On the Edge

Twelve years old...

On the edge of the teenage years.

Sixth grade...

On the edge of middle school.

I know how tough middle school can be.  Kids are trying to find their place in this world and are scrutinized by their peers and girls start to not have cooties and there is oh, so much drama.  Somehow, Owen is managing to cruise on through all of that.  When his nose isn't stuck in a book, which occupies a large amount of his time (he's read the complete Harry Potter series twice since June), he has found some extra-curricular activities to enjoy.


Junior Golf

Summer Swim Team

And, of course, fishing.

And while he's found those "big kid" activities to keep him busy, he still finds time to do those things that some might refer to as " little kid" things.


Water fights at the lake...

Playing in the pool, all day long...

Swinging...

Dressing up for Halloween...

Playing in the snow...

I'm not sure I'd refer to Owen as a shy kid, but he does keep to himself, mostly.  If he has an opinion, he will definitely voice it, and if you invade his personal space, he'll tackle you.  (Just ask Grey.) Owen can be deep in the throes of Minecraft, yet if I ask him to get wood for the fire, or run upstairs for something, or flip the pancakes I poured on the griddle but forgot to flip, he's off and running in a flash. Though he's teetering on the edges of little kid world and big kid world, he has kept his love of family.  Owen would rather spend time with his cousins and siblings than anyone else.

As the oldest child, Owen has a lot of weight on his shoulders. I think he's starting to realize that the younger kids look to him on how to act. He is kind and funny and caring, and Nash, in particular, is very fond of him.

One of my favorite things about Owen is his sense of humor. It's dry and understated and sometimes even sneaky. He says some hilarious things that you can tell he's put a lot of thought into, but they just flow out effortlessly.

While I cannot imagine my little boy being a teenager, it's coming. I get one year of Owen being twelve and then he'll be on his way. There will be girls and cars and curfews and college applications.    Right now, though, I'm holding onto my thoughtful, quiet, kind, funny boy. Growing up, I was always envious of my friends who had big brothers. They had a built-in protector, someone who would always be in their corner, and someone to show them the way. I feel very blessed that my kids get to grow up with Owen watching over them.

I am excited for Owen's future-to see what he will become and how he will guide his siblings.  His enjoyment of the outdoors is rare in kids these days, but that's where he most enjoys being.  He loves exploring, and visiting new places, and learning new things, and getting dirty, and think those qualities are going to shape him into a wonderful young man.

Happy birthday, O. Mama loves you.

Christmas Wishes

Every year, beginning in mid-November, my kids starting writing Christmas wish lists.  They'll write one for me, one for Nana, one for Nene, and then usually a few more for me.  By the time people actually start shopping for gifts, the kids have so many random things on their lists that no one has any idea what to buy them.  This year, I had the kids each make me a private list of the three things they want most for Christmas.  The only rule was that the items needed to be within my budget.  (Sadly, this restricted Greyson from requesting a four-wheeler, a snowmobile and a trailer to haul them.)

No one asked if they could write more than three things, and I think the items they chose perfectly describe each of them-the older ones teetering between toys and more grown up things, and the younger ones choosing classic age-appropriate gifts.  What follows are their lists, just as they wrote them:

Owen

Lazer tag

Gamer mouse

Big remote control truck (going to be using outside) with batteries

Emerson

Giant Mickey Mouse

Sims 4 (DVD game for computer) (found at Walmart)

EOS balls/balms

Alayna

I want a Baby Alive doll.

I want a puppy cage.

I want a puppy.

And then Alayna said, "Mom, I'll make Nash's list-I know just what he wants."

Nash, via Alayna

Truck

Cars

A toy Spiderman

You might be wondering why I skipped Greyson in the order and saved him for last. Then again, you might have realized that his list would be the best and I'd have to save it for last.

Greyson

iPad mini

Big pack of bottled water

Ten bucks

This is my life.  Welcome, y'all.

All photos taken by Allison Davis

Three Years Old

My children are like puzzle pieces-they're all different, but when you put them together, they create a complete picture.  If one child happens to not be home, the whole house feels off.  They each contribute their own uniqueness to our family.  Sometimes, you don't realize you're missing a piece until after it's been given to you.  I thought my family of six was complete.

And then came Nash.

Somehow, Nash managed to acquire all of best things of the other four kids: A calmness from Owen, a self-confidence from Emerson, a voiced opinion from Greyson, and an infectious laugh from Alayna.

I could tell you that Nash is stubborn and difficult, because that's true!  He IS.  That boy doesn't always know what he wants, but you'd better give it to him NOW or else.

If he gets new boots, he will most definitely be wearing them to bed.

If he wants to wear three watches at once, don't you dare try to make him wear a jacket-you will cover them up and he won't be able to see his three watches.

If he wants to wear a headband with glittery balls on it and a fabulous pearl necklace, don't try and stop him.

If his siblings join the swim team and he gets highly jealous and wears a swim cap and goggles for weeks, just go with it.

If he sneaks into your room and puts on a bunch of your medals, just to hear them clang together, smile, because they were meant to be worn, right?

