Henry turns 14

What's it like being Henry's mom, you ask? Check out this text exchange. He texted me while my class was at recess so I called him when I got that initial text, imaging him standing in the bike racks in the rain. He didn't answer (because he was in class).

A couple of days before his birthday was Henry's last orchestra concert ever. We had the best view of him yet. Can you spot his golden hair?

He doesn't want to play in the orchestra anymore. He says it's boring but I think he just wants to do other stuff.

He woke us all up early on his birthday so that he could open presents and have birthday breakfast before he had to leave for school. Most of his wish-list was food so I had to add in a few surprises like a slackline kit.

Protein powder, a workout tee, 

Cereal, drinks, etc.

For breakfast we had pancakes squares, sausage, and pancake squares.

He got a couple of new shirts and ice cream then he was off to school.

After school he frosted his cake and then we met Justin in Provo at Chom so that Henry could have a burger. Burgers are his favorite.

Then we got home in time for grandparents to come over for cake. He chose white cake with chocolate frosting.

Who does he look more like?

James took a bazillion pictures and wouldn't stop.

He got a new clockradio, taffy, and canned whip cream from Justin's parents and birthday money from mine. Then he wanted to go to his church activity so he and Justin and Sarah left.

A few days later I was cutting his hair and we had this exchange:

Me: Henry can you believe you're getting your license in 2 years?

Henry: (Shrugs) Yeah, I already know how to drive.

Me: How can you possibly know how?

Henry: Well like from all the Mario Kart. I'll still go to driver's ed and stuff.

Me: Yeah to like actually learn how to drive and all the laws.

Henry: Yeah, like using the blinker.

Me: Yes, all you need to learn is to use a blinker.

************

Some things about Henry

He lost his final baby tooth just last week. He hates losing teeth and waits until they practically fall out. The adult tooth is like half-way in at that point. He swears he won't get braces again and so far so good.

He's my most punctual kid when it's time to come home for dinner. Not perfect, but by far the best. All that getting grounded for going AWOL when he 7 is paying off.

He is a self-proclaimed foodie. He wants to own his own restaurant someday. One of his birthday shirts is from a favorite burger place in Cedar City, Hermies.

He had perfect attendance this year at school. He got an award and his friends called him a nerd.

He's my most tidy kid if you don't count the mess he makes eating.

He will happily make me food if I ask.

He sneezes so much. Like 8 in a row. He inherited Autosomal Compelling Helio-Ophthalmic Outburst (or "ACHOO" for short) from me. Photic sneeze reflex affects 10-35% of the population so maybe you or someone you know also sneezes every time they go outside.

He loves football and is playing tackle again this fall.

He is a morning person. I can't think of the last time I had to wake him up for anything. His siblings get mad at him for waking them up. He likes buddies.

Sarah drove him to school all winter so in exchange he made her lunch each morning. He rides his bike now but he still makes her lunch.

He takes his calling as teachers quorum secretary very seriously. He is on the ball.

He is super fun to joke around with because he plays along and rolls his eyes at me.

We love you, bud. Can't believe it's already been 14 years!

May showers, May flowers and Mother's Day

After Justin spent a lot of time replacing her bike tube, Erica and I went for a little bike ride around the neighborhood. She was the only child home that Saturday evening so we had already taken her out for Mexican food. Someday soon the kids will compare notes and figure out if they are the only kid to stay home on a weekend night, they most likely get taken out.

Awesome girl that she is picked the Baby-sitters Club book.

 Sometimes it rains really hard and sometimes the drain at the corner next door gets backed up with debris and then our gutter gets full. And then our kids always make paper boats and float them down the gutter river. There were workers at the corner the next day cleaning the storm drain so maybe it won't happen again for awhile.

After playing gutter boats, it turned into tub boats and then the littles, already being in their swimming suits of course, decided to take a cold plunge challenge. They were shivering forever but wouldn't get out until I called it at bedtime.

At school the kids were making mothers day cards to go with their gifts. Isaac leans over and looks at Shep's drawing and says encouragingly, "Shep, that looks just like your mom."

What made the interaction even more funny was that Shep looked offended by the comment.

It took me like 3 hours but I finally got the garden cleared. It took so long because we didn't do much clearing out last fall. Shriveled tomato plants still in their cages, onion plants revived and needed picking. Justin and I took the girls to buy plants and then we made all the kids come out to mix in the compost and plant.

Lets hope the interest in the garden continues and it doesn't all die, dry, rot or taken over by weeds.

Mother's day! My kids always do such a good job because they like cooking and holidays. And me. They like me. I requested toast topped with cottage cheese and a fried egg and they delivered.

Justin got me flowers and a new cellphone with a much better camera. I'm excited for that.

The handmade gifts are always my favorite. James made me this at school and a Perler bead mountain at home. 

James also made me a coupon book at school full of free chores and days off of him asking for a turn on the computer. 

Erica made ma lovely card and a flower out of Perler beads.

And a paper kickball because the real thing was to be delivered later that day.

Sarah got me gummy candy and Henry got me the good chocolate chips because making and eating chocolate chip cookies for these goobers is my happy place.

At church I got to do a Q&A with the young women and share my thoughts and experiences on dating, marriage, and motherhood and bear my testimony. And I got to know them better which was the best part.

Another month, another sport and seeing James like never before.

Erica wanted to sign up for track because her best friend wanted her to do it with her. Then I asked my boys if they wanted to do it too since it's all at the same time and they agreed. But guess who's friend has been to 1 practice and 1 track meet?

Sigh. At least it's pretty fun to watch. The practices are too long, according to my kids. The meets are little long, also according to my kids, and my back.

But it's a pretty fun environment. There is a lot going on and there's just something so inspiring watching these little ones try so hard. And trying to spot my kids on the field from the stands is like looking at a Where's Waldo book.

This is George Washington drawn by a kid in my class. I love it so much. He told me he hated it but wouldn't let me have it so I took a picture instead before he threw it away.

James made this map of the US with a bunch of information about migration. Pretty sure 2nd grade is harder than I remember.

James and Sarah had their piano recital. They did so good! I know it's not a competition but they won.

Another track meet. Henry is going for the high jump. He likes the field events more than track. I have to bribe him to race.

Saturday Sarah had prom. She went with a boy from her seminary class that she didn't know all that well and she borrowed a dress from our neighbor.

 

I thought her corsage was especially pretty.

And she made the boutienniere boutoneire boutonniere. She and her friends got together Friday night and made them. I was impressed.

She didn't know her date very well even though he's a sophomore too. They were in a group with his brother who's a senior and a bunch of other seniors. She said everyone was really nice but it was awkward at times and felt long. But she said she had fun and she had some funny stories to share.

James got his expander take out! He's been looking forward to this day since November when it was put in. Here's the last "before" picture before we headed to the orthodontist. Those prongs on the sides are where the headgear attached. His lips always got caught on them while speaking and eating.

As a reminder, here's how he looked last fall:

 

He's always had an underbite, even as a baby with his baby teeth.

Okay, now I'm just posting cute pictures of him and making myself sad.

 Anyway, here's his x-ray last fall.

3 months of widening the pallet expander and then two months of nightly headgear and here we are! No more prongs and he has all the space in the roof of his mouth back. 

Now it's just a watching game to see if he needs braces. Fingers crossed.

And now we gear up for May. We've got more track, mother's day, Henry's birthday, end of school, my aunt's wedding and then the Dyes leave for Alaska!