Happy 9th Birthday Zander!

Dear Zander,

You are officially nine now!  I am officially in shock that we are already here!  How are you in third grade??  This year you have faced so many milestones.  The most important event of this year was accepting Christ as your Savior and following in believer's baptism.  I will always feel that this decision will be the most important one of your life and am so thankful that you are passionate about what the Lord did for you all those many years ago.  You enthusiastically memorize verses each week for AWANA.  You are going to finish your second book for the year in just a couple weeks.  You also love leading worship in KidStreet and being the laser pointer to help students follow along with the words.  You have discovered a love for reading this year by reading the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" books.  You will stay up late into the evenings just so you can finish a book.  We currently have the book fair going on at school and you have decided to take some of your birthday money to buy a few more books from the series!  Also, you continue to be an incredible mathematician.  You have all of your multiplication facts memorized and can do many math problems in your head.  I equally love that you aren't arrogant about what you know in school.  You never mention to others what you know compared to what they may or may not know.  I am thankful you are a good friend to so many.  This year you tried soccer and basketball for the first time.  You loved both and have a natural athletic ability that you didn't inherit from your mama! haha  You seem to grasp each new sport quickly and have the motivation to really try to do your best.  This past weekend you were asked to pitch for the first time ever in baseball.  I was a nervous wreck since we had never practiced this skill but you struck out your first batter!  You also had an incredible double play as shortstop to end the game (tagged the runner going to third and then touched 2nd base)!  I also appreciate how kind you are to your brother (at times ;)).  You are getting better at sharing with him and also ensuring he is able to join you in whatever activity you are involved in at the time. He looks up to you and will continue to do that his entire life.  I pray you always give him a positive example to follow.  I am so thankful you are the boy who made me a mommy.  I can't imagine starting this journey of parenting with anyone else.  We have learned so much over the last nine years and I can't wait to see what the next nine years olds..... although time can slow down just a little bit! ;) I love you with all of my heart!  I hope it was a wonderful 9th birthday, Lil Z!

Love, 

Mommy

Last night as an 8 year old, at Maddox's ball game....

Tucking in my eight-year-old for the last time....

Zander created the tradition of breakfast in bed for birthdays.  He requested flaky layer biscuits and fruit..... he was just waking up here!

First birthday ever celebrated at school on his actual birthday!  Age 5 was on a Saturday,  Age 6 was on Easter Sunday, Age 7 was "sheltering at home" and Age 8 was a "Work from Home Wednesday".....

I brought cupcakes to his class at lunchtime.  He also got a picture with his "birthday twin", Mrs. Townsend!  She said since they celebrate their birthday with Queen Elizabeth, they must wear crowns! haha

Zander came home to a new bike from Grammy and Grandpa!  He needed a bigger bike and they got him the perfect one!  Z ate dinner at a local Mexican restaurant with Aunt Lindsey, Emerson, Eli, Grammy, Grandpa, Daddy, Maddox and Mommy! 

On Saturday, we celebrated with his first "official" birthday party since he turned 5!  The birthday boy requested laser tag so we went to Spare Time for bowling, laser tag and arcade games!  A lot of his classmates joined us!  We also enjoyed having the Bakewells, Kennedys, Whites and Williams' family to celebrate the birthday boy! The 15 kids played laser tag first and then Daddy and the uncles (by marriage or by friendship) took their kids for round 2!  It was so much fun to watch all the kids have a blast!

A few other memorable moments from the week..... Zander's game where he pitched for the first time!  Grannie and GranDan came to visit and got to see a great game!

The Kona Ice truck came by school one day last week.... Maddox is living his best life!

Maddox had a game this past week.... check out his stance in the outfield!

We had our spring festival at school so while the boys were at the baseball field, I was getting pied in the face over and over again!  I kept telling myself it was for the children! haha ;)