If he'd rather drink almond milk for every meal and snack, just let him, knowing that SOMEday he will realize that almond milk doesn't taste nearly as good as fresh fruit, or Gigi's best-ever stew.


As stubborn and difficult as Nash is, I know that deep down it's for a reason.  He is learning.  He's been on this earth for three short years and everything is trial and error for him.  In reality, he just wants to do what all the big kids do, and he's had some great new experiences this year:

Drinking from the water fountain...

Picking rocks on the shore of Lake Michigan...

Sliding down the big slide all alone...

Eating apples from our tree...

Watching the big trucks, ready to hop in as soon as they'll let him...

Splashing on the dock at the lake...

Climbing the ladder at the park...

Getting his hair curled...

Searching for Nemo in storm drains, because all drains lead to the ocean!

Nash's allergies still keep me on my toes, but he's very good at asking, "Milk in it?" before accepting food from people.  And he does still have occasional outbreaks of respiratory issues, but he can now ask for a breathing treatment and insists, "ME do it."

While a lot of toddlers seem to be wrapped up in themselves, which is completely normal, Nash likes to keep tabs on everyone.  Throughout the day he asks individually, "Where Oweee go?" "Where Nemmee go?"  "Where Reyson go?"  "Where Yanie go?"  "Daddy working?"  And if I'm working on a project and say, "OW!" Nash immediately asks, "You okay, Mom?"

Speaking of Mom, let's address that issue.  I know all kids go through the "Mommy don't leave me stage", but Nash takes that to the extreme.  If I go to the bathroom and lock the door, I have betrayed him.  If I go to the grocery store and leave him home, I have just ripped his heart out.  That boy is always by my side, preferably touching me, and I'm sure if I'd let him, he'd choose to be right back in the WOMB.

I remind myself often that nothing lasts forever and that they're only little for a little while.  And while he's trying new things and learning the ways of the world, Nash is also teaching me things.  I've learned that allowing a child to sleep in a winter hat, mittens, snow boots and a diaper works.  I've learned that if you shoot your brother in the eye with a Nerf gun, it might sting for a minute, but he won't actually go blind.  I've learned that when he says, "Mom", there's a 50 percent chance that after I say, "What?" he'll say, "Chicken butt."  I've learned that back flips off the couch won't result in a broken neck.  I've learned that the best way to eat a hamburger is to load it with ketchup and then remove both parts of the bun and eat the ketchup-y piece of meat as messily as possible.  I've learned that slow dancing in the kitchen while dinner is cooking is much more pleasant than listening to whining.  I've learned that five minutes of snuggling on the couch can fix just about anything.  I've learned that if Nash hadn't come into my life, I wouldn't be the same person I am today.

He is thoughtful, and stubborn, and caring, and demanding, and funny, and inquisitive, and smart, and he is the piece I didn't know was missing.  Today he is THREE.

Happy Birthday, Nash.  Mom loves you.

Be a Good One

"The most important thing she'd learned over the years was that there was no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one."  -Jill Churchill


As a stay-at-home mom of five children, I often feel less like a mom and more like I'm providing some sort of catch-all service.  I'm a cook and a maid and a nurse and a handyman and a hairdresser and a wardrobe consultant and a party planner and a chauffeur and and delivery man and a peace-keeper and and a disciplinarian.  It's a twenty-four hour, seven-days-a-week job.  There is no vacation time-even on vacation.  Sure, I get a break every now and then, but I'm still on call.  During those breaks, no one is filling in for me-the work just piles up.  And believe me, there is always something to do.  From laundry, to meal planning, to grocery shopping, to house cleaning, to bill paying, to helping out at school, to making sure everyone has everything they need for that day when they walk out the door in the mornings.  People often ask me how I do it all.  They tell me that they only have two kids and they have a hard time keeping up with things, and how exactly do you DO it all?  I just shrug and murmur that I'm highly organized.  Usually when I get the "How do you do it all" question, what I really hear is, "You're a little crazy."  When I'm out in public with the kids, I regularly receive several "Are they all yours?", "You've got your hands full!", and "Bless your heart." comments.    I chose this life, and I believe if you're going to do something-anything-you should do it to the very best of your ability.  It might be a nonstop, never-ending job, but the pay and the perks are well worth it.  What pay and what perks, you ask?  My payment and perks come in the form of random hugs and kisses, thank yous when I've made a favorite dinner, laughter when we play tickle games, squeals of delight when a bag of new craft supplies appears for no particular reason, small grins when they find I've made tasty treats while they've been at school, late night hand-delivered drawings of our family, and even texts when I'm away asking if I'll be home to kiss them goodnight.

I recently gave my school-aged children a small assignment.  I wanted them each, individually and privately, to write down five things that they think are a part of my job as their mother.  At the top of everyone's list was Food.  I guess that's a no-brainer, right?  Feeding my family is a very important part of every day.
Next on the list: Help.  Help us get ready for school.  Help us at bath time.  Help us get a good education.
Then I could tell that they started to really think about what else should be on their lists.  Keep us healthy.  Keep us in shape.  Make sure we get enough exercise.  Make sure we are active and involved with things.
And on everyone's list, there was one more answer-one more thing that, when they all sat and really thought about what my job involves, was very important to them: Spend time with us as we grow up.

