Eight and its much ado
Aden is eight now. It seems like it's flown by, and at the same time it feels like he's always been with us.
The perfect complement to our family, he has such tenderness and compassion mixed in with a super healthy dose of boydom and humor. His energy level may have finally plateaued, but he is always thinking and rethinking, imagining and pretending.
Much is the same. He loves dogs and cheese and swinging and airplanes and Legos and making pancakes. Doesn't care for reading or long movies or cleaning his room or board games.
Minecraft is the latest obsession, and who can blame him? It's super fun. Until he beats me up with raw mutton or fills my house up with TNT.
He can pretty regularly be counted on to eat a veggie or two. Salad is something he actually likes, though the ranch flows freely. Oh well, his tummy is seeing lettuce one way or the other. On green bean night, he gulps down four green beans, one at a time, in the manner in which one would take capsule-type medication. Again, at least it's in there. Our forays into broccoli and carrots have not gone as well.
We have spiritual conversations a lot, and Aden really is growing in his faith. One of his besties is not a believer and has said some things to Aden about God and church not being important. Aden has responded that God is important to him and that church is a great place. No fear of rejection, just a matter-of-fact stand for faith. You go, Aden. Lord please keep making him strong and courageous.
Sweet enough to melt your heart to nothing. "I just feel like I want to hug someone," he will say in earshot of me. My hand flies up. "Ooh ooh! Me! Pick me!" I say. Pretty much every day this goes on. And how I pray that one year and eight more years and eighteen more years from now, it's still going on.
Oh the sense of humor. There's been a sharp increase in sarcasm lately, and the boy knows how to use it. He is hilarious. Breaks into song and dance on a whim, and can definitely hold a tune. The potty jokes know no end, and when they come around it's almost guaranteed he will end up in a belly laugh.
No longer tentative or whiny when tousles arise with his Daddy or brother, he is ready and willing to join and get a few jabs in. Truth be told, Aden is a pretty ruthless instigator when it comes to the menfolk in our house. "Aden, are you poking the bear?" "Yep!"
He is so much like his daddy, it's unreal.
Aden, we love you more than you'll ever know. You are brightness and joy to us, and you live the abundant life better than anybody. Can't wait to see what the next year has in store for you, as you grow into more of a young man. Keep following after the Lord, romping with Daddy and Trey, and hugging your Mama. Happy, happy birthday.
Onto the much ado. Because there was indeed much ado for Aden's birthday this year.
The family party came first, and we had a fantastic time celebrating our boy. His baseball bag and Minecraft toy and new bike dreams all came true.
Along with an intense family basketball game. Trey and Poppop's competitive spirits were entertaining for everyone.
One week later, the friend party. How we planned and worked and created. Of course it had to be a Minecraft shindig, so I did the Pinterest thing and honestly only spent about ten bucks on invitations, a banner, and dollar store plates and stuff. Everything else was homemade or we already had.
Party morning was busy cleaning up and setting up and making everything look perfect, because dude, it's one of the most Pinteresty things I've ever pulled off.
Birthday banner
Enderman bean bag toss (painted by the boys)
Farm animal archery practice
Wooden sword pull-apart cake
The party photos stop there. Because about twenty minutes after the friends were dropped off and the boys were all running wild like boys tend to do, while standing in the front yard I heard an icy explosion.
That's our glass storm door. With an Aden-sized hole in it.
The handle sticks and apparently stuck too much as he was trying to run outside, his friends in tow. The same friends who were now staring open-mouthed at the porch floor covered in pea-sized pieces of glass. Aden grabbed my attention and pointed to his leg, blood trickling down.
I ran inside and shouted to Brandon that we needed him now and grabbed gauze and band-aids. By this time Aden had found a seat and propped his leg up, and the boys were all now staring open-mouthed at the deep gash in Aden's leg. Band-aids weren't going to do the trick.
Pretty certain the party would be ending earlier than expected, we called our EMT friends and kept pressure on the wounds while Aden opened his gifts. Bless his heart, he never cried through the whole thing, but by this time he was shaking with adrenaline and nerves. The EMTs confirmed that stitches were needed, so all the kids' parents were called back early, promises were made for a birthday party redo eventually, and we set out for urgent care.
