And Then He Was 7....

So, it may or may not have been just over 4 months since my little baby turned 7. SEVEN! 

Every year, I hope the day he turns another year older will never come, and yet somehow it did,  and again , every single year.  Nearly every night, I ask him to please not grow that night while he is sleeping.  He just laughs and usually has a response similar to this, "I can't help it Mom! It just happens!" 

When you are younger you always hear that time seems to speed up as you get older.  

And like everything else your Mom tells you, it ends up being completely right. 

I love every minute of being a mom. 

And realizing how quickly the years are rushing by, I try to appreciate it even more. 

Enough of the mumbling about how old my babies are getting.....

This year we decided to do breakfast in bed a little different:

 I don't know if you can tell in the pictures, but we are in our jammies :).  Caleb thought it was awesome.  E on the other hand, well if any of you are familiar with his personality, you know what his thoughts were on the idea.  (He kind of- sort of obliged us.  He didn't get completely ready.  He didn't even shower.)

That afternoon, we met my family at Laser Quest for a mean game of laser tag. 

Then we headed home for his favorite meal: 

Homemade spaghetti & meatballs with steamed broccoli and twisty rolls .

(I love his taste in food.  What 6 year old - he was 6 at the time of the request and I will use any opportunity to call him my 6 year old- wants steamed broccoli dipped in pasta sauce? Too funny.)

 And then it was present time.  

 (Don't judge the Christmas Village in the background.  It's put away now :).)

 And then.......

 His favorite.....

Oreo ice cream cake

We do a friend party for our kids on even birthdays.  Otherwise it gets too overwhelming and expensive.  Being an odd year, I let him invite 2 friends to do something fun on Martin Luther King Day (since it's right after his birthday).  We went to one of those jump house places.  I love boys.  I just do.  They are so energetic, and love to run around and jump on things.  They are just fun. 

Here is Caleb with his friends Jordan and Finley. 

I love being Caleb's mom.  I often wonder how I lucked out with the boys I have.  I definitely do not feel adequate to be their mom most of the time.  Caleb's highlights of this year would be:

-gaining a love to read anything and everything

-mastering awesome defensive soccer skills

-playing his first season of basketball

-starting 1st grade

-starting the violin

-gaining a lot of confidence socially, he really does make a new friend everywhere he goes

-continuing to master the art of Lego building

-riding on a plane for the first time without his parents (he went with Layne to Nat's house)

-learning to swim confidently

-gaining a love of marine life, most especially sharks

-taking tennis lessons

-becoming even more inquisitive, and then learning how to find books/websites to answer questions

-gaining a deeper testimony and understanding of the Gospel

-continuing to be extremely thoughtful and having a great deal of empathy (especially for those without homes or parents to love them, he prays for them often.)

The other day E came in my room and sat next to me.  He just put his head in my lap and I could tell he had a lot on his mind.  Finally he got very emotional and said, "Mom, Caleb is the most amazing brother in the world.  I couldnt' imagine my life without him." (I will always remember those exact words, and may have gotten a little emotional myself when as he spoke.)

I agree.  And I would have to add that he is an amazing son as well.  And I also could not imagine my life without him.