Mom Life

I was cleaning up around the house today.  I found a pair of fuzzy earmuffs...that one of the kids left out...in the middle of the living room floor...in July.

#momlife

They Say...

 Zach overheard this conversation:

Adelie:  "Oh no.  I accidentally kicked Frisco, and now he won't like me."

Briggs:  "I accidentally kick Frisco all the time, and he still likes me."

Adelie: (doubtfully) "But does he, though?"

Oh, if only cats could talk.  Then we'd know what Frisco really thinks.

Although, even with the occasional accidental kicking, I don't think this cat can really complain about his life.

Briggs at 9

Yes, I'm 4 months over-due with my long annual post about Briggs at 9.  But to put things in perspective, I never did fill in anything in Briggs' baby book, so 4 months late really doesn't seem too bad in the grand scheme of things.  Regardless, this is all about Briggs at 9.

Briggs at 9 is 4'5 (56th percentile) and weighs 57 lbs (26th percentile).  He generally wears size 8 pants/shorts and child's medium or 8/10 shirts.  His shoes are size 2.  Briggs finished up with phase 1 of his orthodontic work, so he has all the metal out of his mouth except for his top permanent retainer.  He wears removable retainers at night.  Briggs was in Mrs. Coartney's class for 3rd grade.  Throughout the year last year, he participated in summer baseball, fall soccer, and Stage Kids.  He tried out NTA's Rising Stars group, but did not continue that. He ran in a couple of 5K races and did seem to enjoy running.  He was taking piano lessons, but we stopped those prior to the summer.  He also attended Wednesday night Kids Connection at our church.  Briggs typically goes to bed around 8:30 or 9 and typically wakes up between 7:30 and 8.  

Briggs still enjoys doing Stage Kids, and he's always game to make a movie, video, or an original play with his sisters or his cousins or his friends.

Likes:  Briggs' favorite thing to do is build with Legos.  He also still builds with his Magna Tiles, plays with his Matchbox car tracks and cars, and less often his train set and trains.  Writing and drawing are activities he can spend hours doing.  He enjoys listening to audio books and playing Wii games.   Briggs loves to read.  He reads longer books like Harry Potter and Percy Jackson series, but also enjoys reading graphic novels and shorter series, like Bear Grylls or Dragon Games.  He really enjoys fantasy, adventure, and mystery books.  When playing outside, Briggs will ride his scooter, shoot baskets (for short periods of time), draw with sidewalk chalk, and look for bugs.  Playing with neighborhood friends is the most motivating reason to play outside though.

Water fun with neighborhood friends

Briggs prefers to wear athletic shorts or pants and athletic material shirts.  He'll wear jeans or khakis for church or if I make him, but comfort is generally the name of the game.  He still likes wearing fleece footie pajamas for bedtime, but has also gotten more in the habit of just wearing pajama pants or shorts with t-shirts for bedtime.  (What he really likes is if I just let him wear his clothes that he wore all day to bed.  Less steps for bedtime, I guess.)  Briggs' favorite foods are tacos, mac and cheese, chicken nuggets, meatballs, pancakes, and anything sweet.  He likes to watch movies, but prefers ones that he's already seen or read the book.  Bluey and the Paw Patrol movies are still favorites.  Playing board games is another favorite activity with Dragon Realm and Forbidden Islands being 2 of his most requested game choices.

Sweets are always a favorite!

Briggs is social and has lots of friends.  He often talks about "my best friend _______" and that blank is often filled with someone different, depending on the day.  People who have filled in that blank this year include George, Ryker, Jackson, Jadon, Freddie, Cedar, Bryli, and Coraleigh.  Briggs also really enjoys playing with his cousins, Caroline and Lucy, and his sisters.  Although social, Briggs is also very happy to stay at home and play on his own.  

Briggs has lots of friends and gets along well with anyone.

He and Adelie always have a lot of fun together.

Dislikes:  Briggs does not like when his sisters don't want to play with him, when he has to do chores, when he is asked to do something he doesn't want to do, when he is rushed, and when he has to wait to do something he wants to do.  (Self-regulation and patience are still works in progress.)  Briggs does not like storms, the dark, "scary" movies or scary bad guys, swimming in the ocean or murky lakes, and spiders.  He is not an adventurous eater and doesn't like most casseroles, pastas, fish, salads, or chicken dishes that I make.  Briggs is apprehensive about new situations or things that he doesn't know what to expect.  He is a creature of habit and routine, so he is generally cautious about trying new things.

He did get more adventurous with rides/roller coasters that he tried at Disneyland, although REALLY didn't like the intensity and dark/scariness of the Indiana Jones ride.

