Terror on American Thunder

Last Friday evening I reserved tickets for the whole family to attend Fright Fest at Six Flags here in St. Louis (all SIX of us!!!  The twins were both home for the weekend, and Fright Fest is for sure a Family Tradition...just - not usually one that I particularly enjoy partaking in, and usually, not one I even do partake in).  To say I am not a huge fan of this annual family event is notsomuch an understatement as much as it is, at least in this family, an Understood.  It's a: No Questions.  It's a: Don't Even Look This Way.  Don't Think About It.  Mom. Doesn't. Like. Roller. Coasters.  Or scary stuff.  Roller coasters themselves are frightening beasts of sadistic humor, but add chainsaws and gory monsters chasing you through man-made foggy mist of Six Flags during Fright Fest, and it's a shrill, "No Thank You" from Yours Truly.  

Indeed, most years for this "age-old family tradition," I have opted to stay in comfy pjs in front of a roaring gas fire place working on a Shutterfly photo album or watching a rom-com at home.  I much prefer the occasional updates from The Hubby via darkly lit photos and cheerful family texts rather than brave the see-your-breath cold weather, the shoulder-to-shoulder lines and crowds, and the Fright.  But this year? This year my twin babies - who both happen to adore roller coasters and amusement parks and especially Six Flags during Fright Fest - were home, and I didn't want to be That Mom (the one who sits on the sidelines in peaceful tranquility watching her Little Lovelies enjoy themselves but never crossing the threshold to join in their spirited, spooky fun).  

This year was different.  

In fact, I decided to be SO "not this year" Mom that, without telling my family...or even informing myself, honestly, I purposefully headed towards the line at American Thunder right along with them, the first roller coaster to the left inside the park.  Right past the 1900s cars (one of My Favorite Rides EV.ER.).  Now, you may not know it, but "American Thunder is a wooden roller coaster located in the 1904 World's Fair section of Six Flags St. Louis in Eureka, Missouri.  The coaster was originally named after and themed to the famous motorcycle daredevil Evel Knievel.  It was renamed American Thunder for the 2011 season."  According to Google.  But, actually, as you navigate the winding twists and turns of The Wait to Ride this 30-second metal chamber of horrors, the history of roller coasters in general and American Thunder specifically is unveiled through a series of well-placed bill boards marking the path, keeping your mind off the wait and the Impending Doom in which you are about to partake.  I know, because I stood numbly with my family in line to ride this wooden death trap for the first time in my life.  My husband stood in shock and awe, a bolstery "I'm so proud of you!" emitted from his lips several times that I continually and deftly ignored.  After all, one time.  One. Time. I rode The Boss - another roller coaster in the middle of the park, further past the ice cream cones and the turkey legs, and the little kid Tweety Bird section (it had taken longer to convince me/myself to ride back then).  That day, at the incessant insisting of my husband when we were there together on a date, just the two of us, pre-children era, I rode The Boss, clinging to the bar across my lap with an eagle talon death grip, my eyes rammed shut against my cheek bones, my quivering lips on a repeat loop of something akin to a self-soothing, suck-your-thumb, rocking in the corner kind of verbal self-massage of "you are fine.  you are fine.  you are fine."  That day, I exited the ride and burst into hysterical sobs, and my husband left me alone from thence forward - for the most part - about riding roller coasters with him ever again.  But, on this day, fast forward, I skip-read the billboards, noting with fascination my utter numbness to the task I somehow seemed to have chosen to do.  I'm not even sure I drove to Six Flags thinking I would ride a roller coaster.  Yet, here I was, snaking my way closer and closer to the front.

I thought I was calm.  I now see the fear in my eyes.

