At this rate--it's gonna be a long day . . . .

Me: "Ethan, please don't do handstands on the couch like that."

No movement.

Me: "Ethan, please get down."

No movement.

Me: "Eee-thaaaan...."

No movement.

I come over and put him upright on the couch, look him in the eye, and say:

"Ethan, why are you not obeying Mommy?"

Ethan: "I've decided not to put my listening ears on today."

A lesson in love

I think, when you are older, things like Valentine's Day can lose their charm.

Now, please don't get me wrong.  I love Valentine's.  I love to decorate the house, I love to celebrate Shane and our marriage and our family--but on the other hand I have a tendency to hate Hallmark for blowing this 'lover's day' out of proportion.

My Valentine's trees

Forgive me--but I do not think the family cat needs to be the recipient of a Valentine's card. (Ever see the "From the Cat/From the Dog" section at the card store? My goodness.) Neither does your dentist, your UPS man*, or your hairstylist**.

*Unless your UPS man is your husband
**Unless your hairstylist is your wife

I think it is the feeling of obligation that I struggle with. No longer is Valentine's seen as a day to express your genuine love for someone in a unique, personal way--it's now become just another excuse to do the usual: think card, chocolates, candy for us; cologne (or in my case, gift cards!) for the men.

And, I learned this week that, even though I didn't even realize it--I myself have been facilitating this all along.

Colin came home Wednesday saying that he needed to do Valentines for his class. My response was to ask him which ones he wanted to get.

"Huh?" Colin replied.

"Which ones do you want to get for everyone, Col? I can pick them up the next time I am at the store. Do you want Toy Story, Spiderman, CARS....what?"

I figured he would balk, and say that he 'wanted to pick them out himself'.

Instead, I got a totally different response.

"I want to make them for everyone, Mom."

"You want to make them? Col, you have 17 other kids in your class...that will be a lot of work, honey. Why don't you just let me buy some, you know--out of the box--for you to just sign your name to?"

But Colin was insistent.  I know him well enough to know that he was determined. (And, shame on me for trying to stifle his creativity....)

So, over the next few days, he worked.  I watched him as he cut, colored, 

and painstakingly wrote names of his class members on each 'card'.  

But it wasn't until last night, when I was checking them all over, when I realized what my little guy had really done.  He didn't just cut and color some copy paper.

In his own unique way, he had shown love to each one of his class mates.

On each Valentine was something special--designed only for the recipient.

Take this one.  Madisen loves rainbows, Colin said.  

"So, I colored hers with rainbow colors!"

Tyler likes spiders.

"They're his favorite thing, Mom."

Olivia? A soccer player.

"Gavin loves brown, Mom. He colors with it every single time in art class."

Mercee loves hearts.

His best friend Colden? A fellow Bears lover, of course!

And Ethan? Well, Ethan likes Sonic the Hedgehog, apparently.  

Colin informed me that he didn't really know how to draw Sonic, "But I did my best!"

And, of course--we can't leave out the teacher. *grin*

And so, yet again, the teacher (me) has been inspired by the student (him).

Think outside of the box.
Be original.
Be unique.
Make an effort.
Show love in your way, and mean it with every ounce of your heart.

And have a wonderful, Happy Valentine's day with all those you love!

The hint

Cameron, to me, a little past our normal lunch time:

"Mom, do you know what today is?"

Me, oblivious: "What's today, buddy?"

Cameron: "Today is a good day to eat some food."

So much more is "caught" than "taught"

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you hang my
first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately
wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed a
stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind
to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make my
favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little
things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a
prayer, and I knew that there is a God I could always
talk to, and I learned to trust in Him.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make a
meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I
learned that we all have to help take care of each
other.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of
your time and money to help people who had nothing,
and I learned that those who have something should
give to those who don't.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you take care
of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have
to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw how you
handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't
feel good, and I learned that I would have to be
responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw tears come
from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things
hurt, but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw that you
cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be.


When you thought I wasn't looking I learned most of
life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and
productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked at you and
wanted to say,

"Thanks for all the things I saw when
you thought I wasn't looking."

(I read this today and it touched my heart....as a Mommy, I think sometimes we think that the 'small' things we do don't matter....but they do!  Happy Wednesday, everyone!)

Bowling cake and presents!

The morning of Ethan's birthday, Daddy stopped and got a doughnut for the big boy.

 I cringed; but being the good sport I am (ahem) I put some birthday candles on it and we sang 

yet another rendition of "Happy Birthday" to our now official four-year-old!

I would like to publicly state that this is not my idea of a well-balanced, healthy breakfast.

But my carb/sweet lover really enjoyed it.

I mean tremendously.

See?

Later that morning, Shane got to work on Ethan's cake.  Can anyone guess, based on the pre-birthday activity, what kind of cake E wanted for his big day?

