Will's 11th Birthday!

Here I go again: how in the world have 11 years gone by since this child has entered the world? Since I became a mom?! 11?!! Eleven. Geez Louise. Do you know what's next? Tw-- I can't talk about it... Will, I'm so grateful you're healthy, growing and strong. It's just crazy and bittersweet to keep watching the years tick by. We are so proud of the boy you're growing into. You've really matured a lot this year. You're taking school work more seriously and complaining less, taking the high road more often with your siblings or friends and in general approaching things with a better attitude. You still have growing and learning to do, as all of us did at that age and still do in different ways, but we're so excited to watch you grow and mature. I love you so much little man!!!

By request, we had a pretty low-key day. You wanted donuts for breakfast, pizza for dinner, staying home to play all day and a sleepover with friends. I almost didn't allow the sleepover because I said no parties this year after everyone had big parties last year. But in the end, I thought, not very many parties or sleepovers are gonna happen after 11, so we better give you this chance. And me this chance to enjoy your youth, before you're too cool for everything. :) So anyway, those are the things we did and I think you had a great day!

last night as a 10-year-old

You decided not to have a birthday cake. At first you wanted a homemade ice cream cake like Maggie and Jake had for their birthdays. Then I made some chocolate peppermint cookies for Christmas and you said you wanted those instead. So, I made the donuts into a birthday tower cake, and we sang to you at breakfast. Happy 11th Birthday, little man!!! I love you so much, am glad to call you my son and hope you had a great day!!!!!!!!!!!

Obstacle Course

My friend, Lindy and I, along with our kids have talked multiple times about getting together for homeschool field trips. So far we've gone to the science center together. And that was awhile ago. Until today. She told me about Soar Adventure Tower, an outdoor obstacle course with several levels and it sounded super cool, especially for our older boys. 

They have a homeschool day on Tuesday afternoons, which is great, because the cost is way lower than normal during those hours. This place was so cool and had Will's name all over it. Unfortunately, this is not something Maggie can do and tennis shoes are required so Jake could not participate in his flip flops but Allie said she wanted to try and this girl did awesome! I'm so proud of this little girl. There was a lower course for littler kids and the older kids/adults could go on the higher course. I stayed below with the littles and Lindy went up with the big kids. It was a great day!

After awhile, Will & Gavin came down to the lower course and ran through it with the younger kids. They could go much faster than up high, so they loved that. And they all enjoyed doing it together. Hopefully Jake can join in next time! It was a hot day, of course, so we discussed coming back in the fall. We'll have to hit that one week of fall we get just right. ;)

Will & Maggie's last day of school

Today was the last day of Will & Maggie's Friday tutorial, Fine Art Fridays and basically our last day of school. I will keep some Math and of course reading going in the summer, but otherwise school's out for summer! They also had an end of year program at their school.

I'm not sure why Will didn't perform this year but Maggie and her class were cute. Another school year in the books! I can't believe how quickly these kiddos are growing!!

Will's Bike

And just like that it was warm! After the snow and everything being shut down all week, we woke up to pretty warm temps Saturday. Welcome to the south. Perfect day for Will to get out and ride his new bike! I'm so glad we finally got him a bike, he's needed one for a couple years but kept choosing to buy other things for his birthday present. Now that he's 10 and has a little more freedom in where he can ride, it's good timing.

Will's 10th Birthday!

It happened again. You turned another year older. Overnight. I mean, literally that is what happens, but if feels like just yesterday you turned 9 and 5 and 2 and were born! And now you're 10 YEARS OLD!!!!!!!!!! TEN, Will! You have left the single digit numbers and will only celebrate double digit birthdays from here on out. A decade. How have I been a mom for a decade and how did you grow so fast??!!?!!

Last night as a 9-year-old

I love you, my little man. So much more than I could ever express or you could ever know. Though we have certainly had our ups and downs this year, through it all you've really started to mature and I'm so proud of the boy you are. It does feel like you become more of a gamer with each passing day and now you're really into watching these You Tube videos about playing games (ugh) but that super creative, imaginative Will I've always known and loved peaks through still. And honestly, you are pretty creative in your games as well. I just love watching you express your creativity in other ways. ;) You can really stir the pot with your siblings, you enjoy being an instigator, but very often you come up with fun, creative games for everyone to play. I'm so proud to call you my son, Will, and beyond grateful God chose me to be your mom. You challenge me and push me to be a better mom and better person each day. I love you, happy birthday!!

This year you asked for cake balls so this marks like the 3rd year I haven't made you an actual cake. At least I got to bake you something, though. Last year it was an ice cream cake and I think the year before that just ice cream. You also requested to have friends over to play video games and nerf guns. So we invited your cousins and friends over for a video game tournament and Nerf gun war! You ended up playing laser tag more than Nerf guns, but it was still fun. I've never let you have this many kids sleep over before, but I thought with your 10th, we should go big or go home!

After lots of pizza (we went through 5 large pizzas!), video games and running around, it was time to get to bed. It was after 10 when we set you all up in the playroom and everyone voted to watch Tron. Several of the boys were awake even after the movie was over. Luke, Taryn & Olivia didn't spend the night and one of your friends came to the party but couldn't sleepover. Everyone else, however, stayed. So we had about a dozen kids here, including ours. This was a lot and I knew it would be, but we knew going into it, this would be a one time thing.

Your dad and I were really proud of how well you managed your company. You did your best to integrate your cousins and friends, include everybody and all around be a good host. You had a great time! Happy 10th birthday, Will!!! I love you so much.