Photos by Jonas

Jonas received a kid's digital camera for Christmas from Grammy Stella and Grampa Jesse. Here are some of his pics:

Month 60: Turning Five

Dear Jonas,

*Your birthday was on Saturday. We had a big party for you because you turned five. We had it all: a brinka-brinka, a bunch of balloons, friends from school, lots of family, good food and a Toy Story cake and pinata. You were excited about it all and even helped set it up.

I can't believe five years have gone by already. Where did the time go? Well, I know where it went. It passed us by as you...

• were learning how to talk at such an early age.
• sat still and listened while I read to you at about 19-months old (Angus doesn't have time for sitting still while I read).
• looked out the window of our little house on 4th street every morning watching the cars zoom by.
• learned how to bake and cook everything from cakes to enchiladas. Always wanting to make something for all of us to try.
• spent summers in a little plastic pool splashing, playing in the mud and holding the hose to cool off or just for fun.
• worked on puzzles and mastered them so quickly and so young.
• welcomed a baby brother into your life. It was a lot to take in, but you did it with ease and lots of love. You smelled his head for weeks after he was born.
• sat in a barbers chair and got your very first haircut.
• attended preschool and tried to keep a brave face the first day, until it was time to leave, then you started to cry. I cried in the parking lot after you went in. It was too much for mom, too.

This list does not even justify the amount of things you have done, learned, experienced, seen...

You are a very compassionate little boy who feels bad when daddy has to go out of

town or when you hear about grandpa being sick. You still enjoy reading, every night, three books or more, without fail.You have a great interest in nature. You now love video games, but which little boy doesn't. You are happy about having a sister, even though you keep telling me you want her to be your older sister.

You come up with the silliest things. After watching a Scotch-Brite commercial you now want all

the different types of scrubbers and you tell me what each one is for. Apparently, one is for tough angles, another for tough tub scrubbing and so on. You actually use them and clean stuff for mom. You are at the top of your preschool class, which doesn't surprise me at all.

Best of all I love you for being you!

I love everything about you, even when moods change, when smiles turn upside down, when grumpiness sets in, when you don't get your way and tell me I'm mean. Even though, sometimes, some moments are harder than others...

I love it all.

*At the end of your party, we let all of the balloons go in honor of you. I asked you to make a wish before you set yours off. You weren't sure what to wish for at first. After thinking it over you said:

"I wish for...a happy life."

I couldn't have said it better myself.

Happy Birthday!

Love,

Mom

El Vaquero

My little cowboy.

Month 58

Dear Jonas,

You turned 58 months old. You are getting closer and closer to the big 5 and almost off to big boy school. You are already turning into such a handsome young boy. That little brain of yours is full and full of ideas every single day.

You come up with the silliest things. I have to hug you to hold on to you at this age. Some day you are going to be all grown up and I will look back on these years and remember all your sweet and carefree ways.

Video games are hot on your mind. I wish they weren't around, but there's nothing I can do now, except to limit your time on them. Dad wishes you never played them at all. It's hard when that is all you see or hear about from friends and family. They are tempting and fun, and I can easily see how hours can be spent on them, but you do listen when it's

time to stop playing.

You and Angus are so

good together. Some days there isn't a fight in sight. Other days, you get mad at him for doing something to you or taking something from you. I am sorry, but that is just what little brothers do. He wants to be just like YOU! He repeats everything you say and copies everything you do. Forget about his baby toys, even the toys you like, he likes.

Dad has been working a lot these days and he wishes he didn't have to, but there is nothing he can do about it. I can see how much you miss him being around most evenings.

We continue to read at night.

That interest is still there, thank goodness! You ask questions about words you don't recognize and you use them later, correctly.

You know all your letters and numbers, can recognize them and say them without hesitation. You know the days of the week and months of the year. "S-T-O-P, stop, you have to stop at the stop sign, mom."

You are an amazing little boy and you are only four, but no matter what age, you will always be my little boy.

Love you,

Mom

The day you gave dad a tattoo

Dad was home for lunch and out of the blue you asked him if he wanted a tattoo. You grabbed a tattoo book we checked out from the library and had him pick.

