Birthday Bash!

We had Carson's belated birthday party tonight from 7 to 9. It was the first and only BIG party he has ever had. We have always done house parties, because he is such a little home body. This year we had a pool party though. Carson wasn't quite sure about it when we were planning it, but when we got home he said it was the best party ever! He loved having the pool filled with all HIS friends. We all had a good time. We are fortunate that the parents of his friends are our friends. It makes these types of events even better for us.

I was a little stressed about the boys being rough in the water, but they were all really good. The lifeguards were cool to the kids, but stayed on them. Maisy had a few of her little friends there too, which was super fun for my little social butterfly. Knox was great too. He just gets shuffled around in all the chaos. I think he probably licked the icing off of at least 5 cupcakes. The two hours flew by. I hope Carson remembers this one...

This is what I will remember...

It was during a major heat wave. Today it was 90 and it felt nice. The pool water is almost so warm it feels gross to be in it. We have had no upstairs AC for a week, so we have been sleeping downstairs,so we know just how hot it has been, inside and out. The boys played Splash and fought over the rope on the sprinkler in the shallow end. Carson is saving his money for an I-touch I-pod, which he can buy now. His friends were incredibly generous! He is a lucky kid. He might have been doing chores for another 2 weeks to save enough. He is also really into Beyblades, which are these spinning tops that battle in a little stadium. Most importantly, Carson was really happy tonight. He was also very helpful getting ready for the party. He helped me ice cupcakes and count party favors 800 times to make sure we had enough. He also danced in public. :) I would love the good mood to continue.

To the Fence!

Carson hit his first home run of the season tonight! It was a big hit to the center field fence. I found my camera in the nick of time and got a blurry version of it to share. Turn your volume down, because my screaming is extremely loud and annoying. The boys are in their first kid pitch tournament this weekend. We went 2-0 tonight, giving up only 1 run. Carson pitched the first game and struck out two.

It was a good night at the ballpark. Everyone stayed to play in the dirt afterwards. Knox had to have a bath in the park sink; he was so filthy. He loves the dirt! Since it was so late he fell asleep on the way home and went to bed without a real bath. Who knows what I will find in his hair tomorrow. Gross! Maisy Kay was happy as a lark running the bases too. Good times!

Eight is Enough!

Hmmm...I think this is the start of something new. Carson is changing. He is really trying to assert himself as a big kid. At times he is thoughtful, kind, and affectionate. At others he can be just downright mean or uninterested in anything. Recently I have noticed that he is the best when given responsibility or "jobs" that he feels are grown-up. There is just still so much he is too young to do. For example, he wanted an I-touch Ipod for his birthday. Jeremy and I did not get him one, but have told him he can buy it with his own money. Luckily the money hasn't come easy, so he is actually going to have to work for it. Carson is a spender just like me. I can't wait to see if he holds out for it. He is only about $25.00 short, so a few weeks of chores and he can get it. We will see how dedicated he is. I don't think he needs one though.

Carson has always been easy for me to understand, until recently. It makes me sad. I know we are a lot alike, but he is getting a mouth on him that I never had. Parenting is just getting harder. I would happily take the physical exhaustion of babies over the mental anguish of older kids. Good or bad, he is still my baby, and I am very proud of him. Outside the house he is shy, kind, and happy. He loves sports, music, dancing, video games, staying home and building things. We got him a set of tools and he built a toolbox. He has a bird house to do too. He hates bugs, being hot, putting on sunscreen, broccoli, and tornadoes. At school Carson is a dream or so I am told. He is a rule follower and wants to please. Hopefully that won't change.

With every birthday I am shocked at how fast time has gone. He is eight, and I am old!

How Great Thou Art

The world lost a great man last weekend. I struggle to find the words to express his passing. He was a man of conviction, honesty, and truth. He truly walked the talk. I respect his dedication to God, his family, and his heritage so much. Unfortunately those are not things I ever exactly said to him. I wrote it in cards and in a poem on his 80th birthday, so I feel he knew. I just wish I would have been mature enough to have had some of those conversations with him. Once you finally come to realize the wisdom your grandparents and parents possess, there never seems to be enough time to talk through it all. Life is so funny that way. As soon as you get a phase figured out, it is time to move on. Papaw had it all figured out. He knew what was important to him and stood by those beliefs.

Some memories that will stay with me forever are him walking on our old street in the country. He would always wave before he even knew who you were. It didn't matter to him. He was just that way. He always answered the phone, "Good evening, Reverend John Nichols speaking." Formal, respectful. After every basketball game in high school he waited for me. No matter how good or bad it was, he was proud. He always gave me a little cash too. It was really sweet. He was a faithful fan. I always loved how he would tease my grandma about her pictures. He would get so feisty about her taking another family photo. She would set the timer and run in. There are several with all of us laughing so hard at them. But, he loved her...more than anything. At his funeral, Maisy was sitting by my sister. We were in the pew behind them. When the solo How Great Thou Art was sang, she started singing, on her own, no prompting (I had even forgotten that she learned it at Bible school). So sweetly. It was a perfect moment. I hope he heard that. He was a great man, and part of him lives on in each of us.

Then sings my soul,

My Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art!

How great Thou art!