More About Andrew . . .

I remembered some things I forgot to add about Andrew yesterday.  I told you he was asking about the end of the world.  But what I didn't tell you is that he only talked about it that one time.  That doesn't seem like a big deal, but NORMALLY, we would have talked about it on the way home.  We would have talked about it before going to bed that night, and cried about it, and probably not slept, because he was so worried about it.  And then we would have talked about it again the next morning before school, and probably after school as well.  But this time, we didn't.  We talked about it on the way home, and that's THE ONLY TIME we talked about it.  Now, that might not seem like a big deal to you, but to me, it's HUGE!  I'm hoping that's a good sign.  I'm TAKING it as a good sign.  *crossing fingers*

I also talked to his teacher again last week.  He asked me how Andrew was doing at home.  I told him he seems to be doing really well, and I told him about the "end of the world" discussion we had on the way home.  He couldn't believe he worries about those things.  Again, NOT typical 10 year old behavior!  We talked about him playing football at school and how much he enjoys it.  I told him he'll come home upset sometimes because he dropped the ball and I tell him it's not a big deal, people drop the ball all of the time.  I tell him that they pay the pros MILLIONS of dollars to catch the ball, and they still drop it on occasion.  If THEY drop the ball sometimes, what makes him think it's not okay for HIM to drop it?!  He said he's had the same conversations with him when it happens, but he liked my idea of comparing it to the pros, so he'll remember that the next time it happens.  

Andrew came home last week and told me he had good news, better news, and best news.  The good news is that he has an A in Math.  The better news is that he was the only one in the class that got 100% on a test.  The BEST news is that he caught a pass and made a touchdown.  Now, I'm not real sure I'm happy about the football being at the TOP of the list and school being at the BOTTOM of the list, but I am still glad to see him having so much fun and being proud of himself for a change.

 

Andrew . . .

It's been awhile since I've given an update about Andrew.  Since I updated on Scott yesterday, I figured I'd update on Andrew today!  ;)

The same day I talked to the AP I also talked to his 3rd grade teacher.  And she's HYSTERICAL.  She's an amazing teacher, and Andrew was very lucky to have her.  When I saw her that day I told her what was going on and why I was worried about him.  Her exact words were, "He's a F'in Genius, I don't understand what his problem is!"  I LOVE HER!  ;)  She told me that she would take care of him.  So later that day she went to find him.  And she talked to him about how special he is, and how smart he is, and that he needs to stop worrying so much about what other people think.  She told him she'll always be there for him if he needs her.  (Told you she was great)!  :)

The next day the AP called to tell me that after talking to the counselor and the school psychologist, they thought I should contact his pediatrician.  But they were in agreement that he probably will need to see a counselor.  I also talked to his current teacher.  I told him if I take Andrew to a counselor and after a few sessions he/she tells me he's a normal 10 year old, then I will be fine with it.  He told me he's been teaching 5th graders for 10 years, and it's NOT normal 10 year old behavior.  Normal 10 year old's don't worry about death on a regular basis.  Normal 10 year old's aren't SO concerned about what other people think.  Normal 10 year old's don't worry about the end of the world.  He's NOT a normal 10 year old.  And he's right.  It's NOT normal 10 year old behavior.

So after talking to everyone at school, I DID call his pediatrician.  He said he has severe anxiety, and he needs to see a Child Psychologist.  Our insurance just switched over today, so I wanted to wait until then before finding a Psychologist.  I didn't want him to start with one person and then have to switch.  So now I'll start looking for one.  My problem though is that he seems to be doing better now and I don't want him to be stuck with the label of seeing a Psychologist, if everything is okay.  But I know it's cyclical.  I know that he could be upset tomorrow.  It's been awhile, so it's about time for it to happen again.  