Aden was understandably scared about getting stitches, but handled it all so well. The numbing hurt him, but again he never made a sound, just took it like a man. What an amazing kid he is.
And yes, yes, yes we thank the Lord that only his leg was cut, and only in one place. It could have been so much worse. Praising God for our Aden and his very memorable eighth birthday.
The perfect complement to our family, he has such tenderness and compassion mixed in with a super healthy dose of boydom and humor. His energy level may have finally plateaued, but he is always thinking and rethinking, imagining and pretending.
Much is the same. He loves dogs and cheese and swinging and airplanes and Legos and making pancakes. Doesn't care for reading or long movies or cleaning his room or board games.
Minecraft is the latest obsession, and who can blame him? It's super fun. Until he beats me up with raw mutton or fills my house up with TNT.
He can pretty regularly be counted on to eat a veggie or two. Salad is something he actually likes, though the ranch flows freely. Oh well, his tummy is seeing lettuce one way or the other. On green bean night, he gulps down four green beans, one at a time, in the manner in which one would take capsule-type medication. Again, at least it's in there. Our forays into broccoli and carrots have not gone as well.
We have spiritual conversations a lot, and Aden really is growing in his faith. One of his besties is not a believer and has said some things to Aden about God and church not being important. Aden has responded that God is important to him and that church is a great place. No fear of rejection, just a matter-of-fact stand for faith. You go, Aden. Lord please keep making him strong and courageous.
Sweet enough to melt your heart to nothing. "I just feel like I want to hug someone," he will say in earshot of me. My hand flies up. "Ooh ooh! Me! Pick me!" I say. Pretty much every day this goes on. And how I pray that one year and eight more years and eighteen more years from now, it's still going on.
Oh the sense of humor. There's been a sharp increase in sarcasm lately, and the boy knows how to use it. He is hilarious. Breaks into song and dance on a whim, and can definitely hold a tune. The potty jokes know no end, and when they come around it's almost guaranteed he will end up in a belly laugh.
No longer tentative or whiny when tousles arise with his Daddy or brother, he is ready and willing to join and get a few jabs in. Truth be told, Aden is a pretty ruthless instigator when it comes to the menfolk in our house. "Aden, are you poking the bear?" "Yep!"
He is so much like his daddy, it's unreal.
Aden, we love you more than you'll ever know. You are brightness and joy to us, and you live the abundant life better than anybody. Can't wait to see what the next year has in store for you, as you grow into more of a young man. Keep following after the Lord, romping with Daddy and Trey, and hugging your Mama. Happy, happy birthday.
Onto the much ado. Because there was indeed much ado for Aden's birthday this year.
The family party came first, and we had a fantastic time celebrating our boy. His baseball bag and Minecraft toy and new bike dreams all came true.
Along with an intense family basketball game. Trey and Poppop's competitive spirits were entertaining for everyone.
One week later, the friend party. How we planned and worked and created. Of course it had to be a Minecraft shindig, so I did the Pinterest thing and honestly only spent about ten bucks on invitations, a banner, and dollar store plates and stuff. Everything else was homemade or we already had.
Party morning was busy cleaning up and setting up and making everything look perfect, because dude, it's one of the most Pinteresty things I've ever pulled off.
The handle sticks and apparently stuck too much as he was trying to run outside, his friends in tow. The same friends who were now staring open-mouthed at the porch floor covered in pea-sized pieces of glass. Aden grabbed my attention and pointed to his leg, blood trickling down.
I ran inside and shouted to Brandon that we needed him now and grabbed gauze and band-aids. By this time Aden had found a seat and propped his leg up, and the boys were all now staring open-mouthed at the deep gash in Aden's leg. Band-aids weren't going to do the trick.
Pretty certain the party would be ending earlier than expected, we called our EMT friends and kept pressure on the wounds while Aden opened his gifts. Bless his heart, he never cried through the whole thing, but by this time he was shaking with adrenaline and nerves. The EMTs confirmed that stitches were needed, so all the kids' parents were called back early, promises were made for a birthday party redo eventually, and we set out for urgent care.
Aden was understandably scared about getting stitches, but handled it all so well. The numbing hurt him, but again he never made a sound, just took it like a man. What an amazing kid he is.
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