Spring is Beautiful

The springtime in Wichita is beautiful.  So far this month, we haven't had too many April showers, and after school the boys spend most of their time playing outside.  I love leaving the windows open and hearing the sound of their sweet little voices playing so hard, getting the fresh air they waited all winter to breathe.  But along with the running around, bike riding, and the imaginative games they play, unfortunately, comes a bit of neighborhood rivalry.  Our next door neighbors and their three boys have been a constant blessing to us since they moved in several years ago.  But now that the boys have reached school age, they have developed opinions and personalities that don't always agree with the opinions and personalities of their peers.  So sometimes as we are cleaning up the kitchen after dinner, one of our sons will run in to recount what happened in the backyard, who got hurt, who threw dirt, or swung a big stick, or who stole the big stick that I found.  Then after some name-calling, a little parental intervention, and maybe a few tears, all seven boys reconcile and decide to bury treasure near the field, or hunt for toads, or hammer a few nails together.

Zachary absolutely feels left out.  He stands by the back door to our deck, his little nosed pressed up against the screen, and babbles, asking for us to let him out of the house.  Walking through the grass, even barefoot, doesn't bother him one bit.  And if he falls, he continues his quick pace on his hands and knees.  He will climb part way up the slide of our play set, then turn around, plop down, and squeal "Wheeeee!" as he slides and plunges into the muddy spot at the bottom of the slide, rubbed bare of grass.  But when Mom and Dad head back into the house, Zachy must go as well.  And he is not the least bit happy to leave the bright sun, the breeze, and his big brothers behind.  Maybe when you're a little bigger, baby boy.  But you're still just too delicate to stay outside on your own for now.

Today Rainbows United evaluated Zachary's development, and their conclusion... he doesn't qualify for services.  He is still a little "behind" in gross motor development because he doesn't stand himself up from the floor, but that will come.  And while he only has a couple real words, he actually fared well in language/speech because he understands everything, follows commands, and responds and communicates with us in his own way.  His cognitive development was advanced for his age, too, according to the therapists.  So this is good news for us, and one less activity to add to our schedule.  If he doesn't expand his vocabulary in the next several months, we will have him re-evaluated.  Something tells me, though, this won't be the case.  Little Zach seems to learn something new each and every day.

This morning the boys and I drove past a cemetery, where we stopped for a few minutes to allow a funeral procession to enter.  Joseph took a good look at the statues and monuments in the cemetery and pointed out, "Look at that big cross!"  "I don't see it,"  said Samuel, "but there's a big God!" he exclaimed, pointing to a statue of the risen Christ.

"Mommy," he continued.  "Where are all 'doz cars goin'?"  I explained that they were going to bury and pray for a loved one who had died.

"I want us to go in der!" said Sammy.  "Pease, PEASE can us go in der, Mommy?"

"No," I had to explain.  "We don't even know that person who died.  But we can pray for them."  So we said a few prayers for the recently deceased.

"But Mommy," my sleepy Sammy started to whine, "I wanna go in dat place!  Go, Mommy, go!"

"Sorry, Sammy," I continued, "but we aren't going to that burial right now.  We have to go home and eat our lunch... and take our naps!  You'll get to go to a funeral when someone we know dies."  I couldn't believe I was having this conversation.

"Like you?" Joseph offered.  "When you die we can go to your funeral and bury you!"

So we finally made it home and were having lunch when Samuel, still deep in contemplation, was struck with worry.

"But Mommy," he pointed out, "when you die... kids can't drive the Toyota!"

And so there you have it.  I better stick around a little longer, 'cause this momma is one heck of a minivan driver!

No discussion of our spring fun would be complete without mention of our new diet healthier lifestyle.  Steve has shed 13 pounds and I am down 11 since we began making better choices about food and exercise just six weeks ago!  We still have a ways to go, but we're looking forward to stepping out this summer less intimidated by tight waistlines and short shorts!

But until school lets out and summer officially arrives, we have a busy and exciting couple of weeks ahead.  Next weekend my little Sammy has the all-important role as ring bearer in my brother's wedding.  The big event will include a short road trip up north and an overnighter in a hotel room with five rowdy boys (gulp!)  Then, we're all looking forward to Walking With Dinosaurs in our new downtown arena.  David is my dinosaur expert, so he'll judging the authenticity of the performance, I'm sure.  Then just one week later, Davy dons a smart suit and tie to receive Jesus at his First Holy Communion.  So stay tuned... many more stories and pictures of our Five Little Blessings are just around the corner!

Happy Spring, dear friends!