The Ambitious Life

 Jacob,  You are a joy and a delight!  You are so full of energy and your brain seems like it goes a million miles a minute!  One of the things your received for your birthday was online drum lessons and you seem to really enjoy them.  It has been fun to watch you learn!  You are also really excited about sports, still convinced you are going to play in the NFL one day, and my biggest extrovert.  This year for your birthday we had a party with a bunch of your friends at the park.  You really wanted there to be a basketball hoop - that was the only "requirement" you had.  I think you had a really good time and it was so fun seeing you all hang out together.   You love to build things - both Legos and mechanical sets that make you think through the instructions.  You've put together some amazing builds and it's fun to watch you problem solve.  You do not enjoy "down time" or feeling like you have nothing to do.  I am so...

Levi,  Happy birthday young man.  What a joy it is to be your mom.  I am so thankful that your dad and I were blessed with you and Jacob - it's been amazing.  You are quickly morphing from little boy to young man.  It is astonishing to me to see you walk through the house sometimes - almost full grown!  I can't imagine what it will be like in a few years!  You are still very excited about video games.  You really enjoy both the challenge and defeating them!  You still like to build Legos.  I'd say your passion is reading though.  All day, every day it seems, you love to read.  I don't think you leave the house without a book.  I love watching you explore new worlds and meet new friends through books - it's a special thing!  Dad and I got you some books for your birthday - always a highlight for you! You also had your first birthday party this year!  We did pizza and cupcakes at the park with a bunch of friends....

 Happy Golden Birthday Dear One. I cannot believe you are 16.  Growing up, I knew these milestone moments meant something to me, but I never imagined what my mom might be feeling.  Maybe because I'm not her oldest.  For my firstborn kiddo to be 16?  That feels big.   This whole year has felt big.  You are going to a public school for the first time and that has been an interesting experience.  I think going from accepting you were going to get in, because of location and homeschooling, to getting a spot and navigating all that meant was such a rush.  I am so proud of how you have handled it, although I am so glad you were home with me for so many years first.  I am thankful for the time to build into your character and speak life to you before sending you out into the world. It is such a weird world to be immersed in, isn't it?  All of the sudden you are surrounded by people who aren't on your team, who don't share your beliefs...

   Abi Ann, Love, Mom Timothy, Buddy.  You are 9 years old.  I know it makes me old to be shocked by that, but I can still remember the night you were born.  Goodness.  You are turning into such a sweet kid in the best of ways.  You are tough and capable, but you also see the people around you and try to bless them.  You know I am allergic to lots of things and always ask if I can eat treats you have and offer to share them with me.  It means more to me than you will probably ever know.   I also see you slowing down to help your little sisters.  I think maybe since you are the youngest boy, you know what it feels like to be on the edge of being included and you want to bring them along.   You are also more than capable of standing up for yourself, being loud and vocal if there is something you want, and expressing your frustration sometimes.  I do see you gaining self control and not giving full vent to your ange...

 Abi Ann, You decided to dye part of your hair a deep pink color right before your birthday and I absolutely love it.  It is just one of the ways that I am seeing you mature - willing to take some risks, willing to say what you want, willing to go for it.  I am so proud of that. In the past year I have really seen confidence develop in you in a new way.  You are starting to really own who you are and it doesn't seem to scare you as much to have opinions and ideas.  You are expressing yourself more and I am so happy to see it! You could spend the entire day with books if we let you and you'd be delighted.  I love how much you read and how much of the world and history you get to experience through books.  It's awesome.  You are also so creative and artistic.  You can sketch things that are detailed and gorgeous and it is amazing to see.  You do all the craft things so I generally send kids your way when they have a project to work on or n...

  Faith, You're 7!!  You told me today I'll never see you as a 6 year old again...and you're right!  Next time I blink you'll be 16! You are so fun and so insightful it makes me happy to hear the wise things that your brain thinks.  You observe things I think you might miss and pay attention to details.   We are one week into school and you told me your math is too easy and you are doing such a good job reading.  I think you're going to do great and I love how hard you are working without complaining!  You get excited to finish your school work and then grab out some of the extra workbooks we have and then sit at the table to work on them! You are working on finding the fine line between sassy and funny.  You still hate going to bed and require quite a few "hugs and kissys".  You love being included with the big kids in all the things they do.  I think your favorite is when you hang out with Abi and Grace in their room - you always ...

Rachel, You will forever be my Bean.  Rachel Bean, Beanie Baby, Bean, Beanie...you answer to all of it.  And I'm so glad you do.  You are big and so fun and I love you so much.  You give the best kisses and ask for kisses and hugs all the time.  You still love to be tickled on your stomach and back, especially when you're in a bad or sad mood.  You absolutely love to be in the water, in fact you got to spend the morning of your birthday at the pool with your big sisters this year.  You had such a good time!  You are also getting so brave at things like traveling playground and other places we go being able to do things on your own and ask for what you want. This was your last year as the school mascot as you start Pre-K this year.  I can't believe it.  I'm not sure how you got so big, but it went so fast!   You love to play on your tablet and you ask a lot about your Nintendo turn because you like playing in Minecraft.  Yo...

Isaac,  You're 10!  What an amazing kid you are.  I am so excited that you are mine.  This year, you went with your dad on your 10th birthday trip.  You went to Kentucky to visit the Ark and Creation Museum.  I know Dad also bought you some Legos to do while you are there and you told me you wanted Coca-Colas...which dad bought and you brought home to share.    You have a strong sense of justice - that is, you don't love it when your siblings get away with stuff.  You like things to be fair.  That also makes you pretty darn trustworthy.  You are such a great mix of goofy and serious and I love to watch how your personality is growing and maturing.    You love to build things on Minecraft and build Legos - a good mix of real life and pretend :)  You are a good problem solver, so creative, and ready to try new things.  You work really hard in school and do a good job but I know you don't love it...most kids do...