6th grade, 3rd grade, 1st grade

First day of school!

double birthday bash

Two brothers with three guests each, plus Mom, Dad, and Morgan. This was the guest list to today's all-boy double birthday bash at our house. A make-your-own pizza party with lots of time to play.

Part I - chef hats, pizza-making, and pizza-eating. Andrew's group was first up.

Big boys are eating, now it's time for the little boys to get started.

Part II - cupcakes, singing, eating and gift-opening

Today was chaotic, loud, and energy-packed. So happy to give the boys such a fun friend party. They loved it, and we loved having their friends here.

on christmas eve

Christmas vacation officially started yesterday, and within hours the chorus of "I'm bored" rang out. Sure, as a parent, it can be grating to hear that, but after eight weeks of a full schedule, I don't even mind.

"I love that you're bored. Isn't it nice that we don't have somewhere to be?" I asked. "School, basketball, dinner, homework, shower, sleep and repeat. That was so much. It's good for you to be bored." 

And so after cleaning up of all the shipping boxes we recently received (thank you, Amazon Prime and Lands' End), I asked the most-bored child if he wanted to make something with them. I suggested a house, and I knew I had lit the spark he needed. 

Soon after, Matthew wanted in on the action. And by bedtime, even Morgan was saying they were "so cool".

This morning, Andrew was eager to put on the finishing touches. In many ways, this house is his dream home - large, two stories, lots of windows. No dormers on his third-story attic, but not because he didn't want his beloved "windows on the roof". (Honestly, Mom ran out of steam after the chimney.) It's amazing what some boredom mixed with a little dreaming can do.

This house that Andrew has created reminds me of the stately home illustrated in Margaret Wise Brown's book "On Christmas Eve". Originally written in 1938, this story presents Christmas with such excitement and wonder as three children sneak out of their beds on a snowy Christmas Eve and tiptoe down the stairs to discover their decorated tree with some gifts and a toy train, and filled stockings hung on a mantle above the slowly dying fire.

When our family read this book again this year, I explained that when it was written, Christmas morning was often when children saw their tree for the first time in all it's glory, twinkling and beautiful. It was part of the anticipation, part of the wait. And thus the reason that trees were often kept up until Epiphany was celebrated - the 12 days of Christmas.

There's something to be said for waiting and wonder. Taking time to build something, to ponder and plan, and even pray. And the reward and joy that comes after it all. (Isaiah 40:30-31)

It's good to be bored. It's good to wait.

the real deal

new school year

Today was the first day of school for all three kiddos. They were a little goofy this morning, trying to get into position for the annual porch picture. Here we come... grades 5, 2, and K!

front yard baseball

A little sibling competition to start the summer. Our front yard keeps getting smaller and smaller with each passing year.