8 things.

OK. I know this is a bit late (like 5 months late :). But let's just go ahead and pretend that Zahn has only just had his birthday, so I can record some of the things I want to remember about him at this wonderful age...

8 things we love about our newest 8 year old!

1. Zahn is F.U.N.N.Y. He makes us laugh all the time. He often breaks into song or dance and does funny accents (I particularly like his Irish impersonation of "That's not how you make porridge" :)

2. He is methodical!! He loves routine and likes to get things done quickly so he can play when the work is done (most of the time ;)

3. He is a brilliant 'self starter'! This boy is up and dressed and half way through his morning jobs while I'm still rubbing my eyes and rolling out of bed :)

4. He is a such a great big brother, especially to Lily! He entertains her and plays with her everyday. Especially when I need her sticky little fingers occupied while I'm making lunches in the morning, or dinner at night.

5.  He has the most contagious, cheeky smile. He always looks like he's up to mischief, but he's not - it's just the way he smiles. It's hard not to smile when his cheeky face is looking at you :)

6. He is genuinely sorry about things. He apologises easily (to me :) and I know that he means it. He tries hard (really hard) to do the right thing. I often whisper to him 'you are a really good person'. And I mean it, absolutely. It makes him smile.

7. He is a rule follower. Especially at school. He works hard and is a teacher pleaser :). Recently he was awarded with a school medallion for getting 60 merit awards (which is a lot for a student in year 2). When he was first given his certificate, it only acknowledged him for 40 merit awards. We tried to fix this, but the second time he was given the award, it only said acknowledgment of 50 merit awards. Finally he was recognised for having 60 merit awards, but not until the deputy could verify that he had indeed received 60 merits!

8. He is thoughtful!!! He does nice things for people without being asked - for example a few Sundays ago, when Lily was getting restless in church, Zahn quickly drew a picture for her, complete with her favourite little animals that she could colour in and she LOVED it! It was the cutest thing! He often writes cards or little notes and leaves them for people to find - the words are just so sweet (I would share one here, but he would NOT like that :).

Have I mentioned that this boy has been entertaining us since he was born??

In Zahn's baby blessing it talked about how he would be a great comfort to his mother, and how I would find happiness in him. My goodness how these words have proven to be true!!!

 

Happy Birthday 8 year old! You are my light!!!

Age of Accountability!

A couple of months ago I was talking to Zahn about his upcoming baptism and he very earnestly said to me, 'I just don't think I'm ready to get baptised mum'. While his comment surprised me, I tried to be somewhat casual about it, while still acknowledging his feelings, and told him "everything will be fine son"!!

I was hoping the comment may have been a one off, but as we drew closer to his birthday and his baptism date, this trepidation he felt only increased. After a few heartfelt discussions with Zahn, Chad and I decided that if he really didn't feel ready, we would wait. But in the mean time, we would continue to make preparations, and do our best to help him feel ready.

We had organised for the missionaries to come and teach the discussions with him and hoped that this would help ease his troubled little heart. After the first discussion, I was lying in bed with Zahn saying goodnight, and again, he said so earnestly, "I just don't feel ready. I don't understand everything so how can I get baptised?". This was a sweet opportunity to share my feelings with him and to let him know that even as an adult, I don't always understand everything. I tried to explain on his level, that as we try our best to stay on the path that Heavenly Father has set for us, we begin to understand, step by step of the journey.  

While I tried not to worry and kept reminding myself that things always work out in the end (they really do), my heart did worry. 

We continued the discussions with the missionaries, and tried to clarify anything Zahn had questions about.

One night we were talking and he got a bit upset......again we shared special words and I reassured him that the decision was his and dad and I were there to support him, and help him make the right choice.

When Zahn had his 8 year old interview with the Bishop, I went in with him, and without knowing any of the concerns Zahn had been having, the words the Bishop shared were almost the same words I had previously shared with Zahn the night we lay in bed and chatted about his baptism. The Bishop talked about how we don't always understand everything, but as we are obedient and as we do the things Heavenly Father asks us to do, we are blessed and above all, we are happy.

