# 7

He had a nice easy going day.  Filled with donuts for breakfast and lunch (because why not?) and burrito bar for dinner... but didn't even have his dessert because he was too busy playing with his new toys... the kid loves his dinosaurs / dragons / slugs... love you marky mark.

1. I love your sweet voice - you hardly ever raise it unless it's really really bad
2. I love your ability to sing and remember lyrics like no one else and really jam out to the music in the car with me
3. I love the way you ALWAYS give your dad a 'marky morning hug'...
4. You have a kind heart.  Even when you don't want to.  You have begun to let Seth be your tag-a-long... teaching him the ways of the dinosaurs / slugs / dragons and how to play
5. You are learning how to be reserved and keep your mouth shut when things are tense or I am upset.  You know to stop and think before you act.  Its so crazy to think at 7 you can do this and I at 38 still have loads of trouble with it.
6. You are so patient with everyone in the family - being in the middle you are easy going enough to let all of us just be the way we are and still give us hugs when you think we might need them.  You are very keen on people's emotions and tone.
7.  I love that you think you're going to get a toy with each food purchase / every time we go into the store.  You have an ease about your life that things are always ok... and never really a hard time.

Mark turns 6!

Another year.  Another year to grow and mature and become more of who you are...  You are growing and changing each day - it's been an interesting year Mark Curtis... Kindergarten, learning to read, maturing your relationships, responsibility.

Six things I love about you:

1. You are becoming more patient with your words and understanding of others.
2. You are so easy going, even for your birthday dinner you didn't mind where we went or what we did - simply to pick out some Pokemon cards and you were over the moon!
3. You are still so willing to try new things... mom's new meals, la croix water...
4. Still our family comedian... 'jake from state farm!?'
5. The love you have for each of your brothers... the interest and eagerness to learn from Noah and the patience and goofiness you bring to play with Seth - you really are a match for them being in the middle.
6. Marky-morning hugs (your dad loves these too...)

We had two parties in one day - 1st was a 'friend party' at Cosmic Jump - loads of trampolines!  You bounced for almost 2 hours straight!  The second party was with family and again you wanted simple spaghetti, cup cakes and some friends to play with...

Such a sweet smile!

Your typical face when everyone was singing to you!

Flame!

Make it a good one!

the.best.picture!

goofballs!

latest and greatest...

I think this blog has turned into a quarterly update.  I look at this thing every single day and read about other people's lives...there going's on...and I think that I really ought to put something down to keep track of what has been going on and then I get busy with work, with home life or just think "oh there's too much to write about".  

What's funny is if you looked at the pictures on my phone you'd see that I am doing a pretty good job at documenting what has been going on.  So maybe I should just post pictures and give little explanations... that might make me feel better about blogging.  

From where I left off last post (Christmas tree was up...) - the weeks were hard.  Curt was working PEAK and traveling which left me to do e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g.  I do mean it literally... referee, butler, chauffeur, chef, maid, banker, lawyer, negotiator, tutor, librarian, mom, cheerleader, coach, all of it.  I don't know how families do it when this is the norm.  This 'norm' about broke me.  I was so glad when Christmas Day came for the mere fact that it meant no more time away from Curt and schedules would go back to normal. But then... Christmas Day did come and it was hard also.  We had to visit both sides of the family that day.  Its just the way it worked out.  It was what was best for every one's schedules.  By the end of the night we were all over stimulated, tired, hungry, annoyed - you name it.  I am hoping/praying we don't have to try and swing both sides again...maybe when the boys are teenagers it would be OK?

My birthday came... Mark very earnestly asked "Mom are you 73?"... glad you know your numbers and know that is the number from what you are looking at, but goodness... do i look 73?  I hope when I'm 73 he is there and can ask me again, "Mom are you 37?".

For my birthday I asked for under cabinet lighting and lighting above the cabinets for ambiance...because that's how we roll at the Wilson house - it's all about 'how you feel'... bah!  It was relatively inexpensive thanks to Amazon/prime.  And because my husband is super handy especially with anything electronic it was merely a couple of weekend adventure.

