Happy Birthday Dominic!

My dear Dominic turned 6 this past December. 

He's a big kindergartner now that seem to be soaking up all he can despite my inconsistent time spent teaching. He doesn't seem to mind. Instead he keeps busy reading books, playing cars with his brother, and jump, jump, jumping on the trampoline. 

When I asked him what he wanted to eat to his special day, he had only one request: In-N-Out Burger. Goodness, even this sleep deprived mama could do that! We spent the day playing at the park with his friends and then headed over to the local restaurant to eat. Everyone treated him so kindly. No one seemed to mind the enormous family coming in to celebrate with burgers, fries, shakes, cupcakes, and presents. Collette made him that adorable monster who now helps him to read through his flashcards.

Dominic Right Now

1. He lost all four of his upper teeth within the span of two weeks. He now has two enormous uppers taking up all that room. I definitely see braces in his future!

2. He has an amazing memory. Poems, prayers, songs, and dinosaur facts all stick with the greatest of ease. It is humbling to try and do memory work with him because he can memorize most topics within a try or two. 

3. Lots of hugs and kisses are mandatory punctuation points to his day. This boys absolutely needs them! The best part is that he doesn't sulk if he hasn't had his daily requirements, he just comes over and gets one or two or three hugs to fill up his love tank again.

4. He is sensitive. Hurtful words, rambunctious brothers, and gentle teasing bring him to tears instantly. He tries so hard to wipe away those tears and stifle the sobs, but it is hard work.

5. Reading is coming along easily. He loves to spend short snippets of his day doing official school work and the rest of the time looking through countless books in the home library.

6. Upstairs is scary unless a brother is willing to come along.

7. Taley, his little blond neighbor friend, has a magical ability to turn a ho-hum day into something super exciting. He can't wait to play with her everyday.

8. He loves Kolbe fiercely and wants to make sure that I know he is 'a keeper.'

9. Routine means everything to him. He must know that Dinosaur Train begins after 11am, Wednesday breakfast is frittata, and his blue will be folded into a 'taco' each night for him to snuggle into.

Happy Birthday Dominic

I love you so much!

A Birthday Bonanza

Three of my lovelies have had birthday over my blogging hiatus. Each has gently inquired, "But Mom, where are my pictures?" Where indeed? Thus, without further excuse or procrastination, I give you Olivia, Dominic, and Collette.

Olivia is 14
Fourteen, really? Really? How does that happen? Stephen is teaching her drive the little car around and around the ranch while I patiently wait at home for the tales of triumph. Marie Claire adores her and everyone else is so pleased when she grants them a smile. High school has been quite an adjustment, but I think she is getting the hang of it now. The tears have generally vanished and she is back to romping around the property now and again, reading in front of the fire, training her lovebird, Misty, and playing chess with a friend far away. She spins tales of grand Roxaboxen buildings and diligently works for different families every week. My blue-eyed girl, you may be taller than me now, but I am still bigger! Happy very belated birthday. I love you!

I asked her to show me her baby blues. :-)

Dominic is 5

This is absolutely one of the most cuddliest, snuggliest, talkative children around. He reminds me constantly of the his great love with lots of hugs and kisses. I love it all! For his fifth birthday we headed off to the San Diego Zoo. Apparently, it is now tradition for five-year-old boys to go to the zoo and wear the lion shirt. Quinton did the same! Grandpa joined us for a perfect day. Really, the weather was gorgeous, the crowds were sparse, and the company was grand. After a day of romping around with the animals, we sat to eat lion cupcakes. Unfortunately, the camera battery died pretty much immediately so I only have a few pictures of monkeys and not my own. Thank goodness, I have Dominic to tell me stories and keep the memories alive. He is already planning his sixth birthday, oh my. Happy Birthday, Dominic!

Collette is 10

My sweet Collette, you are my fairy child. Somehow you always know just what to say to quiet crying babies, encourage toddlers to tidy up, and play games with sisters and friends who simply have no idea what to do. Your gift is precious indeed; use your powers for good! This year you received a stack of books and a real American Girl doll for your birthday. The joy on your face was precious for you had been waiting so patiently and hopefully for a real AG doll. Read and play and enjoy, my love. Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Dominic

My little Turbo is four and somehow he mellowed into a sensitive and fairly quiet little boy. I'm not sure how that happened but I shall have to come up with a new nickname for him. Papa calls him Magoo which is oddly fitting but that is Papa's special name. Back to the birthday...

Dominic was watching over my shoulder one day as I browsed the blog-o-sphere and he saw this gnome cake. Oh, this was all he could think of when asked about his special birthday plans. So, I promised a gnome cake for my boy. Given that  Dominic is never separated from Xavier, I figured that his cake needed pointy-hatted friends representing each of the boys.

Dominic knew right away that his was the orange gnome and Xavier was the purple one.

