I am months behind on writing your birthday blog, Toby and I
am SO SORRY…although I suspect you are so busy enjoying camp right now that you
haven’t even noticed that I hadn’t written anything and probably wouldn’t care
anyways.
Here is the thing with you, Toby – you are ALWAYs busy. At the time of your birthday we were juggling
hockey play offs and your birthday road hockey party as well as our family trip
to Belize for March break. Now right in
the thick of your rep soccer season you joined a hockey tem, finished the
school Marathon and then took yourself off to camp for a week. PHEW.
No wonder this is the first chance that I’m getting to sit down and
reflect on
things…
I suspect that I’m feeling particularly reflective right now
because I miss you SO MUCH. You have a
quiet , kind presence that leaves a very
loud void when you are gone. Don’t get
me wrong – you have your moments. Like,
for example, any moment within 1 hour of your waking up is not really your
strength. You tend to growl more than
talk until at least 2 bowls of cereal have been shoved into your face. And God forbid that Mia dare to ask you a
cheerful question during the cereal face-stuff.
I’m not quite sure why either of you haven’t actually learned this yet
but it never goes over well.
You have expanded your friend group and remain loyal and a
ton of fun to be around. Trying out new
adventures isn’t always your comfort zone but you’re trying. You eagerly embarked on this new camp with
your hockey friend Hugo and it made daddy and me so proud to see you
confidently and optimistically face this new unknown. I’m sure you’re out there having a blast.
On Everest’s birthday this year you went paintballing with
your friends only to realize that guns and shooting and getting hurt are REALLY
not your thing. But instead of coming home, you stuck it out for the ENTIRE DAY
to be a loyal friend to Everest. I
admire and respect that about you, Toby. Your good friends are so lucky to have
you. As are we….
You bring so much laughter and reflection to our family
(outside of the hours of your immediate waking, of course…) You insist on the value of family dinners –
even if this means eating late at night, after soccer or hockey practice and
you always enjoy asking us all questions from your “questions book” to
stimulate good conversation around the table.
You are growing into a confident, kind and thoughtful
person, Toby. I know you have always
been that way but I am so happy to see you becoming even more like yourself
each year. I look forward to our future
together- to sitting over dinners when we are older and chatting meaningfully
about life and friends and family. I
have always loved you with all of my heart; it’s nice to see how much I truly
like you as a person, too.
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| Oh my funny boy... |
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| New adventure that you loved! |
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| You love your sister. MOST of the time... |
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| relaxing in Belize |
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| Happy 11th Birthday, Buddy...xo |
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