Monday, April 18, 2011

Brisco turns five

Dear Brisco,
Today you turned five. Hard to believe, I know.

The past year has brought many new and exciting experiences for you and our family. No matter how old you are when you pull out this paper, yellowed and crinkled with age, I hope it brings joyful memories of your youth and serves as a reminder to you of who you are, where you came from, and how very much you are loved.

To begin around your previous birthday, last March we got iced in at Uncle Derik’s in Norman. It was a fun couple of days, aside from one small item: you were given your first tattoo. Nothing like “MOM” inked on the back of your shoulder to give a kid a little feeling a toughness, and his first taste of “body art”. And from that moment, you haven’t looked back. From baseballs to bulldogs to bright orange images of “The General Lee”, you usually have some crazy design that you can’t wait to get imprinted onto your body. Thanks Uncle Derik.

In April, you met your newest cousin, Baby Caleb. It was then, I suppose, that your obsession for a baby brother began. I’m fairly certain you have no idea how much of a crimp in your style a baby brother would be, but I do. So the answer is still no.

Springtime was spent going to ballgames, learning to ride your Harley bicycle, and hunting Easter eggs at Martha’s. And of course we can’t forget the occasional dance in the rain.

The heat of the summer finally rolled in, and none too soon for you. Sometime in the last 12 months, you morphed into a walking, talking, dimple-flashing fish. At first you used the floaties, but not for long. By the end of the summer you were jumping off the diving board all by yourself.

The summer months were filled with even more firsts. You played your first season of coach pitch, experienced your first airplane ride, saw your first big league ballpark, and rode your first rollercoaster. I’m sure all of these experiences are ones that will stay with you for many years to come, whether you want them to or not. It’s quite possible that the words “Fire in the Hole!” may give you tremors and night sweats far into your twenties.

I can’t say enough about your first season of baseball. Not that you were the best hitter or stole the most bases, or turned the most double plays. No, not this year. You were only four, playing with and against seven and eight year olds. You’ll have your chance to be one of the strongest and fastest. This year was about finesse. It didn’t matter where we were or who we were playing, by your second at bat, everyone in the stands was cheering for “the little guy.” You were definitely the crowd favorite.

The end of the summer brought your first, big family vacation where you hiked, explored caves, and did lots of fishing—although none of us ever caught a fish. In fact, to this day, I don’t think you have caught a single one. You still have fun trying though.

You spent the better part of a week in July at the first annual Granma Camp. Six of the oldest Smith cousins and Granma all to “yourself”. It put you in hog heaven. And you haven’t stopped asking if you get to go again next summer. We’ll have to check with Granma about that.

Cooper went back to school in August, and after thinking long and hard about sending you to PreK, your dad and I decided we wanted to keep you with us for one more year. You were a little disappointed at first, but we managed to craft our own little existence out of the eight hours we were forced to be without our Cooper. You might have even learned a thing or two in the process.

We started having a little school of our own, and I must say, you are definitely the smartest little five year old living in this house! You’ve decided cutting and pasting is better saved for Ms. Johnson’s class, and you have promoted yourself to learning on the computer. Though I fought giving you the reigns, you have proven yourself quite proficient. I could feel the tears welling up the first day I heard you reading out loud. (You know how I get with the tears.) I was so proud.

With October came camping trips, roasting marshmallows and playing on the creek. You were Superman for Halloween, and you flew all over the house in that tiny red cape.

Somewhere along the way, you decided to take up photography. From knotholes and blades of grass to the close ups of yourself that we have all come to love, you are becoming quite the little Olan Mills. So much so that you got your very first camera for Christmas and have your own special little spot on the computer for your digital creations.

Star Wars ruled the holiday season the year you were four. Santa brought you the spinning blue and green light saber you wanted, and he brought a red one for Cooper too. The battle between good and evil was on from that moment forward, and no one was safe from those swinging blades.

During a weekend getaway in January, we discovered the Oklahoma Science Museum, a place that unexpectedly was to become one of your favorite spots in Oklahoma City. You have quite a mind for solving problems. It sure is fun to watch you work.

We finally got a good, deep snow in February, and somewhere along the line, you toughened up to the cold weather. Typically it takes longer to get you bundled up than you actually spend outdoors, but not this year. We played for hours in that thick, white stuff, sledding and jumping through the drifts. Daddy pulled you through the streets like a sled dog. By the way, this was the only time I ever let you play in the street.

As soon as it thawed, Dad decided it was time to say goodbye to the trees that littered the backyard and interfered with your homeruns. You boys sure were excited to have them gone.

You may or may not remember the bike you got for your fifth birthday. It was gold and black. “Golden” you called it. Of course, if you’d have had your way, Cooper would have been the one with a new bike. You just wanted to ride his.

And that was a pretty typical way of thinking for you at this age. I suppose if there was one thing I’d want you to remember about yourself at five it would be the way you loved your brother. There’s no bigger hero, no preferred playmate, no greater friend in your eyes than Cooper. You imitate him in every way, from the clothes you sneak out of his dresser drawers, to the kind of cereal you pick for your breakfast. It is one of the things I admire most about you, and one of the things I hope you never grow out of.

Another thing I hope you never outgrow is your willingness to give THE best bear hugs imaginable. “Berra hugs” we call them. Nothing hits the spot quite like a Brisco Berra hug.

I can only imagine where your handsome, sweet face and your charming personality will lead you in life. I hope you know that I’ll always be your loudest cheerleader and your biggest fan.

Happy Birthday, B.

Love ya,
Momma
And that’s All in a day’s work!

1 comment:

Unknown said...

You are such a good mom! What lucky little boys you have.