Ryan turns 9!

The year of Ryan at 8 was an adventure of middle boyhood...No longer a little, but also not a big, this boy keeps us smiling and challenged day-in and day-out.

Admittedly, I am post-dating this entry, because life was crazy around the time of Ryan's 9th birthday when I normally make his celebratory blog post. (We found out a week before his birthday that Max was having major hip surgery, so we had to quickly move up his party, all during the holidays and my busiest season at work.)

It's an interesting exercise to time-hop and reflect about who your child was, especially relative to seeing his little face a year ago before this year's maturing.

Ryan's birthday party was a bit of a disaster. Since we had to move it so fast, we ended up playing indoor putt-putt and then planned to head back to our house for a football-themed sleep over (with 7 boys!) On the way, we got a phone call about an ill family member that Max dealt with the whole night. And on the way out of the place, a friend puked in our car, so everyone ended up heading home. It all worked out in the end and the boys had a great time regardless.

The cottage was equal parts fun and frustrating this year as everyone grew up a bit and Ryan realize he was the youngest and could not be part of everything that the big kids could do. At school, he's used to being surrounded by a lot of friends and easily fits in, so we're hoping this is a good lesson in resilience. (Spoiler alert: I am sitting at the cottage now, the next summer, and the struggle is still real.)

Highlights from 8 (2nd grade and the beginning of 3rd) included the literary tea where Ryan had to wear a suit, escort a female classmate and read with them. He also had a field trip to Meijer Gardens with 2nd grade and we took may adventures including a trip to the apple orchard. Our biggest adventure was buying a boat. Ry turned into an expert tuber!

Ryan maintained his label as a solid three sport athlete. We shifted to playing for Rockford and due to the seasons and Ryan's bday, we technically played basketball for two different teams while he was 8. The comparison is a profound difference. (As was the amount of times that this kid stops to tie his shoes on the court :)

Ryan played his last year for Wolverine ball, but excelled as a pitcher. He's also really skilled as a a baseman (1st and 3rd). Max coached him and his buddy Alex through a great season. His hitting improved and he enjoyed cheering on his teammates from the bench.

Ryan's first football game playing for Rockford had the makings of a Disney script. With Max as his coach and one of his bff's by his side, we were assigned (out of 34 alternative opponents) to play against Ryan's former Northview team.....in Northview stadium. Needless to say that emotions were high and it felt very strange to sit/play from the visitor's side (I was almost to the home stands on auto-pilot before I realized I no longer belonged there.) The good news is that both Ryan and Max held up well and they ended up winning their first game and many more throughout the season.

The hardest lesson of 8 came with the loss our sweet Cali. After 14 years, we had to say goodbye the week before school let out. Seeing Ryan bang on the back window of Max's Tahoe to get him to stop so he could climb in and give one last goodbye was pretty much the most heartbreaking thing I've witnessed an it left a gaping hole in our lives for the summer. He took it hard and believed that the hole could be immediately filled by another puppy.

In the fall, we decided to add Molly to our family. Max and the kids went to pick her out (I had the flu) and they did so well! She's been an amazing dog and the energy we needed for the start of 3rd grade. Ryan also learned the important lesson that you can't fill a hole, but your heart can get a little bigger by loving someone new. As you can see, Mol and Ry are quite the pair.

Ryan's collection of buddies expanded a bit in third grade, but his core has been the same group of boys since Kindergarten and we are so glad. They are all amazing kids and have great families that welcome Ryan. TJ and him are the unexpected pair (one big, one little) and most afternoons he's shooting hoops are building marble runs in the driveway with spare lumber with Rylan. 

Ryan's role as big brother expanded to protector and guide as Elise entered Kindergarten at "his" school. The playground is pretty intimidating since K-5 play together, but Ry helped her adjust and made sure she was never alone on the bus. He's had to stand up for her a few times and both he and his friends have kept tabs on her throughout the days. Plus Ryan and TJ ended up sharing Elise for leadership buddies. There are of course, normal sibling squabbles, but for the most part they get along well. My two favorite pics: center above where Elise is holding Ryan as he consoles her about her dead fish and the black in white in the lower right where Ryan's preparing Elise for her first day of school.

One thing that has not changed over the year is this kids appetite for reading. He read the entire Harry Potter series in 2 weeks over the summer. Where as he draws less (though he does love taking online lessons from Art for Kids Hub), he's reading a ton more. We can't get new books into the house fast enough!

With Max's coaching change, we've had a tone more time for family activities. Max coached NV basketball, Wolverine baseball and Rockford football for him, though sadly had to miss Rockford basketball due to his hip. We also were able to travel to Florida for Spring break and see our Nashville cousins on the ride back home. 

This kid is still playful and active outdoors. Cottage life has made him much more comfortable in the water and every day after school is spent out doors sooting hoops, riding bikes, throwing the ball round or catch frogs behind our house. At the cottage, he loves to fish, dive, ride the tube, explore turtle bay and play with Cayden, Blake and his sister.

Ryan, we are so grateful to have you in our lives. You challenge us and inspire us to be more intentional parents. You make us melt with your belly laughs and your observations about the world are profound. You feel deeply and love your friends and family so well. Your adventure's heart and determination will serve you well in the years to come. And your freckled face is the cutest around. We love you Ry Ry!