If you guessed a bowling cake....you are correct!

Now, I am the cook/baker in our family, but Shane has a real knack for the technical stuff.  I had the idea of what I wanted for the cake--which was a near perfect match of Shane's idea--but I had no idea how in the world I would be able to pull something like that off.

So, big Daddy pulled out his tools and got to work, drawing a template of a bowling pin.

He compass-ed, ruler-ed, measured and technical-ized that thing to death.

{I would like to publicly state for the record that this is not my area.

I would have never been able to do this!}

Just call him 'Cake Boss', folks.

He found various circular pieces in my kitchen to find the right sizes, 

according to his dimensions, to cut out for the layers.

Then, he leveled....

...and dry fit the bottom of the pin.

I would also like to publicly state that this was all under my close direction and supervision, of course. 

*snicker*

Then, it was time to fit the pieces together for real!

  We frosted in between each layer, and Shane shaved the layers to form the pin.

Then, he began to form the top.

He threaded a straw down the middle of the cake (for stability) and then we started to frost!

After the bottom of the pin was done, it was onto the ball.

A chocolate ball, of course.

Time to add the top of the pin!

While Shane and I were adding the finishing touches to the cake,

Ethan was opening some presents from Grandma MJ, Mommy, and Daddy.

He had lots of help!

Everyone always says how much Ethan and Lola look alike...I really see it in this picture!

Grandma Jane got the older two boys a little something too--a couple of new superheroes!

There were so excited.

Ethan got a new set of Mario Kart sheets. Per his request, they were washed and on his bed the next day!

And, since it was my birthday, too--I got to open a few things!

Lola was a good helper :) and I opened a new pink and black Addidas running pant set--something I've been asking for for a while, now! Yay! (Come on, warmer weather, so I can wear it!)

It was a great night.

Ethan's bowling cake turned out to be a real success, thanks to Shane.

E told us he wanted to gobble up the whole thing!

 {I'm certain he couldn't have done it....but he would have tried really hard!}

Birthday Bowling and "Messican"

When we asked Ethan what he wanted to do for his birthday, he said: "Bowling practice!" (i.e.: Bowling with a real ball--not on the Wii).

When we asked him where he wanted to go for his birthday dinner, he said: "Messican!" (i.e.: Mexican).  Before we discovered about Ethan's speech and hearing issues, the child practically lived on refried beans and Mexican rice. It was all he ever wanted to eat! Before he was even two years old and WAY before he could talk well, we would pass our favorite Mexican restaurant and he would yell, "Riiiiiiiice and beeeeeeeeees!"

{He is, if I have never said this before, the cutest kid. Ever.}

So, Saturday night before his Monday birthday, we loaded up the crew and headed out to the bowling alley!

Daddy helped the boys pick out their very own ball

{while Mommy hoped that no balls would be dropped on little feet}

Colin proudly displaying his choice

Lola was content to sit and watch

{in one of her new bows!}

Ethan went first. 

That kid could barely carry the ball, let alone throw it down the length of the alley! 

But, somehow, he managed to do it 20 different times, mostly by himself.

{Observation #1: Ethan is the only child in the history of the world 

who can get zero pins while bumper bowling. *grin*}

{Observation #2: There is a good chance I could leave my lane, go to the bathroom, come back, and 

Ethan's ball still would not have rolled the entire length of the lane.}

The boys were seriously so cute. They really, really enjoyed themselves! 

This was their first time ever bowling.

Cameron had this side stance thing going on....

....but it was fairly successful! He ended up with a 67. Pretty good for a first timer.

Ethan and Daddy

This kid was crazy!

He bowled a 72, beating Cameron (and he continued to let him know about it, too....)

He even helped Mommy bowl a few times. *grin*

Observation #3: Mommies need bumpers sometimes, too.

Lola was so good...not a grouchy peep out of her the whole time!

After bowling, we headed to "Messican". E was starving--he was two-handing that quesadilla!

Everyone enjoyed the food.

{Cameron always especially enjoys the food. *giggle*}

Little Miss Lola got her very first taste of restaurant food....

....testing....testing....

It's GOOD!

{Seriously--those teeth kill me.}

Caught a cute moment between LC and her biggest bro

And, then....it happened.

Ethan spotted the wait staff coming to our table.

He knew exactly what was going on!!

It was birthday singing time!

He just sat and grinned while the waiters sang....

....and then, he dug in to their delicious delivery!

{p.s.  Don't miss the look on Cameron's face....}

E was kind enough to share with his brothers!

All in all, it was a wonderful family day.  We had such a great night, celebrating this very special boy!!

We love you, Ethan Ryan! You are a unique child who has added something special to our home each and every day over the past four years.  Happy birthday, buddy!