12

This kid. My sweet, kind, gentle giant. The first to call me Mama. Who gives the best hugs and still holds my hand in public. He's 12 years old today (insert crying emoji here).

He wanted to keep it low-key this year, so we had just a few family members over on Saturday evening to celebrate with Carnitas and ice cream cake from Dairy Queen (thanks again, Theresa!).

On Sunday, his actual birthday, he was the "lighting expert" for the children's Christmas pageant at church. Afterward, he got pizza for lunch at his favorite local place followed by a much-anticipated viewing of The Last Jedi. This kid gets a Star Wars movie released on or near his birthday just about every year now (the blessing of having a birthday one week before Christmas, I suppose).

The final special event was a day with his two best friends, devoted entirely to Nerf wars and video games. Every 12 year old boy's dream, I'm pretty sure.

I love this kid so much. He continually surprises me with deep, mature conversations. He has a grasp on the world that is both 12 and 65 years old at the same time. I hope he is forever and ever the same gentle old soul that he was as a baby, and still is today. I pray that life won't take any of it away, but will only make it deeper and more solid. I wish you all could meet him. I don't think I'm biased when I say that he is a rare treasure among boys.

Milestones

I remember the day I outgrew my Grandma.

It really wasn't that hard to do, she was barely 4'11".

But it was what we all aspired to do when we were littles. The very first adult to be shorter than us, and she was such a great sport about it all; standing there with a patient smile on her face as we stood back to back, hoping with all of our might that it was THE YEAR that we were taller.

This kid would have outgrown her by the time he was 9 1/2.

He's been outgrowing adults for a few years now, so it wasn't such a big deal to outgrow his first Grandma. But I'm still re-living my childhood on a regular basis, so I had to get a photo of this day:

At 64 1/2 inches tall and not yet 12 years old, I struggle to conceive of just how tall he might become. I would be pretty comfortable betting on 6'5". He has less than five inches until he's as tall as me and we have to swap arm placement when we hug. I'm getting in as many top-arm hugs as I can in the meantime.

Summer Break: Week One

As far as first weeks of Summer Break go, this one was pretty uneventful. We mostly just caught our breath. Ran errands, did all the usual things, but without the added pressure of school. It rained way too much to get outside and play, but the local pool is covered, so at least that's something...

An official rite of passage (one that I'm not ready for)... this baby of mine was officially moved up to the church Youth Group. So proud of the person he is becoming, but it is happening so, so, so, fast.

When a Kid Turns 10

When a kid turns 10 and there will be microscopes and robots at school on his birthday, he will most likely still want to go, even when there's an option to skip. But when that kid gets home, he will expect there to be a few presents and the requested dinner of carnitas which his Mama spent the day slow-cooking in the oven, and maybe even a cherry pie with candles that look like the number 10.

And there will be games.

And then, a few days later, he will squeeze as many of his favorite people as possible into a laser tag arena for an hour of fun.

And if a few of them can convene for some ice cream cake from Dairy Queen decorated by possibly the most talented fast food cake decorator in the nation, then so be it (seriously, if you're in the area, contact Theresa at the Troutdale Road DQ- she's amazing!).

And if there just so happens to be an epic movie that just came out in theatres, then by all means, he'll add it to the already full and happy day so he can watch it and be amazed and also watch his Mama cry like a baby over fictional characters.

When a kid turns 10 and his celebration is life-changingly amazing, then presedence is surely set, and who knows what on earth could possibly follow it up the next year.

Ten

He went from 5 pounds 4 ounces to five feet tall in no time at all. Really.

People always talk about how time flies, but I think until one is a parent or has a special kiddo in their life, that phrase really doesn't become so glaringly obvious.

I feel like I just started this whole parenting journey two, maybe three years ago. And yet it has now officially been a decade (if you don't count the pregnancy, which really should count for at least two years, since it feels that way).

This kid of mine is truly a treasure. He grows and matures (10 going on 40, I swear), but somehow is still that same sweet, kind, caring boy that used to be no higher than my knees. I see him interacting with his world in such a gentle way, opening doors for anyone coming, but especially seems to have a soft spot for silver-haired ladies. I even caught him the other day helping someone's Grandma open her car door, her on the inside, he on the outside; she did look a little startled at first, but then looked at me and smiled. He is equally sweet and (mostly) careful with his little sister. They are truly each others' best friend which really makes this whole homeschooling thing a heck of a lot easier to manage.

He is 5.5 books into the 7 book Harry Potter series, which I waited to read until he was old enough. We get to geek out and have inside jokes together now which does my nerdy-girl heart a lot of good.

He spends most of his spare time either playing or imagining Minecraft and Little Big Planet worlds, or shooting things with his Nerf guns. He wants to be some kind of builder/designer/architect/engineer when he grows up. He loves sleeping under heavy piles of blankets even in the middle of the Summer. He chose to go to school on his birthday because there would be microscopes and robots. He thinks it's amazing that the new Star Wars movie is opening on midnight after his birthday, but is happy to wait to see it until the crowds thin out. He loves to cuddle and give giant squeezy hugs and will still sometimes hold my hand in public.

I can't imagine my world without this wonderful boy.

Happy Birthday Buddy, you make me proud to be Mama.

Lately

Sun Blaze :: New-Old Sampler :: Forage :: New-Old Pillows (made from antique kilim rugs) :: Cousins, all in a Row :: Summer Rain :: Seed :: First Fan Club :: Did I Break Child Labor Laws? :: After the Braid

Third Grade Field Trip to the Zoo

The weather was grey and gloomy, but we Oregonians are very adept at rolling with it. Knowing it would be mostly rainy, we made a special stop the day before for umbrellas. It would seem that we don't own any. We usually just put up the hoods and deal with the drizzle. But being out in it all day long felt like reason enough for a little extra layer of protection.

We also bought sunglasses. Because the sun is about to make her brief annual appearance for a month or two and our eyes just aren't accustomed to that much light.

There were so many parent chaperones that I got to drive a car full of adults who couldn't fit (didn't want to fit) on the school buses for the hour's drive to The Oregon Zoo. Which means we got to stop and get a large dose of liquid patience for the day. The large amount of chaperones also meant that I only had to look out for three kiddos, all boys, including my favorite, of course.

It may possibly have been my favorite trip to the zoo ever, wet socks included.

21 Reasons to Follow Me on Instagram

Reason 1: I've been so busy in my daily life that this blog is getting neglected. I have no plans to let blogging go, but if you want a little more steady stream of peeks into my life, then you'll find my Instagram feed to be much more consistent. Photos are all taken by my phone (MotoX), so don't expect the same clarity you see from my Canon. You can find me here.

Reasons 2-21 (all taken from my Instagram feed over the past month):

Old House (Lasting as Eternity) :: Coffee Date :: Just Dandy :: Future Heartbreaker :: Old Flowers (from my collection) :: Shining Through :: Gluten-Free Vegan Banana Bread that Doesn't Suck :: On and On :: Tattered (Scottish Band Sampler) :: Onward and Upward :: Sunroof Weather :: Microcosm :: I would like to Hide Under There :: Sweet from the Sweet :: Coming Soon :: Supper's Ready :: Old Heart (Sarah's Companion) :: Make a Wish :: In the Greenhouse :: Old Pincushions (from my collection)