HESSON NYE Party 2016

I love my Hesson family! Tonight we partied like it was 2016! Revived the pizza party at Mom and Dad's house. Had a blast talking to cousins, aunts, uncles and eating Dad's delicious pizza! 

Family traditions are so important to me! My family is so important to me! It was a special night full of fun and memories!

50 Books in 2016

I made a goal to read 50 books in 2016. It was a tough goal to achieve. I have done it twice before (the years Miriam and Weston were born because nursing a baby gives you a lot of free time in the middle of the night). Last year, I had 10 days to read 5 books and I did it (and little else) over our break. This year, I didn't procrastinate and finished with a few days to spare.
Here's my list. Lots of personal development this year! I normally don't read non-fiction, but the push from my coach to start has snowballed into a new love for a once feared genre. Also, I still love series, especially fantasy and science fiction. I READ so many amazing books this year, it is really hard to pick a favorite! I have loved reunited with the world of Hogwarts this year. They will always be in my top ten favorite books of all time (they count as one and yes I know that is cheating)!

On Fire: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life by John O'Leary
The 12 Week Year by Brian P Moran
The Go-Giver by Bob Burg
The Go-Giver Sells More by Bob Burg
The Go-Giver Leader by Bob Burg
Rising Strong by Brene Brown
The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon
Find your Extraordinary by Jessica DiLullo Herrin
START: Punch Fear in the Face, Escape Average, Do Work that Matters by Jon Acuff
The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth by John C Maxwell
Eat that Frog by Brian Tracy
The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy
Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids by Dr. Laura Markham
Kitchen Table Wisdom by Rachel Naomi Remen, MD
My Story by Elizabeth Smart

Our Heritage
Jesus the Christ by James E. Talmadge
The Book of Mormon
2016 November ENSIGN (October General Conference Issue)

Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith AKA JK Rowling

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by JK Rowling
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by JK Rowling
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by JK Rowling

Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal
Glamour in Glass by Mary Robinette Kowal
Without a Summer by Mary Robinette Kowal

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd

Shadows of Self by Brandon Sanderson
The Bands of Mourning by Brandon Sanderson

Elantris by Brandon Sanderson

Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger
Curtsies and Conspiracies by Gail Carriger
Waistcoats and Weaponry by Gail Carriger

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

Sunrise by Mike Mullin

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
Pretties by Scott Westerfeld
Specials by Scott Westerfeld

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan
The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan
The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan
The House of Hades by Rick Riordan
The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan

Merry Christmas 2016

The Christmas season was hustle, bustle, and Christ-centered this year. A little easier to do because Christmas day actually fell on a Sunday. I love when that happens! We enjoyed family and friends throughout the holiday season. Jared and I decided this was probably our favorite Christmas we have ever had. It was just low-key and full of family. 

Decorating the tree!

Our beautiful Nativity!

We let the children watch Home Alone for the first time this Christmas season. Pretty much the best movie they have ever watched. They were laughing so hard which made Jared and I laugh even harder! Such a classic!

Christmas Eve! We read Christmas stories with the children around the Christmas tree and tucked them into their beds. Santa came and spoiled all of us! 

My favorite people in the world! Merry Christmas to ALL!

Enjoying our tree and my new slippers on Christmas night. 

Chicken Curry

We love CURRY! I make a version that Jared's mom makes and it is an easy dish to make. Jared has a co-worker that is Indian and always comments on this meal when it is Jared's leftover lunch.
Recently, his co-worker shared his authentic spice blend with us and a new chicken curry recipe.
It is perfect for a fall night paired with brown rice and roasted veggies!

Gary's Chicken curry

1 1/2 lbs chicken (He uses bone in, but I hate dealing with the bones. I subbed out 3 lbs of boneless chicken.)
2 large red onions
1 8 oz  tomato sauce
2 tsp ground spice mix (This is Gary's blend. I need to wrangle the actual spices out of him or this will do you NO GOOD.)
1 tbsp ginger garlic paste (I just used minced garlic and a couple tsp of ground ginger to make my own.)
1 tsp Garam masala
2- 3 tbsp Oil
Salt

Method:
Heat oil, add chopped onions and fry them until golden brown. Add the ginger garlic paste fry couple mins.  Next add the dry ground spice. Fry that for couple mins with 1/2 cup of water. Next add tomato sauce and cook for 5 mins on medium heat. Add the chicken and the garam masala powder and let it cook until done. (About an hour on medium low heat.)

