Mac at 7 years and 5 months...

I just realized that I never did a post about Mac at seven. He has changes so much even since his birthday in December. And I don't want to forget what he is like at this age.

-He has become a really great reader. The reading bug hasn't quite hit him, but he does love to read when he does read.

-He is a math whiz! Math just clicks with him. He is always finding ways to incorporate math in everything he does.

-He is a list maker. He loves to make lists of anything and everything.

-He loves his Legos. And loves his Lego Guys the most. 

-He loves, adores and wants to do anything and everything his dad does. He takes his dad's side and thinks dad is always right. I'm pretty much chopped liver. And I perfectly fine with that. I love seeing how much he loves his daddy.

-He loves to cook and bake and help in the kitchen.

-He just learned to ride his bike and is loving it. 

-He loves to be read to and absorbs anything you read to him. 

-He still hates eating veggies and is still a very picky eater. However I make a green smoothie almost on a daily basis and he loves them.

-He still really struggles to outside of himself and what he likes and wants. But when it counts he is very giving and helpful.

-He hasn't lost anymore teeth in more than a year. And when he just went for his check up had NO cavities.

Mac 6.5

Mac at six and a half. Wow, I just can hardly believe he is that old. But I am crazy in love with this not-so-little guy. He drive me totally crazy, but it is something I am learning to embrace about him.

Some things about him...
. Lately he has been making a better effort to be friends with his sister. He has been treating her much kinder and they have just been getting along so well lately.
. He is most definitely an extrovert. He loves all social gatherings, thinks he needs to be playing with friends or any adult that is around. He loves having playdates and hates seeing them end even after 5 hours. Is constantly asking if he can go ask the neighbor kids to play. He loves having friends or other kids to play with.
.He is also really great at playing on his own. And you can usually find him playing with his legos, looking at books or playing with action figures.
. He loves books and being read to. He hasn't learned to love reading yet, but we are working on it. But he loves to learn new things and just absorbs and remembers everything.
. He is doing great with swimming and gets out of the pool everyday and says how much he loves it! He is doing really well with his focus and attention with learning and listening to his instructor and sitting and waiting for his turn. He is pretty much swimming on his own. He is just working on his skill so that it won't be so tiring for him. He loves jumping off the diving board and can go straight to swimming after jumping in.
. His favorite night to eat dinner is Taco Tuesday. He loves tacos and pretty much inhales them.
. He loves to do any activity with daddy. He is a daddy's boy all the way!
. He doesn't like to color but loves to draw and write. love his little sketches!
. He loves to be independent and do things himself. And I am trying to let loose and let him.
. He is pretty good at getting up in the morning and getting dressed, making his bed, and cleaning his room with out me asking.
. He will still occasionally put him self down for a nap during quiet time and will also still occasionally fall asleep in the car on the way to the store.
. He loves to be creative and has a very creative mind and has really great ideas and has an amazing imagination.
. He has been really well behaved and thoughtful the last couple of weeks.
. He still struggles at church and in Primary. Occasionally he will have a good Sunday. He loved his teachers and they just got released. Hopefully the new teachers will be just as great with him.
. His top teeth are finally starting to pop through. It only took almost 3 months. I'm going to miss that toothless grin. He has lost a total of 6 baby teeth. He also has this weird thing with his teeth and they turn a grayish brown color no matter how much we brush his teeth. Thankful it isn't harmful to his teeth and cleans right off at the dentist. It starts forming with in weeks after a dental cleaning. It just looks terrible. I have a feeling that throughout his life we will be paying for extra cleanings to keep his teeth look nice because it is very noticeable.
. It is so hard to get a real smile out of him for pictures unless I am tickling him and or some how making him laugh and then the picture is blurry.
. He really struggles with personal space. And with listening to people the first time when they say stop or no.
.He pretty much doesn't take no for an answer. Which needs to be honed into a good quality.

Favorite color: blue
Favorite food: beef stroganoff (only mommys)
Favorite thing to do: go bowling
Favorite thing to do outside: play with friends
Favorite thing to do at home: watch movies with my family
Favorite movie: Star Wars
Favorite show: Magic School Bus
Best friend:  Jayden
Favorite place to go: the movie theater
Favorite thing to do for homeschool: learn about eagles
Favorite animal: shark
I feel sad when: I am in time out.
I feel happy when: daddy tickles me
I am special because: I was adopted
I wish: I could shoot webs like spiderman
Favorite song: Everything is Awesome
Favorite game: Angry Birds
Favorite thing about being six: I'm bigger than a baby (???)
When I grow up: I want to be a police
Best thing about being you: I get to rough house with dad


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A new school year for both my babies!

