Six Years

The annual birthday survey results are in:

What is your favorite color?  Green

What is your favorite toy?  Murphy (stuffed animal - dog) and "bus barn stuff" (transportation-type toys he uses to recreate the routine at the bus barn)

What is your favorite animal? Dog

What is your favorite book? Sally Goes to the Farm (I wasn't sure about this title but a quick Amazon search confirmed it really exists - I think they read this story in school during the farm unit)

What is your favorite TV show?  "Blaze and the Monster Machines" (Eli does not really watch much TV these days although there was a "PJ Masks" phase when he seemed to enjoy that show.)

What is your favorite movie?  Cars

What is your favorite thing to wear?  Glow in the dark flip flops and the "outfit I got for Easter" - athletic-type shirt/shorts

What is your favorite food?  Macaroni and cheese

What is your favorite drink?  Lemonade

Who is your best friend?  Brad

What is your favorite thing to do outside?  Ride bike and practice baseball

What is your favorite song?  "Bless the Lord" - Eli has taken more of an interest lately in a few songs from the Christian music genre; he has readily learned the lyrics and belts them out on his way to daycare in the mornings

What is your favorite thing to do with Mom?  Our mini holiday/seasonal parties

What is your favorite thing to do with Dad?  Swimming

Where is your favorite place to go?  Family Museum

What do you want to be when you grow up?  A bus driver and farmer

Birthdays are becoming more and more fun to celebrate each year as the kids grow up.  Leading up to Eli's birthday this year we started a paper chain countdown a month in advance, counting down each day until his big day today.  A few birthday decorations and a special breakfast of toast and scrambled eggs (in lieu of the usual oatmeal) greeted Eli this morning along with a few gifts from us.  He started by opening the card, read it to himself, and then smiled at us and responded with a sweet little heartfelt "Thanks, guys!"  (I wish I could bottle up the little moments and memories like this and then release them again on days when he is on the opposite end of the spectrum...)  

There were a couple of notes I put in his lunch for daycare today; one with Goldfish - "We 'fish' you a happy birthday" and another one telling him to enjoy his special birthday brownie treat.  

Eli is allowed to spend $1 bills he receives in birthday cards while the bigger amounts go towards savings bonds.  He picked out a couple of things at the Dollar Tree with some of his birthday money on the way home from daycare today.  (The balloon bouquet attached to a set of Reese's peanut butter cups to weigh it down totaled $6!!!!  I love the Dollar Tree!!)

We finished off the day by enjoying supper at Happy Joe's - along with a special guest - AJ!  Eli was inquiring about whether AJ would be at his birthday party this year since he has been in the past, but since AJ wasn't there this year he joined us for the birthday supper.  Eli also really had his heart set on inviting our neighbor Judy to his party (but I informed him we were just going to keep the invites to family).  Since he has started riding his bike more this summer he travels up the lane in a nearby field to Judy's house quite often.  She has really become an honorary grandparent to him.  

I always find myself reminiscing this time of year as we celebrate another year of life in our firstborn.  It seems like such a big jump from saying we have a 5-year-old to now a SIX-year-old!  No longer a baby, no longer a toddler but a soon-to-be kindergartner.  

Elijah, you have blessed me with the privilege of entering into motherhood.  I will continue to do my best to try to be the mom that you need me to be - as you grow, we hope you will embrace your strengths to overcome any challenges you may face all the while finding a new reason every day to truly enjoy life. 

Happy 6th birthday, Eli!

Barnyard Brunch

We celebrated Elijah's 6th birthday with a farm-themed party yesterday.  Our barnyard brunch consisted of a menu featuring French toast, scrambled eggs, cinnamon rolls, bacon, bananas, and strawberries along with farm-related snacks and treats and an assortment of drinks at the "watering hole."  As the years go on, the birthday celebrations become even more fun!  We are looking forward to celebrating Eli's actual birthday on Thursday.

K-Ball

When the form for T-ball originally came home from the YMCA, I asked Eli several different times if he wanted to be signed up for it, and each time he replied no.  He later on told Grandma Mary he did want to be signed up, so she picked up another form and got him signed up after all.  

I think there might be a separate T-ball league (I'm not exactly sure), and it took me a while to realize what "K-Ball" meant - I think it is for kindergarten-age kids who are in between T-ball and baseball since this league was coach pitch but then the tee was used after 4 pitches/misses during the games.  

Overall, Eli had moments he seemed to enjoy and other moments (in retrospect) I think he was just too tired at night to even think about participating so this experience was in some ways similar to his soccer experience.  He seemed to enjoy the practices more than the actual games.  

Eli actually had the same coach this time for K-ball as he did for soccer.  I was once again very impressed with this coach's ability to keep a group of kids this young engaged while attempting to keep their attention the entire time all while helping them learn the basic skills of the game.  He had so much patience for each of them, took a genuine interest in them, and was very attentive in trying to get Eli to participate in a reassuring way.  

After Eli became very adamant that he have his own helmet and bat like some of the other kids on the team, I ended up getting these for him and he still didn't want to participate in the first game - at all.  I wasn't planning on taking him to any more after that but Ian did and decided to just drop him off at the next practice and run errands rather than staying to watch.  That must have been the trick because since then Eli has been more willing to participate.  

It was amazing to see the improvement in the entire team of kids from one practice to the next.  Even Eli really seemed to improve in his catching, throwing, and especially hitting skills.  He seems to enjoy being up to bat the most now but still could use some reminders to pay attention while in the outfield and to remember to try to get the ball when it comes his way.  It has been a good experience for him overall to try something new and grow in confidence and learn a few new skills at the same time.