Photos from Hallow's Eve 2010

This is one handsome boy!




Trunk or Treat was back in Provo. It was pouring down rain, so everyone moved indoors! It was so fun to see our neighbors again! We've missed everyone since we moved to Salt Lake City.

5 Years Old

Dearest Son,

You are five years old today. FIVE! It's been the fastest 5 years of my life. We sure have learned a lot together. A "a lot" isn't the half of it.

I've been wanting to write you a letter now and then the past few months. You are smarter than ever and clever too. It's really something when your own little child has better ideas than you do. And literally. You have great solutions to many problems. It's true! I won't list them here because I'd rather not show off my inability to logically think things through like you do. Suffice it to say, you amaze me. So much.

The biggest thing you've been faced with the past few months has been preparing to move and then moving to a new home in Salt Lake City. You were so grown up over the summer as you would add to our donation pile and let your baby toys go and many other toys I thought you should still keep. Your heart is big and charitable. Also, as we grew closer to your last weeks and days at your old school, you astounded us with your grown up attitude. You said, "Mom, I'm not going to be sad to leave my old school. I will miss my friends, but I am excited to go to my new school and be a bumble bee!" My heart swelled.

Since the move you have been so great. You were ready to greet your new big bedroom and you've been content in our home ever since that first day. I loved how you spent good amounts of time playing with your toys in your room and focusing on your perler bead projects (as it's been months since you've done that). Your actions spoke loudly of how mature and able you are to embrace change.

Then it came time for you to go to your new school. You were so comfortable in your own skin that first week. I had made plans to stay with you for part of the morning that first day, but didn't end up staying long at all. Once you heard what the morning schedule was, you gave me a big hug and kiss and sent me on my way. I was really surprised and so happy to have felt maybe you didn't need me as a fly on the wall in this new place.

Then we had a really rough weekend that we found out was a result in a delayed 5-year-old-vaccination reaction. You were run down, itchy, feverish, etc. So Monday came too soon for you, and Tuesday did the same thing... Wednesday just about the same. I've never seen you fight going to school like that in all your years of life. I was in tears right along with you and seriously worried about your new school situation. So Wednesday night we went to another school for a tour. That tour helped you realize you liked your current situation and you were fine Thursday and Friday to go happily. I was so relieved that you felt better physically and mentally. Your mom doesn't like to see so much anxiety and discomfort manifest itself without having a immediate solution for you. It was a scary week for both of us, I think.

So let's skip to Saturday. You had your birthday party at Jump On It. Seven of your little friends came to celebrate with you. You loved every moment of your time partying! It was kinda funny seeing you as the center of attention like that. You were obviously nervous when we were singing to you and getting ready to blow out your candles. It was sure cute.

And I have to report, that before we arrived at your party I saw some train tracks and some tall feathery plants along the side of the road. I asked you if we could take some photos by those two places after your party. You agreed. Little did I know it would rain while we were partying for two hours. Luckily the rain stopped and the sky was still overcast right when we left. So we went to the two locations and I still can't get over your most darling and wonderful face. You were so cooperative during the photos - all day for that matter. I loved spending the day with you. It was especially sweet when we were walking back to the car from the train tracks hand in hand. I loved chatting with you as we walked along. And I loved doing the rhyming game with you all the way home.


My love for you is so rich and plenty. It's beautiful how love only grows for your child. I have found that to be so true even in the most frustrating times. I am so blessed to have you as my son. Heavenly Father knows us completely. And, like Him, I know you were sent to me for a really important reason. I know you'll continue to teach me more about you, myself, and the world around us. I am looking forward to this next year with you. You are the best 5 year old I know. You always have been and always will be the best in my eyes.

Love you always,

Mom

Liam's Birthday Present 10/23/10

Liam has been wanting to do this bungee trampoline for 2 years! Here he is living it up!

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Liam checking out the footage of his bouncing dream come true!

