Milestones

We hit a pretty big milestone last week.  Christian turned 12 years old.  My big boy is moving forward.  My mother-heart aches a little for my little boy.

This year he leaves behind Elementary School, and recess, myriads of field trips, and the students that have been in his class for the past 4 years.  He leaves behind primary.  For me he will be conspicuously missing on Mother's day and the primary program in the Fall.  He will join the ranks of priesthood holders reverently passing the sacrament.  Such heavy responsibility on narrow shoulders but I know his spirit is strong enough to carry it.

Next year he will be playing percussion in the band (apparently it's the place to be), applying for yearbook staff, joining math and science club, and trying out for the community swim team.  I'm tired just thinking about it!  We'll see how well we can both keep up.

So many changes.  However, there is are things he has promised will never change and I will hold him to them!  He has promised that he will always give me a hug on demand (as long as it's not in an embarrassing situation).  He will always be my boy and remember that I love him, no matter what.  With that, and a testimony of the love of his Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, I hope he will weather whatever storms may come.

Christian's new talent

Christian has discovered a new talent. When he sits in the front seat of our Subaru Legacy, the passenger air bag turns on but if he flexes his "cheeks" he can make it turn off.

Christian and his shadow

One of the moms in Christian's class came up with a fun idea for the first day of school.  She got as many students as she could to make these sculptures out of packing tape.  Then we went and arranged them in the classroom so Mrs. Poulson would see them when she came in for the first day of school.

Please don't mind the trash on the floor.  We made quite a mess getting it done.  It was really fun to make although we were a little pressed for time to get it done.  It is difficult to see but Christian chose some plastic food to put in the stomach and a picture of science equipment to put in the head.  We made it so he looked like he was raising his hand.  It took us about 3 hours in two different sittings.

One of the other kids put his head in his lap instead of attaching it and then poised it reading "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"

We have had fun thinking of different things we could use him for.  With Halloween coming up, I bet we can come up with some fun ideas. 

In case anyone is interested, here is the link describing how to make your own sculpture.

Christian the triathaloner

Christian and Matthew before the race

We are so proud of Christian! He finished his first triathalon today.  He and his friend Matthew decided to do it together.   He and Christian were talking smack, it was pretty funny.  Christian trained all summer, and he did it pretty much on his own.  Paul and I worked with him a couple of times but it was all him! 
He liked it so much he is already planning for his next race in May and trying to talk me into it.  Paul has already agreed to do it with him.  He also wants to join the swim team to make it easier to train for the swimming portion.  

Coming in from the biking to get ready to run

Posing with his  medal and bike on the rack after the race.

His finishing times were

as follows:
150 meter swim: 6:26
2.5 mile bike: 18:36
1.5 mile run: 15:11
Total: 43.50 minutes.
We are so proud of him and excited that he has found a love that he can enjoy for many, many years to come.

Another funny conversation from the back seat

We were coming home from swimming when I heard this conversation from the back seat of the car:

Jordan: "It smells like mildew."

Christian: "You're mildew."

Jordan: "You're the thing that comes before mildew."

Christian: "Umm.....water?"

(At this point I cracked up. It felt good to laugh with them.) Then after a long pause...

Jordan: "No, wet dog."

Then we laughed some more. Good for Jordan, thinking of a good come back, although his timing was a little late. :)

Christian's Family Totem

Christian made this on a toilet paper roll for an assignment at school.  I was really touched by the way he sees each of our children's roles in the family.

(click to enlarge)

Christian's testimony

A few weeks ago, at church, Christian decided to bear his testimony during sacrament meeting.  He began by stating his goal to bear his testimony more often, which we can assume probably means every month.  I always have mixed feelings of pride and trepidation as he walks to the front of the chapel.  We never know what he will say.  From the time Christian was 5 or 6 years old he has borne very thought filled testimonies.  Never once have we heard him bear the typical, predictable testimony.  Never once has he wanted help or suggestions for topics.  With the exception of the time when he was about 6 1/2.  He decided to get up while Paul was changing Emma's diaper and I was in the hall with Jenna.  He said a few words and then looked back at the bishop and said, "Well, I'm gonna need a little help."  Now, he doesn't even want to give us a preview of what he might be thinking about!  Needless to say we have had some humbling revelations of his perspective of our family.
His last testimony he began talking about how our family was working together to get out of debt.  At that point I looked over at Paul and saw that he had sunk down in his seat as low as I had and his face was as purple as mine.  I began to wonder how long it would be before the bishop called us in to discuss our finances. :)  Not that we have any outrageous debt.

