Dear Jack,

You are at a such fun age.  I feel like I could talk about you for hours because you say and do the funniest things almost daily.  I don't know what our family would do without you.

Preschool has been surprisingly still a very good thing.  You love to go, to do your homework and I am still amazed at all the words, letters and numbers that you are learning each week. I am very confident that you will be ready for kindergarten and do amazing at APA.

Speaking of APA, your little world has gotten shook up the last few months.  I started subbing for the school thinking that you will be there next year and that next year I want to get a more permanent position.  Well, I liked it so much and the school liked me enough that I quickly was offered a full-time position and now you are being watched at three different houses, depending on the day, as well as going to preschool.  I drop you off at 7:30 and don't get to pick you up until after 4.  At first you thought it was a fun change and you went without a fuss.  Lately, you cry when I drop you off on the doorstep and I have to be honest and say that I have really considered quitting because of it.  I hate to see you cry, and I honestly do miss our time together.  Me working on the computer, you playing or watching shows next to me, or finding you asleep in the funniest places.  However, the other 3 kids have loved me being at school with them and I know soon enough you will be there with us all day as well.  

I have not decided what I will do next school year.  I am grateful that you will be there at least half day and that I will get paid this coming summer to stay home with you and the kids.  I am so sorry buddy.  I do hope that I am not setting you up for some major anxiety or separation issues, but I feel that I am where I need to be right now. 

I am also your new primary teacher, which turned out to be a really good thing.  You look forward to the weekends and staying home with me and Dad anyway, but now you and I don't have to be separated on Sundays either.  You are stubborn in class and I am not sure if you would act this way if I wasn't your teacher or not, but we are trying to fix that.  

Pictures still seem to be your least favorite thing to do ever, and you still like to fall asleep in random places if you get the chance.  You are loving your new tablet that you got for Christmas, and love to watch Thomas the Train or the Power Rangers.  You pack your lunch for the next day the night before like the rest of the kids, but if you don't have any more frozen mac n' cheese dinners to take, you will have a meltdown.

I have to add that you were so brave at Disneyland.  We took you on Thunder Mountain Railroad, the swings over at California Adventure and probably a few other things that really you were not mature enough for.  They made you scream bloody murder and I am really afraid that we have scarred you for life.  Thunder Mountain in particular, was the worst.  You went on it first with your dad (I guess went on the train with a 1 on the engine).  You repeated over and over for the rest of the day that you "do not like the #1 train!"  However, most of the rides you fell in love with and would always say "that was so awesome!" coming off of them.

I love how you say "a-cuz" instead of because, how you live in your Batman hoodie and blue jeans and are the pickiest eater but have recently branched out to Nutella sandwiches and toast.  I love your big hugs, insistence on those goodnight kisses, your unfathomable ability to never really get sick.  But above all, I love how you are such a mama's boy and seem to love me unconditionally, even when I make mistakes and don't deserve it.  You are such a joy.  I love you so much.

Love,
Mom

You fell asleep at the Primary Program (day before) practice, right on the stand.  I should've known but still couldn't believe it.

Dear Jack,

First day of 2nd year of preschool

You are such a handsome devil.  The above picture of you has to be my very favorite.  After having a rough first year of preschool with Miss Amy, I decided a change was in order.  This year I put you in "I Can Do It Myself" which is more in downtown Payson, but I have heard for years of how good it is.  We are now one month in and you tell me all the time how much you love your new "big preschool."  After not learning one thing last year, you are already saying letter sounds left and right this year.  Maybe it is just with age, but I am a believer in this preschool.  I wish I would have put all my kids in for 2 years, but oh well.  You have homework pages every week (which you are actually loving and want actually want to do each night) and I can already see a difference.  It is so exciting and I am so grateful I was prompted for the change.

You are still a stubborn little guy when you want to be, and are learning to be more independent.  You like to help the kids unload the dishwasher and actually do a pretty decent job.  You want to put on your seatbelt and pour your own milk.  You can entertain yourself for the most part and get yourself a snack from the pantry without problems.

