From Summer to 4th Grade

Dear Luke,

This week wraps up the 3rd week of your 4th grade year and you've adjusted well to being back in school! I'm getting used to it being quiet at home again after all the time together this past summer. I'm so very thankful for all the memories we made, in spite of the limitations my tendonitis caused, especially during the first half. A big highlight for the first part of our summer included participating in swim team, with swim meets lasting until 11 or 11:30 at night! You had a ball staying up late, competing, playing with the other 9 year old boys in between heats, and spending your money at the concessions on pizza, Chick-fil-A sandwiches, chips, whatever I would agree to. ;) 

Some other firsts included visiting the Rosemeade Rainforest Pool in Carrollton where Daddy and I grew up swimming, learning to dive off a diving board, and taking a family day trip to Splashway Waterpark. Nana also joined you, Nora, and me one day at Typhoon Texas and for a Surfside Beach day, which we hadn't done in over a year. We saw a good handful of summer movies, in particular the Despicable Me series, enjoyed a couple of visits to the childrens museums, checked out the Rosenberg Railroad Museum, climbed the play structures at Sugar Creek Baptist Playscape, and you spent lots of hours jumping on the trampolines at Altitude. You also really loved the LCISD stem events throughout the summer.

A big first for you included staying at Honey and Grandpa's by yourself for a few nights after we all 4 were there for the 4th of July. This was a big deal for us and for you, but you had a great time and told me it was a highlight of your summer! I met you and Grandpa at the end of the trip for lunch at Texas Burger and you ran straight toward me with the biggest smile on your face when you saw me. It was so fun hearing you recount all the fun things you did. Then on the way home you said, "This is probably gonna be my favorite day of the whole trip." When I asked why, you said "Because I'm going home!" Of course this made my heart happy. :)

We also learned this summer that you have celiac disease, which was a shock and disappointment, of course. Daddy decided to get tested as part of his routine physical in June, and when his result came back positive, Dr. Batchelor felt we should check you as well. It hasn't been easy on you, but really you have adapted very well. At first it was hard to even remember that you have it. We are so used to the idea of a gluten allergy, but think of it for Nora. You are doing a good job now, one month in, with checking labels to verify what is safe for you to eat. Now I'm the odd one out without a gluten allergy! Removing gluten from one's diet can improve overall mood, and Daddy and I have seen that with you. You seem a lot more content and slower to get frustrated, which has been really nice to see. 

A few weeks ago, we decided we were ready for you to get a device and enter the world of video games, which you had been increasingly expressing a desire to do! So you spent your well saved birthday money on a Nintendo Switch lite, which you are feeling really proud of and excited about. And we are happy for you!

Awana and baseball will start soon, and you are auditioning for the Bentley Beatz ensemble next week. We love you and are proud of the sweet, fun boy you are at 9 1/2!

Love,

Mommy

Nine Years Old!

Dear Luke,

It's your last year in the single digits! You were telling me days before your birthday that you couldn't wait to be 10 and I told you we needed to slow things down. :)

At 9 years old,

You take great pride in keeping your room clean, which makes me happy. Something shifted last summer after a few occasions where you felt really overwhelmed with how messy your room got and how long it took to clean things up. You have a lot displayed, including papers taped to the wall and Legos lined up on the surfaces, so dusting takes awhile, but you have a place for everything and like to keep the floor picked up!

You love being a "teacher kid" on the days I work. You and Nora go to the library after school on those days and you're disappointed when I finish early and you don't get to hang out with your buddies, snacking on popcorn and playing on their iPads. It is sweet that you are so happy to see me most every time you spot me at school. You peeked in the window to the classroom a few times when I was subbing for 3rd grade and we overlap at recess now on Fridays.

You've asked if you can call me "mom." I usually tease you and say, "I'm not mom!" I know you will probably switch soon, but I intend to hang on to "mommy" as long as possible. :)

You love to place holds on books at the library and will collect quite a stack each time we go. You fly through the books you're excited about. You've read some Harry Potter and are really into Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Dog Man. It's a great activity when we need some quiet entertainment.

You love to play Dreambox, Reflex, and Prodigy on the computer. They're all math programs and some are assigned as homework. You love to get additional time though and will work through a checklist quickly to get to some screen time!

You refer to a lot of kids as your "best friend" and are very social. We go to the park frequently after school and you have quite a network of neighborhood friends. I also hear a lot about Geoffrey, Jake, Ben, Camden, and Troy from school. And a girl named Evelina is apparently your girlfriend. You told me she's nice, smart, funny, and tells the other girls to be nice to you.

You love sports, whether baseball, basketball, football, soccer or gaga ball. You will often play in the front yard bouncing a ball up above the garage door. You're enjoying playing baseball with Lamar Little League and also play ball at school recess. It's not uncommon for you to ask Daddy as soon as he gets home if you can play gaga ball upstairs or play catch in the backyard.

You like to run. Our after school routine now includes you getting out to check the mail, then running home. You've even run all the way to the park with me driving slowly alongside. It's a great way to get your energy out!

You love to trade Pokemon cards. Your birthday party had a Pokemon theme, including a Pikachu pinata! Daddy had the great idea to buy Pokemon cards for the two of us so we can trade with you, too, so you think that's pretty cool!

You still give great hugs, and sometimes ask me to tickle your back and sing to you at bedtime. I know the little boy in you is growing up, so I love these moments.

I love you, Luke!

Love,

Mommy