As we continued to listen, he then compared our earthly debt with a spiritual debt that we all owe.  The difference being that our spiritual debt cannot be repaid no matter how hard we try.  There are always blessings that accompany our efforts.  He then expressed gratitude for our Savior and closed his testimony.
That week there was a visiting area authority on the stand.  He stood at the end of the meeting to share a few thoughts.  He began by complimenting Christian by name on his wonderful testimony and declared that the prophet couldn't have said it better!  Wow, that's a compliment to remember!

Moosh in a baggie

Last night I cleaned out my 5th grader's backpack to find a ziploc baggie full of an unidentifiable moosh that made me gag from the smell!  I asked, "What IS this, and how long has it been in the bottom of your backpack?"  His answer? "I don't know"!!  At what point do boys actually become capable of organizing and taking care of things before they become moosh in a baggie!

Extra! Extra! Christian goes to District

Christian and his partner Gideon recieved a Superior rating at the school history fair with their amazing website that they designed and created.  As a result they had the opportunity to participate in the District Fair.  I was so proud of them!  Not only did they learn about their topic, The debate between Neville Chamberlain and Hitler, but they learned to create an amazing website! 

If you are interested in checking it out, go to: http://www.greatdebates.moonfruit.net

Our Summer Bucket List

I saw this idea on a blog and decided it would a good way to keep us motivated to do fun things together this summer. It also gives tangible evidence contrary to the "we never get to do anything fun" comments. We began with the disclaimer that this is an idea only list and by no means a guarantee! We have already checked off a few items. Although it is somewhat childish, this also helps me feel a little better about being the "mean mom" who makes their kids do chores during the summer.

We have been talking about "team Bruderer" and how we need to work and play together as a team. Last night for Family Home evening, we had a short intro and then went out to work in the yard. While Dad mowed, the kids and I weeded and replanted peppers that were destroyed in the worst wind storm last week. Because it was light for so long, we were able to work until 9:30 or 10. After we cleaned up, we took a couple of blankets out on the lawn and did some not so serious stargazing. We also did plenty of squirming and giggling. (Gardening, check. Stargazing, check. Summer fun, check.) We talked about constellations, and the possibility of other solar systems with planets with people on them. It was interesting to talk to my 7 and 10 year olds about the nature of their Heavenly Father, that we are His children and that any other children He may have on other planets would probably look like us rather than little green men. Christian then went so far to suppose that Heavenly Father would want them to know of the plan of salvation too and therefore they would probably have scripture too. Scripture written by different prophets. It's amazing where a conversation can lead. Paul and I have decided that this will be a fun, productive summer solstice tradition.
We will be making this list work for us and having a lot of fun doing it!

My decade old boy

My chubba bubba baby boy

Christian had his tenth birthday today.

When I mentioned to him that he is now a decade old, he thoughtfully said, "I don't want to get old" Unfortunately, and luckily, it is inevitable. I wouldn't mind visiting ten again, but never want to stay there. Experience is just too precious.

Christian is an amazing boy. He loves all things science, magic, fantasy, and doesn't mind that his imagination usually insures that he is dirty and smiling. He comes up with the most elaborate schemes. If he's not mixing potions, he's creating a magical fairy kingdom for his little sisters.

Christian really enjoys being a part of the Spectrum program and his friends at school. He loves being in the dramas (no stage fright for him), playing chess, winning Krypto (math) tournaments, studying nature on field trips, and playing chimes.

Christian is loving and thoughtful. He frequently expresses gratitude and love to our family. We love him and realize what an important part of our family he is!

Super not-so-secret identities

Paul reminded me today of the super identities he gave the boys a few months ago. We still haven't determined whether these identities make them super heroes or super villians. Usually it depends on the state of our sense of humor. Christian is Captain Obvious and Jordan is his sidekick as Literal Boy!

