Last Friday was Matt's seventh birthday. SEVEN! I can hardly believe the time has flown by so quickly. It seems like just yesterday he was waddling after his brothers in miniature overalls, sippy cup in one hand and his beloved blue blankie in the other. Now he's a big kid. A first grader, to be exact. This year he learned to ride a bike, got his own room (with a desk!), started piano, and left behind his well worn blue blankie (He actually called it an "ancient rag". So sad!) Every time he flashes his toothless grin, I'm reminded how fast life moves.Friday was a big day! Matt asked me to bring rice krispie treats (with m&m's - they had to have m&m's) to school and I read one of his favorite books to his class. That night, we had a little adventure on the way to dinner with a leaky tire on the van and a power outage at the place he wanted to go for dinner (he told people all about it), but we ended up at Olive Garden and had a good time with Nana & Tom. And Matt was very happy with Pumpkin Cheesecake for dessert!
On Sunday after church we hosted a backyard party for Matt and his best buddy Jack (whose birthday is the day before his) and their friends. We served pizza & snacks and then let the boys burn off their energy in the back yard playing football, climbing on the playground, and jumping in a bounce house our friends brought over. It was fun! The boys had a great time.
The party now over, the boys are at school, and I'm sitting in a quiet house, looking at birthday remnants......soda bottles on the counter, empty pizza boxes that need to go out, gifts and cards on the dining room table...... It was a busy busy weekend, but a good one. And that's how it's been these seven years with three boys -- busy busy, but good. Life has truly moved quickly. Gone are the days when I had napping toddlers and wide-eyed preschoolers. Matt has moved on. My baby is no longer a baby, he's truly a little man. And as much as I want that toothless smile to stay forever, I'm eager to see how God's plan for him is going to play out.
