The Big FIVE!

 Can you believe this little boy is FIVE?  He has been counting down to his big day for two weeks, and was the picture of behavior perfection all day - "Can I have this?  It's my birthday!"  He started off the day with a trip to McDonald's for 2 sausage McMuffins, then off to speech and back home.  It was an extra special birthday because Dad was home all day and the two of them were buddies all day long- even on a Starbucks run!  He had so much fun waiting to open his presents, and then opening them too - it is so fun to see him anticipate and dance around, and try to guess what's inside - he really "gets" the whole birthday thing.  Each of his brother's had picked out a special gift just for him, and I loved seeing them give it to him and the excitement that Wayne and Wyatt had to bring joy to Weston on his special day. 

For dinner - it was a no brainer - SUBWAY, his favorite thing to eat.  And dessert was none other than a Mocha Cake, compliments of... Grandpa?  Grandma had slaved away over this finicky cake but Grandpa delivered it.  When Grandma stopped by later on unexpectedly, Weston ran up to her and said, "Guess what?  My Grandpa made me a cake!"  You should have seen the look on her face.  :-)

After dinner instead of putting on his jammies, he got into his basketball clothes and went to practice with Dad and Wayne - in his words, "Awesome!"  Such a great day for a super-great 5 year old.

Weston has grown up so much in the past year.  He is a very smart little boy, and is a leader in his preschool class at school.  He knows how to behave in class, and encourages others to do the right thing.  He is talking a ton, and loves to tell stories about his day.  He has several friends at school, and loves Teacher Michelle and Teacher Deniece and Teacher Tammy.  He loves to ride his bike, play Transformers and Skylanders, and is working on beginning reading and kindergarten sight words.  He loves playing basketball, and has been working really hard at his shooting form.  He is very adventurous and has no fear.  Weston is also sensitive, he doesn't like to be told no or for anyone to raise their voice to him.  He is a caretaker and would do ANYTHING for his baby sister.

Happy birthday buddy!

 We forgot to give him dinner on his special plate, so he had an omelet on it the next morning.

First comes glue, then stitches, and finally STAPLES!

This was Wayne's THIRD trip to the ER with a head injury...  a dog bite, an accident from jumping on the bed, and now a car door....  Stitches, glue, and for the first time... STAPLES!

Wayne was so excited to be back into the swing of school and basketball practice, but getting back into our routine was definitely exhausting for him.  After practice last Tuesday they pulled into the garage, and as Wayne got out, his waterbottle fell out.  He jumped down and bent over to get it, only to come up directly underneath the corner of the open door.   OUCH!  Immediate blood and a little bit of crying, and one quick peek to see that indeed his head was split open, and we loaded up to head to every mother & son's favorite bonding place.  the Emergency Room.  We did stop long enough to take the fully charged iPad with us though!  We arrived at around 9pm, and after 2 hours of waiting and two rounds of numbing medication, we were able to spend the 5 minutes that we needed to with the doctor.  He asked if I was concerned about head trauma or a concussion, and I told him that since he had beat me twice at checkers while we were waiting, I was not at all concerned.   He flushed it, he put in 2 staples, and we were on our way.  Wayne was so tough - other than crying for about a minute when it first happened, he didn't cry at all!

By midnight, we were home and in bed!

I blinked... and Addison is 6 months old

As I sit here typing Addison is playing in her excersaucer behind me, squealing like a wild child at her brothers.  What has happened?  6 months have just flown by.  Way back in July we were just so anxious to meet her, to have her join and complete our family.  Back then we couldn't imagine what life would be like with her in it, and now we can't imagine what life would be like without her as part of our family.  The addition of a little sister had far less of an impact than the addition of a NEWBORN to our little (okay, maybe BIG) family.  And across the board, it has been a wonderful thing.  The boys have all learned that sometimes they don't come first.  They just don't.  Addison is smaller and younger and sometimes she needs us more than they do, and that is when they must be considerate of someone else's feelings and needs, and compassionate and helpful themselves.  It is a a good life lesson.  They have also gained experience in LOVE and JOY.  They love her so much, and not only would do anything to keep her from crying, but will do anything to make her laugh.  As far as she is concerned, the sun rises and sets on her brothers, and she is a puddle of sweetness around her Daddy.  I catch her just staring at him in awe, and the second she catches his eye, she bursts into a cheek-scrunching grin.  Oh my, is she ever sweet!!!  

So what is she up to?  She plays on her tummy and rolls every which way. She sleeps all night, and usually eats around 6 or 7am and then goes back to bed until 9 or 10 if I let her.  She naps for 2 to 4 hours at a time, and is in bed around 7pm each night.  As of yet the only food she has experienced has been a few bites of her auntie's home made buns, but I know in the coming week or two we need to get going on trying a few things.  I just don't want to.  It means she's reached a milestone that I am not ready for.  She is our LAST and I want to soak up every sweet little moment, and not forget any detail.... like the bald spot on the back of her head, how much she likes to suck on her fingers, how her left cheek always gets red, how independent she is in trying to hold her own bottle, the sound of her squeal, how dark her hair is in back, how she gets her feet pulled out of the legs of her jammies so that she can't even straighten them out at night, how she rolls on her belly and pops her head up to look around, how...  How much I love her.

21 Questions to Start My Year

A number of years ago our pastor presented these 21 questions to consider at the beginning of each year.  A friend recently reminded me of them, and I am going to spend some time answering each one today.  I am not just going to read the questions and think "That's a good question!" I am going to READ and THINK and WRITE (okay type...  I'm keeping it in excel so I can look over my answers from year to year)  Should be.. fun?  Convicting?  There might be some much needed change that comes from this process!


1.What’s the most important decision I need to make this year?

