Thursday, June 4
THE END!
In the past few weeks, we've partied it up for Justin's 10th birthday; complete with sleepover, pool party, and roller skating party. You only turn ten once, right?
We attended the kindergarten performance; complete with song and dance, and a performance from Ryan's class of The Cows in the Kitchen.
Now, with only three and a half hours of school remaining for the 2008-2009 year, I am extremely anxious for this summer to officially begin. The boys had an amazing year of school; Ryan soared through kindergarten with exceptional learning and behavior, and left quite an impression on the staff and faculty of the elementary school. I have been told by several people throughout the year, and especially this past week, just how special both of our boys are and how there aren't too many like them these days. I was told they are both very well behaved, well mannered, and very respectful...never mind the fact they're both DROP DEAD GORGEOUS. While I know they truly are great kids, it fills my heart with pride to know that we truly are doing something right with these two, and even if we become failures at every other attempt Luke and I share throughout our life together, we certainly weren't failures when it came to being wonderful parents to our beautiful children. Spoiled brats that drive us crazy? SURE! But, they know how to hold their shit together when they need to and when they're in the company of somebody other than their dreaded Mom and Dad. I'll take that!
Justin cleaned house at his award ceremony earlier this week; receiving a certificate for safety patrol, SCA, perfect attendance (he also received a pin and was one of only ten kids out of nearly 200), athletic achievement and excellent effort in PE (one of only 12 kids out of nearly 200), creative writing, good work habits, artistic ability, and citizenship/sportsmanship. MAJOR AWARDAGE.
The one award his did not receive for the first time since he started school was the silver achievement award for carrying an A/B honor roll for all four grading periods. Third period he missed it by one point in math, which cost him the honors. When I made the point to tell him that he failed to bring home that one this year, he replies, "Oh, Mom...I wasn't worried about THAT one". No, of course not...as long as you win the PE AWARD, who really gives two shits about the HONOR ROLL?!
Camera batteries are charging and the tissue box is by my keys...tomorrow morning my baby graduates from elementary school. I'm quite certain that his growing up entirely too quickly and my PMS are going to make for quite the dramatic morning.
Posted by Bek at 3:58 PM
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Monday, May 18
His First Decade
I had the honor of sharing Mother's Day with Justin this year, as he celebrated his tenth birthday.
He is beautiful, intelligent, hysterical, kind and sincere, and wise beyond his years. We boast with pride over most everything he does; as he excels in the classroom, on the baseball field, and with being the most amazing brother to Ryan.
He leaves an impression with most everyone that he meets, and one that is always favorable. Justin has taken on many responsibilities during this, his last year in elementary school, and has maintained A/B honor roll with the exception of being one point away from a B in math during his last marking period. He welcomes a challenge, and continuously takes the bull by the horns. He has the most tender heart which he wears on his sleeve.
May 10, 1999 our lives changed forever. I could not imagine ever living one second without having this beautiful young man in my life.
Posted by Bek at 6:27 PM
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Friday, April 3
My Days are Numbered
He still believes in Santa. He's known for a long while now that the Easter Bunny was just an overstuffed person in a costume. And still, to this very second, he believes that there is truly a Tooth Fairy. Though with his tenth birthday just a little over a month away and with the transition to middle school this fall, I know that soon Justin's sweet baby fairy tale innocence will be a figment of our past.While I was volunteering at the school yesterday, Justin came to me with a Ziploc bag holding his first "Big Ass Tooth" lost. While I am not certain of it's technical dental name, I have always referred to these particular teeth as the "Big Ass" ones and now, his first is gone. Headed upstairs to bed last night, I reminded Justin to grab his tooth from the kitchen to slide under his pillow for THE TOOTH FAIRY, you know. He tucked it nicely under his stack of pillows, laid his tired little head down, and kissed me goodnight...only after telling me a hundred times that he loved me and that he wanted to go roller skating again that very second, but whatever...
This morning, as I was trying my damnedest to convince myself to hell with perfect attendance, this would be the PERFECT day for my kids to SKIP SCHOOL because oh my God, the rain, I remembered SHIT! THE TOOTH FAIRY!! Sleeping like a rock, I knew that waking him during the transfer of tooth for cash would not be an issue, until IT HAPPENED. I couldn't find the tooth! I looked under all five pillows. I looked in his hands. I pulled down his comforter. Then his sheets. I moved his body from one side to the other, under the bed, under his radio, EVERYWHERE BUT HIS TOILET. No tooth! I panic. I call Luke upstairs and he too turned up no Ziploc bag and no Big Ass Tooth. I slide the 5 under his pillow as he is awakening, then scurry downstairs.
Worried that he intentionally hid the tooth to determine the reality or myth that is the Tooth Fairy, I covered my own fairy ass by drafting him a letter, in the most fairyest handwriting one ever did see.
Dear Justin,
I heard you lost another tooth, though I wasn't able to find it. I have left you five dollars for now, and if I am able to find it, I will bring you five more. I heard it was a big one...
xoxo,
T.F.
I folded up the bright yellow card and slithered my way back to his room and placed it ever so inconspicuously atop his night stand. While I'm back about my normal GET YOUR ASS OUTTA BED routine, he feels for the cash and groggily and with hazy eyes, inspects its value. He was thrilled with the five spot she left behind. Then, he eyes the card on his night stand and asks me what it is. He reads it aloud, giggles a bit to himself and then is all, "NO WAY, THIS IS HILARIOUS!"
Together we look for his tooth, and eventually find that it had slid down in between his mattress and head board. Slippery little sucker! We both shared a laugh, then he ran down to read his Dad the note. He came back upstairs and very proudly hung the card on his bulletin board, still saying to himself, "that is HILARIOUS!"
I've gotta keep it up as long as I am permitted. It won't be long until he and I are sharing our secrets from his brother!