We rock-paper-scissored who would sit by whom, 2 to a car, three cars' full.  Sweet Matthew, my 16 year-old giant man-child cut from a cloth of athleticism, sarcastic humor, intelligence, fashion, and good looks got the short straw.  (He actually volunteered to go with me.  Did I mention he has a kind heart and a gentle, tender, and loving soft spot for his mom?)  Suddenly, we were next.  The silver bar jettisoned open, beckoning me to enter the cart.  I continued to marvel at the truest feeling of Numb I had ever encountered within my core.  Certainly that was a good sign.  I couldn't feel anything, so I must have emotionally matured over the last twenty years and would find myself wholly capable of riding - if not enjoying - this little side attraction with my family at Six Flags!  The metal bar collapsed tightly over my lap.  The coaster lurched forward.  I will be fine, I began to recite.  I will be fine.  I will be fine.  I will be

Screaming.  A guttural, piercing, shrill, terrifying sound came from the utter bowels of my center, my core.  I had no control of it.  I began to scream, and I continued screaming for the entirety of the ride.  Through every twist, turn, drop, and pull.  In my ear, my son calmly cajoled, "here comes a big hill..." and other soothing sounds including, "it's OK Mom.  This isn't for everyone."  By the time the coaster came barreling to a stop moments later (years, really), I sobbed uncontrollably in a squishy wet puddle of trauma and embarrassment on the oil, dirt, and probably COVID-encrusted textured floor of the coaster cart.  Matthew took my arm, lifted, and escorted me from the barn, out into the dark, man-made foggy mist of the night.  We shared ice cream, searched the boardwalks for games to play, and then we drove the family home.

Week 2: Interpret a Song - Breathe

My favorite song right now is Breathe by Jonny Diaz.  Every time it comes on the radio, Meiners says, "Mom!  The right song at the right time!" because really?  I need that song every moment of every day.  After the millionth moment of absolutely losing my marbles this week, I posted this in our kitchen:

"No Drama Momma" became my battle cry.  I have to admit - it helped.  Mostly.  I would guess my moments of complete and utter loss of control of my patience reduced by...maybe 10%?  Nah.  I kid.  Mostly.  

Way more like 12%.

Grandma and Grandpa came for pasta dinner and a sold out Beginning Violin concert!

Grammie enjoyed dinner and the concert, too!

Yikes.  Just breathe?  Baby?

Ouch.  Breathe. 

Xopenex helps her Breathe!

In addition to BREATHING and REMEMBERING that Jesus wins in the midst of the chaos of single-parenting while The Mister worked out of town with a winter concert this week and extra rehearsals, basketball practices, breakfasts and dinners and crazy school lunch spending, three different school starts, work, two hour bean bag snuggle conversations discussing painful childhood moments for one of my people, and additional doctor's visits because someone broke his arm, we also enjoyed an exorbitant amount of coughing that led to a stethoscope to a chest and every-four-hour breathing treatments.  Oh yeah.  Breathe.  And Just Be.  Because chaos calls and all I really need is for Him to blow air into my lungs (and into hers!) and to keep me moving and going and ultimately worshiping because truly, that is the only point.  He reigns.  He gives.  He wins.  It is good.  It is good to rest at God's feet, and to just be.  Take it in.  Fill your lungs with the peace of God that overcomes.  Lay down what's good and find what's best.  

Love this kid!

He is just the best!

Love.

Lyrics to Jonny Diaz's song Breathe:

Alarm clock screaming bare feet hit the floor
It’s off to the races everybody out the door
I’m feeling like I’m falling behind, it’s a crazy life
Ninety miles an hour going fast as I can
Trying to push a little harder trying to get the upper hand
So much to do in so little time, it’s a crazy life
It’s ready, set, go it’s another wild day
When the stress is on the rise in my heart I feel you say just

Breathe, just breathe
Come and rest at my feet
And be, just be
Chaos calls but all you really need
Is to just breathe

Third cup of joe just to get me through the day
Want to make the most of time but I feel it slip away
I wonder if there’s something more to this crazy life
I’m busy, busy, busy, and it’s no surprise to see
That I only have time for me, me, me
There’s gotta be something more to this crazy life
I’m hanging on tight to another wild day
When it starts to fall apart in my heart I hear you say just

Breathe, just breathe
Come and rest at my feet
And be, just be
Chaos calls but all you really need

Is to take it in fill your lungs
The peace of God that overcomes
Just breathe
So let your weary spirit rest
Lay down what’s good and find what’s best
Just breathe

Just breathe, just breathe
Come and rest at my feet
And be, just be
Chaos calls but all you really need
Is to just breathe
Just breathe

And the video:

Week 1: Beginnings

2016 is upon us, and I am challenged by the beginning of a new year and a dear friend.  Let's get started!

