Gavin Turns 6!

We celebrated Gavin's birthday with an arcade party this year.  

What boy doesn't love endless video games?!

Video games!

Video games!

And more video games!

 While Pinterest is mostly my creative and crafty friend it is also sometimes my biggest enemy.  Case-in-point here when Gavin perused through birthday cake options and decided he had to have this "supercoolamazingcan'tlivewithoutit snake cake!"  It wasn't too hard as much as it was incredibly time consuming. Thank goodness I was able to recruit the help of G-Jo to apply a bazillion fondant circles! Next year it'll be a Costco cake!

The cake was a hit!

 He loved this gumball jar present with twenty dollars buried inside!

What is your name: Gavin Paul
How old are you: 6
What is your favorite thing to do: shoot bee-bee guns
What do you want to be when you grow up: Army man
What is your favorite food:  Chocolate cake
What do you do really well: exercising
Who do you like to spend time with: Uncle Alex and Cannon
 What makes you laugh: When Cannon dances
What is the best time of day: whenever we get to go places
What is your favorite book: Punisher
What do you like to learn about: Superheros
What are you afraid of: snakes
What do you like to do with your family: play games
Where do you like to go: Chuck E Cheeses
If you had one wish what would it be: to have a pet snake

Top 10 Reasons Basketball Is My Favorite Sport

I understand the importance of sports.  Really I do.  However, not all sports are created equal.  And, by that, I mean, not all sports are equally enjoyable for me, as a parent, to endure.  If I'm being completely honest here I've never been known for my love of sports.  So, for me, a sport obtains a score based on the time of year, how much exposure to extreme temperatures, how much equipment I have to keep up with, and how long practice and games are.  Some examples of my scores so far?

Swimming=5
Pros-

• only equipment is a swimming suit and goggles

• a life long sport that you can do for life and it can save a life

Cons-

• Practices A LOT!
• Swim meets go on ALL DAY!
• It's super, super hot

Soccer=7
Pros-

• Highly active sport giving your child a lot of activity
• A great first sport because most young kids can kick a ball and run

Cons-

• The cleats, shin guards, and socks are annoying to keep up with.  More than once my boys have worn their Dad's black dress socks because I couldn't find the right pair.
• Usually this is a winter sport and it's cold outside

Football=6
Pros-

• A high energy sport that is fun to watch
• Learns great hand/eye cordination

Cons-

• LOTS of equipment
• A winter sport which means it's COLD!!
• Being in Texas this sport tends to have some intense parents

Basketball=10!!

We had our first experience with this lovely sport this year.   I am in love!

Here are my Top 10 Reasons I love this kid sport

All they need to play are some shoes.  Easy-peasy.

Lots of goals are made so the cheering is endless making the hour pass quickly!

My boys love this sport!  They never complained about practices or games.  This makes staying up to watch them play after working all night a lot easier when I see their smiling faces.

I love the fast-pace-back-and-forth. 

I like how the kids are praised not only for making goals but also assists.  It really cemented the 'team player' attitude we should all have. 

Not only is it completely indoors, saving me from the elements, but the building also had Wifi making for a very happy toddler.

I love the aggressiveness my boys showed while playing basketball.  Sure, there was a blatant foul here and there, but they wanted that ball and they went after it.

Did I mention the perk of being protected from the rain, cold, wind, and dirt?!  My little guy could relax and roll around without coming home covered in mud and dirt. 

When your kid is the shortest, but still manages to get the ball and shoot goals, it makes your heart swell with pride.

This isn't unique to basketball, but I love how sports teaches you to share the light and take turns.  Sometimes it's a big bummer to have to swap out with a teammate, but it's a good life-lesson to learn.

So long basketball!  We will see you again this winter!

See Ya Later...

I couldn't resist these mother/son matching shirts.  A toddler is probably the only acceptable age to wear a coordinating shirt with your Momma.  I couldn't let this opportunity pass us by!

