mistakes

the hubby: I'm sorry.
the kid: that's okay, daddy. everyone makes mistakes. you're amazing.

perfection

as we were setting up the Christmas tree, the hubby noticed it leans ever so slightly...

the hubby: should I find a piece of cardboard to try and straighten it out?
me: nah. I think it looks great.
the hubby: are you sure?
the kid: you can't be perfect, daddy. only God is perfect.

and so the tree continues to lean ever so slightly... and, per the kid, "it looks amazing!"

speaking up

I am SO proud of the kid! His teacher messaged me this morning to let me know she "moved him as he requested" yesterday. I asked him about it, and he said "yeah, J was bothering me, so I asked her if I could move away from him." The other child has been saying things under his breath about the teacher and also to/about the kid. Instead of just putting up with it until he reaches a breaking point (...like he did in kinder and 1st grade) and then me having to get involved, he nipped it early by talking to the teacher himself. SO. very. proud!!! And thankful that he has yet another teacher who responds appropriately when she's made aware of the situation.

And yes, I let him know that I am so very proud of him for speaking up for himself and for trusting his teacher to take care of it. so very very proud.

checkmate

watching the kid teach his daddy how to play chess. entertainment at its finest.

thankfulness

proud mommy moment...
at "parent technology night" at the kid's school tonight, we checked out the papers displayed on the board outside his classroom. the students did a brief essay on "I'm thankful for..."

the kid wrote:
I'm thankful for my God. Because He is the best person in the whole world. We all love Him, and He is the best BEST BEST person!

old dogs, new tricks

watching the kid teach his daddy a thing or two about the computer/internet. priceless.

ouch!

my kid... yeah, he's the one who got too close to another kid in the playground and took a foot to the nose. fortunately, it was a light impact and he's okay, but... yeah, that's my kid.

smart. and seven.

it was almost quitting time at work yesterday, and I decided to take the easy way out for dinner, so I called the hubby to make sure he didn't have other plans. he didn't. I said, "we can surprise the kid - it can be a treat for getting through testing week". when I got home...

the kid: chicken and fries. I knew it.
me: yeah, 'cause you see the bucket.
the kid: no. I heard you....
me: what do you mean, you heard me?
the kid: when you were talking to daddy, I was sitting next to him because I was doing my reading homework, and I heard you on the phone.
the hubby: wow. you have good ears.
the kid: and don't forget, I'm smart. and I'm seven.

het gets it

I saw the kid's GT teacher tonight, and she just had to share... they are learning about another culture, and in discussing the holidays they observe, she told the students that they don't observe Christmas because most of them don't believe in God. the kid looked shocked/sad and said "but God is the best there is!" SHE can't say that, but she loves it when her students speak up... and this momma is really proud to know that my little guy not only "gets it", he shares it.

butter?

the kid: you are such an awesome mommy.
me: aw, thanks. I'm glad you think so.
the kid: and you're cuter than a puppy.
me: really?
the kid: yeah. 'cause you know puppies are very cute. and you're very smart, too.
me: are you trying to butter me up for something?
the kid: butter? ew. butter is gross. I'm just trying to tell you how awesome you are. 
me: oh, well then. silly me. thank you, buddy.
the kid: butter? really? I don't know how you come up with some of this stuff. but that's okay. I still think you're awesome. 

*sigh*

still awesome

according to the kid, day 3 was just as awesome as days 1 and 2 were. I'm praying this excitement lasts the duration of the school year.

how many "very"s?

me: how was school today?
the kid: it was very very very very VERY awesome!
me: that's a lot of "very"s
the kid: it was a lot of awesome.

ready for school

the kid is so excited about going back to school tomorrow that he wants to wear his clothes to bed tonight so he'll be ready when he wakes up in the morning. what's a wrinkle or two, right?

surprise?

the hubby and decided to "surprise" the kid by taking him out to ihop for his birthday dinner tonight. when he has "surprised" us in the past, he conspires with the other parent to "go for a drive" and land us at the restaurant. I called as I was leaving work, and the hubby told the kid I said I wanted to go for a drive and thought I'd come by and pick them up so we all could enjoy the ride. the kid got a HUGE grin on his face and said, "that's a great idea. by the way, I'm not falling for it." 

I took the scenic route to get there, but he says he still knew where we were going...
me: how'd you get so smart?
the kid: I'm seven.
me: so if we tried this when you were six, we could have pulled it off?
the kid: I'm not so sure about that. I was smart when I was six, too.

*sigh* I love that kid!

