" or "Wednesday Let's Be Friends Day" or "Friday Friyay!" You might ask why there was no Thursday. Maybe it is because we were busy on Thursdays with boring stuff or maybe it is because nothing rhymes with Thursday. Regardless, we had our fun times all the other week days. This idea was born out of a time when I was working 3-4 days a week. After about a week or two of this summer schedule, I realized that we needed to have a plan. I didn't want the whole summer to just drift by. To get everyone on board, I came up with "Tuesday Put on Your Shoes Day". I think everyone hated the name but you.:) Some weeks we had to do stuff on a different day, thus the variety of silly names. The idea was to spend at least one day each week purposefully going out and doing something fun together. Sometimes everyone was excited about the idea. Other times, it was only you and me excited. The great news was that no matter what attitude went into the activity, there was always joy on the exit. We went to water parks, bowling, roller skating, and even bingo. The bingo got the most dreaded response but everyone had fun and made a memory. It was a really fun summer. It wasn't necessarily what we did but that we did something and everyone was involved. This was the summer you decided you wanted to plant a garden. You clearly have a green thumb because you grew some really beautiful tomatoes. I'm not sure where you got the idea to plant a garden but it was your idea and off you went making it happen. You did your first sleepaway camp at Camp Wyldewood. I know you had a great time but you were nervous in the beginning. Thankfully all of the boys went so you had some familiar faces around camp. We met up with the cousins and Granny and Papa in Florida for a week this summer. It was a lot of kids in one condo but it was wonderful and filled with joyful laughter. At the end of the summer, we had our annual whipped cream fight in the backyard with all the neighborhood kids. It is a hot mess but too fun to let a lot of mess stop us! Mrs. Bates was your third grade teacher. She was very nice especially given the classroom set up she was assigned. ALL of your friends except Alexander were in your class. Everett, Knox, Cooper, Dawson, and several other boys were all in Mrs. Bates class. I think of the 22 students, the boys held the majority. Bless that woman. Maybe that is why she got a rest come Spring;) In March we took a Spring Break trip to Colorado to ski. YOu guys are all great skiers. You scare me to death because you have no fear and no slow speed. But we all survived without any broken bones or major accidents. As our break was coming to a close, word of a new virus from China were beginning to circulate. There were so many unknowns. Hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, and toilet paper were hard to come by. If you did find it, you were only allowed to purchase one package per family. Masks were hard to find but required to go into any place that might actually be open. Because of this virus and the rate of transmission, you never went back into the classroom after Spring Break of 2019. You instead began online learning. It was fine and everyone made the best of it but it just wasn't the same. You are my social butterfly. So although there are many days you would like to sleep in and not go to school, you love seeing your friends. Zoom calls are nice but definitely not the same. For your birthday, you and Cooper had a sleepover with all your friends. Cooper's birthday is just before or just after so we just doubled up on the fun. The sleepover was at our house with a Peppa Pig theme. WHy you boys enjoy Peppa Pig, I do not know. You swam in the pool, made tie dyed shirts, and laughed a heck of a lot. That's you though Mac. You are almost always filled with laughter. You make others laugh even without meaning to. YOu have joy in your spirit and lots of love in your heart. If there is room for one, there is room for ten. You're a special kid Macadoo. ALthough you are always busy, always thinking, always idea-ing, you make our world more interesting and our family more fun. I love you Macadoodle. Happy 10th Birthday!

Happy 12th Birthday Isaac!