A couple of weeks ago we were coming back from the school skating party.  On the way home he said, "I'll be glad when this month is over."  I asked him why and he said "Because they say the world is going to end this month."  REALLY?  How many 10 year old's worry about the end of the world?  I asked him who "they" was and he couldn't tell me, just that he'll be glad when this month is over.  I told him I'm 42 and I can't tell him how many times the world was "supposed" to end.  So then he asked me when it'll happen.  Will it hurt?  Will it be in our lifetime?  How will it end?  Will we KNOW it's ending?  I DID mention he's TEN, right?!  I don't worry about the end of the world and I'm FORTY-TWO.  (Shhhh, don't tell anybody).  Anyway, yeah, that's normal 10 year old behavior.  So I guess I'll be calling a Psychologist.  But in the meantime, he's doing well, and I hope it stays that way.  At least until we can get him to see a Psychologist.

PYHO: Sensitive Child Part 2:

Thanks for the heartfelt and honest opinions from everyone that responded to my last post about Andrew.  If you didn't see it the first time, you can read it HERE.

After many months of worrying about him and trying to decide what to do, I finally went to talk to the AP at school today.  I like her.  I feel comfortable talking to her.  And I trust her to do what she thinks is right for Andrew.  I told her about my concerns and that I feel as though I'm not helping him.  I have a Psychology Degree.  I SHOULD BE ABLE TO HELP HIM.  But I can't.  And I think it's because I'm too close to the situation.  I think it's because he's MY son and I can't be objective.  I think it's because I'm too worried about changing the person that he is inside, and I DON'T want to do that.  I LOVE the person that he is.  I ADORE him.  But it also breaks my heart to see him so concerned about what other people think of him.  It breaks my heart to hear him talk about how everyone is so much better, smarter, athletic, funnier, than him.  It makes me cry every time I think about him not seeing the good things in himself and realizing what an amazing person he is.  It keeps me up at night when he's going through his stage of worrying about someone dying, which happens about every 5-6 weeks.  I don't want to CHANGE who he is, but I also can't stand to keep seeing him in so much pain.  So SOMETHING has to change.  SOMEONE has to be able to help him.  And it's obviously not me.  And that tears me up more than you'll ever know.  

So I finally went to someone else for help.  Something I probably should have done months ago.  But I guess better late than never, right?!  She understand where I'm coming from.  She agrees that we don't want to change who he is, but we need to address what's causing all of the negativity.  I know he's not telling me everything.  I know there's more going on than I know.  But I don't know WHAT that is.  So she is going to talk to the counselors at school, the school psychologist, and also his teacher, to see if we can come up with a plan to help him.  To see if we can find a way to boost his self esteem.  To make him realize what an incredible little boy he is.  And at the same time, NOT change who he is deep inside.  

Because THAT person?  That person is AMAZING.  And THAT person deserves to KNOW that he's amazing.  And that person, needs to feel pride in who he is.  No matter what happens, I know he will always be compassionate and caring, and that's only part of what makes him so special.  But THAT person, needs to have pride in himself.  THAT PERSON needs to love himself.  And right now, I don't think he does.  Even though he's only 10.  And that makes me feel like somewhere, I'VE done something wrong.  So now it's time to change that.  Now it's time to stop worrying about what I've done wrong, and start working on what's the best way to help him.  Because he DESERVES to be happy.  He deserves to love himself and see all of the amazing things that *I* see in him.  He deserves not to question everything he does and says.  He deserves to know that people love him, and that the only one comparing him to others, is him.  He DESERVES that.  And not just because he's my child.  But because EVERY CHILD deserves to feel that way.  ESPECIALLY MY CHILD.  ;)

PYHO: Can A Boy Be TOO Sensitive?

