Sawyer's Jokes

Q: What food do people eat to raise their voice?
A: Raisins, of course.
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Who am I?
At the beach, I am the first thing you see. I am "shore" that you will find me. I don't think you are "shore" you will find me.
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Q: What did the rain drop say to the ground?
A: Don't worry, I'm just dropping by.

Some Tid-Bits

The big boys are making thmselves Eggs Benedict for brunch. Jake put out the necessary tools (bowls, pans) last night in preparation for this morning. Sawyer woke up and was so excited about making breakfast that he got out eggs, lemon juice, and cayenne pepper. It is so fun to see his enthusiasm acted out in this manner.
Sawyer called Jake his Benedict Buddy.


Sawyer has an emotionally hard time at bedtime when he is TIRED and Dempsey isn't quite ready to sleep. He got extremely frustrated last night so I took Dempsey out of the room so Sawyer could sleep. Being a big brother is hard.


Sawyer's writing ability is increasing! His legibility is incredible. Granny has done a wonderful job of helping Sawyer with this.


Sawyer still has the problem of needing to have the last word. Sometimes this means he will even speak nonsense. He gets reprimanded for this.

Purpose Holes

This morning Sawyer was watching a NEST Bible video about Elijah and a character took a blow to the head, creating a "hole" and bleeding.

Sawyer said he had a hole in his body because blood was coming out. Daddy noted that we always have holes in our body.

Sawyer and daddy talked about the holes you have on your body- nostrils, mouth, others...

Sawyer called those "on purpose holes"- holes you need to live. Basically meant that if you're bleeding you have a not-on-purpose hole.

As I read this I'm realizing this is one of those "you had to be there" conversations.

Birdish

Talking with Gram about minmicking and mocking definition differences.

Discussing the mocking bird, Gram talked about their sounds being "mocking".

Sawyer says, "Because they are birdish."

He explained further, "... they speak Birdish."

Remember This Wherever You Go

Just as your classmate's mother watched you gently speak to and include Patrick (2nd grade), who was having a hard time in a new school/ class/ group, was deeply touched- so will countless others be by your sweet and tender actions flowing from your God-connected, sweet, and tender heart.

You make me proud, Sawyer!

Love,
Mom

Limited

Sawyer said "I have a limited bottomless pit in my stomach."

We call him a bottomless pit because there are days where he is ALWAYS hungry and eating. Other days not so much. Growing boy.

So, today, after soccer game, we went to In n Out for lunch. This time he just had a hamburger and fries instead of a double-double. Even though he was "full" he still had room for a granola bar (aka dessert).

Bug Catcher

Jake was trying to Airplay a video of Sawyer he had on his phone. Jake remarked that "it's broken" because it wasn't working as it should.

Sawyer asked why it wasn't working.

Jake replied that he had recently updated his iPhone (iOS8) and there are some bugs in it.

Sawyer said, "Why don't you just call a bug catcher?"

Priceless.

Tender-hearted

Jake got Little House on the Prairie for his birthday. He and the boys watched the pilot last night and Jake said it wrecked our Sawyer. Tears flowing. Heart aching.

And yet, in his wisdom, Sawyer said "These tears are because I'm sad and probably because I'm really tired."

Such a sweet, tender spirit.

Side note: I still get teary eyed watching this show. Something about Michael Landon and Charles Ingalls.

What?!

Thanks to wild Kratts, Sawyer taught me something new. :-)

A new kind of scientist

"Imageologist. They study images."

What kind of images do they study?

"I have a question. What is image anyway?"

Discussion about definition of image ensued. He came back with-

"So they would take pictures of scientific things in the earth or the human body. Very scientifical stuff."

This kid. His mind. Love it.

Benjamin Franklin

At lunch, after Friday School, Sawyer was sharing what he learned in class today.

A main topic was Brn Franklin.

Among his accomplishments Sawyer listed, "...he invented electricity..." He quickly corrected himself and Jake and I were amused.

School Begins

Sawyer and a reading/ comprehension workbook.

"Piffed"

The combination of "pissed" and "miffed".

Sawyer asked Jake tonight, during bedtime routine: "Are you piffed at me?"

