9th Birthday

 The best part about having a Veteran's Day birthday is that flags always line our street on Dallin's big day.

 On Saturday, the day before his birthday, we took Dallin shopping to pick out one present. He knew he wanted an Air Hogs remote control helicopter, but we did some research and found out that this jet would be easier for a beginner to fly. It worked really well and we spent the rest of the day flying it in our front yard and then in the park. He flew it right into a tree at the park, but luckily it was a windy day and so we were able to coax it down.

 These pictures are on his actual birthday. We had a dinner and party with all of his cousins on my side of the family. Dallin wanted a chocolate cake and he wanted to light his own candles.

On Sunday night Dallin was able to have cousins spend the night. Another perk to having national holiday birthday is NO SCHOOL! They were off on Monday the 12th, so that day was dedicated to playing video games in his pajamas. He got this robe and pajama pants for his birthday. He is so cute, he keeps coming up to me and saying that his robe is his best present ever. He has wanted a robe for a long time. He runs kind of hot by nature and has hated pajamas since he was a baby. When he cried as a baby I could always unbutton his sleeper and he would stop crying. He still hates pajamas because he gets too hot, but in the morning it's cold in the house, so a robe is perfect for him. It's the simple things in life that keep him happy!

I can't believe this kid is nine! When we brought him home, I thought 18 years sounded like a long time to raise a child, but I've changed my mind now that we are half way there! I feel like we need more time, but maybe I will change my mind by time he is a teenager ;) I absolutely love the stage he is in right now. Third -graders are the best! He is still a little boy in so many ways, but he is so responsible and grown-up too. He always hugs me and tells me he loves me. He is helpful around the house and likes to please. He does his homework all on his own. I hardly ever remind him to get it done. If he doesn't get his homework done at night, then he gets up early and does it in the morning. He is self-motivated to get it done. He loves to read and has read 52 books already this school year. He loves "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" and has the whole set. He likes me to read to him at night and sometimes he reads to his younger siblings.

I love Dallin because he has such a big heart. His brother Sean sometimes cries in the morning and doesn't want to go to school, but Dallin will kindly encourage him and then put his arm around Sean and get him on the bus. It is such a big help to me. When we go for bike rides, he will stop and wait for the twins who still have training wheels. He will get off his bike and give them a push if they get stuck. There are also other people who notice his kindness. There are three special-needs boys at school or church who's parents will call Dallin over to play because they know that Dallin is nice to their boy. One little boy was laughed at during PE at school and it broke Dallin's heart and he came home to tell me. He said that he told the other kids to stop and then he stayed with the boy and was nice to him. One mom at church always comes up to me and tells me how much she appreciates Dallin's kindness to her son. He is such a special person and we love him so much.