21 more days

That's all that is left of my son's first year of school. I can't believe the time has gone so fast. I'm amazed at how much he has learned. This is a picture from his first day. The little boy in the picture didn't know how to read.

One short school year later and now, check him out. He's a reader. It's been so cool to watch as his mind soaks it all in.

Wednesday night they had a kindergarten conference at the school where all the kinders and their family came. The kids sang a couple of really cute songs and then took us around to 9 stations that were set up to demonstrate all they have learned this year.

Here they are singing a super cute song called "Tootie Toot"

They were cracking me and themselves up.

Showing us his skills with colors and paints.

He's reading his "popcorn" words.
We've been blessed to have a great teacher this year and we're looking forward to his first year of full day school. Watch our first grade. Blake is on his way.

Q and A with my boy

Here are some cute questions to ask your kids that I got off of Kate's blog. It was fun to sit down and ask Blake these questions. Keep in mind that I was competing for his attention with watching dad play Star Wars on the Wii.


1. What is something mom always says to you? 25 minutes on the Wii

2. What makes mom happy? When I do what you say

3. What makes mommy sad? when I disobey you

4. How does mommy make you laugh? telling funny jokes

5. What was your mom like as a child? you were cute (how did he know?)

6. How old is your mom? 37

7. How tall is your mom? 30 feet

8. What is her favorite thing to watch on TV? Reba

9. What does your mom do when you’re not around? do the laundry (it's important to hide these things from your children..lol)

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? I don't know

11. What is your mom really good at? singing songs (poor child is tone deaf)

12. What is your mom not very good at? Star Wars on the Wii

13. What does your mom do for work? computer stuff to make money

14. What is your mom’s favorite food? pizza

15. What makes you proud of your mom? she makes me laugh

16. If your mom was a cartoon character, who would she be? Minnie Mouse

17. What do you and your mom do together? we color together

18. How are you and your mom the same? didn't quite get this question (about this time Daddy got past something on the game so he couldn't pay attention)

19. How are you and your mom different? because you are tall and I am small (it's good to know that I'm tall in someones eyes)

20. How do you know your mom loves you? Because when you got me you loved me

21. What does your mom like most about your dad? daddy makes you laugh

22. Where is your mom’s favorite place to go? to grandma's house (my mother-in-law, I need to get out more..lol)

6 years...when did that happen?

How on earth can 6 years go by and it feel like only a minute? Blake is 6 years old today. He's very excited to need 2 hands to show his age on now. He has a party scheduled tomorrow with 10 of his friends and cousins and is very excited. Tonight we will take him to dinner wherever he wants to go and then we might go see Madagascar 2.

I can't believe that it's been six years ago today when they placed this sweet child in my arms and I became not just Tonya but a mother. I had yearned for it for so many years that the moment was the sweetest of my life. I knew the moment I saw him that he was mine. I couldn't physically carry him for some reason (I'll be asking about that when I see Heavenly Father) but the Lord made sure he got to me. These last six years have been the most joyful of my life. Yes, they have been the hardest but the rewards far outweigh the grief. I never knew the capacity that my heart had to love until I met this little child. The amazing thing is that the love just continues to grow. Just when I think that I can't possibly love him more, my heart seems to expand and make room. Yes, he is a challenge and is always testing me to make sure that I'm still the boss. But wow this kid is amazing. He's smart, funny, inquisitive, compassionate and has a zest for life that is rarely matched. He makes me laugh on a daily basis with his view of the world and often frustrates me in the next breath. He's into everything superhero or Star Wars and so wants to be older than he is. He loves his mommy and daddy and likes us all to be together. If Tim and I are gone he always asks the other one when we will be home because things just aren't right unless we are all under one roof. He loves his grandma and grandpa it seems sometimes more than his mom and dad. They are very close and have him over all the time. He loves almost every child he meets and instantly wants to have a play date. I feel bad sometimes that he's an only child be he has lots of sudo brothers and sisters.

I'm so thankful that I was chosen to be this little mans mom. What a amazing and overwhelming experience it has been. I look forward to doing my best to raise him right and watch him become the amazing man that I know he will be. Heaven help me. Literally.