barf a ship?

but we are all good :) 

Love this Seth!

To Seth, on your seventh birthday

Dear Seth,

On your seventh birthday,

Two of my favorite moments with you in the past month:

Helping you choose a library book

The girls flew through the fiction section and loaded their arms with fairy stories and puppy stories and books about horses. I told you that you are old enough fora chapter book, and with a satisfied air, you agreed. We began our book hunt in the fiction section, where the girls had had so much success.  I suggested book after book, and you shook your head. I tried not to insult you by suggesting anything with unicorns or mermaids, but you rejected everything that seemed even the slightest bit whimsical.

Finally you chose a book about a train. It was three hundred pages long and about a fifteen-year-old and his struggle through the Great Depression. I gently put it back, and we walked to the nonfiction section. (I'm a little slow, but I'll get it eventually.) Nothing satisfied you there until we discovered the biographies. Suddenly you spied a book called ""The Amazing Mr. Franklin: The Boy Who Read Everything." I saw that look in your eyes, the one you get when you finally find something worth thinking about, when you are finally given a respectable challenge. "Ben Franklin- of course! He was quite an interesting man..." I explained.  

We ended up checking out six books about Ben Franklin.  You have found a new superhero.

Watching Old Yeller

I knew just what would happen, and it did. I wore my soft blue robe for your sake. It is absorbent. Oh my dear boy, I understand.  Your daddy may not, but I do.

For your birthday, we had our first boy sleepover party with 2 of your friends. You boys had so much fun! You are a gracious host- making sure your friends like whatever we are eating or watching.  There was no "I'm-the-birthday-boy-so-there" power trip!  You boys ran like crazy at the gym, ate loads of junk food, and then watched Star Wars.  Judging by sleepovers alone, I say yes, boys are easier than girls.

You seem to know that God gave you smarts, and you don't hesitate to let people know about it (especially your sister Lorraine!) I often hear you say "YES!!! I was right again! I love being right!"

You take school seriously and love getting As.  I think your penmanship is better than mine!  You are curious about how things work. Last week you requested library books on tarantulas and on hybrid cars.  You enjoy your Legos and your circuit board.  You are taking piano lessons and doing well, and I think you enjoy it!  You are the only one of the children who will play the piano when you are not told to practice!

You definitely have your opinions. You love to read, but you most certainly, emphatically, do NOT like onomatopoeia.  ("Mom, do you see where it says 'plop, plop?' I don't like that part.  You read it.")  

When I sort through hand-me-downs, you are close by, making the final call on each piece of clothing. Once, I made the mistake of revealing that I loved a certain blue sweater.  You looked at it and made a face. Then, when you saw my hopeful eyes, you tried to compromise. "Um, well, I guess we can keep it. I will wear it on Saturdays. Only on Saturdays when nobody's coming over."

You'll always be my first baby boy, even when I'm not longer your favorite girl! 

I love you Seth, Happy Birthday!

My God continue to bless and keep you!

Interview with a Kindergartner!

Name Seth

Age 6

Grade K

1.       This school year is over. How do you feel about that?

Sad. Because I like school!

2.       How was this year different from last year?

Because I’m getting bigger! I went to school 3 days every week!

In the classroom

3.       What did you like most about your teacher?

She’s nice. I like Mrs. Barnett AND Mrs. Meyer.

4.       Who do you like to sit by in class?

Austin

5.       What is your favorite subject? Why?

Math. I just like it.

6.       Name two books that you read this year that you liked. What did you like about these books?

Scooby Do and the pirate book that we got from the bookmobile. It was scary and there was a sea monster.

I can’t think of any more. I don’t want you to write that! MOMMY!!!! Erase it! Hee hee hee!

7.       Did you have any extra helping jobs in your classroom this year? What were they?

I did every single job. Milk helper with Sara and Tyler; and I did the lights.

8.       What jobs did you like? What jobs did you dislike?

I liked milk helper. There were no jobs I didn’t like. I liked being a messenger.

9.       Who do you play with at recess?

Caleb a lot. Austin and all of the boys.

10.   What is your favorite thing to do when recess is outdoors?

Monkey bars

11.   What is your favorite thing to do when recess in indoors?

Go around the gym walls

12.   What was the best birthday treat you had this year? Do you remember whose birthday that was?

Austin’s cupcakes!

13.   What songs do you sing at school? Tell me three of your favorites.

None. I don’t like any.

14.   Tell me about the one field trip this year.

Appleworks!  We got apples and rode on a tractor in a trailer.

15.   What was your favorite lunch?

Chicken legs

16.   Did you like art class? What was your favorite project?

Yes. I don’t know.

17.   What was the best thing about music class?

Drawing music.

18.   Did you learn anything about computers this year? What?

Yes. Computer class. We just did computer lab.  We did a cross.

19.   If you could only wear one outfit to school for a week, what would you wear?

Green shorts and John Deere shirt

20.   What is your favorite after-school snack?

Chocolate granola bars

21.   What do you usually do right after school?

Watch TV

22.   What else would you like to remember about this year? A funny story?

A mice scares a teacher and a teacher jumps over the fence when they go on a field trip around the school. (It’s a book we read! It’s funny!)

Friends

23.   If you fell on the playground, who would come running to help you?

I think all the boys and some of the girls.

