We have spent the last couple of years getting into a groove as a family of five. With the caboose getting older and stronger (just ask him!), we have been able to expand our repertoire of family activities. These years have not been without some growing pains, but we rest assured they are worthwhile in the end.
Hayes's new job at a healthcare company has brought him a much needed and well-deserved boost. In just six months, he has gotten more positive feedback than he had received in years. It's been a joy to see him feeling fulfilled and valued again. The transition has brought up new (lingering?) questions about moving since he no longer works a half-mile from home. That and, in case you've been living under a rock, Nashville is the It City right now. The housing market might make it worth parting with our little acre of town. We have lived in this home longer than anywhere else in our lives. It has been good to us since before the kids came along - and we have been good to it. I don't know. We'll see how things play out.
Perhaps the biggest addition in our lives since 2014 is the establishment of a Cub Scout pack for our boys. Our school doesn't offer one so I called the Council when it was time for Peter to join up, and next thing I know Hayes and I are running the show. I never would have guessed how much work goes into this, but I ignored Hayes when he suggested we just go join an established pack. It was my teacher fix, my pet project, a chance to spend time with Peter... win win win. We had 20 boys join for that first spring. And it was fun! The boys learned a lot and crammed a full year of work into four months to earn their badges. We took on planning a family camping trip for the pack - spaghetti and chili (vegetarian and non) for 80 people. And it rained! But they loved it. Then we had 20 more boys that fall. More eager parents, more volunteers and lots and lots of positive feedback. If Hayes could make a living being a Cubmaster, he'd do it. He walks into the lunchroom at school and kids (sister scouts too) flock to him for hugs. He's a celebrity - and he's so good with them. If he could pawn the paperwork on someone else, it'd be his Perfect Job. I've been den leader, advancement coordinator, assistant Cubmaster... generally the Pack Mother. I get to use my spreadsheets and my lesson planning and my fonts and test out new software... it's a teacher's dream. A great dry run for going back to work in the coming years. All in all, the work has been gratifying for us, appreciated by other parents, and very good for our family.
Peter is nine years old today. NINE. 3,287 days. He is the most curious, affectionate, sensitive and passionate boy I've ever known. His wit and his smarts make him a delightful conversationalist, but you won't get a word in if you start talking about Star Wars. He attended sleep away camp for the second year this summer. Three weeks! He thrived. High Rocks has been so good for him. He has challenged himself - often uncomfortably - and the counselors have met him step for step, encouraging his progress and praising his effort. Our boys are only competitive among one another, so it was nice to find a place where they can learn and grow without being forced into a competition with other boys. Davis is excited to join him next year - he's already made the girl counselors fall in love with him.
Davis. Davis, Davis, Davis. My blond-haired blue-eyed bombshell. He was such a tough cookie when he was younger - let's just say he needed to be in order to survive. Going into first grade, he is a sweet, smart, friendly and gentle little boy. His two best friends are little girls who love to catch bugs and collect rocks and baby pinecones on the playground. I used to call him my cowboy Casanova but he's less cowboy and more Casanova now. A Minecraft Casanova. His status as the middle child is a badge of honor that he wears proudly. No one else is a big brother AND a little brother. And what a big brother he is! Upon removal of the crib, we changed the nursery to Peter's room and bunked Davis and Matthew in one room. Those two have so much fun together. Davis teaches Matthew, encourages him, indulges his goofy ideas, all with a smile on his face. Now they also fight like cats and dogs, but the sweet moments are there, and they are genuine joy.
Matthew can be, in one 24 hour period, a baby lion, a knight, a baby crocodile, a fire chief, a mechanic, a rocket ship, a puppy dog and a fast boat. In turn, that means I am a mama lion, a princess, a mama crocodile, a firefighter, a stranded motorist, an astronaut, a mama dog, and a pontoon. Oh, and I can't call him Matty. I have to call him Baby Lion or Sir Matthew. It works both ways, though. I am always Princess so I am Princess Mommy Lion, etc. It's a mouthful, but he NEVER slips and just calls me Mommy during these games.
He is as precious as a teacup golden doodle, y'all. He's in the 3rd percentile - newly 4 years old and still in 24 month/2T clothes. His curly hair is the first thing everyone notices about him, but it's not long before his sense of humor takes the spotlight. We always wondered how his personality would mix with those of his brothers, and it is becoming clear that he has Peter's sharp focus and deep passions alongside Davis's love of all things silly and fun.
The days are long but the years are short. Having young children presents a unique set of challenges for any family. Potty training alone is not for the faint of heart. Idea: have high schoolers get credit for potty training toddlers. Parents outsource, students get credit, and this teen pregnancy trend all but dissolves. Everybody wins.
As we barrel toward becoming a family with all school-aged kids, it's clear they won't be young forever. I know that I'll one day miss the constant requests for attention and milk/snacks/no-not-that-snack! In the meantime I need to focus on soaking in the noise while also relishing an occasional quiet moment.
