I went into Brock's classroom today. I noticed there were 'signed' contracts on the wall w/ accompanying drawings. Each student signed their own. It said something to the effect of: I ________, promise never to hurt anyone on the outside or inside.
So, I found Brock's. He had a picture drawn of 2 people....I didn't look very closely b/c I was focusing on the explanation the teacher had written for him: I won't stab people with knives.

right.

Then I looked at the other children's pictures. "I will help my family", "I can be a friend"...

right.

Brock is FIVE!

Yesterday we had a party for him. He had "the best day" rompin' around the neighborhood with the kids and couldn't wait for his party to start- he was mostly excited about his pinata! :)

Blowin' out the candles...


The silly string was a nice touch. We just needed like 15 more cans. :)


Pinata was a hit.


Cuuuuuuuuute girls!


Brock opening presents. I still just can't understand how un-excited he was about the boxers, hoodie, kite and PIGGY bank we got him! (lame-o. But seriously. He really has been wanting more boxers.) He got some rockin' presents totally suited for him. Glad other people know what to get a 5 yr. old.


Before he went to bed we looked at pictures of when he was born and when he was a baby and talked story. It was fun. After they went to bed Jess and I were trying to remember what time of day Brock was born. I knew I went in early... so I broke out the journal. Oh it was fun reading about him as a little baby.

Things that make Brock "Brock":

-Every morning he'll make his bed when he get's up and gets dressed right away.
-He's pretty much always the first to call it a night and will put himself to bed if Mom isn't quick enough.
-He's a 'foodie'. The number one thing Brock remembers about an event is the food he partook of. :) Which helps me understand why he is so stingy with sharing his food.
-Most things are not his fault, they are yours.
-He is quite shy- or rather, does NOT like any attention drawn to him especially if he wrecks or falls. And he will let any stranger know it... in an explosive manner.
-He gets leg pains quite frequently during the night.
-Before he goes to bed at night, he will empty the contents of his pockets, and line them all up on his window sill.
-He LOVEs carrying around his wallet and buying stuff at the store. We are working on the saving part (hence the piggy bank!)
-Finally, he loves teasing his brothers about girls. And he's got a mouth on him. And his expressions are the best.

Love you buddy.

I haven't been too good at taking pics lately. I finally uploaded what I had on the camera, since my battery is dead... These made me smile.

I had asked Wyatt to take a nap (or told him he needed to) and he cried because he didn't want to. Brock was there and he said, "Hey, do you want me to read to you?" And this is what happened next.


It was one of those wonderful moments as a parent that makes you all warm and fuzzy inside.

I have been tickled with Brock lately. He has started riding Bodie's old bike. He can really get going now, with the bigger tires. I watch him ride, this little guy on this seemingly BIG bike and I just grin. He is growing up so fast. The same day he offered to read to Wyatt (and lay down with him) Brock asked me to come outside and watch him ride b/c he was going to try Bodie's big jump. I followed him outside and suggested he try the smaller one first, to get 'warmed up'. I could NOT believe he was trying this. So he comes around the corner, goes up the ramp, bike in the air, he has lost contact with the peddles, comes down and totally eats it. He is pissed. (I don't know how to better describe it) He was a yelling and a hollering. First thing I told him was, "Way to bail kiddo!" and I grabbed him and told him to calm down and lets talk about what happened. He sat in my lap and we looked at the ramp. I told him to look at his bike and how far he had jumped. (which got him pretty excited) "You just lost contact with your peddles, and that's why you fell off when you landed. -You've got it! Go try it again!" So there he was going for it again.


He's got it. :) The other day I saw him go off the bigger jump. Woah. He needs more speed, but he landed it! :)

So, this guy turned four...

And decided to ditch the trainers. (with the encouragement of his Papa)

And he's got it down!!!!! (Except for the few times he's run into the block fence trying to stay on the sidewalk on the way to school... Then he decided to ditch the bike altogether.)

His brothers are pretty happy for him. But the stinker on the right isn't gonna let his brother bask in his new-found glory for long... I am flabbergasted.

But for now....

(going for the jump)

BROCK'S 4th BIRTHDAY... p a r t y!
He wanted a transformer cake....But everything I saw on-line was more than I wanted to tackle... so we kept it pretty simple & just stuck a figure on top! :)


These individual cakes are the ticket! So cute.


The pinata was a 'hit' (ha) :) There was SOOOOO much candy in it...






All the kids' bags were O V E R F L O W I N G....





Casey & Becky


Ryan & Michaela


Brock opening some presents


His favorite... a bag of m&m's... hilarious.


"see my m&m's??"


Gettin' after it. :)



For you, Nana & Papa! We missed you!

Yesterday afternoon I was out front watching the boys play & ride their bikes. Brock came up to me and crawled up in my lap...I turned him and cradled him like a baby and told him how excited I was to have him come out of my tummy... And then I proceeded to tell him the story of his birth. Wow, was he ever diggin' that story!! Jess had come out in the middle of it and I had interrupted my story to consult with him about it... Brock goes: "NO! Talk to me, Mom!!" :) So I finished up the story, remembering having that little bugger in my arms when it was all done. It was a happy birth-day. And now he is F O U R. Yeesh. When you're in 'the thick' of child-rearing it just seems like it's never going to end. But now I am getting pangs of not wanting him to grow up. So ironic.
We love our Brockee. He is the 'spice' in our lives.

In honor of his birthday - I'm am re-posting a few videos...



F U N N Y !

HAPPY B-DAY to a kiddo who FEELS so much! :)

I have been mourning the end of summer. I wasn't ready for the school year to start. I wanted the endless summer...warmth, fun, carefree...

But today I am good with this whole school bizzzness. It's gonna be a fun school year. I love Bodie's teacher - Mrs. LeMoyne -He knows most the kids in his class from last year at the co-op & Brock is now in the classroom next door at the co-op. They are excited about that, and so am I. It's a multi-age program -so they will be doing centers together 1x a week and field trips together. Bodie's school is a 'magnet' school for the arts and sciences. I learned yesterday that each child will be getting (2) 1/2hr. lessons of suzuki violin a week, w/ violins provided for them. This will continue through the 2nd grade. (!) SWEEEEEEEEEET. I am very excited about this. :) Hopefully he will enjoy it - I think he will.

Here are the school boys on their first day: (Brock never disappoints w/ the facial expressions)