Seven!

Jersey #3 is SEVEN years old today!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

It is hard to believe that the infant who was so insecure, and so high-maintenance, has grown into this sweet, confident, happy boy.  Jersey #3 lights up the world with his enthusiasm and joy.

The birthday tradition at our house is for me to set up the dining room table with decorations and presents after the kids are asleep the night before.  The birthday child wakes up to a birthday wonderland.  

We also eat cake for breakfast.  The birthday child opens presents, and then we sing the "Happy Birthday" song, and eat cake.  It is great fun, and the kids really look forward to these few times a year that we eat cake for breakfast.  This year, Jersey #3 chose a cheesecake.  (He got to choose a smaller cake for his actual birthday, because we are hosting his party next weekend).

We also bought whipped cream to go on top of the cheesecake.  It was the spray kind of whipped cream.  It tempted some children to tilt the can and spray whipped cream right into their mouths...

Jersey #3 had a blast today.  I gave him the day off from schoolwork, and he was permitted to enjoy his new sports equipment and video games all day long.  Granny & PawPaw got him a bat, glove, and baseballs.  I got him a couple games for the Wii and for his DSi.  His "big" present that he requested this year was an MP3 player.  I even let him pick out the color (he chose green).  

Even though he won't admit that he likes new clothes too, Jersey #3 was more than willing to try on his new jeans, shirts and shoes, that he received from extended family.  Granny knows that Jersey #3 prefers to wear denim.  He chooses jean pants or jean shorts every day, so she got him a new pair of jeans to go with his new t-shirts.  He looked quite handsome...

The Referee has this great tradition of taking the birthday child out for lunch on their birthday.  It has been really sweet in years past when he would take a long lunch break from work, and show up to take the birthday child out to lunch.  The kids all love this one-on-one time with Dad.

Now that he is no longer living with us, The Referee works out visits with the kids.  Sometimes it is individual visits and sometimes it is a visit with the whole herd at once.  The one-on-one time and lunches out are not as unique as they were before, but the children still look forward to getting a visit with their Dad on their birthday.  The tradition has grown to include an opportunity to pick out a gift from Dad too.  This year, Jersey #3 asked if they could go to a movie instead of out to lunch.  It worked out that they were able to go see Star Wars: The Phantom Menace in 3D.  I thought that was totally adorable, considering how much The Referee loved Star Wars when he was a kid.  

I was delighted when The Referee sent me this picture from his phone, of Jersey #3 at the theater, wearing the 3D glasses...

  

How fun it is to celebrate turning 7-years old!