7 years (and 3+ months)

This one blog post is evidence of how quickly time goes by.  I really didn't think I was that far behind on Ryan's birthday update until I started counting the months.  

So, way back in May, Ryan turned 7.

He continues to grow up and mature in wonderful, surprising ways.  He is still very much a kid, but more and more I see evidence of him leaving some of his childishness behind.  

Ryan continues to flourish in his role as the oldest in the family.  He is patient and sweet to his younger brothers and cousins (most of the time), and they very much look up to him.  He rather likes being looked up to too :)  He is also a big help to me.  Just last week, I was upstairs getting something out of the attic, and when I came down, Ryan was sitting in the bathroom reading to Ethan as he sat on the potty.  

Cuddles for Ethan

Checking out the river with Kaeden

These three are such sweet buddies

We've really enjoyed hiking together this past year!

Sweet cousins

School has continued to go very well for Ryan.  He started 2nd grade in July (seriously... time is flying) and has enjoyed getting to know his new teacher and classmates.  His best friend from kindergarten and first grade is not in his class this year, which has been a disappointment, but Ryan has handled it very well.  He continues to surprise us with his social nature and really seems to like making new friends in addition to the old :)

Ryan with his best bud Aiden in 1st grade

Ryan has learned to love reading on his own... finally!  It took him a while, even after he was reading fluently, to want to read to himself.  But now it is one of his favorite things to do.  I am thrilled, even when it means I have to get right in his face to get his attention because he's off in book land.  He really loved reading the Geronimo Stilton Kingdom of Fantasy books.  Some other current favorites are the Imagination Station series, Roald Dahl books (James and the Giant Peach and Matilda so far), Lego Ninjago (ugh), and of course Pokemon (double ugh).

Ryan hasn't really latched on to a sport, although he's tried a number of things and enjoyed them all fine.  He played both soccer and baseball last year.  This year, he's holding out for basketball, although he tried tennis at Ampersand and is sort of interested in that too.  He loves to swim, but he doesn't like swimming lessons because he's afraid of the jets in the pool.  Sigh. :)

Playing baseball this spring

Some of Ryan's favorite things as a seven-year-old are: playing with friends, building forts/hide-outs (inside and out), reading, swimming, building with Legos, collecting and learning about gemstones, and video games (especially when Daddy is playing with him). 

Some highlights from the past year: 

Ryan has lost three teeth so far... one of them twice!  He fell last summer and his tooth popped out, but we didn't realize that part of it was left in his gums.  So, eventually he had to have it pulled out.  He handled it like a champ, and we went out to frozen yogurt as a reward.

We started our first (hope-to-be annual) Christmas season viewing of "Elf," just the two of us.  Any time we get to do something one-on-one with any of the boys, it is very special, but this was an extra fun one for me.  We stayed up late, ate popcorn and M&Ms, and cracked up together at one of my favorite movies.  Good times, especially in the midst of the crazy holiday season.

We had an unusually snowy winter, and Ryan had lots of fun playing in the snow:

Like I said, we've been doing quite a bit of hiking now that Ethan is old enough to walk on his own most of the time.  We have loved exploring the trails nearby, and Ryan especially likes finding big rocks to climb on.

This spring/summer, we've been to two magic shows at our local library as well as the circus at Nana & Papa's house.  Ryan LOVED them all!

Mesmerized by the circus

Ryan, I love your sweet, sensitive spirit and your fun, people loving personality.  I am so proud of the  way that you care for others and grateful that you still like to give your mama hugs and kisses.  And every night that I put you to bed and you want to just lay down and talk instead of reading a book?  It melts my heart, even if you are just doing it so that I'll scratch your back :)