Nathan: Age 10

Today on the check for Nathan's piano lessons, I wrote 07-07-17.

I nudged my ten-year-old riding shotgun to point it out to him and a big grin spread across his face. Yesterday Nathan was nine, but this morning when I walked in to shake him from sleep and ask whether he wanted muffins or pancakes, he'd made his way into the double digits.

It's hard to fathom that my first, five-pound bundle of joy has been living under my roof for a decade. Two hands. Nathan and I have taught each other countless lessons over the years. I have done my best to raise him {through the age-old first kid method of trial and error} and he has changed me for the better.

Nathan is funny, extremely smart, talented and creative, helpful, and compassionate about the world around him. He marches to his own beat and is never afraid to change it up. On Day One of Age Ten, he is braver and stronger and more protective of his siblings than ever before. As crazy as they may drive him, he will always be there to turn on the bathroom light or help Owen hobble to the couch after suffering an unfortunate knee boo-boo. Nathan loves hard and shows us all how to do the same. Happy Birthday, Nathan!

Tonight Nathan will join some of his buddies at a local water park to make a celebratory splash, but for now he is happy to share his answers to the annual birthday questionnaire. Enjoy and have a fabulous Friday, y'all.


Birthday Interview: 20 Questions

1. What's your favorite color?
   Blue, because I like how it looks.
   
   
2. What is your favorite thing to do?
   Play with Owen and Nora because most of the time they are nice to me.
   
   
3. What do you want to be when you grow up?
   A 3D game designer, because I would think that programming and designing games would be fun.
   
   
4. What is your favorite food?
   Crab legs, shrimp, fish, any kind of seafood.
   
   
5. What is your favorite TV show?
   Teen Titans Go. It's funny and weird.
   
   
6. What is your favorite animal?
   I like Siberian huskies, they are really pretty.
   
   
7. What is your favorite toy?
   Legoes because you build almost anything. And I love my fidget spinner because you can do tricks with it.
   
   
8. What's your favorite thing to wear?
   Adidas, Nike, or Under Armour anything.
   
   
9. What do you do really well?
   Play the piano, I'm pretty good at learning new songs and rhythms. I'm good at riding my bike, too.
   
   
10. What makes you laugh?
    Funny YouTube videos, especially the FUNnel Vision channel.
    
    
11. What are you afraid of?
    Spiders, big bugs, getting hurt.
    
    
12. Who is your best friend?
    Harleigh.
    
    
13. What's the best thing about your little brother?
He plays with me a lot, especially on our iPads.


14. What's the best thing about your little sister?
She likes to play with me, too, if that's okay to say again. We play Shopkins {she makes me}.


15. What do you like to do with your parents?
    We love watching movies together, we just got the live action of Beauty and the Beast and it was really good.
    
    
16. What do you love to learn about?
    Science, especially plant and animal science. It's really cool to understand how other things in the world work.
    
    
17. Where do you like to go?
    I like to go on sight-seeing trips, like when we go to the lake or the beach or other places with beautiful scenery.
    
    
18. What is your favorite book?
    Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul.
    
    
19. What is your favorite movie?
    Beauty and the Beast {not the cartoon}.
    
    
20. If you had one wish, what would it be?
    That I had the power to do anything in the world and the first thing I would do is make my room a lot bigger, make a computer appear on my desk, and make a million dollars appear my wallet.
    
    

Past Birthday Interviews: Age Nine, Age Eight, Age Seven, Age Six

Racking Up Awards

{And you thought Monday's post was full of gushy proud mom stuff...}
After the elementary principal read a prestigious letter from the 45th president of the United States, he began to call up students to receive medals for outstanding performance.

I steadied my hand on my phone, trying not to look too eager, but I was certain Bauer was near the top. As the name Jonathan and I chose a decade ago was announced to the room, I watched my bespectacled kid walk calmly to the podium, careful to keep his smile from rising too far.

Fourth grade here is the first that features an awards assembly, so Jonathan and I had front row seats. The medal Nathan received was for being one of the few in his grade to make all As for the year. His dad hopped up to snap a picture of him, then we settled in for the remainder of the program.

Once the principal finished his list, the keyboarding teacher took the stage. The first name called was Nathan's. He told me he was a fast typer, but I didn't know he stayed on the leader board. He didn't even make it back to his seat when "Nathaniel Bauer" rang into the microphone again, this time from his music teacher. His grin widened as he changed direction and I caught the eye of a teacher who probably noticed the incredulous look on my face. If you read my post on Monday, you know Nathan has musical ability, but his piano teacher and family aren't the only ones to notice.

