Bein’ Franklin

Posted by mommyfranklin at December 13th, 2008

Zachary’s birthday was last Sunday, December 7th. He has been looking forward to turning 4 for quite some time. For the last year, any time anyone would have a birthday in which they would turn anything over age 3, he would inform us that he was still three with disappointment. So, it was with great anticipation that he starting counting down the days on November 27 — 10 days before his birthday.

I asked him several times what the big deal was about turning 4, and he explained to me that several things would happen when he was 4:
* he would no longer be a baby – though I explained to him that he would always be MY baby, he was pretty insistent on this one. It really threw him when I told him that Scott was still Grandmama’s baby and that Grandmama was still Gran’s baby…

* he would no longer suck his thumb – we have been passively working on getting him to give up this habit. Having been through before with Emily, we knew better than to push too hard until he was ready. He had decided that he would be ready when he was 4. So, on the night of his birthday, we told him to try to only suck his thumb at bedtime. No point in going cold turkey on a 4 year old habit! Well, I have to tell you that he has done so well. He hasn’t sucked his thumb at all since last Monday night. Not even in bed!

* no more dragging his blanket everywhere – he has carried his “blank with fringe” with him everywhere he went for the past 4 years. He still plays with it around the house, but that’s it. No more getting dragged into the car and begging to take it with us wherever we’re going.

* play on the computer – Timo LOVES to play on the computer. Somehow, Zachary has gotten it in his head that he would suddenly know how to play on the computer when he turned 4. I was willing to show him how to play before then, but he really wasn’t interested. Well, this week, he came to me and asked if he could play on the computer. I opened the NOGGIN website for him, showed him which mouse button to click and he was off and running! All our educational games have gotten pretty scratched up through the years. I guess that’s something we should put on his Christmas wish list…

* go to school – I’ve been surprised that he hasn’t asked to go to school this week. Anytime he would tell me that he would be going to school when he was 4, I would remind him that he would after he’d been 4 for a few months. He’ll be going to pre-K in the fall.

There have been other things mentioned, but those are the top 5. Turning 4 was a BIG deal in his mind. So, we started planning the celebration in early November and the celebration really started at Thanksgiving. On the day after Thanksgiving, he had a mini-party at Gran & Ol’ Granddad’s house where he got to open his presents from Grandmama & Granddad and Gran & Ol’ Granddad. He was quite excited to get a Ben 10 Alien Creation Chamber and some “dollars” (that he later used to buy a Dora game for his Leapster). We all spent the rest of the weekend making aliens.

We came home from Amarillo on Saturday. The next few days were rather tame as far as celebrating his birthday were concerned. We put up Christmas decorations and continued the countdown to December 7th. Grandmother & Granddaddy arrived on Friday. Their visit was mainly to see the kids (and, I like to believe, to see us), they were also coming to see the new house since they had not been up since we’d moved back to Plainview. We’re hoping that we’ll be in yet another new before too long, but that’s for another post.

Friday evening was spent enjoying spending time with Grandmother and Granddaddy. We left the house once and drove ALL the way to Wayland to see the living nativity before dinner, but that was our only outting. Before bed, I baked a birthday cake to be iced the next day. As he smelled the baking cake, Zachary knew he would soon FINALLY be 4.

Our plan for Saturday was to go to Chuck E. Cheese in Lubbock. We always let the birthday child choose one special meal for their birthday, and that was Zachary’s choice. We had big plans for the 7th, so we went on Saturday. I decorated the cake to look like an Omnitrix (from Ben 10) so we could take it with us. We decided to let him open his gifts before we went. He likes to dress up like the characters in his shows. We had got him some clothes similar to what Ben wears in the show, and we thought it would be fun for him to dress up like Ben to go to Chuck E. Cheese. He was very excited to get his own Leapster (so he doesn’t have to beg Timothy to let him play his anymore), Diego checkers, cards, and “magic ink” coloring book, and his Ben clothes (a green windsuit). We arrived at Chuck E. Cheese around 2:00 and had a great time.

On Sunday, Zachary decided to wear his “Easter suit” to church. We have a “Birthday Champ” ribbon that he wore proudly. He had a great morning telling every one that it was his birthday. Because he’s 4, he now gets to go to worship with the family. We had a great time worshipping together. After church, we went to lunch and then headed home.

Now, for the evening, we had a decision to make. After getting the tickets for his REAL birthday gift, a ride on the Polar Express, we had found out that the Children’s Choir Christmas musical was that night. All the kids were scheduled to sing. The service started at 6 and we had to be at the Polar Express Train Station in Lubbock by 7:45. We probably could have done both, but our time would have been rushed. So, we explained to a tearful Emily (the boys couldn’t have cared less) that we’d be skipping the musical. We arrived at the train station at 7:45, picked up our tickets at will-call, and found our place in line to get on Train Car 1.

The train ride was wonderful! Zachary enjoyed letting everyone know that it was his birthday. The whole train car sang Happy Birthday to him twice! Everyone enjoyed singing, dancing, listing to the “Polar Express” story, having hot chocolate and cookies, and of course, getting to see Santa and his Elves.

These pictures are from Chuck E. Cheese and the Train Ride.

There has been one interesting development of letting Zachary open his presents before his actual birthday. Any time someone asks him what he got for his birthday, he tells him that he didn’t get anything. He got a Leapster, Ben 10 clothes, Diego checkers, and an Alien Creator when he was 3, but he didn’t get anything when he was 4. Little turkey…

Posted by DaddyFranklin at October 21st, 2008

Tonight was the last game of the flag football season for Timothy.  We got to see him score his first touchdown.  As you’ll be able to tell from the video, we were quite pumped.

