eight is great

Dear Garrett,

Happy birthday to the happy, round-headed blond boy who eight years ago made me a mother! This evening at exactly 6:55 you paused in reflective excitement and then jumped for joy as you officially became an eight-year-old. This is a big year for you. In a few weeks you will be baptized and therefore accountable for the choices you make. I hope you do your best to always choose the right, and, when you make mistakes, as you inevitably will, to humbly ask your Heavenly Father for forgiveness as you repent and make your way back to the right path.

Given your parents' introverted tendencies, you are surprisingly social. You don't go to the park to meet up with friends (although you certainly don't oppose to doing that), but rather, you go to the playground to make new friends. I hope that you are always this friendly and happy to include others in your group.

I love the way you absorb knowledge, and you gather it from everywhere: books, television, reading over my shoulders, eavesdropping on conversations you probably shouldn't... And I love how excited it makes you. The wheels in your head are always turning and your creativity is limitless. Keep learning, stay focused, and be persistent, even when things get hard. Your passion will take you far if you let it.

Your smile, with its surprisingly straight teeth, is contagious, and the things you say keep me and everyone around you laughing. But for all your carefree spunk, you are also very cautious. You are not comfortable unless you know every detail of whatever plans lay ahead.

You are an incredibly sweet and sensitive little boy. Please remember to always be kind to your brothers and obedient to your parents. As the oldest in our family, you've been given a lot of responsibility, and I hope that you live up to that.

I love you, Garrett, and I look forward to watching you do great things, not only this year, but in all the years to come.

Love,
Mom

*****
Celebrating Garrett

I have no pictures, since pretty much nothing is allowed on the decks of NYC public pools, but Garrett requested that on his birthday he get to go "swimming with friends." So we invited a bunch of people to join us at the Double D pool, and he had a blast practicing his sweet underwater moves.

In the evening, Uncle Tyler and Aunt Amanda, who are in town for a brief visit, came over for a small family birthday party. It was great to get to see them.

 Garrett and Tyler talked space (pictured here ) and circuitry (with his Snap Circuits, not pictured). Tyler works as an engineer whose current project entails satellites for NASA.

He wanted a ding dong cake like Matthew got, but when I told him it was a little too involved for the time I had to devote to baking, he settled for a chocolate "French cake" with icing to make it look like a ding dong cake. It didn't turn out nearly as pretty as I'd hoped, but just about every cake I've made on June 30th for the last eight years has had issues. I blame the heat and humidity.

Ready...

 

 ...blow...

 ...and wish granted.

 He was so excited for the set of scriptures he got.

 Other gifts included a real rock collection, a diary with a lock, a NASA shirt and astronaut ice cream, a bike bell with the promise of a bike to put it on once we've moved to Ohio, a book with facts about Cincinnati, and a boxed set of Encyclopedia Brown books...

...which he got started on right away.

It's great to be eight, and by all accounts Garrett had a really great day.

boy holds stick drive to provide heat for the poor

BROOKLYN --- A young local entrepreneur has organized a Stick Drive to collect wood he plans to distribute to "poor people who live in houses with chimneys (not apartments)." Garrett Anderson, age 7, patterned the drive after the various food drives his school sponsors every year. He is also accepting donations of nickels which will go towards the purchase of sticks.

Garrett and his younger brother, Caleb, age 5, plan to scout the neighborhood on their scooters to collect the donations. Caleb has been assigned the task of holding the collection box, which boasts a handwritten sign that reads: "Stick Drive. Please bring sticks and put them in the box. Help the poor."

Once they've amassed a large enough amount of wood, they plan to go door to door offering sticks for the poor to burn in their fireplaces.

When asked where he got the idea of a Stick Drive, Garrett responded with a fond memory of helping his Uncle Joel collect sticks for firewood from throughout their yard in New Jersey.

But it all burns down to the fact that Garrett just wants to help others. "If I give sticks to people," he says, "then their lives will be good because they will be warm."

the first day of school

Alternately titled, "I Survived Their Summer Vacation."

As I climbed into bed on Wednesday night, my relief was actually audible with the knowledge that I had survived the boys' summer vacation. But as the early hours of the first day of school rolled around on Thursday morning, I remembered just how exhausting those first days of school can be, what with the pre-dawn wake-up alarms, my urge to make that traditional batch of chocolate chip cookies for an after school snack, and the forms -- oh, the mountain of forms requiring my contact information, permission, and signature!

These last two days have been a whirlwind, and I've occasionally had to remind myself that I've been looking forward to this all summer. But now that Caleb the Kindergartner has been eased in to elementary school life (which required later drop offs and earlier pick ups than the rest of the student body, including his older brother, that ultimately translated to extra drop offs and pick ups for me), and the majority of the forms have been filled out and are ready to be returned, I think a more calm routine will be established.

