Happy Birthday, Will!

Happy 12th Birthday, Will!  A perfect dozen!  So many great things come in dozens...like DONUTS!!  July 17th rolls around every year and it seems like it is always in the midst of some transition for our family.  Whether it is closing on a house, PCS-ing, traveling across country to see family, or PCS-ing...did I already say that?  Yet, you never seem to mind.  Because your love language, like mine, is time spent together. And we always get to spend your birthday together.

 (Well, except last year when Dad was in Senegal)

 

And it is hard to believe that an entire year has gone by since we took the above picture.  You have grown quite a bit...but, I'm pretty sure the sunflower is still taller than you...pretty sure.

You have had a lot of fun in the last year (even during this weird quarantine time we are experiencing...see earlier bit about our shared love language).  For one, we got the chance to see the musical Hamilton in Oklahoma thanks to Grandma and Grandpa.  It was definitely a highlight for me to get to watch it with you and Dom and hear all of your reactions.

You have continued to love Boy Scouts and participated in as many activities as you could.  Including camp outs in Valley Forge and Gettysburg last fall.  Though this is mainly Dad's arena, I do enjoy hearing about what you have learned and merit badges that you are working on.  Pretty sure you are well on your way to 2nd Rank...if only Covid hadn't gotten in the way you would be there!

Last fall you got a little more into sports than you have in the past.  Coaching you in soccer was one of my favorite aspects of that experience.  I knew you would never give less than your best on the field and I could count on you to not give up on plays.  Hopefully, I get to watch you another season this Fall.

You also experienced October baseball with Dom as the Nationals won the World Series.  And we became the biggest fans ever!  We'd actually gone to a couple of their games over the season afterall.  My favorite memory was that you trusted Dom's wisdom enough to not go to bed in the 8th inning when the Nats were down in the Wild Card game.  Dom told you miracles always happened in the ninth inning and you trusted him and it paid off.  It was so much fun to watch two brothers enjoy sports together! (Side note...I frequently went to bed before the ninth inning, but excited running feet always alerted me to happy news)

History continues to be something you are interested in, particularly battlefield history.  Probably because you are collecting intel for your Risk and Axis and Allies strategies.  But, I am most impressed with how diligent you (and Dom) with a new writing course we started this year.  It was not your favorite, but you worked at it and the improvement in your writing was obvious.  While your writing improved, it also improved your worth ethic as you would persevere through the assignments to get them done...or get up extra early the next day to finish up.  And I came to enjoy our afternoons discussing writing assignments that included literary criticism.  Though nothing tops when I actually get to work with you on Pre-Algebra and Algebra.  Which is rare, but I do treasure those moments when I hear "Mom, will you help me with math?"...I know my time is coming.  Geometry is just a few months away!

Along with soccer and baseball viewing, last Fall, you elected to run cross country with Dom and Molly (Dom wanted to, I signed up Molly without her permission, and though she complained constantly...it was always with a smile).  You decided to run to help with your soccer conditioning and ended up enjoying it and showing a lot of improvement.  Your coaches loved having you on the team!  I am keeping my fingers crossed we get a season this Fall as I loved the Cross Country Meets.  Early Saturdays, but always done by 10:30 AM!

I love how you interact with your siblings.  You can make Dom laugh as hard as anyone...which is why I frequently separate you during lessons.  You and Molly share a creativity that I cannot match.  Entire worlds are real in your imagination and you both have a way with words.  And you have a soft space in your heart for John, which means you are more patient and always ready to give him a hug when he is sad.  Actually, you are ready with a hug just about any time someone you love is sad.

I love your quiet wit and I am also impressed with your ability to quote entire sections of dialogue after hearing it once.  We recently introduced you to Jerry Seinfeld (see above photo) and just like Hamilton, I enjoyed watching your reactions more than listening to the stand up routine.

Starting a real fire during a virtual campout

Supporting Molly at her bridging ceremony

Dominic was the heart behind our Late Spring Game Tournament, but your presence was what made the games happen.  You were always willing to play along even when you were tired and wanted to do something else.  Turns out, you and Dom are a dominant team at Spades...learned that the hard way. 

Dear William,
  I hope you have a wonderful birthday.  I doubt I will see you for a while as you spent last night playing video games with the siblings until the wee hours of the morning as your first birthday gift.  It has been a year where plans have been made and changed and cancelled...and you never get too down.  Maybe it is because to make up for it, we have a constant supply of gummie bears in the pantry...or maybe it is because you know that better things are on the horizon.  Miracles do happen in the 9th inning, and when they don't, at least you are surrounded by the people who love you and and you love back.  But, it is probably a mix of both gummie bears and love.
  July 17, 2008 had a pretty early start as we drove to the hospital in the dark and the guard at the gate knew exactly why were were there without being told.  I thought of that as I came to check on you at 2:40 AM this morning.  It was a great first memory of many memories to come.  Which now include walks with you along the trail as you tell me about Minecraft or a recent Axis and Allies game...both of which I don't understand...but, you don't seem to mind.  It also includes watching you do a little dance when we finally eat a meal that is a favorite.  It also includes listening to you say your decade of the Rosary each evening with reverence and steady pace that shows you are actually thinking about the words not just rushing through it.  I noticed this a few weeks ago and it helps me stay focused.

 It also includes being ambushed by you with water balloons and guns as I returned from grocery shopping...no...I misspoke, that is not a favorite memory...Punk!  Though the grin on your face is a good memory.

Happy Birthday, William Thomas!  We thank God today and every day you are a part of our family.  I just hope you wake up in time for cake...because it is peanut butter chocolate ice cream...My FAVORITE, TOO!!

Love,
Mom