That's really the most important thing, isn't it?  TIME.  Everyone has time, and we are all in charge of how we spend our own time.  We prioritize our lives, allotting time for work, play, sleep.  Do you know when the best times happen around here?  When we haven't made plans-when we haven't scheduled every minute of every day.  The best times are the Saturday mornings when the kids drift down from their beds, one by one, to snuggle with us or each other on the couch.  The best times are when we're working in the yard and the kids have been playing outside all day and we build a bonfire and eat snacks for dinner because, why not?  The best times are when unexpected family or friends stop by, just to say hi, and end up staying for hours.  The best times are when we decide on a whim to pack it up and head for the lake or the ocean because, what's stopping us?  The best times are when we all decide to stay up late for a movie and the kids eventually nod off to sleep because they know mom and dad secretly love carrying them up the stairs and tucking them into their beds.

So, how do I do it?  To tell the truth, I really am highly organized.  I'm also a little crazy.  And to answer those questions from family, friends, and random passersby:  They ARE all mine, my hands ARE full, and I feel VERY blessed.

"I will let them be little, fill their hearts with laughter, help them grow wings, nurture their sense of wonder, inspire them to believe, and love them like there is no tomorrow." -Unknown

Greyson is Eight

There's always one, right? There's always that one child who keeps you on your toes and questions every single thing you say and has answer for everything. That child for me is my middle child, Greyson.

And while Greyson has always been that one child, this year, he's taken it to a new level. For instance, in the mornings when I go into his room to wake him up for school, he has requested that instead of just opening the door and saying his name, I should ring a small bell he has on his bedside table. Why a bell? Because he likes the sound it makes and it's much nicer to wake up to than my voice. 

 

Also, Grey is no longer content getting dressed as soon as he wakes up. This takes up too much time, you see. He now puts on his clothes and socks for the next day right before he goes to bed. Greyson is all about efficiency. (And I am all about choosing my battles wisely.)

 Greyson has never been a child who has been excited about school, but he recently informed me that he's probably not going to go to school longer than I make him, because he "already knows everything worth knowing."

I remember those frustrating toddler years when Grey didn't speak. He would hum along to songs on the radio and even make up a few of his own tunes. These days, he listens to the radio or watches YouTube videos and makes it his mission to learn every word correctly to every country song. He won't actually sing along to them if he thinks anyone can hear him, but once in a while I can catch him rocking out to some Zac Brown Band or Blake Shelton.

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 Speaking of YouTube, let me tell you about Greyson's favorite videos to watch. These include, Extreme Snowmobiling, Extreme Dirt Biking, Extreme Dirt bike Fails, and pretty much anything else with the word "Extreme" in front of it.

He took his first spin on a dirt bike this year, and hasn't been the same since. After school, he quickly drops his backpack and picks up his helmet and off he goes to get dirty and take chances. He is quite the daredevil and has made friends with the neighbor boys who share his love of the sport.

 Between YouTube and the dirt bike, Grey still finds time to help out whenever he can. He loves mowing the grass on the riding lawnmower, and he loves anything involving power tools or building.

Grey also stepped out of his comfort zone this year and joined the summer swim team. And while the other kids would listen to the instructors and patiently wait for their turn to practice a new stroke or kick, Grey would be doing underwater handstands or doing back flips or seeing how long he could hold his breath with just his face in the water. Somehow, though, he managed to learn the breaststroke, backstroke, and freestyle, and during races he made everyone laugh with his carefree jokester approach to competition.

 This year, when I asked him what he wanted for his birthday, Grey gave me this list: a motorcycle, a 4-wheeler, a snowmobile, a trailer, and wood. What's the wood for? To make his own garage to store all of these toys, of course!

 As if all of these things aren't enough to make Grey the unique boy that he is, I'd like to mention one more thing: Food. Food is a very touchy subject for Grey. As with everything else in his life, he is very particular about what is for dinner, and exactly which parts of the dinner I will be making him eat. His favorite foods include salad, peppers, baked potatoes and fruit. He loves chicken and biscuits, as long as he doesn't have to eat the chicken, spaghetti and meatballs, but skip the meatballs, and a complete turkey dinner, without the turkey. In fact, if I'm in the mood to see Greyson flip out, I'll tell him we're having steak for dinner. I might as well tell him I'm serving him POISON.

 So, I know I've said many times that Grey is a handful, but really, he wouldn't BE Greyson without all of his opinions and mannerisms. Someday, after I make him finish school, he's going to do great things. His ambitions, his determination, and his stubbornness will take him far. Oh, and by the way, if you ask him why he is the way he is or why he acts the way he acts, he's got an answer for you: He can't help it-that's the way he was born!

Happy 8th Birthday, Grey!  Momma loves you!