Hess Times Three: January 2015

Wow, well apparently having four children is a little too much for keeping a blog updated! But as we sweep off the dust of the holidays and wind down from birthday celebrations, I'm finally feeling like I'm getting my bearings again. That and a little girl who is finally settled into a bit of a routine and is sleeping like a champ at night. Woo-hoo!

Instead of trying to recall what's happened since my last writing, I will just take time to do my annual birthday post. As in the title, I HAVE FIVE YEAR OLDS NOW! FIVE! How did that happen? I blinked and they're big kids! I know everyone says, just wait, they will be all grown up before you know it. And I'm seeing just how true that is! I no longer have toddlers, I have big kids. Kids who know how to get themselves dressed, brush their teeth, make their beds, put on and zip up coats, clear the table, help with cleaning, and ahem...wipe their own bottoms. (Sorry that might be TMI, but that's a really cool one.) This birthday had me feeling a little bit sentimental, but in all honesty, I'm really loving this phase. Mainly for most of the aforementioned reasons. It's really cool to see them turning into their own people and thriving in their independence. That and I have a baby now, so I'm feeling no need to have extra kids to help. :) So here's what's going on with these big kids.

Kayla - Ah, Kayla girl. She might as well be a teenager now. This girl is obsessed with fashion already, willing to change her clothes multiple times till the right ensemble is achieved. Hair is a big deal and I have to be on my toes so that she "looks pretty." Sunday is obviously the best day of the week because you get to wear a dress. "Why can't I wear a dress every day?" She would have thrived in the Victorian era. But our little girl is no dainty push over. This girl knows what she thinks about things and isn't afraid to voice it...all the time...to anyone who will listen...and over and over again. Questions are also endless, why this and why that. She really does have a thirst for knowledge and wants to figure everything out. She's a diligent worker, really competitive about it too. And she is very well organized. Everything has a place and she makes sure it gets put back the right way. (Insert big mom grin here!) Her latest obsession along with just about every 5 year old right now is Frozen and she enjoyed Christmas and her birthday this year as she was showered with lots of movie paraphernalia. "Let it Go" has been sung in this house all too many times, but her brothers are good sports and add instrumental background for her nearly every time. She's a joy to our family and we are so proud of our social butterfly.

Braden - our big guy. He is our most responsible. He LOVES being entrusted with lots of tasks. If there's something to do that requires "a big kid", he's all over it. I'm not saying that I take advantage of that, I'll just say that I encourage his sense of independence. :) Braden has a very tender heart too. He really remembers if people have been sick or hurting and asks about them. He has a way with babies and younger kids too. He likes to help look after his baby sister and his younger cousins, it's really sweet. He's also a team player, he lights up when everyone is working together on something or laughing together. It just makes his day to see everyone having a good time. I've learned that quality time with him is really important too. He has been known to help me clean for long periods of time and he will just talk and talk to me. I'm really hoping that continues as he gets older! His memory has been showing a lot more too as he learns Bible verses weekly for Awana and picks up on them very quickly. Sometimes it may take him a little longer to learn how to do things but I really think he's going to be one of those people with a steal trap mind who can recall random facts years later. Definitely taking after his dad on that one! Oh, and lest I forget. He has been seizure free for 18 months now!!!!!! He is still on anti-seizure medicine until probably fall, but his neurologist thinks that by then, it will be time to start weaning him off. We praise God for his good health and for the person he is!

Daniel - class clown, silly guy, goof-ball! This kid is full of laughs. Daniel lives to make people laugh. One of the mom's at preschool told me recently that her daughter thinks Daniel is such a funny guy. No surprise here on that one. I'm just envisioning that this sense of silliness might be interpreted differently by his future teachers. :) He also makes us laugh by his absentmindedness. It's not uncommon for him to have two pairs of socks on or forget to put on pants. Or the most recent from the other night, "Mom, where are my slippers, my feet are cold." And my response, "Daniel, look at your feet." "Ohhhhhh, there they are!" But oddly enough, Daniel is also our one with the longest attention span. He can sit zeroed in on an activity for long periods of time. Sure he blocks out the world around him, but he really has excellent focus. He also has quite a logical mind. We're amazed at the things he can figure out on his own and the questions he comes up with when he has really put thought into something. Music continues to be a love for him. He has a great sense of rhythm and an appreciation for all kinds of different music. It always surprises me when he hears a song and can tell me if there is an electric guitar playing or if he hears a violin. Note to self, I gotta get this kid in piano lessons! Daniel is also a great friend to others. Everywhere we go, he tends to make a friend. There's a little girl in his class that he is friends with and he recently told me, "Mom, she doesn't talk to a lot of people, but she talks to me." We're so thankful for our guy who keeps us laughing and for the fun he brings to our family!

I've included a few pics below of some of our favorite times over the last few months. And of course, I can't forget our little peanut who is growing before my very eyes! She is six months old now and the happiest baby. She smiles at nearly everyone she sees and is of course well entertained by her brothers and sister. We are so thankful for our precious girl, she really does make our family feel complete!