ABC's of Mark James

Our Mark turned 6 this last Friday and will celebrate this Saturday with a birthday bash in Pocatello. His one request was to go to the Outer Limits with his cousins and have a Scooby Doo cake. Every now and then it's quite pleasing to grant these requests. In honor of his 6 years of life I present the ABC's of Mark.






A is for animated. If Mark's talking the hands are a moving. He could be part Italian with the amount of hand motion that is going on. His eyes also get great big when he is excited.

B is for blue is favorite color.

C is for cousins. He loves, loves, loves his cousins and would live with them if he could.

D is for dogs. He is scared to death of dogs, even puppies. If you hear a child screaming like a girl don't be surprised if it's Mark encountering a dog. I don't ever have to worry about him begging for a dog. Phew!

E is for energetic. He has more energy than we know what to do with. We count our lucky stars that he is finally old enough to sign up for t-ball, soccer, basketball and peewee football. E is also for his eyes. His Grandpa Mark calls them his 'Saucer Eyes' because they are big and round like saucers.

F is for fact books. He likes to read books about animals, volcanoes, the presidents, mummies, Egypt, castles, etc. He wants information that he can try and sound 'smart' with as he has conversations.

G is for girl. He was supposed to be a girl and surprised us all. That was a good day when we found out about him.

H is for happy. He is overall a very happy child and wants others to be happy too.

I is for Isa his cousin who he is convinced he is going to marry. Isa is always very kind and lets him kiss and hug on her regardless of being 10 years old and very 'in the know' about 6 year old crushes. Thanks Isa!

J is for James his middle name, which is after his daddy and Grandpa Sellick, Richard James.

K is for his kissy lips. He has these full lips that are always willing to give a smooch. Tess gets rather bothered by them because he can't keep them off of her and she ends up smelling like spit by the end of the day. Gross, I know.

L is for Legos. He is a Lego nut and can play for hours with them, but has a hard time picking them up..."Mom they're too messy!"

M is for Mark. He was named after my father Mark.

N is for Nate his sometimes best buddy and sometimes arch enemy. They are figuring out how to be better buds everyday though much to James and my relief.

O is for Olivia whom he adores and takes every word she says as law.

P is for passionate. Mark feels everything intensely. If he tells you he loves you, you know it and can feel it from him. If he is scared or excited it is very apparent.

Q is for not quiet. If he's awake he's talking, yelling, laughing, jumping, hopping, banging, etc. There is no such thing as peace and quiet where Mark is concerned.

R is for repeat. He is an exact 'repeat' of his father. Not only do they look just alike, but they walk alike, stand alike, run alike and sleep alike. You can't miss one, if the other is around.

S is for Star Wars and the love affair that began when he was 3. The force lives on and on here in the Burley Homestead. S is also for 'Skinny' the nickname his Grandpa Mark has given him.

T is for the 'tricks' he likes to play. For example, "Mom the teacher said no homework today"...the next day..."Mark did you have any papers?" "No I left them at school. I was 'tricking' you yesterday when I told you no homework."

U is for underfoot constantly. He can generally be found following me around chatting at me like a monkey. I trip on him at least once a day.

V is for victory. It is the only acceptable way by which Mark will play a game. Losing is not an option and when you have an older 'wiser' sister it is inevitable. We have had to buy games where luck is heavily involved. Games of strategy and Mark don't mix well.

W is for his new Webkinz Jack the monkey. He totes him around everywhere and loves to play with him online. Hooray for Webkinz!

X is for lovely x-rays of his broken arm that he loves to show off and tell you ALL about.

Y is for 'Yep'. This is his answer for everything...that he doesn't 'hate'.

Z is for zero tolerance of spikey hair. He doesn't mind it on other boys, just don't do it to his hair. In his own words, "It just doesn't work for me."