newly eleven - scout benjamin gerber

we have a birthday boy in the house today! Scout is ELEVEN and my mama heart couldn’t be happier to celebrate our youngest. I can’t possibly list all the reasons why I love this kid, but I will list a few. scout loves life and this spills over to everything he does. he inspires me with his love for learning, how he relishes reading and being read aloud to, how he pushes himself academically and physically and how he shows kindness and compassion for people and animals. it was no surprise that our new fur baby, bonita, bonded best with Scoutie. last, he shows us all to how to love big, forgive, and that it’s ok to wear our hearts on our sleeve. Our family is thanking heaven for our sweet eleven year old and all that he is.

scout - in keeping with tradition, here are 11 things i want to remember about you at this age:

1. You have a heart of gold

you have a big heart that truly feels all the feelings. you've always felt things deeply which makes you more attuned to those around you. this benefits everyone who comes in contact with you because this generation more than ever, needs examples of people who aren't afraid to be 'seen'. boys often learn to hide their vulnerabilities so they aren't seen as being weak. my hope is you understand that showing vulnerability is a sign of strength. it's allowing yourself to be seen and heard and this is a beautiful thing. the best relationships in life consist of this so keep that big heart of yours scout. it's one of your best characteristics. 

2. You enjoy being a child

your brother can hardly wait to be an adult, but you enjoy every minute of childhood and almost mourn growing older. leading up to your birthday every year, you tell me how great it has been being the age you are. you tell me why it's been the best year of your life so far, and that you wish you didn't have to grow older. your words tug gently at my heartstrings because as a mother, it's bittersweet for me to watch you blow out more and more candles every year. i've loved EVERY age you've been and i love your age now, but as the years pass, i wish i could hit a pause button for both of us. unfortunately, that's not the way the world works, so remember, you will only be 11 once, so make this your best year yet!

3.  You might be the most ticklish kid alive

our family has been torturing you with tickling ever since you were a preschooler.  because you are so sensitive to it and have the best laugh when we tickle you, we can't help ourselves!  your entire 5th grade class knows how ticklish you are and they too have enjoyed hearing you laugh, scream and squeal during recess when they 'torture you with tickling'. you even told me you can tickle yourself.  is this even possible? 

4. You still relish reading and the written word

i read once that reading is the easiest way to open a child's world and scout, your world is wide and vast because of the all reading that you do. c and i are far from being perfect parents, but reading is one thing we are proud you boys both enjoy. we've encouraged it your entire lives and it's benefited you in a million different ways. sure your vocabulary and spelling are off the charts which has everything to do with your love of reading, but there are more subtle things too.  reading has given you the ability to discuss many different topics with a variety of people of all ages reading has helped you to focus which helps you in everything from school to playing sports. last, it's given us a way to deeply connect as son and mother because i too share your passion for books. i enjoy hearing about all the stories you read and discussing stories we read aloud together almost every night. we just finished reading wonderstruck by brian selzniak and were mesmerized by this slow unfolding drama of a book. a movie has also been made off it too. {of course the book is 10x better}. someday i'll dedicate to post to your favorite books.  perhaps one day when you become a father, you'll have a record of your all-time favorite books and can recommend to him or her. i know i know, that's like a million years off you'd say, but remember, parents view time very differently than children.

5.  You are a true soccer player
there's been lots of changes this past year for you. even after receiving the Most Valuable Player {MVP} award this past season playing for the Blast Soccer Club, you begged us to try out Albion, a higher ranked soccer club here in san diego. after lots and lots of discussion between your father and i, we decided to let you try out and you made it for the 2nd level {i'll come back and fill out the official name once i talk to you}. the season is still new, but so far so good.  you travelled to las vegas and took 2nd place in your division last weekend.  i may be slightly biased, but even if i just saw you playing on a soccer field, i think i would notice you scout. you don't score the most goals or have the fanciest footwork on the field {although your skills are pretty impressive}. i'd notice you because of your 'intensity'...the way you focus when you are on the field and how smart you play. your coaches tell us you have high 'soccer intelligence' which translates to you understand the game...you see the field and options for moving the ball down the field. i wish i could say i taught you some of this, but i take zero credit. soccer is something YOU own....it's not something your dad and i push at all. we simply support you. the love and the drive you have comes from within.  your dad and love watching you play and have actually learned more about the game than we ever would have if you hadn't joined our family.

6. you're a great friend

this summer, your bestie, spencer, returned to san diego from barcelona and you boys are as happy as clams! he is here with his family for 6 weeks and you two have picked up right where you left off.  i was curious to see if your friendship might fade a bit because of the time and distance between you, but this hasn't happened. you two stay in touch regularly using skype and google hangouts. you two are committed friends and the effort is made on both sides....the sign of true friendships.  the summer of 2018 promises to be one of your best ones yet. in just a week and a half, there has already been a few sleepovers, birthday celebrations {for both you and spencer}, soccer playing and soccer watching {world cup}, book exchanges and you've got a big surfing/camping trip to mexico planned with your dad and finn and spencer and his dad and brother.  i have no doubt you'll return home with lots of new books read, a sun-kissed body, a big smile on your face and stories that will last for years to come.  

7.  You are a burger boy

like most kids you enjoy pizza and for your recent birthday celebration, we bought boxes of pepperoni pizza to feed you and your buddies, BUT if you had a choice, you'd prefer a burger from in-n-out almost any day of the week. your order is always the same: a double double cheese with a chocolate shake. as you grow and eat more, i will often take you here on the days you have soccer practice. you practice from 6-7:30pm and are starving when you finish so we'll stop at in n out to fill your belly. it makes you happy and though burgers aren't the healthiest food, i justify the stop by telling myself the burgers are a little better than other fast food joints becuase the beef is never frozen. the burgers are cooked fresh upon order. you told me you might even work here as a teenager because you hear the pay is well over minimum wage AND you get a free meal every shift you work.  i might just start calling you 'burger boy'. 

8. Math is your favorite subject

some might thing english is your favorite subject because you are an avid reader, but math is your favorite subject. it comes pretty easy for you. it may not always be this way, but it has been since the beginning, so we supplement alot from home {you still do kahn academy every year}. you finished 6th grade halfway through your 5th grade year and spend the rest of the year 'reinforcing' what you learned. you've had amazing teachers throughout your elementary school years and they've done a great job challenging you. i'll be honest, i struggled a bit helping you with a recent word problem you presented to me.  your math is becoming more complicated and you are finding that your father is a stronger in this area than your mom.

