10

10.  My baby boy turned 10.  I am now the mom of a boy in double digits.  How, oh how did this happen?  He was just three feet tall, taking bubble baths and looking for earthworms in the backyard. 

Dylan, in some ways, is 10 going on 16.  Independent, social, kind and sometimes a little awkward. All about his video games, his friends, and his video games.  He's not a kid who comes home from school with drama, or has problems with other kids.  He's our laid back, easy peasy one.  Nothing is every really a big, huge deal with him.

I don't have much luck giving him a huge or kiss in public anymore.  But at home, in private, we'll share a special look and I can feel his love.

His birthday was this past Sunday, but we let him celebrate the weekend prior by inviting 8 of his "bro's" over for a slumber party, dude style.  When you get a group of 10 year old boys together, you only need a few things to make it a success - lots of cheeseballs and pizza, orange soda, Nerf guns, iPads and some fart jokes.

My baby is 10.  And yes, he will always be my baby.

 

 

Birthday Sleepover

Its taken a few days to recover (ha!) but last weekend, Dylan hosted a birthday sleepover to celebrate turning 9.  He did this last year for the first time, and had so much fun he wanted to do it again this year.  We let him invite 6 boys this time (3 last year), still trying to keep it fun and manageable.   He invited his best friends from school, his dear friend A from his old soccer team, and his friend J from swim team.  We had pizza, Nerf battles, silly string fights, and watched Tin Tin.   Not all the boys ended up spending the night, a couple of them were ready to escape the rowdiness and go home to their own beds after the movie.  But for those who stayed, we finished off the party in the morning with doughnuts and Beyblade battles in the trampoline.

It was a great way to celebrate 9!

nine is fine

Dear Dylan,

Every year on your birthday, I write you a letter here, reminiscing and wondering where all the time has gone.  I was just telling Daddy the other day that its been so long since I’ve thought of you as a little boy.  Now, you’re my grown boy.  One who is mature, and responsible, and cares about making other people feel good.

Tomorrow you turn 9.  As you observed today, the last year you'll ever be a single digit.  Pretty amazing how time flies, isn't it?

Since the day I learned you were going to join our family almost 10 years ago, my life has been forever changed, brightened, and full of love.  Gone are the days I could pick you up, swaddle you, feed you and hold you.  But these are the days we can play together, laugh and make jokes, go on adventures, and talk about the world. 

You have grown so much this year.  You’ve turned into an avid reader, fitting it in between your beloved video games.   You blossomed as a swimmer, joining two different swim teams and always showing your desire to learn and improve.  You became a Scout, embracing good deeds for others and learning about community and giving back.  You’re a good, caring brother, even when he tries your patience daily.  I’m so glad he has you to set a good example and show him the ways of the world.  

You’re a good friend.  You’ve had many of the same friends for several years now, and you’re all so kind to each other.  You have learned very young what being a good friend is, and how to show your friends you care about them.   You make new friends as well, and I love when you come home from school telling me you've made a new friend.

You’ve learned so much at school this year.  Its amazing to me to hear you talk about all the things you know.   You’re so interested in history, and math, and how things work.   I love to watch you learn and grow at school.  Sometimes you sneak and stay up late reading in your bed.  You think we don't know, but we do. 

But mostly I just to watch you grow into a boy. One who is confident, caring, kind and full of adventure.   We’re so proud of you Dylan.  To us, you are the perfect son and we’re so thankful for the joy you’ve brought to our lives.  You bring so much happiness to so many people.  You are very, very loved.

If you want to read my other birthday letters to you since I've had this blog, here are 8, 7, 6, and 5.

To the moon and back.

Love,

Mom

in 3 days...

In 3 days, my darling son will be 9. 

9.

Takes my breath away. Where did all this time go? 

Every birthday is so bittersweet.  I think about all he has taught me about the world, and about myself.   I think about how many more things we have to experience with him.  But most of all, I think about how much I love him and wouldn't trade him for all the gold in the world.



m-i-c....k-e-y.....m.o.u.s.e. Day One.

We're back, we're back.  It was a magical vacation.  The boys are at such great ages to truly enjoy everything Disney has to offer.  We had four-day park hopper tickets, and we did it all, and then some.  Here are some of my favorite photos from Day One, which was also my 40th birthday.  We spent the day at Epcot, soaking up the sun, the rides and the sites.  An excellent way to ring in 40.

Off we go.... Day One.

Inside "Mission Space"

A great ride!

                                                                                                             

Mexico

Logan, Josh, Dylan, Maya

Germany



China

lunch in Italy

Winnie the Pooh and Tigger were in the U.K.

A birthday hug from Pooh!

cool green house tour thru The Land

one of his favorites

One of Logan's favorite gifts from his birthday.  Thanks K and B!  Its  huge and now resides in our family room.  You can't help but walk by it and run a few marbles thru it.

a party for sports lovers

Yesterday we celebrated Logan's birthday by throwing a big ole' party at his favorite local kids gym, a place called Jumping Jack Sports.  They have an awesome space that is part interactive sports arcade, part massive gymnasium full of things to climb, ride, jump on and throw.  Logan has taken sports classes there before, and Dylan took two skateboarding clinics.  Its a great local business and my kids love it.  He wanted to have a  sports challenge birthday party, and that was just the place to do it.

He invited his cousins and his friends from all parts of his world, some from preschool, t-ball, taekwondo, the neighborhood, and their older siblings.  My Mom and Robby came too, and  Robby got into the moonbounce and let the kids dogpile him with his bad back.  Now that's a good Grandpa!  It was A LOT of fun, and the staff did a great job playing games with the kids including dodgeball, football tackle, and having some relay races.

It was a great day.  It was fun to have a big party for Logan since we've usually only had smaller family parties for him in the past.  He very sweetly said from the back seat on the way home, "Mommy, thank you for letting me have my party there."

When we got home, he enjoyed opening every single present.  Today we've spent hours assembling Legos, a giant marble run, playing his new games, and shooting Nerf guns all over the house.  He now has six Angry Birds and a cool Angry Birds shirt (thanks to Grandma!), spy vision goggles, some Pokemon toys, a trick Gravedigger, and a whole of new stuff to keep him busy the rest of the summer.

What a fun day. And what a joy watching your youngest child turn into a little boy right in front of your eyes.

I'm glad you had such a great birthday, sweet buddy.

cousins!

buddies from t-ball and swimming

Logan and Dylan C, and my Logan and Dylan

getting ready to play!

happy jumper!

Maya!

Josh!

This is E, she lives four houses from us and she and Logan play together almost everyday.  They say they are married, and they're such great friends.

This is Logan's "other" wife K, with her big sister B. Such sweeties.

Logan and his best buddy Josh from preschool.

A and A, brothers, and some of our boys' very best friends.

Logan takes down the mat in a football tackle.

a motley crew

my sweet birthday boy