Ryken: SIX

Ryken is six years old!!

March 2, 2018

Oh our Ryken...hard to believe he is six now, but what a big boy he is and how much he has grown in so many ways in just over a year.

A few words to describe Ryken are detailed (in memory and building things), thoughtful, friendly, helpful and involved.

He has such a memory it is incredible. We are blown away by it often. He remembers times and dates like a professional calendar. Always telling me when so and so's birthday is, or when a new show is on that he would like to be recorded, or when someone is have surgery and we ought to be praying. He remembers what people's cars look like. He remembers the smallest of details and is very meticulous. He also takes great time and detail when he builds things with mega blocks or magna-tiles. We are impressed with that he comes up with and how much it looks like the real deal!

He is such a thoughtful boy. Always asking me who's birthday is coming up because he wants to make a card for them. He loves to give things to people. He loves inviting people over and sharing his things with them (always a little harder with the siblings though). On his own he will often open doors and get things that have dropped for others, or just get things for others just because he thinks of it. 

Ryken loves to be around people and is so accepting and friendly to kids around. He likes to be a helper with the little ones and entertain the other ones. He loves when we have people over or have play dates. He loves meeting new people are the park or store. We have several employees at Walmart and Costco that we see on a regular basis and they have become very dear to us.

Ryken is often asking to be helpful in some way. He has become so much more helpful over the last year. He is a great dishwasher, baseboard cleaner, laundry put-swayer and hanger-upper. He helps with his younger siblings. He often started getting breakfast ready for all the kids. He likes to help empty the dishwasher. He is up passing out bulletins on Sunday weekly with the other ushers all on his own. We often get to prayer meeting before things are set up- so they stat moving chairs and getting Psalters. Love turning lights off during Sunday School when we started a the video from the series we are going through, or when we leave church, he will get the last lights. Has gotten very good at cleaning up properly and in a timely manner and often does it without being told. Now, he doesn't always like what I tell him to do when he asks..he seems to have his own idea of helping- but we have talked many times how helping is doing what someone asked you to do, not what you want to. He can turn his attitude around pretty well. But like everyone, it takes time with our sinful hearts. He often asks me to help and I have nothing for him and I need to get better at finding things that he can do just for the sake of helping when he asks and not to worry about it getting done right the first time. 

Ryken is so involved with everything, loves to know what is going on. What day it is, what is going on, where are we doing, when, why. Lots of questions. He often asks questions before just looking around to figure it out on his own, so we are helping him there. He can also be almost to involved for our likings sometimes. He hears our phone ding or ring and he immediately asked who that is and what they are saying - none of your business. He likes to just snoop over our shoulder at what we are looking at or be too good of a listener to our adult conversations. But we pray that we can turn this around and use it for the good over time.

Some things that Ryken likes are building, drawing, coloring, painting, writing letters, playing outside on his bike or scooter, being with friends or other kids. He love the TV a little too much and enjoys playing on his iPad as well. He loves getting new books from the Library and mommy doesn't take the kids enough. He loves music and knows many songs. He likes to dance and create things with cardboard boxes, blankets, pillows. He loves helping push the cart at the store. He loves special outing with mom or dad. 

Somethings Ryken does not like are dogs. He is very scared of dogs and does not like to be out when the dogs in the neighborhood are just loose and running around. He does not getting hurt and will scream bloody murder, it is very hard to deal with. He does not like the doctor's office and has a hard time trusting us that this is for his good. He doesn't like it when his little brother and sister mess up what he has made. He doesn't like trying new things all that much. He doesn't like to be down for quiet time with mommy has friends over. He doesn't like being out in the sun without hat or sunglasses.

Ryken loves to eat and eats very well. There are so many meals that I make that when he hears what we are having he says "Oh that's one of my favorite". He loves spaghetti and pizza some of the most. He is not a picky eater and has learned to just eat things even if it is not his favorite. He finishes well and usually asked for something else. I can get disgusted with how much he can eat sometimes. It's impressive. But he is a growing and very active boy. He loves fruit and most veggies. He loves sweet treats too. 

Ryken is a good sleeper. He wakes up in between 7-8 and he doesn't nap anymore, but does a good job at keeping busy during quiet time. He goes to bed by 8:45 and sleep so well on the top bunk.

There is so much more to say about Ryken- but you get the idea, he is a fun, loving little boy! We are thankful for how much he has learned in spiritual terms too. He asked so many good questions and listens to things and hears the wrong theology in it. We are thankful for that interest that the Lord has given him. He loves to sing the Psalms at home and at church, he loves participating in the service with singing the songs we sing on a weekly or regular basis. He has really been learning to pray and asks to do it often. We pray that as we continue to be faithful at church and at home that the Lord would draw him to Himself at a young age. 

We love you Ryken and are so proud and thankful for how much you have grown and what a sweet and precious boy you are. You make our family and our church family so much sweeter!

He weighs 42 lbs and is 43 inches tall.