The boys treated me well that day - I think this was my birthday where Seth was vacuuming.  'gotta start 'em young' - 'you're welcome future daughter-in-law!'.

Also for my birthday my folks got me gift cards & baskets so I could make our pantry look 'pretty'.  I know - 1st world problems, but it makes me feel good to walk into that room and know exactly where something is, how much of it I have and everything grouped together that needs to be.

Also in January we started a new program with the older boys - "Wilson Reading program" which really means "read your minutes through the week and I'll let you play your tablet uninterrupted all weekend!"  They are doing really well with it - some days are harder to encourage the minutes, but for the most part they love seeing on Friday that they've read all they need to and can enjoy the "commission" of tablet play.  As a side note, just so I don't think back and think that it was a complete free for all - we had to adjust the tablet rules to just one day / weekend because no one was listening or paying attention... go figure.  learn as you go though.

My best friend sent me a picture of her youngest.  She cut her own bangs.  Pretty short.  I did this to my sister when I was younger, although I don't think I stopped at the bangs.  I think it was all over chop.  Pretty funny.

One of my cousins is going to play college football for a division 1 program.  I guess he's "walking on", but I really believe in my heart that this kid will get to play and play a lot in the future.  He's got incredible determination.  

In early February we had some sickness going around - typical coughing / slight fever for the older two.  Then poor Seth got it bad...like awful.  Puking from a Monday night to a Friday morning.  He just could not keep anything down.  Finally got him eating again / drinking milk...then the following Tuesday he woke up screaming at the top of his lungs...no consoling, no comfort.  He stayed home all day with Curt, but when I got home we ran to the Dr... good thing we did - poor guy had 2 ear infections.  After 10 days of the good ol' pink stuff we are back and raring to go!

he had just pooped and it literally knocked him out...no energy after pooping...

Funny thing happened at Wal-mart...said no mom ever... it's not usually funny...but stressful, chaotic...but this was pretty funny.  Seth was walking around (instead of in the cart) and was loving every minute of it.  Suddenly he says "Mom!  Mom!  Poo Poo" and then just sits down on the makeup aisle floor.  He was serious.  I felt bad for the teenage girl walking through - trying to buy some new nail polish... free birth control in the make up aisle!  ha ha.

Next - took a day off in late February and went to hit golf balls.  I had never done this before.  Apparently I'm not half bad.  183 yards.  

And finally... I have made a quilt.  Yes - me...with a mother who hates to sew... not sure where I get it...maybe it skipped a generation?  But yes a full King size - quilted quilt.  It's lovely.  I am pretty proud of it.  My mother in law who helped me exponentially with it is pretty proud too...

and for all the mother's out there - saw this...laughed and thought of us all at some point.

1st day of school

We did it!  We had the 1st day of school and everyone was super excited and happy and relieved and ready to go back for a second day!

I was emotional, obviously, my second son was off to school.  It felt "real" like all the other stuff he's been doing has just been pretend or fake.  School seems to make it "real"...everything - going to bed early / sleeping well / getting up in the morning / getting dressed / eating breakfast - there is a purpose now - have to have energy and ability to focus on learning and oh my goodness the volume of that word "learning"... its enormous.

I feel like with Mark it's all new - new process, new format, new rules, new friends, new expectations...  he is a good "new" person - i think he likes new stuff.  new shoes, new lunch box, new path to school...he is non-judgmental so anything different is just that 'different'... he will accept the different and usually embrace it.

With Noah its intensity this year.  He knows the rules, he knows his responsibility, he knows the expectations of going to school.  Everything is just more intense.  And i do not mean intense in a bad connotation.  No more excuses anymore - you've been in school for 2 years now - this is your 3rd year in this format - you should 'just know' how to exist there and with that knowing we are going to expect/demand MORE from you... i think he will do fine, great...he is a people - pleaser like his momma so i do think he will rise to the challenge.

