Caleb Thomas

Last night we were browsing through photos on my phone and came upon a video of Caleb from last year at Christmas.  It's amazing to see how much he has grown.  And it has been great delight for us to watch him bloom in Kindergarten.  Preschool was not his favorite and he would much rather have been home.  Kindergarten is an entirely different story: he loves going, he talks about it, he learns a ton.  

Caleb's sweet spirit became even more apparent this year as he grew into his role as big brother to Miss E.  Eliana lights up and squeals with delight when we pick up Caleb at lunch time. 

Caleb loves to play games but he is not competitive.  At all.  We were guests at cousin Josh's party and the game for the party was soccer.  All of the boys got to be on the same team against the adults and for the first time, he really enjoyed playing.  When I asked about why he liked playing this time and didn't like playing other times he replied: "because we weren't trying to beat each other, all of the boys got to be on the same team."  Cooperation is the name of the game for him.

He and I have delightful afternoons: reading on the couch, making crafts out of the most random items in the recycling bin, playing games, making lego creations.  He has always been creative and content to make fun out of most anything so it is entertaining to hear him pretend and create.

Caleb doesn't like to be cold.  He chose to be a penguin for Halloween: "because that costume is warm and sometimes it's cold on Halloween."  He loves to play in the snow and such (and we all go out in this house) but he always wears wool socks, warm shirts, hats, gloves.  When we asked him about playing a sport this spring his first concern was about whether or not it would be when it was cold.  It makes his day when I have to drive to pick him up from school when it's cold instead of the walking we usually do (three times a day - to school, home with him at noon and home with Jman at 3).  When my dear mother left after being here for parts of two weeks (and walking the boys to and from school every day!) Caleb said: "I'm sad Grammie had to go home, but I'm happy that now when it's too cold for Gabby you will drive and get me in the car."

Caleb's singing voice is as sweet as ever and whenever we can talk him into a song, we do it.  This year was his year to start piano lessons and he loves learning to play and being able to play for friends and family.

Caleb Thomas.  We are blessed beyond measure to call you son.  Happy 6th birthday big little guy!  

Big C Turns Six

Caleb, the little man who arrived on a cold December morning, turned six in December.  He is such a sweet kid who his teacher says: "is a friend to everyone."  He most always plays with cousin Jake but he liked by the other students because "he's kind to all of the kids".  He wanted a lego snowman party so we had each of the five boys at the party build a lego snowman as the activity. (This turned out to be a genius boy party idea for winter parties)  

Caleb's reasons for things are often unique but entirely well thought out.  He told me he wanted pie for his birthday.  When we were talking about it, he told me he wanted apple pie and blueberry pie because they were warm and it is usually cold outside on his birthday.  We always make the kids'  birthday cakes so I decided to take on the task of making homemade pies for Caleb.  They miraculously turned out and I have the utmost respect for those who often make pies from scratch.

 Baby Katie was only one week old at Caleb's party.

Hodge Podge of Fall Fun

We love the whole fall season around here: the foods, the activities, the holidays and the birthdays (oh the birthdays... now every single grandchild on my side of the family is born between September and the end of December).  We take an awesome trip to the pumpkin patch on a week day (because as much as I love the patch, I detest crowds more so Jamie takes a day off for this kind of fun) and this year was entertaining fun for all, as usual.  My favorite and possibly the boys favorite is the pumpkin launcher.  I would pay the price of admission just to see that thing do it's magic.  As a former physics teacher it is great amusement to see those things launch across the lake or better yet, skip across the lake.

 The giant jumping pillow

 This fiery one was not to be held back by being only 13 months old... she wanted a piece of all of the action.

 On to Halloween.  I generally do not especially like Halloween.  Maybe it's because everything else is so busy that time of year and the costume preparations catch me by surprise and then, suddenly, I need to have a costume right now.  Add to that the particularities of the children in regards to how things fit and feel and it's just not my favorite.  However, I put on my happy pants and we go trick or treating and dress up and have an enjoyable time.  We had a penguin, a Chiefs player and a pumpkin princess this year.

The pumpkin princess and evening family pictures did not turn out.  I am not sure what happened other than it was just too dark.  She was sleeping during the school party so that's when all of these other photos were taken and I have no other photos that were recognizable.  So, imagine cuteness in an orange tutu.