 The second grader!

Garrett is in 2nd grade this year, and thrilled to be there. He quickly eased right back into our pre-summer way of doing things. He's been moving up with pretty much the same group of kids, so not only is he well-seasoned in the routines of the school, but he gets to be there with all his friends. I don't know much about his teachers (I only just learned their names today), but I've already gathered from a few non-verbal clues from them at pick-up that, for good or bad, Garrett has already made himself known in the classroom.

The kindergartener!

As mentioned above, this year Caleb joins his brother at PS 185. He has so far been acclimating better than I expected he would. For weeks he's been assuring us that he was excited to start kindergarten, but when the first day came and he, along with the rest of the school's newest students, were gathered in the auditorium to be divvied out to their respective classes, he became more and more frozen with fear. Being in the first class numerically, and the first student alphabetically, his was the first name called up to go join his teacher. I thought in that moment of sudden panic that he would lose his breakfast. But he didn't. His teacher comes highly regarded (and from what I've seen of her so far, she seems to be an excellent fit for Caleb), and she welcomed him right over. When I saw him again a few hours later he announced that he'd had a great day and was looking forward to going back again. His first full day of school will be Monday, and I'm sure that will require some getting used to on his part, but the fact that these first days have gone so well reassures me that he'll continue to be just fine.

 The wannabe!

Oh, you called?

Next week my days with only Matthew and Daniel at home will begin. I'm anticipating a little more quiet around the house, but at the same time I'm prepared to be disappointed in that regard. After all, infants and 2-year-olds come with their own kinds of...fun. I'm also a little wary of the bigger boys' 2:00 pick up time, which most days falls right in the middle of nap time, but hopefully we'll find some way to adjust. Either way, I'm looking forward to more one-on-one time with my two littles (and maybe also a little more time to tackle my quilting projects).

So here's to a new school year! With any luck, we'll all come out on top and get an education in the process.

seven is heaven

Dear Garrett,

You've been waiting a long time for this day. Since the day you turned six, you've been anxious to be seven, always telling me things like, "When I turn seven, I'll be able to ...." and "I can't wait to be seven!" But it's finally here. You are seven! Happy birthday, Garrett!

You have always had an entertaining personality, but over the last year you have blossomed into a real character. The things you say never fail to intrigue me or make me chuckle. And you do not stop talking. Ever. I often find myself wondering at the mechanics at work in your brain as you think out loud in conversation.

Speaking of, these days you like are a large sponge, absorbing all sorts of fascinating facts about everything from outer space to the deepest parts of the ocean. Most of this information you learn by reading -- it is a rare thing these days to see you without your nose in a book -- while the rest of it you glean from scientific documentaries. "Science" is your current buzzword. You love to "do science," "learn about science," and you've decided that when you grow up you want to be a scientist. Whether you will specialize in astronomy or marine biology or another branch entirely has yet to be determined. Right now the world is your oyster.

I love how you are so full of ideas. You are always thinking and always creating. The way you can turn a tossed recyclable or a cut-folded-and-taped piece of paper into a work of art is incredibly creative. I am also impressed with the lists you write out of everything from things you've learned to things you want to do.

When you started me on my path to motherhood, Garrett, I had no idea how much I'd be able to love you. In a way, I still don't. But you, with your smile that is almost too big for your head, your goofy notions, and your suave dance moves, hold a very special place in my heart. No matter how big you get, you will always be my first baby, and I will always, always love you.

Love,
Mama

****

Here are a few snapshots of the birthday celebrations:

For over a year, ever since his class took a field trip to "Pizza Uno," Garrett has begged to go back. He chose to eat there with his family instead of celebrating with a birthday party with friends.

Aunt Chelsea is in town for a visit. We took her to the 9/11 Memorial.

Afterwards we rode the ferry to Governor's Island.

 There was some fun installation art meant for kids to climb around and play on. All the boys loved it.

Worn out on the subway ride home after a super fun day.

Aunt Chelsea helped decorate the cake. She used white sugar pearls to map out star constellations in the frosting.

 Seven candles!

He loved all of his gifts, which included a BYU t-shirt, a ticket to the Hayden Planetarium, the first four Magic Tree House books, and a box of his very own craft supplies. His favorite, though, was a detailed visual encyclopedia of space. He can't wait to pour over that one.

wrapping up the school year

Well, it's official: school is out and summer has started. Part of me is glad for a change of pace. This last school year has been a difficult one for me, what with two separate school pick ups, OT and speech therapy appointments to get back and forth from, and a pregnancy, in addition to all the other aspects of life during a school year. I'm a little worn out.

The rest of me, though, is a little terrified at the prospect of having all four of them home all day every day where it's hot and swelteringly humid outside and cramped and crowded inside. I have a rough plan of how we'll survive, which entails regular morning park visits, followed by lunch and early afternoon quiet/nap time, and a little bit of homework/reading time when it's too hot to be outside.