It should be an interesting year.  Noah will have homework - starting on Monday - 2 sheets of language arts and 2 sheets of math - his teacher flat out said "math program is intense - if you need help, please let me know"...i'm wondering to myself - how hard could it be - i "got" the stuff last year - it made sense to me...in fact i thought how would my education have been different had i been taught like this - maybe i would have done ever better...this core curriculum made sense to me... and a lot of folks it does not.

Mark's homework starts in September - the teacher said "its not required"...how is that even a possibility?  How can we expect our kids to know / do better when there is no practice at home...I do believe after having Noah in school and going through "homework in the evenings" that it does make the kids smarter / better equipped to have their parents 'do it with them'... it will be 'required' for Mark in our house.  We will make the time.  We will make the effort.  The expectation is that this is what is required.  And we will see...


First day pictures were amazing - I thought the light looked great and the boys looked awesome in their new clothes/shoes in front of our amazing home.

Marky Mark turning 5!

I can't believe it's been 5 years since he came to join our family.  He was a go getter even from the very beginning - wanting to be out a tad earlier than anyone thought... then a fighter in the nursery getting those little lungs to grow stronger... and strong have they ever gotten!  

Happy 5th birthday to this little firecracker! 

Five things I love about this kid!

1. We love your spirit - you kind of remind me of an old man in some ways... thoughtful and wise, calculated in a careful manner, a heart that is full of love .
2. Your energy, you are more often than not excited about the day and eager to go, go, go
3. Your willingness to try - new foods, new ideas (tying shoes), meeting new friends.
4. I love your silly sense of humor!  Some of the things you tell me, ask me, talk about are more funny than any comedian on stage.
5. Your appreciation of animals.  You are curious and eager to learn about any and all - ALL THE TIME. 

May you always keep us on our toes!

Pony Party... otherwise known as the Wilson's going away party...

some family members are moving to Hawaii... yes, yes  Hawaii!  I am jealous, flat out jealous.  Only for 2 years.  Its going to be great - I think so anyway.

In honor of them leaving the continental 48... my in-laws threw them a going away party, complete with miniature horses to ride for all the kids... they were all pretty happy and excited.  I told my mother in-law she set that bar so stinking high, from now on if there are no ponies involved you're going to have a hard time getting my kids there...

here are some my cuties enjoying the day!

hopscotch

Mark has a new nickname... 'hopscotch'...not sure why/where i came up with it... but he seems to like it...
isn't he cute in his 'hand-me-down' ups sweatshirt... go brown... !

Noah's Fun February

Noah had a great February...  First there was the Pinewood Derby put on by the Cub Scouts in the area.  He had a blast helping Curt put the car together, painting it with family friends and also racing it.  He actually won two trophies that day, 2nd in his Pack and 3rd overall (all packs included).  He thought he was hot stuff for sure.  Mark got to put together a car with the other half of Noah's wood plank.  He also raced that day, but we weren't there to watch...he was more worried about getting the car back so he could play.  ha!

Also Noah had a school program (3 of a Kind) - it was pretty cute - songs and a little story.  I think some of it was wearing on the kids as they had been practicing for some time - some of them looked bored and sick of singing the songs... Both grandparents made it and I think it was nice for them.  Mark had a blast - I swear the boys love to sing...love music...love LIVE music...he was enthralled with the show!

Mark turns 4!

Oh my - another birthday happened.  4 years ago we had our little Mark and he's been our firecracker ever since!  Had a nice family birthday party at a park with a huge jungle gym for the kids to run around and play on... It was a nice breezy morning and not too hot.

Mark is so easy going for the most part - especially with food... he didn't mind that I suggested cinnamon rolls and blueberry muffins for his party... what's not to love about breakfast food!

He had a great time - smiles all day... took a nice long nap afterward.

Tuesday was his actual birthday - we took him to his almost always requested place - T-Rex restaurant... such a funny kid - actually was a little anxious about the giant dinosaurs this time...maybe holding onto little kid stuff one more night?  He got himself a little stuffed animal (of course he did - 1) toy that's an animal - check, 2) toy that is stuffed which = soft, sleeping companion - check!... woolly mammoth... giant tusks...loves the darn thing...