 

"See ya later alligator!"

 "In a while crocodile."

 

I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always,  

As long as I am living my baby you will be.  

Valentine Love, Er, Maybe Not

Harrison came home with a Valentine card for me.  I was thrilled to read a hand-written card from my oldest son telling me what a great Mom I am.  My excitement quickly fizzled as I read the words that only my Harrison could write.....

.....You are a good mom but you can be really mean.... So....I do like you cooking too, your food is great though a little bad.... Also I like when you come back from work, it's really fun when you come in our house (well except when you make us do school work.) 

So, to summarize, I'm mean, can barely cook, and make my kids do too much school work.  

Happy Valentines to me! 

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

I Have A Plan

Harrison was asked to draw what he wanted to be when he grows up.  His teacher also had all the kids say how they were going to reach that goal.  I thought Harrison's idea of what a builder looks like is pretty funny.  In his eyes a builder is a manly-man, complete with a handle-bar mustache, big boots, hat turned around, and protective eye wear--safety first!
 

Harrison's plan for reaching his goal:

I want to be a builder because I get money and my plan is to go in high school, pass college, and pass building school.  Sometimes I'd like to build stuff.

The Ultimate Punishment

This is often how the ruling of a punishment goes down in our house:

Steve- Gavin, you left the backyard without permission, left the gate open, and was found playing in the neighbor's driveway three houses down.  This is not okay.  You know better.  Your mom and I have to discuss what your punishment will be.

Me- I think maybe a week without t.v.

Gavin- yeah, okay, I guess I deserve that.

Steve- Or maybe a week without video games.

Gavin- Come on!

Me- Better yet, for the next month I get to pick out your school clothes.  No arguing, no negotiating.  You have to wear what I lay out.

Gavin-  Cue the tears with rapid fire words: NONONONONONONONONO! Anything but that!!  You'll make me look stupid!!

It is in this instant that Steve and I make eye contact and mentally agree we have reached a good punishment.  I don't know how long it will be before our kids realize that our Rolodex of punishments are pilfered through until we come upon the one that really squeezes them. We know we have found the right squeeze when we get a reaction like this one.  It's a challenge to find what makes each child tick.  What makes each child bend or truly suffer the consequences of their bad choices.  Our best dip-stick is their reaction to punishment options.

So, Gavin's punishment did end up being me picking out his clothes for a month.  This is not a punishment because I'm terrible at picking out clothes  that I would intentionally dress him to look 'stupid.'  It's a punishment only to Gavin because he takes such pride in how he looks and to take away his privilege of choice was the ultimate consequence.

Here's a sample of a few outfits during his sentence:








Not bad, right?!  With so many hand-me-downs from Harrison, Evan, Ian, and Garrett his clothes options are endless!  I really, really enjoyed putting together outfits knowing he couldn't argue, fuss, or fight.  I hardly knew what to do with the extra five hours a week I gained from not having clothes wars!

Almost makes me look forward to when he makes a bad choice.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

I'm Thankful

    Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to be thankful.  I'm most thankful for God, Jesus, and games.  I'm thankful God because he made the wole wide world.  Without God we woldn't live.  Also he is the king of the world.  God is inporint because he has lived for 2013 years.  Mostly every body belive in God.  God is real if you belive in him.

   That's one thing that I'm thankful for.  Jesus is porerful to take out evil spirits.  Also Jesus is the son of God that is imporent.  Jesus is imporent in many ways.

    Games are somtething I cold't live with out.  Mostly games are something are fun and exsided to.  Games are also active.  Minecraft is a very fun game to.  Games are at a park to and they are playful.  Any game can be awsome like tag for example.  Some games teach you a lot by dancing.  You know everybody likes video games because they are fun and funny because you dance, do funky moves and by being active and they tell jokes.  

   I like Thanksgiving.  I'm also thankful for God, Jesus, and games.  

Harrison Bergman
November, 2013