Isaac - Well this was a year of transition but you killed it! You started 5th grade at a new school. You were not happy about moving at all but you found a place and made some great new friends. Although you miss Landon and Antonio, you have found some great new friendships in Sam, Owen, and Grayson to add to your circle. You continued in GT at Light Farms and seem to still enjoy it. I am not sure you enjoy it as much as last year but I think you do enjoy the challenge and just knowing you might be a little smarter than the other kids;0 Your teachers are good and classes are great. You do have a girl in your class who has challenges and every day you have a new story to tell of what she did in class that day. She is a bit of a disruption but I think you find her more interesting than a problem. You are still playing soccer on the Fighting Irish. Your team isn't the best but definitely better than some in the past. Dad is your coach again and you two like to rehash the issues of the game afterwards. You are getting better all the time and finding your footing there. You are becoming more confident and competitive but still don't get too upset with a loss. You just take it all in stride and move on. You are doing well in school. Your brothers find it surprising that you are quite the rule follower when it comes to academics. You kind of like to bend the rules at home when they don't really make the most sense to you;) You enjoy pushing the boys buttons at home but at school, you stick to the rules and stay out of trouble. Isaac, you are still quiet and thoughtful. You save you words for when it matters. You save your hugs for a select few. This drives Mac crazy. He is a hugger and the more you don't want him to hug you, the more he is dying for it. I try to tell you often to open yourself up to him and that one day you will miss our overly affectionate Mac. You assure me that you will not but one day you will. He looks up to you and you do a pretty good job of looking after him. You are a good boy Isaac, ornery, but very good. I love you and Happy 12th Birthday!

Happy 18th Birthday Will!

Will - This was a year of challenges. We decided to move to Celina which meant new schools. This was your junior year of high school and you made the decision to move high schools even though we gave you the option of remaining at Independence. You said that you wanted to be able to spend your senior year going to school once more with Sam. You said that there will be lots of friends but only one Sam;) So, you transferred to Prosper HS, a school of almost 4,000. You also had knee surgery the summer before your junior year. Dad and I encouraged/ made you join the cross country team even though you weren't allowed to run for the entire season. We told you that was how you would make friends. You reminded us that this was a distance running sport and that it is hard to meet people when they are running away from you for miles at a time. But, you stuck with it. Your attitude wasn't super positive but you did it. You worked as a team manager helping out however you could. You found friends out of it just like we said you would:) Your knee surgery was a big deal. We thought you would just get the meniscus repaired but during surgery, the surgeon decided that you didn't have enough stability in your knee without an ACL. So, they repaired both your meniscus and built you an ACL with part of your quad muscle and your patella tendon. The doctors weren't really sure how recovery would work because rarely do they have someone with your situation who is also so active. Many of these kiddos are missing toes or even a foot. The fact that you are perfectly imperfect created a little challenge for them. But, you showed them how awesome you are! You did physical therapy and put the work in. Now you have two whole knees. You started working mowing lawns with some of the cross country kids. Although you have never mowed our own lawn before, you took some allergy meds and took on this new challenge. Ayden is your friend and also your boss. He says you are one of his hardest workers and that doesn't surprise me. You are a good kid and when you commit to someone, you commit. You spend a lot of time drawing in your room. You have made new friends but you still keep your circle small. Conner is still in that circle along with Braden but you don't see him too much. You do get together with Conner from time to time and still enjoy that time. You do hang out the the cross country boys now and again but you mostly enjoy staying at home and drawing. You are developing your craft and enjoy creating characters and storyboards. You have dreams and although I don't totally understand your creativity, I believe in you and will encourage your passion. You went to your first dance this year. You went with a group of girls and your friend Phoenix. He is your friend from cross country. Although you didn't really want to go to the dance, you did and actually enjoyed yourself. As a fellow introvert, I try to regularly remind you to go and do even when you don't feel like it. You rarely regret saying yes but often may regret saying no. Will, I know this year was tough and you challenged yourself more than you wanted to but I am super proud of you. You found a strength inside yourself I am not sure you knew you had. You went outside your comfort zone and found a place for yourself. Although you continue to try and fall back into your comfy spaces, I do try to continue to push you. You are a super sweet guy and many kids need a friend like you. I love you and Happy 18th Birthday Will!

Happy 15th Birthday Sam!