But enough about summer. It will happen whether I'm ready or not. Onto the pomp and circumstance!

Two days ago, Caleb wrapped up his pre-kindergarten year. He went to a small nearby school called the Tiny Tots Playhouse, which he seemed to quite enjoy. Late last week his teachers held a simple Stepping Up ceremony that I attended.

 The pre-k graduates.

 The face Caleb pulled while the rest of his classmates smiled and sang a few songs. I'm still trying to decide if he was happy to be there.

 With his two friends, Lola and Mia.

 With his friend, Sabil.

With one of his teachers, Ms. Adele.

 And with Mom (and Daniel).

Ready for kindergarten!

As we walked home from Tiny Tots for the last time he said, "It's happy and sad, right?" I couldn't have summed it up better myself. He made a lot of great friends, absorbed the awesomeness of Magna-Tiles nearly every day during centers time, and learned a lot about how a school works. Now onto kindergarten!

In addition to pre-k, Caleb also this week wrapped up his OT and speech therapy sessions. He'll resume them again in the fall, only this time they'll take place at school so I, happily, won't have to cart him to and from them. I've been kind of "meh" about his OT experience and am actually relieved that it's over. Speech with Miss Zarina, on the other hand.... She was wonderful (and she came to our home for his sessions, which greatly added to my love for her). We will both really miss her.

Miss Zarina

Today was Garrett's last day of 1st grade at P.S. 185. He had a fantastic year with amazing teachers. I attribute his marked improvement and intense love for reading almost entirely on Mrs. Caramanico, who also encouraged his love of science. She, along with the other classroom teachers, Mrs. Clinton and Mrs. Blake, were the best things that could have happened to Garrett this year, and we will both miss them. But he's as excited as ever to be a second grader in the fall!

 With Mrs. Caramanico.

 Look! He's reading chapter books! He kept his nose buried in Mr. Popper's Penguins and finished it last night after starting it only a week ago.

Garrett's 1st grade year was also generously sprinkled with wonderful friends. Here he is with his best girl friend, Ava. These two were apparently partners in crime, especially when they were assigned to sit at the same table. (Isn't she adorable?!)

 Making silly faces with his best boy friends, Ben and Abel.

This afternoon, to celebrate their last days of school, I took them to get Slurpees at 7-Eleven. In the process we unfortunately managed to ruin a lot of clothes, both from cherry-red Slurpee drippings and heat-induced dye transfers (from my shirt onto Daniel's while I was wearing him in the Ergo). Hopefully the rest of my attempts at fun this summer don't turn out as disastrous because, as exhausting as I know it will be, I really would like to make our days as memorable as possible, given our circumstances. So send your prayers and best wishes this way because I think I'm gonna need them.

cut from the same mold

When people see Daniel, one of the first things they notice is how much he looks like his brothers.

And it's true: while they each have their own unique features, they were definitely also cut from the same mold.

Can you tell them apart?

Garrett

Caleb

Matthew

Daniel

these faces

And then there are days when I need to remind myself of just how much I really do love these faces.

chronicling the universe

Garrett is currently a little (or a lot) obsessed with outer space. He spends his days devouring his books, streaming Netflix documentaries, and even catching up on current events on the topic, then spewing forth to me all of the random facts now filling his brain.

In fact, let me go grab Garrett so he can dictate some of the things he's learned.

Me: "Hey, Garrett, tell me some things you've learned about outer space."

Garrett: "Um, okay. Let me see.....

"Do you know what the gas planets are? Well, I'll tell you: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

"The Kuiper Belt is a place where you can find objects like huge asteroids and comets.

"The moon called Callisto sometimes changes into different colors. Sometimes it changes into green with yellow dots. And sometimes the color changes to brown with white dots. But I don't know why it changes colors. Callisto belongs to the giant planet called Jupiter.

"Mercury is close to the sun. It orbits the sun faster than any other planet. It only takes 88 days to orbit the sun.

"The moon Titan belongs to the planet Saturn. The surface is covered with ice.

"Vesta is an asteroid. It is the hugest asteroid in the solar system. And a space craft called Dawn took pictures of it.

"Venus is the brightest and the hottest planet in the solar system. It has an atmosphere. The clouds hold in heat like a blanket and that makes Venus very hot."

And this is just the tip of the iceberg. It's dizzying, not to mention pretty fascinating, just how much information he's absorbed.

And then, besides sharing that information with anyone who will listen, he assigns himself homework-like projects. A few days ago he created a "bulletin board" with paragraphs written in his own words and accompanying drawings of a few of the planets.

Currently he's working on a giant book of every planet's moons.

He's made it very clear, both by his words and his actions, that when he grows up, he wants to be a scientist who studies space. I hope that he does.