9. You had your first puberty class

a few months ago, you brought home a permission slip that your father and i needed to sign to allow you to - attend a class on puberty.  i could only think 'wow - that came fast. we of course signed the permission slip and briefly told him what they would be discussing. he didn't seem interested or perhaps that was his way of saying i don't want to hear this from you, but he now knows what to expect when he starts puberty. if you had your way, you would stay a child forever. you actually said this. i believe childhood goes by too fast scout, and though it's tons of fun having babies that coo and smile at us and toddlers who think we are superheros, it's also a beautiful watching you grow and come into your own. puberty is probably 2 years away yet, but it's coming. i bought you deodorant since you are starting middle school this year. even if you don't need to use it, it's good to have it on hand. 

10. You love legos, battle bots, superhero/marvel movies and of course watching professional soccer matches 
you are a busy kid scout with full days. i don't worry about you sitting in front of a tv for days on end...unless it's the world cup. when you do get some down time, it means you are watching something that I typically have no interest in. living with 3 boys means it's rare that i watch tv because we only have one and it's usually tuned to something sports or science related. i retreat to the guest bedroom and watch something on my laptop from time to time. this is part of living in a BOY house. 

11. You are a boy who has a dog...finally!

for the last 3-4 years, you've mentioned wanting a dog. after spending two weeks with grandma's dog maggie in florida, you were hooked. you didn't ask for one every day, you simply mentioned it a few times a year....when we would see a friendly or cute dog or visit friends with dogs. because your father and i were both working out of the house, neither of us felt it was right to leave a dog at home alone all day. our hope was that down the road, our circumstances might be different and there might be an opportunity to be dog owners. then there was. your dad took a job that has allowed him to work from home all-day full time if he wants and usually he does. we finally had an opportunity without feeling like bad pet owners.  

there were a few conditions before we added a furry family member to our group: the first being that we would not get a puppy as they require more work than a older dog. we weren't ready for chewing, house-training, etc. we simply don't have the time or the energy. second, christopher and i didn't want a dog that would shed. we clean enough at home and cleaning more was not something we wanted to be doing. the third request from ALL you boys is that we RESCUE a dog...not buy one.  this too was reasonable, as there are so many dogs {and cats} that need homes. we aren't so particular that we have to have a specific breed. the healthiest dogs are often the mutts and we were ok with this.

so a few weekends ago, you and i drove to our local petco store scout. every other weekend, there is some rescue agency parked in front of the store hoping to find good homes for their animals. i immediately saw a mid-sized black poodle that might have been a good fit, but someone was already filling out paperwork to adopt her. as i scanned the fenced in play yard looking at all the dogs...and there were lots, you discovered a small salt and pepper schnauzer in the corner shaking. she was very cute with a black face and a white moustache and white eyebrows.  the volunteer picked her up and put her in your arms. she was such a timid and a bit scruffy, but she was gentle and you fell in love scout. you literally didn't put her down for 45 minutes. when i asked if you wanted to hold another dog, you said "no. this is the dog i want mom. she needs a good home".  she wasn't exactly what i was envisioning, but you had made up your mind. i took a photo of you and bonita and sent to christopher letting him know we found our newest family member. to be sure our family and home was the right fit for her long-term, we did the 'foster to adopt' program. we are now on the 4th week and it's official - bonita is ours and we are hers. she has been such a beautiful addition to our home. her tail is no longer between her legs - it's wagging and she seems very happy with us. she especially loves sleeping in your bed scout. you have wanted a dog before you turned 11, and you discovered that sometimes birthday dreams do come true. 

happy birthday sweet scout about! there isn't a day that goes by that i'm not grateful to be your mom.

Your stats at 11 years old:

you are 54" tall and weigh 68 lbs. 

you wear a size 8 in jeans and a size 10 shirt. 

your shoe size: 3.5 and sometimes 4 shoe

my favorite fourteen year old

somewhere something incredible is waiting to be known.
~ carl sagan

So many incredible things are yet to be known, but one thing is known - 14 years ago, one INCREDIBLE thing happened, and that was the birth of you, Finn Oliver Gerber! That little bald baby boy, now you, has brought so much love, joy and life to our family. 

This year has been full of change, discovery and growth. Your dad and me watch in awe as you grow and sometimes with tears as we realize how little time we have left with you before you head out into the world. I try not to think about it too much, but the years go by way too fast. Continuing my tradition, here are 14 things that I want to remember about you at this very time in your life: 

1.  You have grown A LOT this past year.  

I am literally looking into your eyes when we stand face to face.  You are just a 2" shorter than me and we have the same size feet! We still have the surfboard grow chart hanging on your wall that we've had since you were a year old to track you and your brother’s height and when your father marked your height, we saw that you have grown almost 5” – CRAZY!! You are very happy about this as you tell us you are the smallest kid in your grade, and have been for the last 2 years.  I shared that your Uncle Todd was very small until age 15/16. You will grow too Finn. You won’t be tall, but you won’t be 5’ forever either.  i promise.

2.  You eat like a truck driver.

What I mean by this is you eat A LOT these days and you eat fast. I finally understand that reference “my kid is eating me out of house and home”. Our grocery bill is bigger and my trips to the grocery store are more frequent.  We try to eat dinner as a family every chance we get and if you have your way, you’ll clear your plate in 5 minutes and be gone. I remind you to ‘taste your food’ and to enjoy meal time. It’s one of the few times the whole family is together during the day, so please sit with us longer Finn. We absolutely love your company. 

One of my favorite things about this stage of your life is that you eat just about anything now which makes meal time so much more exciting. I can experiment with recipes and you will eat them {even if they aren't great}. You are also up for eating an any restaurant and trying new foods which makes life so much more enjoyable...especially because San Diego has so many restaurants to chose. Our neighborhood alone has probably over 2 dozen. Given a choice between any type of food, you still prefer sushi, but you also love Italian, Chinese and Mexican. 

3.  The ocean is one of your happy places.

You gladly get up at the crack of dawn every Sunday morning to surf with your middle school surf team.  You set out your wetsuit, surfboard, wax, towel and snacks the night before so you can just jump in the car with your dad and head to the beach. On occasion, I tag along and watch you for a bit, say hi to the kids and their parents, and then I go for a run. It's a true surfer who can get up at the crack of dawn and paddle out into the pacific ocean in the winter months.

You don’t care about competing in surf contests, and you don’t go to socialize like a few of the kids on the team. You go because you love the ocean – its beauty, its power, the workout, and the dopamine that is released when you ride a wave. It just feels good!  I’m guessing you enjoy the trip to Taco Surf with dad after every surf practice. It’s a ritual for you two.

