Graham's Big Day

Happy Birthday to Grambo!  He turned seven the last day of August.  He was so irritated that he would   be celebrating it in Italy (Graham got very sentimental about leaving the United States).  My parents came to see us the last weekend we were in San Diego, so we did a little celebrating while they were around.  

We spent Sunday, the 26th of August, at Aunt Bev and Uncle Jim's house in Temecula.  It was only an hour away, so we thought we'd stop in and visit for a while.  Mom and I went to the grocery store to get some stuff for lunch and she insisted we get a little cake so he could blow out the candles with all of us there.  Not exactly sure what Lucy is doing in this picture, but oh well.

Grandma and Grandpa also gave him a new game for his DS that he could play on the long plane ride to Italy.  It served us well on the flights!  He was so happy and was excited to call and tell them thank you (they had already started their drive back to Phoenix when he opened it).

Graham's actual birthday came just four days after we arrived in Sigonella.  Yikes.  He seemed to have pretty high expectations for what he wanted his day to be like, so we were a little concerned, but we put our best celebration faces on and luckily, he wasn't disappointed at all.  

We decorated the living room while he was asleep so he could wake up to a party.  As you can see, he was pleased.  

He was also quite pleased with his presents.  I tried to have him spread out the opening of the gifts throughout the day, but he just kept asking, "Can I open them now?  How about now?  Can I open just one more?  Please?"  So, by noon he had already opened them all.  He is loving legos lately, so he got a couple Monster Fighter Lego sets for his big day.  He also loved playing with this "magic 8 ball" that we saw at the NEX, so we surprised him with that, too.  

Graham decided on brownies again this year.  Made it easy for us because we weren't sure where to get a b-day cake this late in the game (and the kiddos aren't impressed with our homemade ones).  We got some stuff to decorate them with and I let Graham go for it.  He was kind enough to let Lucy and Benny help a little bit (after some coaxing).  

The two long things on the side are "7's" and the swirly thing in the middle is supposed to be a "G".  :)

Jason spent a while in the afternoon helping him put some of his set together.  

That afternoon we went bowling at the base alley.  It was so fun!  There was only one other group there, so it was super chill.  The kids had a blast and we enjoyed our time there.  

Graham was pretty ticked that he lost to Lucy and Benny.  I threw my game a bit so the birthday boy wouldn't be last, but he was still upset.  We're still working on some"sore loser" issues with this guy.  

He wanted a couple pictures of his new Lego guys.  I think this is actually Benny's hand, though.  

We sure love our Graham.  Here's seven things about our little man:

1.  He has suddenly turned into a very patriotic boy.  He cried on the way to the airport in San Diego because he didn't want to leave America.  

2.  Graham is enjoying school, but during the first two weeks was he was always shocked when I woke him up to get ready.  "I have school AGAIN!"

3.  Graham loves to play hard and be active, but isn't a huge fan of organized sports.    I signed him up for soccer and he was not pleased.  He's coming around, though.  I get bring him a little gatorade for every practice.....that helps get him there.  He had a couple great practices last week and then had a lot of fun at his first game last Saturday.  He had to leave one practice early and he was mad.  Jason said, "I thought you didn't like soccer."  Graham replied, "Well, I guess I do now."

4.  Graham is and always has been very emotional.  When he gets upset quickly or cries about something, we try to explain to him that he needs to learn to control his reactions and not get so mad.  He always retorts with, "But I'm really, really sad!"  or "But I'm so mad!"  I attempt to explain to him that sometimes I get mad or sad, but that doesn't mean I get to be unkind and grouchy to everyone around me.  He then says, "Well you're not as mad or as sad as I am, then!"

5.  Graham is fabulous reader and always impresses us with his mad math skills, too.  I love it when he says something like this, "Hey Mom!  I know what 55 + 45 is.....100!"

6.  Our boy had to go to an after school care program for a couple days last week.  Jason and I were at a training that all the new people at the base are required to go to.  Graham loved it!  He was always so upset when we came to pick him up to go home.  One of the days he asked us why we couldn't just go home without him and come back later.  We explained that the rule was to go get your child as soon as class was over.  He argued, "But I really want to stay!"  We told him that we have to follow the rules, to which he said in a very irritated tone, "So you care about the rules more than you care about me?"

7.  I love watching Graham drive away on the school bus each morning.  No.... not because he is driving away from me.  I love it because if we make eye contact before the bus pulls away, he blows me a kiss.....I pretend to catch it and put it on my cheek.  Then I blow one to him and he does the same.  So sweet.