When Nathan's classroom teachers announced winners, he went up for honors in both social studies and math. When it was over, he had a stack of five certificates. We were gathering his winnings when the principal stopped by. He looked at the awards in front of Nathan and congratulated him and pointed out that he now knows where the bar is set.

As we walked out of the school, I remembered that afternoon would be his last pick-up until fifth grade. The school year is over, and it ended with a bang.

---

On my Time Hop app today there's a photo from ten years ago. It's Nathan's 4D ultrasound I proudly shared with Facebook. I have a son! With a face! Just a tiny face with features we could barely pick out, but full of potential. This morning my heart swelled {just like the lump in my throat} when I saw just how that potential is being realized. Nathan works so hard at school. I am happy that he's able to see the results of his efforts.

He is a dedicated student, an incredible person, and one amazing son.

Happy Hump Day, y'all. Cheers to summer break!

Student Musician

This weekend my oldest son once again shook off his nerves and took the stage.

Nathan's had two and a half years learning major chords and allegro speeds and not to look at his fingers while stretching them to sixths. In the past I have written performance posts about how Nathan's anxiety melts through his fingers and comes out in impressive sound. While I could spin a tale about Nathan's experience at his fourth recital, that's his story. Today I have my own.

As his mom, there's a good chance I will always think Nathan is good at what he does, but what I want to share today has nothing to do with being his parent. I have played beside so many people, including several beginner band students in church. The thing about playing with someone who may not have as much experience is that you must let them set the pace. You obviously can't leave your partner in the dust. A duet is not two separate sounds, but a melding of noise that produces something better. That's how I approached our recital duet when Nathan asked me to accompany him.

When we first tried the song together, I was floored. While we were playing, Nathan kept one ear to the piano and another to me. He listened for my breath and struck the keys at the exact millisecond I exhaled. He held notes when I stumbled over mine, his sound rose with the emotion of the piece, and his fingers found every chord while his eyes scanned the notes. He asked me to play one section a different way, and we tweaked it until it felt right to him.

Once we got it down, I wandered into the kitchen and tried to explain what I felt to Jonathan. Nathan was no longer playing music, he was feeling music, and he was working with me to make our audience feel it, too.

I was discussing music with Nathan as a colleague, not a teacher.

At Friday night's performance, he played perfectly while I stumbled over a few notes. He also played a solo performance that sent chills down my arms, and a duet with another student a few years older than him.

The recital lasted two hours, but I still wanted an encore when it was over {it did help that Nora was asleep by then}. It was surreal to watch a fifth-grader belt Johnny Cash, then have a young girl take us to church while her fingers flew and her booming voice bounced off the back wall, followed by a preschooler who played classic nursery rhymes without thinking twice. Being in audience to this group had me floating on air.

I know these kids aren't just lesson-takers. They're all musicians, and I am so proud to say that Nathan has every right to hold that title.

It doesn't make sense to talk about the recital without sharing a little footage,
so click below to hear two of Nathan's songs. Enjoy and have a lovely Monday, friends!

Because of Nathan

Today's post could easily become a novel.

However, there is one gorgeous day waiting outside my window, so I will pare down a bit. Ten years ago I was painting a small room pale green on the bottom and pale blue on the top and trying to figure out how to glue a dinosaur border between. I had registered for the essentials that come with the first baby, and I'd read the how-to books cover to cover. Nathan was coming that summer, and I had to be prepared. While I knew the basics of childbirth, I had no idea how much I'd learn in the following decade.

Today's post is the second in a three-part series of what I've learned from my kids {Nora's post is here}, but I'm fast-forwarding this one. Following are some of the more recent things I'd never know if it weren't for my oldest.

Because of Nathan I know...

• How much patience it requires to have both a little sister and a little brother.
  
• That it's hard to tie a new pair of high-top Converse, but it's worth it.
• That a recess spent sitting on the sidewalk with friends is way better than being the first to the swings.
  
• That help around the house from a child is a godsend.
  
• That more expensive art supplies really do {unfortunately} make a difference in the finished piece.
  
• Words like mage and night elf and druid, and the fact that I'll never fully understand World of Warcraft.
  
• What musical.ly is.
  
• On that note: the necessity of headphones.
  
• How to kill an Ender Dragon.
  
