Baptising the Man-cub

Long ago,

In a brief distant time period,

There was a short summer.

And in those few days,

We went camping for a weekend.

And in that weekend,

We celebrated our socks off!

It was most definitely the hottest weekend of the year.

Almost too hot.

But we live in paradise here,

so the river was a puddle-jump away......

 Silas had his birthday,

and baptism.

The most special birthday in his entire existense.

 We had friends join us in celebration,

and family from states away....

Dad announced Silas' choice to follow Jesus,

and desire to folow in obedience to him.

baptism was a natural next step choice. 

 

A very special friend of Dad's was honored to perform the ceremony.

I never pictured my boy old enough to do this: 

Mercy,

Was I proud.

Another special friend Barbara came and brought mud pie dessert.

 

Cousins and friends brought gifts and company.

Does he look excited or what?

Almost as excited at the monkey right?

 Even though this was 4 months ago,
I am committed to revisiting his story,
long enough to share it,
and remembering it like it was yesterday,
The day my man-cub
Became less of a cub,
And more like a man. 



Valentines- catch-up

Silas did something awesomely cool for V-day this year.

Well they all did,

But Silas got documented.

Here's the picture he handed out:

It said:

"I mustache you a question- Will you be my Valentine?"

Then, we gave each person a mustache and asked them to e-mail us

with pics.

Here is some of what we came up with:

A man from the Community Kitchen:

He was a real birthday party magician in his day.



Then,

here is the boy that takes the cake,
And my heart:

Baby Pierce.

So sweet.

Man Of the Wooded Harp.

One day Silas met a man at the soup kitchen.

His name is Rudi.

Either way, Silas was fascinated.

Seven foot tall bean pole with a heart of gold.

And a jaw harp.

Boy fancied Rudi.

That tall glass of water always had a country hat,

Bandanna, boots, and cowboy shades.

Not to mention, really long mountain man hair.

Trimmed by a raccoon,

Combed by a pine cone.

He was way back woods.

Rudy returned the keen feelings and bought him his very own jaw harp,

Which alone, he learned how to play:

That video is Silas in his classic element these days.

No shirt,

Middle of winter,

Harp in the animal skin bag on his hip.

Then Rudy invited him to a 'jam' session.

It was the

GREATEST.MOMENT.IN.HIS.PAST.SIX.AND.ONE.QUARTER.YEARS.

He was telling everyone that he was in a band.

It was pretty convincing.

Events like these are the kind that you wait to reveal to the child,

Until 15 minutes ahead of time.

Mostly because the awareness of time, slips away.

And every five minutes is five minutes closer to his inauguration.

He had 5 days notice.

His head was the size Texas.

Finally, when the 5 tumultuous days were up,

We headed over to the Senior Center.

Finally.

Without any more talk,

Here's a clip.

Famous song:

"You Get A Line, I'll Get A Pole Honey."

The thing I love about 'back woods' music is that it includes the whole story in it's title.

There were song books and people gathered around singing at the tippy-tops of their rusty-brass lungs.

Then they started taking request from the folks on the outside of the circle of talented people.

It was my turn.

I mistakenly requested John Lennon.

Let It Be.

No really, just leave it alone.

Seriously,

So embarrassing.

But, the day peaked

when I saw my boy pickin'

my absolute favorite song of all times (at the moment).

No more talk.

Just listen:

My boy and John Denver.

That song tied our heart strings

(All Three of Us)

Happier than a hillbilly on a cheese bed.

That's what this Mama was.

Johnny D. would have been proud.

I know I was.

Five hits the trail........ (with a bang)

The following is a well documented day.

Its my five year old's last day of being five.

He used it up by running a triathlon.

Five, you rocked.

His race number on the left leg,

his life in years-right leg

1 mile bike ride all by himself.

1 lap swimming

3 faithful followers who were diligent in making sure they were where they needed to be.
They met him at every transition point and heartily cheered!

Swimming was his less vigorous events.

He was lapped by the girl sharing lanes with him.

Oblivious to the fact that he was indeed the slowest,

He informed me that this girl was confused and was going in the wrong direction.

Silas is a sideways swimmer.

I suppose maybe he is lop-sided.

Stronger on one side?

Anyway, the girl and my boy almost bumped heads.

Seriously.

Inches away.

He was so irritated.

