Dylan's 7th Birthday Party

The story before the story is that since there has been a lot going on in our household the past few months, I waited until early October to start thinking about Dylan's birthday party.  That messed everything up.  Way too many emails were sent out.  Plans were made, then changed, then made, then changed.  We finally booked the party room at a theater and planned to see "Free Birds" with just his cousins and a couple close friends.  Then, Wednesday evening I got a call that they were pulling the movie from the theater because it wasn't making enough money!  Thursday, (2 days before the party!), I called the only place I hadn't called yet, (because we had his party there LAST year).  Once again, we partied at Chuck E Cheese.  Not ideal, but I'm pretty sure Dylan still had a blast.
I am never happy with the birthday party photos, since the lighting is always horrible, but here's a few anyway...

The party was from 12:30-2:30 , so afterwards, since it was a pretty warm day, we went to the park.  I was taking photos of Dylan playing, and Jim was spinning Dylan around on the tire swing.  He would stand still and make Dylan and the tire swing spin around him, while I commented that it didn't look like a great idea.  Then Jim got the bright idea that I just HAD to do it, and take a shot of Dylan that way.  He was so emphatic about the idea, saying "that way he'll be in focus, but everything else will be blurry"!  I tried it, just to appease the poor man, but told him it wouldn't work with the lens I had, so he decided to try it with his cell phone.  And that brings us to perhaps my favorite part of the day...

(What's that?  I should have asked him if he was okay?  Well, I would have, but I was laughing too hard!  Hey, I did walk over to see if he was still moving!  He says what makes the video so funny is me laughing my @## off).

After that awesomeness, we went to Boston Market for dinner, and then headed home for Jim's favorite part of the day.  This was something he had been waiting for since he first found out he was having a boy - introducing him to Star Wars.  I was really nervous that after all the buildup to the event, that Dylan was going to be completely bored and ask us to turn it off halfway through the movie, but luckily that didn't happen.  Although he asked a billion questions the entire way through the movie (at least I was told - I fell asleep half way through), he seemed to really enjoy it, and asked to see The Empire Strikes Back the next day.  He keeps calling Darth Vador, "Dark Vador", but Jim is taking great pride in explaining it all.  We had to go get 2 light sabers (one for each "boy"), with his birthday gift cards, so let's hope the force is with us all.

To Dylan on Your 7th Birthday

Dear Dylan,

Today you are seven!  I figure rather than be completely predictable and complain about how much bigger you are, and talk about how sad I am that you are growing up so fast, I will list all the ways you haven't changed at all.

1.  You still love to laugh, and you do it with gusto.  One of my favorite memories of this past year, is taking you to see "Despicable Me 2", and listening to you laugh louder than anyone else in the theater.  Your sense of humor is maturing, and you often "get" your dad and I's sarcasm and jokes we don't expect you laugh at.  At the same time, though, if I chase you around the house saying "I'm gonna get you", you still laugh and giggle like when you were a toddler.  There are few things I would rather do than make you laugh.

2.  You still love to go places and try new things.  You have a sense of adventure that I love.  Like always, when we asked you what you wanted for your birthday, you didn't really know.  You're much more interested in doing things than in having things.  Your favorite place to go lately is to an arcade - Chuck E Cheese, the arcade at the mall, FunFest, Dave & Busters -  an place you can play games.  Your dad has much more patience in this area than I do.  The noise makes me a little crazy, my dear.  You loved going to Great Wolf Lodge, and doing the Quest.  You also enjoyed the pool and water slides, which is a change.  You finally conquered your fear of going under the water this year, thanks to your swim instructor, Eden.  When you went off the diving board for the first time, I was pretty sure I was going to explode with pride!

3.  You continue to amaze us.  Everyone talks about your math skills, and you always choose to do your math homework first.  You are really becoming a great reader, although we still have a hard time getting you to read to us.  You still do NOT like doing homework!  Even though it is easy for you, you complain, and get very dramatic if you mess up, or feel like it is taking too long.  You seem to like your first grade teacher, and never complain about going to school, although we still don't get much information out of you about your day.

4.  You are still sweet.  One day when I stubbed my toe, you immediately ran to get ice for me, and then sat rubbing my back for a while.  My proudest moment of the soccer season was when you stopped to ask someone who fell if they were okay.  I've watched you around your friends and you are sweet to them too.  You laugh at their jokes, play what they want to play sometimes, and comfort them when they are sad.  You put a lot of time and thought into making cards for everyone.  You are very sweet to your neighbor friend, always coming inside to get the two of you snacks or drinks. 

5.  You still adore your dad and I.  You still give us drawings that say "I Love You Mom and Dad".  You still tell us you love us (all.the.time!), and give us hugs and kisses.  You promised me recently that even when you don't fit in my lap, you'll still snuggle with me.  Today, when I dropped off your birthday snack at your classroom, you came over to hug me in front of all your friends!  You like to spend time with friends, but you are still very happy to spend the day with your mom and dad.  Your dad and I are going to soak it up as much as we can, and I would love it if I can write the same thing in next year's birthday letter!

I love you my sweet boy and I am so proud of you!
Mom