I do try to keep the kids' activities to only one apiece, but this year I threw all restraint to the wind.  The kids are doing more than ever, and so are The Mister and I.  First up, ice skating lessons.

The kids' big brothers and big sisters invited them to ice skate in December.  The idea is a great one in theory, but only Sashi has ice skated before.  With the fear of Pookie falling and the awareness of how sore my back was after helping only Sashi skate with Girl Scouts last year, I knew having them go with the med school kids would be disastrous.  Insert ice skating lessons as an experience gift for Christmas.  Great idea!  Only The Mister didn't think so.  He was convinced someone would get hurt.  "But the first thing they'll learn is how to fall safely!  What could go wrong?!" I questioned repeatedly.  

First Ice Skating Lesson Day came on Friday.  All the kids were excited!  A few of them eagerly awaited the start of class so impatiently that they insisted on going out on the ice before lessons began.  Initially, I firmly said, "No!" but my resolve abated and out they went.  Except the oldest.  He said he would stay put.  My absent-minded-because-I-was-intensely-preoccupied-with-worry-about-the-three-already-on-the-ice response of "Do whatever you want T" came across as a taunt, so out he went.  He made it to the middle and back - I was thrilled!  When he shuffled out one more time, however, he took a tumble while I wasn't looking, and the rest, as they say, is history.  Arm broken, skating lessons, snowboarding lessons, and basketball on hold.  (I said I had thrown our cautious schedule to the wind, right?  Maybe this is God's way of saying I really should slow down.  Maybe.)

Another first and new beginning is CYC basketball for Meiners.  He played with Upward for five years but looked for a more competitive league this year.  Unfortunately for my little athlete, he didn't make the Junior High team :( :( :( so he decided to try the catholic league.  It hasn't been without bumps in the road - boys who have played together themselves for years found it difficult to welcome a new boy, but his second game was this weekend.  They didn't win, but last year his team was Division III and they won the league, so they were moved up to Division I.  Then, the team they played yesterday was the team who won the entire championship last year.  Great competition for Meiners to improve upon!  He came off the court red faced and sweaty, having loved every minute of it!  Seems it will work out just fine.

Other beginnings include new books for Sashi.  At Barnes and Noble this week, she chose the newest American Girl book.  She was thrilled to discover Lea is from St. Louis!  I love that the St. Louis heroine is traveling to Brazil and will be studying animals.  Little S thinks for now that she herself will be either a vet or a teacher.  We also bought her a pristine, new Kumon book to practice her multiplication.  That particular book thrills her far less.  I'll take the good with the bad.  ;)

For me, the end of my quiet, leisurely mornings by the tree before dawn, sipping on toasty chocolate-laced coffee and immersing myself in bible study, listening to the newest Amy Grant Christmas CD or simply reading for pleasure has come.  Instead, 5AM workouts have begun again.  6AM kid wake up calls have returned.  Slurping cold coffee between trips to school and hopping in the shower at the last minute before running to work has become my new normal again.  I've contemplated words for the year and resolutions, loosely landing on "Joy" and "Prayer," neither finding itself on a necklace or refrigerator magnet.  Resolutions are more contemplations in my mind than decisions, yet this one - this 52 week challenge - came at the right time.  A good time to begin photos and writing, connecting and catching up.

Here's to Happy Beginnings in 2016!

October 5th

It's a soccer time of year.  We have three in soccer this year.  It's a first.  It's crazy.

This weekend, we have three soccer games at three different times (thankfully, really) at three different locations.  Apparently, it's also against the rules to post pictures of CYC games without written permission from the other team.  So we won't be doing that.

