Happy 6th Birthday Maddox!!

Dear Maddox,

I cannot describe how much I love you and your precious smile!  You light up a room with your energetic, optimistic personality!  You are the best sharer and you have a heart for others.  You are incredibly tender-hearted and seek to make others happy by giving them anything they want!  You are definitely all-BOY.... rough and tumble.... as evidence by having three teeth extracted and none that have come out on their own yet!  You are loving school, soccer and church.  You are definitely an extrovert like your mama.... always saying hello to anyone you meet.  While we were at Great Wolf Lodge this weekend celebrating your birthday, you noticed others that had red "birthday bands" on like you did and would wish each stranger a happy birthday (even if they didn't wish you one back)!  You also have great manners (ex: telling the bus driver "thank you" today as you got off the bus).  You are reading books now and trying to write and read each new word you encounter!  Yesterday you promptly said "3+2=5, mama" without using your fingers or any counters to help you.  You are so excited to use two hands now to show how old you are!  I love that you use your thumb rather than your index finger to show the 6th digit!  You are scoring many goals on the soccer field, making your whole family cheer loudly as soon as you start to move the ball down the field.  You have a natural athletic ability for each new sport you try.... and I can't wait to see you try basketball this winter!  You are learning many verses at church and are proudly earning jewels for your Sparks' vest.  Your daddy and I have started a "note" with "Maddoxisms" as you sometimes say the funniest things for items (ex:  "lightsaber" for a lifesaver, "flyswamper" for a flyswatter and "mojo" for emoji).  We have tried to make your 6th birthday extra special this year... here are some of the fun things we did to celebrate #6.......

We decorated the dinosaur at school with colors you personally picked!  Grammy, Aunt Lindsey and Emerson came to help and it was so much fun giving the dinosaur a fresh coat of paint!

 

The weekend of your birthday, we loaded up the car for a night at Great Wolf Lodge.  We enjoyed two days at the water park.  Your favorite ride this time was the blue and orange racer slides where we use mats to go down the tubes.  We also played Laser Tag for the first time ever as a family and spent some time in the arcade!  You loved having the top bunk to sleep that night since it was your birthday celebration!  The lodge was decorated for "Howl-oween" so that was cool too!

I got to cuddle with you for the last time as a 5 year old.... this was before bed... you love making funny faces!

We brought donuts to school for your class to have before your first ever field trip on your actual birthday!  What a great way to celebrate your birthday with donuts and a field trip to the corn maze?!

Mommy got to go on the field trip as a chaperone/staff member.... I loved watching you on the bus ride there and back along with observing you interacting with your classmates throughout the day.  You got to pick out a pumpkin to take home as well! :)

The dinosaur is still looking good on your birthday! :)

You love taking selfies these days.... we had Grammy, Grandpa, Aunt Lindsey, Emerson and Eli over for dinner to continue the celebrations!  You picked Little Caesar's for dinner and a Coldstone ice cream cake for dessert! It was a great way to end your 6th birthday! :)

We got fresh haircuts in time for your birthday.... I love how you like showing the peace sign in pictures these days! haha

Zander also had his half birthday this week since your birthdays are positioned halfway between the year in April and October!

A picture of Z on his half birthday ;)

Maddox, I love you so very much and am thankful I get to be your mommy!  I can't wait to see what the future holds and I pray that this upcoming year is your best one yet! I love you, Madman! :)

Love, Mommy (and Daddy)