• How to transpose music. Seriously.
  
• That subtracting by way of borrowing and carrying is still as complicated as it was in the '90s.
  
• That elementary school seems to be about finding your path as much as finding the right answer.
  
• The best days in the fourth grade are popcorn chicken Wednesdays and art class Fridays.
  
• How to juju on that beat {expertly, might I add}.
  
• Who Dan TDM is.
  
• That "YouTube personality" is a multi-million dollar career. Who knew?
  
• That those creepy Goosebump tales still reign supreme as a go-to book series.
  
• The intricate tastes distinguished among the various flavors of Sour Punch Straws.
  
• What the regions of Arkansas are called. We live in the West Gulf Coastal Plain, apparently.
  
• How bees make honey, why the Berlin Wall was built, and the methods of drawing anime.
  
• That watching my kid make discoveries is one of the coolest things I get to do.
  

Happy Weekend, friends! Get outside and enjoy it.

Nathan's New Look

After failing a school eye exam, Nathan was sent home with the dreaded letter...

Fighting back the fear as he climbed into my car, he let me know there was a piece of paper from the school nurse in his backpack. He explained how he struggled to see the board in math now that he sits a few rows back. Even worse, he admitted he couldn't read the smaller print on his Star Wars video game. Nathan's nerves were on high alert, but he knew what had to be done.

Jonathan explained the process of an optometrist visit the night before Nathan's appointment, and his focus shifted to shopping for the perfect pair of specs. The next day, he was given a prescription of -1.00 in one eye and a -1.50 in the other. After trying on several options, the excellent salesperson helped him narrow it down to a cool pair of black frames with yellow detail.

He left the office happy and hopeful and things got even better when we picked the glasses up two days later. This is where I need to admit something: I was filled with anxiety when we got the phone call that his glasses were ready. I didn't want my son to feel self-conscious. I didn't want my son to be scared to face his peers in school. I didn't want my son to get a new label accompanied by a barrage of unpleasant associations. I was pretty scared of this adjustment.

You'd think I would learn by now that Nathan has a way of proving me absolutely wrong.

He looks so handsome in his glasses and he loves them. When he first slipped them on, he was floored by how "crisp and clear!" the world around him looks. He was reading road signs and taking selfies, y'all.

On Day One of going to school with glasses, he said he spent the whole day thanking his classmates and teachers for their compliments on his new look. No one made fun of him {okay, besides Owen} and he no longer strained during long division. Sure, I keep having to remind him to put them on, but he doesn't mind it when I do. Nathan is still getting used to them, but I am so proud of how well he's handling it.

---

You thought this post was over? Oh no, there's more eye-related news that involves another member of my family.

On the exact day Nathan went to pick up his glasses, Jonathan had cataract surgery that resulted in him no longer having to wear his glasses. It was an odd exchange, and one Nora took a few days to get used to:

If you'll recall, there was a traumatic episode in November 2015 that ended in my husband having emergency surgery to reattach his retina. {Click here if you don't remember.} We were told that procedure would likely result in a need for cataract surgery. However, this step would take the prescription in his right eye from -11.00 to perfect.

This decision was a no-brainer because it meant trading in his thick glasses for a single left-eye contact, but it's still nerve-wracking to think about laser beams in your eyeball. However, he made it through with flying colors {I lost a few points when I almost passed out during IV placement... I know.} When the 20 minutes of surgery were up, I was summoned back to the post-op room and Jonathan blinked in amazement when he saw me. Obviously, I assumed he was seeing my full beauty with his right eye for the first time in his life. Nope.

"Whoa! I can see the wrinkles on your forehead now!"

He tried to blame it on the anesthesia, but the nurse was quick to point out he didn't have any. Like Nathan, Jonathan spent the car ride home amazed at the focus of the world around him. In the days since surgery, his vision is starting to clear up and he's doing great.

I hope y'all had a lovely weekend. We decided that the Kitten Bowl was cuter than the Puppy Bowl and NFL overtime rules are unfair. Happy Monday!

My Music Man

For years Nathan searched for that one "thing" he can claim.

He needed a passion, a talent he can nurture forever. He tried a few different sports, and while he had a blast playing and running with his friends, it never hit a spark. Almost two years ago, however, he sat down in front of a church piano for his first teacher-led lesson. The music and art and beauty that has come from him in those two short years has been astounding. Sure, I have to beg him to practice because video games will always be more appealing, but once his fingers hit the keys, he just fits.