 4.  You’ve discovered Carl Sagan. 

One of your 8^th grade projects this year was titled ‘Monumental Figures’. Students were asked to select a person from the United States who doesn’t currently have a monument created for them, and explain why they were deserving of one.  You chose Carl Sagan, a name I recognized from my childhood. He was the host of the original Cosmos TV series, which is now hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson. You loved this project Finn, and spent hours researching him. When you presented your project to us, and all the 8^th grade parents, your enthusiasm and your research on him spilled over to me. Over the next few weeks, I pulled up a few of the original Cosmos shows and Sagan interviews on youtube and watched because of  you. He is a fasinating man. You continue to learn about Sagan and his theories. You are currently reading his booked titled, A Pale Blue Dot that Grandma Gerber (GG) sent you for Christmas. You told me you are “taking your time with it” because it’s full of so much information. Oh Finn, your dad and I never tire of watching you get excited about something.

5. You have no interest in social media, but you do enjoy video games

Moms of daughters often have struggles around social media, but this is one area parents of boys typically don’t struggle.  There are exceptions to the rule of course, but we don’t anticipate you opening a Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Snapchat account anytime soon Finn. For now you prefer to text and Skype with your friends.

Like most boys your age, you enjoy gaming and want to play longer than we prefer you to play. You have designated ‘educational’ and ‘recreational’ computer time and you’d love more recreational time.  You tell us we are stricter than most of your friend’s parents, but in the same breath, you have said it’s a good thing. Oh Finn, we are doing our best. We have rules because we care and want you to use time wisely. We don’t mind you playing videos games, we just want you to have balance – face to face time with friends and lots of outdoor play. Since we don’t have any gaming consoles or portable gaming devices, this has helped tremendously. when you play games, they on your computer desktop and it's easy for us to monitor and less tempting for you.. Kerbal Space Program (KSP) is still your favorite game, with Portal 2 as the runner up.  

6.  You are a fan of Stranger Things

The day came your dad and I FINALLY let you watch this series.  Your friends started watching last year, but your dad and I thought it was a bit dark. Childhood is such a short window. We wanted to extend yours a bit longer.  It’s tricky being a parent….some decisiuons we make seem instinctual and we just know and feel good about, and other things we aren’t sure at all about. It's a learning process and a constant reassessing. You never pushed us or got upset when we told you that you would have to wait to see it. That's not your style. You simply said “let me know when that time comes”.    

When you turned 14, it seemed the right time. You just finished Season One and you thoroughly enjoyed it. The boys in the show are your age and there’s just enough sci-fi and creepiness to excite you. About halfway through the season, you said “I know why you and dad like this show so much mom, it’s totally your generation”.  Yes Finn Oliver, it is.  It’s like travelling back in time for us parents who were kids/teenagers in the 80s – the music, the clothes, the walkie talkies, and even the banana seat bikes.  When you commented that is would have been cool to grow up in the 80s because life was simpler, I smiled and told you it was a great time to be a kid. Now you know why your dad and I ask you and Scout to leave your phones and go play outside {unsupervised}. We want you to experience some of the freedom and the kind of playing that we had as kids.

7. Your current favorite movie is Dunkirk.
I took you to see Dunkirk one weekend - it was just the two of us. You were mesmerized by this powerful film, which felt more like an art film to me than a traditional action/war film. The dialogue was sparse, and there was no over the top gore which was refreshing. On our drive home, you talked about how you liked that the Director focused on three different groups of people over three different time frames, the Royal Air Force (RAF) pilots, the crew of a small civilian yacht and a group of young British soldiers trapped on the beach, and how they line up to make a really great climax at the end. As you shared your thoughtful critique, I smiled inside and thought “this is one of the joys of having a teenager”.  They have more experience and now can share great perspective. The conversation we had Finn added so much more to my experience of the film. Thank you for this. 

8. You continue to be an avid reader.  

Non-fiction and science fiction are still your favorite genres. You typically have two books going on at the same time – one at home and one that goes with you to school and in the car. Tonight, when I came into your room to kiss you goodnight, you were engrossed in your new book, A Pale BlueDot, and you have Artemis, the newest book by Andy Weir, the author of The Martian, on  your bookshelf to read next.   

Last month, you finished reading All the Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr.  I don’t recommend many books to you Finn, but I recommended this Pulitzer Prize winner that I read years ago. I was just waiting for you to be old enough to read it and your got there. You remind me so much of the German boy, Werner, in the story. He too loved engineering. We talked about the book over sushi last month, and it was one of our best dinners together. At the end of the night, I asked if you had a book to recommend to me, and you suggested Red Rising by Pierce Brown. I started it last week. It’s a dystopian sci-fi novel that reminds me a little bit of Hunger Games. I’m just a few chapters in, but I’m enjoying it. 

9.   You are ready for high school 

Your mother may not be ready for you to be in high school, but you certainly are. You are ready for greater independence that comes with it, more advanced and in-depth classes, a wider variety of students and abilities, and after-school clubs for things you are passionate about.  You have been dreaming of joining the robotics team for years and your time is almost here. You’ve been watching high school robotics teams compete since you were a Kindergartener, and soon you will be ON one of robotics team. You better believe your family will be there to cheer you on, and maybe even embarrass you a little bit. {you know your dad}

10. Girls 

The opposite sex is not a distraction in your life at this point and for this we are so grateful. Your dad and I aren’t encouraging it as there is plenty of time for that down the road.  Middle and high school are about learning who you are, preparing for higher education/your career, and making lifetime friends. Those typically are friends of the same sex, and this is how it should be. A few of your friends have ‘crushes’, but I think texting each other is the extent of middle school relationships. I realize this will change for a lot of kids in high school, but your dad and I don’t think this will be where you put your time. You’ve got your sights on more important things right now – joining the high school robotics team and then college. You are one determined and focused kid Finn, and this will serve you well. When the time does come for you to date, the girl who does get your focus will be very lucky.

11. You are a huge help around the house. 

Your dad and I appreciate it so much. Over the last two years, and more so this year, you have stepped up in a big way with everything - from cleaning the pool cover, taking groceries from the car and putting them away, unloading the dishwasher, vacuuming, dusting, a little cooking, and even packing your lunch {ok this one I asked you to}, but you are learning to recognize what needs to be done around the house and pitching in. Thank you for this!

12. Your passion is contagious

Listening to you speak about something you are passionate about fascinates me often more than the subject you are speaking of.  I don’t have the passion or the attention span to study the mysteries of space or to understand the engineering of SpaceX’s Falcon rocket.  You however, do Finn. From your early years, how things work and the world and it's mysteries are things that have interested you and excited you. People are drawn to passion, and for parents, there’s little more exciting than seeing your child passionate about learning and discovering. Your passion encourages the rest of us to keep pushing for things that move us.

