If I don't get this done, then I will be posting about two birthdays at once...for the same kid! The kid that is perhaps historically the most excited one when it comes to having a birthday. We are a family that is all about tradition, but somehow Ben has gotten the short end of the stick when it comes to birthday parties. (We started with a Kindergarten, 5th grade and jr. high standard, and he has not gotten any of those!) There are quite a few factors to consider: 1. It is hard not to be naughty sometimes and as a result of being naughty the day before a birthday party, the party gets taken away. (Ben is not alone in this category.) 2. March is right in the thick of tax season, and I'm afraid that may make me a bit weary and make hosting a birthday party seem overwhelming. 3. Sometimes being the 5th child isn't advantageous for this mama to express her creative birthday juices and execute something that resembles a party 4. It is almost always Lent which causes us to look ahead and then time goes so fast that it is summer and we are talking about a half birthday in the summer which always gets pushed as well.
I'm sorry Ben! I hope you know that party or no party we love you and joyfully celebrate you every March 9!
No matter the busyness, we have never missed breakfast in bed (sometimes it is not breakfast, and sometimes it isn't "in bed" for very long). This year, you were waiting...pretending to be asleep of course.
We don't do shirts very well! I'm pretty sure there are more shirtless pictures than those with shirts on.
We also don't mess with having cake...or dirt cake, or some kind of birthday dessert of your choice. Some years are a little less effort than others, but again, it is always part of the day.
Ben, you are such a great kid. Funny, smart, kind, faithful...the whole package--the WHOLE package--you're also a stinker. Posting so late after your birthday gives me the opportunity to elaborate a little on some of your 12th year. Seventh grade! Wow. I still can't believe how much change there is between March and August.
 |
| Solar Eclipse on August 21. |
You wear a size 11.5 shoe! 29x32 pants. You're 5'6" tall and last time I checked, you weighed something like 130 pounds. You share a room with Joe, love to listen to music all the time, especially anything a capella. You are a card playing machine, pitch being your all time favorite.
 |
| End of the school year, May 2017. |
You grew so much so fast that you suffered fractures in your feet! Over thirty pounds and 6 inches from August 2016 to August 2017.
This is a very typical picture for you. When Amelia was born, you were so mad that she was a girl that you didn't want to have anything to do with her. That lasted only seconds after you met her. You are so good with babies...so much love to share.
You're also very competitive but humble. We took this picture because you did not want to bring this trophy home. You're not big on needing something to show you participated, but we insisted that you be proud of earning this...you won several brackets during your 6th grade wrestling season!
Fishing trophy! Except you didn't catch it alive!
 |
| Farmer's Market. |
In case I forget to mention it anywhere else, you've also become good friends with Mathilda. As skeptical as I was at first trying to figure out why you two were being so nice to each other, it really is something kind of wonderful, and I'm glad! I hope it sticks!!
Happy Birthday Benjamin Thomas Blaize. You are our favorite Benjamin in the world and we are so glad you were born!
No matter the busyness, we have never missed breakfast in bed (sometimes it is not breakfast, and sometimes it isn't "in bed" for very long). This year, you were waiting...pretending to be asleep of course.
We don't do shirts very well! I'm pretty sure there are more shirtless pictures than those with shirts on.
We also don't mess with having cake...or dirt cake, or some kind of birthday dessert of your choice. Some years are a little less effort than others, but again, it is always part of the day.
Ben, you are such a great kid. Funny, smart, kind, faithful...the whole package--the WHOLE package--you're also a stinker. Posting so late after your birthday gives me the opportunity to elaborate a little on some of your 12th year. Seventh grade! Wow. I still can't believe how much change there is between March and August.
This is a very typical picture for you. When Amelia was born, you were so mad that she was a girl that you didn't want to have anything to do with her. That lasted only seconds after you met her. You are so good with babies...so much love to share.
Fishing trophy! Except you didn't catch it alive! 
Happy Birthday Benjamin Thomas Blaize. You are our favorite Benjamin in the world and we are so glad you were born!