Sam - so you started 8th grade at a new school. Although you weren't super excited about it, you made the best of it. You played it cool and made friends. You found your place in this new place. You did track again this year. Although you personally did well, it was a frustrating time for you. Your track class was the last period of each school day. Unfortunately, not all 8th graders are committed to athletic excellence like you. So, you spent a lot of time frustrated. The coaches were kind of lazy and would punish everyone when specific students were jacking around. This was very frustrating to you as you are the rule follower and HATE getting punished for other people's issues. I am amazed I never got a call from school. I was certain you were gonna throw a punch one day. (Honestly though, I would have had a hard time blaming you.:) You have a new circle of friends now. I have no idea who they are because you kind of like to just relax at home. You text with people from time to time but if you decide to hang out with someone, it is usually good ole' Karl. You two have been friends forever. Although you now go to different schools and rarely talk, you can pick up right where you left off without missing a beat. You continue to workout and seem to be finding your own way about this new school. My little Sam is no longer little and finding muscles we never knew were there. Seventh grade was a rough year for you. I think hormones got the best of you. But, that seems to have leveled off and my old Sam is back. You are pretty chill unless I throw an unexpected activity into the plans. You hate that! But 8th grade has been good to you. You didn't want to move but you have made the best of it. You have found new friends and learned that no matter where you are, you can always find your spot. I am proud of the man you are becoming. You are taking more of a leadership role in our family, helping guide your younger brothers and showing them how and who they want to be. Although your exterior is strong, your heart is still soft. You are sweet Sam and I love you. Happy 15th Birthday Sam!

Happy 9th Birthday Mac!

Mac - I am late on this but not nearly as late as I was with your brothers' birthday posts.;) This year you started a new school. You had so many friends at your old school but it didn't take you long to gather a whole new gang of buddies. You miss your old friends but have found great new ones. Cooper and Dawson are some of the boys you have become closest with. You are my social butterfly so you are always ready to go play. Thankfully, we now live in a neighborhood with lots of kiddos so you can almost always find someone to do something. Our next door neighbor, Morgan is also a new partner in crime. When we moved to Light Farms, you were able to start riding your bike to school everyday. You usually ride with Morgan and Dawson but some days you just ride alone. You just love the freedom of riding your bike to and from school. I think it makes you feel so independent and you are an independent kind of kid. You finished up with soccer and now have moved onto baseball and flag football. I think you loved soccer and were really quite good but your friends are playing baseball so that is where you wanted to be too. Although it was totally new to you, you picked it up quickly and tried hard. You are very competitive so when you didn't make a play or hit, you were pretty hard on yourself. Thankfully you have some great coaches, Knox's and Cooper's dads, so that made for a nice start to a new sport. They were always very encouraging and super impressed with your speed. Your team won the championship so you even got a ring. Ha! You also began playing flag football. Of course, your competitive spirit and your quickness served you well. You played with a bunch of kids you didn't know but you held your own and your team won the championship. It was a good season and you learned a lot, including a love for football. Mac, when we moved to Celina, I knew there was one kid I didn't have to worry about and that was you. You can find a friend anywhere. You live life to do stuff. You are always ready to a be a part of something. You are hilarious and challenging. You hold your own with three older brothers. You are spectacular and fun. You give the best hugs and one of these days Isaac is gonna be sorry he rejected so many of them. Happy 9th Birthday Mac!

Happy 11th Birthday Isaac!

Isaac - Yep, another late birthday post. But, it's me so what do you expect?;0 This year you fished out fourth grade. You were in GT which allowed you to be challenged and think outside the box. You enjoy GT even if you don't always love the extra work. You excel in this class. You just think of things in ways that most kids your age don't. You process ideas and concepts beyond that of your peers. This is a skill that has served you well and that will continue into your future. It kind of irritates your brothers but I think irritating your brothers is something you rather enjoy;) Your circle of friends is quite large. You don't really have a best friend but a lot of really good friends. Some of your closest friends are Landon and Antonio. They live in the neighborhood and come over to play often. When you don't feel like playing, which is rare, they play with Mac. Thankfully, you don't seem to mind which is super nice for him. You are playing soccer on the Fighting Irish team again this year. Dad coaches you and you really enjoy that. Your team isn't very good but you don't seem to mind. You might be annoyed for about 5 seconds but you have a good perspective and know it is just a game. You find the fun in being with your friends and the sport. That is what really matters to you. We give you a hard time around here because you hate cold cheese. I am not sure what it is because you like hot cheese. But cold cheese, it makes you gag. We tried to make homemade pizzas and that just about sent you over the edge. You were a willing participant until it was time for the cheese. You just couldn't take it. The boys got a good laugh out of that. Isaac, you are usually quiet and introspective. You ask questions with purpose and process it all. You march to your own drum and usually have a funny dance to go with it. You often fight with one of your brothers but I think you enjoy to challenge of it all. You are a handful but thankfully, God gave me two:) Happy 11th Birthday Isaac!

