Sweet Seven

My Sweet Clay,

It doesn't seem possible that you could already be 7! I still think of you as my baby, but of course, you are growing up and becoming a big boy! I'm so proud of the ways you are learning and growing, and I'm thankful for you every single day. This year has been full of fun adventures, which you have embraced with the utmost enthusiasm. One thing I especially love about you is you are a tryer. You are always interested in trying new things--whether it's foods, activities, sports, or ideas. You aren't afraid of the unfamiliar, and you don't prejudge situations. You are a "Yes, And" kind of guy, and I love that!

We spent the summer traveling in our small RV across the western U.S. and Canada. You loved having your special little "Clay shelf," which only you could fit on, and you enjoyed seeing all kinds of new places and having so many new experiences. You did a great job of entertaining yourself on long drives, and you were a great helper when we were setting up at a campsite or getting ready to depart. We also got to travel to Nashville in August to see the total solar eclipse, which was a truly amazing phenomenon. Around Thanksgiving, we went to Washington D.C. and had a great time. You loved the Building Museum and spent an entire day building with their Big Blue Blocks. You also loved doing a scavenger hunt at the National Gallery of Art. During the Christmas holidays, we went to South Padre with our extended family, and you enjoyed hanging out with your cousins and playing on the beach. And for Spring Break, we went to Oklahoma and Arkansas, where we did lots of hiking--an activity you used to complain about but which you seemed to really enjoy on this trip. You especially enjoy opportunities to build beautiful rock stacks and spot wildlife. You truly enjoy traveling and are a great adventurer!

You started First Grade in the fall, and you are the only first grader I know who has worn a tuxedo to school on multiple occasions. It's one of your favorite outfits, and you wear it often. You are a great student and have become a more independent worker throughout the year. You have enjoyed reading chapter books this year, and you got most of the way through the 3rd Grade math book. You can write very nicely in cursive, although you feel you have to "write fast" since all the letters are connected. You have become a more confident writer and can easily write sentences and sometimes paragraphs. You even decided to compete in PSIA in a writing contest as well as a storytelling contest. Though you generally have a good attitude about all your school work, your favorite class by far has been art. You have a lot of natural artistic talent, and you are quick to notice colors and beauty in everyday things. You have experimented with many different artistic techniques and have created some very lovely paintings and drawings and crafts, which you are always eager to share with the people you love and care about.

In the fall, you decided to play soccer. You didn't really love the sport, but you thought it was great fun to get together with the other kids at practices. After the first of the year, you decided to switch to karate (which you spell "croty") and swimming, which you seem to enjoy a bit more. You earned your yellow belt recently, and you can now swim all the way across the pool on your own. In addition to your regular sports, you have also participated in a couple of Ninja Warrior competitions, which have been lots of fun.

The activity you have probably enjoyed the most this year is Cub Scouts. You love wearing the uniform (in its entirety) and earning the belt loops and badges, which you work hard on even when you aren't at the meetings. You were especially tickled when you earned the Brag Vest, and you were thrilled beyond words to go on a couple of campouts. You quickly memorized the Scout Oath and Law, and you do a good job of personifying the spirit of scouting. The Scout leaders are constantly complimenting you on your outstanding behavior and dedication to completing requirements and electives. You recently earned the rank of Tiger Scout and are looking forward to becoming a Wolf next.

You still love to cook and have become a proficient scrambled egg maker. There are some weeks when it seems this is all you eat! You enjoy looking through cookbooks, and any time I'm working in the kitchen, you are quick to offer assistance. You eagerly help with every part of the process, from grocery shopping to clean up. You are a huge fan of "happy hour," which to you means preparing a cheese board and getting the family together to share it.

You love to play board games, and you often get us all organized to play something. Your favorite is Mexican Train, and you are really quite good. You put Checkers on your official list of birthday activities. And, not long ago, you learned to play Solitaire, which allows you a game to play even when no one else is willing or able.

As the youngest member of the family, you get dragged along to everyone else's activities. You rarely ever compain and always find ways of entertaining yourself. You cheer on your siblings and are happy for them when they do well and consoling toward them when they wish they had done better.

You finally lost a couple of teeth, completely without fanfare, and you are so excited to be getting in some grown-up teeth. Additionally, you are really starting to get tall. Both signs of the big boy you are becoming.

Clay, you are such a special person! You are a lover and a giver and a tryer. You are happy and easy to get along with, and everyone who knows you is blessed. You adapt to change easily, and you get over disappointments quickly. You are creative and clever and enthusiastic in all endeavors. You are sensitive to other people's feelings, and you are always ready to dispense hugs. You make every day brighter, and you make me so proud! I love you so much and am so excited to see what the next year will bring! Happy 7th birthday! I love you!

Love,
Mom

Sweet seven-year-old boy!