Even though he was tickled with his cake, for some reason he kept cramming Xavier gnome deeper and deeper into the frosting. 

I'm sure a therapist could help me out with that one.

Dominic said to me while I sat quietly nursing the baby:

"Mommy, I'll never hit Xavier. Never, never, never. I'm a good boy, Mommy. Now can I have the cake?" (I promise I don't know where that one came from but it was so sweet and funny in its earnestness.)

What Dominic loves best

Painting and 'doing' school,

helping Mommy in the kitchen, dressing up, and vacuuming his toes.

Happy, Happy Birthday my Angel Boy

One more:

Today I noted that little fragments of a broken ornament were scattered across the floor. After a quick review of the Christmas tree, the groom was found to be missing an arm- my groom, a gift from when we were married 17 years ago. Ooh, I was mad and so, so sad. So, I angrily sent my boy scurrying up the stairs while I swept the mess. When I walked by the playroom a little later, he called out to me in a quiet little voice, soft and sad, "Mommy...I'm sorry I broke your ornament." Then he threw his little arms around my neck and kissed me dearly. It is so easy to melt with forgiveness and love when those big brown eyes gaze imploringly into mine. I do so love him.          

It all started with a few fish...

We spent last Thursday exploring the underwater world of fish. This is one of Stephen's favorite places so we jumped at the chance to have a "field trip" when the Aquarium of the Pacific offered an inexpensive homeschooling day. Our visit was kicked off with an interesting fact: Our new van is too big and heavy for the parking structure. So guess were we got to park...the school bus zone...Yes! 

 As it has been years since our last visit, everyone was enchanted the with, well, everything. The fish were huge, the scuba guy was fascinating, and the glass was really thick. The kids poked and prodded the sea stars, urchins, and anemones. They were even able to tickle some jelly fish. Dominic and Xavier dressed up as octopuses while the big kids quizzed us about obscure fish facts.

After a shockingly mediocre lunch in which a Chinese lady tried to convince me that the pizza was supposed to be soggy, we headed out for a visit with the lorikeets. While we come for the gorgeous aquariums filled with exotic fish, it is the lorikeets that capture our hearts.

Too bad we can't get the clown fish to perch on our arms and eat from little cups.

This was the highlight of our visit.

 Little ones liked the idea of birds eating out of their hands but didn't actually want one to touch them. Fortunately, the big kids were more than willing to feed everyone while little eyes watched with wonder.

Can you tell that I am a little skittish? That bird was running up my arm. Running, I tell you. I think he wanted to bite my ears!

Back to Daddy heaven- more fish.

Olivia was the only one with arms long enough to touch the rays at the bottom of the pond. There's a surprise. ;-)

Bubbles

Okay, well somewhere between the birds and the bubbles life took a quick turn from fun and fish to multiple trips to the ER. First, Dominic took a huge blow from one of those metal posts with the ropes swinging between them. He managed to have one fall right on his cheek bone. While I was off getting ice packs and hoping that nothing had been fractured, Stephen herded the kids back into the bus van. On the way home he mentioned that Xavier seemed to be breathing laboriously. I headed to the back of the van to check on him and it turned out that he was definitely in distress. A quick call to the doctor and it was decided that Xavier needed to head straight to the hospital. Since I am an optimist, we took him to the pediatrician instead who promptly sent us to the hospital. A steroid shot, three breathing treatments, and an x-ray later...Ta Da...pneumonia.

Do you see that sweet boy sitting so patiently in the ER getting his breathing treatment? 

It's not Xavier. It's Dominic! 

After we picked up Stephen and Xavier from the hospital and began the weary drive home, Dominic started coughing. Croup. Dominic doesn't get croup like most kids; he get a mean nasty version of it every time. So, I knew we were in for trouble. After a difficult few hours of intense coughing and a visit from the paramedic who lives next door, Stephen headed off to the hospital again. 

The boys recuperated and Stephen finally got some well earned sleep. 

The nebulizer hums along every. single. day.

And to think, it all started with a few fish.

Happy Birthday Dominic!

My little turbo is three!

For his birthday we celebrated with an extremely simple family gathering. Nothing says little boy like hot dogs, french fries, and apple slices. According to his wishes, I made a "ginger cake" which consisted of a yellow cake with a gingerman pipped onto the top. 

This was one of those sweet family moments that mothers wish to tuck away  forever: the birthday boy sang, hugged, and kissed everyone, he enthusiasticlly opened his two gifts, and every one of his siblings lavished love upon him. It was a truly wonderful evening.

I must remember.

Of Compost and Eggs

Sometimes even compost can make me smile.

 Also, this week, a petite hen has laid her very first miniature egg. While it is diminutive, she must get a 'A' for effort!

My wee little boy was quite enthralled with it's teeny tiny size.