Happy 9th Birthday Boston

Dear Bosty Bear,
We love you so much buddy! Year 8 was a big year of challenges and growth.
We learned last October that you have Celiac and not only that, but me, and the girls do too! You thought you gave it to me, since we tested you first, but I informed you that it was me that gave it to you. Sorry about that bud.

We discovered this right around the time that you and I were getting really into baking and watching the great british bake off. We had gotten really into making breads together. Talk about bad timing! However we began learning more about gluten free baking, bought a few cookbooks, and began making homemade gluten free bread that we love!

It was still a hard adjustment for you though, so we went to counseling to get a little help, and after a couple months you felt a WHOLE lot better. It's been a year and we still go to drs. appointments in Spokane once a month. It's a big trip, and not the most fun, but we make the best of it. We've had lots of fun Spokane adventures together!

We've gone to the Arboretum, out to fun restaurants, and we even went to a fun museum and tour of mansions in Browne's addition together. We made up a game in the car when we drive, where we pretend that we're running along side the car, over the hills, under the overpasses, and leaping across powerlines. It's a game I made up when I was a kid on road trips and you and I love it.

We discovered an awesome gluten free restaurant all the way in North Spokane called Coles, and it made you feel so good to have an ENTIRELY gluten free menu to pick from. You also started basketball this last year on a REALLY good AAU team. You were so brave being the new boy, and you played so hard, grew so much, and did really well. It was hard for you to feel behind but you picked things up so quickly and I was proud every day that you continued to show up. One night after practice we were right by the Temple and you were feeling discouraged so we took a walk around the Temple and it made for a really sweet night.

You're now in football and KILLING it! Holy Cow. You're an amazing football player. You've never played before but you picked it up so quick! You had one game of 2 or 3 touchdowns, 11 tackles, and 5 forced fumbles. WHAT?! That's crazy. It's been so fun to watch. Dad even cried on one of your amazing touchdowns. ha!

You still have such a tender heart and it's my favorite thing about you. For example you're the only one in the family not willing to bop Winnie on the face because you can't bring yourself to do it, even if she is biting you. You're also a really kind and good friend.

Everyday I'm proud of you. Every day I love you...so much!

I love you boy,
love,
Mama