Last week at your Student Led Conference (SLC), you presented your work to your dad and me and as you spoke, you looked directly into our eyes, exuding total confidence. You owned your SLC Finn - sharing what you have learned in your math and science class, sharing your neatly organized work and discussing your goals for the remaining school year. I sat listening to you and thought WOW – you couldn't have been more prepared and you make public speaking look so easy. You received perfect scores in all your classes – straight 100s, and had a few scores over 100 because you did extra credit. School comes easy for you Finn, and because of this, our biggest fear when it comes to your education, is that you will lose interest.  We want you to stay excited about learning and work with your teachers to help make this happen. Remember, you too play a role.

13.  You have enormous amounts of patience.  

Having a teenager is still pretty new for our family. We are all trying to figure out how things are supposed to work. While you are changing and trying to figure out this teenage thing, remember that we are too. I sometimes forget your age, and talk to you like you are a little kid. I know this is frustrating and that you prefer to be treated like an adult.  Since you aren't one quite yet, I’m trying to find that middle place - allowing you greater freedom, but still guiding you along too. More than anything, I want you to feel respected and loved and to know that we trust you.  Until you break is, we will you give you the benefit of the doubt. Be patient with me if I remind you to grab your permission slip, to do your homework, or practice piano.  I think giving ‘reminders’ is in a mom’s DNA.  Also, thank you for your continued patience with Scout. He loves and looks up to you SO much, so be gracious with him Finn. Always remember how important it is to have a sibling. They know you better than anyone, have your best interest in mind, support your dreams, and they make great travel companions. {just think how boring it would be without him along on our family vacations}. *wink*

14.  You are kind
You greet your mama at the door every night when I come home from work and you give me a hug and kiss. You do this more for me I'm sure than for you, and I am grateful for it. Though you don't feel like your mom's little boy, my arms still want to pick you up. Actually, I try sometimes, and you just laugh because I don't have enough leverage anymore. You are too tall {and I'm too short}. You show kindess to your father when you help him with projects that you really aren't interested in, but you know he is excited about. You are kind to our sweet elderly next door neighbors who wants to chat with you from time to time because...even when I'm sure you would rather be doing something else. Last, I see your kindness when you help Scout put broken Lego sets back together or when he gets stuck on complicated math problems. These are things you do regularly Finn, and it warms my heart because acts of kindness are never wasted.    

Happy 14^th Birthday Finn! You shine bright and are loved more than ALL the stars in the galaxy! 

Always and Forever.

Mom

You are 5’-1’ and weigh 86 lbs. You are a size 12 in shirts and jeans and you wear a size 6 shoe.

scout's 10th birthday celebration

to usher in his double digit birthday, scout really wanted a trampoline party.
he LOVES trampolines {like his momma}, but i was a little surprised he chose this because
he spends so much time jumping on his buddy dash's trampoline. i thought he might have
grown tired of it, but his love for jumping hasn't waned a bit.

since double digit birthdays are really special, and he's never had anything but backyard or park
birthday parties, i agreed to this off-site party. he had gone to get air for a friend's party,
and wanted to go there so i booked.  scout invited all his closest buddies,
with the exception of his bestie spencer who is living in spain. 

so on july 10th, the birthday boy got breakfast in bed and got to choose his menu.
he chose pancakes with blueberries, strawberries, whipped cream and bacon.
finn woke up early and helped me pull out the serving tray and arrange the fruit.
we carried it into his room pretty early because both boys had to be at jr. lifeguards
by 8:30am. scout was sound asleep as we entered the room singing happy birthday softly.
he sat up smiling with his tousled hair standing on end. after watching scout eat for a while,
finn ran back to the kitchen to get a little plate of food and brought into scout's room and sat
on the opposite end of his bed to keep scout company. we then watched our double digit kid
open cards and gifts from the family.

this past weekend, scout's birthday party finally happened! his friends from school and the neighborhood
were dropped off at our home mid-morning, and mr. g and i shuttled them to the trampoline park in two vehicles.
for 2 hours, the boys jumped, flipped, wrestled and played dodgeball. watching them made it clear to me why waiver's
are required for all jumpers. when the boys weren't playing dodgeball, they were taking turns jumping and flipping into
a giant pit of foam squares. it looked like so fun, I decided i had to give it a try. c wanted nothing to do with it
{he didn't grow up with a trampoline and thinks they are dangerous}. *sigh* i grew up with a trampoline so they don't phase me at all.
i'd love one in our backyard if we could find space for it. as i watched the boys flip into the pit, one after another, i admit, i was scared,
but since i had an audience of boys cheering me on, i got the confidence to do it. the boys, especially my three, were impressed their
middle age mom/wife did it. i was impressed i did it too {without injury}.  what a fun day. scout wants to have a mom/son date here
 in the future and i told him we will definitely be back.


after the trampoline park, c and i shuttled the boys home for cake and to swim and do a little archery. even though the boys had eaten
4 pizzas an hour earlier, they had no problem eating desert. christopher brought out the cake that he baked and decorated for scout.
there had been  discussion on whether the cake should be a trampoline, but in the end, they decided on a simple target cake,
since scout has been enjoying archery in the backyard so much. scout chose german chocolate for the simple round cake that c decorated
with white frosting and m&ms to make the bull's-eye and surrounding colored rings. it turned out beautifully!  i can't begin to describe
how much scout loved his cake.he was literally beaming when he saw his dad's final creation.
some photo highlights:

scout benjamin: our double digit kid

i can't believe i'm 10. it feels a little weird being double digits now.
- scout benjamin gerber




scout, today, you are celebrating your first double digit birthday. leading up to your big day, you said that you couldn't believe you were turning 10!  you said you loved being 9 and hoped 10 would be as good. i feel the same way. nine was wonderful, with so much growth emotionally. you've gone from a little boy to a big boy and it's been pure joy watching you grow. 
my tradition continues with a special birthday post to you. here are TEN things i want you to remember as you enter this next phase of your life:


1.  You have a heart of gold. if i asked you what your superpower is, you might tell me it's your soccer skills, or that you are great at math or spelling. it's true, you are good at these things, but i'd say your superpower is your sensitivity. you feel everything tremendously scout: time passing, memories, love and loss. just last night, we found your childhood blanket in the hall closet. you held it close and told me how many memories you have of that blanket. your eyes were a little watery as you shared one with me. oh scout, hold on to this part of yourself...don't let society tell you that has to be stuffed down or hidden. you can be strong and feel everything. in fact, feeling makes you stronger. keep that big heart of yours as you grow - it illuminates all those in it's path.
  

2. You don't give up - your dad and i know this, and your teachers, coaches and instructors recognize this as well. they admire your ability to focus and how determined you are. your 3rd/4th grade teacher {same teacher}, said you had "tenacity". whether you are doing khan academy, learning spanish, memorizing a recital piece, or learning a new soccer skill, you don't give up until you get it. sometimes it takes a few hours, a few weeks, months or even a year or longer for something really difficult. you are still working on mastering the rainbow {a soccer skill}, but you will stick to something until you get it. you seem to intuitively know that it doesn't matter how many times you fail, the important thing is to get right back up and try again. i hope this is something that you will do throughout your life scout. it will serve you well.


