Reed is 7

When I asked Reed what he wanted to do to celebrate his birthday this year I realized that this blog has done more than just help me remember the details of our life. Reed is also a big fan of the blog, loves to read about himself and requested a celebration identical to last years. Last year wasn't anything extraordinary, but even so, three days before our big move I couldn't match it. We did what we could, and I think he felt celebrated, so it was a success.

Sam wasn't home on Reed's birthday, but we still wanted him to be included in the festivities so we started the morning with a video chat to open presents.

After we said goodbye to Sam, Reed started working on his wind up robot kit that we had given him. Max and I had picked it out a few weeks earlier and I'm pretty sure Max can't keep a secret because, although he was thrilled, Reed wasn't very surprised.

Reed being the robot.

Lucky Charms was Reed's junky cereal of choice this year.

When I let Reed pick out a special lunch too he said, "Oh...I know what kind of birthday I'm having this year--a food birthday." Sad, but true.

This is the lunch Reed picked out for his "food" birthday.

After school we invited our neighbors to the park for an improptu birthday play date.

I don't remember why Max was so sad.

Thankfully he got over it.

We didn't have cake, but ice cream sandwiches were just as good. It was birthday cake flavored ice cream in the middle so it was close to perfect.

Ruby thoroughly appreciated the break from tradition.

The day after Reed's birthday was his last day of school at Herbert Akins. I actually picked him up a little early because we were loading up the truck and what Reed said he really wanted for his birthday was to pack up our moving truck. ( I guess all the delays were really getting to him!)

Reed and his teacher Mrs. Janik.

As he was leaving his classmates mobbed him with a big group hug. It was really so sweet. I actually almost started to cry and then laugh when I heard one of the little boys say, "Good-bye" you smart little guy."

I was worried that Reed would be heartbroken to leave his school, but he was really nothing but excited about the move.

He certainly doesn't look too torn up in this picture.

g

He may have danced a jig on his way out, but Reed really did love attending Herbert Akins. His class made him this special good-bye shirt that says "Once a hawk....always a hawk!" That shirt is now a treasured possession.

Reed has really grown up so much this past year--almost too much. Even though I'm tired, I am going to note 7 wonderful things about my 7-year-old Reed.

1. He loves the scriptures. Ever since he was tiny I have felt this, but as he grows I have seen this grow too.

2. He loves his siblings and will do almost anything for his little sister.

3. He is following in his father's footsteps in his love for telling jokes. He is especially fond of making up his own jokes...some have been pretty good too.

4. He has a passion for learning. This is something else that I have noticed about Reed his whole life. I love that he can get excited about learning anything new and then equally (if not more excited) about sharing it with others.

5. He can speed read---really. I once saw him sit down and read an entire Magic Tree House book in 15 minutes. I couldn't believe he had read the whole thing so I quizzed him and he had. The boy can actually read faster than me. Hopefully he'll keep that skill. It will serve him well in college for sure.

6. He loves to dance--or what he calls dancing at least. It's a combination of of robotic/ninja/break dancing moves. I don't know where he picked them up, but he does love it.

7. He is an awesome whistler. I have never had this skill so I am super impressed when he can bust out recognizable tunes including his most recent favorite, The Star Spangled Banner.

Reed, we love you so much. I am so thankful for the past 7 years. Our lives have been so much enriched by your presence. Happy very belated birthday my boy!

Catching Up and Moving Forward

I've gotten really behind with posting again and I'm ready to catch up---and move on. It's MAY now, but back in March we celebrated St. Patrick's Day, Reed turned 7 & we officially moved from North Carolina to Maryland. Here is a quick recap of our St. Patrick's Day.

Our St. Patricks's day was pretty tame compared to last year, but it still included a last-minute trip to Walmart to raid their clothing department for anything green. How do my children have nothing green?! It was slim pickings for sure, but we found what we needed to feel festive and avoid being pinched. (I loved how concerned they were that Ruby have green attire as well.)

Here are the boys in their green. Note to self: Having kids say "Happy St. Patricks Day" while they pose does not make for a great picture.

It was a over a month ago now, but I do recall that we had beautiful spring weather on St. Patricks day. It was perfect for participating in the old Irish tradition of cartwheeling in the front yard with friends. What? That's not a tradition...well it should be. I'm sure the kids would agree at least. They had a great time.

Ruby was not about to miss out on the cartwheeling action. She was pretty cute trying to copy the boys.

Ruby not only looks ready for St. Patricks Day, but Marti Gras too.

At this point we had already packed up most of our house. Luckily I had the foresight to leave out the food coloring to make this festive dinner possible. Maybe next year we'll try real Irish food and save the dye for Easter eggs.