Of course we're talking about my firstborn, so the next sentence shouldn't come as a shock: Nathan is very good at many things. He continues to impress me with his accomplishments at school and his drawing is reaching levels I didn't think I would see at age nine. He is a creative, colorful, driven child and while I love watching all of these talents grow, above all I enjoy connecting in his music. I think it's because aside from the whole growing in my womb thing, it's the one thing we have that's for the two of us alone.

We sit side-by-side at the piano to tackle his new pieces and we talk in terms that are like secret code to the rest of the family. I have the knowledge to see talent in him beyond the admiration of a doting parent.

This weekend Nathan participated in a belated Christmas recital. Though nerves showed in his voice and his eyes, they were nowhere to be found in his hands. They slid gracefully over the keys and my smile spread out into the sanctuary as I watched this little boy captivate the audience {except his two smallest fans who sang every word...}. As a matter of fact, I have his performances to share with you:




This is only Nathan's second Christmas recital, and I am eager to see where it takes him. He won't fall in love with practicing more as song selections become more complicated, but I hope music remains a passion. He has so much talent and I am thrilled that he has found this channel of release. I fully understand that the kid is nine and his "thing" has a good chance of changing, but the music is in him.

I know Nathan grows in new directions every day, but I hope he lets me accompany him for a while. Happy Wednesday, y'all!

Nathan's ABCs

Nathan was given an interesting assignment from his GT teacher a few weeks back.

It was simple enough... almost too simple. He was asked to write and illustrate his own ABC book. It didn't take long to realize that putting his life into 26 pages wasn't so simple, but the fourth-grade gears were turning.

For weeks, he toiled over what he would do for each letter. Piano or Painting? Chickens or Creativity? Mom or Minecraft? {If you're curious, my face is 100% on the M page.} Once he finalized the direction of his masterpiece, he enlisted my help. We took a trip down memory lane via Facebook photos, this blog, and the furthest recesses of my computer. On many of his letters, Nathan utilized his doodling skills and I filled in the blanks by helping him print old photographs. We saw his preschool graduation, the day we moved down south, and even a newborn Nathan {born four weeks Early}.

This may seem like just another grade, but I saw it as much more. We had a great time brainstorming the pieces of his life, and it's incredible to see what Nathan has become in just nine years. In case you're looking for a little break from politics today, I thought I would share a few pages from Nathan's ABC Book:

I loved the way he stylized the letters. The X was drawn into a tic-tac-toe grid and the R was pouring rain. The cover was colorful and funky, with block letters similar to the style of his book. For Nathan, this was just a project to finish, but for me it was a window into his creative mind.

This kid continues to impress me in all ways, from A to Z.

{See what I did there?} Happy Hump Day, y'all!

Nature Walk

I walked outside this morning to load up my crew, and did an about face when the cool air hit me.

I pulled on a heavier sweater, and as we drove down the highway I watched the temperature drop from the upper 60s to fall territory. There's a spicy batch of chili in the fridge and the nights are just about hot tub ready. While our trees are still a fresh green, it's nice to walk outside and not immediately sweat. The air smells crisp and clean and dare I say it: I think summer is just about gone.

Nathan's science class is studying autumn, and they have been taking nature walks around the school in search of seasonable items. His teacher encouraged the kids to try it out at home, too. We couldn't find many fallen leaves, but the acorns and pine cones were plentiful. I also took a few minutes to document this point in the year when summer gives up. From Halloween decorations I most definitely didn't put up to the last petunia blooms, here's what our late September looks like:

How are you enjoying the cooler temps and changing seasons? Let me know!

Brothers Back to School

A lump rose in my throat as I waited in a car line that felt more like a parking lot.

Yesterday marked the start of school for the Bauer boys and my first afternoon stop was fourth-grade. As my car crawled beside the school, I saw a sea of students. Some seemed much taller and more mature than I expected {I guess sixth grade does that to a kid?}. Then I saw Nathan's wide smile. His hand shot up in the air to alert a teacher to escort him over. As he climbed in the seat behind me and buckled, I let go of the only word I could muster: "So??"

To my utter relief, but not so much surprise, he said: "Elementary school is AMAZING!"

In the few minutes it took to get from his school to Owen's, I learned the chicken sandwich is incredible, there is a different mix of kids in his music class than in homeroom, and changing classes is a million times better than sitting in one room. This conversation was interrupted multiple times by Nora who couldn't fathom not being the center of attention, but I gathered that fourth-grade will be great.

