Birthday #3

Another week, another birthday.  Yesterday we celebrated 8 years with our oldest son.  He really seemed to enjoy his day.  Because his birthday was on Wednesday and Dad works, he requested chocolate waffles and bacon for breakfast instead of a special supper.  He was also thrilled because the cubs meet on Wednesday night, so he attended his first cub pack meeting on his birthday, where they learned to set a table properly and cook, that's right, french toast!  Nothing like starting and ending your birthday with dollops of whipped cream and strawberries.

I cannot imagine life without my little whirlwind.  You know the poem about the little girl with a curl right in the middle of her forehead?  This is my Clayton.  When he's good, he's very,very good; and when he's bad he's horrid.  He is never really horrid, just grumpy and stubborn.  But he makes me laugh and I always have great conversations with him, and he's so good with little kids and animals.  All the young ones at church have to make sure he acknowledges them every week. 

This past year, Clay has shown remarkable maturity for the boy we were getting a little worried about.  He has made some very tough decisions not to hang around other kids he knows don't act the way he should.  This has left him a little lonely, but the better for it.  It's like he reached his own personal crossroads and had to make that decision.  We're so proud of him!  He's even started to show signs of enjoying scripture reading in the morning (shock and dismay!).  I'm amazed by his answers in primary and at home.  That little mind is always turning.

So, here's to a great boy who changed, and continues to change, our lives.  We wouldn't change him for the world.

You'll notice the tooth.  He lost the other front tooth last week, but this one is ready to go soon.  He likes to push it out on top of his lip like a real hillbilly.  We call him Clyde for fun.

***Tooth Update: it is now missing.  He now has a big gap in the middle of his mouth****