Dear Jimenez Kids...
Most of my blogs revolve around an event...a moment...a memory...that I try and capture in a picture or word and hold onto in a timeless place. Taking each outstanding performance or accomplishment and heralding it here so as to never forget. Making the most of every birthday and milestone so that looking back you will be able to see all that has transpired.
But those are the moments you are most likely TO remember. The big events. The special days. The celebrations of life. And the everyday life that ebbs and flows will only become the backdrop to those noticeable occasions. Your little nuances and quirks will only serve to be the fabric of your personality. The rhythm of life adapted into who you are and what you have become.
So in an effort to treasure this brief measure of time...here is your everyday life...
Tyler...
You are the first to wake up every morning. Last week you asked me if you could wake up even EARLIER then your 7:15 start time. You wanted to wake up and spend time reading your Bible and writing in your prayer journal. And now...6:45 on the dot...the light turns on in your closet and the door is shut...evidence of your commitment. You have challenged me and inspired me.
When everyone else starts to wake up...you head downstairs and get out bowls and cups for your siblings breakfast. You offer to get Hailey and try and be as helpful as possible. And then you eat. And eat. And eat some more. Obviously, you are a growing boy!!!
Generally, you are upstairs, ready to start your school before any of your other siblings have even finished breakfast. You have finished your first book for TNT in AWANA and are half-way through your second. You have challenged me each week to memorize the TruthScript for this year. (I'm working on it!)
You work hard doing your school. Having a perfectionist attitude toward almost everything you try to do...you do NOT like to make any mistakes...however small they maybe! :-)
With school finished, you find whoever is free and join in their land of make believe. You imagination is vivid and your fun is contagious!
Afternoons are spent reading the Hardy Boys and Sugar Creek Gang. Playing with Legos. Football with the neighborhood kids. Pushing Hailey in her little car. Wrestling with Jackson. Or the never ending job of straightening up the garage (seems to be one of your favorite things! ;).
Tyler, you have become very sensitive and insightful to the different stresses that play a part in daily life. When temper tantrums are thrown...or messes are made...or challenges are faced...you are quick to sidle up to me and offer me your hugs and support. You always ask how you can help...and volunteer to run errands with me - simply because you know I need help with Hailey and Jackson.
Your time with Dad is your favorite. Be it playing football, listening to History or Bible, helping him grill out, or playing Blokus...you are his constant companion!
Evening times you are ready for an episode of Dennis the Menace, Leave it to Beaver, or Lassie. You've grown out of "baby" shows and only humor Jackson when he wants to watch Curious George. :-)
You are the first one to get ready for bed...and holding out hope that one of these days we'll actually extend your curfew a bit later. You pray over each of your parents...exuding with gratitude for parents that love God, love you, and homeschool. In that exact order. Every night.
This is your everyday life...the threads to your weave...the pattern of your day.
Amy...
You are generally the last to wake up every morning. You relish your sleep...and have a feline nature at times. You are usually just making your breakfast as everyone is finishing up and are left rushing to get upstairs so as not to be left alone.
You have finished your AWANA book, workbook, and TruthScripts. Your director has just recently given you some verses from previous years to memorize. In lieu of a devotional, you have started to read whole chapters of the Bible...and even whole books. Many mornings I go in to see if you've started school to find you cuddled up with Bible in hand.
You sing through your school, literally....and at times can be distracted by anything and everything. But amazingly...there are hardly ever any mistakes. You enjoy reading...no, you ADORE reading! Sitting with me on the "reading" couch you regal me with your voices and inflections during reading time. And sometimes...during math or language arts you have snuck in a book to "glance at" in-between problems.
Afternoons are spent in your room...reading. You
have finished over twenty Mandie books, several Betsy and Tacys, Imagination Stations, Cul-de-Sac kids, and several Little House on the Prairies. You LOVE to read!!
If not reading you are creating. Masterpieces to send off to relatives. Paper dolls for your siblings to play with. Elaborate pictures in your journal to record your Bible reading.Your imagination and creativity have no bounds. Two weeks ago you set up an entire VBS in the upstairs. Turning Tyler's room into the toddler room and Hailey's room into the nursery. You had all of your curriculum laid out and even had come up with a name for yourself - Ms. Tacey. You gave me a tag for Hailey and Jackson...and put homemade braclets on each of them...reminding me what time I needed to pick them up at.
Some afternoons slip into evening...and you only appear for dinner. You are completely content to create the day away.
In the last several months you have been asking more and more to help with dinner. You pull out my apron from the closet and bring the stool right up to the counter. Within minutes, our little kitchen turns into a five-star restaurant with waiting customers. You are always sweeping us away into your imaginary world!
Evening times are spent reading to your younger siblings or learning to sew. You have finished making a pillow and a doll baby. You are always looking for a new project to tackle!
You would take an hour shower if allowed...singing at the top of your lungs...thinking that no one can hear you! At bedtime, you pray over each of your parents...heartfelt, loving prayers...often bringing tears to our eyes. The other night you asked God to "give Mommy everything she needs to be close to you, God, and to know that You love her so very much".
Lately, bedtime has been "confession" time. Each night you confess something that is weighing heavily on your heart. Being sensitive to the working of His Word and the Holy Spirit in your life...we listen and love as best as we can. Then a kiss on the head...and lights out.
This is your everyday life...the elements that come together to make a whole.
Jackson...
