Month 61 - Recap

My darling boy,

You've prayed the sweetest prayers this month. I'm not sure if you've learned them at school or what - I need to ask your teacher about them. But when we do our family prayers before bed, yours have gone something like this:

"Dear God,  

Thank You for this day and thank You for Your love. (This is usually the standard prayer intro that you and Natalie use.) Please be with the widows and orphans and help the orphans all find mommies and daddies. And help those who are lost be found. And help those who are sick feel better. And please help our Christmas presents to be fun. Amen."

My sweet five-year-old is praying for widows and orphans, are you kidding me? My weepy Momma heart is a MESS.

Know what's also a mess? Your room. Know what's also a mess? Your ability (inability?) to share. But I digress. 

You had your Christmas program at preschool today. After all the kids loaded up on the risers on the stage, I could see you scan the audience looking for us. Once you found us your face broke into your huge Charlie Bear Grin. Then you tried to play it super cool by winking at me. Seriously. You winked at me. Then you gave me a little smirk. There you go making my Momma heart into another mess. Your special part in the program was playing the green handbell during Joy to the World. That song has never sounded cuter.

Just because my momma heart has been a mess this month doesn't mean it isn't pleased as punch with you and the young man you're growing up to be. My momma heart is full. Now go clean your room.

Hugs and smooches,

Mommy & Daddy

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Headlines for December 9, 2016:

• Obama orders probe of Democrat email hacks that rocked election
• 4 Homegrown Zika Cases Found in Texas
• Hero-Astronaut John Glenn to Lie in State in Ohio
• Giraffes Could Face 'Silent Extinction,' Conservationists Warn
• 'Will & Grace' star hints at reboot: 'There is a very good chance'

November 2016 - Recap

My sweet thing,
You did it!! It took 14 months - which is longer that you were wanting - but you did it! You're now a Level 2 gymnast. My heart practically exploded out of my chest when you came bounding into the lobby of your gym, squealing about the good news. Your evaluation had to be done privately because we were out of town for your regular evaluation. But it made it more fun, that it was just you, me, and the coach in the gym. The excitement was just for you and it was a sweet moment between you and me. This'll definitely go down as one of my favorites.

We put our Christmas tree up - and I have to commend you on your ability to decorate a tree. Your talent has improved a lot over the past year (and exponentially over the past two and three years). You understand the concept of scattering the ornaments (versus the Plop Them All in the Same Quadrant [PTAITSQ] method that your brother currently favors) and mixing up the patterns and textures as you scatter. It makes me a little wistful knowing that you two are getting old enough to decorate a tree in a way that doesn't pain my Type A heart but it does free up my evenings now that I don't have to rearrange the ornaments (the PTAITSQ method makes our poor tree very unbalanced and unsteady).

Charlie got a cold. Then he gave it to me. Then I gave it to Daddy. Daddy seems to have gotten it the worst, but Charlie and I have had a tough time getting rid of it completely. You have managed to escape the wrath of this nasty thing and I'm hoping you can stay cold-free because I'm ready for all four of us to be healthy. I hope the CEO of Puffs Plus is enjoying his new boat, courtesy of the Smith family.

Hugs and smooches,
Mommy & Daddy

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Headlines for December 1, 2016:

• Buzz Aldrin Medically Evacuated From South Pole
• Trump Says He Will Separate Himself From Businesses 'in Total'
• Wisconsin first state to start presidential election recount
• The U.K.'s first-ever 'plastic' 5 bill has really upset vegans
• Country legend Dolly Parton announces fund for Tennessee wildfire victims
• 'Full House' Creator Buys Home Used in Show