Nine? How did this happen?

I cannot believe that the little boy we put to sleep tonight is going to wake up as a nine year old tomorrow.  He is so excited to be the same age as K.  I think that's what he is most looking forward to.  T has grown up so much this year.  He and K swam on the swim team again this summer, and asked to join a year round swim team because they liked it so much.  So we joined one a couple of weeks ago.  This is great for several reasons, including that they have so much fun swimming, they are good at it, and it's one of the only sports that is open right now due to Covid.  Plus, T needs the daily physical activity to be able to sleep at night.  

T is in third grade this year.  Our school started out in a hybrid version this fall, with kids coming just 2 days a week, and 3 days working on remote work.  My mom has been helping K & T with their schoolwork while I have been teaching on their remote days, thank goodness!  The kids love to be at my parents' home playing ping pong, working in their yard, playing on their computer and baking with my mom, and of course, doing school work.  Alas, all of the kids will be coming to school fulltime again soon, and T is looking forward to being around his friends, although socially distanced, 5 days a week.  At school he loves to run races at recess, and likes math.  PE is one of his favorite specials.

T & K are still taking piano lessons, although they are still being held over Zoom.  T recently learned to play a simplified version of Raiders of the Lost Ark and memorized it the first week!  He and K are obsessed with Hamilton right now and who knows the most lyrics.  

T still loves to be outside, he rides his bike for a few minutes almost every day, and plays in the yard too.  He still likes to dig in the dirt, still makes piles of sticks everywhere, and learned how to scrape them against the sidewalk to make the stick into a sharp point like an arrow this summer. He also likes Roblox, and to play video games on the Switch.  He and K play Mario and Minecraft together. 

He remains a sweetheart most of the day.  He is quick tempered when he has to leave a screen, but otherwise is pretty easy going.  He is funny, smart and just as handsome as ever.  We are so proud of who he is becoming.  Happy Happy T, you are our favorite little boy in the whole wide world!  I snapped these pictures yesterday of T in our backyard.

In our birthday tradition, here's T's interview!

How old are you? 8.  Wait.  No 9.
Why are you excited to be nine? I’m excited to be K’s same age.

What is your favorite color?  Blue (this hasn't changed his whole life)

What is your favorite animal?  Elephant.  No, it’s a bear. It’s a bear.  Did you think it would be lion?

What is your favorite book? Probably, uh, Ripley’s Believe Or Not 2020, wait, no, Guinness Book of World Records 2020.
What is your favorite TV show? Probably Avatar.
What is your favorite movie?  Davy Crockett

What is your favorite song? Memories by Maroon 5
What is your favorite food? Pizza from Little Ceaser's with Crazy Bread (again)

What is your favorite breakfast? Nana’s cinnamon rolls

What is your favorite drink? Well, it’s not Sprite anymore, it’s rootbeer

What is your favorite snack? snack? candy. (again)

What is your favorite candy? Skittles. Actually no, Swedish Fish

What is your favorite game? Minecraft or Madden on the Switch

What is your favorite toy?  Star Wars Nerf guns

Who is your best friend? Dad

What is your favorite thing to do inside? Play with Kobe (we are puppysitting right now)

What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play football

Where is your favorite place to go? The pool

What do you want to be when you grow up ? I don’t know the answer yet.

What is your favorite thing to do at school? Recess

What is a cool thing about Third Grade? Third Grade at Nana’s house

 We love you Mr. T!