You scuttle down the stairs each morning with sleep still clinging to your face. Blanket in hand, you snuggle up with me on the couch...pushing anything that I might've been holding to the side. After about five minutes of being still...the batteries kick into full gear...and you are high octane until bed time.
There is not a moment during the day that you are not talking, punching, kicking or fighting bad guys. Unfortunately, they seem to be everywhere in our home. Waiting for you to take care of them.
During the time that Tyler and Amy do school, you either fight the bad guys (first choice), play with Hailey, or attempt a little school of your own. Letters and numbers are interchangeable at this point. (But Leapfrog is helping with this!) Colors are coming around. Shapes are good. And JJ is definitely an easy name to conquer writing!
You are gentle with Hailey...most of the time. You help her. Snuggle with her. "Read" to her. And pretty much, give her whatever toy she wants...even if you were playing with it first.
Lightning McQueen is almost always near by...on the bathroom floor...in your closet...in the hallway...or on the kitchen floor. Racing cars is second best...after the bad guys have been vanquished. And then comes Legos...the "Jackson" version. Your little stubby fingers aren't quite nimble enough to create
what you envision ..but dumping all the pieces out...spreading them around...and picking them up again constitutes "playing with Legos" for you.
Chicken nuggets is on the menu for you...everyday of the week. I don't even ask anymore. It's just assumed.
Afternoons are spent reminding you: rest time is not over; yes, you can go to the bathroom; yes, you can get a new CD; and no, rest time is not over. Spending a little time away from everyone else tends to make you sleepy...and sometimes I find your cheek pressed between a mound full of toys and your pillow...and you are fast asleep!
You have become a sought after companion. You imagine along with Amy and tackle along with Tyler. But your favorite thing to do...is sit at the table and color with Hailey. Stickers. Stamps. Crayons. Markers. Mess. Almost every afternoon!
When you are outside...you usually have a plastic sword or Nerf gun in hand for those pesky bad guys that seem to always be lurking! Inevitably, no matter how hard you try...mud seems to find you! The other day you told me that you had fallen down in the mud...and then you picked up a plastic phone and showed me "the pictures" of how it happened! You are learning to peddle on your bike with the assistance of training wheels and a gentle push every now and again.
Evenings are spent joining in the activities of everyone else. You are always looking to be apart of whatever seems to be the most fun. :-)
Prayers vary depending on the day. You've prayed for "Jack and Mike" a lot in the past (we aren't sure who they are). Now you have been praying for your family...Daddy's book...and everyone to feel better! :-)
When it does finally come time to recharge your batteries...you are quick to find reasons to get out of bed. I need to go to the bathroom. Can you put lotion on my lips? Did you pray with me, Mom? I love you, Dad.
Then...within minutes...you are asleep! You play hard...but sleep even harder!
This is your life...the pieces that build up the puzzle that make you...YOU!
Hailey...
You wake up as soon as life stirs in this house. Calling out every name...hoping that someone will come get you out of your crib...Mommy, Daddy, Bubba, Amy, JJ...and then the cycle starts again. Breakfast is all you have your mind set on!!!
Having recently found your independence...you want to do everything on your own. Without the assistance of your ever willing siblings. And should they interfere with your individual attempts...you make it known "I'll tell Mom about you!" in a very convincing tone!
You spend your mornings following Jackson around...deciding that everything he is playing with...is what you would like to play with. At times he gives up...and other times...he just moves to a different room. For the most part, you two are thick as thieves. Making messes. Running around the house - singing at the top of your lungs. Building with blocks. Racing cars. Coloring papers. Having fun!
In the last few weeks you have basically potty-trained yourself. You decided one morning that you would like to go potty on the toilet...and that was that! The other morning...after successfully staying dry...you looked at me and said, "Mommy, I am so proud of you!" :-) Which was very fitting - coming from you.
If there is a discussion at any point of the day of anyone going anywhere...you are very quick to shout out "I'm going...I'm going"...because you would hate to miss out on anything fun!
Every afternoon is met with naptime...something you are very unwilling to continue. You ask me daily if you can have toys in your crib while you sleep...and the answer is always "no". And there have been some afternoons that you have fiercely protested...and thrown every blanket, doll, and pillow out of the crib...just to let me know that you are boycotting your naps.
Yes, you have found your voice! :-) And have quite the vocabulary for an almost two year old. You talk up a storm and for the most part...we understand every word you say!
Afternoons are spent playing in the sandbox and running around outside. Your playmate from next door is almost always at your side...as well as Jackson to keep you in line! You see yourself as just as capable and able to do anything and everything your older siblings do. You kick the soccer ball. Try and throw the football. Mimicking whatever you see them doing.
Your most favorite past time however is snuggling up with a book...no matter what time of day...or who the reader is...you are always asking to be read to! Generally, there is one book that must be read over...and over...and over again...until the words are practically memorized by the reader. :-)
Your bedtime routine includes the great big comfy chair in your room...and plenty of songs. Jesus Loves Me, Itsy Bitsy Spider, Old Macdonald, and Jesus Loves the Little Children...just to name a few.
This is your life...the layers that come together to form the wholeness of you.
As the tide ebbs and flows...changing the scenery of the coast upon which it swirls...so the backdrop of your life will change with each passing day. What was once important will soon be forgotten. But these everyday moments will weave in and out...remaining constant in the fashioning of who you are.
Enveloped into the centrical and common purpose of God's design for you. And so, we will continue on in this common...everyday life...praising Him for giving us just one more day with you.
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