But here are some from the Baptist league - they aren't so picky:

that's Mr. T in the blurry electric blue shorts in the middle yellow shirt - goalie!

It was also a "Let's Make This Place Festive and Get Out of This Funk" kind of weekend, so out came the Halloween decorations.  The kids helped a little.  I really need to let go of that control more.  Everything Meiners put out was perfectly positioned, but my first response when they ask, "Can I help?" is like fingers on a chalkboard and dissonant noise in my ear - I hike my shoulders up to my earballs and sneak off like I didn't hear.  Poor kids.

Happy Fall!

meiners hearts

Yesterday it rained.  I sent the boys out to cover the sand box in case more rain came.  Meiners flew back in the house and deposited a plant in my hand. 

"Here," he said casually before racing back out the screen door.

I looked down at my hand.  There lay a stem with three pristinely shaped heart leaves hanging breezily from its end.  I sucked a breath in and let myself smile slightly. 

Meiners.

My all American rascally athletic rugrat who throws his arm tightly around my neck and draws me in for a morning kiss but chases out the van door with a thoughtless wave backwards in the school yard.  So intent to find beauty in his surroundings and to share it with his mom, yet careful not to stick around long enough to be thought sweet or nostalgic.

Meiners Heart.

Love.

...and that's a winner, folks!

Meiners!  For the wolf den.

AND Mr. T!  For the Webelos 1 den.

And the winners from the pack over-all?

First place Mr. T and second place Meiners from the whole pack!  Wowzahs!

Good Job boys!  We're all very proud of you!

it's also time for this...

...the Pinewood Derby!

The boys' car bodies have been sanded and painted until they shine.

Their axles are polished until they fly.  {We hope ;)}

The wheels have been tested until they're worn straight.

And tonight is the big event.  We sure wish all the boys luck.  And we'll let you know how it goes for our two ;)!

B-ball

The boys are thick in the throws of basketball season.

I am super proud of both of them this year --- going all out on the court, showing up to do their best both at practice and on game day.  I remember not only participating in intramural basketball as a kid, but also those copious games as a spectator/pep-bando through junior high and high school.  Basketball is my favorite sport to watch, and how much more fun is it when my kids are out there scrambling for the ball?!

Meiners is a cat on the court.  He's here, he's there, he's got the ball, he's dribbling it down and shooting for two...He's always been an athlete, and he plays hard.  Always.

T played in an intramural league at his school before basketball season started this year.  We were sure proud of him for giving that a shot!  Once the season started, he earnestly went all out during his first game, snagging a loose ball from flying out of bounds at the last minute...and...unfortunately, is now spending three weeks looking like this:

That would be a Salter II fracture across the growth plate of the middle phalanx on the fifth digit.  Yeah.  It sounds like it hurts, doesn't it?  But it hasn't stopped his spirit - he's been showing up to practice and on game days with that same dazzling smile to cheer on his team.  He's been such a great sport about it...even though I know it's getting boring when he really wants to get out there and play!

We sure do love basketball around here!  And I sure do love my boys!

JR4H

The kids enjoyed a super fun assembly at school on Friday! 

The St. Louis area ShowMe Jumpers came to show off their amazing skills with jump ropes!  The photo above shows two giant ropes being twirled from four corners while two young athletes simultaneously jump over both ropes!  The girls waiting in the foreground soon jumped into the spiderweb of big ropes with their own small ropes and jumped all three at the same time...and one girl even jumped through a hula hoop while jumping through those two giant ropes...I mean, it was crazy cool, energetic, and fun to watch! 

I couldn't jump twice with one rope let alone to an entire funky song with aaaaall those ropes going at the same time!  WoW!

And due to some unfortunate events that ended up bringing Dad home from his business trip early, we were both able to see the kids do a spectacular job introducing the ShowMe Jumpers to their school and giving this talented group a bundle of jump ropes for schools in Joplin.

