February 9, 2012
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Kendall Turns 7!!
Exactly 7 years ago yesterday Jeremy and I were up at 4:30 AM and driving the hour long drive to the hospital where our son was scheduled to be born via C-section.
Like I told Kendall yesterday…he was so tiny and so perfect and we are SO glad that he joined our family 7 years ago. His Daddy was the one who picked out his name, and after some consideration, I agreed. He was the kid that it took us the longest to decide on a name for and we only finalized his middle name on the way to the hospital. That same name is the one that a boy on the bus was making fun of him for recently…saying that Kendall is a girl’s name. Which it is. And we didn’t know that when we named him. But that’s a whole other story. About how the ONE thing that I didn’t want to do with my boys was pick a name that could possibly be a girl’s name. And how Kendall was not even three weeks old when I first heard “Oh, my daughter’s name is Kendall” or “I have a new niece named Kendall.” Seriously?? I guess I wasn’t up to date on current names because I had only ever heard of Kendall as a boy’s name, and a very rare one at that. I told Kendall to tell that boy on the bus to just call him “Ken” and that should solve it. That freaked Kendall out because he doesn’t want to be “Ken” of “Ken and Barbie.” Oh, well. We tried to pick a manly name. We really did!
One of Kendall’s birthday gifts was a punching bag and boxing gloves…and that probably is about all I need to say about him!
Kendall is a fireball. He is very intense and feels things very strongly. He tends to use his physical force to express himself and finds it hard to express himself with words. We are working on that. He is full of energy and life. He also has a very sensitive side and will cry during movies and will empathize deeply with situations or people where he sees people hurting. He is very generous. Just this week the kids brought home some folders because they are raising money for the American Heart Association through school. Kendall chose to give $20 of his own money (mostly birthday money) to the cause. I questioned him about his choice but he definitely wanted to give that much!
Kendall is a snuggler and a loving boy, but he is also wild and crazy. He has a short fuse but yet will work on something painstakingly when he sets his mind to it. He is easy to please and quick to make decisions (what do you want for breakfast, which coloring page would you like, what treat do you want to pick out at the store) but also will sometimes get upset when I don’t consult him or when I assume I know what he would like. He is a little package of contradictions that keeps me guessing!!
He’s been a challenge to discipline (still is) and he is my child who has most humbled me as a parent. Which is good. I wouldn’t trade him for the world and I want to be sure he KNOWS that!
Anyway…we celebrated by inviting some of his friends over the Friday before his birthday.
We had a sledding party on our back hill and then they opened gifts, played all wild and crazy in our basement, and had supper and played some more. It was kind of wild, but the kids got along really well and all in all, it went off without much trouble. For which I was thankful.
The theme I picked for his party was Penguins. He wanted to be surprised, and Kendall is an animal lover, so I thought he would like this theme. He is sometimes hard to impress though, and he seemed pleased, but didn’t make a big deal of it either way.
THE SLEDDING:
Our kids and their friends are at such a fun age and it is so cool to see their different personalities, their senses of humor and the way they interact. I love having our kids’ friends come over!
The meal. Pizza, grapes, Doritos and of course, the cake and ice cream.
I painstakingly made all of these little penguins out of fondant. It took a long time and they still looked like they were made by a kindergartener. Oh, well. They were edible (if not sickeningly sweet) but a kid or two at the party ate a whole one right down.
THE GIFTS:
The kids all gathered round and wanted to play with everything all at once after the gifts were open! It was kind of crazy!
THE GROUP:
One cousin, 2 siblings, 5 friends and 1 birthday boy! Good times!
Now that this is over, I can move on to the next thing…getting Valentines made for all three kids (or helping them make them)
Derrick is doing this project for his Valentines for school:
Kendall wants to do this:
And Nicole chose this one:
So yeah, we have some work to do!
In the meantime, Jeremy and I are going away for our anniversary and I am super excited. We are definitely overdue for some uninterrupted time together! Add in a little retail therapy and I may just come back a new girl!
