Seven and Snuggley

I have a Josh update-in-draft, but it is much easier to write about fun things like McKay's birthday and Christmas. Truth be told, McKay's birthday is spread out over the whole month. We went to Pizza Hut, had presents and a movie for his party early in the month and then he had cupcakes and presents from Grammy and Auntie Em on his birthday (because Josh and I were at the Huntsman). Then Matt and Tamara came and we had cake and ice cream and another present from them! Thanks to Matt and Tamara for coming! It was really fun to have you here!

When McKay was born I was a little worried that having a birthday two days after Christmas would be hard and that it would get lost in the shuffle. Well, it is hard in some respects. But, we really celebrate all month long. Hopefully that makes up for it a little and he feels loved and important, although I am not sure if it's the right way or not. Josh REALLY wanted to make McKay's birthday cake, so he asked McKay what he wanted. McKay said he wanted a layered chocolate cake with chocolate chips and gummy worms... here's how it turned out:

McKay was so excited to see the worms "crawling out of the cake" and Josh really worked hard on it. The fine motor skills it took for Josh to accomplish this were challenging and ultimately resulted in a seizure, but he was SO proud of it and SO happy that McKay was ecstatic about it. 

We also recently watched his "baby video" and enjoyed talking about our thoughts and feelings when he was born. We had to discuss the topic of his arm, of course, but it didn't change the special night we had putting our arms around him and thanking him for coming to our family and expressing our love for him. 

McKay turned seven and boy is he seven! He has outgrown most of the pants I got him for school clothes (Before some of them got holes in the knees!--This is monumental at our house!)  and he is a good helper and responsible. He is concerned for those around him. He LOVES to play spies, superheroes, hot wheels, Lego's, remote control cars and helicopters. He loves playing with their newish guinea pigs named Harry and Hermione (remember that Benson is part Harry?) He is reading and enjoying most things in first grade, except for homework (ugh, help me).  One of the best things about McKay is that he is my snuggly boy. I can always count on him to give me a love or snuggle up next to me on the couch or at church. I love it. I hope he never grows out of it. 

I posted on Facebook on his birthday that I can't believe he is seven, but that it is hard to imagine what our family was like BEFORE he was born. He is just such a warm presence in our family. We LOVE our sweet McKay! This picture by Mindy Smith is one of my recent favorites of McKay. I love pictures  of all three boys together because they NEED each other. They are really close, good buddies. It doesn't take long for one of them to notice if someone is gone and wonder when they will be back. Oh what would I do without my little men? Just in case you aren't sure from left to right: McKay (7), Benson (4), Kimball (8).