“It’s tough being a single mom with FOUR small
children”
- My dad in reference to my apparent
inability to behave like an adult.
Even though I haven’t matured into a responsible parent,
Shelly has given me one more shot.
She is due in April with
another baby and we are very excited.
As our friend Bart said when he heard….”you guys gotta’ get something
tied!”
What really amazes us is that we were able to manage
this feat despite all of Avery’s efforts to keep us apart. You see, she usually sleeps between us horizontally and we can’t seem to get
rid of her.
New Year’s resolution number one - buy Avery her own
bed. New Year’s resolution number
two….see Bart’s comments above.
Anyway, we were surprised that the kids didn’t
figure out on their own that Shelly was pregnant. After we told them, Shelly said to Jake, “didn’t you wonder
why my belly was getting bigger?”
Jake replied, “Oh, I just thought you were getting fat.”
He’s got about as much tact as his father….
Looking back on 2003, we realize that we experienced
a lot of “firsts” – particularly with Avery. She started her first year at nursery school, used the potty
for the first time and spoke her first run-on sentence, “C’mon Daddy, let’s go
play wrestlemania-pillow fight-hide n’ seek-dance party-bronco billy-snack
attack” (all of which are just different terms for how they can beat-up daddy). Like Peyton, she loves to listen to Brittany Spears - but this
time we are definitely drawing the line at a belly button ring. Finally, she has become quite
proficient in Spanish – she and her Mommy now have full blown conversations “in
code.”
Avery sometimes forgets that she is only two. She is Shelly’s right hand girl when it
comes to policing the older kids and enforcing the house rules. “Jake, time to get ready for
school! Peyton, clean up your
toys!”
Peyton had plenty of firsts herself this year. She started her first year of
kindergarten and now rides the bus to school. Becoming a “bus rider” has been a goal of hers ever since witnessing
Jake step foot on one a few years ago.
She also began her first season in organized sports. She is the official
“soccer star” in the family….
Well, “star” may be an exaggeration – she doesn’t quite have that “take
it to the goal” mentality. But
man, she is one heck of a good hugger.
Make a good play – HUG.
Fall down – HUG.
Accidentally kick the opponent in the shin – HUG.
Other things…Peyton learned to swim this year, is in
Daisies, and started in drama class.
Finally, she is a very talented artist and spends much of her free time
drawing. If the bubble years ever return
and investors start bidding up Crayola based works, we will be certain to hit
our version of the jackpot.
Jake still plays video games 24/7 but now I don’t
even bother challenging him. Do
you have any idea how humiliating it is to get beaten by an 8 year old 230,000
to 75 in a snowboarding video game?
Speaking of which, he got down an entire mountain for the first time on
a real snowboard this past spring.
More lessons for Peyton and him are in store this year. He also now shares his Dad’s passion
for the game of golf as well as his Dad’s pain of shanking a shot off the first
tee. He’s actually pretty good,
but we have some work to do on his game….his favorite part is driving the golf
cart still. Jake is also active in
tennis and baseball. Outside of sports and video games, he is
a very avid reader. He stays up late
reading under his covers with a flashlight.
Big firsts for Shelly and me this year, as well. We celebrated our first 10 years
of marriage in Cancun with our friends the Shanbergs (who also celebrated 10
years). Shelly and I also both
turned 35 this year. The kids and
I somehow managed to throw Shelly a surprise party without giving away the
surprise part.
Hope your year was as fun as ours. Have a wonderful holiday! Best wishes for an enjoyable 2004!
Jon, Shelly, Jake, Peyton and Avery