Birthday Boy

So, this kid turns 10 tomorrow.

 One decade of being his mama!    It is unbelievable.

From this...

...to this, in just 10 fast years!

(Hasn't changed a bit, has he?)

I just love this kid so much. At 10, he is a lanky collection of limbs, all arms and legs and giant feet.  He's only got a few inches to go to top my height, a fact of which he reminds me frequently.  He is sarcastic and irreverent and loves to push the limits of acceptable behavior.  He gives huge, wraparound hugs and absolutely melts around small animals.  He lives to pester his sister-- and is the first to comfort her when she is sad.  He's got a brilliant mind but reticent to try hard work. He loves to read, as long as he's immersed in a great series.  A man of fickle passions, he is really really into all things Nerf right now-- but a week ago it was Pokemon and the week before, all about saving money for an iPod.  Regardless, his happy place is at the computer, headphones on, watching Youtube videos about his passion of the week.  He is 10 going on full adolescent. He has the same sensitive soul and huge emotions as always, and transitions are still tough for him. But he is tall and confident and growing into himself, too, learning how to get himself out of his sad moments.  He is also learning how to do his own hair, and is suddenly concerned with how it looks.  How did he grow up so fast??

Yesterday we celebrated with a few of his friends.  One of our smallest, and most laid back parties, as Jack was pretty certain he wanted to do NOTHING for his birthday up until about a week ago. 

Turns out, you don't have to go crazy to have a nice little party, and a very happy Birthday Boy. 

 Thanks to Nat's hard work overseeing the games, 7 young men and 2 younger sisters had continuous Nerf battles in the backyard for about 3 hours.  A few streamers, a bit of cake, and bowls full of Jack's favorite snacks... and it was a party.

 With a few re-fueling stops....

 It was a great day.