Ethan is SIX !

Yesterday, we celebrated this special guy's SIXTH birthday! 

I saw this on my friend's blog and thought it would be fun to do with Ethan....

1. What do you like to do for fun? I like to play the Wii and my DS. And, I like to play soccer. 
2. What is one word to describe you? Kind. {For the record, Colin said "nice" and Cameron said "playful". True, true.} 
3. What was the nicest thing you did for someone? Ummm...I gave someone a present on their birthday.
4. If you could be any animal, which one would you be and why? A bear, 'cause I'd like to be a bear. Me: Why? Ethan: I just do. 
5. If you could have one special power, what would it be and why? I would turn into a guy like Hulk and be really strong but I'd also have a hammer nobody else could pick up. 
 6. Favorite candy? Those green things we had in Missouri that look like popsicles that had sugar on them {rock candy} 
7. What do you want to be when you grow up? A plane driver. 
8. Favorite color? Red.
9. Favorite things to do in school? Music {YES!} 
10. Favorite song? Blessed be Your Name {Double YES} 
11. Favorite book? The ants go marching. 
12. Favorite sport? Soccer 
13. Favorite Drink? Sprite 
14. Favorite Ice Cream? Green mint with the chocolate chips. 
15. What is your favorite food? Tacos and pizza 
16. Favorite Restaurant? Monicals 
17. What is your favorite thing about Colin? That he helps me sometimes when I can't get stuff and I can't do stuff. 
18. What is your favorite thing about Cameron? That he plays with me. 
19. What is your favorite thing about Lola? That she is cute. {Heehee} 
20. What do you love about mom? You make food for me. {Ah. A way to the man's heart....} 
21. What do you love about dad? That he plays with us at night time, he plays basketball in our bedroom and nerf wars. 
22. What are you looking forward to now that you're 6? I can't wait to do stuff when I'm six that I couldn't do when I was five. {Good thought process} 

We went about 9:30 and took--at Ethan's request--some muffins for his class at school. 

Lola was more than a little excited to see him! These two are the best of friends, but can also

 fight like cats and dogs sometimes...depends on their moods! I much prefer the good days :)

Lola was quite the hit with the boys in the class. Oh, dear.

Ethan was very excited to show me his "special birthday chair on the special birthday carpet". *grin*

A birthday crown from his teacher!

First bite of his favorite muffins....

The class all sang to him and he got his "birthday spankings". All in all, a successful morning!

Later that afternoon, I worked on his cake and some accessories. 

I found online how you could dye rice, so Shane worked on that, while I worked on decorating his cake.

Ethan requested a Bowser cake and I freaked out...but then I remembered Pinterest!

Thank you for the inspiration Pinterest!!

We had a lovely dinner....Ethan requested his favorite. Tacos :)

Right after dinner, Ethan got a phone call from Grandpa Danny! 

Then later, Grandma 'Nette and Grandpa.

After that, we started on the presents. We had a bit of catching up to do because

of some sickness over Christmas and Lola's birthday...so she opened a few first.

She's still on that Hello Kitty kick. *grin*

I have to say....I just think that "present-reaction-pictures are priceless! The looks on their faces....

Ethan

Colin

Ethan again

Cameron

and Ethan some more.

Ethan loves sheets....last year, it was Mario Kart, and this year....

Angry Birds!

The best for last--his favorite, Super Mario for his DS.

Then, the rest of the family got here and we started in on Christmas celebrations!

Livy opening her Violet

Aunt Karen and her birthday snuggly blanket (those were 

a popular gift in our house this year, they are the best!)

Soon, Daddy led Ethan in to the kitchen...it was CAKE time!

The finished product. I couldn't wait for Ethan to see it!

His reaction was awesome. I don't think he could even believe it!

We sang Happy Birthday, and he got all the candles out in one whiff.

His birthday was very special....here's to many, many more years with this precious little man!
We love you Ethan!

Kindergarten Orientation

A few weeks ago, we took yet another child to his Kindergarten orientation.

It feels like we just did that! Oh....wait. :)

Ethan before getting in the car to head over. He was so very excited!

When we got there, our principal called all the new K5'ers up to a rug....

....and read them a story!

It was a cute one and they laughed all the way through it.

Little children have the best laughter.

