5 years old!

I am definitely not old enough to have a 5 year old son.  Definitely not.  If I was though I would be super proud of my boy.

  I would be trying my hardest to encourage his leadership skills while discouraging his tendency to be a little too opinionated.  I would praise his sweet talks with his baby brother and his willingness to play with his sister who is currently suffering from "mine-itis". 

I would sneak into his bedroom at night, put his hanging leg back up on his bed, tuck him in and kiss his finally still head.  I'd pray for him every night and through out each day.

  I'd wonder what God was thinking when He gave me such a crazy boy!  I thank God for giving me such a crazy boy.  I'd smile when he brought me a handful of smash dandelions. 

I'd cry when he wore me out at the end of a hard day.  I'd buy him his very own bag of Brussels sprouts because he asked so nicely. 

  I would snuggle him when he snuck into my bed in the morning after his Daddy left for work.  I would constantly remind him to put his worn out crocs on the right feet.  I'd ask him not to make loud screeching sounds a hundred times a day.  

I'd hold his small hand in mine as we walked side by side and when he asked why, I'd tell him because it's one of my favorite hands to hold.  I'd wash said hands countless times a day and wonder how it was possible to get some much dirt on two sticky hands.

I'd laugh as he learned that baking powder does not taste like powdered sugar.  I'd crack right up when he would come down stairs from bed in a bright red leotard.  I'd marvel at the amount of peanut butter and jelly I'd feed him in a week.

I'd  be sad when he had to learn a lesson the hard way.  I'd want to cry when his heart was broken.  I'd forget about a horrible day when he snuggled me and told me I was the "bestest mommy in the whole widest world." 

My heart would melt when I saw him holding his sister's hand.  I'd cherish is snuggles even if he kept wiggling the whole time.

I'd watch him try to be just like his Daddy and fix things around the house.  I'd be nervous as he climbed higher, drove faster, jumped farther and fell harder than he did the day before.

I'd be the proudest mom ever as he learned to ride his two wheeler.  I'd miss him while I was at work.  I'd long for quiet time and realize I like my crazy time with my boy just as much.  

If I was old enough to have a 5 year old boy, I'd be blessed beyond measure to have a boy like Wesley.

Happy Birthday my sweet boy.

  You are and will forever be my most favorite Wesley in the whole widest world!

I love you.

Grateful

Today I am grateful for these three beautiful children and a day to do nothing but be with them.  I have been so busy lately that I have not been able to just "be" with them like I would like to be.  Yesterday we did nothing and it was wonderful.  I had a chance to try taking photos of them in manual (thanks to Faith's photography class)  and I am very happy with the results.  

 

We were on a evening walk in one of the most beautiful places I know, with no where to rush off to and nothing pressing to do when I got home.  I was able to just let the kids run and did not have to try hard to get these shots of them because they were just having a good time already.

 

My kids make me happy and I really needed a day like yesterday to just relax and be there mom.  It was perfect.

I am so blessed to be their Mommy.

To the moon

.

 I just love these munchkins to the moon and back a bazillion times.

Even when I'm so tired that I can't talk right,

 

when I smell like spit up,

when I'm holding puke and pee soaked clothes and its not all from the newborn,

when all three are happily sitting together long enough for my to capture a memory to remember how short of a time I will be a puke covered sleep deprived Mommy to three small and incredibly adorable children.

He asked for it

Wes has been asking for this for almost a year.

 Begging really.

 Yesterday his wish came true.

 Matthew finally made his boy a tire swing.

 The look on Wes' face when he came outside after his nap and saw his long awaited swing was priceless.  His eyes popped and he covered his mouth as he deeply inhaled.  It was precious. 

 He said, "this is what I've always wanted."

 I think it was worth the wait.

 I love how easy it is to please this little guy.

 His sweet smiles and happy giggles.

 How he proudly wears my mom's high school cowboy boots.

I'm looking forward to many evenings of enjoying my children enjoying their tire swing. 

Big Boy Toys

 What would make a boy run screaming in joy after his Father and sister on the four wheeler and attempt to climb on the back, while it was running?   Why would he do such a dare devil stunt that almost made his Mommy drop her camera and chase after him?  Why would he give his father a near heart attach?  

Quite possibly because we let him do this. 

Matt rigged a four wheeler so that it will not leave 1st gear and can only accelerate to a safe speed for Wes to drive .    I don't think there is anything else is the world that would have made this boy  happier.  His grin went from ear to ear and his giggles could be heard all the way across the yard!

He begged us to let him take his sister for a ride.  We would not allow this.  Then he asked if he could take me and he promised not to go too fast.    He is such a cutie.  He loves to be with his family and share his joy.  He knows how much he loves it when we give him rides so why would we not want to ride with him? 

I love this boy!

All this new found freedom on "his" four wheeler is what I think gave him to gumption to run after and try to snag a ride while Matt was giving  the patient Felicity a ride.  For all you who flipped out at seeing Wes dangling from the back of the four wheeler, it won't be happening again.  We explained all the dangers to him and hope to never see that again!

Then again, it could be because the same night Matt also let Wes drive "his" tractor.  This tractor belonged to Matt's Grandpa and actually belongs to Matt's father now but if you were to ask Wes he would proudly tell you it was "his" tractor!

Matt has let him drive this one on a few other occassions and he is getting very good at it.  Matt has to push in and release the clutch and adjust the throttle but I'm sure it will only be a matter of a year or so and Wes will be mastering that as well.  Matt was driving a tractor around a field doing actual field work at 6!!  I assure you Wes will not be doing that!

For now and years to come he can drive his tractors around the lawn, giving us rides and going in circles while Matt or I ride on the back or walk beside him.

I personally loved the view as Wes drove his whole family around the lawn.  His wavy hair blowing, dirty fingers gripping the electrical tape covered wheel and busy little head turning this way and that watching to not run over a chicken.  It was priceless.

I'm in awe at what this little guy can do and is chomping at the bit to do.  He is so full of life and happiness.  

I could not help but imagine years from now, this little boy will not be so little.  His hands will no longer look so tiny holding the large wheel, his feet will be able to push in the clutch, he'll sit tall above the seat and wave good bye to me as he rides off to help his father do something important.  

I try not to do that.  I think about how quickly my children are growing up.  I try to focus on each phase they are in as they are in it but sometimes my mind wonders.  I saw him growing up as he drove me around the lawn. It's hard not to see it when I see his father in him so much.  Sometimes he is such a mini Matt it is scary!

And then there are those moments when I ask him to look at me and he pulls out the four year old Wesley and I smile from ear to ear. 

Super Man

Working on 5 posts!  We have done some fun things that really need to be documented and since some plans I had for this week fell through, I now have extra time to write them down. 

Mud

It has rained here a lot in the last couple of days and rain means mud and mud means fun!

Wes loves puddles.

I love watching him have fun.

Felicity loves to play alone in the mud and totally freaks out when her brother splashes her face or heaven forbid it knocks her in said mud puddle.

She prefers to get muddy all on her own.

Wes however will get dirty with or without anyone's help.

 

He also has no problem finding slimy grimy  friends.

I love this dirty little kid, no matter how many of  his slimy friends he hangs in my face.

Love him more than he loves mud!