Caden's 8!!

Dear Caden,

You are now 8 years old!! In another 8 years you'll be 16 and driving. I cannot believe how fast your childhood is going. Weren't you born yesterday? 

You are at a really fun age! I think every age is fun but we're enjoying this stage of your life as well. You've endured the most change out of all the kids, born in another country, moving twice, having younger siblings, experiencing loss of unborn siblings, new schools, classes, electives, the loss of both paternal grandparents. This past year, the biggest changes were losing your grandmother and moving to a Farm, and selling the first house you truly remember. It was very hard on you. You do not like change. You've been through a lot! Even so, you are an amazing kid. 

On your birthday you wanted to eat lunch at Chuck E Cheese. You wanted me to make you a Rice Krispie Treat for your cake and bacon wrapped chicken for dinner. You also wanted to eat at Golden Carral. It's an all you can eat buffet! You have become quite an eater!

Pictures taken on your birthday!

Rice Krispie Cake

Opa and Grand-Cathy joined us for lunch

Room with all the 8s and Angry Birds on your walls

Characteristics about you!

- Friendly: You don't want anyone to be left out. You are quick to make friends and befriend someone who is lonely.

- Creative: I LOVE seeing the cool things you make and create. From shoes when you were 3 or 4, to a punch bag you hung from a tree recently, to lots of cool Lego figures and artwork you've made.

- Love of God: Several of your Bible class teachers have remarked to us about your spirituality. You seem to be a very spiritual person and I love how you want to please God and follow Jesus.

- Funny: You love jokes, being silly, and making people laugh.

- Experimental: Recently you brought in horse, donkey, dog, llama, and goat poop into my house to show me and explain how you can tell the difference between each one!! I quickly asked you to please take it back outside and never bring animal poop inside again! You've also made lots of other little experiments as you continue to learn about the world around you.

- Love of animals: You love waking up between 6 and 7 and running down to the stables to feed the animals. I love watching you run around with the dogs and goats. The animals love you too!

Favorites:

Food: Cheeseburgers

Fruit: Pineapples and coconuts

Vegetable: Sweet potatoes

Sport: Tennis

Friends: Asa, Maran, and Owen

Color: Color

Place to go: beach

Animal: goats

Pet: Copper (his male goat)

Subject: Art

Book: What do people do all day?

When you grow up you want to be a police officer. He wants to be able to help people.

Dessert: Rice Krispie Treats

Activity: Trail Life and going to tennis camp

Things you don't like:

Writing, unless you are writing a book of your own doing.

Sitting too long, still a struggle.

People who are mean.

This year for your birthday party, we decided to have it at our house. We bought stuff to make a 100 ft slip n slide. The morning of your party it started pouring down rain. Our backyard was a mess and there was no way we would be able to put the animals up and set up the slip n slide in the heavy rain. So we quickly cleaned out our shop/gym/pole barn, I went and bought a few things we could do in there, and started making a plan B. The rained cleared right before the party started so during the party, Daddy and a few of his friends, set up the slip n slide. You and your friends had a blast! We were counting the kids up who came and we had 26 kids over. Everyone had a good time. Your party was Angry Birds themed. We spray painted boxes and you guys got to build and knock over towers, I missed it while dealing with other things in the house. You guys played basketball and badminton, did the slip n slide, a pinata, and had a good time. We bought a little pool to splash in and some of you jumped in at the end of the party. In a few weeks we'll go in for your annual checkup. Happy birthday, Caden!! We are so glad you were born and LOVE you so much!

Love,
Mom

Pictures from your birthday party!

Marble Slab Ice Cream Cake

Mom made Rice Krispie Angry Bird Cake

Slip n Slide

Grace sliding down the slip n slide