My 9-year-old

My baby boy is nine. I can hardly believe it. I guess it's because he looks like he's six. Of course, he acts like he's 25 sometimes (and three at other times). It's really fun to watch a person grow up! He's developing into such a wonderful person-- very intelligent and kind and thoughtful. His true personality is really coming out in the last year and it is so fun. He is definitely one of my favorite people. I'm fortunate to be his mom! And I'm fortunate that he's more like his Papa than he is like his mother... :)

A few days before his birthday, he asked me how to make oatmeal. Then he told me he wanted to make me breakfast in bed on his birthday. I asked why and reminded him that he had wanted me to make him a "Farmer Boy" breakfast with eggs, waffles, sausage, biscuits, and apple pie (yes, apple pie). But he said, "Remember how you told me that the king is really the servant to the people? Well, I figured that since I am the king of my birthday, that I should serve you and Emeline." So he brought me oatmeal and apple juice and Emeline a bowl of Kix on a cookie sheet with a cloth napkin and we ate it on my bed that morning.

We used to have big bashes every year, but after his 7th birthday party (me + 11 children under age 7 = not fun), I decided to have a party every other year instead of every year. So last year we spent a relaxing time with just the three of us, joined by Grandma and Grandpa later in the evening for some steaks and seafood (Joseph's faves). I much prefer those parties. But Joseph couldn't be convinced to skip his "friend party" this year.

Actually it was easier this year than it ever has been. Joseph designed his own invitations and decided on the theme and games. He had a Star Wars costume party (the invitation read "Bring your own light saber" (BYOLS) and "Can you use the force to choose your costume?" and also gave a slight hint "Star Wars Legos" for any undecided gift-buyers). We had 5 or 6 boys come. The games were a combination Star Wars-Halloween. After making paper light sabers, they played pin the hat on the witch (which Joseph and I made) and bobbed for apples. We headed outside for Zombie Tag and Spider racing and Bat racing. It was about 70 degrees outside that day (amazing for the time of year at 5000 feet elevation), so it was great. He got some nice gifts from his friends, mostly Star Wars lego sets. Grandma gave him the Anakin Skywalker spaceship and Emeline and I gave him a General Grievous spaceship (don't ask me... I don't know what that is...).





Grandma came and took us out to dinner at Applebees. Then she bought Joseph a fish tank with four fish. One died, but we're ok with that because it was the ugly one (the man gave us the wrong one...). Joseph named them Beauty, Sacagawea, and some-other-name-that-I-can't-remember. We're quite the animal family now with a dog, a rat, and three fish. Our next pet will be a goat. I hear goat's milk is quite good if you get the right kind of goat.

So that is the surface version of his birthday. Of course, there is always more to the story and my desire to paint a realistic picture of my life won't let me stop there. So I must explain how I almost ruined the day by having a break down in the morning. With Halloween the day before and a difficult week trying to finish a project for work among my usual stresses, I was not as prepared for the day as I would have liked. I went to bed late due to a Halloween party and so I slept late that morning. I would have gotten out of bed a little earlier, but wanted to let Joseph bring me breakfast in bed (I should encourage service, right?). So my late start added to my stress. The living room was a mess and I had to make the cake and decorate it as well as decorate the house. Decorating the house never happened. And when I took the second pan of the two-layer cake out of the oven, the pan slipped due to my oven mit being upside down and landed face-down on the open oven door. I tried to put a spatula under it to flip it without it falling apart, but the super moist cake couldn't handle being upside down and it crumbled all over the oven door and onto the floor and into the drawer under the oven. Lovely. I started to cuss and then noticed my two children staring at me and tried to show an example of how NOT to throw a tantrum when things go wrong. It was hard, but I maintained some outer control. However, I was not feeling calm inwardly so when a family member called to tell me some news I didn't want to hear, I snapped at her and we got in a bad argument. I felt completely justified at the time, but look back now with embarrassment and sincere regret. Thankfully she was willing to accept my apologies and forgive and forget and it hasn't caused lasting damage. And thankfully I have a sweet little boy who just took everything at stride. I was still finishing the cake decorating as the first guest arrived, so Joseph started them on the light-saber-making and was a good host.

And I wonder why my children are passionate and stubborn and intense... :) Perhaps someday I'll learn to be consistantly calm.