Sean Matthew Elliott - April 29, 2010 11:41 AM

Ten perfect fingers,

Ten perfect toes,

Mommy's eyes,

Daddy's nose,

Oh little baby

How much

You are loved!

Nicholas Kai Elliott 2010

It seems like just yesterday he was little.  Sometimes I miss those days, but the joy and fun he brings us now is unexplainable.  Dad loves hanging out with him, playing video games with him, and during snowball fights and bean bag fights their difference in ages disappears.  He is becoming a responsible person as he chooses to get his homework done before requesting to play video games and is a big help when Mom is in a cleaning frenzy.  He cares for his family and expresses his love and gratitude for us all in every prayer to his Heavenly Father.  Children truly are the greatest joy in our lives.

MATCH DAY

So after months of stressing it's over. Kai matched into Orthopedic Surgery in Warren, Michigan. He had virtually given up on it, thinking that everything he did just wasn't enough, but it's true after all you can do the Lord will do the rest. So we will be official residents of Michigan on July 1, 2009.

First Day of School...

September 2nd was Nicholas's first day of Kindegarton. His first day was a half-day and although Mom was extremely nervous Nicholas was just excited to go to school. His second day was a full day and he was dragging his feet until I mentioned meeting the bus, I've never seen him get ready so fast. We met the bus at 8:30 and the bus driver probably new this was my oldest child with all my questions (Is this the bus to Oakbrook?, Does he have to find his class by himself?, Will he sit up front?) After I put him on the bus Samuel and I jumped in the minivan and followed it to the school. I got separated from it at one point and never saw him get off the bus. I looked and looked but couldn't see him in line for his class either. I grabbed Sam and hurried to his door where he was supposed to line up and there he stood.

"Mom, what are you doing here?"

"Well I just wanted to make sure you made it okay. Did you get off the bus and in line all by yourself?"

"Yes Mom, Room 2. Remember?"

My Birthday

"Abundantly blessed," that's what I am. After worrying about Kai being gone for a month, worrying about his tests, worrying about Nicholas starting Kindergarton, and wondering what will be happening to our future over the next few months, at times I have felt very alone. However, after the past 4 days I realize that I am actually on the minds of many and am not alone at all.

It all began on Friday when I went to a Amanda's house for what was supposed to be a swimming playdate. I walked into the back door of her house after being half an hour late and found a group of sisters from our ward gathered together for a lunch and cupcakes. Yes, a surprise birthday party. I don't think I have ever had one of those. That is just the stuff dreams are made of.

My husband who was supposed to be gone for the entire month of August appeared Friday night and spent all of Saturday with his family. Who ever heard of a medical student gunning for an Orthopedic residency position spending an entire day with his family.

Saturday night I found myself sitting in a movie theatre with my husband's arm around me and a sweet kiss on the head every now and then. Summer and Brent had taken Nicholas and Sam while Kai and I went on a date. I don't think I've been in a movie theatre since "Cars" came to the big screen.

Sunday was filled with more sisters from the ward expressing their apologies for not making it to my surprise party. How many people did Summer invite?!

Monday Kimberly and Jay stole Nicholas, for what seemed like forever, so he could buy his Mom a gift. Something he'd been worried about doing since Friday when there was a party. "I thought Mom's birthday wasn't until Tuesday!" Not only did he come home with a wrapped present but also a card with a stick-figure family on the front, a stick-figure mom on the back and a child written note "Happy Birthday Mom." Kimberly helped him draw the heart. And a gift of flowers from Kimberly and Jay filled an empty vase with happiness.

Today Kai made sure he was the first to wish me a Happy Birthday at 4:20 AM, and then the usual but very cherished birthday phonecalls from my mother and sisters followed throughout the day. I went shopping with my 2 boys, who were really well behaved. Then Summer took me to lunch at Panera, "Yummm," and Karen met us there as well. When I got home I had a few Happy Birthday wishes on Facebook from thoughtful friends. Then went to Carmen's house for a delicious dinner followed by cake, ice cream, and a movie.

As I arrived home this evening I found a small gift on the front porch, but what was within was by no means small. A gift certificate to Subway and a church CD from another sister in our ward with a note that definitely brought tears.

I am definitely not alone. I have the best family and friends in the world. Words cannot express my gratitude to my friends and family for such a special birthday. I am abundantly blessed.

Oh, Nicholas bought me a cute red shirt. Now what 5 year old picks out a shirt for his mother's birthday? Only the sweetest most thoughtful 5 year old in the world. The one who makes sure his mother has a good night kiss, even when Daddy is away.

Mackinac Island (Pronounced Mackinaw)...

This last 4th of July weekend we took a road trip to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Michigan truly is a beautiful state once you get away from the city. We took the 4 hour drive North and crossed the Mackinac Bridge to the UP. We camped in a campground along Lake Huron, which aside from the missing waves looks more like an ocean. The mosquitoes were huge and didn't sleep during the day, but the food as always was excellant. I love camping food. We rode a ferry over to Mackinac Island and spent the day on our bikes. Mackinac Island is unique in that there is no way to drive to the island and I think that cars are not even allowed on the island. It is a very historic island with a Fort and some very old Hotels, but a very large tourist trap today. There are carriage rides and horses (street sweepers as well) or you can ride your bike. Most choose to bike it and the trails around the island are georgeous. Nicholas rode over 6 miles and was a real trooper. It was amazing to me to stand along the main street with all the tourist shops and see only bicycles. We had a great time and feel that although we are so far away from what we consider home we have been very blessed to have experiences such as these while we're on this grand adventure.

Father's Day

Father's Day approached after a very long week of being a single-car family because of some unfortunate events and a long night of Sam not feeling well. Kai had to report to the hospital at 5 AM that morning and I decided that there was no way the kids and I were going to make it to church, so I went back to sleep. However, when the kids climbed in bed with me at 8 AM the first, and only thing, on Nicholas's mind was the song he was singing his Dad for Father's Day at church (not even the Wii could distract him). So I drug myself out of bed, Nicholas got himself completely ready for church (something I have never seen before), and Majeskes picked us up for church at 8:45 with their Flip video recorder in tow just in case Dad didn't make it for this much anticipated event. Kai did make it, but since we had the camcorder I thought "Why not?" I have anticipated a bulletin announcment about not using camcorders in church but luckily there has been no such occurence. I'm pretty sure I was breaking the rules, but I thought the Grandpas would enjoy this too!