Happy 6th Birthday Cruiser!

May 10, 2006 is still so fresh in my mind at times, but in all reality my first born, Mr. Crew Charles is really growing up.  You never forget the experience of being a mom for the first time, this kid sure makes me feel old!

  

Here he is all smiles and so proud to have his birthday celebrated at school, it is times like this where I can lose it on the spot. Seeing the joy in his face to have me in his class, his classmates so excited, and Crew just elated to be handing out treats, sitting on the tall chair, face beaming with pride as his class sings to him. I walked out of the school after that and couldn't even share with Chris how cool it was to see him in that kind of a setting, to be so polite, calm, and so happy without shedding a few tears. My wild child sure made his momma proud.

Happy birthday to Cruiser!

Mrs. Olson crowning Crew-- we all just love her!

Can't hide that smirk off his face

His class

That night we invited family over for some cake and ice cream, Crew got to pick his own cake, StarWars! 

Make a wish buddy!

Cruiser Bruiser

You are a solid brutus :)  You are the silliest, craziest, most dramatic SIX year old I know, you truly bring out the fun, excitement and energy in everyone you are around.  You have such a positive take on life, constantly full of smiles.  The school secretaries and lunch ladies always tell me how happy you are and how much you smile and just love to be around people.  You often find me telling you to just please "settle down, calm down, talk quieter, quit moving, and don't be so gecka voola (its a modified dutch word being crazy and weird). 

Your the leader of the pack--I often wonder if this house would be as wild if you weren't the first born teaching your brothers all your fun games and habits :)  The new freedom of going to your friends house by yourself and being home at a certain time is the coolest thing ever to you, so cool that you are constantly asking to leave (is this starting already?).  You are good in math, and remembering events and things that have happened.  A little too good for my liking you never forget a promise or how a situation was handled in the past. You also have some pretty funny stories circulating...ha!  Constantly asking how many days until this, how many days until that, and then the scary thing you actually will talk about it a couple days later again and keep the countdown straight.

You weren't very happy the other day because you were the only kid in your class that didn't miss a page in the book they made because you were in school every day.  "Mom, other kids miss school when they are sick all the time, and you always make me go to school even if I am tired"...  Already trying to work sick days...

Your dad can't get out the soccer goals, mitts, balls, and bats quick enough, and you love playing "pig" and any other animal we can spell in basketball.  You have really gotten into playing the Wii and all of the Lego games, and your newest thing is Bionicles.  You know how to push your brothers (parents too) buttons, but also have a very sweet and caring side.  You are always looking after Kyler especially, and your big competition is Brody! 

Older is not always smarter in some cases because two days before your birthday you decided to put a rock in your ear at recess at school....hmm.  You were very embarassed and didn't want to tell anyone, but it hurt you so bad and were very upset about it.  Your 2nd time to the ER, and I know you learned your lesson for the pain it caused you to have themt take it out!  Oh Crusier, always something buddy!

I really could go on and on about what a joy and all the adventure and personality you bring to our family.  We love you so much, and are excited to continue to watch you grow!