Quit Growing!

ORLANDO
Balsters
McElderry

Dearest Orlando,
Please quit growing. I can hardly stand how big you are. Especially from age 5 to 6. All baby seems gone. I miss you. And yet, you are so perfect in this stage. Okay, not perfect-perfect-but wonderful! --You are a boy . A good boy. A fun boy. You love karate class, you get excited over gum balls, and going to the park. You like super heroes and more and more cars and less and less Thomas the Tank Engine. You are getting your reading and writings and math skills. You are learning right and wrong. You love your brothers. You love your dad. And tonight when I put you to bed, you also said you love me, and I thank you. Thanks for being my first born. For teaching me and having patience with a first time mom. Thanks for playing chess and monopoly, and cooking meals and treats with me. Thanks for sharing your toys with your brothers. Thanks for being a fun person. Thanks for giving me your love.
Mom

Ammon's Pancake Breakfast

Ammon's birthday was celebrated with a pancake breakfast. Three year olds are happy in the morning, and it worked well for a school day. Ammon loves the color blue. And Bat-Man, and the Power Rangers.

He is the sweetest little guy...

This is right before his paper flag caught on fire. Yes, I caught something on fire with 10 little boys in the house! Yes, yes I did.

But, the party was sure fun! We are so glad Ammon had so many friends come and celebrate his big 3 years!!

Orlando's wanna-be birthday.

Orlando participated in all the hoop-la of Ammon's birthday party on Tuesday and has been such a good sport about his very low-key birthday. But, it ended up a little bigger then I thought. Since Josh is working today (the 7th) we had brownies last night with candles. I also took cupcakes to his Kindergarten class and he LOVED the attention!

We decorated left over brownie tonight....also the ward had a primary activity today and they all sang to him. Then some friends and I went to Burger King (sorry to anyone who maybe would have joined us it was very impromptu) and had a "surprise" birthday party for Orlando. OH, and he got to spend 5 dollars at a garage sale. He's been really into games and is even learning the rules to chess (which means I am learning them for the first time). And so no surprise he looked for games at the garage sale. We got Jr. Clue and Jr. Monopoly. Great shape, all the pieces $1.00. Thank you very much! We played for hours today while Ammon napped.

Orlando is SIX!! I can't believe it. I'm putting together a collage of pictures of this kid that I love so, so much.

Next weekend Josh will be off and we are planning on bowling as a family. I may let him bring a friend or two. And, I think he needs a better cake. Those brownies look sad. But his cupcakes (that I did not take pictures of ) rocked!

I love you, Orlando. And I plan on beating you in Monopoly tomorrow!

Halloween Happenings!

We had an absolute blast this year during the week of festivities around Halloween. It is times like these when I absolutely think being a mom is the best, and raising three boys couldn't be topped for anything in the world.

The joy and excitement of hay mazes, pumpkin patches, spooky stories, dressing up, candy, cupcakes, donuts, trick or treating, church party, preschool party, kindergarten party, etc.

We have had a blast. My favorite of all activities this year was our family dinner. Since Columbus trick or treats on Thursday, Saturday was open. I had done some researching on line and found the best ideas. We had a Mummy Meatloaf, Ghost Mashed Potatoes, a Wall-E sandwich, and a vegetable monster, and a few marshmallow monster ghosts. We all had to come to the table in costume and we ate with candles. Could it get any better?

Orlando was the red power ranger, Ammon the blue, Ivan was Bat-Man, I was a last minute robot, and Josh a ghost.

Here are some pictures of all the happenings!

Holiday Sorrow Softened

Well, I was having a bit of a pity-party.

Josh is working during the Halloween Party, and Thanksgiving, and Christmas-so he can be off on New Year's to go to Dallas for his brother's wedding (which me and kids probably won't attend b/c we can't afford to fly and don't have time to drive). And then he'll be off a week in February to attend a conference in Ft. Lauderdale and again we won't be joining him. So all of these holidays were just highlighting the yuckiness of a resident's schedule and had me in a bit of a tizzy.

Until I read this:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113966999

and now I have NOTHING to complain about.

100 and counting!

These are pictures from the wonderful family reunion/birthday party for Grandma Ruby. Grandma Ruby turned 100 on October 3rd. Her husband, Rosco Ivan McElderry, is how we picked up Ivan for our boy. She is Josh's great grandmother and great great grandmother to our children. She is fantastic and up to 97 knew me and could remember which kids went with me. She's having a bit of a struggle at 100, but there were lots of people to get straight. Below we have one family picture of one of her 7 kids' families. (yes we are praying-that is when someone snapped the picture-probably we were finally still!) So, six other families worth of people exist as well. Then, Josh's grandpa, her son giving her a kiss. This should win a photo contest. The sweetness, oh the sweetness. If I'm 100, will one of my boys be there to kiss me? I hope so! I insisted on 100 candles at least on one of the cakes!! The mayor came and presented her with a key to the city, but more touching was photos from her early years -- life is so beautiful and should be treasured.

What a special, rare, cherished time.

p.s. this is my 100th post, fitting isn't it?

With Thankful Heart

I'm happy to report that Ivan's MRI today looked "normal". Normal, by the way, is a beautiful word. I always get nervous when he has these six month pictures done--wondering maybe, just maybe, that ugly tumor is starting up again--just one little cell got away...

So, it is always a great relief to hear that he's okay. We'll do this again in April. And October. Then maybe just in Octobers. I hope. I worry and worry and buy him special treats, and get movies, and wash his blanky, and pray. Oh, and worry (did I mention that?)

In addition to that, I took Orlando to his field trip. I made him a wonderful sack lunch, got him all excited, made sure he was dressed for the pumpkin patch and then took him to school at 8 when he usually goes in the afternoon....only to find out it is next week.

How embarrassing.

I blame it on stress. Somehow I got the MRI and the field trip on the same date in my head....

Sheesh, I thought Lando might make it to 4th or 5th grade before I started embarrassing him, I guess not!

Well, I'm thankful for my boys even if they may struggle with giving thanks for this scatter brained-worry-wart of a mom.