eight

Coby turned eight on Sunday. I don't know which is the most shocking to me, the fact that Coby just turned eight, that Connor is just about to turn eleven, or that my baby will be five next month. The whole thing just amazes me really. It's so cliche and I say it all the time, but time really does fly!

Here are a few things I want to remember about Coby Lane as he turns EIGHT.....

• Coby is so loving and caring
• always takes care of others (almost like a little mom to Cale and at times Cale will go to Coby rather than me)
• he is extremely sensitive and we have to be very gentle in our discipline with him (just the slightest raised voice sends him to his room immediately in tears)
• Coby is very animated in his speaking and is always enthusiastically saying, "mommy, you're not going to believe this.....(and he'll share something about his school day)"
• Coby grew out his hair over the past year and he is very proud of it!
• Coby is always striving to make us proud of him...and we are
• Coby started Karate over the past year and he loves it (we took a few months off, but are about to start back up). I think he's found his passion!
• Coby still loves to draw. He frequently draws pictures for me and Darren.
• Coby writes letters to me and Darren and puts them in envelopes for us to find on our nightstands. He'll tell us how much he loves us and how he hopes we'll have a wonderful day and things along those lines. Sometimes he'll throw in some candy too! Did I mention how sweet and thoughtful he is? :)
• Coby loves to build Legos in his room, by himself. He seems to really enjoy his alone time, but is always so excited to have us come and see what he has created!
• One day a commercial came on TV with a house on it and all of a sudden Coby darted off to his room saying "that gives me an idea!" I asked what he was doing and he informed me that he was going to make that house out of legos...and he did.
• Coby loves to dress up in his police shirt and makeshift police belt. He has a (pretend) police radio and gun that he tucks into it. He wants to be just like daddy!
• Coby loves to wrestle with Darren and he is super strong. Darren says he could be a great wrestler because he knows a lot of the moves already and is so quick and strong. (I am NOT going to push for this, I'd prefer that he stick with Karate!)
• Coby loves going to school and likes everyone is his class, but doesn't have any really close friends ( I remember that Connor didn't at this age either)
• Coby has a girl that he really likes and I hear about her a lot (she's not in his class this year though...probably a good thing)
• Coby loves holiday decorating...if I am decorating the house for any holiday, you can bet that Coby will be begging me for part of my decor for his room! It's a battle every holiday season so I usually take him to Hobby Lobby so he can pick up a few things for his room (he's even been known to spend his allowance for this purpose) It's so cute!
• Coby is so helpful. If I need something doneI know I can count on Coby to be there to help me. He LOVES to help me. When I ask for his help, he always responds with a yes, ma'am. I love it. He is also a great example for Cale because now Cale is responding with a yes, ma'am to most of my requests rather than his usual argumentative "Why?" I have no one, but Coby to thank for this!
• Coby is such a blessing to us. I am so thankful that he is my son. We are so blessed to have him in our family. He is such a fun, happy, spunky presence in our home. I just couldn't love him more.

We had a little family get together on Sunday night to celebrate Coby. Coby has yet to request a "friend" party and until he does (or his brothers do), I just love celebrating the boys special days with family. This years menu included taco soup, potato soup, nachos, pepperoni and cheese filled crescent rolls, cheetos (because my sweet nieces LOVE them!), and lots of sweets. Here are a few pics from our evening...

Cale and Madison told me that the smoke from the candles burnt their noses!

I just love this pic of Poppy with Coby and John Michael...they all look (and are) so full of mischief. I know it looks like my dad was picking his nose, but I'm pretty sure he was just scratching. :) Right, dad?

Don't know what just happened here, but it must not have been good! T-R-O-U-B-L-E!!

Coby opens as a few of his cousins look on

I'm pretty sure that I bought this Nerf gun for Coby, but Darren is having a ball with it (me too...Darren and I have battles after the boys go to bed...I see the purchase of another one of these in the near future)

Coby and John Michael try to shoot Uncle Clint who has taken Connor hostage...sadly Connor got hit repeatedly and Clint came out unscathed (Cale's weapon of choice? Why a light saber of course!)

Coby goes after Poppy who very wisely covered his head, but that didn't matter since Coby just shot him in the booty!

I love this of my dad behind the couch making the girls giggle and Juliet cozied up in my brown, fuzzy blanket. She loves fuzzy things!

Braden insisted that Papa try on Coby's storm trooper hat! So funny!

My beautiful sister with a belly filled up with my two newest nieces, Macy and Avery...can't wait to meet them in two weeks or less!

the fam

We had a great time! Can't wait to do it again next month for Cale and Connor's birthdays.