We entered the familiar primary school lot and I noticed a collection of tiny backpack-clad kids. Then mine hopped up. I heard Owen shout "Mama!" as the car line teacher took him by the hand. I braced myself for the kindergarten report and all he gave me was: "I don't like learning."

You win some, you lose some?

The poor guy was almost snoozing by the time we got home. We parked and I asked all of my children to carry their own backpacks. {Yes, Nora, you can carry yours, too. Yes, I know you're a big girl.} Owen walked into the house, and I noticed a grin below his tired brown eyes. He opened his backpack and asked if he could show me something.

He pulled out coloring pages and showed me how he could stay in the lines. He told me about his teacher's behavior system, and said he was good today so he got to move to blue. He said he sat next to his best friends from preschool in the cafeteria, and he was brave enough to ask a teacher to open his Cheez-Its. He watched a movie at recess, and played a fun game in PE. Small snippets of kindergarten poured forth. "I think I did like my first day." Whew.

The rest of our Monday involved dinner, cleaning, baths, and preparation for the next day. Nathan had to give his class schedule to his teacher, so I frowned as I admitted I wasn't sure what specialty class he would attend next. He rolled his eyes and recited the full week to me. He's got this.

Knowing Owen would no longer be walked in by his Daddy, I went over directions to the kindergarten hall. He surprised me by describing landmarks I must have missed, and said he knows to find the Fox in Socks room. He's got this.

We'll hit bumps in the road we won't see coming, but at least my sons started on a good note. They were both willing to go back today, so I'd call that a success.

Happy New School Year, y'all! I hope your kids had a wonderful first day.

Birthday Splash

The equation for a successful nine-year-old party is simple.

It's as easy as pizza + friends + water cannons + unsuspecting parents. Add that up and you have one fun way to celebrate! Nathan's birthday party was held on his actual date of birth {as amazing as this was to my son, I give credit to poor planning and booked weekends}. It was still one heck of a party. We invited a few of Nathan's friends to meet us at Diamond Springs Water Park in Murfreesboro.

This choice eliminated activities and decorations. All I needed was a cake idea. Both of my boys have been obsessed with Minecraft for months now, so it was no surprise when Nathan said he wanted his cake to reflect his favorite game. However, when I started showing him various designs featuring Creepers and Steve and whatever a Wither Skeleton is, he told me I was barking up the wrong tree. When he said he wanted a Minecraft cake, he meant it. Apparently this is a white box with red dots? I don't really know what flavor that could be, but that's what he wanted and our cake lady delivered. I was thrilled when his friends were impressed {and knew what it was}:

While it was fun watching Nathan joke around with his buds from school {and the never-ending loop of Owen going down the big slide}, Nora brought the entertainment. The water in this pool is only 1-2 feet deep in most places, and she waddled and swam and crawled like a boss. Unfortunately, this ended in Nora being the last person to obey the lifeguard's whistle at closing time. It made for a soggy, sad ride home, but pretty cute pictures:

Turning nine worked out well for Nathan. He had a wonderful time swimming with his friends and the next day {Nora's birthday - try to keep up}, he was treated like a king at Red Lobster. Prior to our shrimp feast, we went to Chuck E. Cheese for Nora's choice in entertainment.

A Lobsterita was not only a drink order, but a necessity.

Check back tomorrow for Nora's Minnie party details and have a terrific Tuesday, won't you?

Nathan: Age 9

This morning a boy whose body is almost as long as mine crawled into my bed as I was convincing myself to wake up.

He put his hand on my shoulder and whispered, "It's my birthday." And just like that, he was nine. Nine years ago I jumped from the couch at my in-laws' house because something was amiss. I was only 36 weeks into my pregnancy, but Nathan was ready. Although I can make July 7 the anniversary of the day we became parents, I want to celebrate the anniversary of one of the best people I know.

Nine years ago I had no idea who Nathan would be. I didn't know he would be so smart and love learning. I didn't know music would come naturally to him. I didn't know he would be a fantastic big brother who's always willing to reach a blanket on the upper shelf or open a bag of Cheetos. I didn't know he'd be witty and shy at the same time or love video games and dance music or be willing to plant okra seeds just so his dad could fry him some for dinner. Nathan is considerate, aware of others' needs, and proud of who he is. I'm proud of the five-pound baby I met before I was ready and I'm even prouder of the nine-year-old who is counting the seconds until we celebrate at the water park.

