Calvin IS The Birthday Boy

Today is Calvin's birthday, and we have celebrated from the moment he woke up until he went to sleep. It has become a birthday tradition that you can do whatever you want (within reason)on your big day.

SOOOO . . . . .

Calvin started his day with french toast cut out in the shape of six sixes. He followed up with deciding on NOT doing his morning chores and play a game on my phone before he had to go to school.

He decided after school that he would like to dine at the ever sophisticated Chuck E. Cheeses and end the night with a game of Super Smash Brothers on the Wii. We had a great time obliging his request. He also wanted to fall asleep in mine and Noah's bed with all of his new gifts piled around him on the bed. I just barely peeked in on him, and he was sacked out cold from all of the partying.

I will post pics of our party as soon as I figure out how to transfer pics from my phone.

A few STATS about the New Six Year Old at our House:

• Calvin still loves most anything that has to do with the Wii, particularly Mario and his brother Luigi
• He will try pretty much any food that we ask him to, though he doesn't always like everything
• He was very generous and let Wyatt help him open his presents
• He is a great big brother and has taken to being Cyrus' new pal. He can lift him out of his bed and does so every morning
• Calvin is a very good student and enjoys reading.
• He loves brownies and doughnuts (but who doesn't?)
• His best friend is still Ian, and his favorite color is green
• He LOVES milk and always wants it to drink at every meal and every snack
• Calvin likes to have his back scratched and sleep in his underwear
• Calvin is a very hard worker and I rarely have to ask and/or remind him to do his chores, which he does very well
• Calvin is Noah's buddy and wants to be a dentist one day

I realize that people get tired of my waxing sentimental on my kid's birthdays, but you don't have to read this blog. So if you hate the mush, just scroll down to the weird shark pics. Anyway, as with every year I found myself looking back to the day he was born and misting up as I remembered the details of his birthday and newborn days. Calvin was a sweet, sweet newborn. Noah and I really lucked out and had such an easy baby to pour our love into. He would snuggle almost all day long in our arms.

As he has grown I have had to tackle the challenge of finding new ways to show him how much I love him. I long for the tiny baby days, but also love the new facets of his growing up. Just watching him walk out of school today I thought, "STOP GETTING OLDER! Stop it! Just stay home with me and be little. Please don't try and make friends and be cool one day. Please don't stop liking my lunches with sandwiches cut with cookie cutters. Please just be as innocent and sweet forever and ever. And please don't end up on that show Intervention. No, just always be our little boy.

I imagined in my mind today what he would look like as an adult, and it was beautiful. He looked tall and handsome. He still had his endearing dimples and easy smile. And I thought, okay, I guess you can still get bigger.

I guess it is good that the growth is so slow that sometimes you don't realize how big they are getting. It gives you time to accept it.

Calvin, we love you so much. Happy Birthday!!!

Cyrus and The Marshmallow Cream

When introducing new table foods into your baby's diet always remember to add a variety of items. You don't want them to miss any of the food groups. Make sure that he is getting plenty of grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy products, and marshmallow cream. A diet rich in marshmallow cream will create a baby that is happy. And healthy. Errrr, at least he will be happy.

Note: Don't even try to wipe them down, just head straight for the shower.

Pictures That Give Me The Heebie Jebbies & Surprisingly Great Songs to Run To

Noah found these creepy pictures of a megaladon (a prehistoric fish, ancestor to the great white shark, thought to be much bigger, thus much creepier). They have been hanging around in our "My Pictures" folder for a few months, and they always give me the heebie jebbies, so I try to scroll past them as quickly as I can. Don't worry. The pics aren't real (duh, prehistoric fish), but they are digitally created. YIKES!! I guess I should just delete them. Now scroll really fast to the next part of my post, past the pictures. Hurry! Before he bites you!! Heh heh, fooled you.

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Alright, you are safe. Now to end on a lighter note: Here are some songs on my ipod that are surprisingly great to run to. The titles are not linked to the songs because my computer is much smarter than I am and has not told me how to do that.