3.  You learned to whistle - Every year brings lots of firsts, and this year, you learned to whistle. you are pretty proud of yourself. you and your father are the only ones in the house that can do it. one day you simply announced you couldn't whistle and started practicing. you weren't a natural, but you kept at it for weeks until you got it. now you can whistle beautifully and can carry a tune. the star wars and star trek themes are your current favorites, and i know that when you are whistling, you are in a good mood. you promised to teach me to whistle one of these weekends. {i wish you luck son}


4. You still love to read. you've been reading for 6 years now scout, and your vocabulary and reading comprehension surpassed our new president's several years ago{no exaggeration}. you still eagerly share that jk rowling's harry potter series sparked your love of reading and it's the best series ever written! the first time you read it was in 1st grade and you've read the entire series four times since then. you never grow tired of it and I vow to get you and your brother to the wizarding world of harry potter at universal studios in hollywood this fall. other favorites books series of yours are: the unwanteds, the mysterious benedict society, and the ranger's apprentice.  you still bring a book with you every where you go and you don't care what others might think about your sitting in the large part of the shopping cart at target reading while i shop and push you around. i'll visit the home décor aisle to get you a pillow for your back to make you comfortable, and you read away. you often get interrupted by mothers saying how refreshing it is to see a child with their head in a book rather than electronics and you smile and go back to your reading. it's nothing new for you...it's just the way it's always been. on those rare occasions you don't have a book, i will give you my phone, but it's the exception. {like most males, you still detest shopping so i try not to bring you out with me when i have errands to run}


5. You travelled to Barcelona - after your best friend, spencer, moved to spain, we decided to save and visit him during spring break this year. what a trip we had! though the food and architecture didn't excite you like it did your mom, seeing your best friend again was a bit of heaven for you. spencer greeted us at the airport with his parents with a sign that said ' welcome to barcelona scout and angela'. i am sure you will never forget this trip, and i will never forget the look on your face as you reunited with your buddy. the highlights of this trip for you was attending school with spencer {you even wore a uniform}and going to a professional soccer game.  you saw fc barcelona play sevilla and win 3-0. lionel messi scored 2 of the goals and suarez scored one with a backwards bicycle kick that was truly AMAZING!  even this middle-aged momma was impressed.


6. Soccer is your passion - this is your 3rd year of competitive soccer. you played with riptide your first year and then moved to blast which is more local. your love for the game hasn't slowed down even an teensy bit. if anything, it grows stronger by the day. you are passionate about it scout - playing, watching, and learning everything you can about the sport. every parent wants their child to find their passion. there's nothing more gratifying to us when our children do, and you my son, have found yours. this may change from soccer to something else someday, but i hope you always have passions. they make life more meaningful and interesting. your dad and i will support whatever it is that excites you. for now that's soccer and it's been fun seeing your growth and maturity over the past year. when you lose a game, you still get angry or sad {depending on the situation}, BUT there are no more verbal outbursts from you and no big bursts of tears. you feel deeply, but you stay composed on the field. we are proud of you scout, but more importantly, you are proud of yourself. you've come a long way.


7. You love chocolate and are highly ticklish - you love all types of chocolate, but twix candy bars are your favorite! snickers and kit kat are the runner ups. you also are crazy ticklish and not just under your arms or your ribs either. you are ticklish practically EVERYWHERE and this makes it rather tricky to give the massages you ask for after jr. lifeguards or soccer practice. you ask for one but then you giggle and jump up as soon as i touch you. we work around it by me using the 'karate chop' method on your back. oh scout when we want to torture you, we all know what to do - we tickle you!!


the last are just things i want you to be aware of as you go from little boy to big boy:


8.  Pay attention to your life - you do a pretty good job of this now, finding ladybugs or snails that the rest of us just walk right by. you use the word 'savor' alot, and when you eat your dessert slowly, you tell the family you are "savoring" it, just like you do with the easter candy you still have. oh scout, hold on to this because life goes by fast. you are beginning to see this as you say goodbye forever to your single digit years. there is SO much to notice in the every day moments. as you get older, life will get busier and more complicated, but i encourage you to slow down like you do now and notice things. when we pay close attention to our experiences and our feelings, we are rewarded with fuller days and richer memories.


9. Never feel entitled - you don't struggle with this scout, but in a world where kids are overindulged and helicoptered, i wanted to list this because there is nothing worse to me than entitlement - in a child or an adult. your father and i have tried to teach and model for you how to work hard for everything you want - whatever that is. we expect you to carry your weight at home as part of our family. we know when things are handed to us or come too easily, and can't appreciate them the same way we do when we work hard for them. we hope your motivations will be for things that bring meaning to your life. if our family has a motto, it's "people and experiences are important, things aren't". though material things are nice and make our lives comfortable, we want you to always feel you have enough because you do. we are extremely fortunate to live as we do every day and we want you to recognize this. we have way more than we need. as a family, we make an effort to show gratitude - in the language that we use, to volunteering occasionally, and even sending thank you notes. all these little things are important - they bring an attitude of gratitude, teach you responsibility and ward off the entitlement monster.

10. Know you are loved, always - messing up is part of life buddy. you are going to make mistakes - lots of them. we all do. the point is to learn from them, let them go and start over. your dad and i will always love you, even when you behave in ways that we don't love. we encourage you to forgive others when they mess up. we also want you to try and surround yourself with friends who lift you up and make good choices, and who share similar values as you. you are still young and finding your way scout. don't let mistakes freeze you in your tracks. admit them, grow from them and move on. we do this as your parents every day, and you still love us, so be assured that when you make mistakes, we will still love you too...always.


happy birthday double digit kid!! you inspire our family in so many ways, including your big brother. {just re-read the birthday card he gave you}. we're lucky to have you as our youngest family member. you make our household SO much fun with your intensity, tenacity, and your big beautiful heart. we look forward to celebrating your birthday at the trampoline park soon!


love,
mom


your stats at age 10: you are 58 lbs. and 53" tall.
you are just about to grow out of size 7 clothing and into size 8. you wear a size 3 shoe.




disclaimer: i felt compelled to put in that trump reference because scout and i just heard him in an interview and OMG - it's truly pitiful. it's still shocking to me that this man is supposed to represent our country. i wish i could pack up and move somewhere else until he's out of office. ugh.

finn's laser tag birthday

over the year's finn has had some pretty amazing birthdays.
most have been backyard parties, but a few were a little fancier,
one even on an aircraft carrier. {i think that might be my favorite}.


