9 Years

9 years ago Johan and I became parents, and we have been truly blessed everyday since. C amazes us everyday. We constantly marvel at how we didn't know we were missing anything pre-C, but we can not imagine a world without him. He is our baby, and he is now 9 years old!

C's big birthday was similar to K's. Instead of Dutch pancakes, C choose fluffy pancakes. After pancakes C opened his gifts. Like K he got a new air gun. Instead of Risk, we all got to play Axis and Allies. If you don't have 12 hours to spare, this is not the game for you. If you or some one you know likes to play this game, please let me know. Let's get them together with C. This is absolutely C's type of game. It has war, strategy, tiny little tanks and soldiers, some historical basis, head to head dice rolling, and it requires intensity. Unfortunately none of us had very good poker faces today. About an hour into the game C looked around and said, "I think we should stop, I don't think you are having fun." He was right, but Johan and I tried to encourage him. "It's your day, you choose what we do!" K gave us up though. He was not enthralled and he wasn't going to allow Johan and I to carry on the charade that we were obviously not even very good at.

Here are some shots of C opening his presents. Here he is with his new air gun.

Here he is opening a treasure hunt game from Nana.

Clothes from Nana...

This is actually the first present that he went for. He thought it was Axis and Allies, and he was right.

So the boys started on their X-Box time. Johan started ripping out carpet in the basement, because Reuben was coming to install some new tile. C didn't want to go out for lunch, his tastes are more epicurean, he requested macaroni and cheese. Good thing we stayed home because we were there when these balloons from Oma and Opa arrived.

Next we had to take care of a few things at the center, then I took the boys to Borders so they could spend their gift cards from Nana.

After some running around to gather the necessary tile supplies, K and I went to Fred Meyer so K could choose a last minute gift for C. Then we raced back to the center to get C and Johan. At the last minute C decided he would rather go to the movies than the climbing gym. So we were off to see The Rock starring in "Tooth Fairy." The boys enjoyed it, Johan and I tolerated it.

After "Tooth Fairy," we had dinner at Abby's Pizza. Damien was in town bringing us another load of cabinets for the center, so he joined us for dinner. After pizza we headed home for ice cream cake, and a little more X-box time. Johan and Damian finished ripping out the rest of the carpet in the basement then headed over to the center to unload. I stayed home to tuck in my 9 year old baby. And the birthday season comes to a close, until Oma and Opa arrive this weekend, for birthday redux.

I can't believe that 9 years have raced past. Oh, I pray that these boys know how much they are loved, and that they grow up to be good men who love the Lord.