Happy 7th Birthday to Michael

My sweet, sweet boy has turned 7! Where do I begin...I usually like to take a journey on these b-day posts, so here goes: He has been such a joy to our family, the semi-serious child, who pays a lot of attention to what's going on around him, although you may not realize that he noticed a new pair of shoes you are wearing. ;) No, he's not in to fashion, but this boy recognizes details! One day, he will make his wife so happy! "Honey, I love how you did your make up today!" Or "that new color of highlights looks pretty." ;) This kid does not miss a beat! My sister, Katie, & I get a kick out of how he LOVES all the crafty stuff she does: birthday invitations, Christmas cards, etc. He will sit & stare at them, asking questions about how it was all done. I think my sis gets some serious affirmation from this boy, and she often will say how lucky his wife will be one day w/all his appreciation for detail...that is if she is blessed w/that crafty gene his mommy does NOT have! One time he asked me why I don't make things like Aunt Katie does-awesome! :)

Anyway, Michael just finished Kindergarten and had such a GREAT year. It was so fun to see all the milestones. First was leaving home & being away from his comfort zone all day. I was a little nervous about how he'd do, but about one month in, he was basically running to the door & leaving me in the dust! ;) Learning how to read was a huge thrill for him & us! It seemed one day he was reviewing letters & the next reading. I love that he will some times ask to read during our bible time together.

Michael has become quite the sports fan lately. It's funny, because not only does he LOVE playing any sport (baseball, soccer, football), he also LOVES to watch anything sports-related on tv. He picks a team he wants to win & cheers them on the whole game. This year he played soccer & coach pitch (for the first time) simultaneously and loved them both. (He didn't seem to mind two-three practices & two games a week for 6 wks-!@#$%) He can't decide which he likes better, but sports of some kind are for sure in our future! ;)

Another passion of Michael's is working in the yard. And the crazy thing is, he really IS working!! This kid is amazing; the other day Mike sat (inside in the a/c-LOL) watching him through the screen door as he cleaned up the garden. After raking & pulling weeds, which he piles into his wheelbarrow and hauls off, it looked awesome! He's kinda' like the landscaper you hire for free-if there is such a thing! ;) He loves it, even in the scorching summer temperatures. Some mornings he'll wake up, put on long pants/sleeves & head out to the backyard to trim things, clean up, whatever...I don't actually know what he's up to, but it's so helpful & entertaining to him-bonus. Now, if this continues into the teen years when he can push a lawn mower, Mike has it made! ;) For career day at school, he dressed up as a landscaper. And Mike wrote, "MC Landscaping" on his t-shirt. So cute. :)

I have seen him grow in his understanding of God's Word over this last year. I remember picking him up from class @ church, asking him what he learned, and he would say, "I don't know, read my paper." At the time, I would get frustrated that he wasn't remembering, so now it's so sweet to see him retain what he learns, and be able to recall stories of God's Word. Obviously this does not equal a changed heart that is living for Jesus, but I praise God that His Word is being cemented into this little heart!

We adore this boy. I think he has a very special place in his heart for his daddy. He loves me, too, ;) but I often times think he prefers Mike in a lot of ways. I love that sweet relationship they have ! Happy Birthday, precious boy!!

Here are some pics from his Packer's Swim Party! We swam, ate, played in the tree house, on the slip & slide & finished the day off with flag football! :) (A gift from Luke & Amy) I think Michael had a GREAT day!!

Cousin Kaitlyn getting her dose of sweet baby Brooklyn & Kari w/Grant

Tyson on the slip & slide

Michael & best buddies, Eli & Trey (haha, Michael was just commenting on how brave Trey was for climbing that high, so he said, "What are you writing? That Trey is crazy?" LOL

The Crew: Cousins & Johnsons

And of course a Packer's football cake.

The party ended with a fun game of flag football-coaches Mike, Katie, and Vince :)