Happy Birthday, Caleb! Eight Years

Before we get to the topic at hand, let me just say that I had foot surgery this past February, and I had no idea that I would basically be signing my life away.  I only just started walking last week, without crutches or a walker.  (I ended up using a walker after 6 weeks on the crutches, when the crutches finally killed my ribs.)  It's been a long journey, I've been very discouraged at times, and I'm still not completely out the other side.  I am walking, but it hurts badly at times, and I have weeks of physical therapy ahead of me.  

But enough about that.  It was Caleb's birthday today!

Caleb has had a good year!  He's learning so much in homeschool and he's doing great with reading!  He loves to draw, especially the Veggie Tales characters.  He's a good big brother to Anna, and he has fun playing with her.  Caleb was a big help to his poor mama, when I was stuck on the couch for so long, and he became my fetcher on a regular basis.

I don't know what his brain is made of, but he has got a quite a head for geography.  He knows the exits on the interstate better than we do and what place is at which number.  Whenever Brian or I go out, Caleb wants to know exactly where.  If he doesn't know the place, he will question us as to where the place is located.  I have no doubt that one day soon he will be better than I am with directions.  He knows where all the states are.  He's really sharp in this area, and I can't wait to see what he'll do with it!

He, like any kid, loves to eat, and after almost every meal, he thanks me for it and says it was very good!  The little guy knows how to melt his mama's heart!  He's really a good eater, and like any of us, has one or two things he doesn't like, but overall he is easy to please!

Caleb loves to go grocery shopping with me, or at least, he did when I used to go!  I still don't have the strength to go shopping yet with my foot.  I am looking forward to going with him again, because it was "our thing" we did together!  I miss it!

This past January, Caleb accepted Jesus into his heart!  I was so privileged and honored to lead Him in a prayer.  

Time is flying by so quickly, and in only ten years, our boy could very well be leaving home.  I've got to make these years count as much as I can, and not waste the precious hours God gives me with my children.

Here's Caleb early in the morning on his birthday, wearing a new outfit I got him.  I picked the planet shirt since we studied the planets in science.

Caleb was reading aloud to us the card we gave him.

I made cupcakes with xylitol this year, since Silas has Candida in his gut and cannot eat sugar (even the "good" ones, such as honey).  Xylitol doesn't feed the Candida like sugars do, but it is expensive, and so I only will use it about three times a year.

Here is our big 8 year old!  Getting these balloons has become a fun tradition in our house!

We got Caleb a new backpack, and he loves it!

We also got Caleb a scooter, and I think that is his favorite present.  He also got a fun flying helicopter, and more books to read.  It was a great day!