I love Fuquay

When we moved to North Carolina 7 years ago we felt we were really moving to foreign territory. I still remember the night we flew into Raleigh to move into an apartmet I had only seen online. The apartment was not great (there is a reason they didn't include any interior photos), but from the moment we arrived we loved this state, the beautiful trees and how it smelled liked we were camping. I do remember, however, as we began our house hunt, seeing listings and freeway signs with the name "Fuquay-Varina" on them and telling Sam, "What a crazy name for a town. I'm pretty sure I don't want to live in a place that I can't even pronounce." Three months later were Fuquay residents and happy to be so.

There is so much we loved about living in Fuquay. I had high hopes of taking time our last week there to take pictures of all of our favorite places, but alas--like most things on my "would like to do" list--it didn't happen. Since I don't have all the pictures I had hoped for, I feel even more compelled to record my thoughts about our home and life of the past 7 years.

There is no way I could include everything that we've loved about living in Fuquay, but topping the list would have to be the people here. We enjoyed a wonderful (and growing and changing) ward during our time here. We've had great friends and neighbors. I can honestly say that I have come to know and become friends with more wonderful people while in North Carolina than at any other place or time in my life. As we were getting ready to leave I had grand plans of writing notes to all of the good people in North Carolina who had positivally influenced myself or my family. Unfortunately, this was another activity that never made it off the to-do list, but it was amazing the large number of people on my mental list that were due thanks.

In addition to the great people, we have loved living "a little more out in the country". I always considered myself a city girl and find it a big plus to live in an area with good freeway access and everything you need within a few minutes. Living in Fuquay has taught me to appreciate things other than freeway on ramps. We absolutely loved the soybean field, old pecan grove and pond behind our house. It didn't have all the conveniences I would have liked (we were close to Wal Mart and.... Wal Mart), but for the past several years it was close to perfect. It made us feel like we were in the middle of nowhere and we loved it. No matter where life takes us I really think a little part of me will always be from North Carolina.

For 6 long weeks Sam lived and worked in Maryland and came home on the weekends. It was not may favorite and I certainly have greater empathy for single parents. It is a tough job. Here are a few pictures from the 6 long weeks of no Sam and no blogging.

While Sam was gone Ruby ended up in my bed almost every night. It didn't make for very restful nights, but she sure was cute to wake up to.

I'm not sure if this is "Hello" or "Good-bye". They were usually way too close together. I would pretty much go straight from feeling relief that Sam was home to dreading his departure.

I wasn't the only one who dreaded the Sunday good-bye.

There were several stow-away attempts...

And sad goodbyes...

The boys did their best to be extra helpful while we were without Sam. Reed took Sam's charge to be the man of the house while he was gone seriously. Unfortunately, to Reed that meant he should also be able to stay up late like "dad always does". I told him he was welcome to stay up if he was willing to help me clean. He agreed and stayed up way to0 late mopping the floor. He told me, "It's kind of funny, I don't really like to work during the day, but at night I love it."

That boy must really hate to sleep

Max was a helper too--more like a SUPER helper. He wanted me to take a picture of him turning into a super hero. I give you Super Max...

Max actually was a super helper--especially when it came time for Ruby's nap. Ruby's sleeping was a wreck while Sam was gone for some reason and the only place I could get her to nap consistantly was in the car. So twice a day Max and I would go on a "driving date", which primarily included driving Ruby to sleep and parking while Max would jump into the front seat to read books, play games and do school work. He really was a trooper to hang out in the car so often.

I think Ruby really missed a male figure in her life because while Sam was away she took a greater interest in playing with Max and wanting Max to do everything with her. Thankfully Max usually obliged.

"Dog" is their favorite game. Max loved to have Ruby pull him around on a leash. It was pretty adorable.

And sometimes the dog leads...

Max thought it was pretty funny when Ruby plopped herself down on his lap with a book. "Mom--she's a BIG gurler (that is how he still says girl and I still love it.))

Ruby rarely lets anyone hold her hand. I guess Max is an exception.

Even without Sam we had good times. (Wow--it looks like we are always washing the floor.)

The True Clean team (the name my kids go by when they are doing jobs) has a new member. I'm not sure what she was doing, but Ruby was loving it.

and so were the boys.

And we had plenty of sad times too. This is Reed after he accidentally pulled my camera and computer off the bar with one swift movement. He felt terrible. I tried not make him feel worse even though I was devastated thinking I had cracked the lens of my camera--again! When I told him it was going to be OK he said between heavy sobs, "But I'll miss your great pictures." He knows just what to say.

No matter what happened during the week everything was so much better when Sam walked through the door on Friday evenings.

I have many more pictures documenting our last few days in Fuquay, but I think I'll have to save them for another entry. This one is already starting to break records.