7 years of joy

7 years ago, I saw his sweet face for the very first time. over the years, I have come to learn just what "bundle of joy" really means... I am so incredibly blessed that God chose me to be his mommy. SO wonderfully, amazingly, incredibly blessed!

snuggles and sniffles

I'm about to snuggle up with the kid for his last bedtime as a 6 year old. How is he getting so grown up so fast?

epic party

the kid: thank you for my birthday party and all my special surprises. it was epic!
me: you're welcome. daddy and I are so happy you liked everything.
the kid: I didn't like it. I LOVED it!

tears of joy

I was so proud of the kid when he was opening his gifts today. he opened a gift that wasn't what he thought it was (from the hubby and I) and was very gracious about it. then he saw an another package that had somehow appeared and had to open it quickly. when he realized it was the one thing he wanted most of all, he literally cried tears of joy.... wrapped his arms around my neck, crawled in my lap and sobbed with joy. I just love that he has such a tender heart. 

to open or not to open...

at the kid's birthday party today...
me: do you want to go ahead and open your presents, or do you want to wait a little bit.
the kid: I don't know. what do you think?
me: it's up to you. 
the kid: I don't know.
me: then let's have you go ahead and open them.
the kid: okay! which one should I open first?

huh?

me (reading a roadside sign): "welcome to Alabama the Beautiful".
the kid (busts out laughing): that's so funny! (pause) mommy, that makes no sense.

famous last words

the kid: I wish we were at the hotel already.
me: you can take a nap, and we'll be there when you wake up.
the kid: but I'm not tired.

five minutes later... zzzzzzzzzzzz

are we there yet?

the kid: are we there yet?
me: we have about 2 hours until lunch.
the kid: but I'm boooored.
me: um...
the kid: just kidding. I'm having fun with my new game.

sewer water

the kid: mommy? do you think sewer water is clean?
me: ew, no! it's disgusting.
the kid: you're right!
me: do you know what's in sewer water?
the kid: yep. poop and pee. and sometimes bugs.

fun and games

the kid is teaching his daddy how to play minecraft. priceless!

bedtime music

the kid LOVES listening to praise and worship music as he falls asleep at night. the up side = he's learning the songs and keeping them in his heart. he will sing as he goes about the day, and I love seeing and hearing him sing God's praises.

the down side = he starts singing along at bedtime and then can't fall asleep. guess it's time to change CDs. such an awesome "problem" to have.

family worship today - all kids 3 and older went to "big church" with their parents. it was so awesome to see the kid's face light up when he realized the 1st song is his favorite. and to see/hear him singing his heart out - priceless!

good heart

me: I'm so proud of you. you have such a good heart.
the kid: yeah, I do. don't I?

The kid is so cute when he kinda wakes up and is a little disoriented. Is it bad that I couldn't help but giggle?

surprise pancakes

this morning...

the kid: mommy, is tomorrow Father's Day?
me: yes, it is.
the kid: we need to take daddy to pancakes today for a surprise dinner.
me: that can be arranged.
the kid: yay! so here's the plan... when you give me the signal, I'll ask if we can go for a drive. and you tell me to ask daddy if he's okay with it. and he'll say yes. 'cause he always does. and then you take us to pancakes. how's that?
me: that's a great plan.
the kid: yeah, it'll be awesome!

and it was.

best doofus behavior

me: did daddy behave today?
the kid: yeah. a lot.
me: a lot?
the kid: yeah. more than I ever expected a doofus to do.
me: did you just call your daddy a doofus?
the kid: in a good way. 'cause you know how he likes to be so goofy? like that.

it's despicable!

watching the kid's new favorite movie for the 2nd time today... "Despicable Me"... I figure we've got about 98 more viewings before he's ready to switch to something else.

last day of school

the kid: mommy, I'm sad that tomorrow is my last day of school.
me: yesterday you said you couldn't wait until tomorrow and you would be so happy when it's the last day of school.
the kid: yeah, I'm happy about that. but I'm sad that Ms. H won't be my teacher any more. and I'll never see her ever again. and I love her.
me: she won't be your teacher, but you'll see her sometimes at school.
the kid: I will?
me: yes. you will.
the kid: oh. well. then I'm happy that tomorrow is my last day of school!

super speller

so proud of the kid... his teacher tested his spelling using 1st thru 5th grade lists. 100% on 1st and 2nd grade. only 1-2 words missed on each list for grades 3-5.

hilarious and fun

me: daddy is so silly.
the kid: yeah. and he is also hilarious and really fun.
me: yes, he IS fun. Isn't he?
the kid: yeah. and awesome. silly, hilarious, fun, and awesome.

repeat performance

the kid's new favorite movie... "Wreck-it Ralph". I wonder how many days in a row it'll take before he tires of it. I believe the record is around 30-something.

