Happy Birthday Adam!

A whoppin' four years old. I can hardly believe he's four and yet I am relishing every new adventure he wants to take and thing that he is learning. I just listed Adam's top ten favorites from food to books, but since our blog isn't secure, I decided that probably isn't the wisest thing to post about a 4 year old child... so a few tidbits about him from mom -

Adam has started to read. I have been really surprised how quickly he has picked up on reading. It seems as if one day he woke up being able to sound out letters and make them into words. I don't think it was anything I taught him... just something he kind of "got" on his own.

Adam loves Matthew's companionship. They are the dearest of buds. They drive each other crazy at times, but always want to be together. I guess so they can always have someone to pick on.

Adam loves to pray but please don't ask him to do it in Primary. He hollers to be the one to get to pray at home, but put him in front of people and you might as well pull his arms off.

Adam has a very inquisitive mind. I think at times he got the mind of his Dad and the more mellow childhood personality of his Mom.

Adam HATES talking on the phone to anyone besides he Dad. Please don't ask to talk to Adam and if you do, plan to keep it short and sweet.

Adam is a BOY. He likes it loud and he likes it rough.

Adam loves to sit by his Dad at the piano and sing Primary songs. He swings his legs back and forth and when the chorus to "Follow the Prophet" comes along he belts it long and loud.

Adam is buddy. I think each of us in the family feel like he is our own special buddy. He is always a great companion.

For Adam's birthday we had a couple friends come to help us celebrate. He started out wanting a yellow triangle cake but at the last minute changed his mind and decided he wanted a giraffe cake. I am no artist and it was little unidentifiable, but after a couple star-tippin' hours we made the requested giraffe eating leaves. We sent the kids on a treasure hunt to find Adam's birthday party (in 32 degree weather) and then had cake and ice cream and presents. Adam's favorite present this year was a box of Mike and Ike candy although the grand gift was a bike. Please let spring come soon!

Bird Stand

I occasionally do a preschool time at home with the boys. They really enjoy learning about lots of different things... from rainbows to where blood comes from (This was Adam's latest request). As spring was coming we have been talking about birds, especially robins and their coming with the spring. We made rice krispy treat nests and put blue M&M's in them for eggs and have done all sorts of activities. One of the last things we did was make bird feeders. We smeared peanut butter on sticks and then rolled it in bird food. I attempted to hang each of these from a hanger and figure out how to attach this to my deck when Jonathan realized what futile efforts I was attempting. He took a 15 minutes break from studying from boards and he and his power tools took things into their own hands. This is what was accomplished. So far we have had starlings and house finches come to nibble.

Spring Thaw

Winter here has lasted a really long time. Even today we haven't quite gotten rid of all of the snow. We woke up Easter morning to snow on the ground and it was still flurrying down as we went to church. We are really hoping that before too long spring will really have sprung and we can take long morning walks and get our peas on the ground. The boys have enjoyed the lakes that have developed in the back yard and have been trying to make streams from one neighbors yard to anothers. After their last jont out in the yard it took 3 days for their boots to dry.

Graduation

2008 University Of Iowa CRNA's
Jonathan receiving diploma from directors of Nursing and Anesthesia

Graduation Family shots... the four of us with Aunt Becky, Grandma and Grandpa

A happy family that will soon have a full time job... for the first time in years.
Jonathan delivering appreciation speech for his Anesthesia directors et al.
Jonathan with Dr. and Mrs. Thompson, directors of the CRNA program

This man is my world. He is my exemplar, my motivation, my joy, my peace, my warmth, my smile, my companion. Through 23 years of formal education, he has worked and prepared for this day. His moment in time when a lifelong pursuit of excellence and education paid off in a moment of success and accomplishment. I have never known a man more willing to sacrifice for the goals and dreams of his family than him. Every pursuit in life has been for us. Every sleepless stretch of work, clinicals, school, home, family, church... has been for 3 fans in the background... although he never let us feel like we were the background. Life has always revolved around us, though it was brimming with everything else. Congrats Jonathan. You deserve the world.

Matthew's Birthday Party

We celebrated Matthew's birthday party on Valentine's day after G&G and Aunt Becky got here. Bless his little heart... we waited all day and it ended up being 8:30PM before Dad and Grandpa could make it back from Menards and the celebrating could began. He was so tired. I asked him if he wanted some pizza and he said, "No, it's icky go night night." I asked if he wanted cake and ice cream and he said, "No, go night, night." Do you think the kid was feeling a little tired? We decided to crack out the presents and that lit the fire. He decided the presents thing was his cup of tea. He got more baking supplies... the kid raids mom's drawers and she decided it was time for him to have his own. He got movies, play-doh, books, clothes and all sorts of treasures. He decided this birthday thing is not too bad... only better if it isn't 1 1/2 hours past bed time. Happy birthday little Matthew!