Dear Deven, (10 years)

Dear Deven,
You are now in double digits!This last year we have seen a lot of changes, physical, mental, and emotional. You completed the 3rd grade and did 3 oral reports, learned about simple machines, famous people and did many experiments. You started speech therapy at MSU and have loved both your teachers. You had a great time at cub scouts and even got your first big cut from your pocket knife. One of your current favorite things to do is to pull all the bark off of wood and make it smooth.

You have gotten so strong and can climb a fireman's pole with just your hands. You love to play soccer and got a skateboard for your birthday. You can ride you bike for 2 miles straight and have learned to run very fast.You still love to build things and love your Legos. 

You got to see the ocean for the first time this year. We also went to Sea World which just encouraged your love of animals to extend to sea creatures. You love to catch bugs in the yard and sometimes try for hard prey like rabbits and squirrels.  You love to be outside and go crazy if there is a reason you can't get outside at least once a day. 
You have always been good at cleaning and organizing but you have started to do more on your own. You have earned more responsibilities around the house. When you went to Arizona for a week with dad, I missed you and all that you do to help me! 
You are turning into a young man and my heart swells at the progress you have made. The deck has been stacked against you for so long, but you are finally starting to pull ahead. I am excited to see what this next year will hold for you. 
I love you, my little boy.
Mom

 You had a great birthday this year. You got Styrofoam airplanes that we threw in the field behind our house, you decorated your own cookie cake, the spent hours at Busiek with cousins catching crawdads, fish and tad poles. It was a perfect day.

Ari got a little bored of the airplanes :)