Matty Turns 7

Dear Matty,

You turned seven years old last weekend. You have kept me soooo busy with baseball this spring that I am just now finding the time to write about you as a cute seven-year old. Last Saturday, we celebrated your special day just how you would want: starting with baseball games in the morning and a birthday party with a ton of friends in the evening. We also went out for dinner at your favorite restaurant, Tapatio, on Friday evening. You love going there because you say that you always see people you know while we are eating. I love your energy for being around other people. That will serve you well in life.

As I do every year, I interviewed you about your favorite things. Here are your responses:
What is your favorite color? blue
Who is your best friend? Kyler Beppu, Clay Cakarnis, Finn O'Donoghue, Keller Brown
What do you want to be when you grow up? a baseball player (duh!)
What is your favorite sport? baseball
What is your second favorite sport? basketball
What is your favorite food? spaghetti and chili
What is your favorite TV show? Fuller House
What is your favorite movie? The Greatest Showman
What is your favorite song? Rockstar
What is your favorite subject in school? Math

And daddy's added question...
Who is your favorite baseball player? Gleyber Torres, Aaron Judge

Additional fun facts about you as a seven-year old:

1. You mumble. It is often hard to understand what you are saying because you mumble.
2. You have the fastest growing fingernails I have ever seen.
3. You still love wearing shorts and rarely wear pants.
4. Your hair is still sandy blonde/light brown. Now that the weather is getting warmer and we are seeing more of the sunshine, the blonde is returning. I just love how your hair gets "sun-kissed" in the summer.
5. Also because of the nicer weather, you are outside playing basketball or baseball by 8:00 each morning. Our neighbors Bill and Cathy Palmer, gave us their basketball goal, so you are a happy guy!
6. You've developed a bit of a potty mouth. We had an incident in March where you were accused of saying the "F-bomb" at recess. You still deny this accusation, yet you did fess up that you called a little girl "fat." As a result, I washed your mouth out with soap, and you, my sensitive boy, sobbed.
7. You are still brilliant in math. You are also filled with baseball knowledge that is unparalleled for a seven-year old. Last night, I heard you ask your daddy about a pitch from the day's MLB games. You asked if he got a quality start. I have no idea what that means, but you sure do!
8. You have started turning your head when I try to kiss you at the bus stop. Sigh.
9. Despite your joe cool attitude at school, you still want me to snuggle with you at bedtime. I'll take it.
10. You are getting your top two front permanent teeth. They are huge!
11. You do not enjoy going to church. You loved Awana this year, but I know it was because you had a buddy with you (Keller) and you got to play rowdy games. Sunday school has been a challenge. You usually skip Sunday School and sit in the worship service with me and daddy. Despite all of this, you love God and we talk about Him daily. You can also recite all 66 books of the Bible in order (thank you, Awana!).
12. You love playing your PS4, although recently, you've switched from playing sports games to playing Minecraft.
13. I do not get enough one-on-one time with you. I worry that your middle child status gives you the "short end of the stick." Sometimes Taylor needs her momma to be with her at dance/Girl Scout commitments, and Brady is with me in the afternoons all the time, yet my quality-time with you often gets squeezed out. Back in March, you and I had a date-night scheduled, and then daddy and I had to take you to the ER to have your shoulder x-rayed. I knew it was a silly decision to take you the ER (daddy insisted) and I was bummed that we missed our dinner together. Since then, we have been so busy with baseball and other activities that we rarely have a night at home. We'll get that dinner rescheduled.
14. Your bond with your daddy and baseball is beyond anything we could have ever envisioned. I am so glad that the two of you have this shared interested. As much as I cringe when baseball is on our TV 24/7, I smile knowing how happy it makes you.
15. You have the most sensitive, caring heart. For Mother's Day yesterday, you gave grandma a hand-made card, a beaded necklace (that you found in your junk drawer upstairs) and a $1 bill. You always want to give your family sweet, thoughtful gifts, and you are very generous. 
16. Your seven-year well check with Dr. Quinn is not until late May. I guess that you are an average height and weight for your age. For a while, I was concerned that Brayden was going to catch you in height sooner than later, but you must have had a growth spurt because you are now a few inches taller again.

Matty, I say this every year, but you have been one of the greatest joys of my life. I pray that you keep your sensitive heart. It will serve you well in life. I also pray that your heart for God grows and grows, that you respect girls and women in your life, and that you are a leader/example to those around you. Thank you for being mine. I am beyond blessed to be your mommy.

Love,

Mom

Baseball cupcakes for your birthday baseball game

And a balloon for your Cinco de Matty birthday! 

Opening presents with Mimi, Baba, and family

You had a joint birthday party with Lucas Park and Nathan Piha at Sandbox Sports (an indoor giant sandbox for volleyball, flag football, etc). There were about 30 kids in attendance, and you had a blast just running around and making up games. Sadly, the only pictures I got were of you eating Chipotle and cake. I cannot believe I did not get any pictures of the play area! We asked your friends to bring toys for Seattle Children's Hospital in lieu of gifts, yet your friends were still generous with cards, gift cards, and Legos.

The parents loved the Chipotle taco bar!

The three amigos!

We gave all the kids nerf footballs as they left the party. One of the highlights for you was playing with Baba and daddy and your friends in the parking lot.