Eight is Great!

Sweet Hunter,

This has been my favorite birthday of yours so far, so I thought I'd change up your birthday letter this year and re-cap so that you can remember it always.

 

Last night, Daddy and I stayed up late getting everything ready for today. We (Daddy, really) started putting your basketball goal together last night at 9:30 after you went to bed (Cub Scouts kept you up too late last night!)... 

While he started with that, I was inside putting up balloons and making your birthday cake...

We had some after school today, and it was yummy!

Finally, three hours later, we finished your goal and headed to bed at 12:30...

We went up this morning and woke up you and Charlotte around 6:45, and you came down to find balloon streamers hanging in the entryway (Grey LOVED these and kept begging us to lift him up so he could punch them!) and a donut cake that daddy put together...

You were still trying to wake up, so you asked Charlotte to blow out your candles for you...

Then it was present time!! You opened a card from Nanny and Grandad with some spending money...

Clothes from Grandee and Poppy...

And some more money from Nana and Rich. You read all of your cards so quickly and fluently this year!

Then it was time for your card from us...

...with a message that told you to go outside to get your present!

You were super excited when you saw your basketball goal!

Then we headed back in and facetimed with Nana so she could watch you open the special gift from her and Rich and Grandee and Poppy...a new Tablet!

Can you tell it was super exciting?! 

 

You had a field trip at school and then played on your tablet this afternoon while Charlotte was at dance. Tonight, we headed to Red Robin to eat with Nanny, Grandad, Aunt Katie, Uncle Steve, Zack, Grandpa, and Jennifer. Aunt Katie got you 2 Percy Jackson movies...

 Again, you were thrilled with your gift. You are reading the second Percy Jackson book right now, and you told me that you needed to finish it before Saturday because your plan is to watch the movies with Zack that night after your skate party. You are an avid reader, so I bet you can do it!

 

Zack, Katie and Steve came back to our house afterward for a little basketball, cake and ice cream...

The four of y'all had a blast! It was so fun watching you play together...

  

 Hunter, you are the light of my life! I was reminded today while at work just how fragile life is, and I held you just a little tighter tonight while I read On the Night You were Born to you (our birthday tradition). The Lord gives and He takes away, buddy. But we can have peace in knowing that He is good all the time...in joy and in tragedy. You are my joy, son...