I have an AMAZING little boy.  I actually have 2 boys and 1 girl, and they're all great.  And I love them dearly.  But Andrew, my 10 year old, is a little different.  He's very sensitive.  About EVERYTHING.  My husband and I "clash" sometimes because he thinks he's TOO sensitive.  He says he needs to "man" up and get some back bone.  I think there's no such thing as TOO sensitive.  I think he's only 10, and he'll grow up fast enough, so there's nothing wrong with him being sensitive at this age.  I WANT him to stay sensitive.  I think he'll make a great boyfriend/husband one day BECAUSE of his sensitivity.  (Mind you, I'm thinking MANY, MANY YEARS from now.  He is only 10 after all). ;)

But I still worry about him.  What if hubby is right?  What if he IS too sensitive?  He has VERY little self-esteem.  He's constantly worrying about what other people think of him.  He gets his feelings hurt VERY easily.  Sometimes I feel like I have to censor what I say to him because I don't know how he's going to take it, and I don't want to upset him.  So in that respect, maybe he IS too sensitive.  But that's his nature.  It's his personality.  It's a part of who he is, and I don't want to change who he is, because he is SO special.  But I still worry.  He's the one I think will get bullied.  He HAS been bullied on the bus, and I had to go to the school counselor to help handle the situation.  And he did.  But he can't always be there for him.  Next year, he moves on to middle school.  Next year kids are going to be even meaner.  And crueler.  And looking for someone they can pick on.  And he's an easy target because he wears his heart on his sleeve.  If you say something to upset him, you can see it on his face immediately.  And bullies will jump on that.  I've tried telling him to act like it doesn't bother him, but he's not very good at it.  And who can blame him?  I'm not good at it either and I'm 42.  How can I expect HIM to be good at it when he's only 10?  

You see, I GET my son.  I KNOW what he's thinking and how he's feeling, because I've BEEN there.  I was just like him.  Hell, I'm STILL just like him.  I wear my heart on my sleeve.  I get my feelings hurt VERY easily.  I shut down when I'm hurt or upset.  I second guess everything I do and say to other people.  I analyze the things people say to me and wonder what they REALLY meant.  I assume people are talking about me.  And don't like me.  I assume people would rather be with anyone BUT me.  So yeah, I GET him.  I KNOW where he's coming from.  

But I still wonder - is there such a thing as TOO sensitive?  Is it different for a boy?  And if so, how do you change that?  How do you help them get a thicker skin?  What would you do if it was YOUR kid?  I really need to know.  Because I DON'T know what to do.  And I HATE seeing my "baby" doubt himself and be in pain all of the time.  So how do I help him?  CAN I help him?

My Special Little Boy

 

Mother/Son Dance . . .

Andrew's school has a Parent/Child Dance for the 4th and 5th graders.  They actually started it the year we were in China, so I never got to go with Jason.  Since this is Andrew's 4th grade year, this was our first time going.  

We went out to dinner with 8 other Mother/Son's beforehand, and then we went to the dance.  Dinner was a NIGHTMARE.  We went to Longhorn Steakhouse.  We tried calling to make reservations but they wouldn't take them.  That should have been our first sign to switch restaurants.  We did call ahead seating, and when we got there we told them there was a party of 18 and they told us THREE TIMES they would give us 2 servers.  We never received another server.  Our server was good, but she was overwhelmed.  She should have had someone helping her.  Our Dance started at 7, but because of the dinner issues, we didn't arrive there until 8.  

BUT, we had a good time.  Andrew had a BALL!  I even got him to dance a few dances with me!

 Me and My Baby!

I Love My Boy!

 

 Andrew and His Friends Dancing

 Gettin' Down!

 Sam, Andrew and Mitchell

Dancing Fools!

 This Is Preston.  She Is The Daughter of My Best Friend Laura.

 Looks Like They're Having Fun

 Y-M-C-A

 Showing Off Their Moves!

 My Boy's Got Rhythm!

 Show 'Em How It's Done Andrew!

 You Think He'd Be Tired By Now!

 Keep On Dancing

 What A Goober!

Andrew And His Best Friend Sam

 Having Fun

 Go Andrew!

 Showing Off His Moves

 Andrew And Sam

 How Low Can You Go?

 Electric Slide

 

So Glad They Had A Good Time!

A YEAR IN PICTURES: DAY 5 . . .

