Sunday, February 9, 2014

72 months, 6 years

My goose,

So now you are 6.  I seem to say this every year, but time is just flying by.  I guess when I found out I was pregnant with you, I didn't allow myself to think this far into the future.  There was baby and there was college but all the in-between was fuzzy.  Now my baby has grown into this miraculous and loving 6 year old with thoughts and plans, and I am just in awe.  I am in awe of this little gentleman that you are becoming.  The way you still call me "Momma" and say "excuse me" and "wait, wait, wait" when I am explaining something you don't like.  When you need a lazy day you tell me "I just don't feel like myself today, Momma."  And when you got angry with me the other day you started yelling, "Why can't you read my mind?  I was thinking about it!  Why can't you tell?".  Because that makes perfect sense.  I wish I could read your mind just so I could get a glimpse of all the thoughts running through your head at any given moment.  A tiny glimpse into this wealth of imagination.  Expect when you are tired and your "imaginator" isn't working. 

We did the whole Disney thing instead of a big kids party but you were still pretty insistent that you have some kind of party.  So, we picked up Ryan, Cubby, Byron and Dylan and had a boys day to see the Lego Movie.  You have been talking about the Lego Movie ever since you saw the preview in June, of last year.  And it just so happened to come out on your birthday weekend.  You all were so mesmerized.  And it was actually pretty good.  Then after you were all hopped up on popcorn and candy, everyone came back to our house for cupcakes and marshmallow Lego heads.  And the family came over after that for a little celebration.  It was understated in comparison to some of your other parties, but it was nice.  I think there is something to be said about a smaller party that is more intimate.  I got to spend more money and time on the 5 of you then just cheap dollar store favors and a two hour time limit for 15.

On the Monday after your birthday, I pulled rank and go to go on a field trip with you.  I had assumed that you would ignore my in favor of your friends because that is what you would normally do on play dates.  But instead you seemed to be excited that I was there.  You wanted to hold my hand and sit next to me on the bus.  In the back of my head, I understand that these days are numbered.  You are not going to want to kiss me goodbye in the morning.  That holding my hand on the way to the bus stop is going to lose its appeal and that is my most favorite part of my day.  When you run to me yelling my name, grab my hand, and I get to ask you about your day before you start running with the other kids.  So I am focused on cherishing every moment.  I am going to love on you every possible second until you won't let me anymore. 

You had to fill out an "About Me" form for your birthday.  Pretty standard.  But when we got to the bottom it asked you what you thought you were good at.  The Legos and Wii came pretty easy but the third one had you stumped.  I was giving you options and you just kept brushing them aside.  Then you settled on "I am really good at sharing my mom."   This surprised me.  I hadn't realized, until that moment, that you might feel like that.  Yes, our lives have changed in the last few months but you never seemed overly concerned.  Yes, I have noticed that you get a little jealous when Dylan wants to sit on my lap for the entire day.  But I think that's normal and I didn't think it carried over to when they aren't over.  Of course, I asked you more about it.  You told me that you have to share me with John, the kids, the house, and the church and you are really good at being patient until its your turn.  I couldn't argue with you. The older you have gotten the more things I have added in our lives to occupy our time.  First it was just work and friends and family, then soccer and baseball, then I added the house, and John, and the kids. When you put it like that you are really good at sharing me.  You are always so patient when I have just one more thing to do.  Or when I have to drag you to the church with me.  Since that conversation, I have been extra careful about making sure you have just momma and me time, at least for a little while, everyday. Because it is important for you to feel like you are not just another priority, you are my first priority. We will always have other people in our lives but I always want you to feel like I have time for you.  And that I love you enough to protect, respect, and make that time.

My wonderful Smush, I will love you until the end of time.  When we play the who loves more game, I am pretty confident I will always win no matter how many times you tell me its not possible.  I couldn't imagine myself or my life without you in it.  You are the biggest part of my heart.  Everyday, my love and pride, and awe for you grows.  I am so proud of you for being able to share me with the rest of the world.  But I am more proud of you for being kind, compassionate, witty, patient, resilient, funny, persistent, outgoing, confidant, forgiving and most of all loving.  You are turning out to be one phenomenal boy.

I love you everyday,
Momma

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Excessive Amounts of Disney Pictures

 Totally a normal way to navigate the airport.  Kid has got the right idea.

 Obligatory Magic Kingdom picture.  I unsuccessfully tried to get one of all of us.


Happiest place on earth.

 Before we went through security.  Best time.

 Pretending to be a Super Hero

 Too excited to breathe!!!  This was just outside Hogsmeade village.  That is definitely not real snow. 

And this is what happens when your kid refuses to pose with you.  You get pictures knocking out a very short Wolverine while hiding a beer behind your back.  How about them claws?

Da da da da dum. Da da da da dum.  

This kid.

Monday, February 3, 2014

Surprise Birthday Disney Extravaganza!!

In a fabulous bout of luck, I got put on an Ideas to Go project right before Wyatt's birthday on a Friday in Orlando, FL.  And then I found out Michael was on the project too.  Of course, off and running, we decided to plan a trip around it.  I felt mildly guilty about going to Universal Studios without Wyatt but Hogwarts was winning over my decision.  It wasn't until I spoke with Rebecca and she said she was on board that it turned into a Surprise Birthday Extravaganza!  I booked Rebecca and Wyatt's tickets on our flights from Wednesday to late Saturday night.  It wasn't going to be a ton of time, but it was going to be enough.

