Bennett Had a Birthday

Our sweet Bennett is 10 years old now!  His actual birthday was the Saturday after school got out, while we were on our Memorial Day weekend trip.  We spent the majority of the day in the car, but we did do a little swimming once we reached Townsend and then that night we had a little family party for Bennett in our cabin.  We had yummy barbecue for dinner, and then Bennett got his requested Donut Cake.

Cute Bennett is all about the presents, so even though his birthday had been spent in the car, he got some great gifts and that more than made up for it!  Campbell gave him the newest Hobbit movie:

Cal gave Bennett a new iPod case -- hoping to protect Bennett's iPod better since we also got the glass of his screen replaced.

Elle gave Bennett a new lego set that he had asked for:

And so did Reagan:

Sam and I gave Bennett an alarm clark that also works as a radio and iPod charger:

And Sam also got Bennett an NFL sized football.  Bennett is getting better and better at catching and throwing the football, and Sam wanted him to practice with the real thing.

A couple of weeks later we had a birthday party for Bennett with a handful of school/neighborhood friends at the neighborhood pool.  The weather was beautiful all day, and then about 15 minutes before the party was supposed to start, dark clouds started rolling in.  We decided to go forward with our plans, hoping if it did rain it would be a quick storm.  But once we got to the pool the boys got to swim for about 10 minutes before they blew the whistle and had the kids get out because of lightning.  So we decided to eat the pizza and wait it out.

Which seemed like a good plan until the heavens opened and a seriously torrential downpour emerged from the skies.  We made a mad dash for the cars with the cake and pizza and pop and popsicles in tow.  Plan B wasn't well-constructed, but we just ended up at our house watching a movie.  I think the boys had fun together, but I was sure bummed out about the rainout.

We sang to cute Bennett and had cake and ice cream before I took all the boys home with their water guns as their goody bag gift -- too bad they didn't actually get to use them at the party!

Bennett got over a hundred dollars in gift cards, and is already planning on saving up for an iPad mini -- because he doesn't get enough screen time I guess!  I think he was pleased with his birthday celebrations and appreciated being recognized and felt loved.

Bennett is seriously a great kid.  Here are 10 things I want to remember about him on the occasion of his 10th Birthday:

1-  Bennett knows I love him.  He is always asking me if he is my favorite, and is trying to convince me to just admit that he is.  I am grateful that he knows he is loved.  He really is.

2-  Bennett is so keyed into my emotions.  He can tell when I am getting stressed or overwhelmed and is quick to ask if he can help or do anything he can to alleviate my stress.  He is very aware of others feelings and quick to do something about it.

3 - Bennett LOVES sports right now.  He spends a lot of his spare time making lists of favorite NFL teams and NFL players and NBA teams and NBA players.  He loves watching games with Sam.  He is spending a lot of time practicing his basketball and football skills.

4- He still really likes Hobbit/Lord of the Rings and Legos.  He doesn't want to share a room with Calvin when the new baby comes because he is afraid that Cal will ruin the many Lego sets that he has displayed all over his room.

5-  Bennett still LOVES fruit and will most likely eat us out of house and home someday.  He regularly will eat a banana and an apple and an apple sauce and a fruit cup and a bowl of blueberries and still be wanting more.  So glad he loves healthy foods -- just wish he didn't have such a hearty appetite!

6-  Bennett is funny and still loves to make us laugh.  He is always working on funny little quips and lines, and has good comedic timing.  He is happy if he is making us smile.

7-  Bennett and Elle are still very close.  They now have Studio C and the Hunger Games in common, and I love that they are dear friends and pray that will always be the case.

8-  Bennett is a good brother to all his siblings.  He is still really not phased by the 8 year difference between he and Cal and loves playing with him.  He loves Campbell and Reagan and is quick to come to their aid.

9-  Bennett and Sam are becoming particularly close, which has been fun to watch this past year.  Their mutual love of sports is definitely bringing them together, but I love watching them hangout together and play catch or work on Bennett's basketball skills.  Makes this momma's heart happy.

10- I think the #1 thing that makes Bennett who he is is his quickness.  His quickness to obey.  His quickness to jump up and help.  His quickness to make a good choice. Bennett knows what is right and wants to make good choices.  He is such a good, good boy.

Love my Bennett Boy so very much.  Happy 10th Birthday!