How did I get an eight year old?

My big boy turns eight today.  I'm not sure when or how that happened, except of course that it has been all too fast.  He blows me away with the things he reads and the stuff he knows...there are plenty of times that I think he should just take over homeschooling his sisters in history and science.

Jacob's had a big year...he became a big brother again to another sister, and after a brief moment of "seriously, another girl" almost-tears, he says that we have the best baby in the world.  And Annelise absolutely knows that she hit the jackpot in the big brother department.

He also made his first confession and First Holy Communion in May.  Not liking to be the center of attention, he asked if he could skip the group thing and just have his at a regular Mass.  Fr. Chester was so kind to honor his request, and on May 1st, First Saturday honoring Our Lady in her month, my little man received Our Lord for the first time.  It is a joy to share this gift with him.  And he is such great accountability, always reminding me that "Hey, Mom!  It's June!  I need to go to confession again."  (We told him we'd go once a month as a family.)

Today we were supposed to spend the day with sweet friends at a gem of a water park that's not too far from here.  But the chance of rain is now too high to drive there.  We'll be rescheduling soon!

**update:  Looks like we may be back on!!  Thank you, Jesus!**

(Hopefully, pictures will follow.  But you know me and blogging...we have relationship issues with each other.)

Happy Birthday, my little man!!!

Growing Up

Do you see that gap? My baby boy lost his first tooth! It freaked me out a little to see him growing up right in front of me. Jacob is not one of those boys who likes all things bloody, so when the tooth became loose, I had prepared him for the likelihood of blood when it came out. He came out of his room at 6:15 this morning with a big ole grin on his face... "It's gone!" I searched his bed, his sheets, the floor, and pillowcase...no tooth. Good thing that tooth was tiny because he swallowed it in his sleep!

A few nights later during bedtime prayer, he prayed, "Lord, I thank you that I lost my first tooth. And I thank you that there was no blood like most other kids have." Sweet boy, I love that even in little things, you know Who to thank.

Six Years of Jacob

My precious boy turned six this past Monday. I am so thankful for this child! He was absolutely the easiest baby ever, even from conception, and he was my only unmedicated birth. He continues to be such a joy. He has challenged me to think outside the box, to learn how to meet his needs, and to seek the Lord more diligently in my parenting. He is absolutely brilliant and loves to learn. It has been such fun being his teacher this last year. I have loved learning and growing with him, and I look forward to many more years of celebrating faith, life and love with him.

Love you, sweet boy!

Mute

On Monday, Jacob's phonics lesson was on the long vowel sound of u. One of the words he had to read was "mute". He asked what that meant, and one of the examples I gave him was when we press the mute button on the remote to make the tv silent.

Last night he walked in the living room, saw the tv on with no sound and asked:

"Why is the tv deaf?"