God knows everything

an example of why I love bedtime snuggles with the kid...

the kid: mommy, did you know that God knows everything?
me: yes. He does. isn’t that awesome?
the kid: yeah. He knows how many pieces of grass there are in the. WHOLE. world.
me: yep.
the kid: and He knows how many hairs are on your head (pats the top of my head).
me: mm hmm.
the kid: and He knows what we’ll eat for breakfast tomorrow. and what I’m going to be when I grow up.
me: yeeees.
the kid: and how many boogers are in your nose (giggle)
me: yes. ‘cause He knows everything. and do you know what else He knows?
the kid: what else?
me: He knows it’s time for us to go to sleep.
the kid: gee. that was tricky. okay, good night.

mommy's character

the kid: I'm going to create another character so you can play. this one's going to be a girl. you're okay with being a girl, right?
me: yeah, I'm pretty sure I can handle being a girl.
the kid: yeah. 'cause you're already a girl. so that's good.

hard work pays off

the kid has been working very hard to earn an allowance and save his money to buy an xbox360, and after we counted his money last night, we determined he was about $100 away from his goal. his grandpa came over this morning, not knowing this, and handed him an envelope with $100 in it.

the kid counted out the money, and got an astonished look on his face... "one HUNDRED dollars! oh, thank you, Pa!" he had tears in his eyes as went over to give his grandpa a huge hug. he then turned to me and asked, "after Pa leaves, can we go get my xbox360? PLEASE?" Pa wasn't about to make his grandson wait, so we climed into the car and went shopping.

I'm so proud of him for being willing to wait until after his pa left and didn't try to push him out the door... and Pa was eating up all the hugs that were showered on him.

wiggler

yesterday afternoon I was wondering if the kid is going to have his baby teeth when he goes to college - "not even a wiggle yet". then last night, as he was chattering non-stop, I noticed that one of his lower front teeth wasn't quite in line with the others. yep! we've got a wiggler!

love bugs

the kid: I love you to infinity and beyond. no, I love you 10 million infinity and beyonds. no, wait. fifty million. I love you more than fifty million infinity and beyonds.
me: awwww, thank you. I love you more than bugs.
the kid: of course you do. nobody loves bugs. except maybe another bug.

how much love?

the kid: mommy, I love you to infinity and beyond. times five million.
me: awwww. thanks, punkin'. I love you to infinity and beyond. times five million, too.
the kid: thank you, mommy.
the hubby: what about me?
the kid: I love you through all the planets, around the sun, and back. 20 times.
the hubby: wow. that's a lot of love.
the kid: yeah. but not as much as mommy.

guess that makes him momma's boy. *snicker*

no more naps

the kid: mommy, I'm bored. what can we do?
me: let's take a nap.
the kid: um, noooo.
me: let's snuggle up in my bed and watch some netflix.
the kid: nope. what's the next option?
me: you can play a video game while I take a nap?
the kid: mommy, you need some better ideas. but that's okay. I still love you.

sigh

"sh" words

last night, I thought I heard something inappropriate on tv, so I changed the channel. the kid asked why I changed it, and I told him, "he said a very bad word, and we don't watch shows that use that language." he looked a little confused but didn't say anything else. this morning, I dropped something and said, "shoot!"

the kid: (looking quite shocked and disgusted): MOMMY! That's a really bad word! don't EVER say that again!
me: you mean "shoot"? that's not a bad word.
the kid: yes it is. you changed the channel yesterday and said it's a really bad word.
me: what? no, buddy. that person said a different sh word.
the kid: you mean the "shut" word?
me: no. um. well, I'll say it only so you understand what the word is. it's ... (whisper)
the kid: MOMMY! oh my gosh! I can't believe you said that! but don't worry. you're not in trouble. you only said it because you were teaching me something, so that's okay. but now that you know I know it's really bad, don't ever say it again, okay? 'cause then you'll be in trouble. BIG trouble. but I'll still love you no matter what. but seriously. don't ever say that again, okay?

*sigh*

all's fair

the kid has been selected as one of the two 1st graders representing his school at a science fair at UTA next weekend. (2 students per grade have been asked to participate.) from his teacher: "When the first grade teachers were discussing students to choose for the science fair, his name instantly popped into our heads because he has the love for science and the intelligence to represent our school and grade level well."

he's particularly excited that he doesn't have "regular" homework next week because his project will be his homework.

yeah, we're proud. :)

rules are rules

the kid: mommy, don't forget I need to take eggs to school on Thursday for our egg hunt.
me: got 'em. see? (holding up package)
the kid: but mommy, that says "18". we're supposed to take 10-12.
me: I'm sure it won't be a problem for you to take extras.
the kid: can you email Ms. H and ask permission?
me: sure. if it'll make you feel better, I'll be happy to.
the kid: thank you, mommy. rules are in place for a reason, you know.