since finn is a winter baby, beach and pool birthday parties are never ideal,
even in san diego, so we have to be a little more creative in our planning.
this year, he decided to have a laser tag themed birthday. he had never had one,
but he's been to plenty of them.  this is what he chose for his BIG #13!

i booked a 3-game party at ultrazone which is just 10 minutes from the house.
a birthday 'host' was part of the package and we were lucky to have been given
a 20 year old male to keep finn and his friends engaged and entertained. he
actually went into the laser room and played with them. the boys really enjoyed
this guy, and i enjoyed hanging out with my dear friend aspen, who kept me company
throughout the entire party. 


the cake: once again, c outdid himself and presented his firstborn with an accurate
scale model of the falcon 9, spaceX's landing barge. i thought c had exhausted all the
space cake ideas, but apparently not.  he talked to finn and this is what they came up with.
{the birthday boy gets to select the design}. c worked on the model for several evenings 
leading up to finn's birthday celebration, so it wasn't a complete surprise, but it was VERY
appreciated. as i watched finn's face light up as c lit the candles, which i believe were representing
the boosters of the rocket, i thought how lucky my boys are to have a dad who enjoys making his boys'
birthdays so special. he has a talent for creating and building and he builds these cakes with
lots of love. 


some photos highlights of finn's #13:

thirteen years today

there really are places in the heart you don't even know exist until you love a child.
- anne lamott

dearest finn,
thirteen years ago today, your dad and i became parents to a bald and bouncing baby boy - YOU! from day one, we were smitten...literally on cloud nine for probably the first year of your life. i think our faces probably ached from all the smiling. for ten years, your dad and i had lived a relatively carefree life together before you arrived, but you turned everything on end! still, we welcomed it all - the chaos, the bliss and the pure exhaustion. we were as ready as we could ever be to be parents. now you are 13, and we are in awe of the person you have become. i have mixed feelings about you entering your teen years. a part of me wants to freeze time so i can enjoy just a little bit more of your childhood years, but another part of me is really excited about what is ahead of you. as tradition goes, here are 13 things i have observed about you and would like to remember about you as you enter your teen years:

1. you dream big and are discovering your place in the world
your dad and i tell you the world is your oyster, and you believe it. you look at the world with endless wonder and possibilities and talk often about what you might do someday. some days you tell us you want to work for elon musk at spaceX and other days you think you'll design aircraft or rovers as an aerospace engineer. we remind you there is lots of time to decide what you want to study in college and what job you want when you are an adult.  for now, just enjoy being a middle schooler and exploring your interests.


2. you love sushi
if you have your choice of any meal for a special dinner, you chose sushi. you weren't a fan of it after eating grocery store bought sushi {ick}, but absolutely loved it after trying fresh sushi at a restaurant. your favorite place to go is wasabi sushi, our neighborhood restaurant, that is just around the corner. i take you here very other month when we have our mom/son evenings out. we sit at the sushi bar where the sushi chef knows your name and your favorite dish. you tell me about your latest projects at school and whatever else is on your mind. i treasure these evenings with you and i think you do too.



3. you are still an old soul 
from as far back as i can remember, you've been wise beyond your years. during your preschool days, i journaled that you were like an adult in a tiny body. you listened to reason from a very early age, spoke clearly and looked adults in the eyes and would tell us what was best for you to watch on tv {even before we told you}. i'll never forget the time when i was trying to find something for you to watch on tv while i made dinner. you announced that the cartoon network was "dumb tv" and that it didn't teach kids anything. you told me pbs kids was the best because it was educational. i was already a fan of pbs kids, but i didn't know a thing about the other network. a few weeks later when the family was staying at a hotel somewhere, i turned the television and the carton network was on and you were absolutely right {hopefully it's gotten better over the years}? it's as if you knew at the tender of 4, that if you are going to spend time doing something, you might as well be learning. you have so much discipline finn, more than most adults really. you are unique in this way and it has and will serve you well.  sometimes i think you would really like to fast forward into adulthood. you see adults as having endless freedom, a car, and our own money. what you don't see is all the responsibilities and stress that can come with a mortgage/rent, a job and the responsibility of raising two humans. these things are ALOT harder than being a child, trust me. try to enjoy these years finn and don't wish to grow up too fast.  adulthood comes soon enough.



4. you are loyal
you are a great son, friend and brother, and spend your energy on this small group. you don't have or seem to want a big social network and i'd consider you more of an introvert than a extrovert.  some would never guess this because you engage with others, know how to build consensus and be a leader, but social engagements don't excite you in the way they do for your little brother or your mom. you prefer the company of your two closest friends to a big group of kids. while most of the boys are throwing a football around at school after lunch, you and andrew, your best friend, prefer to talk about rocket designs, ksp or the next spaceX launch. someday your conversations might include girls, but for now they don't. you told me recently that "it's ridiculous to even think about girls during middle school and you might think about them after grad school. a part of me truly believes this might be true. you have so much self discipline finn, but then again, you just turned 13. time will tell.



5. you love dessert
i joke that you and scout got this from your southern mama, because you want something sweet or salty every night after dinner. you and your brother tell me you have a 'second stomach' just for dessert. your favorites dessert is ice cream {you enjoy many flavors} and you absolutely love popcorn. you can easily devour a bag or two on your own if we let you. in trying to raise 'healthier' kids, the typical desserts are now reserved for weekends.{now if only mr. gerber will get on board}



6. you still enjoy reading but...
about two months ago, when we selected the diary of anne frank from our library shelf, you asked that it be our last read aloud book together. you said it gently, with your arm around me knowing that it would be hard for me to hear. you and i have been reading consistently together since you were a baby. it's something we have both enjoyed for years, but as you started saying "i'm a teenager now mom", you didn't need to say more. i understood. the conversation ended with you telling me to keep recommending books i think you will like and you will read them and we can discuss. oh how i loved this finn.


we currently have 1/4 of anne frank left and we are both thoroughly enjoying it. you are getting insights into teenage girls, which is new for you. your eyebrows have gone up several times throughout the book, and i chuckle inside my head when this happens. when we finish this book, i imagine there will be tears flowing from me, not just for anne frank and her family, but for the end of this chapter in my life with you. i will miss reading with you. of all the things i've given you over your 13 years finn, an appreciation for books and reading might be what i'm most proud of. i've watched books open your eyes to things you were didn't know exist and fill your mind when things you wanted to know more about. books have taught you more compassion, more vocabulary, and to be a better speller. you know have a strong foundation finn, and my hope is you enjoy reading for the rest of your years...alone, to your children and someday your grandchildren.