Skills:  Briggs is a great builder.  He can follow directions to build Lego sets, but also has a great mind for free building with his Legos as well.  He is also good with making things out of Magna Tiles, train tracks, blocks, and paper/tape.  He is very creative, and his books and drawings continue to improve.  He enjoys drawing/writing with action/adventure stories being the general genre of choice.  He has piles of book series that he has written in his room, complete with his own word bubbles and illustrations.

Legos and Lego creations are a constant presence in Briggs' room. 

Briggs has tried a variety of sports and hasn't found any he loves, but he improves with every sports season he tries.  He does run well and has completed several 5K races.  Even without any training, he runs the whole way and does well.  I could see running being in his future.

Briggs is a really good reader and is very bright.  He can read most any book, although still sometimes finds reading long books overwhelming and doesn't always finish those he starts.  (He's been working his way through the 5th Harry Potter book for a long time.)  However, he can polish off several shorter books in a single day.  Briggs does well in school.  Learning comes easily to him, especially math.  He got all A's on his report card this past year and continues to score in the 80th and 90th percentiles for his MAP testing scores for math and reading.  

Briggs has become very capable and independent with most things around the house.  Although he sometimes needs reminders for thoroughness, he can complete all the chores that I give him without help (but not necessarily without complaining).  He does all his own daily activities, including taking allergy meds when he needs them, remembering to wear his retainers (except for those 10 days in CA that required a visit to the orthodontist afterwards to remold the top retainer that no longer fit), and making his own snacks and simple meals.  He is also good about putting books on hold at the library, ordering for himself at restaurants, and staying home alone for an hour or two at a time if everyone else has somewhere to be.

Personality:  Briggs has so many facets to his personality.  He is bright and funny and sweet and intelligent and kind.  He gets along well with others and has no difficulties making friends wherever he goes.  However, he also gets angry quickly and throws fits with yelling, door slamming, crying, and lashing out when things don't go his way.  He can calm himself down and apologize more quickly than he used to, but anger is still often his most immediate response.  Thankfully that is primarily at home.  Briggs is a 9 year old boy, so he also can be obnoxious and does things to deliberately annoy his sisters (or, at times, his parents).  He can get silly and loud and squirrely and thinks potty humor is funny.  I blame his Y chromosome.

His default mode is to make funny faces when I ask to take his picture. *sigh*

 Briggs remains a creature of habit and cautious by nature.  He likes routines and knowing what to expect.  He talks through various scenarios, always having lots of questions about what something new will be like.  He is also sensitive, so he gets his feelings hurt if he's being left out or someone is being unkind.  Tears still come quickly and easily to Briggs.  Briggs is also developing a deeper faith.  He asked Jesus into his heart this year, which was so exciting for us as we watch him better understand what this means.  

Briggs is very sweet and kind.  He still likes to snuggle, make gifts for others, and surprise us with a game he has made or a sweet note he has written or a treat he has made in the kitchen.  He is a good friend, generally playing really nicely with a variety of kids.  His teacher this year said he is very willing to be paired with anyone in the classroom and is a friend to everyone.  Although there are still things he is working through as he grows and matures, I love his sweet nature and his kind heart.  I'm so proud of this boy!

My favorite 9 year old!

Truth

Today Zach and Staley had this conversation about some of the 7th grade boys trying to "cheat" off her group during a running scavenger hunt at cross country camp today.

Staley:  "Why would they do that?"

Zach:  "Because they are middle school boys.  Middle school boys are idiots."

Staley:  "Were you an idiot when you were in middle school?"

Zach:  "Definitely!"

Staley:  "Will Briggs be an idiot when he's in middle school?"

Zach:  "Definitely!"

From the other room...

Briggs:  "Hey!  I heard that."

It's good to speak truth to our children...even if that truth is that, someday, they'll be an idiot.

Pentwater

People often ask after our week in Pentwater, "how was your vacation?"  And my answer is always the same.  Pentwater was good.  Regardless of the weather.  Regardless of the activities.  Regardless of the changes in water temperature or beach configuration or bugs or fish, Pentwater is always good.

There are few surprises about our time in Pentwater each year.

We stay in the same house with the same people.

We generally spend our days on the beach playing with cousins...

swimming in Lake Michigan (which was shockingly and surprising pleasant all week)...

playing in the sand and in the dunes...

and reading and visiting.

We do meals together every night...

play games and hang out in the house...

walk into town for browsing and shopping...

meet up with the whole extended family for spaghetti night and s'more's night...

use a cool or rainy morning to grab breakfast at the Old Hamlin...

walk into town for ice cream...

and enjoy Michigan sunsets on the beach.

The 3 older cousins also did a fair bit of running together throughout the week, including a few runs of the 4.5-5 miles it takes to get to the beach each day.

Pentwater is never a surprising vacation.  It is comfortable and relaxing as we follow the same formula from year to year.

