and now he's 6

I won't go on and on about how fast time goes.  I really won't, I promise.  (But doesn't it?)  Sorry.  Anyway, cut to the chase... Fletcher turned 6 YEARS OLD yesterday.  He had pretty much the best birthday weekend a boy could have.  He went camping with Brian and Rowan and our friends who met them there.  They fished, they went on horseback (pony back) rides, they had campfires, and they came back beyond dirty and mosquito bite ridden.  There was just enough time for a bath yesterday before everyone started coming over for a little party!  We invited family friends over instead of school friends, but luckily there are mostly boys Fletcher's age in our family friends.

I made Fletcher's favorite foods, including his favorite junk food that we never actually buy and keep around the house.  Of course those are his favorites!  So our menu consisted of bacon (yes, just a big plate of bacon), cheddar biscuits, cheese and crackers, mixed nuts, guacamole, pudding, and neon orange colored chips and cheese puffs.  He was in heaven.

Fletcher's only request was for a Lego party.  Legos are really high on his list of awesomeness.  So like I did with a unicorn figure for Rowan's unicorn party, I stuck a Lego piece in his cake and lit some candles.  And then I just did the decorations in red and yellow, and figured that would do the job.  He thought it all looked great!

He particularly loved his cake, although he did ask me why I hadn't written the Lego logo on it.  Let's just say frosting is not my art of choice.  I think despite that he had a great day.  We all celebrated him, and loved on him, and by bedtime he was glowing from all of the attention and love. 

He said it was his best birthday ever.

So here's a little more on Fletcher.  He currently loves all things Lego, but I think his real passion is anatomy.  He is fascinated by the human body and checks out anatomy books from the library every time we go.  If you follow me on Instagram, then you're familiar with his Fletcherisms.  One night he was taking a bath and I asked him if he had washed all over, including his bum.  And he replied, "Yep, got right up into my colon."

He cracks us all up with his Fletcherisms, but some of them are sweet or thoughtful.  He's a gem, this one.  He is by no means perfect, but he has an intense love and compassion for others.  He cried when I explained why we gave a homeless man money while in the city recently, and he spent the ride home brainstorming on how we could build that man a home.

He is cuddly and affectionate, and says the most sincere loving things, like, "You are the best mama in the world.  I love you the MOST."  Although he will quickly add, "But I love everyone in the world the most."  He also gives the best compliments: "Mama, you make the BEST lunches."  "Rowan, you are the BEST drawer I've ever seen."  "Papa, you make the BEST pancakes in the whole WORLD."

Fletcher loves chocolate milk, but doesn't drink juice.  He eats almost all the vegetables, but isn't a big fan of fruit besides apples.  He is most definitely a morning person, and tends to get emotional when he's tired.  He is soft hearted, and easily gets his feelings hurt.  He will always concede to Rowan in a fight just so it can end.  He wants to be friends with EVERYONE, and doesn't understand it when some kids say they don't want to be his friend (boy are they missing out!).

He retains information very well, and is forever curious about the way everything works.  But if you ask him what he did today, he'll tell you that he forgets.  He's beginning to read just a little, and it's so exciting for us!  He loves books, and the fact that he can pick out some of the words is just amazing to him.  Brian has been reading through different series every night, including the Little House on the Prairie series, and Narnia series.  He likes them all.

His favorite color is red.  He still loves trains.  He begs me to get a puppy.  He loves adventures, and scares me with his fearlessness at times.  He loves both set of grandparents and asks often when we will see them next.  He wavers between thinking magic is real or not.  He thinks Dr. Who is the best show ever.  He sometimes refers to himself as "wild boy."  Peeing outside in our bamboo forest is his preferred method of urinating.  He is drawn to water and is a natural at swimming.  He still calls sandwiches "sangwiches" and I never want him to stop.

I could go on forever about this boy of mine.  He has changed the way I see the world.  He's changed us all for the better.

