Toby : Now you are 8!

My dearest Toby, today you are 8!  You are facing your 8^th year with your usual mature excitement and unending quest to be older, better, faster, stronger. You certainly have high expectations of yourself – but you live up to them well.  When I look back on where you have come this year, I know you won’t be disappointed.

In grade 2 with several of your best friends, you have flourished.  Your ongoing love of math and your determination to read at higher and higher levels have served you well.  You are challenged each week with your spelling tests and although I don’t think you’ve EVER successfully gotten the bonus word correct I don’t think you’ve ever gotten a predetermined spelling word incorrect.

This year you’ve started taking piano lessons and you love them. You still love Beethoven but are discovering other artists as well.  I think your favourites right now are still Taylor Swift, Katie Perry and Lady Gaga…but we’re working hard to expand your tastes!

In addition to piano, you have also discovered a passion like no other...HAMBURGERS.  It started one day at the Beaver and Bulldog when, in your determination to prove that you could order from the ADULT menu, you ordered and ate an ENTIRE burger (with all the fixin's) all by yourself.   You LOVED and DEVOURED the ENTIRE thing...with the exception of half of the sauce and the multitude of crumbs that were in their usual halfhazard arrangement all over your face and hair when you were done...(You may be 8 but you are still just as messy as you were when you were 2...)  Since that time you have been on a perpetual quest to replicate that very first perfect burger.  And as for ordering from the kids menu...I think you've made your point! 

In Niagara Falls.  The burger was gone in 5 minutes flat.

At the Huron club - you finished all by the last bite!

...AND some evidence of your usual PIZAZZ -- WHAT A MESS!!!

Perhaps your greatest love right now is that of Harry Potter.  You and Daddy and I are reading the books and you can’t WAIT to read them.  Sometimes you insist on heading up to your bedroom before your set bedtime just so you can get some extra Harry Potter time in.  You are HILARIOUS to read to – you often cover your face, laugh out loud or sneak under the covers during the scary parts.  You are so grown up to be able to handle and understand the book…but it’s still nice to see little Toby in there who needs his Mommy’s arms to hide in during the scary parts.

You did your Grade 2 speech on Harry Potter and were incredible

And, as always,  you are an ever patient and loving big brother.  Granted, there are MOMENTS….but for the most part your true innate goodness and love for your sister shines through.  Even when she DOES usurp you on your birthday by causing last minute game changing plans due to sudden onset of fever – you still gave her half of your chocolate chip birthday muffin, despite it all….

You and your sister on our final night in Florida

Toby, you are kind, sweet, loving and full of life.  When we first met 8 years ago today I knew I loved you will of my heart…and as each year passes I know the reason why more and more.

You and your Grandparents on your birthday night...right after your hockey game, of course!