A day late, again.  It was TAKEN yesterday, just not posted until today.  

This is Andrew.  He's my middle child.  And unfortunately, he's the typical middle child.  He never thinks he's good enough and that everyone is better than him.  And that's a shame.  Because he's funny, and smart, and can make you laugh with just one word.  And he has the biggest heart of anyone you'll ever meet.  He's my star.  

PYHO: THE RIGHT DECISION . . .

I've been struggling with a decision about my 9 year old for a few months.  Just when I thought I had it all figured out, someone made a suggestion that had me questioning whether or not it was the RIGHT decision.

Andrew is EXTREMELY smart.  Like, "how did I make YOU?", smart. But the problem is, he's also very lazy.  Unfortunately, he did get THAT from me! :(

In our schools they test them for Advanced Placement classes in Third Grade.  If you qualify, then you start taking AP classes in Fourth Grade.  Andrew qualified, and based on his scores, he also qualifies for the Gifted and Talented Program at one of the local schools.  So here's my dilemma.  And I'll take any advice anyone has to offer.  I have 2 options.

Option 1:  We could send him to the current school we'd planned on.  He will be in AP, and I know he will do well.  One of the reasons I'm thinking of going with this option is because he also has low self esteem.  (I know where he gets THAT from)!  :(  Part of me feels like if he goes to these schools, middle and high, he will be a little higher up from the other kids, and it might make him feel better about himself.  I want him to be smart, but I also want him to be well rounded and have a good self-esteem.  So if sending him to this school, where he'll still get an AMAZING education, but he'll also get a little bump up in his self-esteem, will help with that, then I don't see how that's the wrong decision.  Plus, if he's in the top 10% of the class, he'll have a better chance of getting a scholarship for college.  And since it's EXTREMELY expensive to send a kid to college, every little bit helps. 

Option 2:  Send him to the Gifted/Talented Program.  ALL of the kids there are EXTREMELY smart.  So he'll be on the same level, and probably will have kids that are much smarter than him.  But someone pointed out that that might make him work even harder.  (Lazy, from me, remember?)  So being in a school with kids as smart as him and smarter than him, could possibly make him a better student.  Chances are, it will.  However, he probably won't be in the top 10%, so not much chance of a scholarship.  BUT, if being with other people like him makes him work harder, then maybe he WILL be in the top 10%.  

No matter which school we choose, I really don't think there's a WRONG decision.  At least I hope not.  We still have a year to make the decision, he's only in 4th grade and we don't need to apply for the other school until next Fall.  We are going to tour the other school and see what it's like.  I keep asking for opinions from everyone.  I know it's ultimately OUR decision, and I know everyone has a different opinion, but I still feel like the more opinions I get, the more able we'll be to make an informed decision. 

So I'm asking you.  What would YOU do?

PYHO: THE THINGS WE PASS ON TO OUR CHILDREN . . .

I have three BEAUTIFUL children.  Jason will be 12 next month, Andrew is 9 1/2 and Sarah Beth will be 4 in August.  I've written a lot about my weight and about how much it bothers me.  I wish I could change it, but I'm lazy and I've been overweight as long as I can remember, so I guess I just figure it is what it is.  

But now, it's affecting my child.  Jason and Sarah are little.  They always have been.  But Andrew is built more like me and he has a belly.  And he's the least active of my 3 kids.  Whenever the kids are outside playing, he's the first one to tire out.  He's the first one to come inside because he's tired of playing.  He's the first one to give up when they're playing tag and running around the neighborhood.  

And because Ryan and I are both overweight, we're worried about HIS weight.  I don't want him to go through his whole life thinking he's not a good person because he's fat.  I don't want him to worry about what other people think about the way he looks.  He went to a swim party the other day and he wouldn't get in the pool without a shirt on because he was worried about his belly.  AND I'M NOT OKAY WITH THAT!