After several housekeeping items and announcements, they did a drawing 

for book bags that were filled with school supplies.

And little Ethan won!

He walked up and back so quickly that I couldn't even snap a picture fast enough!

He was very, very excited!

(showing off the back--it lit up, and so did his face when he figured that out)

After the meeting, it was off to see his classroom. Big brothers guided the way.

(Ethan stopped to tell Mr. Fretueg thank you for the backpack. Love that kid.)

Headed down the hallway. Even Lola knows the way now.

Excited to check things out. I'm sure it looks very different when you know it's going to be your room next year, and not just your brothers'!

Talking with Mrs. Winkler

Ethan did great--and I know he is going to love Kindergarten, just like Colin and Cameron have!

Now, off to enjoy our Summer before having to say goodbye to yet another one of my children....

Treasures from a nature walk -- some you see and some you can't

I believe everyone goes through it every once in a while.  The past few days, it's been me.

I've been in a bit of a funk.

It's weird. Nothing is 'wrong'. Most things are, well--right, actually. I feel close to the Lord, to my kids and my husband, we have everything we could possibly need, we are healthy...the list could go on.

{his "hugest" leaf--an oak}

I couldn't put my finger on what was up, but Wednesday night in my ladies Bible study, Beth Moore smacked me upside the head with it. (High five if you LOVE that woman too.)

Even if you are not a Christian, stick with me here for a moment.

{seeds from a sweet gum tree--referred to by E as "spiky bombs"}

I am doing the study of Esther, and we were discussing how Esther's circumstances of being an orphan had radically affected her life. Beth had done an internet survey, inviting women of all walks of life to talk about some of their situations, and she was reading one of the ladies' survey questions aloud.

One of them went something like this: I feel like the jobs I am doing every day at home as a wife/mother don't matter--and at the same time, I feel guilty for wishing for significance, recognition, and importance.

{the maple tree seeds--he intends to plant his own tree}

Beth talked about the things that that mother probably did daily: wiped snot, cleaned up toys or throw up or toys or dirty dishes or toys, broke up arguments, fed others numerous meals (oh, and cleaned up after each one, too) and got up sometimes countless times a night to deal with who-knows-what. Things that don't seem at all like they make a difference--let alone are glamorous.

{the entire haul from his bucket}

Until, one day, tragedy strikes; and, out of the blue--that mother is gone.

Boy, are those 'insignificant' things that she did awfully noticeable now, once she is not there to do them on a daily basis.

{beautiful huge acorns}

That hit me so hard, but not in the way you might think. I realized not that I am searching for something more glamorous, or important, or significant, but that I am not seeing the joy and significance already present in my everyday life. I am not seeing what I do as purposeful in anyone's eyes--and I'm missing opportunities because of it.  She was able to phrase things in such a way to bring me around to seeing what the problem was.

I get up. I feed them. I clean up. I eat (maybe). I do chores. I play with them. I clean up again. I feed them again. I read to them. I work while they sleep. I help with homework. I feed them again. I clean up again. I clean them up. I read to them. I tuck them in. I go to sleep.

{ooooh-ing and aaaaahhh-ing over the spiky bombs}

Then, I do it all over again the next day. And the next. And the next.

Can you relate?

But here's the deeper reality:  I've cared for every single need they have ever had since the day they were born.

And, to find true joy, I need to choose to stop looking at these things as chores--and start viewing the mundane as the biggest things anyone will ever do for them in this life. Ever.

Being everything to them for now, while pointing them to the True Everything who will take their lives and do with it only what a loving, all-knowing, all-gracious God can.

{"I love these ones, Mommy....}

Seeing the little things as opportunities.

Like when your child says "I want to give some of my acorns back to the squirrels, Mommy....so they won't be hungry."


An opportunity to discuss loving others; giving; unselfishness; putting others before yourself; kindness.

Or when he asks you before putting each leaf into his bucket "Do you think this is a good one Mommy?" You say "Yes" over and over and watch him put the leaves in the bucket; then decide to test him on one by saying, "No...." and you watch as he puts it back on the ground.

An opportunity to realize just how much your opinion of things really means to him.

We had a wonderful walk together and made wonderful memories. 

I will treasure our day yesterday forever.

And now, I'm off to go find something amazing in my day. It'll be there. Guaranteed.