24.   Who likes to make everybody laugh?

Gus

25.   Who likes to wear fancy clothes to school?

Nobody. Well, Emma.

26.   Who likes to get dirty?

Gus

27.   If you started a snowball fight, who would join you?

Austin and Gus cuz Gus is friends with Austin

28.   If I told you someone had to stay in for recess, who would you guess it was?

nobody

29.   Who runs the fastest?

Caleb, he’s the oldest

30.   Who talks the loudest?

Gus

31.   If you needed someone to help you with your homework, who would you ask?

Lorraine. (Anyone in your class?) Caleb. He’s the oldest.

32.   If you were sad and needed someone to talk to, who would you choose?

Nobody.

33.   If you could spend a week with somebody else’s family, what family would you choose?

Calebs

God’s care

34.   Do you remember any of your memory verses? Do you have a favorite?

No (we didn’t do those this year.)

35.   Did you have prayer time at school? What are some of the things you prayed for?

Yes. We prayed for Otis (our dog who died), Snickers (Nana’s dog), When Marcus and Eldon and Peter were sick we prayed for them

36.   Did God answer any of those prayers?

Yes.

37.   Do you think you will like school next year? Why or why not?

Yes. Because I want to go in first grade!

38.   What do you think will be different next year?

Homework! I’ll go every day. Lorraine won’t be at recess. Miss Schneider.

39.   Did God take care of you at school this year? What did He do?

Yes. He fed me.

40.   What do you like about summer?

Go swimming in the pool!

Thank you, God, for blessing me during this school year. Thank you for my teachers, principal, and pastor. Thank you for all of my friends. Please watch over all of them, and me too, this summer.  Thank You for Your unbreakable, never-stopping, deeper-than-the-ocean love for me. Thank you for always watching over me, Your dear child.  In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Want to do your own interview? Get your questions here

To Seth, on your sixth birthday

Dear Seth,

You are still my little blue-eyed baby!

Today, we got to have some special "Mommy time." Marcus and Eldon went to preschool for a few hours, so you and I went shopping. Peter was there too, but he doesn't count. He doesn't clamor for attention like the other two boys.  Plus, you think he's incredibly cute. (He is.)

We went to Target so that you could spend your birthday money. It was quite nice to be able to take our time shopping.  We walked through the store for an hour, and I didn't have to break up a single fight!

You are a big kid, now. You're a school kid. You read books and play "sports."  You used your birthday money to buy yourself a new basketball. 

"Honey, you could always borrow one of the basketballs at school..."

"But mom, those basketballs are so dirty," you said.

I couldn't argue with that.  You also bought a small truck with a trailer that hauls 2 tiny motorcycles. You would much rather have bought yourself a real truck. It is going to be a long wait for you.

At your request, Nana bought you a new skateboard for your birthday.

"Mommy, I think when I'm bigger, like 21 or something, I might be able to ride on my new skateboard and dribble my basketball at the SAME TIME!" 

Maybe, son! 

Keep practicing!

One of my favorite memories with you when we were in Florida. I know, you don't like to stick out in a crowd, or to act crazy like your brothers and sisters do. But you were swept up with the rest of us in Florida. You wore the tie-dyed shirt without complaining, and you even grabbed my hand and asked me to SKIP with you!  Like your daddy, I think you get a little intoxicated by the beautiful Florida air! 

Happy sixth birthday, Seth!
We love you!
Mommy 

To Seth, on your first day of kindergarten

               Last night, you cheerfully packed your Cars blanket and your pillow pet so you could use it at rest time at school.  Then, you ran into the office to get another pillow from your bed.  When I tucked you in, you smiled and told me how you found a "big, huge" pillow.  "Look mommy! It's kindergarten sized!"

         I see it in your eyes, son.  You were made for this moment.  You are absolutely ready for the next step in life.  You watch me intently, and the moment I say “go,” you will grab your red backpack and run off with your sisters to school.

First KG paper- He had to get his gorilla
so that he was sure to color it accurately.

I am excited for you and with you, Seth.  You no longer need your mommy like a preschooler.  You moved past that stage many months ago.   I remember when we first moved to White Creek, you just hated crowds and strangers and social activities of any kind.  You would cry, cling to my leg and tried to hide yourself.  Yet we are a pastor’s family, so I had no choice but to inflict the torture of socializing on you on a regular basis. 

The church picnic was yesterday, and you spent no time whatsoever near my leg.  You bounced, you ate, you went for tractor rides and even let Dave teach you how to drive!  You spoke to strangers and adults, you played, and you came home happily exhausted, chattering excitedly about starting school tomorrow.  I can’t help but marvel at the way you have changed over the last two years:

           




Whining changed to stoic endurance, endurance to tolerance, and tolerance to participation, and participation to delight!

                Before you rush off, son, let me pray for you.

Heavenly Father, thank you for this dear child, Seth.  Thank you for blessing me with him five years ago, letting me enjoy him as a baby and a toddler, and using me to help him grow into this big kindergartener.  You have given him an analytical brain, a delight in things mechanical, and an excitement for school.  God continue to make this child grow and bloom.  Sustain His delight in learning and making friends, and protect him during his days of school.  Grow his faith along with his body and mind, and be faithful to Him always, as You have promised.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Alright son, it is time.  A kiss, a hug, an I-love-you....
and finally those words:

On your mark, get set, Go!

Off to school!