So the other night we talked to him about making better choices in what he eats and playing outside more.  And it broke my heart.  Because I know he gets this problem from me.  And it really sucks.  I told him that I would love him even if he had 3 heads and that it's not just about the way he looks, but it's about being healthy.  You guys don't know Andrew.  He's an AMAZING little boy.  And I'm not just saying that because he's my son.  He's smart.  And funny.  And so cute.  Everyone always talks about what a great kid he is.  And he is.  All of my kids are great.  But Andrew's the one with the most personality.  He's larger than life and he's really hard to forget.

So you can imagine how hard it was to have that talk with him.  The last thing I wanted was for him to think he's a bad person because he has a belly.  Because I've felt that way my whole life.  And I want so much better for him.  I don't want him to question the kind of person that he is.  I don't want people to miss his humor and his unique way of looking at things.  I don't want them to miss how smart he is, and not see how much common sense and "street" sense he has.  Because, let's face it, most people don't take the time to look past what they see on the outside.  And while it's definitely THEY'RE loss, because they won't see what an amazing person he is, it's still not fair to him.

So he and I decided that we're going to start walking together every night.  Just the two of us, and not for very long.  Just a walk around the block.  It'll get us both up and out of our chairs, plus it will give us some time, just the 2 of us to talk about our day. 

But I really wish neither one of us had to worry about these things.  Because honestly?  It really SUCKS!

THINGS I WILL MISS ABOUT CHINA . . . BY ANDREW BRUNER . . .

1. I will miss the Aye because then I will have to clean again.
2. I will miss my friends because I liked playing with them.
3. I will miss my hose (house) because I liked it.
4. I will miss the food because it was good.
5. I will miss my complex because I can't go to the park anymore.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY . . . BY ANDREW BRUNER

Happy Father's Day to the 2 greatest Fathers I know: my wonderful Dad and the amazing father of my children. I don't know of any greater fathers on earth. I love you both!

This is what Andrew wrote for Ryan:

My dad likes to play wii and pick on my mom. he likes to jog and pop my back he always laughs a lot. he's very fun he's pretty strong. and he's really good at taking care of me and that's why I love my dad. Love, Andrew

BY ANDREW BRUNER . . .

I'm excited for the end of 2nd grade because I will not have to do homwork and I can have a fun summer.

I'm sad about the end of 2nd grade because I will miss all of my friends.

I'm nervous for third Grade to Start because I don't know if I'll make new friends.

I'm happy about third grade because it makes me feel more mature.

ANDREW'S IMOVIE . . .

Andrew had to make and iMovie for school about his trip to the zoo. Enjoy!

TIGERS . . . BY ANDREW BRUNER . . .

Tigers are found in the northern part of Asia and others are found in the southeren part of Asia.

The tigers jaws help them chew their prey.  Each tiger has stripes on their back to tell that that's a different tiger.  The tiger limbs help them run fast.  The tigers claws help them cut stuff.

My Home.  Tigers live in two places.  1.  tigers live in the wild and 2.  they live in caves  Tigers usilly stay in caves because hunters could come and try to kill them.  But they do live in the wild when it's winter time. Because not many come out in the winter because it is going to be to cold for them to hunt

Yummy Yum Yum.  Tigers are carnivores so they only eat meat tigers eat animals such as deer, monkeys, Leopards, and bears and soon Tigers chew it's prey insted of eating it in one bite.

All About me.  Tigers are fast animals.  They run at the daytime and sleep at night.  Tigers use there arms and legs to move.  Tigers have to run because they need to cath their food.  Don't get a tiger angry because it won't take long for the tiger to get you.

Grrr!  Tigers behavior is not good.  Their behavior is very wild.  It's hard for another kinds of animals to cumunicate with tigers like monkeys, deers, Lions and lots of other animals. But it's easy for one tiger to talk with a other tiger.  Tigers play wildly like atacking one and another tiger.  Tigers uslly talk by Growling or somtimes they mak big or really big roars.