7. you look up to your father
i watch you daily and see how important it is for you to have your dad's approval. even more than mine, you want your fathers. i believe this has much to do with you being a male like him. you are learning what it is to be a man and i hope you continue to look at your father as a role model because he is a good man. he is kind, intelligent, hardworking, resourceful, has a great sense of humor and he values family. he puts hours of effort and energy into our family and into you and scout. there isn't a week or weekend that goes by when he isn't engaged in some type of project with you boys {you spent 4 hours today building an estes rocket}. work and making tons of money is not his priority, nor are his friends or even tennis and surfing.  the old saying, 'people make time for what they love' leaves no room for doubt who your dad loves finn. he makes time for US because he loves US most of all. you are a lucky kid....we are a lucky family. stay close to your dad and he'll help you navigate these teenage years ahead.



8. you enjoy surfing
you prefer warm water to cold and wish san diego had warmer water {me too}, but you still surf. you have a full suit and even booties but it's still cold.  still, you find it worth it and enjoy the calm of the ocean from the shores and the thrill of riding a wave. when you see dolphins in the water while you are out in the surf, it's makes your entire day. though you enjoy catching waves, you don't care much about surf competitions. if you have a choice, you'd just practice with your team every week and skip the competition part. typically, you are an 'alternate' on the roster during competitions, but 3 out of 5x tournaments, you compete because your team needs you. today, they did and you took 4th in your heat which earned 3 points for your high tech surf team. you didn't seem to care, but c and i are  proud of you and glad you have something that you enjoy, and that you contribute to a team when you are needed. and don't forget, when the water is warm, or we ware on vacation in a tropical climate, surfing is something the entire family can do together. {your mom isn't as tough as you when it comes to cold water, but will go when we are somewhere tropical}



9. you want more privileges and responsibilities
this past year has been full of changes for you and our family. since you turned 12 last january, you babysit on occasion for neighbors and for family friends with young children, AND you get to be home alone with scout for a few hours every week. because you have shown you are responsible, your dad and i are having regular weekly date nights since we are saving money on a sitter. you and scout are getting free reign of the house for a few hours and you both absolutely love this! honestly, i would have left you at home alone with scout at age 10 because i felt you were ready, but your dad insisted we wait until you were 12. i think he worried more about you and scout fighting and getting hurt....not burning down the house. these days, we don't worry much about that anymore. you two have found ways to get along or at least are able to do your own thing so there is less confrontation.


another privilege you received was your first cell phone. *gasp* we had planned on giving you one for your 13th birthday, but your dad was upgrading and there was a 'special', so you received a phone 2 months early. you were ready for it and promptly told us that you wouldn't abuse it. to date you haven't{it's early yet but we are hoping it lasts}. you have no interest in social media, claiming it's for "girls and a waste of time", so that's one less thing your dad and i have to worry about. what you do on your phone is what most boys your age do, you text and talk to your buddies, watch youtube videos and play video games. we've set boundaries and overall, you've been responsible with this new freedom. last, you have no complaints when we asked that you plug your phone in to the 'central charging station' in the kitchen every night so it doesn't go to your bedroom. this is a non-negotiable! it works wonderfully for couples and will for growing teenagers who need sleep for their growing bodies.

for the last 3, i decided to do something a bit different. i felt the need to give you a short list of things i want you to remember over your teen years. there is so much more, but there will be more birthdays. for now....


10. Be Kind
being a teenager can be really hard. your dad and i were once there and though it was a long time ago, we remember what it's like. your body is going to go through lots of changes, you'll have deadlines and projects at school, piano recitals, peer pressure and probably a bit of girl drama {at some point} and lots of other things that will cause you frustration. your dad and i will do our best to be patient and show you kindness through all this, and we ask that you do the same. i know your little brother can be a pain sometimes, but keep scout close. friends may come and go, but your brother will always be there. he loves you so much and looks up to you. be especially kind to him.




11. Own your life
no one owes you anything finn. you must work hard to get what you want in life so take the time to think about what that is. it's never too early to think about your future - even if it's just in some areas of your life. your dad and i have encouraged age appropriate independence since you were a toddler and will continue to do this during your teen years. our job is to prepare you to be a capable and contributing adult in the world. we will do our best to support you, but always remember that YOU are responsible for your own life...YOU shape your destiny.



12. Always call home
No matter what the situation, check in with us. As you get older, you will be away from us more and more and for peace of mind, we need to know you are safe. We may not always like the decisions you make, but we always want to know you are safe and will always be here for you.


13. Think positively
Your life will move towards what you're constantly thinking about, so don't think negative thoughts. Think happiness, success, and that you have enough. Show gratitude and often...this will help you be content in your life.

i am deeply grateful to be your mom and am grateful you were our firstborn. you made it easier for us to decide to give you a brother. you bring calm to our home, help us see the world in a new ways and you bring up our family's collective IQ. for this and so much more, thank you finn.
we love you. happy thirteen!!




Your Stats: at 13, you are 57" (4-9"), weigh 75 lbs, wear a size 10 in jeans and shirts, and a size 3.5  tennis shoe. you are slight compared to most boys your age, but this doesn't bother you in the least. because sports aren't important to you, you don't care about being tall or having big muscles. you are a 'thinker' and your brain is your biggest asset. as long as that's intact, you have everything you need.

scout benjamin turns 9

i wish i could stay a child forever.
- scout benjamin gerber

 

today our sweet scout benjamin is 9 years old! words can't begin to express how much joy this kid brings to our family.
i feel so lucky i get to watch him grow....to get a front seat to his childhood.



Scout, here are 9 things i want to remember about you at this age:

1. You are crazy about futbol! (soccer to us Americans)
   

   You love to play and have become quite the player over the last year.  you want to play every day and though we live 5 minutes from a big grassy field and we visit it often AND your dad built a big soccer net for you to practice shooting in the backyard, you complain that our home has no grass. You'd love a field of your own. 
   
   If you can help it, you rarely miss watching your favorite German player and team, Thomas Muller of Bayern Munchen.  you are crazy about them!  you have both Muller's home and away jerseys and wear them on accordingly on game day.  It’s quite adorable.  your nickname is ‘Mini Muller’ and your best friend's nickname is  ‘Lil Messi’.  you presented him with matching leather bracelets with your  nicknames stamped on the inside for his recent birthday.  when he moves to Spain in a few weeks, you two will have these tokens of friendship to remind you of your special friendship and your love of soccer of course!

    

    
2. You love math
   

   You are a serious math kid! on any given morning after you have eaten breakfast, brushed your teeth and have gotten dressed for the day, I will find you on the computer solving math problems on Kahn Academy.  you do this for FUN {i can hardly believe you are my child in this way}. you are currently 96% through the 5^th grade math curriculum and are hoping to be done this weekend.  you enjoy math SO much you announced you changed your mind about being a writer and will probably be a mathematician instead. {finn was quick to tell you that was a better career choice but not to worry, you can still  write books in your free time}. 