Comments (14)
Ohhh my I love the theme and the cake was great — despite what you say your Penquins rocked!! Fondant and I have a love hate relationship. I always make my own with marshmallow b/c the store bought stuff is so ucky poo tasting.. I am pretty sure I am almost lost my salvation one year over the strawberry shortcake cake I made for Aleigh one year. However, the zebra cake I did for my sis’s showers turned out way better.
Happy Birthday to your special boy – it was fun learning a bit more about his personality. So him and my Miss Mae are the same age
Have a great week working on those Valentine’s — and thanks for the reminder that I need to come up with something as well. Time to hit up pinterest.
LOVE the cake! I can’t believe you made all those penguins by hand! They look great!
Cute valentines!
You MADE those penguins?! Are you kidding me! They look like they’re straight out of a specialty bakery, I’m super amazed!
So, I think you DID choose a manly name, but so many boys’ names are being used as girls’ now that the origin gets confused. 
I think of Kendall as a boy’s name. Probably because I have a boy cousin named Kendall. I remember the first time I heard a girl being called by that name I was so amazed because it sounded so masculine to me.
Cute cute Valentine ideas too!
okay. that cake is AMAZING. i’m so going to sign you up for the cake boss::next great baker.
that fondant stuff is so hard to work with. and here you always say you’re not creative. sheesh.
as far as kendall’s name~ i’ve personally always thought it was a girls’ name that sounded like a BOYS!!
and in this day and age it seems the vogue thing to do to name your kids something that could be either/or –
so seven years ago, you were ahead of the trend.
happy happy birthday to your sweet boy!!
That cake is awesome!!! I seriously thought it had come from a high-end bakery! You are talented! And as far as the Kendall name, it’s def a boys name in my book. I don’t know any females named Kendall but I have heard there are some. A friend from church felt the same as you about names-she wanted to be sure when a person heard her child’s name they would KNOW whether they’re a boy or girl & she has a son Kendall, had him at the doc & the nurse calls “Kendall” and a girl stood up & walked back. She was SHOCKED, she had never before heard Kendall for a girls name.
those penguins are awesome! dang. the cake. the whole party. your son. all of it…awesomeness.
i looked at your penguins and wondered where you bought them!
sorry if that’s too many adolescent awesomes in one sentence.
happy birthday to kendall. i love that kid. i have a kindred spirit of his in my own family.
and happy anniversary celebrating to YOU and jeremy! enjoy your therapy and man.
Happy Birthday Kendall! Our Nick just turned 8! That cake is AMAZING!!! I’m going to attempt using fondant for Anna’s party in March. Love the punching bag and gloves idea – our Nick would LOVE that. Well, our Abbey would love that too
Happy Anniversary! Jeromy (my husband) and I went away for our 10th last year – and it was sooo lovely!
YOU are a good mom. I love Kendall’s cute face. His eyes are amazing. And the way you describe him sounds so much like our second son, Bryant….the one who is Derrick’s age.
Did Derrick DRAW those faces? If so, he is good.
Have a wonderful getaway.
and btw. it kept popping in my head tonight about how he gave his own money…what a great kid!
oh the valentine gifts look fun!!
sweet cake…. great job! you’re a great mom.
Happy Birthday, Kendall! ”He is a bundle of contradictions and keeps me guessing.” You made me laugh because I could so relate! Very cute party. And honestly, I was SURE you were going to tell us just where you can buy little penguins which made the cake decorating a cinch. Go YOU! I love the little Valentines ideas, especially Derricks! And yeah for anniversary getaways!!! Can’t wait to hear where you go. Is your clothes buying fast done?
@smilesbymiles - Yes it is, Michelle. Yes, it is!! Is it EVER done!!
You are one of the best moms I’ve ever seen. I love your honesty and humility. I was so impressed with the cake you made and had to imagine that Kendall’s friends were pretty impressed as well! I have yet to hear a girl named Kendall, actually. I know Loren hates his name… why just the other week when I busted my tire and asked the cops to get ahold of Loren Martin at ALS for me, I overheard them on the phone saying, “I don’t know what SHE does?” I didn’t even give them a chance to ask me about HER, I blurted out, Um, Loren Martin is my HUSBAND and HE is a crewcheif. Pretty funny to think about it now, but at the moment I was kinda miffed… I’d make the same mistake, but… yeah….
@appalolly -