Celebrating Matthew

Good heavens. I can't believe my boy is already seven. How is that possible? It seems like I just had him a couple of years ago. He's getting so tall and learning so much. Frankly, he's just a lot of fun. He says the funniest things. Last week he started a conversation with Michael like this: "Michael? Now listen. There's a good side to life and a bad side to life..." Where does he get this stuff??

It was quite fun to celebrate his birthday this year. I had thought of having a camp-out for this birthday for about a year since we now have a camper to make it easier. Matthew loved this idea, and Alan kind of took over the planning as this was up his alley, too, which made it even easier for me. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't quite so cooperative, but with pillow fights and new toys to play with, the boys were beyond happy. Six of Matthew's friends came around 7:30, and by 9:15, the weather had cleared up enough to be just damp (thunderstorms had moved on). Alan and I were able to take them on a "night hike" through our [honeysuckle-less, poison ivy-free] woods. Damp and fun! They listened for night sounds, searched for sleeping fish in the creek, and talked about night vision. As Alex who was directly in front of me on the hike said, "This party is really cool!" Yay!!

Despite the weather, the crew that stayed on through the night (two boys went home Friday night...moms weren't ready for them to sleep over!) was able to bunk down in the camper. Not a one seemed to mind the damp weather conditions and were eager to troop through the backyard to the camper in their jammies. I was really surprised: no night-time potty runs, no bad dreams, no fears of night-time noises. Success! Evidently sleeping in a camper is quite hunger producing because they all ate breakfast like they were half-starved. That's preparing me for teenage boy-dom, right? Before they went home, there were creek creature searches and paintball target shooting. So not a princess party, you know?
Saturday afternoon we all crashed for several hours. Camping wears us out! After church on Sunday, we went to my parents' home for more birthday celebration. My family totally spoils our kids. Matthew eagerly brought his presents home and told me, "This is the best birthday I've ever had!" He spent all afternoon putting his Legos combine harvester together. Little did he know that his dreams would really come true the next morning with his first official electric train. He looks like his paternal grandfather, but his love for trains is straight from my dad (hi Dad!).
Of course, we were assigned snack today for Matthew's class. Matthew and I were both a little caked out, so I chose to make a fruit pizza instead. It looks better than it tasted, I think, although his classmates had no problem gobbling it up. I chose to use fat-free cream cheese, and I think that's where my problem lay. Anyway, he was thrilled to have his classmates sing to him and share in his special day. Alan came in a little later to surprise him with a "special lunch" (Wendy's). Since he works 30 minutes away, he hasn't been in yet to eat with Matthew. We didn't tell Matt that Alan was coming. Even better, they got to dine al fresco in the school's courtyard.

Tonight, after dinner at Little Richards (Matthew doesn't even like barbeque that much, so it's funny that he picked the local hot spot for barbeque), he finally got to open the rest of the presents from us. No, he didn't ask for a Nintendo DS. No, not a Wii. No, not a movie. What did my boy ask for??? A metal detector. Isn't that a hoot? There used to be a farm where my parents' home is and he has found old nails, etc. in their backyard before. He has high hopes of finding more treasure soon.

Matthew is such a treasure. I could never have imagined just how much we would enjoy him. His sharp little mind and zest for life entertain us every day. Life with him just gets better and better - if that's possible - all the time.