We are super proud of our kids!  And duly impressed by the kids' skills from ShowMe Jumpers!  If you are in the St. Louis area, you HAVE to get these guys to come to your school's Jump Rope for Heart event, too!  The whole school was PUMPED to kick off their fundraising efforts for the American Heart Association!  Meiners and Pookie received free jump ropes for being Ambassadors for the AHA, and Meinie came straight home to start perfecting his rope tricks.

Please remember, if you aren't sponsoring someone already, all four of our kids are standing by jumping to accept your donation for healthier hearts!  Go here if you have a heart for this effort like we do!

it's just too easy to forget

Last week Meiners spent a day at home with Sashi and me since he woke up with a fever and some achiness.  Of course, by 10:00 he felt like a super hero ... or maybe he just acted like one as he leaped from couch to coffee table to fireplace hearth to beanbag to couch again.  In a single bound.

But later as he and Sashi sat at the counter giggling and mostly ignoring their lunches, I stood back and marveled at how quickly I'd forgotten what a help he used to be with her before he left us for school full day.  They were bosom buddies, best friends, she was his sidekick and he her mentor.  I loved their relationship back then.  I still do, but I see its evolution.  She's peskier with him now.  Has her own opinion and doesn't cater to his every whim as she used to.  He still adores her and wants her undivided love and attention.  Sometimes, nowadays though, she scoffs at his attempts to kiss her lips or hug her or his desire to lead her.

Then again, sometimes she just adores him back and all is still well with the world.

my Jump Rope for Heart presentation

Last summer another mom from our school asked me to meet with her and our local youth market director from the American Heart Association regarding our school's annual Jump Rope for Heart (JR4H) event.  I tagged along to the meeting, truly clueless as to any input that I might provide the cause, but willing to do what I could to help.

Since then we've found ourselves knee deep in Jump Rope for Heart and I have to say I count myself blessed to be doing it.  The kids are having a ball (or is it a rope??)  actively participating in the planning and prep work, as well.

Last week I met with our PTO to promote our 'new and improved' event and to share why the American Heart Association is near and dear to our hearts (I even created a power point - woohoo fancy!).  I thought I would just document those words here, as well.  I've told the story before here, but I am doing at least one more presentation in the weeks ahead, so I'm counting this as "practice" also, knowing public speaking just isn't my forte!

Here goes:

"My name is Karin and I am the mother of four sweet kiddos:

My oldest are 10 year-old twins, Mr. T and Pookie.  Meiners is 7, and then we have Sashi who is four.

Our twins were born in 2001, and at four days-old, Pookie was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect.  Specifically, the cardiologist called it a 'complete a/v canal,' which basically means she had a giant hole in the middle of her heart where the blue blood mixed with the red blood before it all got pumped out into her body. 

To make a long story short, she truly struggled to survive the first few months of her life.  It was difficult for her to eat because she couldn't coordinate the suck/swallow/breathe pattern newborns use innately.  We needed her to weigh 10 pounds before she could have surgery on her heart, so by the time she was 6 weeks old we were feeding her with a feeding tube in her nose.  Eventually we had one placed directly into her tummy --- she didn't eat by mouth until she was five years-old.  The first four months of her life are kind of a blur, being a new mom - to twins, one healthy, one struggling to survive, but we finally made it to the day we'd been waiting for: open heart surgery.  She was four months old...and the surgery was a huge success!  I remember dancing by her bed in the ICU, so excited that the 'sick chapter' was finally behind us and we could go on with our lives.

Unfortunately, within just a few days, Pookie spiked a fever.  It was determined that methycillin resistant staph bacteria (MRSA - the nasty bug you hear about on the news today) had attacked her heart and eventually it destroyed her perfect repair.  We nearly lost her a number of times after that first open heart surgery.  We watched her become addicted to morphine and live on a ventilator.