2. What area of my life most needs simplifying and what’s one way I can
simplify in that area?

3. What’s the most important need I feel burdened to meet this year?

4. What habit would I most like to establish this year?

5. Who do I most want to encourage this year?

6. What is my most important financial goal this year, and what is the
most important step I can take toward achieving it?

7. What’s the single most important thing I can do to improve the
quality of my work life this year?

8. What’s one new way I could be a blessing to someone who ministers
to me?

9. What’s one thing I can do this year to enrich the spiritual legacy I will
leave to my children and grandchildren?

10. What book, in addition to the Bible, do I most want to read this
year?

11. What one thing do I most regret about last year and what will I do
about it this year?

12. What singe blessing from God do I want to seek most earnestly this
year?

13. In what area of my life do I most need growth, and what will I do
about it?

14. What’s the most important trip I want to take this year?

15. What skill do I most want to learn or improve this year?

16. To what need or ministry will I try to give an unprecedented
amount this year?

17. What’s the single most important thing I can do to improve the
quality of my downtime this year?

18. What one biblical doctrine do I most want to understand better this
year?

19. If those who know me best gave me one piece of advice, what would
they say? Would they be right? What am I willing to do about it?

20. What’s the most important new item I want to buy this year?

21. In what area of my life do I most need change, and what will I do
about it?

Better luck next time.

Wyatt thought he was being super sneaky.  He checked over one shoulder, and then the other.  He grabbed the bar stool, and carefully lifted it so it didn't make any noise as he carried it to the back counter.  He checked over his should again.  He slowly climbed up and grabbed the cookie jar.  He carefully climbed down, and with the cookie jar tucked under his arm like a football, ran back to his usual snack chair.  He climbed up, awkwardly holding the cookie jar under one arm, and ever so quietly set it back on the table.  Now it was time to begin the tough part.  He started pulling, twisting, and scratching at the lid.  Minutes went by.  He constantly looked over his shoulder, scared he would be caught before he accomplished his mission. At last... POP!  The lid flew off and he poked his little eyes over the edge of the rim...  "Oh man!"

Sorry dude, we're out of cookies. 

A Boy on a Mission

For the past few weeks, Wayne has been on a serious mission - to be baptized.  He is 6 years old and we weren't sure if he really understood it all, but all it took was one conversation after the little boys to know where his heart was.  He knows that God commands us to be baptized if we believe in Him, and believe that Jesus died on the cross for our sins.  That we are to be baptized to profess this faith to everyone we know.  Wayne understood all of this, and he wanted it.  He called our church and spoke with Pastor Ken, and they set a time to meet for breakfast, "Thanks Pastor Ken.  We have to be done by 9 because I have school.  I don't want to be late."  Come Thursday morning, Ken pulled into the driveway and Wayne was ready to go - backpack and all.  Once they got to the restaurant, apparently Pastor Ken let Wayne order whatever it was he wanted - and he chose pancakes and hashbrowns, with a hot cocoa.  And then he ordered a 2nd hot cocoa when his first was gone.  

They had quite the conversation, and when they were done they stopped by the house to let me know they had a good time.  Ken put the car in park, and he got out of the car but he was laughing so hard he couldn't stand up.  Is that a good sign?  Hmm...  There was no doubt in Ken's mind that Wayne knew what it meant to be baptized, and that he was ready and wanting to do it.  He asked Wayne if he needed a wash cloth over his nose, and Wayne said, "No, just dunk me under."  I told Ken he better be happy Wayne called him now instead if in 5 years - imagine what he'll be eating for breakfast then!

So this morning we went to church early, and I got a good seat in the front to video and photograph the occasion.  Wyatt went to class, and Weston sat with Uncle Deryl and Aunt Shari, and Addison hung out with Grandma.  Tyler took Wayne to the back area, where several of the other kids and Dad's were.  They asked Wayne if he was nervous, and of course his answer was "No!"  He was not nervous, he was ready, and excited.  So many of our family and our dear friends were there, and Wayne was so sweet and sincere in his responses... 

Why do you want to be baptized?  To show everyone how much I love God.

Who is Jesus?  My savior.

Pastor Ken even shared a conversation that they had over breakfast - that Wayne was so surprised that his Mom and his Dad did not get baptized until they were 30 and 31, and we weren't even in a grade! 

 This is my most favorite shot.... can you see the smile on his face just before he goes under?

 Afterwards we had coffee and donuts at our house for anyone who could stop by.  Thank you all for being their for Wayne on this special day!

Dear Wayne,

Watching you act out in obedience to the word of God today was beyond special for Dad and me.  You have a sincere, and close relationship with God.  I love that you know you can talk to Him, and tell him all the wonderful things, and that you so readily confess your sin to Him daily.  The sigh of relief after you confess your sin and ask for forgiveness is precious and inspires me to do the same.  I pray that you will always fully know that God's love and the sacrifice of His son is enough to cover all your sin, and that you can walk alongside your Lord and Savior every day of your life.  I pray that as you grow your faith matures with you, through elementary school, middle school, high school, and even college someday.  I pray that one day you would be able to watch your children be baptized, as we watched you today.  We are so very proud of you, and love you more than you will ever know.

Love, Mom and Dad

The Grand Finale of 2012 - Macy's party!

Our good friend Macy had a birthday party - and invited ALL the Silves kids to attend!  What a nice girl.  The funny thing is, they ALL love her.  To pieces!  And she plays with each one of them at any given point in time.  I must say, they have good taste in girls.  Macy is sweet, thougtful, smart, and independent.  She also has a pretty nice mom, who happens to be my friend.  Boys - you know how to pick 'em!

Thanks for the invite and the fantastic party Macy!  We pray that the coming year brings you God's protection and abundant blessings.  We love you!