I hadn't the heart to tell him he was so behind and a catywompus swimmer.

Backwards by the way.

Running 1/4 mile was surprisingly a breeze for him

After all the previous events.

Check out the lady waiting to crown him King:

Can you see his smile from behind?

It was real big and boy was he satisfied with himself.

The best part:

He thinks he was first because nobody finished at the same time as him.

I did have the heart to encourage that notion.

If you see him he'll tell you that he was

1st & a 1/2.

Five was a fine time.

You were lucky indeed to know my boy this year.

Batter up!

Its finally here!

The day I have dreamed about

Since I got over the fact that my first child was NOT going to be a girl!

Little league.

I am not a sports buff by any means, but this is GREAT!

I'm thinking corn dogs with lots of mustard,

Spitting seeds in the WARM weather,

And best of all, cheering for my boy.

Even though he is a boy,

I love the fact that they practice in a field of daisies!

The only Lefty on the team.

Go Rockets!

Musings of spring.

Please excuse the absent.

This post has taken me days to load the videos and I fear the loading process has cost me my sanity. I have finally loaded them, and am ready for the best part.

The recap, where I get to swing in the hammock alone, and look back on the pictures in amazement at the wonder of these people I get to play with every day. It is bittersweet in a lot of ways. I look back and realize how long Lauren's hair is getting, how much Silas has improved in speech, and the sweet toddle of my 1 year old that I so often take for granted. Then the hard reality tends to come down on me like a guillotine. How much I have lost my temper, or ignored a sweet request for my company-because I only had one more load to fold or a few more dishes to put away.

I realize that they are not mine. I don't own them like a handbag or a toy dog. I can't keep them forever and once I use up this time-no matter how I spend it, its gone.

Mercy.

Silas has been throwing me though surprising loops lately that make me check and re-check my schedule, and the meaning behind some of the plans. His needs are far different than my own. He thrives on being home. The comforts and familiarity of it is a recharge to his fuel levels. He seems to feel safe and calmer. I don't mean calmer in activity, but in spirit...less anxious and worn out.

I am the opposite. I need daily breaks from the home! I load them up and abandon the homestead for a while. Coming home after a break makes my perspective of things more realistic to what they really are. I tend to come home to find the place in better shape than what I had perceived it to be.

Enough.

This is about Silas, Lauren, and the best bug experience ever.

Enjoy:

How bout them apples?

I forgot to fix the "sucking" end of the straw so he wouldn't eat the captor.

Another good reason to keep things a group effort!

I so enjoy sharing these life experiences with an eager and intuitive child.

They are so responsive and bring so much more to me than I could ever bring to him. Their nature is such that if I decided to never teach them a thing, they would (given opportunity and freedom to) still inquire and learn things in a way that my teaching could never enforce. Free unscripted, hard play time is often the best lesson.

This is the first time we tried out our catcher. Man I love when a thought turns to action, and success comes on the first try!

Here's to the school monster not gobbling up any more time than necessary. Planning and executing. following my own scripted lead and no longer winging it. Looking forward to all the unorganized play because of all the organization I am leaning towards. Raise a toast to more time for imagination and creativity.

This is too much to miss!

Sid Sawyer

Silas just finished his first play production called "Tom Sawyer Pirate"

He played the obnoxious tattle tale little brother, Sid.

I reckon he was the cutest little snitch this side of the Mississippi.

This was an awesome experience for him.

He made new friends, found new confidence,

And the program cost zero to participate

(Aside from the fifty bucks we dropped for admission to everyone of his shows)

He memorized a ton of lines for a five year old,

And played his goody tushu part like it was the real thing.

So here I am a'beamin bout my little Siddy Sawyer,

Whilst recolectin' the days of theatre in the bayou.
Yer Mama's proud of ya boy, and don't you ferget et.

Here's a little goody that I just came across while clearing out my camera.

This song originally was recorded to show Uncle Chris what a cool guy his nephew is. They have since gotten a chance to meet each other.

It is a little hard to see because of the glare and busy background.Those were the days of the t.v remodel. So glad that's over!

Musins of my Man Cub.

A plush Snake and a banister..

creative zipline indeed.

This week, I have felt compelled to write about my Man-child

To share with you, but also to log for my failing memory to refresh.

He has been so incredibly full if life.

Its always there,

Sometimes I am lucky enough to slow down and notice it.

