I have only blogged twice in the last two weeks. There is a reason. I have been reading, writing, and prepping for my next 31 day series and I am super excited about it. I have put some emotional blood, sweat, and tears into this thing. I’m a little nervous though and I am hesitant to go an entire month without my typical journalistic lifestyle blogging that I usually do. For now let me just give you a little freeze frame of what each of us are doing so that I feel relatively caught up on updates for the messy clan.

First of all, I’m keeping busy with some photography work, along with volunteer work at the kid’s schools, and I already mentioned the writing.

J is still leading worship in Indiana and he is going to school on campus this semester. I have been helping him with his speech class. Most of what he does is computer programming classes and for that I pack him a lunch and give him a kiss on his way out the door. That stuff is way out of my league, but writing speeches I can do. Did I ever mention he made the Dean’s List for his first two semesters? It’s been a ton of hard work, but I am very proud of him! Only one year left. Ahhhh!

Z is going through some stuff at school right now. All is well as far as grades and studies, but he has been testing the waters behaviorally. I am hoping the strategies we’ve implemented and the prayers I pray non stop will make a difference! He’s getting to the age where I am not sure what is appropriate to share on the blog. I would never want to embarrass him, but I also like to be candid with my readers and myself, admitting when times are tough. Cub Scouts is going well. He is doing a fund raiser right now where he has to sell popcorn. I might as well throw the link out there because we are way behind on sales. Boy Scouts popcorn does not “fly off the shelves” like Girl Scout cookies do. I am learning that the hard way. If you want to check out his store it’s available HERE.

SJ has started talking a bit more. We are at a place now where we can communicate our everyday needs to each other pretty well. It’s still hard though when there are so many things she wants to say, but I just don’t understand her. She’s going through a serious daddy stage. She asks about him and talks about him a lot which is not typical for her, but it’s sweet. One time I asked if she wanted to call daddy and she said yes. I was hesitant because she doesn’t have the device that syncs her processors with the phone and of course she doesn’t hear with her ear canals like we do so I was just hoping speaker phone would suffice, and it did. It was a successful first time phone conversation (aside from face time which doesn’t count because it’s visual). Another exciting milestone.

 Ezie turns two TOMORROW! He’s talking, signing, and singing a lot more. The other day he starting to sing “outside, going outside, it’s an outside kind of day”, which is a song from signing time. The thing that struck me was that I have heard him sing with songs or initiate singing songs that we have sung before and listen to a lot. This was a song I had to think about before I even knew what it was because I had heard it so few times, but he had obviously remembered it and was reciting it! He gets mistaken as a girl often enough that I will probably cut off his lovely baby curls soon, but it’s not easy. I don’t even want to think about it. With my other two I was pregnant before their second birthday so I was a little more willing to let go of the baby stage. I’ll get there though. He makes it easier with how independent he is!

Back before the American What Not to Wear there was a British version with Trinny and Sussanah. Maybe you remember it? Those girls were great at fashion advice, but one thing they said that I have never forgotten is that they disapproved of shorts. For any occasion or tempeture. No shorts. Ever. Gasp.

When we Z was 6 he learned to tie his shoes, snap, and he memorized the state capitols. But  it was a week ago just before he turned 7 that I understood just how much of a transformative year this has been. We were at one of Cincinnati’s acclaimed chili parlors when when Z said “Mom I did it”. “What did you do?” I asked him. “I asked that lady for more chocolate milk and she gave me some”. I was really impressed and asked for his exact wording, he said “May I have more chocolate milk please”. I smiled and praised him for his ability to take initiative independently and use manners. It was the first time he had ever asked for his own refill.

As far as the actual birthday, it was a winner.

I do what I call Theme Parties every other year so this year was an off year and we just met up with two other families at Chuck E. Cheese on Monday since it was a holiday. It was very low key, but he got a scooter and helmet which was his biggest surprise.

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On the actual birthday date he got to have his name on the intercom announcement at school. It was kind of funny because he asked me if I heard it (I was miles away at home during the announcements and he thought the news was broadcast throughout the city). It was also the same day as a cub scouts sign up meeting so J took Z and they signed up. Even though it was a last minute decision I think it will be a great program for Z to be a part of.

Friday was the school carnival which he has been more excited about then his actual birthday.

Lastly, he had his first pack meeting where they did a service act for the community by cleaning up the school grounds the morning after the carnival.

Followed by an outing at the lake where there was fishing and fun for all.

TIt was a typical week for us in a lot of ways, but it was Z’s week and I am so glad. He deserved some special attention. He is my special boy.

As a follow up to “4 Year Old Funnies” and “Laugh-out-loud conversations with Z” I am pleased to announce the third installment of quotes from my oldest son that made me smile last year. His mix ups have matured as he has grown. At the age of six he definitely has a deeper understanding of things, but there are a lot of words that he has started using that he may not be entirely sure of the meaning yet. It makes for a good laugh.

1.  Z was trying to get out of eating the meal I had served and using every distraction possible he started telling me how much he loved me and I said Show me you love me by finishing your dinner and he replied “I don’t think that’s love. I think that’s generous”