But by the grace of God, she survived all of that, and she is now the survivor of 6 open heart surgeries.  She'll be followed by cardiology her entire life - she goes every six months and even had a procedure done in the fall because she was having - in layman's terms - little heart attacks during exercise.  We've sort of taken the year off from PE but she has been allowed to go back this month with strict warnings to rest if she gets tired or feels any sort of chest pain.  She takes medicines every day to keep her blood thin because she has an artificial valve in her heart.  She has to have her blood drawn every month, she can't eat certain foods, and she's banned from sports like gymnastics due to the risk of falls and bleeding.  The great news, though, is that she is doing very well.  She won the spelling bee in her class this week.  She loves to sing and dance and is participating in a very cool song-writing project through St. Louis Children's Hospital.  She's had a bumpy road, but she is truly one of our miracles.

That's our Pookie.

Then, in 2004, we had Meiners, and at 2 weeks-old, he was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect as well - an incomplete a/v canal.


 His story is different than his sister's - he has had only one open heart surgery.  He is our smart, athletic, rascally heart kid,  He'll be followed by cardiology his entire life, also.  But despite his heart defect, he, too, is doing very well.

Most people are unaware that congenital heart defects (CHDs) are the most common birth defect in the world.  In fact, one out of every 100 babies is born with a heart defect.  CHDs are the leading cause of infant death; of the one million children born with a CHD each year, 100,000 of them won't make it to their first birthday.  Twice as many children die each year from CHDs than from all pediatric cancers combined, yet five times more money is given for pediatric cancer research than for CHDs.

My mission - and our family's mission - is to increase awareness of and research for CHD.  We also want to be a light of hope for congenital heart disease.  There are an estimated two million CHD survivors today, and for the first time 50% of those are adults!  We not only want those numbers to improve, I want my two kids to be counted among them!

The American Heart Association (AHA) shares our vision.  Their mission statement is straightforward:  Building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular disease and stroke {CHDs are considered under the 'cardiovascular disease' umbrella}.  Their focus is on educating the public on the importance of heart health through topics as broad as childhood obesity to how to cope with life after a stroke.  They provide us all with help planning exercise routines; they offer delicious heart-healthy recipes; and they teach us how to live longer, healthier lives. 

In 2009, the AHA donated close to $10 million for CHD research.  This positively impacts my family because money donated by the AHA led to the development of the first artificial heart valve.  We look forward to new medicines being developed that will thin Pookie's blood without requiring frequent blood draws;  and we also anticipate procedures that will allow her valve to be replaced through a simple catheterization procedure instead of invasive open heart surgery - which doctors are already doing in some cases!  These advancements may be on the horizon with additional research!  We look forward to improved quality of life for our kids and for all our heart friends!

Our school has been invited to share in fundraising efforts for the AHA.  This year we are super excited to bring a new and improved Jump Rope for Heart to our school.  We began in January already with a Heart Health Awareness essay contest.  Then on January 20th, we are honored to host the amazing skills of of the ShowMe Jumpers!  All of this hoopla culminates in an exciting school-wide Jump Rope for Heart event on - what our family calls "Healthy Heart Day" - otherwise known as Valentine's Day, February 14th.  AND if students raise $3000, our principal has agreed to let them duct tape him to the gymnasium wall!

Heart issues affect us all.  Nearly 2,200 Americans die from cardiovascular disease each day.  That is one person every 39 seconds.  Heart attacks and strokes takes more lives each year than cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and accidents combined.  They are also the number one cause of death in women.  So, we wholeheartedly invite you to join us in raising money for the American Heart Association.

Thank you so much for listening and allowing me to come and speak to you!"

**Would you consider helping us reach our goal of increased awareness of and research for healthy hearts?  You can visit our family's fundraising page here.

All the amazing statistics quoted in this post came from the following websites:
http://my.americanheart.org/professional/Research/AboutOurResearch/OurResearch/About-our-Research-Program_UCM_320221_Article.jsp
http://yourlife.usatoday.com/health/medical/heartdisease/story/2011/01/10-myths-about-heart-disease/43124514/1
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1004724,00.html
http://www.childrensheartfoundation.org/about-chf/fact-sheets
http://www.loweryourbloodpressurenow.org/the_american_heart_association.html

elfie

The Elf on the Shelf.