5th Birthday Invitation

Sleeping Babe

When I see Liam's sweet face as he sleeps each night, I get an overwhelming feeling of guilt for how I may have treated him negatively during the day. The other night I was even more guilty than usual. I think it was Saturday or Sunday. He was run down as he fought off a cough/sniffle and still managed to be hyper so he wasn't channeling his emotions well at all. He was reprimanded so many times for going too far or repeatedly requesting something that wasn't allowed. He would have a hard time complying to our directions. So he resorted to putting everything into tears and whined requests. It was a difficult weekend. It's rough being a kid, I know. It's also rough being a parent especially when you have the same symptoms as your child... run down and can't logically channel emotions.

When he sleeps, the boundaries aren't being pushed to the max and I can give quite a few kisses without protest.


When he sleeps, he goes to a place where there are no rules or conformity to be molded into.

And when he sleeps, he charges up for a new day. Morning comes and he is polished and bright. He is a new boy with a happy face who has forgotten the battles from the day before. It's amazing what sleep can do... for us all.

Scooter Child

This nice little paved "scooter path" runs along a very pretty creek. Here is Liam running towards it this evening. He loves going on scooter rides and stopping on the bank to throw rocks... A lifetime passion of his.

A Busy Week

Liam was such an agreeable child this week! This move to Salt Lake City is apparently sitting well with him. Ian asked him tonight what he likes best about our new place and Liam said with a round motion of his arm, "All of it!"

Since we introduced him to our new home Saturday evening, he's been a dream child. It's been a long time that I've said the word "agreeable" around here. I unpacked his room first after we got the truck unloaded (with TONS of help from our new ward - 10 people plus Uncle Drew and our friend Adam). Ian took the U-Haul back to Provo and picked up Liam at our wonderful (now former) neighbor Jackie's house. While he did that I stayed behind to wait for the Comcast guy to set up our internet. I also had a delivery of metal shelves coming for our garage. Whilst I hung out unpacking. Liam came home to a new room and immediately started playing with all his toys! His room is so nice and big and fits everything he owns perfectly. He stayed in there for long while totally content. He (Mom and Dad too) slept like a baby in our new digs that night.

The next day he was chipper until we told him we had to make another trip to the old house. He is out with the old and in with the new. He reminded us many times on the commute that he didn't want to go to the old house.

Ian has played Mr. Mom this week taking Liam to/from school and running a few other errands. Liam doesn't start his new school until Monday and it's been a full week going back and forth to finish the transition. At the beginning of the week Ian had to go to the old house to mow the lawn and pick up another load of items we left behind. Wednesday Liam had his 5 year old well child visit (which we needed to do prior to him starting a new school and because this was the good-bye to our pediatrician's office). That well child visit was quite an experience. 4 shots, an exam that included the privates, and peeing in a cup. When they were in the restroom taking care of the urinalysis, Liam said (upon Ian placing the cup on the toilet), "Keep it right there in case I have to pee some more." Um no.

The commute in the mornings was full of conversation and good times. The commute in the evenings resulted in a sleeping log child who went straight to bed or whined with sleepy eyes through dinner. Ian also took care of picking up Liam's early birthday treats for his final day at his old school today. He is such a good dad to take care of everything this week. (Thank you, Ian!)

As for me, I was living the easy life with a much smaller commute to work. I would then come home to make dinner (which hasn't been my job in months because of how late I was getting home). Then I'd help put Liam to bed and unpack a few boxes each night. It's been liberating being in this new area and taking advantage of all the conveniences nearby. We are loving our new home.

Hopefully next week is a less hectic time for everyone and Liam enjoys his new school.

Now to get the rest of the boxes unpacked....

Sunflower Harvesting

Liam and Joslyn did some good work over the weekend. YUM - Sunflower seeds!

Note Liam's tattoos. You can tell when Mom and Dad need him to be distracted/entertained for long periods of time. "Can I have a tattoo, Mom?" And the mom says, "Sure, go crazy!" Then we find he's plastered his whole body with tattoos. Um yeah, not attractive.

I am so glad we are moved now. We can supervise one tattoo at a time from here on out.

Liam's Art

"Liam, this is a cool picture you made. How is this guy supposed to walk with his legs stuck together?"

"Mom, it's a Ladder Monster!"

"OH, cool."

"Yeah, people use his ladder legs up to his mouth, so he doesn't have to go to get his food. His food just climbs up to him."

"You are so smart, Liam!"

"I know."