Dear Eli

NINE years old this year! Last year in single digit numbers--WHAT?!?! Nine is like the half-way mark to my parenting you. In 9 more years your will be 18 and that is terrifying and amazing at the same time. Of course I want you to grow up and I want you to become the amazing man that I know you will be. But for now, I am going to cherish you still being just 9 and not think about you growing up anymore than that!

You are about to become a big brother for the THIRD time! But really, this is the first time you are old enough to really understand what is happening. I am excited to watch you with your new baby brother and see how you grow from him. When you feel like it, you and Owen really have the sweetest brotherly relationship. Ya ll laugh, crack up, and play together so, so well. You are like two peas in a pod! You can be an amazing big brother to Cash when you feel like it! You better be nice to him, because I have a feeling he may be bigger than you before you know it!

You know who you are. You know what you want to do, what sports you want to play, what you want to wear, what you want to read, how to fix your hair, and well, sometimes you think you know everything! Third grade has not come without its challenges. Partly because you tend to rush through things, don't particularly care, and can be lazy when it comes to school work. But its been challenging with the trio of teachers the school is trying out this year. It has not been the best fit for you, but we are dealing with it and going to get through it with good grades (right!?!?). When you start to slip, a good, stern, talking to gets you back in line and gets you motivated again.

You are totally into flag-football right now and are starting again in the Spring. You are an electronic fiend and need to have your limits clearly defined. You are a morning person if I have ever known one. You are awake with me at 5am before I leave for my workout every. single. morning.  Good ole' American food is your favorite--hamburgers, pizza, brisket.You will only wear "athletic clothes" and always prefer shorts to pants. You are getting better at trying new foods and venturing out a tiny bit, although it still sometimes takes you some time to actually get you to try that first bite!

We kept it simple this year for your birthday, I love that about you! Chocolate cake for breakfast, pizza for lunch and M&M cookies with your class, and Burger Fi for dinner with buddy Ty and his family.

Friday after your birthday you invited three boys over for what else, but pizza, cookie cake, XBOX, Nerf Guns, a pinata, and a lot of boy noises and smells!

I want you to know that I love you, will fight for you, and will always be here for you.  Even when you go to college and fall in love and replace me (that will never happen, right?!?) with the girl of your dreams.  I know my place will change, and another woman will hold your heart, but know that I will always love you and 9 years into being your mommy I’m super proud of you and always will b e!

And The Best Uncle Award Goes To.......

Ethan and Hobo!!!!!!!

These guys are the best! The boys, but Owen in particular had been asking to go ice skating for weeks! He just wanted to go soooooo bad! Being in my "current state" I was not comfortable going on the ice and taking 3 boys who have never been on ice before! Hobo grew up on the ice and had been skating his whole life. When he got wind that they boys wanted to go, he happily volunteered to take them!
Y'all, It was so much fun! Even for me who just stood on the sidelines and watched! And the boys were good! They started off a little shaky but by the end, they were pretty decent!
Owen proclaimed that the best part was falling! And they all did their fair share of that! Ethan and Hobo were so patient and helpful and made sure they always had their eyes on the boys. It was such a good time!!!

These boys have no idea how lucky they are to have these amazing guys in their lives!!