Mr. X is 8!!

Today my oldest turned 8. Sometimes it seems like so long ago, and sometimes it seems like just yesterday. I have grown up a lot in 8 years, you have to when you're a mom. I love him even though sometimes he is grumpy and difficult. Mr. X is a quirky kid, but that's OK because it is who he is. He is my techie and one day is going to have amazing skills. He already has decided that his favorite OS is Linux-Mint. He wants a computer with Linux-Mint. Unfortunately, our printer doesn't work with Linux so there will be no letter writing on Linux-Mint or Ubuntu for that matter. You see, my house has been overrun by my techie husband and son. WB is going to school for Computer Networking and Security and is learning all sorts of crazy things. We now have 2 operating systems on our laptop and when you boot the computer, you need to select which one you want to use. We also have at least one other OS hanging out on CD that we can use to boot the computer. Mr. X knows how to do that. It's crazy, but it's the world I live in. Anyways, I digress. So today he turned 8 and we did just a little something this afternoon. We are hoping to have a party for him Saturday with his friends but we will see how that turns out with it being summer and all.

His small pile of gifts. Doc picked out the wrapping paper.

Reading his card from his brothers...

It had a rocket on the cover. Again, Doc picked it out. :)

We got him an Adventure Bible. He has been asking for that for weeks.

Oma & Opa got him a few writing/school supplies and some clothes.

He really seemed to like the notebook Oma & Opa gave him. If you notice in the picture above, he is hugging the notebook under his arm as he looks at what else is in the bag.

Trying out his new jean jacket from Oma & Opa.

Doc got him a hero factory robot and some Ben 10 figurines. Doc was SOOO excited to pick out a gift for Mr. X and then to give it to him. Very sweet. <3

Mr. X blowing out his 8 candles. We just got a small ice cream cake with nothing on it for today since it was just the 5 of us. We will do something different for his party.

Mr. X seemed to enjoy his gifts. He got a few other things like clothes, a Magic Treehouse book, a gift card, etc. I know my mom is going to be sending him something as well. I can't believe that he is going into 3rd grade! Time flies!


These next couple pictures were of the beautiful rainbow out our back door yesterday.

It was a faint double rainbow.

 

At one point you could see the whole arch. It was neat.

And I'll leave you with this, my facebook post today:

Happy Birthday to (Mr. X). You are sweet, kind, and helpful. You are my King Obvious. I can count on you to make me laugh with your goofy, random statements. You are my oldest and are my reason for being where I am today. I love you to the moon and back. Today I have been a mom to a special boy for 8 years.

Filling Our Days

I feel like for the last little while we have been super busy with any number of things and yet nothing all at once. There isn't anything specific but the days seem to go by so quickly. Summer vacation for the kiddos is up in the next month. We have Mr. X's birthday coming up, a brief visit to MI (maybe), and then it's time to get ready for school to start. I really wanted to go to Hillsong United but of course that is during our planned MI visit. Other than that, there isn't anything specific. I would love to try to get the kids to a pool. That way we can swim and we don't have to worry about the heat so much. Anything else done outdoors needs to be done in the early morning or later evening. We try to fill our days with activities inside but it's a work in progress and indoors doesn't give them the room to run as much.

Mr. X has been reading to Doc and GQ out of their Story Bible quite a bit lately. He also sends my mom verses back and forth through text messages. Very sweet.

Bubbles are always a favorite!

GQ was excited about bubbles!

It was up to Doc to do the bubble blowing and keeping the container.

Unfortunately, bubbles came to an end when GQ dumped them over on the carpet. We were able to save a majority of the bottle but it was time for the bubbles to be put up.

I would love to take the kiddos to the beach but we just haven't made it out there yet. We may have to find a way to pack up and go at least one day before summer is over. Thankfully, beach season lasts a little longer hear.

We are now in the midst of hurricane season so we are keeping an eye out for storms that may be brewing. Thankfully nothing yet but I'm told that the season really doesn't pick up until Sept/Oct. We haven't been through hurricanes before so we aren't entirely sure what to expect but we think we have a plan.

Hearts

I am drawn to heart babies and sick babies but really heart babies. I don't know why but I feel such a pull toward them. I just have a soft spot for them. Anyways, there is a Whole Hearts Foundation that has been made to support families with children suffering from congenital heart defects. This foundation is up for a grant from Pepsi but it needs your votes. I copied this from Bowen's Heart:

YOU CAN VOTE EVERY DAY this month, and here’s how!

1. Go to www.refresheverything.com/wholehearts and click “Vote for this idea” once a day. You can also get there by clicking on the banner in the sidebar of Bowensheart.com.

2. Text 107706 to 73774 once a day. (standards rates apply, but there is no extra charge)

3. Look for “Power Votes” on Pepsi products and go back to our voting page to cash them in.

4. Utilize the social networking tools/buttons at the voting page which can help you tweet about it, post the info on your Facebook page and even embed our voting widget on your site or page.

