Preston Turns 7!!!

 My Preston is now 7 - I cannot believe it. I love my Preston and his wild crazy personality. I love that we cannot go into a store without someone commenting on his red hair, even he has started to talk to people about it. I love that he is the first one to come say sorry, I love that he wants to try to do better and focus more, I love that he wants to teach his little brother even if his little brother doesn't want him to, I love that he has compassion, I love that he challenges me to my very core and I love that he is in our family! 

 Birthday Fairy did her decor in his room again and Preston was super happy to wake up to the celebration of his birthday.

 

 I get this pose every time I ask for a "Preston smile"

 Grandma and Grandpa Steck came over for cake (actually left over cupcakes from his party) and we did presents then. His other Grandparents were out of town, What is it with me and having kids around holidays?

 

 

Happy Birthday my Preston Buddy - so glad you are in our family and that you had a great Birthday!

Preston's Friend Party

MARIO!!!! That was out party this year for Preston - he had it all planned out. I got creative and did most everything without the "brand" name items as they really knew what they wanted for those. Preston has great boys around the neighborhood and it's great that he gets to play with so many.

 Treat Table - each child got to make a Mario Hat, Mustache and got gold coins.

 Personalized water bottles

 Mushrooms "BIG" Power for dessert

 What's for dinner? Pasta of course!!! We even found the "tunnel" noodles as Preston calls them that appear just like the tunnels in the game.

 With the help of my awesome artist of work I made a bean bag toss game to kill Bowser! It turned out to bit a smash hit and I had to pull them away from it as we ran out of time.

 Presents and cake time... what a great day for Preston he really had a wonderful time with such great friends. Thank you; Cody, Daniel, Briggs, and Stockton for helping Preston celebrate his 7th birthday.

Lagoon Day

Thank you again to our life insurance company for another great Lagoon Day, I am not certain that we could afford to go if we did have these tickets each year. I feel very blessed. We decided to leave Weston with grandma again this year knowing that he still is so little. School had already started so the boys missed their third day... but it was worth it! We got to Lagoon just as it opened and headed straight to Lagoon-A-Beach. Bryson loves the water slides which really surprised me and Preston only wants to play in the kiddie area - completely not like either of them. We didn't stay long as we wanted to ride more then swim.
We rode pretty much every ride - some of them twice and three times. Our Top five rides: Spider, Wicked, Wild Mouse, White Roller Coaster and Tidal Wave. Left at 10 and went home, exhausted and boys still full of energy and excitement. I know our little Lagoon cannot compete with some of the greats like Disney or Six Flags... we we enjoy it all the same.

Bryson and Darren went on the Rocket (the one the shoots up in the air instead of drops you) Preston was too little ride it so we watched instead. Bryson was super unsure about it as you can see in the pics, I reassured him it would be fun... he came off the ride crying. I felt bad, I really thought he would love it once it started. I think he is more of a roller coaster guy and not a zero gravity guy. But I was proud he tried.

 Once we got Bryson settled :) we went over to a calmer ride of the airplanes which tests my tummy. I found myself half way thought the day popping a Dramine.

We waited in line to get FRONT row on the old white roller coaster - which will soon be the brown coast as they are going to stop painting it. The boys loved this ride.

Sure... why wouldn't ducks want to hang out at Lagoon?

This video is the last ride of the day - Wicked... Which is funny as the first time we went Preston was screaming and crying hysterics as we sat on the ride and waited for our car to move. Everyone was staring at us and probably thinking we were horrible for making him go on the ride. However he had gone last year 3 times and loved it... After we got going I looked over and the tears were flying off his face, half way through the ride slows shortly, at which point Preston yells "Is that all you've got Wicked"  - when we stopped he yelled "That was awesome!" I knew he would be fine once we did it but with Bryson's experience earlier I almost pulled he and I from the ride to avoid anymore guilt. Preston struggles the most with internalizing emotions, and what should be small is usually full blown emotions either happy, sad or scared. Needless to say we went 3 more times that day.

Two gone and one left home...

A whole new era at the Steck home... Both Bryson and Preston are now gone for school all day long which leaves Weston home alone.  I know he is going to miss his brothers - but also find freedom in his alone time. A super fun and adventurous school year has begun and I can't wait to see what it holds for these new changes for Preston and Weston and more challenges for "upper" grade Bryson... go get 'em boys! I know you'll succeed....

 

FIRST Grade!!!

First Grade... oh boy - I have my apprehensions about all day school for Preston but only time will tell if he does okay. I am taking car pool the next two weeks to help him get his drop off and pick up routine down and under control. He is super excited to see his friends again and eat lunch at school, but he has talked about how long it will be. We've had a great first meeting with teacher and while she is young I think she will be great with Preston. Here is to a new year and fun adventure of first grade... Have a great year buddy!

 

 Seeing buddy Cody for the first time since summer break, he doesn't live in our neighborhood and since there is no directory we could not call all summer. They were super excited to see one another and picked up right where they left off.

 Preston and Miss Richardson... first day of school

Bye Mom! see you in 7 whole hours!