Days with the Dorans

It's not so much that Sean is twelve, but it's that next year he'll be a teenager that blows my mind a bit! I treasure our conversations - his 'confessions' as he calls them. He has the most tender heart and really is the sweetest soul. Once he was late when I was picking him up from school and he apologized and told me he had seen a bad word in the bathroom so tried to clean it up. That is Sean in a nutshell. I adore him! We weren't sure if we would be able to celebrate his birthday, but his Aunt Chris held on so we could have this time with our boy~ what a gift. We're learning the best gift is time. Sean got all the things he wanted~ including a long armed stapler to make his books (He's a budding author- I mean, really- what 12 year old asks for a stapler and is super pumped to get it?!) So my Seany- lover of nuggets, and penguins, and kindness~ I'm wishing you the very best birthday. You are so loved by all of us- but I think especially by your m...

Sean's birthday contained the usual things- Papa checking his height, food, presents, and cakes! The cook thing about having so many sibs is that you have a built in party! Sean had a great day and loved his new penguin mask! Things you never thought you'd give or get... Happy Birthday, Seany! We love you more than you know!  

 I can't believe our baby is ten!! It's crazy how time has flown and I remember being pregnant with Sean and wondering who he would become. There's never a dull day with him and I don't know if there is someone out there with a bigger heart.  Grandma was able to come down for a soccer game and an early celebration for our ten year old. I just love this picture of them! Sean was super excited because this year he actually got his first friend birthday party. Poor kid~ we're always in the height of soccer season and weekends are tough! This year his birthday fell on Rosh Hashanah which was on a Wednesday meaning no school OR soccer! Sean wanted to have a party at Zap Zone so I made it happen. He only wanted 3 friends to come (one couldn't because he was celebrating the holiday). The 3 Bigs got to each bring a friend since there was a minimum limit for a party and Sean really didn't want to invite others. Nana and Papa came too since Jeff had ...

I can't believe our baby is NINE already!!! Poor kiddo has a birthday at such a busy time in the Doran house. His birthday fell on a Tuesday which meant we had musical practice, 2 cross country practices, 3 soccer practices and marching band. (Ugh) So we went out to dinner on Monday with everyone and Nana treated the birthday boy and his sibs to some ice cream too! While he opened some presents on Monday, we did save some until Tuesday. It was a late night and we let him skip soccer so we could spend some time with him. When everyone was done, we DID open some last presents and sing and blow out candles! We DO want to do a kid party- though it may fall over the holidays~ or maybe a half birthday thing. Sorry Sean! I do love you so much! Happy Birthday my super sweet son!!!

 Sean's birthday fell on a Monday and I happened to be at Oakland Schools for a class. I got out earlier than I do school (I get to school early so it wasn't a different start time for me) so I feel like I got to spend some sweet time with my Seany! Jeff got Leo's (Sean's dinner of choice) and we had a mini celebration with us (minus Al who was at dance) and Papa (minus Nana who just had hip replacement surgery). Seany had a GREAT day and they had fun playing with all his toys. Jeff will tell you Sean is sweet on his mama and he is right. Sean's the quickest to give me sugar and I'm treasuring every moment of cuddle-time because I know he's growing fast and his affection may not always be so comfortable (at least for a time... Joe has started giving me long hugs and telling me he loves me again). So Sean, Have a Great Eight birthday! You are my FAVORITE 8 year old (and I know A LOT of cool 8 year olds!!!)!

Poor Seany. I'm late in posting this and we still haven't done a friend birthday party. I'm thinking it's going to be sometime in December. I may just do a big birthday party for all my kids once a year and call it a day. I'm finding that being a mom (the way I want to be) can be exhausting. I went to bed on the 8th and hadn't decorated for Sean's birthday (like I usually do). He woke up in my bed and said, "Mom! Let's go down and see the decorations." I felt like such a jerk. I had gotten balloons and things but was so tired and thought I would wake up early to decorate. I told him to give me a moment and I'd come get him when I was ready. I rushed downstairs to my WONDERFUL husband who had blown up all my balloons and decorated for our baby! Words cannot express how happy I was! I got Seany who came down in wonder and excitement. It is like heaven to be seven! Nana, Papa, Grandma, Uncle Jim and the Gearys all came over to help us...

I don't know how it happened, or when, but my baby is growing up!  To say he is a sponge is an understatement and thankfully he's one of those kids who talks about every aspect of his day (so I know EXACTLY what happens each day) and is constantly wanting to write, read and play math type games (so glad we didn't push him as I see the other side in my own classroom).  He's turning into quite a creative kid and even made his own "sight word" game tonight (where does he come up with this stuff?).  Sean was so excited to be six and has spent the last month (yes... I am behind in documenting things) talking about that.  Everything he does he will say, "This is the first time I've gone to the library... when I was six."  "This is the first time I've read this book... when I was six."  It's really quite funny and has us all laughing but he, of course, is quite serious because six IS serious!  He tells us now that he is six...