We had good weather, plenty of beach time, lots of fun with family, and all our traditions firmly in place.

So how was our Pentwater vacation this year?

It was good!

Good-bye, June!

We just blinked and the first month of summer break is behind us.  It was a jam-packed month of activities, camps, vacations, and fun.  School ended, we were in California for a week and a half, and then we had our first actual week of summer.

That first week gave us time to start our summer activities, like tech kids and rehearsals for Moana and Shakespeare.

Adelie wanted to try out swim team, so she joined the Roanoke Blue Dolphins for the summer.  Swim practices every morning and meets an evening or two each week kept Adelie's schedule busy.

Staley helped Lila celebrate her birthday with a day of shopping with Lila, Uma, and Papa...

and Adelie joined some friends for a day of scone making and hanging out together.

Staley, Liam, Elliott, and Ella all ran in the Heart House 5K race.

Staley and Liam both got 2nd place in their age groups.  Staley finished in 23:18.

After just a week at home, the girls packed up again and headed to Miracle Camp for another week away with friends.

Staley, Kaitlyn, Kelsey, and Olivia had a great time in their 4th (and last) year at the junior high camp.  After one year at the grade school camp and 4 at the junior high camp, they are already talking about next year at the high school camp.

They always come home with so many stories about all the things they do and all the fun they have.

Adelie and Stella enjoyed their 2nd year together at the junior high camp (plus one year at the grade school camp and a one night camp at Little Galilee their first year together).

I love that my girls have this opportunity every summer to experience freedom, make new friends, grow in their faith, and make such great memories that they talk about all year long.

Briggs wanted to go to sleep away camp too, but we weren't sure about sending him all the way to Michigan.  Instead, he joined his cousins at their church camp in Bloomington.  Apparently, he did fine the first night, but the next night he felt a little homesick, got upset, and ended up throwing up, so we picked him up in the middle of the second night.  He had a lot of fun during the day portion of camp and, after a day at home, went back for the final full day of camp.  He told us, "I'm ready for camp, but maybe not the sleep away part."  I'm glad he was only 30 minutes away instead of 4 hours, and I'm glad that he still came away with lots of stories and fun memories.

After returning from camp, we had another big, full, busy week starting with Staley and I going to watch the Stage Teens show "All Shook Up" just a few short hours after Staley got home from camp.

We got together with my family for Father's Day and June birthdays.

The girls got to attend a Master Class with Broadway star Cassie Sylva and then got to perform with her at a benefit concert that evening with NTA.  She was so sweet and personable...and fabulously talented.

My friend, Christie, and her two girls stayed with us most of the week while they were home.  We celebrated Isla's birthday...

hung out, went swimming a few times, and choreographed an original dance to 'Chandelier' by Sia.

Staley had her end of the year quiz team party at State Farm park and pool with a picnic, making an end of the year video, and swimming with her quiz team friends.

Our busy week was even busier as we fit in Briggs' swim lessons every morning with Ms. Lisa and Ms. Gretchen.  He did great in the advanced beginner class.  Swimming really seemed to click for him this summer more than any other year.

Staley's summer days at home have been full with cross country open runs, NTA classes and activities, and dance team rehearsals.

Adelie did a book talk at the local library about her book, 'The Bandit's Grace'.  She donated a copy of her book to the library over 8 months ago, and it is never on the shelf!  There is a long waiting list of people wanting to read her book.

There was a great turn out for Adelie's book talk.  The library provided pizza and snacks, and then Adelie talked about her book and read an excerpt.  She then answered questions, and the kids asked great questions about her book and the process of writing it and publishing it.

After her talk, a group of Adelie's friends came back to our house for popsicles and play time.  Adelie enjoyed that time with friends, many of whom she hadn't seen since school got out for the summer.

The girls have also performed several times with their Rising Stars and Singapella groups at various events around the area.

Staley has had the opportunity to perform her summer solo, 'Happy' by Pharrell Williams twice so far this summer.

And although Briggs' summer schedule is way less busy than the girls', he has made time for lots of playing with neighbor friends, reading, building Legos, hanging out at home, going to the girls' swim meets and performances, and enjoyed helping his friend, Bryli, celebrate her birthday with a fun play date at her house.

The girls and I capped off our busy June week at home with going to see some NTA friends perform in the Chillicothe Player's show 'Shrek, Jr.'

And, after ALL we fit into our one week at home after camp, we packed up and headed for a week in...

Pentwater!!  What a great way to finish out our June.  June was just a busy, full month of vacation, home, camp, home, and then vacation again.  We fit SO much into those few home weeks that we had.  It's hard to believe that the first month of summer break is behind us.  But now we are looking forward to slowing down a bit, fitting in some more of our summer bucket list items, and enjoying all that July has for us.