You make me smile.

 May / June 

• Looking at the ceiling while praying at mealtime you said, "Heavenly Father and Jesus, will you help us with all of our problems? And spin the earth around and come to us."
• You asked me to remove the "flag" (tag) from your shirt.
• You give a thumbs up when you like something. 
• You excitedly exclaimed, "I get to go to Cindy's house this year! It's Tuesday!"

July / August

• You told me, "When no one is around Jesus is still with me. When there are monsters He will protect me. Jesus will be my shield. Jesus is the only one that can be my shield." I love this so much. You are building faith in Christ at a young age and it is beautiful to witness. 
• You exclaimed to Nathan (about a car), "You're a fix-it-up chappie?!?"
• In frustration and sadness, you exclaimed, "I have nothing left in my heart! I have nothing left but stupid bones!"
• We were getting ready for your first day of preschool. I told you it's called Climbing Caterpillars. You exclaimed, "Climbing Caterpillars?!? I don't want to climb!" I explained that isn't what you will be doing there. I then told Nathan the name of it (he hadn't heard our conversation) and you added, "But you don't have to climb anything." I thought that was pretty cute.
• Lately you and Nathan have been saying inappropriate words quite often. We have tried many things to stop this language, especially because it has become a problem at preschool (loss of priveldges, time out, etc). Nothing has been working. Part of the problem is hearing these words (stupid, idiot, moron, etc) from your older brothers (who also get consequences but still say these words). Although it isn't my favorite teaching technique, I have turned to soap in your mouths when you use this language. I just put a little bit of liquid soap on your tongue and then immediately wash it out with water. One day, you came out of the bathroom and I asked you if you washed your hands. You said, "There's not any soap left. You put all the soap in my mouth so there's not any more." 
• You pronounce animals "aminals." It's pretty cute.
• You got a squishmallow (big, soft pillow pet) for your birthday that looks like a pineapple. His name is Maui. One day I overheard you announce, "Maui is going to pineapple school. Only pineapples are allowed."
• One day while Josh was having a hard time, you said to me, "Even when Daddy is gone he still loves Joshua." So sweet and true.

Catching up

Dear Zach,

It has been way too long since I have written to you here. I have some catching up to do.

2020:

July

You asked me, "Mom, what is that over there?" You pointed out the back door to the dark outside where we saw a window lit up in another house. I told you it is someone's house with the light on inside. You said, "You are a smart mom. You are very smart."

September

"Mom, you always be there for me."

I get the sweetest hugs and kisses from you and Nathan at bedtime. I just love you both so much.

October

You asked, "What you go there mom?" You were looking at my diamond stud earrings. I showed you and you said, "That's magical. I can see the magic coming out of it."

December

You had the hiccups and said, "My throat keeps coughing." It was pretty cute.

Cindy gave each of us some Christmas gifts. After, you said, "I love my new toys! Cindy is a good helper!" 

2021:

January

During your prayer you thanked Heavenly Father for seeing a train and for seeing "the one on the track resting its wheels." This made me smile. I love that you are learning to talk to Him as your father - that you can tell Him what is important to you.

February 

After an argument with Nathan, you told me, "Nathan broke my heart!"

A different time Nathan said to you, "You hurt my brain and broke my heart!" Most of the time you boys get along but you also fight quite a bit too. 

You love pockets (in your shorts / pants and shirts). You prefer to wear clothes that have pockets.

March

You said, "When everyone is fighting you calm everyone down. You're the calmer."

You were looking at a picture of Christ with children and said, "Jesus fixes my broken heart." So sweet.

I asked you why you bit Nathan. "Because I have sharp teeth like a dinosaur, that's why."

A pet peeve of mine that you and Nathan do often: you put your wet pee underwear in the dryer of clean clothes. I am trying to redirect you to put it in the laundry basket in the laundry room or on the floor in there but I still find them in the dryer often. I'm not mad about it but it is a little frustrating. As we say often in our family, "We can be frustrated with each other and still love each other." 

We saw a little girl at the park. You said to her, "If you need help ask my mommy. She is a helper. She helps people."

Also at the park: "I'm going to try this hard thing. I'm good at hard things. Are you good at hard things Mommy?"

One day you asked me, "When is daddy going to come home from work with his money?"

April

You like to deconstruct your ham and cheese sandwiches. The other day you did this and said "I don't like the insects (insides). They are not very good." 

You love cutting paper with scissors (sometimes I give you kid scissors and paper and let you cut it over the recycling bin).

The park is your happy place.

.......................................................

I love you buddy! You make me smile every day. You are so loving (you love to give hugs and show affection to those you're close to) and have such a happy disposition (most of the time). You are our easiest kid to put to bed (you often put yourself to bed). You are doing great with potty training - still some pee accidents but 100% trained with poop. I'm so grateful I get to be you mom. Love, Mom