This week we celebrated two birthdays. Isaac turned 10 on June 13th and Anna turns 2 today. I'm not sure what to say about them without sounding trite. Isaac was born in American Fork, Utah, while Anna was born in Nashua, New Hampshire, representing our long trek from West to East. (Joey was born in Wyoming and Thomas New York.) Isaac is entering this really interesting phase in his life. He is really starting to discover what interests him. He loves math and reading, and sports. Especially sports, and especially baseball. His team the Orioles is 2-0 in the city playoffs, and he was just selected for the All-Star team, which means our baseball season will stretch until the end of the summer. He reads voraciously, mostly fiction. We have arguments about him reading at every meal and late into the night. I seem to remember getting in trouble for that myself. He has a good group of friends here, but still misses and talks about his New York friends, and his Wyoming friends for that matter. But this doesn't really sum him up, does it? He is interesting and opinionated, and sometimes tender. He is sensitive and hates to see anyone else in pain. He's maturing and growing up way too fast.
I've said a few times how much Anna and Isaac are alike. She shares his strong opinions and sensitivity. She is also curious and tender. She likes to make us laugh with her antics. She loves, loves her brothers. But she also knows when to run for mommy or daddy. She has really changed in the last little while. She has so much language now, and can mostly tell me what she wants, or doesn't want. She talks to her babies, rubs them on the back and asks, 'you ok? you ok?' She is finally starting to venture away from my side more. She'll play for brief stretches on her own and will mostly go to other people, although at this moment she's sitting beside me trying to get my attention.
Sometimes being a mom is hard for me, but I love my kids. I'm amazed by them and grateful to get to watch them blossom and bloom.
This is Isaac playing with my friend's little girl. He can be very sweet.
This is Anna wearing the new dress that her Auntie Michelle made. Isn't it/she cute? The dress and matching hair accessory got rave reviews at Anna's birthday party on Friday.
We're also winding down our various school years here. Thomas finished his preschool year at the Children's Winter Garden. He and his classmates put on a very cute graduation program. He loved his teachers Mrs. Hogan and Mrs. Nest. He also made some good friends.
Thomas also finished his Fun School year, which was our name for the mommy-taught preschool I did with three friends this year. We held school once a week, and we had a great time learning about all kinds of things. My favorite day was when I got the letter G so we learned all about government. I printed out President Obama coloring pages. I had so much fun. Here's Thomas with his Fun School friends on graduation day.
Joey finished Kindergarten on Friday. His class also put on a very cute program for parents. I haven't gotten those pictures off the camera yet, but I will. Joey loved his teacher Mrs. Skogsholm. She really went the extra mile for the kids in her class. She encouraged Joey to try enrichment activities and made sure he was being challenged. He really had a great year. Joey also just finished playing soccer. He's a good little soccer player, but says he wants to play baseball next spring.
Isaac's last day of fourth grade is tomorrow. His teacher this year, Mrs. Miller, was also really great. I really feel so blessed that my children have had loving, supportive teachers this year who really seem to love teaching and love their students.
Finally, if you haven't stopped reading this very long post already, here are just some random cute pictures of Anna and her friend and Thomas playing t-ball.
