Energetic Eight!!

This sweet boy is 8 years old today!

You came into the world and immediately stole our hearts.

You were sweet and determined.

You were born in the early hours of the morning, coming at your own time, your own way.

You were either happy or mad, laughing or crying.

You were that way from the very beginning!

You were my most active baby. You were crawling up slides at 8 months, walking at 9 months and full on running at 10 months!

Life was never, ever boring with you!

Your smile can light up a room and you pay attention to those around you. You are fiercely loyal to your family and once you have made a friend, you are fiercely loyal to them as well.

You like to make us laugh, to be silly with your big brother and to have your little sisters giggling all day.

You have a mischievous streak in you, that usually involves something to do with food, especially sweets! I've cleaned more Nutella off of you than I care to admit. The picture below was not the first or the last time you snuck into the Nutella jar.

(While you no longer get it on your face, I am pretty sure this still happens!)

You love to be active and fell in love with soccer at a young age. I kept expecting you to grow bored with it, and to move onto another sport, but the opposite has taken place.

You are passionate and driven and you give 100% when you play soccer. That drive and ambition continues in everything that you do, whether it is school or tackling a new challenge.

I am proud of your dedication and teamwork. You insisted on attending games that you had to sit out due to your eye injury, because you are still on the team and you wanted to support your teammates.

Your dedication is inspiring.

You are always the first one to greet me in the morning and always make sure to say goodnight.

You give the best hugs.

We love you, Colin, with your sweet soul and fierce loyalty.

We like to call you our bulldog. You defend the weak and seek justice in everything.

We pray that your defense of the weak and doing what is right will carry on throughout your entire life.

Seek justice. Defend the hurting. Lift up the brokenhearted.

 Your love for your siblings is the best. Jack is your best friend and your friendship is something to value. You love your sisters,  helping and caring for them both. You are especially caring with Maggie, helping her around the house. Macy may never leave you alone, but that is because she loves you so!

 Happiest Birthday, my Colin. I look forward to watching you learn and grow this year, tackling new challenges and growing into the amazing young man you are becoming. We are proud of you and we love you so!

All the fingers: 10 years old!

Today, 10 years ago, you made me a momma. My first born, my boy. Everyone thought that you would be born on the 3rd, but you decided that celebrating on the 4th of July was a better idea.

It is so much more fun to celebrate a birthday with fireworks and celebrations!

You can now use all of your fingers to show how old you are.

Though, you probably will not.

That is embarrassing.

Your favorite thing is to be with friends, be social, be active.

You could be busy with friends from the morning that you wake up till the minute you go to bed, and it would not be enough.

You like to learn and read, but also play sports and be active.

This year, you are going to venture into the music world and learn an instrument.

I think that it will be a perfect fit for you.

 You have kept us laughing from day one, with your silliness and songs.

You have lots to say and love to share with anyone around you.

You are a fantastic big brother, with your younger siblings looking up to you and wanting to do everything that you do!

We love you so much, our dear first born.

You add wit and wisdom into our family.

You love those around you!

Our prayer for you, as you embark into the double digits of life, is that you will always remain kind.

Sincere with your words, and seek to lead those around you in kindness.

People look up to you, and we want you to be an ally to the hurting and befriend those who have none. To look for the vulnerable and lift them up.

Advocate for those others ignore, and stand up to those who mistreat.

Use those natural leadership skills for good, as we know you can!

Happiest 10th Birthday, Jack!

We are so excited to see where you will go, and what you will do.

But above all, know that you are deeply and truly LOVED.