Now the part you've all been waiting for! Nathan and I sat down to do the official birthday interview recently, and here's a peek into the life of my oldest son:

Birthday Interview: 20 Questions

1. What's your favorite color?
   Red, just because I think it's cool looking.
   
   
2. What is your favorite thing to do?
   My most favorite thing to do is go swimming, but I also like watching TV and playing Minecraft and WoW.
   
   
3. What do you want to be when you grow up?
   Video game designer because I think gaming is fun, and I learned about coding this summer.
   
   
4. What is your favorite food?
   I love shrimp and Doritos, but not together.
   
   
5. What is your favorite TV show?
   Teen Titans Go and Amazing World of Gumball - both of those shows are really funny and weird.
   
   
6. What is your favorite animal?
   Kittens because they're cute.
   
   
7. What is your favorite toy?
   If trampoline counts as a toy, then that's the one.
   
   
8. What's your favorite thing to wear?
   My shark tooth necklace my parents brought back from Florida.
   
   
9. What do you do really well?
   Play piano, I like when I get to play fast, jazzy songs.
   
   
10. What makes you laugh?
    When Nora dances to the waffle song {be sure to click that}. It's hilarious!
    
    
11. What are you afraid of?
    Being alone in the dark.
    
    
12. Who is your best friend?
    Gage.
    
    
13. What's the best thing about your little brother?
He's funny, especially when he talks in his crazy voices.


14. What's the best thing about your little sister?
She's very nice and helpful and gives me hugs when I'm sad.


15. What do you like to do with your parents?
    Play board games, we love Scattergories.
    
    
16. What do you love to learn about?
    Coding at Kids' College and I love learning new things when I read at school.
    
    
17. Where do you like to go?
    I like to go to Nana's because I get to go swimming in the pool.
    
    
18. What is your favorite book?
    Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
    
    
19. What is your favorite movie?
    The Jungle Book - the newest version.
    
    
20. If you had one wish, what would it be?
    That I had a TV in my room because I would love to watch TV in bed.
    
    

Past Birthday Interviews: Age Eight, Age Seven, Age Six

Art Show

The best part of wrapping up a school year is the day of the 30-pound backpack.

No, I'm not training Nathan for weight lifting, I just know inside lies all sorts of secrets he's been keeping. I open journal after journal to creative writing pieces, impressive margin doodles, and a page of long division that I probably couldn't do myself. It's fun to see what he's been up to in the privacy of his third-grade classroom and it's amazing to page through his progress. For this kid, however, my favorite thing to pull out of his end-of-year bag is the art portfolio.

Last week the whole third-grade bused to the campus they'll be attending next year, and Nathan was sure to let me know he met the art teacher. I don't know where this talent will take him, but I look forward to the classes that will become available to help hone it. For your Monday entertainment {slash proud mom oversharing}, I thought we'd do a little art show. From the pages of the portfolio...


Superhero Self-Portrait in paint and marker {he has the ability to transform into any animal}:

Rainbow Chameleon in oil pastel:

Mountain Sunset in paint:

Razorback in marker, paint, and color pencil {I assumed this was a coloring piece, but apparently he drew it?}:

Just a couple of doodles he did in his free art class minutes:

Today is Nathan's last day of third grade, and I can't wait to see what works of art he brings home next year. What have you found in your kid's backpack lately?

Third Grade Day

Nathan gasped the other day when I told him he only had a month left at primary school.

Since the tender age of five, Nathan's been strolling the same halls, eating cheeseburgers in the same cafeteria, and standing in line for the same swings. However, he will soon leave it all behind him. Fourth-grade moves up to elementary school in this town, and Nathan says he's chomping at the bit to get away from his baby days. While I can't exactly tell you what third grade is like for my son, he is willing to enlighten us all. Before he graduates to greener pastures, let's hear from Nathan about his final primary days.

What do you think about when you first walk into the classroom?
I wonder if we will have fun that day and what we are going to be doing.

What do you see first thing in the morning?
I see my teacher's desk and her computer. She usually has a cup of markers and a bunch of papers. I also notice what my friends are doing.

What's the first thing you do when you sit down at your desk?
Read books, whichever ones we want. There's a big basket and we pick out one. I just read a little bit of this book called The Great Kapok Tree. There was this man who found a tree in the middle of the forest with lots of animals living in it. He was going to chop it down, but decided not to because there was so much life in it.

