15

Alex, I am so amazed at how much you have grown in the past year.  You have tried so many new things--football, wrestling, and track.  You have worked hard and done so well at each of them.  I love that you haven't let the unknown stop you. And on top of your sports endeavors you have continued to get great grades and  served as Teacher's Quorum President.  Happy birthday, Alex!  I can't wait to see what the next year brings!

What is your favorite...

color? that's a tough one... I'm going to go green
food?  hmmm... monkey bread pizza
game? Fortnight
toy/possession?  lighter
show? Regular Show
animal?  bunny
book? Hero on a Bicycle
song? 3 way tie between: My Boo-hitman's club mix by GhostTown DJs; Let it Happen by Tame Impala; Boyfriend, Girlfriend by Tyler the Creator
What do you like to do?  go on a run
Who is your best friend?  Oliver Randall or Hunter Smith

What do you want to be when you grow up? probably a doctor 
Do you have a girlfriend?  no

I am - awesome 

I am afraid of - being paralyzed

I like - being awesome

I like to eat - "I just like to eat"

I don't like - working in general

I know - how to read

I want to be - more awesomer

I like to watch - tiktok

My hero is- myself

I cry when - I have a wrestling practice punishment

I'm happy when - "I'm happy most of the time"

Mom gets mad when - I don't do something

Mom is happy when - I do something

I can't wait for - getting paid
Something Mom says to me - "pick up your kids on the floor"

Something Dad says to me - "you're awesome"

My favorite place to go is - Walmart or McDonalds or Pizza Hut

My Mom makes me laugh by - she does something funny

My Dad makes me laugh by - being super funny

I know my mom loves me because - she says so

I know my dad loves me because - he says so

14

Alex you are wrapping up your middle school years!  You are such a great helper around the house and are always quick to jump in if you see a need.  Generally you have a good attitude about things going on--I love it!  It is so much fun to watch you learn and grow.  We love you!

 What is your favorite...

color? green
food?  chicken
game? Monopoly
toy?  
show? The Good Place
animal?  crow
book? Lord of the Flies
song? Dream On by Aerosmith
What do you like to do?  not go to school
Who is your best friend?  JC
What do you want to be when you grow up? a quadrillionaire
Do you have a girlfriend?  no way

I am - super duper cool 

I am afraid of - very tall heights

I like - to sleep

I like to eat - all the foods

I don't like - Ms Davis (his algebra teacher)

I know - how to pick up something

I want to be - a cool guy

I like to watch - TV

My hero is- Dad

I cry when - I feel like it

I'm happy when - I feel like it

Mom gets mad when - I don't do what she says

Mom is happy when - I do what she says

I can't wait for - summer!
Something Mom says to me - "do your homework"

Something Dad says to me - "do you need help with your homework?"

My favorite place to go is - Flippin' Out

My Mom makes me laugh by - telling jokes

My Dad makes me laugh by - being funny

I know my mom loves me because - she says "I love you"

I know my dad loves me because - he says he loves me

Another teen!

Alexander, you are a teenager now!  You are such a great boy and we are glad you are in our family--even when you want to be contrary during every discussion we have!  We hope you have a fantastic birthday!

What is your favorite...

color? purple
food?  pizza
game? Minecraft
toy?  nintendo switch
show? The Goldbergs
animal?  human
book? Calvin and Hobbes
song? Mr Blue Sky
What do you like to do?  play video games
Who is your best friend?  John (Connor, JC, John Connor--all the same person)
What do you want to be when you grow up? an architect
Do you have a girlfriend?  no

I am - probably a human being

I am afraid of - falling off a large building

I like - video games

I like to eat - food

I don't like - mashed potatoes

I know - very much things

I want to be - rich

I like to watch - YouTube

My hero is- I don't know

I cry when - I get kicked in the privates

I'm happy when - I eat pizza

Mom gets mad when - I play too much video games

Mom is happy when - I go outside

I can't wait for - Friday (because I get to eat chicken nuggets)
Something Mom says to me - "get off screens"

Something Dad says to me - "hello"

My favorite place to go is - the loft

My Mom makes me laugh by - telling jokes

My Dad makes me laugh by - telling jokes

I know my mom loves me because - she shays sho

I know my dad loves me because - he shays sho

one dozen

Happy Birthday, Alexander!  It has been a fun year having you home a little more.  I know you've missed being in school--learning and being with your friends.  You are so smart and kind and thoughtful.  I have loved watching you grow this past year as you've dealt with disappointments, received the priesthood, and made new friends.  We love you!

 What is your favorite...

color? I actually have several: blue, green, and purple
food?  homemade pizza
game? Animal Crossing and Exploding Kittens
toy?  legos
show? Gravity Falls
animal?  snadger
book? Percy Jackson series
song? Glorious 
What do you like to do?  play games
Who is your best friend?  Tristan
What do you want to be when you grow up? a human being
Do you have a girlfriend?  no

I am - I don't know,  who am I?

