You turned seven yesterday, on another dreary and chilly October day much different than the warm and sunny one we had on your birth day. Birthdays on school days are hard, especially when tradition would have it that birthday mornings are most definitely met with a large stack of birthday pancakes. And since you had already woke up and questioned why your room wasn't filled with balloons as in years' past, there was no way I was getting around the birthday pancakes!
I drove you to school, which is always a special treat for you, and watched your big brown eyes smile at me as you waved from the sidewalk and said "I love you" not once, but twice. Little did you know I'd be back a few hours later to surprise you with birthday lunch. You enjoyed your sub sandwich from Subway, but enjoyed the attention you got from your classmates even more as you ate your Doritos and shared your mom with all the kids who needed help opening their go-gurts. Then as soon as Ashton finished his hot lunch, it was clear you weren't gonna linger with me! Off you ran outside to chase girls and soccer balls, as seven year olds do.
Your birthday night was my favorite. You had a makeup soccer game the night before, so Coach cancelled soccer practice on your birthday and opened up a night for us to be at home. I made a meatloaf and a pan of homemade mac and cheese, lit some good smelling candles and turned on the fire, wrapped your presents and arranged them just so. I picked you up from school, you helped me pick out a box of Scratch cupcakes, and we stopped to snap a few pictures of you before heading home to meet Daddy and Mila.
You opened up your presents, were kind enough to let Mila open one on her own, and were gracious and thrilled with every one. You now have a United States coin collector map, a binder to organize and store all your Pokemon cards, some new Legos, the first Captain Underpants book, and your very own blue camera. I can't wait to go walk through the woods and take pictures of beautiful things together.
The rest of the night was ours. We ate your favorite meal, sipped chocolate milk out of champagne flutes, and toasted to you on your 7th birthday. We built Legos, organized your Pokemon cards, and watched the Cubs earn their ticket to the NLCS. And before bed, we looked at your very first Shutterfly book, read you a few stories about the year of your birth, and laughed at how chubby you were. Your soft heart surfaced and you told us you wish you could always stay 7; that is as long as the neighbor boys could stay their same ages, too. You're not too sure about this growing up thing. I'm not too sure about it all either, but I sure love the little boy God is growing you to be.
We love you, Cruz Bennett, and are so proud of who you are. You are funny and sensitive, creative and kind, laid back and smart. You are just YOU, just as God made you, and we are so blessed to be the ones to enjoy you. Happy SEVEN!
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