Here are a few pictures from the last day as well:

Posted by mommyfranklin at September 20th, 2008

Timothy started playing flag football this week.  It really is quite comical to watch a bunch 4, 5, & 6 year olds play football.  Unlike t-ball, there is quite of bit of education that the kids need to play football.  In t-ball, the kids need to know to hit the ball and run the bases when it’s their turn to bat and to catch (pick up off the ground) and throw the ball to first base when they are fielding.  In football, they learn to hike the ball, hand it off, and run for the end zone when they are on offense and to grab the flag of the guy with the ball when they are on defense.  It’s a lot to remember and requires some ability.

There wasn’t a lot of learning involved in the first week of practices.  The kids learned to hike the ball and to run with it.  They didn’t learn to hand off the ball or run in a certain direction.  We’re hoping that now that we’ve been through the first game, these will be some skills learned in practices.

Timothy’s team (the Redskins) played the Cowboys this week.  They don’t keep score, but it’s pretty easy to tell who won.  The Cowboys got 3 touchdowns and the Redskins got 1.

Nonetheless. everyone had a great time.  All it takes is to get a snack at the end of the game to keep the kids coming back for more.

Posted by DaddyFranklin at July 31st, 2008

Very cute compilation.  I remember torturing all three of my kids and seeing similar reactions:

Video:

Posted by mommyfranklin at April 6th, 2008

As promised in Scott’s blog, here is a highlights reel from Timothy’s first t-ball game. Pay no attention to the crazy lady screaming in the background.

Posted by mommyfranklin at May 20th, 2007

Yesterday was Emily’s dance recital. She was in Studio 2 with 12 other girls ages 6 -8 this year. Her group did two dances.

Ballet — Kung Fu Cuties

Tap — All That Jazz, Watch for Emily’s Solo!

At the end of the recital, there was an award ceremony. Emily and I had talked about the fact that she most likely would not be receiving the Dancer of the Year award like she did last year, so she was not just real enthusiastic about this part of the recital. She did receive a certificate of participation. We are all so proud of her and the work she’s done.

It was a great day, and one that we are glad is over. This is Emily’s third year to take dance, so we have gotten used to the hectic day that involves, among other things, plastering her hair into a bun, smearing makeup all over her face, and quick costume changes in a dressing room full of other dancers. The day went fairly smoothly despite all that.

Emily has decided not to take dance next year, as she would like to pursue other things. Up to this point, her plan has been to take dance lessons for 6 years (just like mom). I can’t say that I am real disappointed at her desire to stop taking dance lessons. It’s a lot of work and a long committment. I am excited about her trying new things. Her latest interest is gymnastics. She wants to learn to do a cartwheel so she can be a cheerleader. This could be fun!

Posted by mommyfranklin at March 20th, 2007

Words cannot express how special Sunday morning was.

Now we have an important task before us — to help her faith grow.
In case you were wondering, the pastor’s secretary sent me the prayer request form that the pastor referred to during her baptism. I have it tucked away in a safe place.

Posted by mommyfranklin at February 22nd, 2007

On Sunday morning, Emily woke us up telling us that she was ready to walk the aisle. She had dreamt about it all night and was ready. So, we asked her what she was going to say to the pastor. She said she was going to tell him that she asked Jesus into her heart at a Veggietales show on December 8th and that she wanted to be baptized. We asked her if she wanted to walk the aisle alone or if she wanted us to go with her. She said she wanted to go alone, but wanted us to stand with her when the pastor announces her. She had it all figured out. So, we all got ready and were off. She practiced her speech all the way there. I wonder if she told her Sunday School teachers about it too…

Every time the pastor stood in front of the church during worship, Emily asked if it was time to walk the aisle. We reminded her that it would be time when the pastor prayed after he was done preaching. During the sermon, she kept asking me what part of the sermon outline he was on. She was ready.

Finally, the pastor was praying and the hymn of invitation, “Have Thine Own Way,” began. We again asked if she wanted us to go with her. She shook her head and moved to the aisle on the first note of the song. She walked straight to the pastor. He leaned down and picked her up. She told us later that this is what he said:
Emily, are you here to tell everyone that Jesus is in your heart and that you are getting baptized next week?
Yes, sir.
That’s great! Go back to the seat and have your mom and dad come sit with you on the front row. In a minute, we’ll have you stand up in front to let everyone know about this.
Okay.
Then, he put Emily down and she came back to get us. Timothy didn’t know what was going on, but was happy to get to come with us to the front row.

A couple other people joined the church that day, so we needed to wait a few minutes for the song to end. Then, he introduced Emily and asked that we join her. He had some trouble remembering all our names, and introduced us as “Scott Franklin, Mrs. Franklin, and Little Franklin.” He told the church about Emily’s decision, and asked that they come and greet her after the closing prayer.

Here is a video of Emily’s profession of faith that we pulled off the TV recording Tuesday night.

Emily walked out of church with her head held high. She was so happy! It didn’t even bother that she didn’t get to deliver her speech that she had practiced all morning. On the way to lunch, Timothy decided to voice his objection at the way he had been introduced. He informed us that he is NOT Little Franklin, he is Timothy Reagan Franklin!

I didn’t mind being called Mrs. Franklin. I am just so proud of my little girl making such an important decision.

1 down, 2 to go.

Posted by mommyfranklin at December 7th, 2006

Timothy Reagan Franklin!

The following is a video of Timothy’s First Children’s Choir Performance. He did great! He was very impressed by the size of the Sanctuary.