n i n e

today ...
someone at our house turned
NINE!!!

although this special someone has grown quite a bit since this picture ...

he's still the same ben.

he loves all things related to sports.
he loves baseball.
he loves basketball.
he loves football.

he gives us LOTS of reasons to smile

he takes risks
and
is a quick learner

he is a great brother.
he listens to drew's stories ... all of them.
he lets alex crawl into bed with him ... and knows just how to comfort him
he is patient
he is generous
and
he knows how to make them smile.

he loves the twins.
he loves the packers.
he loves the miami heat.
he calls himself a mini lebron ;)

he loves math
he loves reading books about athletes
and
he loves school

he loves
mint chocolate anything
especially thin mint cookies
caramel macchiatos from starbucks
although we order his minus the espresso ;)
root beer
and
mint gum

when he isn't actually playing sports
he loves
xbox sports games like madden, nba jam and MLB 2K12
although he spends more time creating teams and adding himself as a player
than playing the actual games ;)

listening to music
he seems to know the words to every song that comes on
playing on the ipod
and
jumping on the trampoline

* * * * * *

ben ...

you make me smile.

you brighten my days.

you keep me on my toes.

you are my craziest kid

and

you are also my most sensitive.

when everyone else asks 'why'

you ask 'why not?'

you give lots of hugs

and i LOVE each and every one of them.

i LOVE you, ben

YOU are now my favorite NINE year old
and
i LOVE that today we got to celebrate YOU!