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;)

Happy 9th Birthday Isaac!

Isaac – Happy 9th birthday! Where has the time gone? Before I know it you will be in double digits and then I’ll blink and you’ll be off to college:(. You played soccer and basketball on the Sooner teams again this year. Ollie was your coach. His son, Marshall, was a friend of yours and tons of entertainment for Dad and me. You're pretty competitive and can get quite aggressive no matter the sport you are playing. Some days, you aren't feeling it and you don't fake it. On the days you are feeling it, you are one of the best on your team. This past year you finished up second grade with Mrs. Lazar as your teacher. She was super nice which is why you loved her and boy, she thought the world of you too! She regularly praised you for your willingness to help your classmates out, your complex thought processes, and your quiet sweetness. None of her comments surprised your Dad or me. She knows you very well. You are an amazing and unique kid, Isaac. You do your own thing, have your own opinions, and don't care if anyone else joins along. You are my only kid with style preferences. You know what you like and rarely change your mind. As a person who has more trouble making decisions, I admire the decisiveness in you. Isaac, you are not my kid who wears your heart on your sleeve. You don't really like to display expressions of love with kisses and "I love you". So when you snuggle up to me at bedtime, it sort of melts my insides. You are smart, witty, quiet, and unique. I love when you share what is going on in your head. It is always worth hearing about. Although you love to pester your brothers, you are a good kid with a great heart. I love you Isaac, and I am so proud to be your mom. Happy 9th birthday!!

Happy 15th Birthday Will!

Will – Happy 15th birthday! This is the year you get a learners permit! Ugh! When did you and I get so old?:) I am not sure I am ready for all of this. Next thing I know, you’ll be wanting to take a girl out on a date! You started high school this year. You were excited and a little nervous. You middle school was being divided into two different high schools and many of your friends were going to the other school. Luckily, your two closest friends are at Independence with you and you are quickly making lots of new friends. You started running cross country at Roach Middle School and you have continued it into high school. I don’t think, well I know, that you don’t love running cross country but you have been a sport about it. You stayed an hour late after school at Roach, and this year you went to school at 6:00 am every morning. I didn’t mind the after school thing but this before school practicing is tough on your parents. I can only imagine how tough it is on you when you still have a school day ahead of you. But, you were a trooper and plowed through. You ran JV and your team got second place in districts. Yay! You also made a lot of new friends which made your middle school to high school transition so much smoother, even if you don’t see it that way. J This summer you went on your first mission trip with church to Nashville and Birmingham. You were not apprehensive at all and really enjoyed feeding the homeless. You also went to church camp at Camp Wyldewood in Searcy, AR this summer. It was your first time going there. You didn’t know anyone else going but apparently you won many over with your wit and humor. In fact, you performed a stand-up comedy routine at the camp talent show and from what we heard, you brought the house down. I was nervous for you but I should have known that God would take care of you. You are my oldest Will so I worry about every new adventure you go on. You are forging new trails and making paths for your younger brothers. It is a big job and requires real courage but you do it with such calm. That is who you are though. You are calm and cool. You don’t get too riled up about much. Knowing the stubborn and outspoken little boy that you were, I am shocked at how patient and flexible you are now. You have three younger brothers and you are an awesome example for them. You are patient and willing to compromise. Quite often you just let them have their way because you know it means more to them than it does you. And, I think you get annoyed at their whining;) Will, you make me proud just about every day. You are smart and creative. You are sweet and kind-hearted. You make my job a whole lot easier. Thank you! Happy birthday buddy!

Happy 12th Birthday Sam!

