Yep, Sean is 5.

September 22, Sean turned 5.  I feel like we got off a little easy as it fell on a Sunday this year.  We took cake pops to primary, then came home to pizza, presents and cup cakes.  Our neighbor friend Patrick came over and played with Sean all afternoon, and it seemed it was just what this 5 year old needed to feel special.  I was worried as we headed out the door for church, when I heard Sean exclaim, "I can do whatever I want today," but I didn't get any bad news about behavior so I think it all went fine. 

 

It is hard to believe it is 5 already, but at the same time he is only 5.  We have many years to go with this kid under our roof.  I sat with my friend Nancy at a football game hearing of her quieter life, and perhaps more trips with her husband, now that her kids are getting older.  I cringed with a bit of jealousy, but then perhaps I will just send Sean to her house to shake things up over there.   We don't want things getting too quiet over at the Hanaike's.

Transitional Kindergarten

Sean and Josh eating lunch at School.

This year we had a choice with Sean and school.  He qualified to start kindergarten this year by 6 days.  We went back and forth on whether or not we should start him, and when I found out our friend Sean missed the cut off by about the same amount of days, it sealed the deal.  Our Sean is a big kid and looks bigger then most kindergartners, but he is young.  He is athletic in every way, but can still become a pile of mush on the floor in social situations.  Waiting one more year felt right. 

 

Our school district was offering a Transitional Kindergarten class for kids that missed the Kindergarten cut off, and turned 5 in the fall.  We tried to get in, but were wait listed, since we could of technically started Kindergarten.  I had resolved in my mind we would continue with our pre-school as we had been doing when I got a great call just 2 weeks ago.  There was room!  Sean was going to enter Transitional Kindergarten that Monday, the 9th.  We were all ecstatic when we found out he would have Kira's old Kindergarten teacher, Mrs Marinas, and would be in a Kindergarten/TK split along with our friend Josh from church.  It couldn't of worked out better for all of us.  Sean is making new friends and enjoying his new school.  We get to carpool with our friend Sean, and the best part is we no longer have to pay for pre-school.  Hooray for all of us!

 

Kira and Andrew have also been back in school, no pictures this year.  Kira is a Junior, and Andrew is in 7th grade.  Back to the routine of early morning seminary, homework, tests, band, and flag football.  Is it horrible that I am already counting down until summer?  For some reason, this year, I was not excited for the school routines to begin again, when in the past I have loved it.  It was a great summer this past year, and I just hated for it to come to an end.

 

Here we go, off to the races for 2013-2014.

Lately...

these two have been my running buddies.  I have been trying to make fitness more of a priority and since I am not willing to get up at 5am and run with Tom, it really only leaves the evenings.  Just as dinner is finished, and the tiredness of the day kicks in, Sean seems to perk up and want a bike ride with Tom.  They race me to the ocean and cheer me on, sometimes quite loudly.  It is just what I need to keep me moving, and I am grateful to have it.  I am hoping this will last at least until Day Light Savings, and then I am moving back inside on the treadmill.  There is just something in me that hates to be out in the dark. 

As if...

being 12 wasn't hard enough?

He had to have a metal contraption put in his mouth to widen the roof.  Each night, for 2 weeks, I have a "key" that I get to use to crank it wider.  It is moments like this in my children's lives that I am so thankful I am grown adult.

Hang in there Andrew.

River Rafting

 During the reunion Vern and Cori arranged for us to River Raft down the Payette River.  I channeled my inner Meryl Streep from River Wild, and jumped in for a fun time.  A wise, and experienced woman (thanks Amy) told me the front was the best, and well...it was.  Thankfully I didn't fall out of the boat.  My ears were ringing from Andrew's high pitched screams, but I was in tact by the end and so excited to do this more.  I think I have found a new fun hobby, and more trips as a family will happen.  

The crew.

There were some lulls in between the class 2 and 3 rapids, and that meant opportunities for wrestling people out of the boats.  Thankfully no one drowned. 

The take off.  Unfortunately we didn't take any photos of the finish or a picture of Ryan's orange soda shower. 

Jeannie, thanks for watching Sean so I could go.  He still asks about his grasshoppers and thinks they are in your care in Washington.  I was sure you took them home with you. 

Porter Reunion, 2013

This reunion took place in McCall, Idaho, just north of Boise and it was Vern and Cori's turn to host.   We all piled into an amazing house and braced ourselves for a week of closeness, boating, river rafting and lots of eating.  It was a smaller group this year, but so fun as always and difficult to say goodbye at the end.  With mostly adults, and a few teenagers, 4 year old Sean became entertainment for most.  He was thrilled to be surrounded by people willing to watch him show off all he's got and was pretty disappointed when we came home, and all of the sudden no one cared any more.   

Bless her heart, Grandma Porter got on the banana (as if Dan gave her a choice).

Hanging beach side at the lake. 

Really, Andrew is driving the boat.  Watch out.

Knee Boarding... and he didn't loose his glasses.  

Sean Showing his skills.  

The banana rides were a blast.  Andrew is with Ryan and Rachel.  We loved seeing Rachel right before she left on her mission to Alabama (entered the MTC on the 21st of August). 

Sometimes, my family is a little embarrassing.  Usually, with Tom as the leader. 

Bye Porters - until 2015 or sooner, if I have something to say about it. 

Andrew Turned 12, July 31st.

It took me a few days to do this post, honestly because I have been reflecting on Andrew and his life so far, and I just cry.  I can't believe he is 12, and I am loving the young man he is becoming.  Soon he will be ordained a Deacon, and receive the Priesthood, and he is ready for all that comes with that.  

He is smart, funny, very helpful, an excellent bike rider, and very compassionate.  He is one of the people that I am drawn to, and I want to be around him as much as possible. 

For his birthday this year, we were in Hanford so we celebrated and none other then Superior Dairy.  It was very crowded and we had to wait for booths (we needed 3) but when his SOS came out, the entire restaurant burst into song.  It is one of the few times I have seen Andrew get really embarrassed.  We topped off the day swimming with cousins, which is always a good time.  

Happy Birthday Andrew, I am lucky your my son.