Kade is Eight!

Another much anticipated birthday. I had to reign him in a few times, b/c he was planning on writing and sending invitations . . . without consulting me. He had his friends phone number found and was planning on calling them to give them the details . . . without me knowing what the details were.  The party has not yet happened. The timing of Kade's birthday was not great in terms of a party, but I promised him one soon.

We've been looking through baby photo albums a lot over here lately, so I thought I'd include a few baby-1year pictures of Kade.

 One thing that strikes me as I go through Kade's photo albums is that he was a happy little gaffer!!  (not that we generally take pictures of kids when they are grumpy, but he seemed to be an easy smiler!)

 Actually he still is. He is my easy going boy - sometimes to the point of it driving me a little crazy.  He seems to take life and its happenings very graciously - all in stride -- this is not to say that he doesn't get upset. He does. But not too often. When he does get upset, it is a very heartfelt upset and it is rather sad.

Kade is a very kind boy (at least from what I see and if you are kind to your siblings, why wouldn't you be kind to others?!!).  He humours Kevin rather often by playing hockey with him, even though he'd rather play football. The tradeoffs there are not always fair.  He also is willing to read a book to Kylie or play Polly Pockets or Playmobil with her. I love that and so does she!! He also has a very soft spot for Karter already. He is his little protector. He doesn't like to hear him cry and will quickly pick him up or try to settle him down. I think it is quite special.

Kade loves school and it comes easy to him (so far!). He loves reading and has lately traded in sleeping for reading, which I'm not sure I'm real fond of b/c this is my one child who actually slept normal hours until recently.  He loves football. I can't quite figure this one out. He hasn't had a lot of exposure to the game and there really isn't anything I can do/sign him up for to satisfy this desire.  He has had a thing for football for quite a while and asks for things like a football helmet for his birthday.  We got him a football and a football sweater and football silly bands instead. He was happy.

Kade still loves Lego, riding bikes, swinging, and soccer.
Kade is very witty and has a great sense of humour. He loves jokes and has a great memory for them too.

One of my favorite sights of Kade is at bedtime. I have him read a more advanced children's story Bible and he devours it.  Even though I ask him to read it in his room, he always ends up on the couch, and it is beautiful to see him reading and enjoying it. He has a very good memory for Bible stories, and texts too.

One thing we chuckle at, but find a bit of a challenge about Kade is his absentmindedness.  When asked to do a job, he is so easily distracted! It is actually humourous to watch (if we have time).  If you ask him to straighten out the shoes and he is on the couch, he may just encounter 4 or 5 distractions on his way - and although the couch and shoes are on opposite sides of the house, we have a VERY small house.  This could be interesting in our new house!
Kade loves deeply. He loves his friends and hanging out with them. One thing that comes to my mind when I think of Kade upset over something, is that he couldn't spend time with a friend or couldn't go over to his friends house on Sunday b/c it didn't work out. Then he is sad (and grumpy).
Kade is a nurturer. Right now he is nurturing a goose egg and a robin egg. He has them all blanketed up and is patiently waiting for them to hatch. I am hopeful that he continues to nurture the eggs and care for them in a gentle way so that they don't crack inside my house!!!

Kade (and Kevin and Kylie) have this very strange fear of the darkness outside right now.  Pretty much anytime after supper, it is hard to get any one of them outside on their own.  If they are with someone else - no problem. But if Jonathan asks Kade to grab his lunchpail from the work truck, it is a bit of a battle - and that is when it is still rather light. He would outright refuse if it was dark - and his fear is so genuine, that it is hard to force him. I think it is coyotes that he is afraid of. One night when we got home from hockey, I could hear them in the woods behind our house and I thought it was neat, so I told Kade and Kylie to listen.  Apparently that was a mistake. Until then, I think that they thought maybe, just maybe, coyotes aren't really around here even though they've heard from others that they are.  I'm hoping they will all get over these fears soon!  It's easy for them to sing/quote the song/verse, "When I am afraid, I will trust in you!", but it's a bit harder for them to live it out.  Much like many things in scripture - for all of us.

Kade is our affectionate boy too. He is the quickest to give a hug or a little snuggle . . .but I don't think he'd like it that I'm advertising this.  I think he reserves them for his family:)

Kade - we love you incredibly much. You bring sunshine to this family.  You are a joy to raise.  Thanks for all you do/bring to our family. Continue to grow in the Lord and continue to build upon all those good character traits that He has blessed you with!! 

 And now some birthday pictures:

Chocolate for breakfast - only on your birthday and only when Aunt Steph brings you a load of groceries!

 We did gifts throughout the day which was a nice way to do it. He'd get a gift and then he'd spend the next hour or so building it or playing with it. He kind of liked breaking it up like that, and b/c it was Saturday it worked quite well.

 The football and the new backpack which he'd been asking for for months!

 And our "cake" this time around?? Smartie icecream. What can I say. Easy and yummy and we all like it!!

(yes - his face is as dirty as it looks- its cleaned up for the next picture!)

 And you can still have a candle to blow out:)

 Kade requested hotdogs/hamburgers and salad for supper (again?!) and of course movie night after that . . . though I think a few of us migrated towards the hockey game.

Hope you had a good day Kade-O!