Sam – Happy birthday big guy! This past year you graduated from elementary school and got ready for middle school. You loved your time in fifth grade. Mrs. Treadway was your teacher. You really liked her and of course, she loved you! You are smart, witty, funny, and good. You wear your heart on your sleeve and treat people like they do too! You are kind and genuine. You are still best friends with Karl. When you are at school, you are like two peas in a pod. I think if I would let you walk the five blocks to his house, you would be like peas in a pod at home too! Unfortunately, for you, I am just not ready to let you go that far. I would be lost without my Sambo! You are still playing soccer and Dad is still your coach which means that you still play for the Fighting Irish. I don’t know that you love soccer but you take it in stride, give your best, and make me proud. I love to watch you out there. My sweet little Sam being aggressive! You had your appendix removed this year. The nurse called me from school and said that you were complaining of a stomach ache. She said that you didn’t have a fever, hadn’t thrown up but that you just looked like you felt bad. I think you have the magic touch with that nurse. So, I picked you up. After a couple of hours you still didn’t feel well. I didn’t know what to do. I thought that maybe it was the flu so I took you to urgent care for some medicine. Well, to our surprise, it was your appendix. You and I spent the night at the hospital and the next day, you had surgery. You got an IV and it totally creeped you out. You named it Phil I guess to try and make it a little less scary and gross. The surgery went great and you were home that day. You were really creeped out by your scars at first. Now, they are just your reminders of your bravery and that time they actually “removed an organ” from your body. I put that in quotes because you make a point of reminding Will that his surgery wasn’t nearly as bad as yours because he didn’t have an actual “organ removed”! You also got braces this year. You were excited about the idea about 5 months before getting the braces but of course, once it was time to put them on, you were not super jazzed. There was some major complaining and a lot of milkshakes for the first few days but you made it through. You still have quite a while before they come off but your smile is already so much brighter! Sam, you are a delight. You run the spectrum of emotions. At times, that is frustrating for me. Other times it brings me joy. Sometimes it makes me ache for you. You are pure and honest. You feel guilt from the top of your head to the tips of your toes. You are all heart, and I love that. You make me laugh, and you make me proud. I love you Sam! Happy Birthday!

Happy 6th Birthday Mac!

Macadoodle – I know that this is super late post but please know that it is full of loveJ. Mac, you are a joy! Life is one adventure after another for you. Rarely, if ever, are you a kill-joy at our house. If someone has an idea, you are in! You are fun and energetic, creative and adventurous. You are special! This year you graduated preschool and you rocked it! Mrs. Knox was your teacher and you loved her. Of course, she loved you right back! Julien quickly became your best friend, and you repeatedly asked me to plan a playdate. About 2 months later, I finally got my act together and got his mom’s number and address. When you found out that they lived in the neighborhood right next to ours, you were thrilled!! Although you enjoyed preschool, you really wanted to start kindergarten this year. But, your dad and I decided we would have you wait. You would have been the youngest in your class and that wasn’t something we wanted for you. Also, keeping you in preschool meant one more year that I get a little more time with you alone!:) You were bummed about not going to big school because you really wanted to be with Sam and Isaac. But once you found Mrs. Knox and Julien, you were over kindergarten. You so badly want to be big. You want to read like the big boys. You want to compete like the big boys. You want to be a big boy. You do not want to be left behind. But kiddo, you are hard to leave behind. You keep up for sure! If the boys are doing it, you are right behind them trying to do it too. Luckily, you’re pretty cute so they enjoy your company. And you are a pretty quick learner so it isn’t long before you have mastered whatever it is they are doing! You played soccer again this season. You love it and are super competitive. You want to try karate too but I can only handle one sport at a time. Sorry buddy! We will get to it at some point. Macadoodle, you used to love to be my snuggle buggle. You learned it was a quick way to my heart. Now you aren’t so much into the snuggling but you know that is how you can win me over and get what you want;0 You are smart, funny, and awesome. Not too many people could carry a big name like MacArthur but you do! You make me laugh, bring me joy, and cause me to beam with pride. I love being your mom. Happy belated Birthday Mac!