*sigh*

I will always love you.

the kid: mommy, I just love you so much.
me: I love you so much, too.
the kid: I'll never stop loving you. and I'll never stop saying I love you.
me: right back at ya.
the kid: awww. thank you, mommy. you're so sweet.

everything looks bigger

the kid: mommy, I really like wearing my glasses.
me: oh good. I'm so glad to hear that.
the kid: yeah. everything is bigger when I'm wearing them. like right now, your head is really really big.
me: wow. awesome. I think.

(I managed to refrain from instructing him not to look at my bottom. ha!)

simply irresistible

me: so are you used to wearing your glasses now?
the kid: yeah. and I've been getting a lot of compliments, too.
me: oh?
the kid: yeah. I was cute before, but now I'm really cute.
me: uh huh.
the kid: yep. maybe even irresistible.

pay attention

after the third time in less than 5 minutes the hubby asked me a question that had just been answered, the kid turned to him... "seriously, daddy?! don't you even listen?! you really should pay better attention so you won't be annoying." now if he'll practice what he's preaching as he gets older...

but I don't need glasses!

the kid was trying to convince me that he doesn't need to get his eyes examined...

the kid: but I don't need glasses. I can see perfectly fine.
me: we'll let the eye doctor be the judge of that.
the kid: well, if he agrees with me, he's right.
me: and if he doesn't agree with you?
the kid: then it means he's wrong.
me: or maybe it means you need glasses.
the kid: um, nice try, mommy. I'm not falling for it.

square poop

me: so what did you learn in GT this week?
the kid: well, we didn't really learn anything.
me: really? then what did you do?
the kid: we did powerpoint.
me: you made a powerpoint?
the kid: yeah. it's microsoft powerpoint. and I typed "the amazing wombat". and I put information like what they eat, their habitat, and interesting facts.
me: wow. so what are some interesting facts about wombats?
the kid: well, one interesting fact, but I didn't include it... did you know that wombats make square poop?!
me: no! really?
the kid: yep. gross, isn't it?
me: you learn some crazy stuff in GT.
the kid: yeah. it's awesome!

snuggles

one of my very favorite things is bedtime snuggles with the kid... particularly the random conversations we have while enjoying quality snuggle time. my heart is full.

the pits

the kid: mommy, can I get something to eat?
me: you're STILL hungry?
the kid: yeah. please can I get a snack?
me: it's like you're a bottomless pit.
the kid (pouting): you called me a bottomless pit.
me: at least I didn't call you an arm pit.
the kid: but it's the same as a leg pit, and that's not nice.

*snicker*

mean mommy

the kid: mommy, I'm sad.me: I'm so sorry you're sad.
the kid: don't you want to make me happy?me: I'm not changing my decision.
the kid: you're mean!me: I'm sorry you got stuck with such a bad mommy.
the kid: you're not a bad mommy. you're just mean.me: get used to it, kid.
the kid: yep. you're mean. but I still love you.

surprise!

shhhhhhh... it's a secret. the kid has decided that we need to do a surprise party for his daddy's birthday. and we have to do decorations and get cupcakes, all without the hubby figuring out what's happening. yeah, this could get interesting.

be my valentine

the kid: thank you for my valentine surprise, mommy.
me: you're welcome. happy valentine's day, sweetie.
the kid: yeah, it is. I love you.

my little caretaker

the kid: mommy, I'm sorry you're sick.
me: yeah. me, too. thank you.
the kid: don't worry. I'm here, and I'll take good care of you.
me: thank you, sweetie. you're such a good kid.
the kid: I know. it's because you're such a good mommy and I love you.

be a bucket filler

the kid: mommy, you're a great bucket filler.
me: um, thanks.
the kid: when you do something kind, you fill someone's bucket. we should always try to be a bucket filler and not a bucket dipper.
me: oh? did someone talk to you today about being a bucket filler?
the kid: it's a book. Ms. S (school counselor) read it to us. a bucket dipper is a bully. so it's not nice to be a bucket dipper. I'm going to try to fill as many buckets as I can because that would be awesome!
me: I know you'll do a great job. you are an awesome bucket filler.
the kid: awwwww. thanks, mommy. you just filled my bucket.

accountability

the kid had asked for a list of chores he could do each week to start earning some money, and the hubby and I told him we'd think it over. after sharing with him our expectations and what his weekly earnings would be...

the kid: wow! that's a lot of money!
me: yes, and that means you have a lot of responsibility now, too.
the kid: yeah, I know. I can handle it. 
me: and we can write out your list of chores and we can all sign it. that will be our contract.
the kid: and we have to include how much money I get paid, too.
me: you're right. we'll include that, too.
the kid: where will we post it?
me: we don't necessarily have to post it. we can put it in a safe place where we can refer to it if we need to.
the kid: no, mommy. we need to post it. so I can hold you accountable.

are we sure this kid's only six?!