From this moment, everything changed. Suddenly Zahn was saying he felt ready, and he was getting more and more excited.

The day before his birthday, he said to me: 'I just wish today was tomorrow so I could get baptised now'.

The baptism was a beautiful service filled with words from loving grandparents that shared things with Zahn that will help him on his journey of life. In fact, the words shared could not have been more suitable for him. As I watched him enter the font with Chad, and as he smiled up at all the people watching, the smile on his face told me, without doubt, he was ready!

How grateful I am for a knowledge of the truth and for the privilege it is to watch as my children also come to a knowledge of this truth.

Sunday 30th September, 2012. A beautiful day that we will not forget.

Day 4 - Can I keep it?

This is how I met Zahn at the back gate of the school one early March afternoon.........

Z: MUUUM!!!!! Look what I found! Can you believe it!!!. I AM SO EXCITED! I can finally have my own TV in my room......

M: Laughing too hard to even respond. 

Z: So.......can I keep it??

Sadly for the excited boy, he wasn't allowed to keep it! But the memory of watching him struggle to carry the TV to the car, with me thinking, 'what in the world is he carrying' makes me laugh out loud every time! It's moments like this I'm glad I rarely leave the house without my camera!!

Kind. Hardworking. Delightful.....

and Enthusiastic.

Once again I smile at the words Zahn's teacher uses to describe him and couldn't agree more.

It's such a reassuring feeling knowing that I'm sending him off to school everyday to a teacher who creates an environment where individuals are free to soar. Where they are nurtured in a way that helps them grow. Academically and emotionally.

I really couldn't ask for more than that in the person who spends so much time with my son everyday. 

Day 13 - Six years

We have a six year old in the house........

My babies are growing up WAY too fast!!!

Day 9 - Constantly in Motion

Constantly in motion and smiling. 5 words that describe this boy perfectly.

Other words that also describe him are, 'don't love getting my picture taken'. So blurry and all, I'll take what I can get.

{pics taken at our traditional holiday 'kinda gym' day today.  It never gets old}

5 year old style

This is what Zahn wore to school yesterday........

I won't lie. There was a time that I would NOT have let him wear this little ensemble to school (the photo REALLY doesn't do it  justice - it looks quite hilarious). Especially since it's too small in all the wrong places (think one-piece people), it's the fluro-est green you've ever seen, and it doesn't even reach his ankles (I at least made him change his bright red stripy socks he tried to wear with it :) Oh, and it's spandex. Nice ;)

But how can I deny such an innocent happy face. And he really is both of those things. Innocent and happy.

I was sitting in the car laughing so much as I watched him dance his way to the school gate thrilled with his 'Pirate Skeleton' costume (with Michael Jackson socks exposed) for his kindergarten 'sound day'. It made me laugh even harder when I saw other parents walk past, look at his outfit and start smiling (you know the smirking kind of smile that says, 'wow that's some outfit'. Then one of the mums I know saw me and as our eyes met she gave me a knowing chuckle like, '"yeah I know what it's like to send your kids out in public when they dress themselves"......

One day he will look back on the pictures I took and ask WHY? WHY? Just like I do when I see pictures of my 5 year old self with the biggest fringe imaginable and bright blue corduroy pants (love you mum :)

As I drove home I thought about all the things I learn from my kids. Like how something as simple as letting them choose their own outfits not only 'keeps the peace in our home' but also gives them confidence in the decisions they make. They help me to realise that it's more important to give THEM the 'power to choose' rather than make all their decisions for them. Even if it's not what I would choose.

They help me to appreciate individuality and to recognise what is most important.

And my son going to school feeling happy and good about himself is way up there on my list of important things!!

conversations with a 5 year old

 

Z: goodnight Mum

 

M: goodnight Zahnny, love you to 'infinity and beyond'.....