So it is another school year and both of my kids will be in school. Oak will be starting her first year of Preschool, going two days a week and Mac will be starting Kindergarten half days.

I have had mixed emotions about it all. With Oak being gone I will have an empty house, for 2.5 hours, twice a week. That sounds awesome and at the same time makes me sad. Awesome because hopefully I will get alot done and sad because I was hoping I would at least have a baby to be taking care of.

With Mac, I was very excited for him to have the new adventure. At first I was a bit worried about how he would do academically and behaviorally. He is pretty smart, catches on quickly, gets bored easily and is quite the class clown. Seems like a recipe for failure, but as time went by, I realized he will be just fine. What my main concern and great source of anxiety was sending him off to the care of others when he has a severe food allergy. I just didn't know what to expect on how to handle it and how they would handle it. To say I have been stressed about it is a super understatement. After a blessing from my Hubs and talking with his teacher and the school office and preparing Mac I am feeling much better about it. Now onto setting up a good routine for us and making sure I am making our home and family a safe haven from the world that I have just sent my son into.

For FHE Monday night we did Father's Blessings. And daddy gave me one too to help ease the anxiety I have had. 

Mac sat so reverently while he got his blessing. 

Oak sat on my lap to get hers.

Then the next day was Preschool.

Oak is going just across the street where big brother has gone for the last two years. 

I tried to make it a special morning like I have done for Mac the last two years, but I failed miserably.

Thankfully, I don't think she noticed. The morning went by so quick and then before I realized it, it was 8:25 and she wasn't dressed, hair wasn't done and she hadn't eaten breakfast. Did her hair and got her dressed quickly and got a text from her teacher at 8:35 asking if we were coming. What?!? Looked at the calendar on the fridge and I had totally forgot she had changed the time from 9am to 8:30. So she scarfed down her breakfast. Took one quick picture then headed over as fast as we could. I HATE being late for anything and I am usually more on the ball than this. I am blaming my anxiety! 

What I thought would be me just dropping her off, turned into her clinging to me. She knows her teacher (our good friend and neighbor) and plays at her house at least once a month. She knows all the girls since they are all neighbors. It just was bizarre that she was being shy and clinging to me. Then I realized that maybe she didn't really realize that WHAT preschool actually was. After about ten minutes she was distracted enough to let me leave.

When it was over she came out running, giddy and just so excited about it. She had loved it!

(Today when I took her she clinged to me for just a couple of minutes. I sure hope this part gets better!)

Later in the day her teacher texted me this cute picture of her class.

While sister was at school I took Mac to get a haircut and over to his school to see who his teacher was and to see who was in his class.

Later in the afternoon we cleaned out and organized Mac's room to where it would be easier put his toys away and keep clean. And we added the nine cube shelf. He has loved it! And he is doing so great at putting his toys away when he is done playing. Hopefully it will last. 

Then the next morning was Mac's first day (and only day this week) of Kindergarten. It went a lot more smoothly. We started right off with the morning routine we hope to have. We will tweak it if necessary. But so far so good. He let me take pictures with out any problem! 

I seriously swoon when I see little ones wearing backpacks.
And my Mac, oh he is so handsome and cute!

Then off to school. Daddy came with us too!

A picture in front of the school sign.

Then to find his class room. 

Mac was so excited and not nervous one single bit!

He seperated all of his school supplies on the table for the teacher. I talked to his teacher about his allergy. We looked at her cute gerbal. Then it was hugs and goodbyes.

We were very excited about his teacher. We live in the little "one-stop-light" town my husband grew up in, and two of his sisters had his teacher when they were in grade school. I have heard great things about her.

Then when it was time to leave, this is how Oak reacted. Not out of jealousy but because she does not like to be without her brother. She did not want to leave without him. 

She was a sad girl. But we had plans for a donut date, just her and I.

And to help Mac and Oak in the morning with his routine so, I whipped this up. We don't have a color printer so it isn't all fancy. But they both already really enjoyed looking at it to see what to do and checking things off. If you couldn't tell the pictures mean: getting dressed, make bed, say prayer, read scriptures, eat breakfast, and brush teeth.