    
3. You love reading and being read to
   

   Long ago, you discovered that reading is magical…whether it’s reading alone or being read to out loud.  stories makes you happy, make you think, give you a larger vocabulary, encourage you to dream, entertain and can teach.  reading has also helped you build friendships as it gives you topics to discuss. readers love other readers, and you've bonded with many adults and children over your love of books.

    

   as your mother, i have been struggling helping you find appropriate reading material these days.  you were assessed as a level ‘V’ reader this past year in 3^rd grade {this is on an A-Z scale} which means you can read and comprehend almost anything. you are 9 years old, and despite your skill level, not everything is appropriate.   

     

   though you would love to read every YA (young adult) book, i've been steering your towards tween books instead for now.  I will allow some YA and adult books after some research on my end. recently completed the Harry Potter series for your 3^rd time and you are currently reading the Warriors series which your buddies Spencer recommended.  you are really enjoying it.  no matter what age you are, i hope your love of reading lasts your entire life.

    

    
4. You are fierce in your feelings
   

   No matter what you are feeling – happiness, sadness, anger, elation, etc, you feel them all deeply.  Sad books or movies will bring you to tears, and a sleepover with elicit a squeal of delight. Your father and I recognized you wore your emotions on your sleeve early on, but it's only been recently that I realized just how much your feelings factor into who you are. As a way for me to better understand your analytical brother more, I found a personality quiz online and had the entire family take it.  We learned so much about ourselves and each other.  While Finn scored high on logic, you scored high on intuition and highest on feelings - a 99%!!!  This explains so much. We love your big heart Scout, and are doing our best to be sensitive to you, help you manage your strong feelings appropriately, and to love you well. 

    

    
5. You sleep with your lovies every night. 
   

   You call your stuffed animals ‘lovies’, a term you probably picked up from Finn and me as a toddler.  You only have 4,  but your  BlaBla dog ‘Patch’ that you received for your 1^st birthday is your favorite and is well loved.  SO loved that this once 8" thick and fluffy sock dog is faded and flat, probably 1/2 " thick now. He desperately needs stuffing and some stitching or put away in your keepsake box, but you won't have that.  You have stated that you aren't ready for that yet and will let us know when that day comes.  Since you don't take him anywhere {even to sleepovers}, I figured it's ok.  Your beloved 'Patch' deserves a dedicated post about him.
    
6. You love challenges of ANY kind.
   

   From early on, you went looking for them.  You climbed an 8 foot ladder at 18 months...quite easily too. After trying to prevent your endless attempts to climb the loft ladder in the guest cottage years back, we decided to just let you go.  We simply ‘spotted’ you from below and put a big bean bag on the floor below you in case you fell. you never did.  You rode a two-wheeled bike the week you turned 3 and were reading well before you were in Kindergarten.  This is who you are Scout…fearless and charging through life.  Because you were a daredevil, I used to worry about your physical safety when you were younger.  Even up until age 5/6, I worried about you on your bike.  These days, I rarely worry about you.  You push yourself physically but seem to know your limits. Still you love and ask for challenges.  While I encourage you to write stories, read different kinds of books, or challenge yourself with a new piano piece, your father is much better at coming up with physical challenges for you.
    
   Junior Lifeguards begins in a few weeks and you are already in 'Training'. All the soccer you play apparently isn't enough for you.  Similar to your ‘Jedi’ training from last Summer, this year it’s been revised to ‘Clone’ training {you still like Star Wars}.  Christopher put together a fitness regimen for you, and you are thoroughly enjoying completing the challenges. this too deserves a post all of its own. I almost forgot about a recent challenge which you succeeded in.  you won a roller-skating race for your age division.  you have been racing since you were about 6 years old and have never won, but you never gave up.  The day finally came when you finally WON!  Auntie Leslie, your cousins, brother and mom were there to witness it and cheer for you at the top of our lungs. what a day!!  your grin was off the charts and i think mine was too. {i remembered to record it too}
   

    

    
7. You love sweets, especially chocolate! 
   

   You have no preference for milk or dark…you love them both.

   You prefer ice cream over cake/pie and are fully satisfied when you can put sprinkles on top.  Oh how you love sprinkles!  As much as you love sweets, one would think you would devour your Halloween, Christmas or Easter candy within a week or two.  This is not the case. You have such willpower and you ask that we put your candy in a ziplock  bag and you savor it for months - for months and months.  you just finished the last of your Christmas stocking candy a week {a milk chocolate tin soldier}, and you are still working on your Easter candy.  I question if it's even good anymore, but after opening up and trying it, you assured me it was absolutely fine. *grin*

    
8. You hate to lose Auntie Jen once said she thinks you hate losing even more than winning.  I thought about this, and feel maybe she is right.  Three (3) years ago, you would play a soccer game and lose, run through the parent tunnel with a smile on your face and happily grab your after game snack bag.  Sports have completely changed for you.  When you turned 7, you become highly competitive and winning was most important.  You aren't even interested in the after game snacks unless you win. You keep track of every goal and game you played and will never ever forget the year you played on a rec soccer team and didn't win a single game {it was the worse 3 months of your life you said}. You no longer bawl when you lose, but you still get frustrated and shed quiet tears .  You are working hard on controlling your emotions and are making great strides.  Your dad and I are proud of you and will continue guiding your emotions after losses and reminding you there are valuable lessons in losing.  
   
9. You are a kind son, brother and friend. I find so many beautiful qualities in you Scout, but this is the one thing that makes me most proud. You care about people and are so loyal to those you love….defending them wholeheartedly, even your brother {who isn't always so kind to you}. When there is a situation that makes you uncomfortable or you disagree with, you do a great job discussing it with the person to get past it. You love Finn deeply and I've heard you reassure him when he was struggling with something. For so many years, it was Finn reassuring you, and know you offer this too. You are learning that friendships require energy and effort and that the most beautiful friendships are about caring and kindness.  Just this morning, your Auntie Jen called to wish you a happy birthday.  You recognized her kindness and told me you want to call her on her birthday.  Then you asked if I knew what day that was so we could put in our ‘family calendar’.  {i won't let you forget oct 3rd}Oh how I love your goodness Scout!

 

This is you Scout Benjamin Gerber at 9 years old - a kind, smart and athletic boy who loves life and lives it well.  you teach me so much more than i teach you {i bet you didn't know this, but you do}. i am grateful and oh so blessed to know you.

 

 ~Your stats at age 9:

You are 53" tall and weigh 55 lbs

{your physical is in 2 weeks and I will revise if i'm off}