I am afraid of - breaking a bone

I like - playing games

I like to eat - delicious food

I don't like - James pushing me off the trampoline and scraping my leg up

I know - that gravity works

I want to be - a better science student

I like to watch - YouTube

My hero is- dad

I cry when - I get pushed off the trampoline

I'm happy when - it's a holiday

Mom gets mad when - I don't do what you say and get bad grades

Mom is happy when - when I get an A in my classes

I can't wait for - my next birthday
Something Mom says to me - "do your work"

Something Dad says to me - "do you need help"

My favorite place to go is - home

My Mom makes me laugh by - being funny

My Dad makes me laugh by - making up stuff

I know my mom loves me because - she says so

I know my dad loves me because - he says so

Happy Happy Birthday Alex!

 Alex turned 12!

He had a great birthday and got the traditional sword.

He chose to have double chocolate banana cake for his dessert.

This year for his party he kept it super low key.  He just wanted a few friends over to hang out.  He had a great time with Oliver and Brycen!

Alex's 11th birthday

Another quarantine birthday.  I think that Alex had a fun day.  He was able to go on a long bike ride with his buddy, Brycen.  

He got all sorts of fun gifts.

He got to plan the menu which included pizza, rootbeer, and fruit salad... and, his favorite, double chocolate banana cake.

We are sure glad Alexander is in our family!

ONE-ONE

Happy 11th birthday, Alexander!  I can't believe how big you are getting.  This should have been your last week of elementary school--with all the fun that entails.  You love school so much and are bummed to be missing this time.  Next year will be the first in middle school and I know that you will retain your love for learning.  I love that you are always up for a craft or activity or adventure.  And you are always coming up with games of your own invention.  I love you and hope you have a fantastic birthday!

What is your favorite...
color? purple
food?  homemade pizza
game? Minecraft and bullcrap
toy?  legos
show? Star Wars
animal?  raccoon
book? A Tale of Light and Shadow
song? Cantina Band (Star Wars)
What do you like to do?  play on the piano
Who is your best friend?  Brycen
What do you want to be when you grow up? a person
Do you have a girlfriend?  no

I am - a person that needs a haircut

I am afraid of - snakes

I like - snakes

I like to eat - grapes

I don't like - that school is cancelled (because of coronavirus)

I know - that I like to read

I want to be - happy

I like to watch - Star Wars

My hero is- mom and dad

I cry when - people hurt me

I'm happy when - good stuff happens

Mom gets mad when - we don't do what she says

Mom is happy when - we do what she says

I can't wait for - summer
Something Mom says to me - "hello"

Something Dad says to me - "hello"

My favorite place to go is - grandma's house

My Mom makes me laugh by - tickling me

My Dad makes me laugh by - tickling me

I know my mom loves me because - she makes delicious food for us

I know my dad loves me because - he helps me

New Sports

In February Alex, Henry, and Lydia decided to try out some new sports!  Henry and Alex started karate and Lydia is trying ballet.  I found some classes at the community center on Saturday mornings.  First a 30 ballet class for Lydia, then a 30 minute break, and afterward 1 1/2 hour karate class.  The class description said that it was an hour... so it was quite a surprise when it kept going!

The first week Alex was sick so it was just Henry and Lydia.  They both really liked their classes.  Lydia did great  playing quietly for so long during karate and Henry stuck it out through the whole class.  Since that extra 30 minutes was unexpected I treated Henry and Lydia to some Dippin' Dots (I get a free cup every month this year.)

In between ballet and karate we usually head out to the car, listen to music or a story, and get a snack.

Everyone seems to enjoy their classes and they have learned a lot. 

We had just signed up for another month of classes and then the Coronavirus hit the country... so classes were cancelled and refunded.  Hopefully they'll want to join again when life is back to normal.

Mother-Son Glow Party

This year the Stake hosted a Mother-Son Glow party for the boys 7 and up.  It was a lot of fun!  I loved taking Alex and Henry for a special night.  I wish it had been just a little bit lighter so we could find each other more easily!

School Talent Show

This was Henry's first and Alex's last year to be in the Heckethorn talent show.  They got together with Tristan and Jayden Mathewson to decide on a skit to perform.  They settled on "The Crayon Song" by Studio C.  Then they gathered together some more friends to be in their skit.  These boys worked hard and had so much fun performing together.  They were the final act of the talent show!

October 2019

We started October off in the very best way--General Conference!  I LOVE that my kids love it so much!

One of my favorite things is to find Lydia asleep somewhere.

Alexander's school kickball team won first place and he was so happy!

The boys have taught Lydia how to climb trees and she loves climbing with them every morning before school!

Lydia's favorite story time at the library is the week's they do Duplo Club!

Alex worked on a hanging mobile book report. (He read the Night Gardener)

James went with his buddies to Hawktober Fest.

James decided to not dress up for Halloween this year so he was "FaceBook" (a la Jim Halpert from The Office) everytime a costume was required or encouraged.

The Primary Presentation was this month.  This is the last year we will have 3 of our kids in primary. Also, since I am the Primary President I ended up writing the program and speaking briefly at the very beginning.

Alex is earning money to go to Sea Camp this year so he held a lemonade stand.  He sold chocolate frogs, oatmeal carmelitas, popcorn, and pomegranates.  Everyone was so generous!

Lydia helped me make candy "barf" for Henry's class Fear Factor party.