Growing Bigger

last year we adopted an idea for the kids birthdays.  every year, jon takes the boys out on a date and gives them each a new privilege and a new responsibility.  adding on to them every year (keeping the old P & R and gaining new ones).  last year, on jack's sixth birthday, was the first time we did it. his six year old responsibility was to buckle his little brother in every time we got in the car.  this not only served finn and mommy, but it was something he was responsible to keep up with every day.  his privilege was staying up an extra 15 minutes past his brothers every night with mommy and daddy.  it was amazing to see him own his responsibility and light up with his privilege.  we've had some really special times this past year with him in the evening.  teaching him to read his Word and just chatting.

i'll be honest though.  it can be hard to think of what's right to give them.  we really pondered what would honor finn and challenge him.  for finn's four year old responsibility we decided it was high time mr. lazy put his own shoes on.  velcro.  seriously.  well, the first day we gave him the responsibility he headed out to the garage and came back in with them on and his coat. all by himself.  after he'd played outside he said he would also be responsible to put his shoes and coat away too.

for a privilege, we decided finn (our earliest riser) could go into the living room and turn the tv on to PBS all by himself.  you'd have thought jon told him he could dance naked on the roof.  he was stoked.  the best part about it all is that the boys light up with joy at feeling responsible and being granted small freedoms.  you can see them step up to the challenge of growing older and gaining rights.  children need to gradually be released into the world, and have their "funnel" of freedom opened by their parents instead of bucking it off in defiance. it'll be fun to think of what jack needs this year in a couple months.



on finn and jon's date they swung by walmart to get a digital clock finn could learn to read in order to start curious george at 6:30.  if he gets up before that (!) it's books on the couch or he'd be watching yoga exercises.  he would watch the yoga, but, ya know.





since we're talking about getting bigger and older...jon picked jack up some mini (relatively) basketball shoes.  every friday jon picks jack up from school and takes him to play basketball with the other CRU guys in town.  his gym teacher at school also organizes a basketball league for the 1st and 2nd graders for 5 weeks that jack will get to use them for.



home skillet also lost a molar (!!!!!!!!!) two nights ago which, in case you're wondering, is not normal.  the dentist put a spacer in so he's all set til he's 11 (!!!!!!!) and his adult tooth pops through.




and lastly, one final pic from the roadtrip home.  crashing all in one king size bed. yes.  i did use my flash to take a picture of my children while they were sleeping.