Four

Yesterday was Rowan's birthday.  She's 4 years old!  How does this happen so quickly?  One minute they are tiny babes in my arms, and the next minute they are blowing out four candles on their birthday cake.  I remember when Fletcher was born, my mother-in-law warned me.  She told me that one day you'll be holding your son in your arms, and the next day you'll be holding your son's son.  I can see now how those years can slip through your fingers so quickly.  It makes my head spin to think how the years have flown since Fletcher was born!

 We had a small party for Rowan, and invited family friends instead of "school friends."  I just love those types of parties so much.  The kind where you look around and don't have to wonder what that kid's name is, or passing out goodie bags full of candy after big helpings of cake and ice cream.  We didn't make the children gather around to watch Rowan open the presents.  I didn't have games planned, and there were no official activities.   I didn't even gather everyone to watch her blow out the candles, I just brought out the cake and started singing, and everyone just joined in.  It was relaxed, and fun for everyone.  I wish I could get away with these kind of parties for the rest of their childhood!  Maybe I can, maybe I can.

Rowan let me take a few pictures of her on her birthday yesterday.  I bribed her with promises to pick as many purple iris as her little heart desired.

 She's a spunky one, this girl.  She gives me a run for my money every day, and challenges nearly everything I say.  She's a limit pusher.  Her nickname is "Cheeky" for those reasons.  She adores flowers, especially the purple hued variety.  Picking weedy bouquets is her favorite.  She loves to dress up, preferably as a princess.  She loves to wear dresses, but is just fine with a hand-me-down Star Wars shirt.  Her favorite foods include pizza, every kind of fruit, yogurt, and pasta with meatballs.  She tolerates most vegetables, but really dislikes carrots.  She likes broccoli a lot.  She much prefers almond milk to cow's milk.  Purple is her favorite color, but pink and yellow are pretty nice.  She colors and paints the most beautiful pictures.  She draws me A LOT.  She begs me to let her stitch with me every time.  She frustrates Fletcher to no end, but he also loves her, and I'm always so impressed with how well they can play together.  Sometimes.  She prefers Mama to read her nighttime books and tuck her into bed, but that could change any day now.   She loves to help in the kitchen, whether I'm cooking, baking, or just cleaning up.  She loves makeup, nail polish, and jewelry, but will let a caterpillar crawl up her arm, dig in the dirt, and kick a ball around.  She is constantly humming and singing (currently the Frozen soundtrack- oy!) and the day she goes to ballet/tap class is her favorite day of the week.  She is begging for a puppy, but would be happy (for now) with a fish that she could name "Precious Smart Leafy Eats."  She's the best neck hugger around, and when she smiles at you it's like the clouds parting on a rainy day.

 She's my best girl.

birthday man

It was Brian's birthday the other day, and he spent it like any other adult does.  He went to work.  But, Fletcher decided we should surprise Papa by showing up at his work with balloons.  He's pretty much the most thoughtful boy ever.  So we did just that, and even took him out for a very fancy lunch at Jimmy John's.  Nothing but the best for Papa!  When I asked what kind of cake he wanted, he told me a Batman cake (he was joking).  Rowan insisted that a princess cake would make Papa happiest, but Fletcher thought a Dr Who cake would be the best.  What can I say?  I'm a people pleaser.

We all love you, Brian!  Hope your birthday was even a fraction of how special you are to us.

THE cake

My sweet uncle and aunt were visiting my parents at the same time as we were.  My uncle and Fletcher share a deep love of trains, so they were quite the pair.  My uncle and mom schemed to make Fletcher the most elaborate train cake I have ever seen.  It took them THREE days to make it from top to bottom.  It was elaborate, people.  And barely edible in the end, but that was not the point.  Fletcher loved it.  So much.  Almost as much as my uncle Fred and mom!

Rice krispy treats made up the road, kit kats made the track.  Ice cream cones made up the smoke stack, and malted milk balls made up the tinder.  It was a labor of love, no doubt.  And it was amazing.