Since our cancellation of Netflix, you have discovered the video clips on NickJr.com and you have just recently learned how to use the computer mouse.  Needless to say, you love to watch shows and play games on the kids' computer while I am beside you working on my computer, and have lately told friends you don't want to play so you can keep playing.  Speaking of friends, you still like to play with Christian, Matthew and Adam, but we have found out the hard way that three's a crowd and you have been opting to stay home instead more and more.

At Mapleton's 4th of July celebration, your name was the first one called out of your age group to win a free bike.  I was so shocked because we never win anything and you just plain didn't know what was going on.  I had to carry you kicking and screaming up to claim your bike.  The announcer even commented, "He is crying he is so happy."  ha ha ha..  Once you settled down enough for me to tell you what was happening you were very excited, as I knew you would be.   In fact, you are getting very good use out of it, riding it about every day.  

A few weeks ago when as a family we went to through the Odgen Temple open house, they wanted to put booties on over our shoes and you threw a fit and ended up kicking down on the ground.  The ushers kindly told us you could just take your shoes off and wear socks and so that is what we finally did to calm you down and get you happy again.  You sure are particular about some things and I never seem to know what will set you off. 

You love Emmi and she is your favorite of your siblings to play with.  You also seem to be hers right now and I love how kind you are to each other.  Your other favorite pal is of course Birdie, and she sure does put up with a lot from you.  You like to act like she is your pillow and constantly try to lay on her, even though she usually ends up trying to nip you.  

You have picked up phrases such as "What da heck?" and "Oh, my gosh" which usually gets a good chuckle from any adult who hears you, but my favorite has to be your word for shoelaces... "shoe-tails."  I have no idea where you picked that one up, but I love it, especially in your little raspy, lispy voice.  You have fallen in love with the book "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" from school and you want your dad to read you our copy at least once before bedtime. I love you buddy.

Love, 
Mom

Boating with Grandma and Grandpa Hunsaker

BYU fall scrimmage

Children's Museum

Dear Keaton,

First day of 6th grade

I hope you know how proud I am to be your mom.  When we walked into Mrs. Thurston's classroom on "meet-your-teacher-night," Mrs. Thurston said "hello, Keaton!" and gave you a big hug.  I said something like, "she already knows your name" to which Mrs. Thurston replied, "Oh, yes, I know Keaton.  Last year I would always see him in the halls always doing what he was supposed to do and being so kind.  I knew then that I wanted him in my class this year."  It was so nice to hear that as a mom, even though I have stopped by the school many times enough to have seen for myself how good you are.  In fact, I can barely get you to smile and wave at me, you are so focused.

You are a wonderful student and were probably the most excited of all my kids to go back to school this year.  This year you also got to take band or orchestra, and you decided to learn to play the trumpet.  Luckily your Grandpa Hunsaker played the trumpet and he let you borrow his.  I let you take a break from piano in order to focus on the trumpet, although I am grateful for your piano lessons and how much they are helping you with it.  I can't wait until you are playing songs and we get to come watch your concerts.  I think it is awesome that APA starts both choir and band/orchestra so early.

Thanks to your awesome PE teacher (Mr. Winget), you asked to play soccer this fall, and I happily signed you up.  You are happy to be there and happy to play, although you do not necessarily want to go outside and practice all day.  I am just glad that you tried soccer this year and you were always a very good sport.

In any spare time, you are still asking to go play with Landon, and you guys are likely to be found on the Xbox or computer, playing Minecraft.  You are an 11-year-old scout and you and your dad are trying to start working towards becoming an Eagle, albeit very slowly.  Since we just found your scout book that you had misplaced a couple of months ago, we are going to have to kick that into gear.  

I love how independent you are, getting ready in the mornings, doing your homework, even making food or snacks for yourself and doing chores.  I love that I can leave Sam and Emmi with you for a quick errand around town and know that you will watch them.  You are earning my trust very well and becoming such a terrific young man.  I love you so very much.

Love, 
Mom

Shooting with your Dad and Grandpa Hunsaker

Children's Museum with cousins

Odgen Temple Rededication

Boating with Grandma and Grandpa Hunsaker