Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Andrew - SEVEN

 Happy 7th Birthday Andrew John Nullmeyer! 

I am seeing your personality shift a little bit as you get older, and I love getting glimpses of the big kid you're becoming. You've become much more self-aware, and absolutely do not like to look silly in front of others. You are easily embarrassed and seem to take yourself pretty seriously. However, you're also incredibly goofy at home and have the BEST laugh. 

I think your big brothers influence you a lot!

(I just love your little turned-up-nose profile)

Words to describe you right now: confident, athletic, car-lover, sweaty, serious, musical, self-aware, determined, math-minded, speedy, moody, know-it-all, fearless.

You're confident in many of your abilities, and if someone tries to tell you how to do something, your typical answer is "I already know". I love your confidence but I'm trying not to let you get a giant ego!

You have a serious need for speed, and you are the most determined athlete out of all your siblings. You are currently playing baseball and you just finished your 2nd soccer season, where you were an absolute star on the field. You play hard and do not give up! I am constantly asking your siblings "Where's Andrew?" and I almost always find you outside doing something physical. Kicking or throwing a ball, setting up a bike ramp, climbing the tree, etc.


The other day I took you and your sister to the local school on your bikes, and after 10 minutes she was cold and ready to go home. You? You were gleefully riding through all the puddles, getting as wet and muddy and sweaty as possible.


Despite your differences, you and Jenna do play together a lot. You are quite stubborn and won't typically back down, so this obviously leads to arguments. But sometimes you are best friends, making up all sorts of imaginary games.

You are easily embarrassed, so when you tell me "I did my own hair! Do you like it?" I just have to smile and say yes. I have to do the same thing when you come downstairs wearing cologne for baseball practice, because you would burst into tears if I teased you about it. (Here's a recent example of an Andrew hairstyle)

You are always humming or singing, to the point where it annoys your siblings. I'm thinking some sort of music lessons will be in your future. You love turning on rock music in your brothers' rooms.  

You love to eat! You wake up at 7am on the dot every day, and you're almost immediately starving. Your favorite breakfast is a fried egg on toast, and then you're ready for a snack an hour or two later, followed by a 2nd snack, and then lunch. I'm just happy that I finally have a child who will try most things I cook!


Favorites: 

Color: Teal

Food: Pizza

Drink: Root Beer

Place To Go: Disneyland

Toy: RC Cars

Best Friend: Noah

What Want to be When Grows up: Hotel Owner w/ Jenna

School Subject: History

This morning you woke up on your birthday, pinched your own cheeks, and told me "I've lost some of my chub". Stop growing up so fast!

I love you so much Andrew and I'm in shock that you're already 7. You certainly don't act like the baby of the family, but of course you are my baby. Happy Birthday Drewski!

Monday, December 4, 2023

Thanksgiving Weekend Trip

We took a 1-night family trip after Thanksgiving this year. It was part fun, part educational, and 100% quality family time. We started off with Thanksgiving dinner at my parents' house.



The next morning we got up bright and early and drove to San Jose for a Sharks game!

The game was especially fun to watch at the end when it went into a shootout.
After the game we checked into our hotel. It was the tiniest suite I've ever seen, but it fit all 6 of us.
The kids wasted no time getting comfy.
We went out to dinner at Chili's. Afterwards we planned to go to Christmas in the Park in San Jose, but the kids were incredibly tired by this point. We did drive by it on the way back to the hotel and it looked like absolute chaos. I'm glad we skipped the crowds.
After a poor night of sleep we enjoyed a complimentary breakfast at our hotel before checking out.
We took the kids to Santa Clara University to show them where Mommy went to college!
It was so fun being back on campus and I really enjoyed showing them where I studied for 4 years.
Inside the church, which was on my list to show the kids since we studied CA missions last year.
The original wall of Mission Santa Clara.
So many memories from this campus! I'm not sure how exciting it was for the kids but I had fun.
We stopped by Monopoly in the Park and ran around the board for a while.


After lunch we took the kids to the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum!
The artifacts were SO cool to look at up close because this is exactly what we've been studying this year for history.
Real human remains. Jenna may have been slightly scarred by this (and the accompanying video we watched).
Going inside the pyramid tomb was a neat experience.
I spy a pyramid....and Jenna!
After the museum we couldn't decide what to do before going home. I decided to look up local Christmas tree farms and found one in Dixon, right on the way home!
Silveyville Farm was so cute! Hot cocoa, roasted chestnuts, friendly employees in matching red plaid, and Christmas trees available to cut down for a very reasonable price!
The sun was setting so we got right to work looking for the perfect tree.
The kids said cutting down the tree was really hard work!
What a fun (freezing) way to end our little family trip! We came home with a 10-foot Christmas tree and many fun memories.

Tuesday, November 21, 2023

JENNA - NINE

Happy 9th Birthday Jenna Mae Nullmeyer!

My precious girl, you are such a sweet light in our family. You constantly surprise me with your mix of personality traits. You are gentle, but fierce on the soccer field. 


You are shy, but brave enough to sing on a big stage. 


You are calm but also incredibly animated!


You are peaceful, but willing to stand up to your brothers. 


You are easily pleased and content, but will make a big fuss if you are being mistreated. 

You are still obsessed with anything soft and squishy and cute. Top of your birthday and Christmas list are squishies, stuffed animals, and squishmallows. 

A lot of your free time is spent playing with Andrew. The two of you will get lost in imaginary play, making a "store", a "library", or a "hotel". I am then asked to come and be a guest or customer. You guys make a giant mess but I love seeing how creative you are!

You used to be my best eater, but you've gotten much pickier this year. You pretty much live on bread. Your favorite breakfast is a toasted Morning Round. You love pancakes, waffles, PB sandwiches, rolls, garlic bread, sourdough....pretty much anything bread-like. 

You really hate math, but you absolutely love reading, writing, and anything involving a story. You love being read to for school or just enjoyment, and your reading comprehension is excellent. Every night in bed you fly through an entire chapter book. You'll bring me your finished book at 10pm and then ask what you should read next. I adore all the cute little stories you write.... maybe you will be an author/illustrator someday?

Jenna, I definitely see a lot of similarities between you and your "Mama". (You are my only child who calls me that). You are shy just like I was as a child. You love being organized and making lists. You made a 4-page itinerary and shopping list for your birthday, and you've even got a menu planner all filled out.

Happy Birthday my amazing, cute, creative, innocent, thoughtful, crazy, patient, beautiful little girl. We all love you so much!