Dear Elijah,

Happy double-digit day! What a decade it has been, and it’s crazy to think of life before you. The last ten years have been a delight, even the times you drove me crazy! You’ve been a light in our family and a breath of fresh air. Sadly, this birthday was like your last birthday in that you were pretty sick. Our plans to go to Explora and play with cousins kind of went out the window. I guess that’s the reality of a winter birthday. Hopefully the next birthday will be better!

This year you’ve seen some changes. For one, you now have glasses! When I took you to the doctor for an annual checkup you were flagged at the visual screening. You also mentioned having a hard time seeing the board. After seeing an optometrist (and deciding against glasses), your dad took you months later and ended up buying you glasses. You love them! In addition to glasses you are getting braces really soon. Hopefully by the next birthday letter they will be close to coming off.

There are some things that haven’t changed all that much. For one, I mentioned I’ve been buying shoes for you constantly, but recently I noticed I haven’t bought shoes for you since your last school year, and you still fit in them well. Checking your height, there hasn’t been a lot of change there. I’m sure you will be seeing a lot of growth soon, especially when you get to your brother’s current age (he really shot up). Your favorite foods are still very much the same (cereal, chocolate, crepes), but you’ve gotten more adventurous with food, which is really nice!

 

You are currently in 4^th grade and seem to really enjoy it! Your teacher likes to challenge you, and you have GT on top of that. You’ve been very responsible in doing your homework, which has been a blessing. I haven’t worried about you in this regard, and I appreciate how responsible you are. Outside of school, you are still taking piano and recently played in the Primary Program at church. You are currently a child brown belt in kung fu, and we still go a couple times a week to practice. 

Although you have a lot of the same interests as before (Legos, video games, reading), you’ve become even more obsessed with one thing: frilled lizards! You were a frilled lizard for Halloween (again), had another frilled lizard cake, draw them all the time, read and write books about them, and overall just obsess over them. It’s really cute, but it’s hard to find frilled lizard items so at times we have to get creative. I wonder if the obsession will be just as strong or stronger next year!

You still like to read all the time, but your choice of reading has led more to just Dog Man. You have written a few stories as well, including your Norbert Story, and continue to channel your creativity that way. You are very patient with your siblings and their interests and give them your time and attention. Sometimes they will do the same, but I know you can get frustrated with them when they don’t show the same interest in something you worked hard to create (like a game or scavenger hunt). You are a good brother (except for some teasing here and there) and I appreciate your patience and honesty. It’s been so helpful to have such a responsible and trustworthy boy.

I am going to call it good, though there is so much more to say, but I want to let you know how proud I am of you and the person you have become. I hope you continue to work hard in school, be a peacemaker, and be the wonderful boy you are. Best of luck with the coming year, between braces, the last year in primary and elementary school, and being a part of our crazy family. We love you so much!

Love,

Mom