Z: well I LOVE junk food to 'infinity times a billion'

M: Junk food?? What about me??

Z: well I love you um......88.

M: 88??? WHAT???

Z: OK fine then.....I love you to infinity. but not times a billion. 

I guess that's better than 88. Even if he does love junk food more than me :)

Delightful. Spunky. Confident.

Just a few of the words Zahn's teachers used to describe him at our parent teacher interview last week.

Funnily enough they are the same words I  also use to describe this boy of ours.

I must say it made my little heart burst with pride as I sat there and listened to them talk about what a pleasure he is to have in their class and what a delightful boy he is.

At the beginning of the year, I was a bit unsure how I felt about having 2 teachers for his class but everything seems to be going really well and he seems to have settled in to the routine of school quite effortlessly! (even though he is SO exhausted by the end of the day which occasionally results in some kind of min-melt down in the car on the way home :) I think what makes me the happiest is that all the things Chad talked about in his Fathers Blessing on THIS night, were very apparent even just in our 15 minute parent/teacher interview!

I'm so grateful for Zahn's teachers and that they're providing such a positive learning environment for the first year of school for this boy of ours.

Homework has begun

Actually for Rylan it started a couple of weeks ago.



year 3 homework is serious business.......serious I tell you......



Today it started for Zahn too. He was quite happy to sit there and do his work. We'll see how long it lasts :)





And let's not forget about Jasmin. Apparently her "work" started today too......



definitely not one to miss ANY of the action. no matter what it is :)


PS) I LOVE the fact that with the second child (or maybe it's just Zahn?), everything school related that is introduced (like homework), is not really new, and sometimes it's even anticipated. I guess he has been watching his brother do this for 3 years now.

To illustrate this little point, when I told Zahn he needed to do homework today, his eyes lit up and while holding back a smile he said "WHAT, I get to do homework too"?? he was quite thrilled. It was the same this morning when he realised it was library day. Thrilling stuff I tell you. Thrilling :)

sickness...

The last couple of days, this boy has been SICK!!



Sick as in 39 degree temps and covered in crazy welts?? Welts that literally appeared in front of us within the space of about 15 minutes. Bizarre!!!! They were everywhere. Even on his little face.

Luckily they have now all gone, and the only spots left are his freckles!

Hopefully he's good to go back to school tomorrow!!!

We have a 5 year old in the house!

This day has been on the count down for a while now. A while as in, "how many days until i'm 5. Asked most days for at least the last month. This boy could not have been more excited that the day was finally here!!



So to celebrate him on his 'special day' I thought I'd share 10 things We love about him! (brace yourselves people. this may be long for some of you :)....

1. The excitement he shows in everything he does. I often say that he has 'fire in his belly' because he is so passionate about things. what things you ask. Everything. Doing a puzzle. Making pancakes. Eating pancakes. Wrestling with Chad. Reading stories at night. Counting. whatever he's doing, he shows extreme excitement.

2. Zahn is SO SO grateful for things. He will often thank us over and over again when he is given things. Even if they're only little things. I love it when hours later he reflectively thanks us for something that happened so 'long ago'.

3. He is such a good big brother to Jazzy. He plays with her. Takes care of her and makes her laugh.all.the.time. She ADORES him and he her.

4. He is a home-body. He loves to be at home with our family and when someone is away he never feels quite right with that person missing. He loves his family!

5. He is such a loyal good friend. I love it when I see him sacrifice things and give them or share them with his friends. (especially treat food. This means so very much to him :)

6. His hair and his freckles. It was such a shock to see his 'orange' hair when he was born. But now that we 'know' him - he could only have this colour hair. It is just SO him.

7. Sometimes when he talks (and especially sings) his lips kind of 'pout' to one side. Chad and I love it. A LOT! It is ridiculously cute!

8. Zahn is a little artist. He spends hours and hours drawing and colouring in. Each stroke and line is carefully considered before appearing on the page. I love the things that come out of his little mind and are conveyed on paper!

