We put the tabs in the slots, taped the edges, stoked the coals, debated and negotiated who would be driver and who would be engineer, and chugga-chugga woo-wooed into the wild west wherever the rails would take us.
Oh, there's nothing like a cardboard train.
We'll take it from here. Get the triangle, get the kazoo.
Get the crayons and the markers.
We'll need some privacy too, Dad.
Cling clang. Woo woo!
Scribble Scribble Scribble. Blue. Red.
The inside is looking great!
Scribble yellow.
A coat of green.
Get the side. Color the controls.
Oh there's nothing like a cardboard train....
And privacy. We'll need that privacy now please.
...
...
Dad says "Why are there clothes out here?"
"Why are you being so quiet?"
"Why are you blue and red and yellow and green?"
Oh! There's nothing like getting naked and coloring your body and feet and brains inside a cardboard train!
Post-script: I followed the green foot prints from your bathroom to ours, and found you, Aidan (after drawing on yourself) had drawn yourself a nice warm bath and cleaned yourself up!
One morning after another annoying request from me and your mom to use your inside voice, Aidan, you had a very imaginative, silly, clever, and sweet response.
"It's not me," you said. "It's the screaming bug who lives in my belly!"
This tickled me and your mom. We smiled and laughed and you totally got away with a few more screams inside the house because of it.
Your creativity inspired me, so I put pen on paper, wrote a story, and drew the screaming bug just for you:
"Use your inside voice!" they say.
"Quiet down please," they say.
"Stop the screaming," they insist.
"I can't. I'll try. I wish." I say.
But I just can't stop screaming...because there is a screaming bug living in my tummy! Try as I might, I can't shush him up.
Except... he's always quiet when you give me ice cream...
So...he and I won't scream...if you bust out the vanilla bean!
I still can't get over it...my boy...our boy...is SEVEN! He is tall, and lean. Sweet and sensitive. He loves legos and his sister and cheese pizza...and 'cockroach pizza' (artichokes). He is a born story teller and can get lost in his imagination on the way to get his socks. He loves bugs, and snakes, and worms and digging in the dirt. He loves playing angry birds, and super mario, and plants vs. zombies on his ipad. He loves to dance and sing. He loves music and movies and can hear and watch his favorites over and over again. He's learning how to read books- and loves flipping through comic books and 'captain underpants' and can explore find-and-seek books for hours on end. He love hugs. He loves to wear silky soft clothes. He is "good at numbers" and growing.
every.
single.
day.
And, Aidan, so many people in your life gathered in and around your birthday to celebrate you from head to toe, in all of your seven years on this planet!
First, we had your birthday party at Swim Class! It was an intimate affair, as the flu knocked out several of your friends from coming. But no never mind- you had a blast! Karaoke machine and disco ball on top of swimming and a Mario and Luigi cake with a bunch of buddies! Awesome!
You got some awesome presents - including Legos!
Then dinner and the big hat along with birthday singing with your family at Mariano's (the bear restaurant!)
The next morning was spent with the new Legos and testing the rocket launcher at the playground!
Then gifts and Benihana with Mimi and Pops!
And then your final- tear, choking up, sniff sniff- Celebration of Life at White Rock Montessori! We celebrate your birth, your years on the earth. May you find peace where you are.
I was tearing up. Can't lie. I can't believe this is your last year in PS...and look how proud you . As you should be!
On your actual birthday, we celebrated at home and sang to you. And held you tight. And ate ice cream. And cuddled.
Then we celebrated with Yaya, Baba, Uncle Joe, and Aunt Sham! And had a dance party to the new music CD Yaya got you: the Trolls soundtrack!
It has dawned on me that so many people love you, but that no one will ever love you like I love you. I'm your Daddy, and you're my son, and I'm so happy to be on this journey with you, and will be on it with you for as long as you want me by your side. But, even when you're embarrassed of me... know that I am on your side and I will ALWAYS love you.
You make our love lights shine bright, my son. And you are a shining light in the universe. May your creativity and spirit and happiness soar!
School friends may come and go, but family is forever. And we all love you so, so much. And are so proud of how much you've grown in your 7 years here. Here's to another amazing 7 years!
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