Sooooooooooooo good!

OUC Half Marathon

I made a goal over the summer to run the OUC Half Marathon. This has been a bucket list item for many years. Due to pregnancies and babies, I never made it a priority. I was ready this year and really started working hard to achieve my goal!
I ran early in the morning for months and slowly built up the amount of miles I could do at once. In the beginning, I really couldn't believe I could make it happen. I struggled to run even one mile. But, through the continued support of Jared and my running community, I was able to gain confidence and really rocked the goals I had set.
The morning we ran was absolutely beautiful!

If you had told me a year ago that I would run a half-marathon, I wouldn't have believed you.
A lot of sacrifice went into earning this medal.
Early mornings spent putting in miles, sacrificing time with family and friends, sore muscles and a tired body.
I cried at least 4 times today. (Thanks for the warning Misty Farrow Anderson!)
At the starting line, I was brought to tears as thousands of people became silent to listen to the National Anthem. Being an American is amazing!
The second time was around mile 5 when someone's sweet mom was cheering on the corner. She said, "You should be so proud of yourself!"
She didn't even really say it to me, but I was so very proud of all my hard work in that moment.
The third time was after I had finished and I found over 50 FB messages and texts cheering me on (y'all know who you are and please know your love and support was very much what kept me going today).
The 4th was when I opened up my IG and found a heartfelt shout out from my best bestie JoAnn Sullivan Moghimi.
Today was a great day!
#youcandohardthings

10 Random Facts

Myndie tagged me a month ago, but I hadn't found time to respond until today. Here are 10 random facts about me. And, I agree with Melissa, this is tough!

1. I love to pop pimples, pluck hairs, and clean out ears. All gross things, I know! But, I find a simple satisfaction in them. Please don't be afraid of me.

2. I love pigs! They are my favorite animal. A lot of you know this, but do you know the reason why? Well, as an 11 year old searching for truth and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, I attended an after-school bible study with Brother Bobby and two other youth from our church at the time. He would pick us up after school, take us to the Jiffy for a snack, and then we'd spend an hour studying the New Testament. Brother Bobby moved due to a reassignment in the church and he gave me one of his pigs that he'd collected. That became the first pig in my collection. I wonder what Brother Bobby's up to these days?

3. I have noticed a lot more grays hairs on my head since Ethan was born. Is this because I'm 27 or is it because I'm a mom?

4. I was head cheerleader in high school. For some reason a lot of people can't believe this. I also tried out for the dance team at BYU, but did not make it. That was tough on me, but I got over it.

5. I was very active in college. I went rock climbing, camping, mountain biking, and hiking almost every weekend. I thought I did these things because of my ex-husband. Now that I am back in Florida, I've realized that I did enjoy them. I just didn't feel the need to do them every weekend!

6. As a student at BYU, I had a job working for Burrelle's Press Clipping Service. I went to work every morning (even the mornings before the snow was plowed) at 5 AM and typed television news for four hours before going to classes for the day. I couldn't watch news for about 5 years after that!

7. I have always loved TV! Before Lost, there was Alias. Before Alias, there was Buffy. Before Buffy, there was Friends. Before Friends, there was Party of Five. And that is where it all began. I used to rush home Wednesday nights after Mutual and plop down on the floor with my sister and enjoy an hour of Charlie, Bailey, Julia, Claudia and Owen. Good times. Even now, Stacey and I follow the same shows. It's fun and a total mind vacation.

8. When I was a teenager, I thought I'd want eight children. I even had their names picked out! I think I'll be happy with three or four.

9. In an alternate (taller) reality, I would pursue modeling. According to Tyra Banks and America's Next Top Model, if you're shorter than 5'7", you can't be a model. Oh well! I'll have to settle for a life without materialism and immorality.

