It's what I am made to do

Evan has been in drum lessons for about 5 months. He goes once a week for half an hour. He really really enjoys it. This fall, when I asked him what sport he wanted to play he simply answered, "All I want to do it drum."

A little back story. I love music. I love musicians. Someone with that gift really inspires me. The way someone can manipulate an instrument (voice included) has always put me under some sort of spell. The expection to this rule was drumming. Not that I don't appreciate people who play the drums...I DO! It is just that if you are a drummer you are always drumming. Drumming fingers, pens, notebooks...it drives me batty. I even remember having conversations with my girlfriends about never dating/marrying a drummer for that reason.

Fast forward to my mid (cough cough) thirties. I am thrilled Evan wants to start music. Music isn't a contact sport. You can't blow out a knee or get a concussion drumming. Plus, I am very excited his daddy's music gene was passed down. While I love and appreciate music...I, myself, am not musical. I have sung in choirs where my voice will blend nicely with others and I might have spit into the played the flute for a couple of minutes (there is no photographic evidence of this) but I am not musical. I was even happy he wanted to drum...until he started drumming.

He drums on the table. He drums in the car. He drums on the water in the bath. He drums on his body. He drums on MY body. He drums on the couch. He drums in bed. He drums on his brother's head. He drums in his sleep. He. Does. NOT. Stop. Drumming and I literally might lose my mind.

So today, while I was making dinner, Evan was drawing, a new hobby he's picked up. About every 45 seconds he'd stop, step back, evaluate his picture, wait for it...while he drummed. I have told him about 50 times today to stop drumming. So I sharply yelled said, "Evan!!! The drumming HAS to stop!" He froze and melodramatically put his head on the table. When he looked up at me he said, "But moooooommmm, it is was I am MADE to do."

So without further ado, here is what Evan as "made to do".

Luke is 4!!

Last month was Luke's birthday month. I call it that because we seemed to celebrate all. month. long. But there is a reason for that.

I had to work the night of Luke's birthday, but it was more than that. July and August are very busy for me. This year didn't even hold a candle to any other year. There was so much going on at work that Luke's birthday slipped up on me. Mommy guilt hit me full force and there might have been some ugly cries in the shower. My amazing and calm husband reassured me that Luke prefers a smaller quieter affair. A big birthday party with a ton of people just isn't his bag. The guilt was hitting hard because 4 was when Evan had his first 'friend' birthday party. Through some major counseling sessions with my husband and friends, I did come to terms with Luke having a family birthday party.

John and the boys celebrated the night of his birthday with some cupcakes and presents. Luke really was only interested in the cupcakes (note to self for next year). The 15 minutes I was home before bed I got some sweet birthday snuggles. He went to sleep a happy boy that night.

A couple weeks after that we celebrated with the family. Fun, family, friends and BBQ! Luke opened presents with the insistent help of his brother. I am not 100% sure who was more excited about presents, Evan or Luke.

 

Luke chose to have cupcakes instead of cake. When it came to sing to him, he said, "Oh no! It will be too wowd!!" (That's too loud for you non-toddler speaking folk) and immediately covered his ears. I promised him we'd sing quietly. We sang quietly while he grinned with his hands over his ears. He blew out the candle (while still holding his ears) and gobbled up the cupcake.

 

We also got to have a silly string war. Sadly, the silly string was bought at the dollar store and the war only lasted a hot minute. But there was still some belly laughing and fun. PS. Luke wanted nothing to do with the silly string war. I don't think Pop did either.

 

 

Later that month Luke received a birthday book from Mommy, Daddy and Evan to be put in the St. George's library collection in his honor.

Poor guy has really been confused by the month long celebration. He keeps asking me if he's still four.