Dad chose the snake wrapped around a sword. You got your paint, a brush and some water. You did a pretty awesome job on it. Dad was very happy and pleased with it.

When he came home from work you asked about it. He was disappointed that it had rubbed off while working. He wished it could have stayed forever!

Photography by Jonas Armenta

All that he wanted

Month 55

Dear Jonas,

What a big boy! You are now in preschool and you LIKE it. This makes mom so happy.

The first day was hard for both of us.  

I had butterflies days before because I knew it was going to be hard dropping you off for the first time.  We got ready that morning and you were doing great until Sesame Street came on (you knew that when S.S. was on we were going to be leaving). 

Then you started crying and telling me you didn't want to go and that you wanted to stay with me, because I was the best mommy.  Well, that just broke my heart.  I felt like holding you and saying, "Don't worry, baby, you never have to go, you can stay with mama, all you want."  I knew that I couldn't do that.  I was trying my hardest to hold back my tears, while encouraging you, letting you know everything was going to be fine and that school was going to be fun.  

Luckily, daddy came home and that helped a lot.  You got in the truck and were still crying, but you weren't upset or anything, just a little scared, because you didn't know what to expect.  We got there, looked around, you didn't want us to go.  Then I was sent off to talk to the school director so it would be easier because you weren't letting mommy go.  Daddy was the one to hand you over to the teacher.  She told you to say bye to daddy and you did, in the saddest little voice.

When I heard that, I walked out of the gate, my tears just came out.  Daddy said he felt like crying too, and daddy never cries!  It was just hard to drop you off and leave you.  I start to think, well, what if he needs water, or gets hungry or has to go to the bathroom or what if a kid hurts him, or whatever.  Stuff I know because I am with you everyday.  I know when something is bothering you or when you need anything, I am always there.  

Today was different.  You were happy to go, still a little nervous, but happy.  When I said I had to leave, I told you to play in the playground and you said, "I want to be with the teacher."  We found her, you hugged her and held her hand.  How sweet! You told me you would miss me.  I know you will be just fine and I can't wait to hear about all the fun stuff you will do.

I love you.

Mom

Savings

Jeremiah bought Jonas this old big bird bank at a yard sale last Saturday. When we got home that day, he went straight to the bathroom to give it a good wash.

Jonas loves it, but we now have no change around the house, in my car and miah's work pants.

Jonas takes it all.

Pennies, quarters, p.p.p money, italian and mexican change, sure, why not. It's all in there. I try to explain to him that some is not worth anything here, but he just thinks I'm trying to take his money away. I would never!

He is saving up for a "really big toy," one worth "25 DOLLARS!"

and i quote

"Angus looks chubbier everyday."

"It's my day off on fridays, saturdays and mondays."

"What the baby-heck!"

"I'm just a little boy."

B/W

Jonas: Are you going to be my kids grandma when I get big?

Me: Yes.

Jonas: Are you going to look like that (while pointing at an older woman on a t.v. commercial)?

Me: Yes, when I get older.

Jonas: I want you to stay how you are.

Me: I'll try my hardest.

My son - the future hunter

Jonas wants to hunt animals when he gets bigger.  He says he is going to own a Bass Pro Shops. 

He's going to hunt for his animals and get them stuffed.  But he is only going to hunt deer, moose, ducks, and birds.  Not elephants, zebras or giraffes. He told me this at bed time.  Oh, then he changed his mind, he's going to own Cabela's. 

 

Oy.  

I tried to talk to him about how beautiful animals are and that shooting them isn't nice, but he said he's not going to shoot a lot.  He said, "But I need some for my store."  "Oh, I guess so," I said.

I hope he moves on to something else, something that doesn't involve shooting anything! 

Pinata time

We made a pinata today with some leftover tissue paper from Angy's birthday.  We put candy in and let the fun begin.  

Jonas hit it and some candy fell out, then I hit it kind of hard and all the candy came out.  Jonas was upset that I did that.  

He said, "It's supposed to be my turn, then my turn, then my turn."  Then he was over it.