Taekwondo: Camo Belt

Mac tested for his camouflage belt on Saturday. They also had their annual family picnic afterwards. Mac did really great (although he seemed a bit out of his element, obviously, since they were testing outside and not at the dojo). The testing lasted more than two hours, but it went quickly and the kids did a pretty good job at waiting. 

We are so proud of him and the hard work he is putting into Taekwondo. He has come along way in his behavior and in other areas like working hard for something and following through to the finish. 

All the kids that tested.

They were also celebrating 10 years of owning the business and also Master Duer's Mastership which he just recently got. 

Mac testing for his camo belt Aug 2013 from bwilberger on Vimeo.

I forgot to get a pic of our new Camo belt at the picnic so here it is a couple days later on our way to practice. He is so proud of that belt! And he should be!

another year of swim lessons for Mac...

Mac did amazing in swim lessons this year. I think that is mostly due to swimming everyday while we were at the Lake House. He just was really comfortable! However, he did not pass to go up to the next level. But we are totally fine with that. I want him to have great skills, not get to the highest level. 

It is so fun to have our kids take swim lessons at this pool since it is the one (although totally rebuilt) that my husband and all of his siblings were lifeguards and swim instructors at. And I love that it is outdoor. 

He literally spent most of his lessons under water. They couldn't keep him out. They even made him sit a few times on the side of the pool because he wouldn't stop going under.

Back float.

Front float.

Pushing off the wall.

At the end of every class they got to jump off the diving board. Mac loved it!

Playing games on the last day (hence the life jackets).

The second week of lessons it was cold! He would come out chattering and his lips would be blue. 

Last day they always get a piece of candy.

Next week we start another session and Oak will even be starting lessons. We are all excited for her!

Mac at 5.5

He can read on his own most simple words.
He detests doing anything to help around the house, he thinks I am ruining his life and making it boring.
He loves to play games and catches on very quickly when learning a new one.
He wins a lot but has become a really good sport when he looses.
He has become a way better eater but still doesn't like change when it comes to food.
His favorite meal is beef stroganoff with rice.
He is doing great at taekwondo and just got his yellow headband. He really loves it!
He has a natural ability to teach others and I can't wait until he is old enough for the leadership program at taekwondo. He will eat that up.
He is really enjoying riding his scooter lately and is getting better and better at it.
He can tie a knot.
He can pump all by himself while swinging, he just needs a little push at the beginning. And he could swing for hours if he had the opportunity.
I have started doing workbooks with him and he is loving it.
He has really loved learning lately and it has made me excited for him to go to kindergarten and also has me excited to homeschool him.
He has a great imagination.
He loves to do anything and everything with his daddy.
He has pretty much grown out of instantly falling asleep in the car when he hasn't had a nap.
He still naps about every other day. I don't make him take a nap but he does take an hour quiet time and will usually put himself down for a nap.
He still loves informational books the most.
He has lost his first tooth but he doesn't have anymore loose ones at the moment. His new tooth is growing in  nicely.
He is loving taekwondo these days and is doing great at it.
He is quite the chatter box lately. I love it, because I love knowing whats going on in his brain. And he is so logical and is an information sponge and never forgets anything that happens around him that is is just interesting to listen to him.
He has gotten a bit more emotional about is adoption story and talks about missing his birthmom more.
We are seriously loving this age. I wish I could freeze him at five forever.

Yellow headband

Mac tested for his yellow headband in Taekwondo. He did amazing! I was so proud of him and so was Mr. Duer. He has come so far in the last year. We are really loving this for him. It has given him such a boost in confidence, it has pushed him to use more energy in the athletic depart (as in he hated to run or do anything physical before this), it has taught him to listen and stand still while waiting his turn, it has taught him self defense, it has taught him respect. I really hope he continues on with it until he reaches his black belt. 

So proud of our boy!

Another Dentist visit!

It has been six months and the kids had another dentist visit for cleaning. This was Oak's second time and she did even better this time than the last time. She let the hygenist do everything and the hygenist even had her giggling. However when the Dentist came over to look in her mouth she got scared and almost didn't let him look. She braved up and and opened her mouth just enough. 

Mac has been going since he was three. He got x-rays this time and I assume he has no cavities since they didn't say. The Dentist was however concerned about a two-year molar that has not fully erupted. We are going to have to go to an oral surgeon to get a second opinion on what to do. (which will get expensive since we have NO dental insurance!!) They just want to make sure it isn't going to interfere with his adult teeth coming in. I hope they won't have to do anything, although I am concerned that they will end up doing surgery and pull it. YIKES on a lot of different levels!