When I Became A Man- Clayton Jennings

http://youtu.be/hHSOQdyNNXg

Sawyer,

This is something I want you to hear.

Mom

Feeling Free

"You know why I like talking?"

No.

"Because I feel free when I talk."

Okay, but remember, when you are feeling free [talking] someone else might feel trapped [not talking].


A repeated conversation between "Sawyer" and me.

Drawings

"This is like an evil thing that has thorns on it and it has trapped two people but it only looks like one person is stuck because there is only one person on this side. So he got stuck in this rope thingy and the last part is already done...
This part is a woman stuck in the same contraption the boy was. Do you know why she's stuck? Because she has more power."

Electronical Box

Here is the second drawing of the day. Fun!

Drawing

Here we have the Monster Antenna. Envision something like Ham Radio antennas on a monster. :-) He's so creative.

Yardwork & Giant Squid

Daddy and Sawyer are outside doing much needed yardwork. As I'm handling inside chores I hear Sawyer say, from outside, "Giant squid have eyeballs the size of basketballs."

TV can be educational. Thank you Wild Kratts!

New Neighbors

As we were leaving our house for church, we saw our new neighbors (we think).
Sawyer gets excited, rolls down his window, and exclaims "Hello!"
He then tells us, "You can't move into a new house without being welcomed."
Life lesson from a seven year old.

How would you welcome neighbors, Sawyer?
I would say nice things to them.

How would YOU like to be welcomed, Sawyer.
If they just come up with a nice welcome they know people would like. Put ups. (See what he did? Opposite of a put down is a pit "up".)

Kids Way of Paying Back

This morning we went for a family bike ride (Dempsey got a bike trailer for his birthday). As we were heading up our street Sawyer misjudged and ran into a parked car. His bike tire left scuff marks on the front bumper.

Jake was able to rub most of it off with just his fingers but there was still some left. Jake told Sawyer that they would go back and work to get the rest off after our bike ride.

We got home and parked bikes. Jake grabbed some cleaning stuff and the two big boys rode back up the street to fix the problem.

When they got back Sawyer explained his opinion about a kids way of giving back.
He said: when I bumped into the car, I chose me for the one to clean it because I was the one who bumped into the car.

I love that he got to this place all on his own!

Big Church

Today Sawyer sat with me in service. It was the annual Blessing of the Backpacks service so there was no Sunday School for students (but early childhood still had care provided).

Our very own Rondalyn Roach, Children's Pastor, spoke solo for the first time ever. She did fabulous.

Sawyer, again, made himself known and made a few more fans. Rondalyn was teaching about the Exodus and how many people were estimated to be in the wilderness. She posed the question "How many people do you think there were?" Sawyer, without hesitation, exclaims "One thousand and ten!" Rondalyn acknowledged him enthusiastically by name. The congregation chuckled. Their laughter was not mocking. On the contrary. They were encouraged by his honest and eager participation. I sensed it reminded them of what engaged participation in church is and that we've lost that... at least at our church.

I am glad I don't raise Sawyer to be "seen and not heard"! He has so much to offer this world, and yes, adults can learn from children too. Perhaps today is a great example of why Jesus tells us to "be as the little children". Honest. Vulnerable. Curious.

Thank you, God, for my Sawyer. He is such a huge blessing. Thank you for having him grow me as a person, a mother, and a Christian. Amen

He Likes to Hear Himself

"I don't talk because I want to hear myself it's because I have a lot of information. Oh! I talked too much!" -Sawyer

This kid.

He also just ran off with his iphone to go make a video of his dramatic self.

A Song from 2012

On the Krazy Kids video Jake shot and edited for the Kenousins and Cammousins in 2012 there are short clips of the kids singing songs. Sawyer's was impromptu and adorable.

You miss the music but here are the lyrics:

"God, do you see me?
Wherever I go, you will follow me.
Anywhere where you will go"

What makes it even cuter is the fact that he's hanging upside down from a horizontal bar at Gram and Grampa's.

"Your husband..."

Jake has been rather emotional since it was time to leave the reunion in Black Butte. So much so that he was crying when he was talking with Sawyer about something.

Sawyer comes to me in the living room and says,
Your husband is processing emotions. And since you've been around him longer, do you know what would cheer him up?

