5.

We are having a bit of a crazy week...

Everyone just returned home yesterday-the kids and I went on a family retreat to Spearfish, SD with my parents, sisters and their families. While Matt went to Minneapolis to visit his grandma, then on to Medford, WI for a family reunion of his own. Yes, we were 800 miles apart, and it broke my heart that I couldn't be with him and his family. But, he had a great time and was able to say good-bye to his grandma before she went to be with the Lord on Sunday July 3, 2011.

Tomorrow we will leave again to go to the Cities for the funeral.

Today Matt's mom is here. The kid's time with her is so treasured by them, we hate to have to leave when she is here, but so it goes.

In the midst of this, Nathan you are 5! You seem so big, yet still so little. You are still the same "passionate" kid as you have always been. It's not uncommon to hear you exclaim multiple times a day that you are having your "worst day ever!", and then later, "your best day ever!".

You are still so smart-you can easily read most "reader" books, and you even started reading a few chapter books. You amaze us with your math skills, and how easily you catch on to adding and subtracting.

You are sweet and shy-yet rough and tough. You love to wrestle with daddy, practice your head stands (which you once held for 8 seconds), play catch with your ball and glove, and of course, watch movies (or really any t.v. at all). Inevitabl, you will retreat to a room by yourself and read books if you are with a large group for more than a couple of hours. It's how you recharge.

I think your love language is gifts-but we are trying to hard to train you to have a thankful heart! You are amazing, wonderful and will always be my baby boy.

We love you!