Jake is 9!

Seriously. It should be against the law for a child of mine to get this old. Look how quickly he changed in the four short years between said pictures!

It would be a complete travesty if he wasn't such an awesome kid. Nine years old looks good on him. I couldn't ask for a better one to live in my house.

Jake had a great birthday but one that was extremely difficult to document (due to lack of a camera) and extremely difficult to schedule (due to the craziness that is life.) We had a family birthday party (and celebrated at school) on the Friday before his birthday. Jake requested doughnuts in class just like his brother Dylan. They were a hit again! I don't think I will ever feel pressure to buy expensive store-bought cupcakes again. If I could make them at home, that would be one thing but since you can't... I think doughnuts are a delicious birthday treat. He requested Taco Bell for his lunch and was the talk of the lunch table who all wished for a bite.

After basketball practice, we came home for presents and cake. Jake got a Sports Chalet gift card, birthday money, a digital video camera and some Bakugan stuff from his brothers. Then he had a treasure hunt to find his present from mom and dad. A set of real golf clubs - some Ping Moxies!!

Then on to cake and ice cream. I believe he forgot to make a wish which Dylan found absolutely unacceptable.Dad was off to Sri Lanka the next day so we had to wait 2 weeks to do his birthday party. We probably couldn't have done it any sooner even still what with all the sports and other activities Jake has had going on. He decided he wanted to take 4 of his closest friends golfing and then come back to our house for pizza and hanging out.

Jake McGee, Caleb Mumford, Brandon Bouchard, Connor Lunsford and our own Jake Watson

Carter loves to be out there with the big boys!!

The boys did really well and had a lot of fun. Patrick had them play best ball so that each shot was taken off of that team's best ball - rather than having the kids running all over trying to hit from their own ball. Todd McGee was able to come help out the second threesome which was awesome. That way I was free to watch Carter and dole out water bottles - a la cart girl style. Both teams shot a 40 on the 9-hole course. Jake made 2 par's off of his "best ball" so we think his clubs work. They are quite a bit longer than his old clubs so they will take some getting used to.

Brandon, Jake and Connor enjoying strawberry cupcakes and mocha chocka latta lah ice cream. That's neopolitan for those of you not familiar with Grandpa Motley-ese.
Present time! Legos and more Bakugan. What more could a 9-yr. old want?!

I am so happy to have Jake as my eldest son. It's funny how the oldest can set the tone for the family - if Jake is having fun, then everyone else is too. I couldn't have asked for a more easy-going guy to be my family's peace keeper. So many days I thank my lucky stars that he has so much of his dad's temperment. He keeps us on an even keel, is patient with me and his brothers and is always ready to invite anyone into the fun. As he gets older, I worry a little about putting too much pressure on him or that he has emotions that he is holding close that he won't let me see. Patrick assures me that he is fine - I suppose like father, like son.

Jake is one of those kids that is good at everything - smart as a whip, physically coordinated, a great friend, lots of fun to be around - and yet he is nothing but humble and kind. I enjoy watching him try new things - he has a healthy self-confidence and knows that if he goes for it, he can do it. He actually said this just the other day when we were at Legoland and he was trying to decide if he was going to ride this one roller coaster. He watched it a few times and said, "It looks kinda crazy but I'm going for it!" That was something I would have never said at his age and I am glad that he is different than me in this way. I can't wait to watch him "go for it" so many times throughout his life.

My reflections of Jake feel so different this year. It's almost as if he's crossed the threshold and I can see him on his way out of his childhood, almost a "tween". Jake has taught me so many things on my motherhood journey. He was the one that started us on the road to being a family, my first born. When I look back to that time, Patrick and I were so giddy and happy. We had this beautiful new baby and a glimpse of what our future as parents would be like. So much of the time we felt like we were playing house and we would look at each other and exclaim, "Can you believe he's ours?" He is not a baby anymore but I still can't believe he's ours. I love you Jake-man! Happy Birthday babe!