Growing pains.

Today at church Becks' teacher, Sister Stuart,told me that the usually well- behaved- answer all the questions -child of mine was a real stinker!  She said it was like he traded places with one of the usual troublemakers, but he was entertaining her so she decided to let him live.   She wrote the word "reverence" on the board to which one of the little girls, the usual troublemaker, says, "That's not a real word"  Beckham looked at his teacher and said with more attitude than I can write, "Yeah, that word means Blah to me." or rather Buuuulllllaaaahhh.  He then said ,"Sister Stuart..are you smiling at me?  I see a smile"
Turkey.
 He makes me laugh every day, but lately I feel like he has turned a little corner that I am not too happy about.  It's the 'I'm going to be a total rebel and do anything and everything you don't want me to do and look at you like 'what are you going to do about it' corner.  He told Kerry the other day, "Yeah, well you can ground me, but you can't catch me!"
(I'm trying not to fast forward 10 years to see how this behavior might repeat itself..)

As I look back a month or so ago, I can almost pin point the day he decided to take his life into his own hands.  He told us he was tired and the next thing we knew he had put his jammies on and put himself in bed.  When I went in, I couldn't believe what a big kid he was turning into.  He asked me to close the blinds and said matter of factly, "Good night mom."  I kissed him goodnight and let him sleep.  Later that night I went in to do a quick check on him before I went to bed and noticed the all too familiar smell of urine.  I followed my nose to the garbage can by his door and saw that he had decided to pee into his bedroom trash can rather than making the long walk to the bathroom 3 steps away.  He flat out denied it the next morning until he couldn't keep from smiling.
Total turkey.

Quick shout out cuz I'm tired..

I think I took 3 pictures last night from Kerry's party, and they are on the old 35 mm film....long story.  Anyways, I'll have to post them later.  But just wanted to send out a big Thank You to all of you who came by- we had so much fun and Kerry 'Stick in the Mud' Westenskow felt very loved.
We had a great time and wish you all could have stayed longer!  We ended up on the deck talking with friends until almost midnight (and let our kids fend for themselves, running amuck in the neighborhood playing night games all hours of the night)  and then Kerry and I watched his gift from me - the movie of his fam and friends roasting him any way they could.  It was gut busting and he loved it.  Thanks for all of your help!!  We stayed up way to late  - 1:30am is killing me and I now need to get ready for Monday fun and I really just want to go back and sleep.  But had to send out lots of hugs for all who were able to be there or sent emails or videos.  We love you all! Thank you :)

Y.E.S. is starting the fun early....

Kerry 'old man' Westenskow walked into this as he opened his office door this morning...

All of you in the office rock!  That's pretty funny - nicely done!

Dinner at 4:30. In bed by 7.

This week is baptism and 40th week.  Ethan is getting baptized and Kerry is turning 40.  40!  I'm still trying to come to terms with both of these...the fact that I have another 8 year old and that the 40th party I am planning is for my husband, not for my dad.  Aging is interesting.  It's like you are the last to know you are getting older.   I used to listen to people say "I really can't believe I'm 30/40/50/60/70....I still feel  20"  and I would think they were just being dramatic and making conversation.  But now I get that they were dead serious - that they were really trying to process  and come to terms with their age in their own minds.  In fact those are the words that are now coming out of my own mouth..."I can't believe I'm blah blah blah."
So anyway, we are celebrating big time again this week.  It's like the fun never ends around here - I just want someone else to be in charge.  Any free party planners out there?