In our family Matthew and Anna are both kind of like oldest children. Anna has some type A tendencies, typical of oldest children. She likes to call the shots. Matthew is very nurturing and looks out for the other kids a lot. Grant, firmly in the middle, is independent and often does his own thing. I have a good friend who is a 3rd child of 5 (Scott also is by the way) and she recently related to me how her mom was dismayed that my friend never seemed to need her. Grant is like that. He loves to do things on his own and isn't particularly snuggly or needy and never has been. For this reason I usually rush to help him if he ever wants help or hugs, which is rare. And then John and Emma are both kind of like the youngest in the family. John is very snuggly and often asks me for snuggles. He and Emma will fight sometimes over who will sit on my lap for snuggles, which can be wearing. In any case, John is very much like a youngest in our family. He charms me with his little smiles and hugs, although its getting harder and harder to pick him up and carry him places. He is getting pretty solid. John turned six years old this past week. He is going to be starting kindergarten soon - we held him back a year because of his late birthday and some motor delays. He's very excited to start school. I'm a little sad that kindergarten is only half day in our new district but maybe it will help him ease into it. I was also a little sad that he was placed in afternoon kindergarten. I requested morning but they didn't have enough room. I'm still nicely trying to work with the school to see if I can move him. I like to run in the morning and was looking forward to no longer pushing him in the double jogger stroller and graduating to a single jogger with just little Emma to push. We even left our double jogger behind in California, which I now see was a mistake. Oh well. I guess I get extra exercise points for pushing two kids while running.
We went to a trampoline place in Provo for John's birthday
He was excited
Everyone had fun jumping! I didn't get a lot of pictures 'cause my phone was dying. :(
For dinner we went to a family favorite place, Freddy's for burgers and frozen custard
John enjoying some frozen custard
Later we had birthday cake. John's current and enduring career ambition is to be a police officer. He requested a police cake again this year. The night before he got to be a police man for Anna's mystery party. He read Scott his rights when we caught him and John was very cute about it. This is a police Lego scene on the cake.
John with his cake
Blowing out candles
Emma was having a hard time with all the birthdays - yet none of them were for her. Her birthday is next in our family but not until November 8th. I keep telling her it will be after Halloween.
John with Chase from Paw Patrol
And opening presents
A shark cruiser
A hot wheel set!
The next day everyone had fun playing with John's police Legos. Emma was semi-obsessed with the girl police officer.
Anna (and Matthew too) helped John build his new Lego sets.
Happy Birthday John!! Here's to an exciting new year for you!
And speaking of family personalities...
If you are familiar with the Color Code personality types I've guessed before at where each family member fits into those categories.
Matthew and Scott I've guessed are Blue - Matthew is very empathetic to people but gets really upset when he feels things are not fair.
Grant is a Yellow - he is usually happy but will complain quickly if he thinks things are not "fun" or "boring." When its too boring he makes his own fun/mischief.
Anna I think is a red (maybe with some yellow) - she has good leadership qualities that really come out at school. She likes to be in charge and usually has a vision of how things should be. She can get upset easily if things don't go her way. But if she's not bogged down being angry about it she can be a great problem solver.
I think l'm a White (or maybe a Blue - its hard to see your own personality sometimes). I'm not really sure what John and Emma are. Before I had guessed John was a White but now I think maybe a White/Yellow or a Blue/Yellow. Emma might be a White. What are you?
Blue are the do-gooders. Intimacy: connecting, creating quality relationships and having purpose, is what motivates and drives these people. They bring great gifts of quality and service and are generally loyal, sincere, and thoughtful.
Red are the power wielders. Power: the ability to move from point A to point B and get things done, is what motivates and drives these people. They bring great gifts of vision and leadership and generally are responsible, decisive, proactive and assertive.
White are the peacekeepers. Peace: the ability to stay calm and balanced even in the midst of conflict, is what motivates and drives these people. They bring great gifts of clarity and tolerance and are generally kind, adaptable, and good-listeners.
Yellow are the fun lovers. Fun: the joy of living life in the moment, is what motivates and drives these people. They bring great gifts of enthusiasm and optimism and are generally charismatic, spontaneous, and sociable.