4 Things That I Love About You -->
1. I know I tease you and it drives me crazy, but I do love that you get up every morning ready to start the day with a huge smile...ready to eat... ready to have a good time!
2. I love that you care about your animals...I know this will carry you in the future to be a nurturing individual in your own way.
3. I am surprised that you've started singing since attending your new pre-school... you have the sweetest voice.
4. I love your little funny faces... you are my expressionist and don't mind making a face to get me to laugh!


Oh Marky mark - your funky bunch sure does love you!

starting school and ending school...

End of May began a new journey for my middle son... Marky-mark was going to start pre-school in a formal setting... full of structure, snacks, naps and field trips... I was excited.  He was excited.  This was going to be great for him.  New friends.  New rules.  New ways of doing things.  Greater expectations on behavior.  Higher requirements of energy.  So far it's been a smooth, easy transition... he is definitely more tired in the evenings...but not sure that isn't due in part to growing also... I swear the kid is growing longer by the day, but still looks as though he is never fed seeing as how we can see his spine and ribs... I have basically given up on watching what he eats...if he is hungry then he is hungry...I just let him eat... Some days I don't know how he is still vertical as he maybe ate a total of half a peanut butter and jelly sandwich - the.whole.day! ...other days I do believe if I let him, he would eat an entire loaf of bread and scoop the jelly out with his hands...He is sometimes I am sure running on pure adrenaline!

We talked quite a bit about going to his "new school"...how he would need to have a backpack and a change of clothes with a blanket & sheet to sleep on his cot... he was too excited to get the backpack... the day it came (of which he didn't know) - the doorbell rang during the day and he squealed "my backpack is here!".  He didn't know it was...didn't know the ups-man dropped off his amazon.com order... but he was nonetheless excited to see his shiny new orange backpack.  oh orange?  yes of course - its his signature color....I think he has 6 orange shirts in his closet and refuses to wear any non-orange colored shirt... well that's sort of a lie...if the shirt has orange on it then he'll wear it, but I will tell you - he KNOWS the ones that don't and refuses to wear them... ahh well - there's always Seth.

So far school has been great - no worries from the teacher... and I do believe they both like knowing (Noah and Mark) are there at the same place...

Also at the end of May we ended a good run with my oldest cousin (who was also one of my ring bearers in my wedding - where has the time gone!?) who decided to go ahead and graduate from high school....  Not sure who gave him permission to do this...I wasn't really ready to see him do this...I know his mom was stressed to the max...him being her 1st born and all... I mean how do you see a little kid and know them and see them as a "little kid" suddenly turn into a grown human... ok it wasn't that sudden - I mean it was 18 years, but looking back it seemed to fly by.

It was a nice ceremony.  The weather was just right...warm, but breezy.  I am glad I got to be there.  I think he was thankful we were as well.  He had quite the support staff...entourage...posse!

gotta love those 'selfies'!

career day and a cutie

Today is career day at Noah's school.  All week they've been talking about jobs and careers and what that means (getting up and dressed, working all day, how some jobs are very busy everyday and others are not...) I can just imagine what they talk about and what they say their parents "do all day"... 'my mom talks on a cool phone with her computer and has an awesome headset"...yep that's what i do all day.

So for his career choice - he decided he wanted to be a cowboy... thank goodness for amazon prime for mother's who don't plan as well as they should... got two cowboy hats ordered on Wednesday and at my door Thursday (only $3.99 extra)... granted they were at U.S. toy - i totally could've gone there myself and got them, but shoot...it would have been more than $3.99 in gas to get over there... PLUS how do you deny a kid getting something in the mail...the joy that brings ha!  We had to buy two...of course we did...

And because I can't leave him out...my little helper today...knows tons about MAN rings and setting up topologies for traffic on a WAN... he's a smartypants!