The Monk became a Wolf Cub over the summer. He really enjoys Cub Scouts and he was super excited to cross over the bridge to become a Wolf. He had been looking forward to it for a long time and has already been working on earning his academic belt loops (he already has one for Good Manners). The crossing as actually pretty cool b/c it was held at a local park and took place over the bride on the playground. I've never seen a crossing like that and I could tell that The Monk thought that it was pretty cool too.
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My boy is growing (and, truth be told, I hate it). He is getting so big and now that he's 7 (yes! 7!), I'm glad that, despite all the sacrifices that are being made, I'm staying home with him to teach and be with him. This past birthday we went a little crazy trying to make it special for him (I mean, you only turn 7 once), so I made sure that there were surprises all around. It was cool too b/c he was really patient with waiting to open some of his bigger presents throughout the day until we had our family dinner. This year's theme was Star Wars Lego (no surprise, I know) and he had been bothering us for the General Grievous Lego Bike since February. He kept asking me if we got it for him, and I told him that I couldn't remember and that I had already gotten his presents a long time ago and that he was just going to have to wait (I know...so mean). But, wait he did and when he did get the bike that he so longed for, this was the reaction we got: It was an epic reaction and I was glad that we made him wait, just so that we could have that look on his face. As usual, he made out like a bandit on the Star Wars Legos and we had a great time afterwards just hanging out and putting all the pieces together. It was also a lot of fun since our scout elf came to make a surprise visit as well! I love our boy and am so grateful that I get to create these special memories with him each and every day, birthday or not.
I've decided that The Hubs is trying to give me a heart attack. After dinner, The Monk and The Hubs typically go off to the park up the street for some male bonding time and to burn off the last vestiges of energy before it is time to brush teeth and go to bed for the boy. This is the picture that The Hubs sent to me from their daily constitutional today. I nearly died. My son is so high in that tree that I had a slight heart palpitation when I first opened this. Now, there is a reason why my son is known as a Monkey, but I honestly don't want to see him climbing trees with monkey-like ease and the potential of falling and breaking an arm. Having fallen out of a tree myself as a child (and suffering a rather severe concussion due to the fall), I am rather hesitant to allow my only child to climb to far up a towering Douglas Fir. My darling husband of over 17 years does not seem to share my fear of our child slipping and plummeting to the rather unforgiving earth below. Eek! So, since we have been converting the playroom in a classroom, the Monk's Legos had to be moved into his bedroom (I know, probably not one of the greatest ideas seeing that he seems to get distracted by them every time he's in there, especially when he's supposed to be getting ready for bath), and it seems that he just can't help himself to come up with new and interesting ways of designing machines. Here is his latest machine designed to ride across the terrain of intergalactic worlds. He makes me smile. :) It took some time, but we were finally able to get the Monk the bunk bed that he wanted, as well as repaint over his "little boy" bedroom into a "big boy" bedroom (don't get me started about how quickly he is growing up). He has turned the underside of the bunk bed into a fort, but he has the colors and the decorations to make his bedroom an official Star Wars room. He is super excited, and I think a lot of that comes from the fact that he got to pick out his own colors, and helped put the bed together, so he had a great chance to be really involved with this room for him. Now, the only problem is getting him out from underneath it. I know parents love to brag about their kids. Of course they do. Especially when they feel as though their child is talented, gifted, and spectacular. And, of course, their child is the ONLY child who is the most spectacular, talented, and gifted. And for them, they are probably right. Just as, for me, I am right in thinking that my son is the most wonderful and smartest 6 year old ever. Because he's mine and I say so. And, to further prove my point, I have evidence. Like the imagination that he has when he really gets motivated about a project with his Legos. And, boy, does he love Legos (especially Star Wars, but his obsession with Star Wars is another post). He loves to create his own machines and gizmos to help him tell the various stories that he loves to tell. As Spring is approaching, he wanted to create something that showed his eagerness to get outside (like the lawnmower in the picture). I love watching his imagination and hearing what story he has created to go with it. Although he doesn't follow the guidelines for being a Tiger Scout all the time, he is very enthusiastic about being a Cub Scout. He got his uniform the other day and I sewed on all of his regulation patches. He was so proud. I am too. I couldn't help myself when I saw him in his little uniform, he looked so adorable. I have such a hard time dealing with the fact that he is growing so quickly. I know that I talk about it constantly, but he is my only child and I want so desperately for him to be little for as long as possible. I know that he has to grow, I just wish that it didn't happen so quickly. I'm struggling with how to make him realize that it's important that he strive for following the guideline of being a Cub Scout. I'm also struggling with the whole Christian aspect of the scouts. We are trying to include Buddha in his learning to be a scout, but some of the literature and guidelines make it a little difficult. I want him to be a scout. Both my husband and I were scouts. I feel that it is a good learning and growing experience and that the scouts actually do help to produce fine young individuals. We just need to make sure to hold him accountable and to continue to nurture the paths of Buddha. We found a toad in our garden. I have no idea how the toad got there. I have never seen a toad anywhere in the wild here where we live. Ever. Yet, sure enough, one shows up in our backyard veggie garden. Strange. And, of course, the first thing that the Monk wants to do. Touch it. Then keep it. Ah...no. So, toad got put into a bucket and carried safely to the local creek that runs up through the park up the street. Since the toad would not become a part of our family, the Monk decided that he would immortalize his new friend through an artistic rendition (I actually drew the body, but the styling is all his own). I love that he is so willing and wanting to draw the things that are around him. He enjoys capturing his imagination and the life around him on paper (often with very elaborate stories do go with his sketches). As an artist myself, I can't help to beam with pride at his creativity. It makes my heart glow. Kindergarten is over! And it's not easy to admit that the boy has grown so very much. I hate seeing that he is getting bigger and bigger every day! Even now he is sitting behind me working on his netbook practicing his reading on Lexia. I'm glad that he want to learn and he is excited about knowledge, but it's hard being the mother of an only child and watching them bloom so very quickly. Still, doesn't he look handsome in his little cap and gown? I need to just remember to cherish each and every day, even through the tough times. I know it is going to go way too fast. Playing outside on a bright, beautiful day is a wonder to behold. I look at him and he is growing soooo fast (TOO fast!). I can't help but admire him, for his energy and his imagination. He is noisy and loud and loves (LOVES) to yell for no reason but to hear himself echo through the house. But, while we were outside today and he was checking on the birdseed and finding just the perfect leaf for his newly found caterpillar, I could not wipe the smile from my face. I am blessed beyond belief to be his mother, for he makes me want to be a better person, to be outside with him and not just flopped on the couch. Instead we are all outside, enjoying the weather. |
Just a momI want to make sure that I am documenting as much as I can because I know that the years are going to fly by and my little boy will be a man. I want to remember it all. Archives
May 2016
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