Silent Silent Atack!  The tigers stragie for hunting is that they try to make themselves silent they don't have much preditors ecsept for people and being fast helps the tigers hunt

Wach out!  The tigers preditor is people they hunt for tigers because of their fur.  Tigers ecscape by running really fast.  But sometimes they will attack the people. 

GRANDPA'S VISIT . . . BY ANDREW BRUNER . . .

One time when my grandpa came to visit me we did lots of things.  We went to the Wild Animal Park and went to the World Finanshal Center.  We went to a lot of other places to.  we had lots of fun.  but then it was time for my gradpa to go and he left.

CONFIRMATION . . .

I LOVE being a Mom.  It's the best job I've ever had.  There are some days though, that we wonder, as a parent, if we are doing a good job.  Are we doing EVERYTHING we can for our children?  Are we teaching them the IMPORTANT things that they will need as they get older?  Are we teaching them the best way to deal with people?  Are we teaching them to be loving, caring, kind, open-minded, strong individuals? 

Today I got a little bit of confirmation that maybe, just maybe, I'm doing some things right.  Andrew has 2 best friends from school.  The three of them are inseparable.  Donoven is African-American, Michael is Chinese, and of course Andrew is Caucasian.  We call them The Three Musketeers.  Jason, Andrew and I were talking this morning about Michael being Chinese.  Andrew said, "Michael's Chinese?!"  He totally doesn't see him that way.  He just sees him as Michael. 

I'm so glad my boys look at the whole person, and not the color, nationality or creed.  I feel very blessed to have such wonderful and open minded children.  And today, if only for today, I feel like I am doing the right thing, making the right decisions, and teaching my children what is REALLY important in life.

 The Three Musketeers

Michael, Donoven, and Andrew

They kept moving so it was hard to get a good picture.

We tried to get them to act normal.  For them, this IS normal!

BRUNER FAMILY CULTURE . . . BY ANDREW BRUNER . . .

Hi I'm Andrew Joseph bruner and my middle name Joseph comes from my Great Grandma and Grandpa and I got my first name Andrew because thats what my perent liked and my brother Jason his middle name Thomas comes from my mom's grandma and my sister Sarah we were deciding wich middle she shoud have either Michelle or Elisibeth and then we decided it would be elisabeth.

and I was born in luiville Kentuky and so was my big brother and little sister we were born there because that's where my parents worked and they were born there too.  then we moved to Shanghi because we had to come here for my dad's work. and we all know eglish.

and are familys favorite food is pizza.  favorite wii game family game night.  favorite sport bowling.  special song Let there be peace on earth and special tradition opening stockings one day at a time.

ANDREW'S BIRTHDAY . . .

Andrew's birthday was last month, on the 16th. We are having his birthday party tonight because of the play. I wanted to wait until it was all over. So tonight he's having a sleepover for his birthday. He's invited 4 friends from his class and they are coming here right after school. I will tell you how it goes and post pictures after it's over. But I wanted to post the pictures from his birthday. Because we were going to wait to have his party, we spent the day together, just the 5 of us, and he got to decide where he wanted to eat, and what he wanted to do. He decided he wanted KFC for lunch and to go bowling. We had a really good time. Even Sarah got in on the action. Anyway, here's some of the pictures from that day.

This is the birthday boy getting ready to play.

I LOVE this picture of Sarah.  She looks like she's posing.

 Here's Jason.  Andrew and I would laugh because after every bad frame he'd come back muttering, "I hate bowling!" 

 Even Daddy got in on the action!

 And so did Sarah!

 

She pushed hard!

 She was so proud of herself!

 This was Jason before he started "hating" bowling!

 

Not sure what this face is all about!

  

Or this one!

 

This was right after Andrew dropped the ball!

 

She seemed to enjoy watching them all bowl.

Don't they look so happy?!

 

Sarah was pouting about something, but I don't remember what it was!

Anyway, it was a fun day.  We've been one other time since then, and the boys have decided they want to take Grandpa bowling when he comes to visit. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANDREW . . .

