Dear Elijah,

Happy 9th birthday! The morning of your birthday you asked to open presents right away and I'm glad we ended up doing that, you got sick in the middle of the day with vomiting, aches and a fever. I felt so awful you had to spend your birthday that way. You spent Christmas that way, too. I'm happy you're feeling so much better and have been able to play with all your presents since then. Let's dive into this letter, shall we?

Looking back at my last letter you are very much the same kid with the same interests, just older (and maybe wiser)! You are quite tall and very skinny I'm constantly buying new shoes for you too. Everyone is just growing fast there is always something I need to get you guys. Although you are growing super fast, you are pretty slow in losing your teeth! You've lost 6, but it's been a while since you lost any. You have a cross bite going on so I have a feeling braces will be in your future. Your favorite foods are still cereal and chocolate. You started liking dark chocolate, so you definitely ave your dad's palette.

 

You started 3rd grade this past fall and seem to be loving it! GT started as well and it seems to be your favorite class as it challenges you plus you get to hang out with your friends. You have two to three really good friends, love doing homework (especially math), and always have a nose in a book at night. Boy do you love to read. You've read series after series. You are finishing up the Wings of Fire books, started Eragon, and have school library books you read as well. I know your love of reading will serve you really well in the future!

Your weeks are rather busy! In addition to school, you do Kung Fu twice a week, piano practice and lessons, and Activity Days. I think you are excelling in these areas rather well. You've been doing Kung Fu for three years now and have made it to green belt in your current dojo. I'm pretty impressed watching you, especially with weapons (staff, nunchucks, and short stick). You're on your way to brown belt (mind blown)! I mentioned piano and you practice almost every day. You even got to play in the Primary Program! Your teacher is a saint with her dedication and giving us a wonderful deal. We ended up in yet another ward and the transition was pretty hard on you at first. You cried almost every week at AD. Things seemed to have settled there at least!

 

Some good qualities you have are dedication, motivation, and strive for perfection. Something you have a hard time with is when you don't meet your own standards or receive any corrections (from me especially). It's hard to watch you get upset the way you do and sometimes we just have to let you have your time to cool down. You memorized the Articles of Faith recently as a challenge we set and you did it! But when you first started reciting them any correction you received hit you hard until you ran off without finishing. You did it the next day just fine, though! Sports and games are hard for you, too. You might be used to being good at things that when you don't get something right away or you lose, you fall short of that standard you set for yourself. I'm sure it doesn't help when you feel pressure from others when they tell you how smart you are so you feel you must be the best.  It's just something we'll work on. The smartest thing you can do is to not quit!

As far as your relationship with your siblings, it's hot and cold. You can sometimes annoy them (on purpose) and then feign ignorance when I tell you they don't like it. But you can be very sweet. You will sit and play with Noah or Eden, or you will listen to Joseph and show interest in his interests. One of his interests that rubbed off on you is your love for herptiles. You bought a Crested Gecko last year at the Reptile Show, and you are currently obsessed with Frilled Lizards. Like, I had to make a costume of one and decorate your birthday cake with one. One interest you share with me is the singer/songwriter Livingston's music. I found his music and we started listening to it to and from Kung Fu. Eventually I took you to Houston for a concert of his and we had a blast! I'm really glad I could bond with you that way.

                                         

Well, I think that is a good overview of your ninth year of life! I can't believe that it will soon be a decade of having you this time next year. Way to making me feel old! I know you will thrive in anything you do. Keep trying even if you don't get it right away. Keep trying to be like Jesus. Remember who you are and what you stand for! I love you, Elijah!

Love,

Mom