Aaron's Golden Birthday

Someday I hope to write about March and April. I'll probably call it that--March & April. But for today, it's all I can do to write about Aaron's birthday!

He's 12 on the 12th--my second golden birthday boy. Poor Kaleb has to wait until he's 30!

I started this tradition with Braylen when he turned 11 on the 11th, and figured it worked pretty well back then--I might as well carry it on now. 12 gold coins taped to 12 wrapped gifts for our golden birthday boy.

He opened one gift before going to school this morning, and his day was off to a great start! His teacher gave him a bag of candy and let him sit in a swivel chair at his desk for the day. Aaron liked that a lot. Derek ate lunch with him yesterday, since that's the day that worked best for our schedules. It ended up being a much-needed thing for Aaron, since recess time was especially frustrating for him. So at lunch today, I slipped a happy birthday note in his lunch box and called it the best I could do. :)

After school, I picked him up and told him I would take him anywhere he wanted to go for a birthday treat. I figured he would pick somewhere to get a chocolate shake, and I was right. He slurped up every single drop! He's always a chatterbox after school, so I really like to spend as much time with him as possible while he's willing to talk.

Derek planned to go in late to work tonight so we could have a family birthday dinner. Aaron wanted me to make his aunt's recipe of sesame ribs, so that is what I did. They were every bit as good as he hoped!

Of course he loved opening all of his presents, talking on the phone with our family, and eating cake. When Aaron and I spent a week together in San Diego, he discovered how much he likes churros. Well, I found a recipe for a cinnamon churro cake, and it was delicious! Derek put the candles in his cake--can you tell?

I love this picture, because he's not smiling for the camera. He's simply smiling!

I really can't believe my youngest son is 12. We live our lives day by day, and don't think much of the time going by. But then we reach milestones like birthdays, and everything seems to happen all at once. Like Aaron turned 12 years old all in one day, when in reality, he turned 12 one day at a time.

As a new 12 year old, Aaron is goofy. He's emotional. His moods are all over the place, and yet--he still picks a few dandelions for me and puts them in my vase. He's almost a middle schooler. If there's a way to get out of doing any work around the house, he will find it. He doesn't love responsibility. Not. At. All. He's such a youngest child--playful, lazy, and happy-go-lucky at times. At other times, he's Mr. Gloom and Doom. Like I said--his moods are all over the place.

I love him. I love him so much. Happy Birthday, Golden Boy. Today has been a golden day. I am tucking the memories of today in a corner of my heart where you will never grow up, and you will always bring me a dandelion in spring.