1. 2 Legit 2 Quit by M.C. Hammer - All you have to do is insert the word, "I'm" in before he sings the chorus of 2 Legit 2 Quit, and you will be able to gain the momentum needed to finish a run.

2. America by Neil Diamond - I don't have a reason for this. I guess immigration just really makes me want to exercise.

3. Eureka by The Backyardigans - Yes. I know this is a children's song from a popular cartoon. I realize that it is kinda slow. But for some reason, just trying to figure out why you like it so much just makes the time go by quickly. (*Also try Rad Moves by The Backyardigans)

4. Forever Young by Rod Stewart - I feel just like a teenager when I hear this song. And teenagers run, right?

5. Waking Up in Vegas by Katy Perry - It's just a fun and spunky song.

**There you go. Now you know one of my secrets: I listen to dorky music. Not sorry, though.

The Haps

Inspired by my friend Kelly's family updates, I thought it might be nice to give you the 4-1-1 on everybody in the house.

Calvin

Proud owner of a new smile. He calls it his "Fancy Smile," and as you can tell from the picture it is indeed FANCY! He really likes school and has found a few friends - - - Raphael and Dylan. His teacher is Mrs. Browning, a nice grandmotherly type who always says, "Good morning, Calvin!" in a singsong voice when we see her on our walk to school. He is still loving the Wii and anything that has to do with Super Mario Bros. He has also recently developed a love of corndogs and requests them for Breakfast. What the hey!

Wyatt

He is a little bored since Calvin has been going to school. Now he wants to play Thomas and make Super Heros on the computer. He is still head over paws in love with puppies, particularly Rico. He is also into saying things like, "Hey, can you keep it down over here. I'm trying to play!" Wyatt has also decided that he is afraid of mummies, no matter how often we tell him they aren't real (that's gonna get sticky when he finds out that they are real!) He has become my little shadow since Calvin went to school, and I use that time to work him like a dog! He is great at cleaning windows and making beds.

Cyrus

Dude loves to just walk around the house. He rambles along all day until he finds some object to carry around. Favored objects include: a whisk, a wet washcloth, and an empty bottle. We ONLY buy expensive toys around here. heh, heh, heh. He just yesterday learned to shake his head side to side as if he were saying, "No." His mother takes full advantage of his head shaking and asks him such things as, "Do you want a million dollars and all the toys in the world? Do you want brownies for dinner? Are you adorable? Do you believe that the moon is made of cheese?" He is delightful. Plain and simple.

Noah

He is working hard at an Emergency Clinic until his office opens up in mid-October. He is the man! He comes home and hangs with the Banditos. I won't tell you that they wrestle in their underwear. I will only tell you that he likes to wrestle. He has been working diligently on his man pit. I am relieved! I was hoping that it would make an appearance in this house, and luckily it has. He strives to contribute to the pit daily. Noah and Katie have an agreement in their marriage that he will kill the bugs, and she will clean up the barf. Consequently, he has been busy purging the home of vermin, especially that little nasty. Yes, a Black Widow. Go ahead, shake from the hebbie jebbies. I did.

Katie

She also has attempted a new fancy smile, but recently decided that hers is not as fancy as Calvin's. Maybe she will work on a different smile, perhaps a sophisticated, or an intense, or maybe even a pensive smile. Who knows? The sky is the limit with smiles. She is much the same. Now she has a house to relax in. She wakes up and fixes Calvin's lunch and walks him to school with the other boys in tow. She is waiting on her clearance badge to volunteer in Calvin's class. She recently made up a chore list for herself and is trying to do a little housework everyday. Someday she will post the secret to laundry success as she has found it! She has also found a piece of furniture that she is refinishing, hoping to expose a diamond in the rough. Don't forget that she is always looking for a good book to read and tries to squeeze in some reading here and there. She just finished "The Friday Night Knitting Club," and she thought it was just okay. She hopes to make some friends soon because you know, friends are fun to have.

And now you know . . . . the rest of the story.