5. Spread the word!

SUYL - How We Told the News

To anyone that knows us personally, this is NOT any sort of announcement. That said, I'm linking up to Kelly's Korner for her Show Us Your Life series. This week it's about how you shared baby news.

The first time around we just blurted the news basically. It was unexpected and no thought went into how to share the news.

The next time we were thrilled to share our news and had Mr. X wear a shirt on one of our routine Sunday visits to the folks' houses. The shirt said:

I'm going to be a

JUNE 2007

Big Brother

It was an easy way to tell everyone all at one time and it didn't take long for people to get it once they saw the shirt. It was fun to wait for their reactions. Unfortunately, I have no pictures of this event. At one time, I did have a picture of Mr. X in his shirt but I cannot locate it.

The third time around, we ordered special M&Ms in party colors. Some said "March 2009" and other said "Stork Delivery". We brought a bag to a family dinner for each side and just put the candies out in a bowl on the table. That one took people a little longer because they didn't all read them right away. I think on of WB's brother's ate quite a few before he realized they said something. It was another fun way to tell everyone. We took a picture of the M&Ms and sent those to my brother via picture message since he lived in another state. (Again I can't locate the picture).



Atlantis

I must say that I am bummed that the shuttle program is ending. The final launches of each shuttle have all been on days that I was working. That only added to my disappointment of course. However, WB drove the boys to see the final shuttle launch. I was happy that he took them because it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The boys LOVED it!

They weren't very close.....

But they could feel it....

hear it....

And see it.

Since that day, Doc has wanted to watch the video of the "rocket" every day. He talks about the "rocket" all the time and he plays with his "rocket". He is completely intrigued. Mr. X is interested in looking at NASA pictures and things like that. I thought the boys would find it neat but I didn't expect Doc to be so fascinated by it at such a young age. I have found myself trying to explain things to him related to the planets, the earth and moon, the sun, the stars, where the shuttle is, etc. These are things that are hard for a 4 year old to grasp and yet I still try to find a way to help him understand. He would watch the "rocket" all day if I let him.



Friends and Independence Day

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend. I actually had 3 days off in a row so I was able to enjoy the festivities with my family. On Friday, Doc had a friend come over to play. He was very excited about it being HIS friend.

Doc and his friend D rode bikes for quite awhile.

 Of course, Mr. X and GQ were out too.

And what fun is outside without sidewalk chalk?

The kids really seemed to have fun and played hard. I'm glad Doc is making his own set of friends that he identifies. Life here is so different than in MI...

Independence Day is one of my favorite holidays. I love that we can show our patriotism. I love that we can honor our troops. I love that it is a good time to spend with family. The sermon on Sunday related the patriots to Christians. It was a good sermon and definitely left you thinking. We went to a parade. It was a small one but the kids enjoyed it anyways. Definitely different than the large one we're use to that ends with a clown band every year.

Waiting for the parade to start.

We made GQ sit in the stroller after a time because he kept running in the road while we were waiting. The road was blocked off to traffic but we still don't want to encourage that behavior.

Excited because he could hear the beginning of the parade with the firetrucks and police cars.

Doc waving a flag that was handed to him.

Mr. X got a flag as well. He commented on the breeze making the flag move. Personally, I was thankful for the breeze.

And GQ got a baby flag to wave.

After the parade, we went home and had some lunch. The younger two napped before our cook-out with the neighbors. We just grilled hot dogs and corn and had strawberry shortcake that I made. I was proud of myself with how it turned out. We then went out to the beach for fireworks over the ocean. It was a beautiful night and the kids enjoyed playing on the beach with their glow sticks. I got some really good pictures on my phone but didn't take any with the camera. The fireworks show at the beach was much better than the small one over the river we went to the night before. Definitely will go back to the beach for fireworks again sometime. Not so sure about the parade, but we're in a new town so we need to make some new traditions. :)

There's a First Time for Everything

One place every kid goes to at least once in their lives is Chuck E. Cheese. We haven't ever taken the kids there because we weren't sure how well they would handle it. It's noisy, it's chaotic, and there's a lot of stimulation.....all of which can be problematic for Mr. X individually, but all together just screams problems. My good friend K suggested we take all the kids their so off we went. I was a bit apprehensive but didn't need to be. The kids did GREAT! They had a wonderful time and we will likely go back again. This particular one even had a code system so that each family was stamped with a code individual to that family. When you leave, the kids have to match the adults or you can't leave.

GQ and Doc riding a monster truck with their friend M.

 My sweet guys looking out.

Does Doc look like he's having a blast or what?!

 GQ and Doc both liked this ride. It was a police car with flashing lights.

Mr. X intently playing Hammerhead.

The boys reclining on a virtual ride with their friend Z.

M loves horses. She couldn't get enough of this ride.

We had a great time. It was just K and I and the 5 kids. WB had class. The kids were sufficiently wore out that dinner and bedtime was pretty easy. It definitely made it worth it.