Do you have one?  Ours arrived two years ago now.  He's helping make some super family Christmas memories, letmejustellyou!

There was the time when Matt tried to see if Elfie could fly.  Elfie had landed for the day on the ceiling fan.  Matt turned the fan on.  Elfie flew.  Sort of.  He landed - upside down on the floor.  Matt howled.  Then as he ran to get someone to help, he accidentally kicked Eflie across the floor.

Ouch.  That looks like it hurt.

Elfie didn't come back for a couple of days.  Dad had to call Santa directly to put in a good word.

This year, everyone is as infatuated with the whereabouts of Elfie as ever.  Let me assure you, many a fight has broken out in order to hold the honorable title of being 'first to find Elfie.'  Lately, Sara has even taken to waking in the weeeeeeeeeeeee hours of the morning to go on her little 4 year-old self's 4AM Elfie Hunt.  One morning with sheer panic in her voice she woke me to tell me she couldn't find him.  Ever the patient, nurturing, and good momma, I said groggily, "There are numerous reasons why you can't find Elfie, Sara.  First.  It's pitch dark outside.  Number Two?  GET YOUR BUTT BACK TO BED!!!!!!" 

I may or may not have growled.

Good times.  Good times.

She sure does love him, though.  Every day, we discuss where he may end up tomorrow.  And again, she is definitely the first one to find him.  Every morning by no later than 4AM.



I have to admit, however, that Elfie is getting more creative as the years go by.  Perhaps even brazen.  Using our crayons.  Holding the Advent calendar candy hostage.  Staging tea parties with stuffed animal playmates.  He spent one night 'cooling off' in the fridge. 

All in good fun.  I imagine he'll still be up to his tricks even when the kids have grown too old.  Or maybe they'll always fight for the right to be "First Elfie Finder."

and then he was seven

Meinie turned 7 on Sunday.  The story I keep sharing with everyone is that the boy asked for sugar cookies from a box mix for his birthday.  I mean, seriously ~ who does that when their mom lives to bake cupcakes?  Well, that would be my second son.  


He is nothing like my first son.  Kevin Leman has him pegged.  And much of that 'second born,' 'middle child' stuff is entirely what makes Meiners one of my all-time favorite people in the world.


 He is care-free.  Yet he is incredibly caring.  And nurturing.  And loving.  Not just fun-loving.


He is spirited and daring, athletic and competitive, but he'll lose on purpose if it means someone he loves wins.



 He is smart and funny and charismatic.  His laugh is contagious and he's a little bit wild.  But still fashionable.


 He is a good friend.  A good brother.  A good son.



He is my number one snuggler, hugger, kisser.  Yet he is all boy.



He likes his hair long.  Sometimes he lets his dad get it cut.
 


He owns a skate board, a bike, a basketball, a soccer ball, a volleyball, baseballs, golf balls, nerf guns, and he stays by my side while the big kids ride roller coasters.


He eats five waffles in one sitting.  He prefers pancakes.  Sausage PLUS bacon, please.  Can we have pizza?  Bacon pizza, preferably.  And McD's cheeseburgers with bacon have been trumped by BK's double stacker.  (He's a lot like his dad like that.)  He gags on cauliflower.  But he'll eat it.  When I tell him to.

He came to Pookie's 5K Sunday morning to cheer her on.  But absolutely refused to hold the sign proclaiming, "Girls Rock."  His ears turned red and he hid behind his dad when I asked him to let me take his picture with his teacher after the run.



He is the cat's meow.  And I get all teary just sitting here thinking of him not being 6 anymore.  Finishing first grade.  Getting taller and just as lanky.  Looking over tow-headed toddler pictures and wondering what a year will bring.


 

Knowing I am absolutely, by far, without a shadow of a doubt, the luckiest mom in the world.  Because Meiners in my son.

Happy Birthday Baby Boy. 
Mommy loves you.



  Always.