10. When Jared and I were dating, he said "I love you" first. I wasn't ready to say it and I'm pretty sure I didn't reciprocate at that point. However, I can't remember how I got around that. I eventually realized I loved him too and now I tell him all the time.

A Dancer's Heart

I've probably mentioned before that I was a part of a children and teen's performing group for most of my childhood. I'm not sure if I've ever conveyed just how integral this was in my life. By the time I was in high school, I was at the dance studio nearly every day of the week taking multiple classes, tap, jazz, ballet, company (an audition only group), and ensemble. I even taught the 3-5 year olds ballet, tap, and jazz to help pay for my own classes.

On top of classes, Showtime USA performed in and around the St. Augustine area at least a few times each month. It was a huge deal to me. My dearest friends experienced all of this with me. If we weren't in classes together, we were hanging out at one another's houses, hanging out with Miss Pam (our dance instructor), painting the dance studio, popping one another's pimples (So gross, yet so awesome!). Heck, I got my first kiss in the parking lot of the studio.

It is how I gained self-confidence. It is how I learned to persevere and set goals and to fail gracefully. It is also where I first heard about the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Recently, I rediscovered my dancer's heart. A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to go to Showtime's end of the year show. I had a smile the entire time. It was amazing to see those kids having the time of their lives up on that stage. I was right back to those days. Some people hated high school. I'll go ahead and admit that although it wasn't always easy, it was a great time in my life. Showtime and my friends there were a huge part of that. Seriously, watching my children fall in love with the show and remembering all the positive in my life made me want to open a Showtime franchise here in Orlando!

Just last weekend, my mom treated my sister and I to the Move Live Tour put on by dancing siblings, Julianne and Derek Hough. My goodness, it was amazing. It was like Showtime on steroids! Again, the smile never left my face. I have a dancer's heart and I guess I always will. I need to integrate dance more fully in my life somehow. Maybe that's by opening a Showtime, maybe it's by taking up Zumba, maybe it's by dancing in my living room. As a child, there was a studio in town run by Sally Walton. They often performed at the same events we did. There was always a number or two put on by adults. I remember thinking they were so old and how weird that they were in costumes dancing at their age! Little did I know, they probably felt as I do now. Dance isn't something you outgrow! I've changed my tune. Those ladies rocked and good on them for continuing to do what they loved.

My heart is full of gratitude for Miss Pam and all she did to help me hone my dancing and singing talents. Doing the routine "Just one more time" (more like 20) and helping me improve my other talents; those that aren't as easy to see: integrity, honesty, and charity. My heart is also full of gratitude for my parents who surely sacrificed to pay for umpteen classes a week and costumes and tours and camps. My parents always supported me and found joy in watching me have the time of my life. They were truly selfless in that regard. I am grateful that 14 years later, my mom recognizes the need for dance in my life and continues to make special memories for me.

Mom and me at Move Live on Tour last weekend!

I love you, Mom!

Performing in a sequined black dress and having a ball!

The Clown

I've been meaning to blog about this tradition for awhile, but seem to keep forgetting.  Last week, this tradition was eerily looking up at me when I unpacked a cedar chest my parents brought me from St. Augustine.  (Thanks for that, Dad.) 
There is a clown night light I have had since I was a young girl.  A well-meaning co-worker of my mom's made it for me.  It is extremely creepy.  Even creepier when the night light part is utilized, as the light shines through crystals that are set in the eyes and details of the clown's costume.  Lucky for me the clown disappeared at some point in my childhood.  He resurfaced about 10 years ago when I moved home.  That is when he became the focal point of our tradition.

He just randomly pops up in various locales.  We have been passing him around for the last ten years and when I receive him I either jump, scream, or laugh dependent on the level of surprise.  Once I opened the fridge to find him staring at me as I reached for the soy milk.  Another time, I opened my car door to find him buckled into the driver's seat.  I gave him to Stacey and Joe as a housewarming gift once and enlisted Mom to sneak him into Tony's closet in Atlanta another time.  My favorite is when we were moving from our townhouse and I was checking all the closets.  Not sure what made me check the air handler closet since I never kept anything in there, but I did and there he was.  Who knows how long he was there.  This has morphed into a fun tradition in my family.  Now that I have him back, I must find a great way to pass him off again.  I am open to suggestions. 