What is your favorite thing about mornings?
We don't have to do that much work. We used to do morning math, like word problems and multiplication, but not anymore. We do have science in the morning and I love learning about animal classifications.

What is your favorite activity to go to and why?
Music because I love learning about music in other countries and seeing instruments from other countries.

What is your favorite thing to eat at lunch?
This is hard! Popcorn chicken with French fries, apple or pear, and the chocolate chip cookies are really good. I get chocolate milk and a water.

What do you see and hear in the cafeteria?
I see ladies at counters, a bunch of people sitting down at the tables, teachers telling people to be quiet, and kids whispering to each other. Me and my friends talk about life, what's going on at home or what happened in the morning.

How would you describe a good day at recess?
I like when it's sunny and we can go out. A good day is when no one wants to swing because I love the swings.

Who do you play with and what do you play?
I play with Gabby a lot and we play hide and seek. My favorite hiding place is under the playground equipment, but she always finds me. She's pretty good at it.

What do you do in your classroom in the afternoons?
We do independent work, like word studies, language sheets, math, and quick reads. Quick reads is where you read with your teacher in the morning and you put a sticky note on where you stopped. In the afternoons we answer questions about what we were able to read. I'm pretty good at that, I usually get really far. One time I got 206 words because I read the entire passage two times. A word study is where we have these words we cut out and then we sort them into categories. The categories would be like E Drop or Second or Third Syllable Stressed.

What is it like to go to the car line?
We pack up at the end of the day and get our things ready to go home. We get in a line by the door and walk out through the office door to go to the benches. I always talk to my friends when I'm waiting. I like when you get there early, but sometimes you're a little late.

What makes a school day great?
When all we have to do is just a few worksheets.

What makes a school day hard?
When the teacher gives us a million things to do.

What will you miss most about third grade?
My best teacher ever! She's been my favorite because she's very nice to me and helps me a lot.

Why are you excited about elementary school?
A lot of people say it's going to be really fun. I hope we get to go to one class and do some work and then go to a different class and do some work.

Christmas Concerto

Nathan checked to make sure the music was in order, stretched his fingers, and blew us away.

Mrs. Becky's cast of characters had been preparing their holiday pieces for weeks, and I watched as each brave musician showed us what happens when brain meets music. Songs ranged from The First Noel on the violin, to a beautifully sung version of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, to my firstborn playing I'll Be Home For Christmas like he could have done it with his eyes closed. If the audience wasn't in the Christmas spirit by that point, a few Grinchs turned.

Because Jonathan had to hurry back to work, Nathan was first in line. He wished his audience a Merry Christmas, shared his name, grade, and occupation, then sat down at the ivory keys. His rhythm was spot-on and he didn't miss a single note. He stood up to a round of applause and I caught a proud smile as he bowed like a gentleman. Nailed it.

There was even an encore for Nathan, whose teacher decided he could handle two pieces at his second recital. This one featured accompaniment. It might have been like pulling teeth to get me to agree to it, but I'm glad I did. He and I played What Child is This on the piano and flute and I can't tell you what it felt like to share that moment with my son. As the crowd listened, I was washed with a feeling of pride in having passed this talent on. It's been 25 years since my mom and I played Away in a Manager together, but it was overwhelming to make this connection.

Music lasts. Learning music, sharing music, enjoying music all leave a mark. It means something to people of all ages, and encouraging your kids to embrace that is a fantastic idea. It will never leave me, and it will never leave Nathan {even if he does groan at practice time}.

You didn't think I'd skip the pieces, did you? In case you missed the show, below are the complete versions of Nathan's songs. Have a wondeful weekend, y'all!


BONUS MATERIAL: If you thought that was good, do yourself a favor and CLICK HERE to see a similar video post from six years ago. You're welcome.

The After-School "Good"

You've all heard it before.

After a slow move through the car line while adjusting the radio station to meet my two-year-old's needs, I spot him. He's sandwiched between buddies, but isn't talking to them. He has found his mama. We lock eyes, he jumps to his feet, and his arm stretches up. Another successful day of education is shining on his face, and my own smile broadens as the teacher walks him over. He scrambles past his sister, buckles up, and I offer a cheerful "Hi Nathan! How was your day?"

"It was good."

How was recess?
Good.

How was today's chicken patty on bun?
Good.

How was music class?
Good.

How did you do on your spelling test?
Good.