Gold, Frankincense, and Mold

We were telling our traditional puppet Christmas story (I had to copy my sister Laurie's puppets. Aren't they adorable?) when Paul asked if any of the children knew what gifts the wisemen brought. Christian piped right up, and as fast as his tongue could blurt said, "gold, frankincense, and mold". He knew the real answer but his tongue was running faster than his brain at the moment. As I thought of this a few days later, I smiled with chagrin to think of the times my tongue has run away leaving my brain behind.

One brief moment

Yesterday, for one brief moment, time stood still. My big, lanky nine year old (He looks big and lanky to me no matter where he stands in his class pictures.) came and snuggled up to me on my bed. As we lay there, he let me stroke his hair and reminisce about how he has grown and my good memories of him as a baby. Sometimes, I miss my first baby terribly. We argue about homework, and how he chooses to use his time. I worry about the world out there, the one he is immersed in daily. To a mom, it is a minefield of influence and corruption bent on attacking his innocence and wearing down his self-esteem. I miss the days when his whole world was contained in his parents' arms. The worries are bigger and scarier and loom even larger for the future.
But... for a moment, I held him again, basked in his innocence, and the love he freely shared with me. Just for a moment, it was just the two of us in our own little, snug world.

I have linked this to Steady Days.

A slow blink

Nine years ago we were given the best mixed blessing ever... that of parenthood. Christian was born April 19, 2000 in San Juan Puerto Rico. He was the cutest baby I had ever seen. (Wishing all the baby photos weren't packed right now.) We were told many times that he would make a great baby model.
We knew Christian was an amazing child from the beginning. He began talking quickly and hasn't stopped since. When he was 18 months we went for a walk and I was astounded to see him point to a stop sign and hear him say "Look Mommy, a octogon." Christian remembers everything he hears or sees (except those he chooses to forget like homework due dates and chores). It's a mixed blessing. He is full of amazing trivia, rarely has to study for anything, and remembers everything that sounds like a promise. We have to be very careful what we promise.
He loves anything to do with magic or science. He asked for a chemistry set in 1st grade and was very disappointed when I explained to him that we couldn't build a working laser to "cut things with" because I wouldn't know where to get a particle accelerator (if in fact that's what we would need). We built an electrical circuit instead.
I can't believe that he is nine years old. Someone once told me that when you are raising children, the days go slowly but the years fly by. It is very true. In a blink he has grown up so much.
He is in 3rd grade and is really amazing. In the accelerated class he is in, he has learned to play chess very well, participated in a school play, learned to play chimes with his group, and took 3rd place in a 3rd - 4th grade math tournament of the game Krypto. He has a reading comprehension level of 8th grade, has taught himself to add and subtract fractions, and positive and negative numbers, as well as figuring square roots. Overall, in the national testing, he scored in the 98th percentile. We are continually amazed and proud of his abilities. However, academia has many challenges left for Christian to master... remembering to bring home homework, turn in completed homework, and staying organized enough to keep track of said homework. :)
Christian is a very helpful kid who loves to do things to make others happy. He is so good with his little sisters and is always bringing home things from school that he thinks Jordan will like. He is creative, loving, kind, curious and infectiously happy. We love him and we are so glad he is a part of our family!
Well, I guess that is enough bragging for now. I really believe a child should be bragged about on (or around) their birthday.

Here are some pictures of his birthday party, he called it a "Mysteries of Magic" team party.





It was so breezy we had a hard time lighting the candles.










Solving the mystery!

My first giveaway! A science booklet

Here I am doing my first blogosphere giveaway! We'll see if anyone checks in or if I will just experience the sound of crickets. Enter BEFORE MARCH 7TH!!

Do your kids like science? My son Christian, when he was 6½ years old informed us that he wanted a chemistry set for Christmas. I searched everywhere and found nothing that satisfied me. The kits I found were $20 and basically included experiments with vinegar and baking soda...period! We had been there and done all that. So I started researching on the internet. I found some great websites and some things from my old teaching files and compiled my own book. There are more than 25 activities from the vinegar and baking soda volcanoes, to crystal gardens, to electrical circuits. The experiments use materials you can find at your grocery store and craft store. There is even a supply list on the back so you can gather it all and put it in a box, making a kit to use for a gift.

This booklet is a great to combat the summer doldrums! Making my own science kit worked for me! Check out more on Works for me Wednesday over at We are THAT family.

Leave me a comment to enter to win a copy of this fun booklet.

