” A mother discovers with great delight that one does not love one’s children just because they are one’s children, but because of the friendship formed while raising them” – Gabriel García Márquez
As my children grow I have been struck by how much I not only love them but genuinely like to be with them. Now that Josh is older he can hold his own in pickleball and monopoly, can discuss world events, and can help me so much more with…everything.
Because his birthday falls in August, he’s managed to celebrate in California three of the last six years. We left Friday afternoon and drove straight to an awesome hotel that we had Pricelined. They wanted to charge us $10/night for sheets for the pullout couch in our room. It was memorable.
Here he is opening an early present at the start of our trip. He “forgot”/was too lazy to pack anything to read in the car. He was with me when I bought it, and I hid it so well in my cart I accidently shoplifted it – awesome. ( I went back and paid for it later). We spent the day before his birthday at Newport beach with cousins and grandparents. The whole surfing thing clicked for Anna and both her and Max were quite proud. My cute sister and her daughter Kelsie aka “the pretty sister” as she calls herself. The three littles hung out by the garbage can for an extended period of time and took turns walking up to it, slowly opening the lid, and then screaming and running away. Kids are awesome.
While I did bring wrapping paper. I neglected to bring scissors and tape, so he got to open all his presents in one big amazon box. On his actual birthday we got to go to my sweet nieces blessing. Josh was thrilled to get to hold her.
And now he’s big enough to do this.
My top ten favorite things about Josh are:
1.) He is kind to his siblings. He lets Max especially follow him and his friends around and rarely asks me to make him go away.
2.) He loves to give. He has already been thinking about what to get everyone for Christmas.
3.) His favorite shows are documentaries.
4.) He loves to read and wants me to read what he’s reading so we can talk about it.
5.) He loves food and will try almost anything, which makes him fun to take out to eat.
6.) He likes to stay at the dinner table with the adults, instead of going off to play, and quietly listens to everything we say.
7.) He takes criticism well. Something I wish I was better at.
8.) He loves to learn and currently wants to be a quantum physicist.
9.) He is good at setting goals and working toward them.
10.) He is a good example – although not everyone loves it when he points out what they could be doing better.