Whiskers

Papa Trip with his baby Whiskers. 

The last year on one hand

Trip is 5 (and three months)!!

Height and Weight - 60th percentile

I had another mom tell me the other day that 5 is a big deal because it is the last year you can count on one hand. I thought that was so cute. It seems like Trip has been 5 years old for a while, and I can't believe next year is the official start of school. Since we have decided to home school, that feels like a big step for the whole family!

Trip is such a smart boy. Sometimes I want to keep pushing him to learn more and more, and then I realize that I also need to just let him be a kid. Letters and their sounds and putting them together has come fairly easily, and he can read 3 to 4 letter words. He is also sounding out longer words to write them. Below is my favorite. We were playing a game and I asked him to come up with any word he wanted, and gave him examples like "sun" or "dad". Then I would guess what he had written. 

For his first word, this is what he wrote...

Now, because I know his handwriting and that his U looks like a V sometimes, I immediately guessed it. Duck Dynasty! DUc DiNESTSE. Pretty funny! His dad was proud! And it is sooo typical that he would choose something much more complicated to write. He often comes up with these ideas or inventions that are literally impossible to create. And he doesn't just want some play version of his idea, he wants it to really exist. So when we work hard on creating it and it doesn't live up to his vision, he can get quite frustrated. Like his dad, he has an all or nothing personality. 

(Valestim Da Dad card)

Me with my sweet boy.

This past fall

Big boy playing Tball

On to other things ... five year old things ...

For Trip's birthday his big present was a "truck" from his grandparents. It has been the best toy. The kids drive it all over our lot and the empty lot next door. It is such a weird step for me to be able to trust him not to drive in to the street! Being 5 comes with a lot of new responsibilities!

Trip,

As you grow and mature, you remain our sweet, tender-hearted boy. You lead your brother and sister gently and set such a great example for them. We love you more than words can express. Our prayer is that you will come to know Jesus as your Savior and that His kindness and love will shine through you. We know that great things are in your future.

Our hearts are full and we are so proud of you, sweet Bubba.