**Using a highly scientific (or seemingly so to this techno challenged mind) process at http://random.org/sequences/ we have a winner. And the winner is....Fairion. I will contact you by email! Happy experimenting!

Anyone else who may still be interested in the booklet, you can leave me a comment and we can work something out for the cost of copying and postage.

Christian the Entrepreneur

Over the last few years, Christian has really worked at being quite the business man. He always has a new idea for something he can sell. In the past he has sold art work (his own), lemonade, candy, popsicles, toys, vegetables, and others. He and his friends have also had ideas to start different businesses; a cleaning service (We could use some of this enthusiasm at home in his own room!), detective agency, etc.
His latest scheme has been to invent and make his own candies and sell them on the curb. As you can imagine I am a little leary of this idea. I wonder if my kitchen and my sanity can handle this adventure! He has given Paul a shopping list for ingredients to make some of the following candies:
cherry chocolate chews
banana split cupcakes
8-10 different flavors of gum
taffy
The combinations he has come up with sound fun but the ingredients and recipes aren't quite what they should be. We have also pointed out that it will be difficult to get customers to come to a roadside stand in winter, not to mention how cold it would be for him to sit out there. He is convinced that now is the best time for Valentines day. I think we might try to make it a joint effort in the spring so it will be warm and I will see if we can come up with some recipes together. Wow! having creative kids is fun but sure time consuming!!

Christian is missing some body parts!

Christian began the new year missing some things! Namely his tonsils and adenoids. He is doing really well. He is just a bit lethargic and reluctant to talk which,as you know, is unusual for Christian. I wished they had Lortab for kids when I had my tonsils out! He says the worst part of having his tonsils out was when he woke up from the anesthesia and had the shakes and crying. Now he has just been laying around eating popsicles, Slurpees, and sherbet. What a life!

Murphy's elves strike again!!

I can't believe how lucky we are (said through gritted teeth)! I thought everything was on track for my annual Ladies brunch that I host for my family. It's supposed to be tomorrow. Last night we were watching the season finale of the 2nd season of Lost (yes we are new addicts, and get to watch 4 episodes a week) with bated breath. We heard one of the sounds a parent dreads most... "cough, cough, bleah, Mommy" Yes, you guessed it, Christian threw up all over in his bed (the TOP bunk). My barf challenged husband stood in the doorway for moral support with his nose plugged, apologizing and promising to put on the clean sheets as soon as I got the mess cleaned up. I won't go into detail but suffice it to say a sticky dustpan was involved. Luckily, Christian is now old enough that for the other 4 times last night he was able to make it into a bowl and we just had to take turns emptying and rinsing. Then, this morning Jordan woke up saying he wasn't feeling well. As I wondered if it was just sympathy/don't feel like school today symptoms, he ran to the bathroom and...yep!
Now I have: 12 guests expecting a party, 11 toys strewn across the floor to step on, 10 ornaments to put back on the tree (Jenna), 9 times to refill cups of Gatorade which threaten my carpet, 8 floors to clean, 7 loads of stinky laundry, 6 presents to wrap, 5 slimy flushes and a toilet that needs to be cleaned, 4 kids at home while trying to clean for the party, 3 dozen cookies to make, 2 barfing boys, and 1 headache from too little sleep. My own friggin' version of 12 somethings for Christmas.
Where are those real elves when you need them? I think we have Murphy's elves at our house. No matter what we do, how we plan, something unforeseen always seems to happen. I even had to wipe off the inch thick layer of dust before I could put out my decorations. What's up with that? That's enough to kill any one's Christmas spirit despite my favorite Christmas music blaring in the background. In my world, I would have the elves come in and clean up the night before we are ready to decorate then I can have that Hallmark moment when my beautiful, clean, well behaved children smile and laugh gently as we lovingly place our decorations in the perfect spots.
But... until that happens I guess I had better pour some more Gatorade, sort the laundry, and find a clothes pin for my nose as I head off to clean the bathroom. As for my party? I will have to see if the barfing stops in a respectable amount of time to be able to Lysol everything before tomorrow.


P.S. For anyone concerned that the tone of this post is quite different than I usually write, be assured that I am fine and coping. I have used this as a way to blow off steam and try to find some humor while in the throes.

Our new family pictures!

We haven't had our family pictures taken for over 2 years so we decided it was about time! Paul's niece Lori took these pictures for us and I think she did a great job!