Confirmation Part 2

I promise that I'm not going to talk about this forever.  It's just that I took a whole lot of pictures and I didn't post them yesterday.  And, I know that you would croak if you didn't see a picture of Will with every combination of family members.  STOP - YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO CLOSE THIS WINDOW!  Keep reading and admire my sweet baby.  I don't have more than a couple hundred pictures.

This is the Confirmation class at their retreat where they wrote their faith statements.  Will is the one in the Nike shirt.  I know you are shocked.  I realized the other day that Will has a "swoosh" in every picture I post - EXCEPT YESTERDAY!  Whoo Hoo!  He was confirmed without any Nike products on.  He also took his shirt and tie off the minute we got in the car in the church parking lot.  It was like they were eating his skin.

See - here they are all cleaned up.  I taught them in 3 year old Sunday School class, so this group is very special to me.  Especially the little guy in the blue shirt who looks like he's up to something.

Emma thought it was a special day for her because she got to go stand with us when Kevin read.  She told Kevin she'd read for him if he couldn't.  Thank goodness we didn't have to use her as our back up because she probably would have gone rogue on us and made up her own letter: 

Dear Will,

I don't know why you are getting confirmed?  You leave your dirty socks everywhere and you never flush the potty.  Your feet stink, too.  You also give me too many noogies and corn dogs.  I think you should get left back.

The end,
by Emma Harvey

 

 

My brother, Justin,  and Kevin's sister, Megan, are Will's godparents.

 

 

 



These are Megan's boys, Cooper and Carter.  And Will is making a deranged face. 

These are the other cousins, Eleanor and Elliot.  Eleanor broke her arm a week and a half ago, and she was proudly showing the cast to everyone.

Kevin's parents - "Didi and Pop"

My parents - "Papa and MeMe"

And now for my favorite picture:

Will and one of his best friends, Henry.  His mom and I grew up in the church together.  In fact, her dad was the pastor who confirmed me.  We were in Lamaze classes together, then Will and Henry were in preschool together, then Sunday School, and now Middle School.  They both made the Cross Country team for next year so I'm glad these guys are sticking together.  Emma said they look like "little business men."

The big miracle of the day was the Will ate a piece of this cake before the ceremony and didn't get one bit on him!  He also went to the restroom before the ceremony and said, "MAN!  It's hard not to pee on your tie!"  I think he has respect for men everywhere who have to dress up for work.

Tomorrow it will be back to your regularly scheduled blogging. 

Will's Confirmation

Will was confirmed at our church today.  He was baptized a little over 13 years ago...

 

 

...and today, in front our our congregation, he read his faith statement, while we read our letter to Will.  Let me rephrase that.  Kevin read the letter to Will because I was crying and couldn't talk.  I'm putting our letter to Will and his faith statement here so I can always read them and remember how proud I was of him - wearing a tie, reading confidently, and standing proudly before the congregation.  I'm trying to remember that now as he is putting chips down his sister's shorts.

 

 

Dear Will,

The morning of your first day of kindergarten, we were all ready to leave for school.  You had on a pair of brand new light up shoes, a backpack that was almost as big as you, and you were carrying a “Monsters Incorporated” lunchbox that had a giant eyeball on it. 

 

Your backpack was full of crayons, markers, glue sticks and scissors, so it looked like you were ready to start school, but before we went out the door, I sat you down and told you the one thing I wanted you to do at school was to “be your own man.”  At the time, it sounded funny saying this to someone who came up to my knees, but I explained to you that in school, there would be times when you would be tempted to do wrong things.  Sometimes other kids might break the rules, other times you might want to break the rules in order to fit it.  However, I told you to be your own man and listen to the voice inside of you that knows right from wrong.  And I’ve told you that every morning for the past 8 years. 

 

 

As we’ve watched you grow up from the little boy with the eyeball lunchbox to the young man about to start junior high, we couldn’t be prouder of you.  Will, you have always been your own man.  You do what is right, you care for others, and we have never seen you do anything to hurt anyone else, except for your sister and, well, you’re human. 