Let me elaborate:

for breakfast prayer:

"Please don't let this food kill us all"

For breakfast the next day:
"Dear God, please don't let Lauren hit me in the back of the head with a rock"

At the end of that day:

"Mom! God answered my prayers!"

(Were all still alive, and Lauren did not use his head as backboard for a rock)

Tonight at dinner,

He told the host

"Thank you for the dinner, it filled me up with goodness!"

He has promised me to live in the warehouse down the street

And never leave me for another town.

I can handle that.

His funky dance moves,

And giving, patient, guiding motives.

On any given day, he would offer anything to anyone,

And gladly do without.

I love how he uses every part of his body to tell you the story.

His eyebrows,

Screechy voice,

his arms, from the shoulders down to the finger tips.

His tippy toes.

All to tell the story of his life (for the moment).

I used to have a 'coin phrase'

"If I knew all my babies would be as easy as Silas, I think I could commit to at least a dozen"

That deal still stands.

My Dad wrestled him during out Thanksgiving break.

It was great.

I overheard Silas calling him a

'big sissy girl with a bow in his hair'

His Grandpa actually took that pretty well.

If you haven't followed the sequence of pictures,

It tells the story of my boy and his first experience on a dirt bike track-

With two wheels!

The above picture is of Silas and all but one of my brothers.

Its very dear to me.

I admit (and relinquish my pride to say)

that I am not the cool mom who was in a relaxed mood,

Watching on pins and needles,

Watching with my hand over my mouth,

Trying to not rush to his aid after every fall,

I was also beaming with pride though.

My big brother got to show him the trail, then set him loose.

Everytime Silas would fall, I would call out asking his condition

(internally screaming come give your mamma a hug!),

And Uncle Chris would abruptly say "He's fine!"

It ended up being a really great experience for the boy and his Uncles.

I wish we were closer.

My boy would really like that.

Tomorrow, I am going to dedicate my time to making that boy as happy as he makes me.

Pretty sure that's impossible,

But I am missing too many of the moments that count,

Where I realize how different he is,

And how lucky I really am to have him for such a short while.

Pretty soon, he will love down the street.

And I will not have his dog breath to wake up to in the mornings.

Thankful. 10-16

Tonight,

I am thankful that when 'official' school ends

(Actually, its pretty unofficial)

Life learning begins.

Exhibit A:

The mouse trap.

Pay no mind to the gargantuan mirror shard.

A necessary part of the trap.

This consumed the latter part of the afternoon.
The boy,
The chair,
The huge glass mirror,
Completely unsafe,
I was nearby, and gave him the 'play it cool' talk first.
Then prayed as I washed dishes and laundry nearby.

The Genius moment:

It works like this.
A cool sunny day on the mouse dock.
Mouse sees the cheese.
Mouse eats cheese.
And it is instant death by butter knife.

Because he's sure to bite hard enough to result
In his own hard, cold burial.

He blows me away.
He says to me
"Mom did you know that some Indians eat mice?"
Didn't know that either.


Did I mention we've been reading about pilgrims and Indians?
We've gotten a couple rented picture books from the library.
Nothing snazzy.

I love my job as Mom to Peeps.
Thats it.
I just do.

Simple, Abrupt, Sweet.

Bone Collector

Rico found another bone today.

The boy collects them like a girl collect flowers

Or pony figurines.

I am picturing my south of the border family

using their hand sanitizer while reading.
The disgust at the thought.

I admit,

I have yet to touch the thing.
Because I agree, Its gross.

But really,

Its been picked clean and dry.

I love how it makes him feel.

He's invincible
He offered to protect me with it.

Its about the experience.

Banjo bone.

How am I supposed to argue with this?

foodie shapes. houses, building

I got this idea from another blog.

She used mini marshmallows and toothpicks.

We used.... everything we could find.

It was part of the challenge of using up all the fresh produce.

Pumping iron.

The nerd and his atom.

Momma's dream house.

The boy's first keeper

Silas caught his first "keeper" fish last week.

He was such a big boy-

reeled it in all by himself!

His line was only in for close to 30 seconds.

Jake cast out for him,

took about three steps away,
And boy says:

"It's moving!!"

We fried it up and and ate it on the spot.

Silas pulled the eye out with his bare fingers.

What a gross kid.
Mama's so proud of you son!