This kid!! I love him.

Sawyer thought about taking Jake a small token to help cheer him up. He decided on a granola bar. Not what I would have chosen but it shows his heart is totally is in the right place. We are blessed.

Quote from Dinner at Chili's Tonight

We went to Chili's with my folks after church tonight.

Amid conversation and joking I told Sawyer, sarcastically, "Poor Sawyer."

His response was, "I'm spoiled, I'm not poor." So matter of fact and with a smile on his face. Genuine.

Wisdom.

At least he knows it. :-)

A.K.A. "Success"

"Sicseesion"

This is what Sawyer said he had regarding refilling the toilet paper in his bathroom.

Love his love of words.

Does God forgive?

Sawyer came over to me in the kitchen from the laundry room, where he had been cleaning the litter box. He looked up at me with these deep, inquisitive eyes. He asked me,

"Does God forgive?"

I replied, "Yes."

He reached his right arm up, pinky extended, beckoning a pinky promise from me. As we "swore" I added, "If you ask." He frowned. Joined pinkies again, made a fist with his left hand, and moved it through our promise. This symbolized a broken pinky promise. He was miffed.

I went on to explain my addition. I explained God does forgive, in general, but when we make a mistake we need to acknowledge it and ask for forgiveness. He accepted that explanation.

He started to walk away, looked back, and nervously asked me, "Do we have to say it out loud or can it be in our heads?" I told him that in his head was just fine as it was something between him and God. He walked away a mixture of sad and hopeful and proceeded to finish the chore he started.

Life lessons. Teachable moments. A tender heart. God is big and able.

Magic Trick

Jake and Sawyer had been practicing and working hard to learn a magic trick with cups. Sawyer got this wonderful set as a birthday gift. He is having so much fun learning these tricks.

So, they come in to show me.

Sawyer sets up the cups perfectly and executes the trick with ease and precision. I was impressed! He sets them up for me to perform the trick using the same sequence he did.

Problem?

I noticed that he set the cups up in the reverse order and I told him so. He about broke. #momfail  I had NO clue THAT was the real trick. I was supposed to perform the same sequence on the reversed cups and have it look like the trick didn't work.

Poor thing just about started crying.

HOW WAS I SUPPOSED TO KNOW???

My mommy heart feels so bad and there just isn't enough praise to fix the broken boy.

Thankfully I know that he's had an overly emotional day.

Then Sawyer comes over to me... minutes later... and tells me, with the sweetest disposition, "I forgive you for ruining it." I just smile because that means on some level he's okay now.

He is convinced that my "brain is too smart" and he's afraid "other people will see what I saw" thus foiling the trick.

Life is hard.

Insects!

"I can't believe how something so dangerous can be so pretty."

This is what Sawyer said while playing with/ examining his birthday present of REAL insects suspended in acrylic.

I love that he loves learning and has a bajillion questions. I wish I had all the answers and, even more, I wish I had the patience to find all the answers.

Mother's Day and Sawyer's 7th Birthday

What a sweet day yesteray was. This mother has a heart overflowing with love and a family who makes her feel like a million bucks!

Yesterday was not only Mother's Day but also Sawyer's SEVENTH birthday. He is seven people!! How did that happen? Who allowed this? How do I make this stop? Just kidding. Aging is a part of life and although I want my kids to stay small forever that is not how we were designed, no matter how bad we wish it was.

I slept in a little because the boys were with my parents for their weekly sleepover. What a gift! When I picked up the boys we headed to church. I hung out with my friends and when I picked up the boys from their Sunday school classes Sawyer had a Mother's Day gift for me. A tube of yummy chocolates and a cute card he wrote on and colored for me. Thank you WACC Elementary Department- you know who you are!

After church we went home. When Jake got home Dempsey and I went down for our afternoon siesta. It was much needed and much appreciated.

When we awoke there were flower petals on the boys' table with handpicked flowers arranged for me. There were two cards, one from Jake and one from Sawyer. There was a bag containing some pieces of chocolate covered honeycomb from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. Yum! To top it off was a video Sawyer had made, just for me, with his dad's phone and video app. Such a sweet momento.