Eight years ago today, my beautiful baby boy was born. Andrew Joseph Bruner. I remember his birth like it was yesterday. For the second time I had to be induced at 38 weeks because my blood pressure was skyrocketing and only going higher. So I was scheduled for January 16, 2002. And I was SO ready. I had a 2 1/2 year little boy that was taking up all of my energy, and I just wanted this new little boy of ours to be born. We already had his name picked out. Andrew Joseph. We LOVED the name Andrew, and it was actually one of the names we had considered for Jason. So Andrew he would become. And his middle name would be Joseph, after Ryan's Grandmother Joe Ann, and my Dad, Michael Joseph. Joseph was a perfect middle name for him.

I went in early that morning to be induced.  Only this time, the epidural never took. They kept trying to put medicine in, and it wasn't working. I was feeling EVERY contraction. And believe me, they HURT!! I thought I was going to lose what little bit of sanity I had left! Finally, they figured out that the epidural was put in wrong, so they had to put another one in. It was about this time that the nurses realized that I was fully dialated.  Nice timing, huh?! So they start getting me prepped and lo and behold there was Andrew's head! They decided to wait until the doctor came in before they did anything else. He came in and then went to use the phone to check his pager. They all just looked at him, because obviously he didn't realize that my little Andrew was ready to come out. 

Finally he sits down and realizes how close we are. So we get ready, and he tells me to push. And I did. And out came Andrew's head. So he told me not to push any more because they were cleaning his eyes out or something like that. All I remember is that I had another contraction, and out he came. And the nurse and the doctor CAUGHT him, because he was coming out whether they were ready for him or not! As soon as they laid him on my stomach, he PEED ALL OVER ME! Everyone just laughed. (It wasn't like I didn't need a shower anyway)! So then they took him over to clean him up and weigh him. He weighed 6 lbs and 15 3/4 oz. I distinctly remember the nurse telling him, "See, if you hadn't peed on your Mommy, you would have been a full 7 pounds!"

And he was a beautiful baby.  My favorite picture is the first time Jason held him.  I can still picture him sitting on the couch, wearing his St. X sweatshirt, Thanks Uncle Scott, and holding Andrew.  Honestly, I don't know whatever happened to that picture, but I don't need it in front of me to see it.  It's vividly burned in my brain.  They were both so cute sitting there together.

And now my little boy is 8 years old.  And the light of my life.  Nanny calls him her little Sunshine.  And that's a great description of him.  He has a smile that can light up a room.  And he has the most beautiful eyes you've ever seen.  From the time he was a baby everyone has always been enamored with his eyes.  I remember one time being in Rite Aid, and someone started talking to him, and he said, "I know, I know, I have beautiful eyes!"  He must have been about 4, and he'd heard it so many times that he thought he knew what the lady was going to say to him.

And now my little boy is 8 years old.  And a big brother himself.  And a great big brother.  And he loves his sister.  And sometimes he loves his brother!  And he loves Math.  And he loves to read.  And he loves to write.  And he loves to tease.  Sometimes he can spin a tale that sounds so real that you just don't know what to believe.  And he's not lying.  He just likes to tease.  And he's very good at it! 

My baby boy isn't much of a baby anymore.  He's 8 years old.  And it's been a wonderful 8 years.  I love him with all of my heart.

Happy Birthday Andrew.

Love Mommy

ANDREW'S FIELD TRIP . . .

Andrew had a field trip a couple of weeks ago and I went with his class.  They went to Papa John's.  That's right, I said Papa John's.  We walked to Papa John's.  Then they got to make their own pizzas.  They toured the kitchen and saw where the pizzas are made, how high the oven is set, and how long it takes to cook the pizzas.  By the way, it takes 6 minutes, in case you were wondering. 

He had a good time.  And of course, I took a few pictures!

 

Andrew and his friends.

     I hope he has the right answer!

 

Andrew and his specially made pizza.

Gotta love the pizza mustache!