My Boy - the Kid Wonder

So today I am going to write a tribute post to my best boy, the Kid Wonder, the Boy Genius.  Oh Forrest.  You're too smart for your own good :)  He's a boy who knows the states and their capitals, who knows the streets of Peoria (that he's seen anyway) better than I do.  He can read and write, and enjoys doing so.  He's my kid who when offered the chance to watch something fun (Pokemon) he looked at us like we were asking him if he wanted a root canal.

But first and foremost you were my little buddy.  I feel bad often - like I didn't do enough.  Didn't spend enough time with you.  Or maybe I wasn't as present as I should have been.  Either way I look back at these pictures in wonder and can't figure out where all the time went.  I sure do love you little man.

This picture always cracked me up.  You were suspicious from the very beginning - I think its because you're so darn smart.  It wasn't too much longer after this that you started saying my name.  I know that its cheesy, as most children say "Daddy" first - but you whispered Da-da almost in reverence.  Always cracked me up.

Turtle Sandbox yay!  Summer days in Mandi's oasis were always fun.  I loved coming home for lunch was always a treat to see you covered in sand and thrilled to be you.

This was shortly after you got your Strider bike, for what I think was your 2nd birthday.  The Appletree neighborhood was the best for zipping around on that thing - so flat with all the side walks.  You took to it like a pro.

Oh how you loved the little carts.  And the customers at County Market in Monticello learned to fear for their ankles that day!

I think this takes my top spot for favorite picture of my biggest boy.  We were on the polar express.  Forrest was anxiously awaiting the festivities.  In this moment it was late, you were tired, but you were excited.  And so full of wonder.  And as you watched out the window of your first train ride I just swelled with love for you buddy.

You're the best kid.

~Dad

January 2017

Wow, 2016 has come and gone, 2017 is here for a while.  My last post was pretty heavy on the Kid Wonder - this one is going to have a little more of Letty Bean I think.

Charlotte snuggles are simply the friggin' best.  She is definitely my little buddy.  Unfortunately she was a bit under the weather for a good chunk of December and over the New Year.  Nothing serious, just the snots and coughs.  She's perked back up, but while it lasted this snuggle bean was even snugglier - probably because sleeping laying on Daddy provided some relief from her congestion.  I suffered through it okay ;)

Had a great gathering with the Sawlaw's over Thanksgiving.  It was great to have all the Sawlaw Siblings under one roof.  From left to right we have Monkey, Bey, Chip, Sol, and myself.  Man - they really carry the team in the looks department.  I'll settle for being the brains of that operation.

More Holiday fun.  Letty Bean was practicing her walking in her Christmas attire.  Her and Tia Tot matched!  And they didn't even call each other before the event.  

There were some great Christmas gifts.  Mandi got me an awesome beverage serving cart - meant to be used during D&D night.  Also got this SWEET DM's sweatshirt.  A way to remind my players that its my world, my rules.  Muwhahaha.  The hoodie was courtesy of Suzanna, one of my players.

I had to share this - the Kid Wonder drew a map of our neighborhood.  Even signed his artwork.  It is now displayed proudly in my office :)

Definitely my most surprising surprise of the past month occurred last weekend.  The Kid Wonder was staying with GiGi at her place up north, so Chinch, Letty Bean, and I took a trip to Monticello.  While there we stopped at our favorite pizza joint in the world: Filippo's Pizza.  While there I bumped into my Stepdad.  He gets Filippo's on occasion when he drives by Monticello on his way home from work - he loves to send me pictures of it to make me jealous.  Well not this time G!  I beat him there by about 30 seconds :)  It was great to give him a hug before he headed home.