It's a bit anticlimactic, isn't it? This is coming from the kid who can talk about Minecraft for half an hour with no pause for breath. However, hidden among the lukewarm responses my kid utters at 3:15 every weekday afternoon are third-grade tales waiting to be told. As soon as I start asking the right questions {sometimes days later}, I'll learn about things like multiplication tables and the fact that our public school system is still teaching cursive. Owen's preschool answers are similar. Eventually I'll get him to admit that he doesn't mind finger paint or that egg starts with E. All of this learning and growing happens on days that are simply "good." While I don't hold any secret keys to get your kid to talk to you, these questions can get me a step further:

1. What was the funniest thing that happened at school today? This usually gets me playground antics or the unfortunate event that was Nathan stepping in a pile of ants while lining up after lunch.
   
   
2. Who was your favorite person to play with today? This can provide a peek into friendships I know nothing about.
   
   
3. What was the hardest thing you did today? This is when I find out what a math array is and that Nathan aced his comprehension test. This can also lead to stories about skinned knees and forgotten homework.
   
   
4. What stories did you hear today? Both boys are read to {or get time to read} daily, and I am honestly interested. This usually gets me much more than a book title and for Owen, I may get a song and dance, too.
   

These are just a handful of alternatives to "How was your day?" to break through the after-school good. Even the open-ended questions can get shut down, but that's okay. Eight hours of focused attention can wear a kid down, and a brain break can be good. I've learned to try again over dinner, or even just wait for him to come to me. It's so nice to get a peek into the secret world of a third-grader, though. School is an experience of their own, but a sparked curiosity is natural. What car line questions do you have in your arsenal?

Nathan: Age 8

Today this cool dude turns eight years old.

That's dangerously close to double digits and I'm not sure how I feel about it, honestly. However, the celebrations roll on! Nathan's friends met him at the local water park once again this year and splashed the night away. He had such a good time and I heard, "This is the best birthday party EVER!" more than once. We dined on shark fin cupcakes {shoutout to Jonathan on his fondant skills}, we watched Nathan rip into lots of cool presents, and every party-goer who met the height requirement conquered the big slide. It was a good day for a special kid.

Happy birthday to the guy who will always worry about the needs of others, who volunteers to clean the Cheetos off the carpet, and who provides an excellent {albeit small} shoulder to lean on. I know that sounds wild to write about a kid who's only been around eight years, but that's Nathan. Every time I think about the characteristics he brings to the bunch, compassion is number one. He has a genuine care about the world around him and he's going to do big things, I tell you. Soon, too - he's been quick to tell me he's now halfway to a driver's license.

In line with Bauer tradition, I asked the birthday boy to sit down for an interview this afternoon. If you're curious, you can compare these answers to past years' interviews here and here. Without further ado, Nathan at eight:

Birthday Interview: 20 Questions

1. What is your name and how old are you?
   My name is Nathan and I am eight years old.
   
   
2. What is your favorite thing to do?
   Play Minecraft and play with my family.
   
   
3. What do you want to be when you grow up?
   I'd like to be an artist because I'm good at drawing.
   
   
4. What is your favorite food?
   Fried chicken. Any kind of fried chicken, really.
   
   
5. What is your favorite TV show?
   Spongebob, but my dad doesn't really like it.
   
   
6. What is your favorite animal?
   Cheetah because they can run really fast.
   
   
7. What is your favorite toy?
   My Legos because you can build whatever you want, like lots of tiny houses.
   
   
8. What's your favorite thing to wear?
   I guess... clothes? I really like that shirt with surfboards on it.
   
   
9. What do you do really well?
   Draw.
   
   
10. What makes you laugh?
    YOU make me laugh when you say funny stuff and Owen makes me laugh when he pull his pants down.
    
    
11. What are you afraid of?
    Wasps.
    
    
12. Who is your best friend?
    Owen because we have fun together in our room.
    
    
13. What's the best thing about your little brother?
I like that he makes funny faces.


14. What's the best thing about your little sister?
She plays action figures with me a lot.


15. What do you like to do with your parents?
    I like to watch movies with them.
    
    
16. What do you love to learn about?
    Math because it's fun to add.
    
    
17. Where do you like to go?
    I like to go to Nana's because she has fun stuff like World of Warcraft.
    
    
18. What is your favorite book?
    Nonfiction books about bugs.
    
    
19. What is your favorite movie?
    The Croods.
    
    
20. If you had one wish, what would it be?
    That everything at the store was free so I could grab everything in an aisle, put it in the cart, and just leave.