Big Six year old

Look at that little guy. This is Cort at 1 year old. And now look at him. Growing up so fast.

This year was a big year for you, Cort.

You became a big brother. I remember not long after Gage was born you told me you didn't want to have any more birthdays until Gage turned 5 so you could be the same age. Too bad it doesn't work that way. You will always be Gage's big brother and I know you will be a terrific one.

You started Kindergarten at Lowery Elementary in Ms. Cleboski's class and you are doing great! I am so proud of your reading and writing. You are very detailed in your thought process and the pictures you draw for your stories. As a two year old you were very strong willed. You knew what you wanted and it had to be exactly the way you wanted. This year you have had to adapt to Kindergarten. It was a little scary for you at first. You like routine. You put a lot of thought into things. If you have taken the time to think it out, you are very upset if it doesn't go the way you had planned. At the beginning of the school year there were a couple of times that you actually obsessed about, one being the Thanksgiving feast. This event totally through you for a loop for about a week. You begged not to go to school that day, but it turned out to be fine. I think because it was new and different you didn't know how to visualize the day and plan accordingly. Now that you are becoming an experienced Kindergartner, you seem to be loosening up a little. And we are so proud of you. You are doing absolutely wonderful! You rarely get a note from the teacher on your blue card and we love your report cards!
You are a sweet, lovable, and snugly little boy. You can make the cutest, sweetest, funniest facial expressions, and you always have a smile on your face. That stubborn streak comes around once in a while, but I think it is just the frustration of not being able to communicate what you are thinking as adequately as you want.
You lost your first tooth just a few days before you turned 6. That tiny little tooth had been wiggly for a while and your hand was always in your mouth playing with it. It probably would have been fine for a few more days, but dad convinced you to let him help you pull it out.
You weren't too happy about it at first because it hurt and there was blood. You never do good with the sight of blood. Any boo-boo can be a tiny little scratch, but if it is bleeding you totally freak out!
In the end you were glad the tooth fairy would finally come see you for the first time.

We had a great celebration for your party. (post to come later) Mommy and daddy got you this awesome set of Ninjago Legos. It is all your favorite things in one.....Lego is so smart! It is, of course, Legos with cards (like Pokemon or Bakugan) and fighting, spinning tops (like BeyBlades).
You would rather sit and play Legos or a puzzle than a board game or cards. You are so good at them and usually can put it together all by yourself as you did this Ninjago vehicle. You and daddy are working on a large bomber airplane that Nana and PawPaw gave you. It is a project that is going to take a while, but you are enjoying it and the finished project will be well worth the wait.

I asked you not that long ago what you wanted to be when you grow up and you said a person who tells people about God. You are a wonderful son and I love you very much. I look forward to watching you grow up and seeing all that you will accomplish.

10 months

How is it going by so fast. Only 2 more months until Gage turns 1! It seems like just yesterday when we were in the hospital. Here is Cort playing with Gage in his pack-n-play. Gage likes it so much better if someone is in there with him. Every once in a while mommy needs a few moments to not have to watch Gage every second. Yes, every second at our house. The amount of small pieces a 7 and 6 year old have is maddening, from Lego's to BeyBlades. So we have to watch Gage all the time. Even if the house is completely picked up, Keaton and Cort could be playing and drop a small piece unknowingly. We make them aware of how important it is to keep everything picked up.

Gage has learned to hold and drink from a sippy cup.

See my juice mommy?

We even took our snack outside on a cold afternoon to watch the boys play.

Gage all bundled up, trying to stay warm.

The sun was shining so it helped warm us up too.

Gage is doing really well eating finger foods. His snack this afternoon was star puffs.

Here he is talking. It's a good pic of his two new teeth coming in. He was probably hollering at the boys trying to get their attention. Mark and I swear he says Teakon (Keaton) already. And he definitely has been saying MaMa a lot now.

Hanging with daddy on the couch before bedtime.

Keaton at 10 months

Keaton at 10 months with daddy.

I have been dying to share this picture. This is Cort at 10 months with Keaton who was 2 1/2. They had so much fun that night playing the in the chair together laughing.

