Jacob Turns NINE

Jacob has come a long way since his birth. 

He has gained about 55 lbs and grown 36 inches.

Many things have changed...

He has recently become an avid reader of books like Jack Stalwart and Spirit Animals.

He can ride a mountain bike almost as good as his dad, WITH clip on pedals.

He owns four knives.

He has gone from not wanting to get tired to ALWAYS wanting to go on an adventure.

But many things have just grown up with him, like...

His love for art.

His love for animals.

His big muscles.

His ability to totally chow down on food he loves.

He still dreams of exploring the world.

He had his birthday planned for months.

Itinerary:

1. Eat Breakfast at IHOP. 

2. Go mountain biking

3. Eat a triple cheeseburger with bacon

4. Eat caramel cheesecake

We tried hard to accommodate his list. We did go to IHOP, and he invited his friend Adela.

 He also invited Cutesy and Grandad.

We went shopping afterwards with his birthday money and he bought a collection of animals, which he immediately found an awesome way to display when we got home.

We have a tradition of decorating the birthday child's door with candy, and he had requested caramel kisses. I did a "9" on his door and then left a little pile of kisses on the floor. When the kids all woke up, they found Marianne in a mess of chocolate - on her face, in her hair, on her jammies...We can only deduce that she woke up in the night, found the kisses on the floor by Jacob's door, took them back to bed with her, and ate many while sleeping on the rest. We will have to be more careful in the future.

He was able to go on a bike ride with his dad - 7 miles to the Elena Gallegos trail head. Rus says he is a natural rider, fearless but in control.
His uncle Jacob is an awesome gift giver and always gives him the coolest things (BB gun, knife, nerf swords...) This year he gave him a quiver and arm guard, and then helped him make his own bow out of PVC. It turned out great!

I made him his cheeseburger for dinner, and he was a little disappointed that I'd only give him a double cheeseburger, not a triple. (He ate all of it!) For dessert we had his caramel cheesecake, and then he opened his gift - an air hogs quad flyer.

He also got this slingshot that is hand carved that I found at a craft fair. He promptly took it outside and "almost hit a bird."

 I think his birthday was a success! I love my chocolate chip-eyed boy with his sweet smile and sensitive spirit and creativity. I love his hugs and his terrific back scratches. I love how he's so much like his dad - taking things apart, building them again, and loving to explore the outdoors on foot or bicycle. I think he's going to blow this 9-year-old thing out of the water. Happy Birthday Jacob!
 And from the birthday boy himself:
"My plans for turning nine are I want to...me and daddy want to go on the continental divide trail on bikes. I want to practice on my bike. Um..do more art. Learn more about taking stuff apart. Learn about Spots, my new leopard gecko. I think I'm going to grow 5" this year."