Happy B Day to One Sharp Kid

Liam's Five!

When Liam woke up we gave him these wolverine claws, complete with aluminum foil and cardboard. He loves them just the same.

To make birthdays extra special for 5 year olds just add "birthday" in front of everything you say or do. "We're going to the birthday playgroup!" "Here's your birthday pancakes!"

I couldn't get Liam to smile in any of the pictures. He was in total Wolverine mode!

At the end of the day Tanner asked Liam how awesome his birthday was. Liam thought for a second and answered with the ultimate compliment:

"It was cooler than you, Dad."

Got Reflux?

There's a little summary quote from Tanner in the new Parents magazine! They read one of his articles he published while doing his residency and contacted him about it a couple months ago. Check it out in the May issue, page 182.

Liam and the Artist's Den

The last two weekends a local artist opened his shop for kids to come and make animals to wear for an upcoming "Wild Walk" parade.

The people in charge were so nice. They had an encyclopedia of animals and encouraged Liam to pick out any one he would like to create. He immediately suggested the lion and we all set to work. He has a pretty intense lion roar.

Liam was so excited to wear his costume but found out the parade was on Mother's Day. He decided not to go and instead loan his costume to someone else. I felt proud as my almost five year old made the better choice. He is such a good boy!

Lambs, Liambs, and Juliambs

We read in the paper that a nice farmer in town was opening his lamb farm in the evenings for free tours to the public (code for a perfect family night activity to tie in lambs, the shepherd, and its symbolism).

The farmer/shepherd does his free tour for three weeks starting in March while the ewes are lambing. It was interesting. He showed us how he uses his crook by snatching a goat by its neck when it walked by.

He is concerned for, and carefully oversees, each lamb because they are worth so much to him. He gets a profit of only $800 for 2000 lbs of wool, so the value is definitely in the lambs themselves.

When all the ewes came running out for food they all looked the same, but a lamb can recognize its mother's bleat and face from all others in the crowd.

This little lamb didn't know he was getting help from his mom. Had he known, this picture would have been a completely different scene.

April Showers

Seeing the rainy April days this month has made me so contemplative. I miss my family and, like everyone else, can't wait for the warmer weather that's just about here. I was thinking about my dad today. My dad keeps a 'rainy days' folder in his file cabinet. In it he keeps letters, notes of appreciation, pictures etc. etc. from friends/family in years past.

The idea is to pull out one of those notes when you're feeling down. Looking at pictures or reading notes of appreciation can definitely help you feel grateful and happy sooner than later.

Last week Liam wrote this sweet letter for Tanner. He can't spell or read yet and he's just learning to write his letters. It took at least 20 minutes to write!

I know this letter looks like any kid's writing, but when you see it from your own child it makes you just beam (and isn't it nice to feel a little sunshine from time to time?)