Happy Birthday Braden!!

My Sweet Boy is SIX!!

breakfast choice: eggs, bacon, clementine

Braden got two birthday phone calls
and was THRILLED!

pizza, cranberries, cake,
and ice cream!

presents! he got a HUGE transformer guy,
a LEGO set, a new book from Cailey, and
a Star Wars guy (I'm so out of the loop on names:)

Braden's birthday is today and he had a great one. We didn't go anywhere...just stayed home but it was fun. He kept saying, "I'm having a good birthday". That's just how he is...you can do school, clean the house, and have special moments in between and it's all great for him. We'll have a party with friends this weekend and a special mommy date on Friday night so he's kind of celebrating throughout the week but I just love how happy he is! We love you, Braden! Happy 6th Birthday!

From Daddy:

Braden turned six today which in and of itself is difficult to fathom. It is amazing how slowly time seems to pass until you are looking back to see how much has really flown by while you were living life. It is that way with Braden whose curiosity is boundless and need for knowledge is without end.

Braden sixth birthday has him two month into the role of big brother to a little brother. Needless to say he relishes the role and accepts it without complaint. In the morning when he wakes, Ephram is there, probably awake prior to his older brother. Braden makes his bed and then proceeds to keep his brother happy whether it is reading him a book or talking to him or being generally silly. Braden knows that I will come around 7:30 to get them both and he does not mind staying there until that happens. Braden is patient. He is willing to wait because his servant's heart knows no other way.

Because his birthday falls four days after the anniversary of my father's untimely death, the week leading into the celebration of his birth is often one of deep contemplation for me. Braden was 362 days old when God called Daddy home. Only half those days were spent with Daddy in his life. Braden was the first grandson for Daddy who was flush with ideas for this little boy. God's will dictated otherwise and while I understand the whys and what fors of it, I am still left wishing Daddy and Braden could be together even now. So with every year we celebrate Braden's birth I look at him and wonder what Daddy would think.

Every year I conclude the same thing: Daddy would love this little boy.

Happy Birthday Braden.