Christian's Big Week

Yoda and the gang helped celebrate Christian's 7th birthday.  He received many new Wii and DS games related to Star Wars, Mario Bros., Despicable Me, and Harry Potter.  Christian's time spent on such games has to be severely limited, though.

I can't believe he's 7 already!  Christian, what a special boy you are.  As a baby, he did not play with toys.  He did not like stuffed animals, noisy toys, trucks or cars. Cars and blocks were for lining up by color or shape.  But we discovered he liked puzzles, and so he started working on them at the age of 2. We also started reading to all the boys when they were babies, and now he reads to Gaby at night before going to bed.  Christian received some pretty terrific level 1 Star Wars books to read.  I like listening to him read to Gaby because if Christian can't decode a word, he makes it up as he goes along.  He's still reading and using his imagination, and that's good in my book!

Today was Christian's first day of first grade.  He slept with his Star Wars backpack near him, and as soon as the alarm went off, he and Gaby got out of bed and dressed themselves.  "Come on, Mom! I don't want to miss a thing at school!"  He enjoys being responsible, but Gaby is responsible for turning off the alarm clock (Christian still hates loud, buzzing noises).  Here he is (above) at his desk with his birthday rice krispy treats to give out to his classmates later. 

Last night we went over the rules -- and I stressed on thing:  If you do not understand what the teacher says, raise your hand and tell her to please repeat the instructions. Christian also informed me that in first grade they no longer have sticks to move when they do not listen: Mrs. B. told the kindergarteners last year that first graders go straight to the principal's office if they are bad.  Christian is on the lookout for those stamps, too.

"The bell is going to ring and I have to go in!"  Chill out, Christian, we still have five minutes for a few photos before I start to bawl. You're growing up too fast and I want these moments to last -- the ones where you actually want me to be around and when you still need me.

Things are going to get busy around here.  In the next couple of weeks Gaby and Christian begin soccer, and this will be Gaby's first year playing.  Christian will also start religious ed. at church (what we Catholics used to call CCD). Gaby and Jojo will begin preschool in September, and my classes start next week.  Busy days are ahead, but at least not everything is happening at once!  And after months of completing computer certification classes, Mike started an internship today, and hopefully this will lead to a permanent (paid) position.