Apple-Cranberry Sauce

Apple-cranberry Sauce

1 lb cranberries

1 Cup apple cider

1/2 Cup honey

1/2 apple chopped 

Dash of ground ginger

In a saucepan on medium heat, combine all ingredients!

Stir occasionally and simmer until the cranberries burst and the sauce thickens, 12 to 15 minutes.

Cool and store in a covered dish in the refrigerator.

Bring to room temperature to serve.

Can be prepared up to 4 days in advance.

Basic Pie Crust

Basic Pie Crust (adapted from @alanachernilla #homemadepantry)

1 Cup (2 sticks) cold, unsalted butter; plus extra for greasing the pan
1 1/4 Cups all purpose flour
1 Cup whole wheat flour; plus additional to flour the counter and the dish
2 tsp apple cider vinegar
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 Cup water

 Cut the butter into 1/2 inch cubes and combine with flour in the bowl of a stand mixer. Using your hands, toss the mixture to coat. Put the bowl in the freezer for 10 minutes.

In a measuring cup, combine water, salt, and apple cider vinegar. Stir until salt is dissolved. Put the cup in the freezer for 10 minutes.

Take the bowl out of the freezer and blend on low with paddle attachment until it looks like coarse sand.

Take the cup out of the freezer and with mixer still on low, slowly pour the wet ingredients into the bowl.

Stop mixer when dough comes together in a ball (20ish seconds).

Turn dough out onto the counter and press together into a large disc. 

Cut in two equal parts, wrap in waxed paper, press into a disc, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (up to 3 days)

Grease 9 inch pie plate with butter and lightly dust with flour.

Take dough out of refrigerator 15 min before you are ready to roll it out.
Unwrap dough and place on lightly floured surface. 

Starting in the center, use your rolling pin to shape the dough into a circle about 12 to 14 inches in diameter and 1/4 inch thick.

Gently fold crust in half, then fold that semicircle in half again so that you have a quarter circle.

Line up the corner in the center of your pie plate and gently unfold.

Fill the crust with your pie filling. 

Repeat the rolling process with the second disc of dough. It can be used to lay on top, cut into strips for a lattice, or for another pie altogether.
Use your fingers to crimp the edge of the dough along the edge of the pie plate.
Cook according to your pie's directions.

Maple Pumpkin Pie

Maple Pumpkin Pie (from @realsimple)

Okay, admittedly aside from using whole foods this isn't particularly low in calories. But, you gots to live a little, people!

1 piecrust fitted into a 9 inch pie plate

2 large eggs

1 15 oz can pure pumpkin puree

1 Cup heavy cream 

1/2 Cup maple syrup 

3/4 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground ginger 

1/2 tsp salt

Set oven rack in lowest position and heat to 350.

Place pie plate on a foil lined baking sheet.

In a large bowl, whisk together all ingredients. 

Pour into crust and bake until center sets. Around 60 to 70 minutes.

Cool to room temp before serving.

Grayson is 7!

Grayson came crashing into this world 7 years ago! I cannot even believe it sometimes.
He has turned into quite the handsome lil fella!. Grayson is creative, thoughtful, helpful, hard working, funny, learning how to use sarcasm appropriately, always willing to share, and though he'll never admit it, he is quite the HAM!

We celebrated Grayson at school with his class friends. Miriam, Weston, and I brought in donuts and milk. The party continued after school with neighborhood friends, pizza, an obstacle course, and Italian Ice.

I am not joking when I say those kids ran that course for 2 full hours. I brought out the dry erase board and a stopwatch. They kept going and kept trying to get the fastest time. It was fun and awesome. Jared even got in on the course, but got stuck in the tunnel and had to finish the course while still inside the tunnel. We were all laughing so very hard!

Grandma and Papa K stopped by after dinner for presents and fun. After they left and the younger three were in bed, we played cards and watched Harry Potter.

Gigi and Papa came on Saturday. They took Grayson to lunch and to Wal-mart where they purchased him a new bike and helmet.

