Mom Remembers

Soren's birthday was really busy because we were also getting ready for Pat and Lyndsey's wedding.  I was really glad that my parents were there, though, because they helped to make it really special for him.  This is what we did: 1. As soon as Soren woke up, I wished him a happy birthday.  Then, I went to the bathroom.  While I was gone, he hurried out to the living room and opened his present!  I was a little dismayed to come out and see him already playing with his new toy (a pretend cash register) but, after thinking about it a moment, I was really proud of him.  He had been waiting all week to open that gift and hadn't touched it until that moment.  And he knew that on his birthday he could have it.  So he took it! 2. Scott and I went to the temple for Lyndsey's endowment.  While we were gone, Hannah and Owen came to play and Aunt Breezy watched them all. 3. When we got back from the temple, we made Soren's special birthday lunch: macaroni and cheese.  

SOREN: Driving on chocolate is really funny to the gospel.  Jesus laughs when you do that!

ME: Angels we have heard on high sweetly singing o'er the plains! SOREN: Angels we have heard on high sweetly singing all the planes! CARL: Angels we have heard on high sweetly singing on airplanes!

SOREN: Will you get me the markers? ME: No. SOREN: Should you get me the markers? ME: No. SOREN: That's disrespectful!  Be respectful and get me the markers.

A few months back, Scott made us a ton of white boards out of cardboard and white board paint.  We now have white boards for every occasion which makes this mom very happy. One of the most loved white boards is on the fridge and it is our calendar .  It is only a week long and we re-draw it every Sunday.  For efficiency's sake, I'm putting up this picture instead of explaining it: Soren has taken a great interest in the passage of time and in knowing what's coming up next.  He has always wanted things to be predictable and he really thrives on daily and weekly routines.  The calendar is great for him because he knows what we will be doing and when. The calendar minimizes tantrums about undesirable activities as Soren has plenty of time to prepare for the inevitable events (like church).  It also gives him hope when very desirable activities have to been postponed.   For example, one day he asked me to go visit the ducks but we just didn't have the time.  So we