Ben

This man-boy...he kills me.  Seriously.  Out of all my boys he's the one I worry the least about.  He is funny, kind, smart...he is everyone's favorite.

Ben has been sharing a room with Max and Evan for about a year.  He opted to do that so they could have one room just for toys.  A few weeks ago I felt like I need to move Ben out of there - Max and Evan were getting on his nerves and he needed his space.  He didn't want to move back into the toy room so I moved him downstairs with Xander.  It was inspired.

They both grumbled and complained but they secretly love it.  I know.  It has been so fun to watch these two opposites becoming friends.  I hope it lasts. 

One of my favorite things about Ben is that he loves to read.  We have bonded over many books:  Harry Potter, Divergent, Clockwork Angel...we both love the sci-fi fantasy books. I love being able to discuss literature with him.  Ben loves reading but he also loves sports...especially football.  He is just as great a receiver as Max and I really hope he gets to shine on the Freshman Hamilton Football team. 

Ben=awesome

Speaking of Max...

This kid amazes me.  He is a straight A student. A human calculator (no joke).  And the best receiver around.  He can catch anything you throw.  Max is hard core at anything he does.  He goes full force..to the max.  Get it?  We named him perfectly.

As the third boy it could be easy to get lost in the middle.  He makes his presence known.  I love watching him excel at football and at school.  He is also hilarious.  Razor sharp wit people. 

Example:

I brought Ian some twine and hemp to make bracelets.  The boys were hanging out in the family room and Ian says, "Look what mom got - I can make cool bracelets for you guys!"  Max replies, "What...are we teenage girls?  Do you want us to sit in a circle and braid each other's hair too?"

or

Max was helping Evan put on a Batman costume while Evan sat lazily on the couch.  Max says, "Hey Evan I don't remember Batman sitting with his stomach puffed out while Alfred did all the work!"

and one of my favorites:

Me:  "Max, eat your dinner!"
Max:"What...are you trying to fatten me up like Hansel?  are you planning on eating me??"

Life would be boring without this awesome boy.

The tale of two brothers

When Max was younger Ben and him were great friends.  Max would follow Ben around and Ben would tolerate it and sometimes even be cool with it.  When Ben hit junior high he outgrew letting his little brother tag along and do whatever he was doing.  Coincidentally when Ben started jr high Evan started kindergarten.  I think once Evan started school with him Max started to consider him as possible friend material.  They are the best of friends and the worst of enemies.

It has been heart warming to watch them grow as brothers and friends.  No one can make Evan laugh like Max.  I have seen the sweeter side of Max through Evan.  He takes care of him and helps him.  Of course Evan gets on Max's nerves and vice versa..but for the most part they are the best of friends.

I love it.

Evan

I love this little boy of mine.  He is getting bigger, smarter and stronger every day and it breaks my heart a little.  Especially since he is the last one. 

Evan loves making books.  He writes stories about robots, angry birds, Abraham Lincoln, money...really anything he is interested in or learning about in school.  Sometimes he makes books with pictures only.  Those are the best because then he explains what each page is about.  The way his mind works is baffling, amazing and mind-blowing.  Ian and I are constantly in awe of his creativity.  

Last week for school he had to write a poem about earth day.  I made the mistake of not checking his homework so as you can see it's more of a paragraph then a poem.  But awesome all the same.  My favorite part are his examples of cleaning.  Whenever Evan gets a homework assignment involving writing he is eager and excited to do it.  I love that at this young of an age he has a passion for art and writing. 

It makes me wonder what he will become...

16...Whaaaaatttt????

Well...it happened.  Xander turned 16.  Yesterday.  Technically he could drive...that is if he was even remotely interested in driving.  Which he isn't.  When I started thinking about his 16th birthday I wanted to do something fun and special for him.  Birthdays at our house aren't a super big deal but I wanted this one to be special.  Especially since it was his "magic" birthday (he turned 16 on the 16th).  When he was in California for choir this past weekend, I enlisted Ian as my partner in crime and we went birthday shopping.  I wanted to buy 16 presents and hide them around the house.  Let me say...it was so much fun doing it with Ian's help - Ian really got into picking the presents.

I decorated the house the night and hid the presents the night before.  We had so much fun watching him find them and I'm pretty sure he was happy with his loot.  Some of the things he got:  a calligraphy set, a shirt, a tie, flip flops, a Fleet Foxes cd, drawing pens...just little things that we knew he'd like.  He hugged Ian and I both before bed and told us what a great birthday he had.

In ways I feel like I have grown up with Xander.  He made a mother out of me.  He has taught me patience, understanding, love..and most of all to laugh at myself.  He never lets me take myself too seriously.  We have both made mistakes but hopefully they are mistakes we learn from.  I think being the oldest child is hard and Xander handles it beautifully. 

16 things I love about Alexander Kay Trezise:

1.  His creativity
2.  His spirituality
3.  His sense of humor
4.  He works hard
5.  He loves his family
6.  He loves his friends
7.  He is an excellent cook
8.  He cares about the environment
9.  His passion for fishing
10. He loves to learn
11. He protects his brothers
12. He honors his priesthood
13. He gives awesome hugs
14. He is an artist
15. He confides in me
16. He is loyal

Friends

Maybe I've posted about these two before but I don't care - it's worth another mention.  These two boys are awesome!  I'm so thankful that over the last year they have become the best of friends.  They bring out the best in each other.  I love that Ben has a friend who has the same beliefs that he does.  The are kindred souls. 

Choir

 One of the great things about Xander switching high schools is that he can be in choir.  Chandler High School's choir teacher is awesome!  I love that Xander has found something that he loves and is good at!

 I went to his first concert in September and I was blown away!  They were awesome!  I could've stayed and listened for hours. 

I'm so proud of these boys and so glad they get to experience choir together!

Injured

 This year has been a crazy injury-filled one for the boys.  Xander broke his wrist, Max lost 1/2 of his tooth, Ben broke his arm, Xander broke out in a crazy rash, Xander got stung by a scorpion and Evan got a black eye.  Above is Ben getting his cast off - I don't know who was more relieved - me or him.  That thing SMELLED!  After he got the cast on he still continued to go to every football practice and game - his coach gave him an award at the end of the season for his endurance and perseverance.  That kid is awesome!

 Poor Xander - he woke up one morning with this rash.  We are thinking he is allergic to penicillin since he was on antibiotics at the time.  The poor kid had to get a shot in the butt :(

 I am amazed that Evan's black eye was the first trampoline injury this year - he took it in stride.  I think he was glad that his glasses covered up more of the injury.

All these injuries have made me grateful that we have wonderful health insurance.  I'm so thankful for Ian's job and benefits!