Ten!

Well, I had the best intentions of blogging after all of Nicholas’ birthday festivities were done, but we all got hit with various forms of a virus that took us down for what stretched over a week.  Daniel and I are finally at the point where coughing only happens once in awhile and isn’t the norm.  So, I will do my best to remember back a couple of weeks.

So, Nicholas is finally 10!  We don’t have friend parties every year, but we told him he could have one this year since he was hitting double digits.  To make our lives easier, we had him just invite the boys from CC from Nicholas’ class and the middle class.  We were also able to have it on a school day, since we’re homeschoolers.  Everyone was able to come, so there were 10 boys in all (including Daniel). 

We had given Nicholas a couple of options for his party, but ultimately, he chose a bowling party.  They ate pizza, hot dogs, and French fries.  Instead of a cake, he chose donuts.  It was a hit!

The boys divided into two groups – those that wanted bumpers and those that didn’t.  Both groups had fun, even though the bumper group’s scores were much higher. 

Nicholas received a lot of nice gifts from his friends.  As part of his bowling package, he was able to take home a real bowling pin signed by his friends.  The staff did a great job and we're really pleased with how the party turned out.

He doesn't want his picture taken.

 

Someone is excited for the party!

Again, not a fan of pictures.

Then, that Sunday, Evan’s family came over to have ice cream sundaes with us.  We had a good time visiting with everyone.  But, the fun and games would soon come to an end.

The next afternoon, Nicholas seemed a little off.  When we got home from CC he complained of a headache and dizziness.  He doesn’t get sick very often, so I’m not used to hearing him complaining.  He ended up resting and by Tuesday afternoon was doing a lot better.

On Wednesday, my parents took him out to lunch for an early birthday lunch.  He enjoyed his time with them, but my parents could tell he was little off.  He just wasn’t his excited and chatty self. 

An iPod player!

The next day was his birthday, he was a little off again in the morning, but he managed to put on a smile for a birthday picture.  He also enjoyed opening his gifts.  He is getting to the age where the gifts are in a lot small packages, for the most part.  And, he didn’t really receive any toys.  We did get him an iPod case, a watch, a chapter book, t-shirt, and a Cavs poster.  I told Daniel to pick out one of the gifts ahead of time to be from him.  He pretty much said they were all from him.

He's 10!

Cavs Poster

New watch

Brother love!

iPod Cover

Book

Batman Selfie Shirt

Taking pictures of his gifts

Nicholas has a friend from CC that has the exact same birth date as him.  He was supposed to go to his party that afternoon.  Unfortunately, because Nicholas didn’t feel 100% that morning and Daniel and I were starting to feel sick, he couldn’t go.  This was the beginning of a lot of missed activities for our family.

I became tired and had a bad cough.  Daniel was tired with a fever.  Both of us would feel crummy for days to come.  Daniel was supposed to have swimming lessons that Friday morning, but he was too sick to go.  Nicholas was supposed to go to a special day with my sister for his birthday, but that was postponed.  I was supposed to go out Friday night for a women’s event at church – that didn’t happen.  Apparently, Evan became jealous of all of our sickness because that weekend he ended up with a pretty nasty eye infection.  Two trips to the eye doctor and some prescription drops cleared that up.  Daniel and I were on the mend, but we still had some rough day here and there. 

A common sight during that long week.

But, finally, Friday the 17th, Amy was able to take Nicholas out (she was waiting until we were all healthier).  Nicholas was able to go out to eat with her and then shop for his birthday presents.  They had a great time together and Nicholas was more than pleased with what he was able to buy while they were out.

Now that Daniel was better, for the most part, he went out on a special day with Evan last weekend.  Evan had been doing that with Nicholas each month.  We didn’t know Daniel had noticed, but of course, he did.  So, they went out to lunch and ran some errands together.  Daniel is already talking about their next time out together.  I did ask him if he wanted a special day with me.  He told me that he is with me every day.  So, I guess that’s a no?

Besides being sick and going out with Evan, Daniel also sang with the preschoolers at church at the beginning of the month.  As usual, he wasn't shy.  He got louder the longer the song went on.  

Before the service

I still spend most CC mornings in Daniel's class.  They are studying composers during Fine Arts time.  Here he is drawing a picture to go with the song that was playing.

Speaking of CC, we only have two weeks left.  Nicholas is especially busy with end-of-the year activities for it.  We'll be sad to have our Mondays free, but it will be nice to have a break too.  All three of us have learned a lot.  

So, that is March so far.  I know, it is almost over, but I got the update in.  More soon?