9. He is determined! (other wise known as stubborn :). This has taught me to pick our 'battles' carefully. I love this about him because he has such a strong sense of what HE likes and what HE doesn't like. He's happy and OK with things, even if others don't feel the same way.

9. Zahn is HAPPY! He smiles and laughs OFTEN. I LOVE THIS! The fact that he can and does laugh SO freely may even be right up around number one for me. That might seem funny to be so high on my list, but it's a quality that can and will make life so much more enjoyable for him as he grows. The often say 'humor' is the best medicine and this boy is in no shortage of that. (I should put a disclaimer in here......he is such a happy kid but he can and does throw whooper tantrums. they don't last long. but they do happen. just check out THIS PIC -YOU'LL KNOW THE ONE). He has the kind of smile that when you see it, you think he's about to tell you something really funny. But he's not. It's just his smile. so reflective of the happy kid he is/can be :)

10. He get's so excited when he learns something new. It is such a buzz to watch him learn and show us new found skills or tell us what he 'now knows'. He almost bursts with excitement. I love it when he states (so confidently) something like, "i'm really good at this" or "i'm pretty talented arn't I". His enthusiasm is completely contagious.

In Zahn's baby blessing it stated.....'he will be a great joy to his mother'. How true those words have proven to be. Then and now. MAN I LOVE THIS BOY!

Happy Birthday 5 year old!

Patience.

The last week we have had a lot of this.



and even more of these.



and a certain 4 and a half year old has spent a lot of time doing this.




luckily for us all (especially me :) the 'tantys' as we call them are fairly short lived and there's still plenty of this thrown in the mix.



I'm pretty sure that one day this boy is going to use all this 'passion' and do something REALLY great!

10 minute dinners......

The only (if any) positive thing about Chad being away.......

I make my quick fix lazy meal pretty much every night. Continental {wholegrain} pasta with steamed vegies.

Besides the capsicum and zuccinni - the boys love it, and luckily for me, despite their dislike they still eat it. Even if Zahn was chanting almost the whole time, quote "noodles are the best, chuck out the capsicum" (sung to the tune of 'Astons are the best', a song carried on from chads childhood) It was very funny, especially when his words were changing everytime he re-sung it.

I think the last version went something like this, "noodles are the best, chuck out every capsicum in the whole wide world"! Aahhhh always good for a laugh that boy!!!!

Park Play.......

Ahhhhhh. The energy that is Zahn is never short in supply!

The cake

So it has become one of our traditions that every year we let the boys pick the cake they want for their birthdays and Chad then makes it for them (I've made a couple - but Chad's are usually WAY better ;) But last year, due to some reason completely unknown now, Zahn ended up having a "shrek swamp" cake.....basically we called it that because that's what it looked like (it wasn't me that made this one.....but it may have been me that forgot to buy an essential ingredient.......)

So for his birthday this year I was determined to make him THE BEST NINJA TURTLE CAKE EVER to make up for his 'cake' last year (which by the way he loved and thought was great - it was only me that secretly cried when chad pulled the cake out at the party for every one to see - i would have completely kept it hidden :) So I made a delicious cake (thanks for the recipe mum) let it cool and began to ice.....everything was looking good and I was feeling like redemption was coming until.....the icing started to melt, and the turtle face started warping as the colours gradually blurred together and ran down the side of the cake!! Chad and I had a laugh and he informed me that "next year I'll make the cake". So I was looking at the 'green blob' feeling a bit dissapointment that this too was becoming a "shrek cake", and Zahn looked up and said "oh mum this is the BEST NINJA TURTLE CAKE EVER....I LOVE IT!! I was so happy that just like his 'shrek' cake he loved this one too.

What can I say......next year I WILL REALLY make the best cake ever......(oe Chad will :)

this is after a little (ok a lot) of patch up work...It really did look good before all the warping and running of colours :) and the mask wasn't quite so pink either :)