 

 

As parents, you pray for many things for your child.  We pray for good health.  We pray for you to do well in school.  We pray for you to make good decisions.  And when we pray, we thank God that he gave us a son with a heart like yours.  As you make your faith statement today, you are taking another step towards being your own man, and as you grow up, we know you will continue to serve God, love others, and make everyone happy they know you. 

 

Your dad did such a great job reading, and I was so thankful for him.  I was also thankful that Emma didn't knock over the big candle.  Your faith statement was next.  I cried during it, too.

 

 

Ever since I was little my mom would always take me to church and to Sunday school when I was a little older my mom started working at the church so I was up there a lot and it started to feel like a second home to me. My dad started to teach Sunday school to and it was fun because sometimes I would get him as a teacher and I liked that.

            My faith statement is Mark 8:5-9 it says- How many loafs do we have? Jesus asked. Seven they replied. He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he took the seven loafs and gave them thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people, and they did so. They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks to them and also told the disciples to distribute them. The people ate and were satisfied. Afterwards the disciples picked up 7 baskets filled with broken pieces of bread that were left over. About 4,000 men were present after he had having sent them away.

 I think God is very powerful he has so much power that he could turn a few scraps into enough food to feed 4,000 men. He also has enough power to forgive our sins. After confirmation I will continue to come to Sunday school, and I’ll never stop coming to church and I’ll always be willing to learn more about God. Church will always be my home.      

 

Your homeroom teacher stopped MeMe after the service and told her what a joy it was to have you in class, and that she was so proud of you.  We're so proud of you too, and we love you sweet boy! 

 



Now, please go clean the chips up off the kitchen floor.  Mama's a mess after crying all day.

 

 

 



This and That

It's Teacher Appreciation Week this week, and I've been going nonstop.  I just finished baking a Carrot Cake and a Texas Sheet cake, and that has wiped out all my thinking skills.  You just get a few random thoughts tonight.

*Last night I was so tired that I ate a bowl of Captain Crunch in bed, in my pajamas while watching a DVRed "The View."  That was dinner and I actually enjoyed it.

*During that time I caught Emma in my bathroom drinking water, and using her retainer as a cup.

*I really want to eat a piece of carrot cake right now.

*Will's school has a Medieval Festival tomorrow.  I'm helping with the food.  I'm really tired, but there's no way I'm missing it.  Will is a lord and they have paired him up with a wife.  He has to walk in and parade around with her.  The pictures will be a goldmine for bribery!

*Kevin got new glasses today and they look so good.  I didn't want to tell him, but his old ones made him look like he should be working mission control for the first lunar landing.

*Speaking of space, I was in Emma's class today and they are learning about the solar system.  Emma proudly announced on the way home that Lance Armstrong was the first man to land on the moon.

*Will is getting confirmed this Sunday at church and has to wear a tie.  It's the first time he's ever worn a tie, ever, ever, ever in his whole life.  We did a clothing dry-run last night because I was worried that maybe the tie was too short.  We found out that Kevin doesn't remember how to tie a tie.  Looks like we're calling in the grandparents.  Guess who else doesn't wear a tie ever, ever, ever in his whole life?

*I got behind a car yesterday that had a bumper sticker saying, "I'm not speeding, I just have to poop."  And there is your dose of class for the day.  I was worried that Will's track decal might make my car look tacky. 

I thought this was an appropriate picture because Will said it looked like the pig was pooping Emma.

For Reals Wednesday

Oh dear. 

Number One Bus Rider

I think we all know that Will has a hard time remembering to ride the bus.  I've covered that extensively.  The boy can't/won't remember.  Let's move on.

He was supposed to ride the bus to Emma's school this afternoon since I've been working with Teacher Appreciation.  I fully expected to get a misspelled text asking me where I was, then giving me a lame reason for not being on the bus.

Suddenly the door opened and Will walked into the school.  I had to eat some words and I owe Emma ten dollars.  AND, while we're talking about amazing things, his clothes matched!  It was a double bonus day for Will!


I asked him how he remembered to ride the bus.

You know?  What ever works.  And Will is number 1.

