My Sweet Boy

Big is sandwiched between a lot of girls and often gets way too much input from sisters.  Sisters, especially teen/preteen ones, sure give a lot of "advice" about clothes and hygiene - something a 9 year old boy really doesn't care about.  So, it's nice when Big can get away and excel on his own.  

This weekend was his first track meet as a member of the Tustin Equalizers.  He's had a hard time finding an organized sport that he loves.  This summer he ran a couple of 5Ks and decided that running is something he really likes.  After he started wearing running shoes/clothes everyday for school with the hope that they would run the mile in PE, I found a track club he could join.  It's been a few weeks and he just keeps getting faster each time.  This is a little hard on my ego.  Just last July we ran a 5k together and I told my friends to go ahead, that I was going to take it easy and run with my son.  Three weeks ago we ran a 5k and I couldn't keep up with him ( I ran my 2nd fastest 5k ever).  Last week he took me on a run through Peters Canyon and up "Big Red" (a killer, steep hill).  Besides having to wait for me at the top and bottom of each hill, I could hardly walk for days after while he was fine.  OK - done lamenting.  

Anyway, yesterday he ran a 6:22 1500 meter race which is a 6:55 minute mile.  I am excited to see how he will improve as the season progresses.    Here he is with his two ribbons:

And while I am bragging about Big, let me include a few other things.  He loves crawling under the house (eek!) to help his dad with home repairs.  He has actually been a real help to his dad fixing the air conditioner and moving cable.  

He's also really creative and makes cool things out of lego, wood, etc.  For the Boy Scout Blue & Gold dinner, he was supposed to bring a collection and also decorate a cake.  He decided to bring his coin collection and decorate his cake like the coin collection.  He cut little pieces of yellow fondant into circles.  Then he used a toothpick and copied the design from his coins onto the fondant coins.  It was so cute, I wish I had a better picture.  

Lastly is a picture of Big removing all of the baseboards in the Family Room, Dining Room & Entry.  As part of our remodel (see earlier post), we decided to update floor boards.  Ken showed him how and then left on a business trip.  Big spent the next two days between school & activities removing the boards and nails.  He did such a great job and saved me a lot of time.   

I always try to remind him how grateful I am that Heavenly Father sent him to our home.  He is a good boy who wants to do what is right.  It's not easy being outnumbered, but he sure makes the best of it.