And here is Cort getting Keaton!

Happy 6th Birthday Cort!!

Happy Birthday my sweet little 6 year old.

I can't believe you are in Kindergarten.

Hope you have a wonderful day at school.

I am so glad you were born!

Christmas 2010

I know I already posted this picture under Gage's 9 month update, but this is how I want to remember Christmas 2010. It was a long month of December getting ready for Christmas, decorating, shopping, planning, and wrapping. But it was well worth it. Christmas Eve our family went to the Candlelight service at church and then gathered at our house with Mark's mom, dad, and grandfather. We enjoyed a delicious dinner and then the kids opened a couple of gifts. They had been dying to open something.

Keaton picked this present knowing it was a binder for something. He was so happy when he opened it that he now had a binder to organize all of his Pokemon cards. He spent the rest of the night filling his binder. He is such the organizer. And he got Lego Atlantis Cort got a SpongeBob puzzle

And a Hero Factory Lego set

Nana and Papa gave Gage a Buzz Lightyear scooter.

He had so much fun playing with it that night.

Cort couldn't wait to build his Hero Factory.Keaton organizing his Pokemon

We awoke Christmas morning to find Santa had been good to us!!!

Keaton and Cort couldn't wait to see what he gave them.

Gage ready to check out the loot.

Trying to take it all in. I think they were still half asleep.

Keaton got a new bike and a Tony Hawk helmet.

Cort got a Pogo Stick and Lego City set.

K & C helping Gage check out his new toys from Santa.

Papa, Grandfather, Nana and Aunt Kerrie joined us for brunch. But first we opened presents.

Aunt Kerrie taking Gage for a ride.

Too much excitement for Gage. He fell asleep during brunch in his high chair.

Keaton and Cort couldn't wait to take their bike and pogo stick outside.

Cort had no problems figuring out his pogo stick. He was a natural.

The day after Christmas we spent at Mark's mom's house with Grandfather, Adam, Julie, Kayla and Ryan.

Cort got more Legos! And he loves them!

Nana gave Keaton a picture frame for all his sports pictures.

Gage took a nap with Aunt Julie.

Two days before Christmas, Mark's grandmother passed away at the age of 93. This Christmas was filled with many memories of a great lady. On December 29, 2010 we celebrated her life at a memorial service. This is a picture of Grandfather, also 93, with 5 of his 6 great-grandchildren. Ryan, Kayla, Keaton, Cort and Timothy on his lap. We did not bring Gage to the service.

My parents visited the weekend of New Years and we celebrated Christmas all over.

Keaton and Cort both got a new blanket for their beds from Gee and Papa Dan. It is just like my blanket, but a twin. Now maybe my 'soft blanket', as they call it, can stay on my bed. They were always taking it off and curling up on the couch with it or making a pallet with it. They loved the 'soft blanket'.

Cort got a penguin pillow pet. He told me last night he named it Winter.

Gee and Papa Dan offered to babysit so Mark and I hit the town for New Year's Eve. We rang in 2011 with Melinda, John, Dan and Nicki at La Parmigiana with a delicious Italian meal then rocked it out at the Taylor's playing Rock Band. Yes, we are still cool!

New Year's Day we finally got around to opening Gage's Christmas from Gee and Papa Dan. Gage was taking a nap the day before. Keaton and Cort had been waiting a week for Papa Dan and Gee to arrive so I couldn't make them wait one more day.

I think Gage is saying to Cort,

"Want to help me open it?"

Hope you had a Merry Christmas and a wonderful start to the New Year.

2011 is already full of changes. This time last year I was pregnant and I ended the year still weaning Gage from breastfeeding at 9 months.

I think 2011 will be a year filled with many decisions to be made. We have already decided to pull Keaton and Cort out of afterschool daycare. Mark will pick them up from school and they will stay at home with him. Since he works out of the house, they will easily entertain themselves, work on homework, watch TV, play Wii or catch up on some rest. Gage will remain in full time daycare. I am really praying this change will overall be better for the kids and our family this year.