thumbs up to a 10 year old trip

It happened with Kyler and so it became a family tradition. When our children turn 10 they get to go on a special trip with either me or Eric.

Kacin turned 10 in December. We made sure we kept the element of surprise for his trip. Kacin only knew that his 10 year old trip would happen at some point while he was 10.

It just so happened that my mom was coming up to see Kacin's play and Eric looked at his work schedule to find the best time he could get away and the two overlapped a bit. Which ended up adding to the fun of his surprise.

Kacin and Eric were to fly out on a Thursday night. We told Kacin all along that Grandma would be leaving Thursday night. We had this great vision of driving my mom to the airport and when we got there sending Kacin off instead. He would never have suspected it was time for his trip. It would've been a brilliant surprise.

We adjusted the plan a little because, in reality, making my mom drive an hour to the airport just for a grand surprise, that I would't even get to see, wasn't worth it. And it didn't make sense for us to all load up in the car and to keep everyone up way past bedtime either. We settled on a big surprise at home.

Kacin was thoroughly convinced that grandma was leaving that night, even though it was his suitcase packed and waiting in the back of the truck. During dinner, Grammie made comments about how sad she was to leave and that she wished she didn't have to go yet, and should she transfer her ticket to someone else? Jokingly, Kacin offered to take her ticket and go to AZ. Ha! We tried to convince him to ride with Eric to "take Grandma to the airport", but he insisted on going to his gymnastics class that night--he did not want to miss it. He got ready to go to his class. We told him that Grammie and Eric would drop him off at gymnastics on the way to the airport and that I would come later to pick him up. He had no reason to suspect anything different.

He was waiting in the car getting anxious to go because he didn't want to miss his class. My mom was outside saying goodbye to everyone. She started making comments about not feeling well and how she didn't think she could go anymore. Kacin sat there confused as we all played that up, telling her she shouldn't fly and there had to be a way to transfer the ticket or something. Eric pretended to look on his phone at the airlines policy (he was really recording Kacin's reaction). He announced that it said the ticket could be transferred if the person who was taking it WAS 10 and going on his 10 year old trip. It took him a second to register what was actually going on, but then he broke out in the biggest grin. His eyes were shining with excitement as we each gave him and Eric a quick hug goodbye and sent them on their way on their own to the airport.

From what I gathered about this trip, it was pretty awesome. I made Eric promise me pictures and he obliged. They spent Friday at Lego Land. On saturday, they squeezed in shopping at sports authority, the Mormon Battalion center, and a tour of Petco Field before flying back home. Kacin was most excited about touring the baseball field. He loved, loved that. I'm so glad these two had a some quality time together.

 Kacin told me that he was going to give a thumbs up in every picture. Which he did. On every single posed picture. Well, with one exception.

Here is the exception. All good things must come to an end. As they were leaving all that fun stuff, instead of a thumbs up, he gave a thumbs down. He sure loved his time with his dad.

bedtime

Bedtime has become one of my favorite times of the day. I used to rush this time because I was so exhausted at the end of the day and I just wanted everyone in bed so I could go collapse on the couch. With Perry, I have learned to savor the bedtime ritual.

After song, prayer, and (when we remember!) scriptures, everyone climbs into their own bed. Eric and I go around to each of our kids reading books, saying goodnight, giving hugs and kisses, reminding about prayers, removing glasses, or tucking them into their blankets.

What Perry has given me is this one time of day that I can look in his eyes and I know he will look back. He is calmer. He stays on the bed, he listens to a story and asks for me to stay. He will listen to what I say and he will talk to me better than he does during the distractions of the day.

Typically, I read a book to him first while E reads with Layla. Then we switch. After I say my last good night to L, Perry has called for me again. I snuggle with him in bed. He wraps his arms tight around my neck and tells me not to leave ("you stay?"). We sing songs. He tells me about monkeys under his bed or asks about scary shadows in his room. I try to tell him what to expect the next day--if he will get on the bus to see his friends and teachers or if it's Pat's day to come watch him in the evening or if he has ABA or not.

He says his prayers. Tonight it included something about breaking sticks in the backyard and throwing balls, both parts of our happy day spent outside.

The last few days I have been telling him short made up stories. Last night it was about a boy who got mad and tonight it was about a boy who climbed a mountain and reached for the clouds because he wanted to eat them. After my tale tonight, I told him it was his turn to tell me a story. And he did.

Perry's first made up story went like this (from what I understood): "Once upon a time, there was a boy. The boy climbed up the cookie. He eat the cookie. yum, yum, umm, umm." It was at this point he grabbed my face and pretended to eat my nose and cheeks and continued to pretend to eat my hand, and then he took a real bite.

I felt like this was a brilliant way to help me connect and understand the perspective of the cookie in the story. His stories sure do grab the audience's attention. :)

And then after the bedtime ritual comes the part of the day that makes me think I could have ten children--peacefully sleeping little ones (or in Kyler's case, peacefully reading).

 Don't worry, I come to my senses as soon as I walk downstairs and see the remnants of our day. :)

he brought me a quote

Once I realized what it was, this momma couldn't have been happier when Kyler slipped me this little slip of torn paper.

My boy read something in a book, liked it, wrote it down to share with me, and wanted to display it on our quote board. This small gesture brought a big smile to my heart.

This will be a good one for us to talk about over the next few weeks. Thanks, Kyler!