Overall, I'd say it was a pretty fabulous birthday.

Divas Only

I am here to talk about something women really don't talk like to talk about. And, if they do, they talk about it with code words like Aunt Flo, my monthly visitor, Surfin the Crimson Wave.... (Bonus points if you know what movie that last one is from!)

I am going to talk about menstruation. Most of us have been dealing with this for decades. Ever since the dreaded day we saw that first spot in our panties as pre-teens and teens. Are you there God it's me, Margaret? can only teach you so much.

As you grow older, you just accept it and move on, but there is always that fear that you will start and you won't have a tampon or a panty liner or a maxi pad. Admit it, you have been there! Whispering to your friend or your friend's mom. Trying to discretely obtain what you need and do not have so that you don't wind up embarrassing yourself even further.

Well, I have a solution for you! And it is only costs $30 on Amazon. It is the Diva Cup and it is a menstrual cup! You only need one and it should last you at least a year, possibly longer if you take care of it.

Back in May, a dear friend gave me the rundown on what a menstrual cup was all about. Her husband is an OB/GYN and his office had received a sampler so he brought it home for her to try. She raved about the ease of using it and I was intrigued.

The next time my menstrual cycle started, I was ready! I had purchased one on Amazon for the aforementioned price and it arrived in a box and is kept in a cute, little bag.

In order to use it, you will have to get up close and personal with your lady parts. You wash the cup, insert it by folding it in half. Once it is in about halfway, you rotate it a full 360 degrees and push it the rest of the way in.

Then, you do NOTHING all day! For 12 hours! You just leave it alone and don't worry about it AT ALL!!!!!!!!!!! In the first few uses, you may want to use a panty liner while you figure out how to get it in place properly. If it is not sealed off through correct insertion, it will leak.

Then, at night, before bed, you remove it, pour the contents into the toilet, wash it in warm water with soap, reinsert and go to sleep. You continue to remove and reinsert each morning (the shower is a fantastic place to get situated for the day) and night until your menstrual cycle comes to an end.

It is comfortable, easy, stress-free. Doesn't hurt to remove at all, no matter how heavy or light your flow. Also, if you're into the environment, you are really going green on this one!

I am serious, you need to try this if you are a woman. It is the best way I have ever found to manage my least favorite week of the month. Easy, fast, comfortable, affordable... the list goes on.

Y'all need to check it out!

P.S. They are sized. Size A for women who have never had a vaginal birth and Size B for women who have. :) Size B is also recommended for women over the age of 30.

BBQ Chicken Pita Pizza

If you know anything about me, you know I LOVE pizza. Even as a 36 year old woman, it remains my favorite food. I am picky about my pizza. I tried Cauliflower pizza and while it was tasty it was NOT pizza! I hardly can handle fast food restaurant pizza, but if my dad makes it or it comes from a legit pizzeria, I cannot stop myself.
I was tentative about this recipe, but Jared assured me it was good, so I decided to actually eat it myself. Usually, if I'm wary, I make it for him and make him tell me if it is good or not.
It made the perfect lunch time meal. Fast and easy to assemble and quick to cook. Tons of protein to fill me up and quite delicious. And, it is fixed approved! I actually got the recipe from the new Core de Force nutrition guide.

BBQ Chicken Pita Pizza (1 pizza)  2 Yellow, ½ Red, ½ Blue, ½ Purple


Preheat oven to 350. Spray pan with cooking spray. Place Whole Wheat pita on pan, coat with about 1 TBSP of Maple BBQ Sauce (see below). Sprinkle with 2 TBSP cheese. I used cheddar today, because I was too lazy to walk to the outside fridge where the mozzarella is. Top with 2 TBSP red onions and 3/4 Cup cooked chicken breast. You can also add cilantro if you'd like. Bake for 10-12 minutes. I broiled mine on high for a little bit too because I like my cheese crispy!

MAPLE BBQ SAUCE

(Makes 12 servings, about 2 Tbsp. each) ½ Purple
½ cup tomato paste, no sugar added
½ cup water
¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
2 Tbsp. pure maple syrup
2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
¼ tsp. garlic powder
¼ tsp. onion powder
¼ tsp. sea salt (or Himalayan salt)
1 tsp. ground black pepper

1. Combine all ingredients in a medium mixing bowl; mix well.
2. Use immediately or store in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

This was so good! I am going to marinate some chicken in this stuff and grill it!

