Eleven

Happy birthday to my sweet Zac!  Today he celebrates eleven years.  Eleven.  Oh my. 

Zac had a great birthday. 

He awoke to "grandma pancakes" for breakfast.  Breakfast on weekdays that is not some form of cereal is always cause for celebration, or is prompted by celebration I should say!  Weekends, birthdays and other special occasions are usually the only times breakfast is not served in a bowl with milk.  Upon arriving at school, Zac's 5th grade class immediately departed on a field trip up to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.  How cool is that for a birthday celebration?!  He brought in cookies to share with his classmates that were dished out in the final five minutes of school, all the time that was left after arriving back from Denver.

Zac tore into his gifts as soon as Adam arrived home from work.  He got a pair of slippers, some homemade paper ninja knives from his brothers (with a note from Ben that read "Dear Zac, Please don't poke your eye out."), a giant-sized perler bead snowman from Luke, spending money from Grandma and Grandpa, a Seattle Sounders away jersey from Nana and Papa, and Skylanders (a game for the Wii) from us.  He was SO excited about everything!  It was great.  I made him coconut chicken with coconut rice for dinner followed by birthday Chubby Hubbies, by request.  Then we dashed off to his first night as an 11-Year-Old Scout, officially part of the Boy Scouts.  He finished his Arrow of Light but won't receive it until the next Pack Meeting in January.  I think he had a good day and felt duly celebrated.

We are off to...guess where...ART SPORTS...again...for his family fun birthday outing sometime next week. 

Zac at eleven is a fantastic boy.  I LOVE to spend time with him.  He is witty and loves to joke around.  He loves sarcasm, so much that sometimes I have to remind him that some people might not get it and that he needs to figure out how to be more receptive to when it is time to let someone who isn't getting it in on the joke.  He is clever and has intelligent things to say and tells great stories about his day.  I enjoy the questions he asks and the discussions they prompt.  He is a good friend to me and cares a lot about my opinion and the things that go on in my life and that means a lot to me. 

School is still coming easily to Zac.  He is incredibly bright and imaginative.  It is wonderful, but we have to continually encourage him to stretch himself beyond simply doing what is required because we know he can do more.  Zac loves to read, especially when he finds a book he connects to (there are few he doesn't connect to!), and he is often found curled up somewhere in the house with his book.  He wants to be an engineer when he grows up so he can create things, but he's also been thoroughly enjoying his current school unit on the systems of the human body so I am planting the doctor seed now! 

Zac is an incredible family member.  He helps out with the little boys as much as he can, is great about including Josh and is inseparable from Ben.  Luke loves him and Tommy talks about him all the time ("Sa-click!").  He does his chores around the house with little grumbling and has started some short babysitting jobs for us, relishing the responsibility. 

Zac is growing into a fine young man.  He is becoming more and more thoughtful and considerate.  His prayers are becoming richer and deeper.  His faith is developing.  He asks questions at church about gospel principles that he needs clarified, and loves learning the answers and sharing them with us at home.  Zac has a very laid back, flexible attitude about life.  When things are hard he pushes on; when bad days come he thinks to tomorrow; when something doesn't go his way he figures out how to deal with the disappointment or negotiate it.  He doesn't sweat the small stuff.  Zac's favorite thing to wear is a smile.  I see a bright future for him.  I have such great hopes for him.  I believe in him so much.  I am so incredibly grateful he is my son.