Fletcher will never forget this one, that is certain.  Thank you, Mom and Uncle Fred!!

5 years old!



Well, another year has passed.  It's now been 5 years since Fletcher made me a mama.  Seems like so long ago and yesterday all rolled into one.  Does that make sense?  I can barely remember how it feels to NOT be a mother, so it feels so long ago.  But wait, wasn't he *just* a baby?  Anyway, Fletcher is 5, and he is just as joyful as day one.  He is such a kind, sweet boy, and I feel like I was blessed to be the one to care for his little soul as he grows up.  It's such a soft, sweet soul to care for.  

 He still loves trains, but his realm of interest has broadened to include superheroes, legos, and Transformers.  But trains will always be his first true love.  Besides mama, of course!

 He loves to meet new people, especially new little people, and will try to play with everyone at the park all at once.  He likes to include everyone.  I have never heard him say anything mean to another child, but does easily get his heart crushed when other children say something remotely unkind to him. 

He keeps us in stitches with his "Fletcherisms" and we often ask him how he feels or thinks about a lot of things in this world just to get his take on it.  He's opened my eyes to seeing something a new and different way more times than I can count.

  His favorite foods tend to be fresh vegetables, and still loves a good salad.  But he prefers to drink chocolate milk to anything else.  He's pretty good about trying new things, though. 

 Fletcher is going through a "mama" phase, but could quickly pass me over in favor of Papa tomorrow.  He is fickle like that. 

 His imagination is something to behold, and if you have a minute or maybe an hour, he'd love to tell you a story he's made up.  He is an excellent traveler, and really likes new places to visit.  A car trip is one of his favorite activities of all time.  Especially if it ends somewhere fun. 

 He mostly tolerates his little sister, but he and Rowan are starting to become play mates.  It's not perfect, but sometimes there is a magical moment where they play nicely together.  It's my favorite kind of moment.  He doesn't have a lot of patience for sitting down to write letters or draw, but he could listen to someone reading him a book for hours. 

He crawls into bed with me every morning, cuddles close, and tells me, "Good morning, mama!"  Even when it is too early, I love that he still cuddles and wants to be cuddled.  I loved the age of 4, but 5 is shaping up to be an excellent number to be. 

Fletcher, you are the best boy I know, and you make this mama's heart happy every day.  I love your mind, I love your energy, and I love your imagination.  You will do amazing things in this world, I know it. 
Love, your Mama xoxo

his birthday party!

Fletcher's birthday is this Saturday.  But we're going to be away visiting family then, so we had his party for his friends a week early.  Fletcher didn't mind.  He is, however, very confused as to what exact day is his birthday.

Most of his school friends couldn't make it to the party because of summer vacations, but that was all right by me!  Since we were having a pool party I knew it could get a little bit out of control really quickly.  But just the handful of kiddos was perfect for our small pool.

Fletcher wanted a "Transformer" birthday party.  What is it with the commercial themes?  I blame Brian on this one.  Fletcher originally asked for a garbage/recycling truck birthday party, and I was on board for that.  But then Brian got to asking Fletcher, "What about Superman, or Iron Man, or Transformers..." And that was it.  But no problem anyway since I really do a bare minimum when it comes to themes.  Here were the only places that displayed anything Transformer related: a sign I made, and spinners to top the cupcakes.

 And that sign took me an embarrassing amount of time to make.  Embarrassing because it should look way better than it does for the amount of time it took!  Fletcher still loved it, which made this mama's heart happy.  He requested the cupcakes in ice cream cones, too.  Kids just love those things, they were gone in no time.  I made a bigger cake for blowing out candle purposes, and for adults to eat.  But the adults loved the cone cupcakes just as much!

 There was a rapt audience while Fletcher opened presents.  And an involved audience, too!  Fletcher had to fight to be able to open his own presents at one point.  Kids just want to be helpful.  And to move things along quickly.

I asked Fletcher what his favorite part of the party was, and he answered "All of it!"  So I count that as a success!