After I opened my gifts we had Sawyer finish opening his birthday gifts. We had held on to some gifts that were given to him by people who were not at his party. It made his birthday fun last a little longer and he got to open some gifts ON his birthday. He opened a package from our friends, the Faulkners, and a package from Gram and Grampa. Science stuff, legos, and a handmade Batman pillowcase were among these gifts. Such fun!!

The evening brought a spaghetti dinner made with love by Sawyer and Jake. Waiter Sawyer took my order and Chef Sawyer made it happen.

Preciousness. During dinner I encouraged the birthday boy to enjoy an epi of Star Trek: TNG. He was happy about that. It's moments like these where my heart just overflows and I find joy in sharing something from my childhood (Jake's too) with our child. Full circle.

Dessert was ice cream with a buffet of topping choices. I chose vanilla ice cream with fresh strawberries and Cool Whip. Diet be damned.

Bath time for the boys was up next. Jake started it. I finished it after I finished doing the dishes and started the boys' laundry. Sawyer asked me, "Was it hard, Mom?" "No." "Okay, good. You're not supposed to do any hard work on Mother's Day." Now ladies and gentlemen, THIS is the Proverbs 31 child!! He is definitely raising the bar folks.

Thank you, Lord, for this amazing day. What a gift it was to my soul. It is so easy to feel like you don't matter when every day it's the same old thing and they all start to blur together. I am thankful for Mother's Day because it's a reason for the family members we pour ourselves out for take time to really focus on us. It's nice. It's different. It happens just often enough.

Deep Question

When talking with Sawyer about the #BringBackOurGirls situation he asked the question-
Why did provide us over here where there is safety?

What a great question!
I don't have an answer for him but it makes me appreciate being blessed by geography at the moment.

Everything Is AWESOME!

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Stinging Bugs

I really needed those stinging bugs to be killed. Executed! Deleted from life! And never risen.

What do you see?

Sawyer, what do you see when you look at heaven?

"I see you love and gracefulness and mercy."

Great Gma June & 2nd Cousin Mckenzie

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"Good morning!" -the knuckleheads

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Dukes of Whittier

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Waist Oven

Funnyness...
My waist is like my oven. I take out the grease (aka pee) and I take
out the brownies (aka poop) and flush it down the toilet.

Oy vey.

Sawyer's Baptism: Easter 2014 @ WACC

For at least a year now, Sawyer has been talking and asking about being baptized. On Good Friday we went to church at Eastside with Granny and Granddad. After the service they had a baptism opportunity outside on the plaza in a pool. Sawyer saw that and we discussed whether or not he wanted to get baptized and what it all meant on the drive home. I knew that WACC was going to have a pool set up on the lawn on Sunday, Easter, so I wanted to talk it over with Sawyer to see if he was ready. Then, if he was, Jake and I could decide if we wanted to let him go through with it.

After talking with Sawyer and asking all the pertinent questions surrounding baptism Jake and I really felt he was ready to make this decision. I had him wear his swim trunks and nice white collared shirt to church so he would be ready when Prof Tim Muehlhoff gave that invitation. When he did, Sawyer and I walked straight over to the pool. He was the first one there.

It was such an emotional moment for me, as his mom. I know God's had this on Sawyer's heart for so long that it was very important to me that Sawyer be able to fulfill that calling regardless of his age (6 yrs old). You should have seen how committed he was to this decision, how excited he was, and the pride he walked away with afterward. He told me ahead of time to "...make sure they dunk me all the way under so I can die and then come out of the water with my sins all gone." Tears. He gets it!!!

Here are some pictures of the event so you can feel included in Sawyer's monumental decision.

The Teaching: Sitting with friends

The Preparation

The Plunge

Proudest parents EVER!!!

 

From a friend's perspective.

*When he got down he told his friend Jacob (pictured above), "My life is changed forever."

 I cried tears of joy today!! Our Sawyer makes us so proud. His heart is the biggest I've ever seen and his connection to God is much stronger than I ever expected at such a young age. It is a blessing to be his mommy (and I'm sure his daddy feels the same way). God truly speaks to me through Sawyer and I love it. I cannot wait to see what God has in store for my Angel. Of course, with prophetic gifts like he has I am also scared for him but God is bigger than my fears.