Someone find the pause button......

QUICK!

Kai is growing up so quickly.  I can't believe he's 7.  The thoughts keep running through my head that he is only one year away from 8.  One year away from baptism, cub scouts, etc.  Yikes!  I don't think I'm ready for that!

He really wanted a party for his birthday this year, but with all we have going on in May I just didn't think it was in our best interest.  I told him that he had a party last year and that this year we wanted to keep a bit more simple.  I thought about the things I remember from birthdays and Christmases growing up and I honestly don't really remember much of the gifts, but I do remember the experiences.  As I thought about that, I realized that I wanted to create experiences together for my kids to remember instead of being focused on buying them yet again another toy.  So, I talked Kai into having a birthday "trip".  He chose a family trip to Boondocks and while we couldn't do it on his birthday, or even the Saturday after, we did write the trip onto the calendar for May 31st.  He looked forward to it for several weeks and was very excited.

On his actual birthday we kept it fairly simple.  He chose pizza for dinner and he wanted a Lego cake.  A friend told me it was easy.  Betty Crocker told me it was easy.  Heck, there was even a YouTube video on how to make it that said it was easy and for the beginner.  So, I believed them.  Seriously, will I ever learn??  This is not my talent.  I wish it were, I really do, but everytime I try to make my kids a cake I get about 5 minutes into it and realize that I bit off more than I could chew.  Every.single.time.  Someone please just tell me to stop this!  The cake stressed me out and didn't turn out at all like the pictures.  But, Kai liked it!  Thank goodness he is a kid and he is so positive and encouraging.  So, it wasn't a bad thing.  But I seriously need to rethink this cake baking thing.

After cake and ice cream we opened gifts.  Kai got 4 new Lego sets.  One came from Grandma, one came from Finn and Bree, and two came from us.  He was happy and enjoyed building them over the next two weeks.

In between his birthday and his birthday trip, Kai had his last day of school.  Every year the younger grades have an awards ceremony where the teachers hand out awards based on the character pillars that they study at school.  There are six pillars and last year Kai was awarded "Caring".  I expected to see the same character trait again this year, but was pleasantly surprised to see him get the "Trustworthy" award.  And I think it is quite a fitting award for him, too.

Last day of 1st grade

Trustworthy--these pictures really didn't come out at all

Just a few things about Kai--he is still a sweetheart.  He loves to give hugs and cuddle.  He is very physically affectionate and he loves to give and receive compliments.  He is a rule follower.  I can trust him to do what I ask even if I leave the room and it is something he doesn't want to do.  (for example, turn off the TV at a certain time, etc.)  He loves to learn and read.  He loves non-fiction books and learning about the world around him.  His career goals change frequently.  Some days it's a miner, others a superhero.  Today he wants to be miner....but he says he still loves Legos (as if a miner can't love Legos).  He is an excellent reader.  The last time he was assessed was about a month before school ended and he had a reading level of a third grader in the eighth month.  He currently works with a small group of students three times a week in a "gifted" group.  They have not been officially tested or "labeled" but they are working towards that and being monitored for testing around third grade.  Both his classroom teacher and his PE teacher told me that if they were allowed to have favorites Kai would be one of them.  He really is such a happy kid and an easy kid for the most part.  He loves to plan ahead and loves order and routine in his life.  He honestly wants to try anything and everything in life.  He is excited for new adventures and seeing new things.  He still wants to be a world traveler.  He frequently asks to go on vacation to somewhere new.  And the beach.  He still loves the beach despite the fact that he doesn't like swimming.  He has finally gotten comfortable on his bike with the training wheels.  Now we need to talk him into taking them off.  Despite he world traverler aspirations, he his not adventurous when it comes to things that require his feet to leave the ground.  He doesn't like heights, climbing walls, fast rides, etc.  He is not a thrill seeker.

We sure do love him and feel lucky to have him.  He is a great big brother and all around wonderful kid.  I feel blessed to be his mom.

Waiting for the go-carts at Boondocks

 

Finn driving the little go-carts

Kai driving the yellow go-cart

 

Finn and Reid getting ready to ride the big go-carts

Kai ready to drive a bumper boat (he was just barely tall enough to drive one himself)

Bree really wishing she could hop in that "big bathtub"

Love my little cutie!

Reid and Finn ready to take off in the bumper boat

Bree watching the boys

They got soaked!

Family mini-golf (yes, Finn is holding the putter upside down)

We had a really cute built in obstacle.  :)