Served it with an orange and edamame! Guys this was so good! Hope you enjoy it too!

Another Great Soccer Season

We have really loved playing soccer! 

It is hard and definitely a sacrifice to make practices, games, and all the details fall into place. But, it is worth it. We had pretty amazing coaches this year too! We have forged some of our favorite friendships (both the children and the parents) through soccer. 

Ethan U10 with Coach Henderson and the Blue Bombers

This was our first year with goalies. Despite the added obstacle, Ethan continued to be a dominating player on the field. He can strike a goal with both left and right feet and is quite the soccer player. He is aggressive and has great ball handling skills. He has also learned how to be a team player over the last couple of years. Passing where appropriate and setting up team mates for great plays.

Grayson U8 with Coach Bishop (not pictured) and Coach Krause (AKA Dad) and Team Awesome

Team Awesome pretty much wiped the floor with every team they played this year. They really had a team of little go-getters. Grayson, like his big brother, is a fantastic striker and often led the night in goals. He is learning the art of the humble brag. Grayson has also stepped up his team skills and is learning to share the love with his teammates. Ethan better watch out. Grayson has a lot of natural ability and a strong work ethic. I see these brothers becoming quite competitive with one another as the years go on.

Landon U6 with Coach Schroth (pretty much our favorite person in Sorrento) 

and 

Team Mint Chocolate Chip

I LOVED watching Landon this year. Last year, he and Grayson played on the same team and I felt Landon got a little lost in the shadow of his older brother. This year, Landon really came into his own. He is a fantastic defender and scored at least one goal in every single game. As always, he is smiling the entire time even when the other team trash talks him on the field (I know they're 4 and 5, but I witnessed it!) Plus, Coach Schroth is phenomenal and loves this team with her whole heart. She even threw us a party and Landon and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to go and have some one on one time! 

Halloween 2016

I have never claimed to be awesome at Halloween. In fact, I fear it is quite the opposite.

Despite Jared's best efforts, I have hardly taken to this holiday.

We did put a few things out front this year, but we brought them in because of Hurricane Matthew. Surprise, surprise, they NEVER went back up! 

I always think this will be the year that I buy costumes and treat bags and go all out with decorations. Then it is time to do all that and I think about how much that all costs and I just can't justify spending my money on things that are going to get ruined, eaten, or that I have to find a place to store 11 months out of the year.

You may call me a Booge, and you would be correct.

Once again, my children picked their costumes out of our dress up bin 10 minutes before we left the house. They carried reusable shopping bags to collect candy.

 I did, however, get a pumpkin to be carved,  

 purchase cute Halloween glasses for the children,

and manage to arrange to be with friends for festivities! 

Yoda (I did go as far as borrowing this from a friend!)

Ninjago (3rd year in a row)

Elsa 

Storm Trooper (2nd year in a row)

Jedi Knight

All in all, we had fun and I didn't have to sacrifice my sleep or get carpal tunnel from using a glue gun! Plus, as a friend pointed out, I have a fun house that I had this many costumes to choose from in the first place!

When 9 years feels like 9 weeks

How did my eldest boy go from this

to this?

Ethan really is a great child. I honestly feel so blessed to be his mama. He came into this world exactly when he was supposed to. We were inspired to start our family and we have been blessed beyond measure by following that inspiration. 

At 9 years old, Ethan is responsible, kind, thoughtful, helpful, intelligent, inquisitive, compassionate, and passionate. He seeks to make good choices and respects those around him. Ethan looks after his siblings and is a fantastic big brother. 

He has his moments, of course, where he is less than stellar. But, don't we all. When he makes mistakes, he apologizes and tries to do better. I love that about him. He really wants to do what is right. It is a joy to be his mom and grow up right along side him! 

We celebrated for 3 days this year! 

Treats at school! 

And smooches in front of his friends!

An outing with friends!

Cake and ice cream with family!