It wasn't until Monday night that I got everything booked.  And we all kept it away from Wyatt.  He had NO clue.  I sent him to school Wednesday morning like normal with the intention of picking him up early and telling him we were going to the airport.  I had written to his teachers to collect his missed work and told them about the surprise.  That morning he definitely figured out something was up when he realized I hadn't packed him lunch.  "Mom, I don't want to be a buyer.  Where's my lunch?"
"Don't worry about it, Buddy"
"But Moooooooom!!  I need lunch!!"
"Yes. I know.  But just don't worry about it.  You will have lunch."
"Are you coming into school?  Am I having lunch with you?  Do my teachers know?  Are you coming to the class?"  Etc, etc, etc.
I literally shoved him out the door.  I WAS NOT letting lunch ruin my surprise.  Most kids dream of having a surprise trip to Disney.  I sure as hell did.  I was determined to make this happen.

Of course, it became a contagious surprise so Gammy, Pa, John and I needed to pick him up.  All of us were so curious to his reaction.  And it went something like this:


PURE.  BAFFLEMENT.  He had no freaking idea what was going on.  AT ALL.  All the way to the airport he just kept hugging me.  An 'its ok if Mom's here, I guess' kinda hug.  I thought he was finally comprehending by the time we got to the airport until he said me "Mom, I'm still not really sure what's going on."  Classic 5 adults are too excited to breathe and the one kid is totally confused.  I think it took until checking into our hotel for him to really get it.  But once he did, man, it was ON.

Early Thursday morning we hit the Magic Kingdom.  It kind sucked, simply because the weather wasn't great.  It was rainy and cold-ish.  But considering we were coming from the teens, 40-50 didn't seem that bad.  However, the upside to the nasty weather was the amazingness of NO LINES.  Literally, I have never been to Disney and walked onto so many rides.  The longest line we waiting on was 30 minutes and it was Flight of Peter Pan, which we were NOT missing.  I am not joking when I say that Wyatt was so excited he couldn't even walk in a straight line.  He was jumping and skipping, his hands flapping uncontrollably.  Pure joy.  Pure amazement.  I think this trip was my favorite so far.  He fell right into every story.  When we went Soarin', he really believed we were flying.  When we got into yet another clam shell, he was convinced it was real and we were underwater.  You could see his mind exploding on every ride we went on.  It was all the excitement and magic without the junk lugging and carrying.  I am pinning 6 and up being the perfect Disney age.  Plus, I got to take him on his first "roller coaster".  Which Rebecca strategically filmed and we had to go on more then once.  Because he loved it.  Awesome.


The next day, Rebecca and Wyatt headed to Hollywood Studios because that's where all the Star Wars stuff was and Wyatt was BEYOND fixated on going there.  Michael and I had to work, but thankfully it was a relatively easy day.  I can't say much about what happened at Hollywood Studios.  But Wyatt definitely got to sit on a speeder bike and they had to ride on Star Tours 3 times.  On their last ride, they picked Wyatt to be the rebel spy on his ship and showed him on the screen for everyone on the ride.  They gave him a "Happy Birthday" button when we bought our tickets.  He wore it everyday.  But that also meant that every single Disney staff person was wishing him a happy birthday.  He was thrilled and mildly confused that everyone knew his name.  He MILKED that button.  It got to a point where I think he was insulted if he wasn't recognized.  Rebecca and Wyatt were so tired after there adventure and then being stuck in traffic picking us up that they decided to chill at our Port Orleans hotel pool. While Mike and I decided we should go to Epcot to drink around the world!


Saturday was our last day with our flight leaving at 6:50pm.  None of us had been to Universal or the new Harry Potter world, which I think was the highlight for the three adults.  We were DEFINITELY more excited then Wyatt was.  He has no frame of reference for Harry Potter.  We haven't read the books and he hasn't seen the movies.  Trying to explain the premise seemed impossible.  But he was a sport and let us have our fun with promises to visit the Superhero area.  Honestly, it was incredible.  Universal is knocking it out of the park.  The rides were cutting edge and so entertaining.  I don't want to ruin it but the main Harry Potter ride was beyond amazing.  Hogwarts and Hogsmeade was like walking right into the movie.  There were talking paintings, a real sorting hat, Olivanders Wand shop that looked exactly how you would picture it, digital snow, Honeydukes etc, etc.  I am still in awe.  Disney will always be Disney, but we are definitely adding Universal to every trip now.

Showing his button on Its a Small World
Wyatt was more interested in the Superheros, which was pretty awesome in itself.  They had some of the characters just walking around.  He loved pointing them out as we walked by.  But when I tried to get him to take a picture with Wolverine, it didn't happen.  They had a whole Jurassic Park area too.  Which, again, despite not knowing it, he was really into.  Michael wanted to drag him on this splash down ride.  I was against it, as was Rebecca, but finally the boys won out.  I was a boat ride, that goes into the dinosaur run compound with Raptors spitting at you and a giant T-Rex that is about to eat you before a huge splash down. Wyatt loved this ride.  Thought it was just the coolest.  I LOVE that he is not afraid of this kinda stuff.  That he actually enjoys these rides.  I love roller coasters so I am too excited to get him back here when he is tall enough to ride the big ones.  This was his reaction:


We barely made it to the airport in time for our flight.  We were just having so much fun.  We definitely could have stayed another 3 nights and next time I am sure we will. I am so glad we got to do this.  Beyond glad.  Seeing his face light up all over these parks was worth every penny.  I am sure every parent says that or else no one would go.  I already can't wait to go back.  When I became a parent I became fixated on providing more for Wyatt than I had.  Which is extremely hard because I had a lot.  But I think you always just want more for your children.  We took family trips to Disney all the time as a kid.  But a Surprise Birthday Disney Extravaganza?!?!  That is definitely a first I was proud and thrilled to provide.