Kyler is 8 -a (unedited) birthday post

Happy 8th Birthday, Kyler!

Here's the no-edit, straight out of the camera pics from this week.

I will try sooo hard not to be mushy in your birthday post :) 

That is hard for me because you have one of the biggest hearts

+ you still love to tell dad that you wished you could have married me instead of him.

And that I'm the most beautiful girl you've ever seen.  

Right now, you're in 2nd grade.

Your teacher says she needs to write a book titled "Kylerisms"...

she just called me -in the middle of her school day-

laughing hysterically.

She said she knew if she didn't call, she would forget to tell me another funny story of you.

It was during rehearsals for the veterans day performance,

and you received a speaking part.

Well, in true Kyler fashion, you began to add lib.

you are definitely a wild card

she said you stretched your arms out and said

ladyyyyyyy's and gentlemen, let's get one more round of applause for the veterinarians and their families here today.

She said you were totally clueless that you had mistaken that for veterans.

Anyway, I think it's awesome she stops what she is doing in a busy day of teaching, just to share another story about you.  

She thinks you're pretty awesome.

I don't disagree.

Mrs. T said you are doing wonderful in her class.

You are a huge helper to her.

You are sweet and a wonderful friend.

And you talk.  A LOT.  haha!

eeesh.  I could have told her that.

Right now, you are really enjoying drums, keyboard lessons, soccer, wrestling, boy scouts.  

You keep busy with watching Arthur cartoons, working with spy gear, swimming, playing with your friends and cuddling with your mom.  You love to read and are way above your grade level. It's so fun to watch who you're becoming.

This summer you sat down next to me and handed me dad's ipad and said "here mom.  just check this box right here for me" (it was a box confirming the person was over 18 or had parents permission to submit something).  I was on the phone and you knew that was the perfect time to get away with a lot, few questions asked.  But I did ask you what it was and you said "oh just submitting a video to america's funniest home videos.  I can win $100,000".  I checked the form on the ipad and it was a page long questionnaire along with requiring the video to be uploaded & attached to the form.  I thought there was no way you just did it all correctly so I just clicked the "agree" button.  After all, I was on the phone and in a hurry.

 Fast forward a few weeks,

and your dad calls me and says

"uhhh did you submit a video to America's Home videos"?

I said NO.  What are you talking about?

He said "well I got an email from them saying they've accepted our submitted video and want to air it on their show.

Then it hit me.

You turned that form in a few weeks ago.

My first thought,

OMG what video of our crazy family did you send in?

second,

you little smartie pants.  I can't believe you figured that all out.

A few weeks back, after school one day, you asked me 

"uhhhhh can I ask Siri (the voice recognition software for iphones) annnnnny question"?

I didn't have a clue why you were asking, so I told you any appropriate question was ok.

A few minutes later,

I found you finishing up your entire page of math,

with all of the answers & sequences displayed on my iphone's screen

thanks to Siri.  

I gasped.

First I thought, that is cheating and so wrong.

Secondly, I thought.  Dang that is brilliant, haha!

I didn't tell you that it was brilliant tho- 

and you told me you were just using it to "check your work"

ahemmmmm.  Right.

I admire that 

you are by far one of the most forgiving kids I've ever known.

I love that you find and see the best in everyone.

And even when you're wronged, it is brief that you stay sad or resentful about it.

You do not hold grudges.  Ever.

I love that you're my child who stops to smell the roses.

I meannnnnn....lighting a fire under you is nearly impossssssssible in the mornings :)

I am grateful for the many love letters you leave around the house.

Today you told me you had your first crush on a girl at school.

You put cologne on.  I almost cried.  And laughed.

 You love music, you have a great ear with your drum and keyboard lessons.

you are Kayli's greatest fan.  

You tell everyone about her talent and beg to play her CDs.  You are proud of your family & friends and what they succeed in.

 I am so grateful that the "littlest things" matter to you too.

You are quick to apologize.  Your eyes brim with tears whenever you "get in trouble".

You love nilla wafers and milk.

legos.

Your favorite fast food is Panda Express.

You have so many really great friends and I've been really proud of the boys that you've chosen as buddies.  

 I remember being so nervous about raising a boy.

You broke me in good with your rough and tumble ways as a toddler & preschooler.

You still love to throw your little brother around,

but you're so protective of him and our whole family.

You can argue your way out of anything,

and sell ice to an eskimo.

You are such a light in this world.

And such a gift to our family.

 I could go on and on with the stories and quotes,

the things that make you special and unique...

really.  but i will spare you and my 4 blog readers :)

but I will just say that I can't imagine life without you.

You make this world such a brighter place.

Your perspective is what lifts -not just my- day but soo many of us that

are lucky enough to do life with ya.

 I smiled at this photo of you staring at the flower.

It's just so you.

I showed it to Brooklyn tonight and told her I LOVED this photo, it just captured your curiosity and the general "what in the world are you doing" thoughts that I have often about you.  haha!

Anyway,

you tolerated getting these (quick) pics of yourself.  

And for that I thank you.

You earned the chips your brother and I bribed you with.

Happy birthday, sweet boy.

You are loved more than you'll ever know.