Peer Pressure!

Growing up, I always thought that peer pressure was a bad thing! The attitude was always "Ooooohhh don't hang out with those kids you'll end up drinking/smoking/sluffing/ whatever..."
Maybe it's because I idolized my brother growing up, and let's just say... well, let's just leave it at that!
This week we had an experience with my Jacob. No, he didn't get in trouble... this was a good thing! Monday we were over at my friends house who happens to be the mom of one of Jake's good friends, Ethan. The boys go to different schools, but are both in Kindergarten. Ethan's mommy, Kristi, told Ethan he needed to do his homework. Jake saw this, and said, "Hey! I have homework TOO!" (Yeah, he was excited about it!) He sits down with Ethan without a fight and starts writing his spelling words.
As the homework session goes on, he hears Ethan reading. Jake decides to take out his reading book and starts going to down. The kid was READING!!! Like READING!!! Sounding out the word, blending it... the whole nine yards! Man I am proud of him! He has made some amazing progess!
I think I need to have him do homework with his friends more often! Talk about PEER PRESSURE!

Singing Joey

Seriously, My boys are both so much like their mom...always singing. Jake is a little performer as we have seen in the past, but Joe has the bug too! I oftentimes find him in his room just singing away...here's a little sample of what he likes to sing!

Happy Birthday to Jake...

Yep, it's true... My first born son is SIX YEARS OLD!!! Boy how the time flies!!!

So to my little guy, I have to write this quick letter...

To my little Jake...

I am so proud to call you my sweet boy! You have such an amazing heart! My goodness, the world would be a better place if everyone was as caring as you are! I am so proud of you! You try so hard to be the best you can be. At six years old, you usually put other people ahead of yourself. You are a thoughtful little boy who wants everyone to be happy! You love your little brother and sister, and you are SO protective of both of them. (Even if you do pick on Joe on occasion!) You are good to share with others, and that's not always something even mommy can do! Thank you for being the phenomenal example that you are! I love you to pieces and pieces and I am so proud of you!

love,

Mom

To celebrate the big day, we took some friends of Jake's and had some fun at the Chuck E Cheese! It was FABULOUS! Who knew it could be so much fun to have four 5 and 6 year old boys run around and tell stories and jokes to you and each other! We had pizza, pop, Cupcakes and of course, LOTS OF FUN!!!! Here are some pics:

Jake with the Mouse! Seriously, I remember this guy from when I was a kid!

All the boys earned these rockets with their tickets...they had to launch them after a countdown!

This pic was taken at the end of the night when we were leaving Chuck E Cheese... the boys faces say it all!

Yesterday we took the boys to see "How to Train a Dragon." It was such a great movie! For the first time in a long time I finally saw a kids movie that didn't contain any innuendos of any sort! It was extremely entertaining to see that movie with the boys! I loved watching their facial expressions! They were so well mannered! I was proud of both of them! Thank you to Gramma Martie for watching Miss Courtney while we went to the movie!

After the movie we took Jake and Joe to the toy store so Jake could pick out his birthday toy! Believe it or not, it was so much fun! The boys did great in the store! Jake had lots of options, but ultimately picked a Light Saber and some Star Wars guys for his birthday toy! He was so excited to open them, and wasn't too thrilled when we made him wait til his birthday to enjoy them!

Tonight we had family over for Jake's favorite home cooked meal... Beef Enchiladas (or Red Enchiladas as he calls them!) Lots of good food, family and gifts! Seriously, my kids are so lucky to have great family who loves them!