Birthday boy

He just won't stop growing. He's getting so big, and he's 7! Wow. He really wanted a red robe, and loved it. The things that bring happiness to kids:)

We celebrated Birthday Week, just doing simple fun things each day. A dinner trip to Big Als, where he played some games and won a lot of tickets from prizes. He picked out a junky but fun cereal that was gone in two days. No chores on his birthday, and he woke up to balloons all over the floor of his room. He had a great week! 

Things I want to remember:

Ethan loves to tuck in his shirt each day. He'll sometimes wear a belt with his pants, and tuck that shirt in. It's so cute.

He loves wearing his watch and learning to tell the time. He wears it every day. 

He still loves to be loud and boisterous, running all over the place. 

He loves riding his bike.

He still sleeps with about 15 stuffed animals, and arranges them neatly in a row each night. So dang cute! 

He still lets me grab him at random times and pull him onto my lap to hug him. I love that.

He's just one stinking, great kid! 

Tonight, I helped the boys into bed, and read to them from "The Mouse and the Motercycle" book. Kevin quietly zonked out. Ethan was awake when I was done, and I could tuck him in and give him more love. I checked on them later, like I always do. I love taking a moment to just adore them when they are sleeping. Just to remember that everything will be ok. They are precious, and they love to be kids and be crazy sometimes. 

I love this thought.

"You will never be this loved again. So on those days when you are feeling stressed out, touched out and depleted, just remember that you will never be this loved again. One day you will long for their affection. So choose a soft voice, choose gentle hands, choose love." AK from Power of Moms

I love the last line, 'choose a soft voice, gentle hands, choose love'. As a mom of young kids, I sure need this reminder often. Thoughts like these help me believe in myself and try again to learn this mothering stuff. Love these guys. Glad they are still little. It's going by too fast, but love the chapter we are in.