Mother's Day

Will played in another tournament this weekend.  It was super organized (that's me being snarky) and we didn't know when he was playing until about 2 hours before game time.  That was extra fun since the tournament was an hour away.  We lived like firefighters - ready to lock and load at a moment's notice!  We thought he'd be playing on Sunday, so the kids gave me my Mother's Day gifts early.

Before I show you Will's card, you need to know 3 things:

1.  Will calls me "friend."  He'll walk into a room, or come sit beside me and say, "Hi Friend."  I love it - it's his little way of being affectionate and I eat it up.

2.  Both Will and Emma pushed every button I had this morning.  We had to get up at 5:30 (that's a.m., folks) to be at his first game at 8:00.  We came back home and I was trying to squeeze in a load of laundry before we were called back.  I had about 592 loads worth on the laundry room floor that I was sorting when the kids came and dropped their dirty clothes from upstairs on top of me and ran off to eat lunch.  That's when I lost my mind and started yelling crazy things like, "I'M NOT YOUR MAID" and "DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMON SENSE AT ALL?"  Not a good moment for mother or child.

3.  Will is a man of few words.  I think I've said that before.

So, here's his card:

 

The front - it's says "friend"

 

 

 

the inside - recognize this scene?

 

 

But it's all OK now because we have a smiley face.

 

 

 

Now for Emma's card.  She is an over-achiever (I think I've said that before too), and she likes to use lots of words.  She made a card and a book.

 

 

Every good card has a heart on it - that is a rule.

Well poop.  The picture won't rotate for me.  The poem on the side says:

 

M-making food is what you do!

O-outstanding food is what you do!

M-Mommy, you are also good at boo boos and help

! - They are the best things you do!

 

And here's the book:

 

Me by a tree.  I have on pink shoes, and ate lots of carrots at lunch.

She drew my substitute sticker and wrote her teacher's name on it.  That is her subtle hint that I haven't subbed in her class this year.

 

 

 

 

Sideways again - sorry.  She must really be impressed with my cooking.

My maiden name was Eichmann and I love yellow - that's all you need to know about me.  No really, that's it.  Nothing more to learn here.


They gave me a Southern Trend t-shirt and the second Pioneer Woman cookbook, and I was very happy.  You are not allowed to call me cheesy, but I told Will tonight that the best Mother's Day gift was watching him play so well in his tournament and enjoy himself.  It's true.  I'm proud of these little stinkers.

 



Having a ball

Will had his first tournament this weekend.  He has taken tennis lessons since he was 4 years old, and Kevin and I have been encouraging him to try tournaments for the past couple of years.  All suggestions were met with a complete freak out.  He obviously wasn't ready.  He switched coaches this fall, and Coach Dylan is different.  He's part tennis coach, part marine drill sergeant, and he has motivated Will to play.

Here's the pictorial history of the "Summerhill Spring Slam."

First of all, it snowed the day before.  So it really wasn't a spring slam.  It was a cold weather slam.

This was Emma watching Will's last game.  She actually asked if we could get ice cream when we left, and Kevin said, "I'm going to pretend that I didn't hear that."



So, as we were leaving for his match:

I told him to make a fierce face.  This is as fierce as it gets with Will. 

And now he's just annoyed with me.

 

 

 

 

Dad wanted a full length picture, so I told him to flash me a "thumbs up."  It looks more like a "HEY!  I have thumbs!" picture.

Then he lost interest and discovered he could touch the top of the door with out standing on his tippy toes.  This was a special day for TWO reasons!



When we got to the tournament, there was a 568 hour delay because of rain.  OK, there was a 2 1/2 hour delay, but we had Emma with us so everything was in dog years (remember that rule?). 

Kevin and Will watched the competition, and Will started getting really nervous.

He lost his matches, but we expected that.  According to his coach, "Everybody gets waxed at their first tournament."  Glad to know we kept that stat going.  By his second game, Will was playing better, and when we left he said, "I want to work more on my serve before next week."   My sparkles and rainbows, island time, everything's ok child suddenly has motivation! 

Oh yeah, he's entered in the Coleman's Classic in Fort Smith this weekend.  He's played the last 3 days and tonight he said, "I love playing tennis games.  I never realized how fun it could be.  When do I get to play on a clay court?"

He's hooked.