Cowboy Ben Turns Eight

 Our favorite cowboy celebrated his eighth birthday this past Saturday.  Can it really be that eight years have passed since we met our Benny?  That he came into the world after a nice, short labor and began charming us all.  Can it be eight years since we first learned what "colicky baby" really meant and we had our first experience with a baby fed solely with formula?  That we sat in the hospital room praying that his jaundice would go down so he did not need a blood transfusion in the morning, that he wouldn't have brain damage from the crazy high levels of jaundice Benny had?  Yes, time has surely passed, and we have cherished each and every day with this little boy. 

 Benjamin is such a delightful mix of sweetheart and rough and tough.  He almost always has some kind of weapon on his person, from guns, to pocket knives, to little (plastic) daggers in his pocket, he is armed and ready.  He still loves cowboys and loves to wear vests and dress shirts, like a cowboy dressed up for Sunday-go-to-meeting.  But Benny still loves to give and receive hugs and kisses from mom and dad and plays so nicely with Baby Luke.  He likes to play with matchbox cars and little figurines of cowboys and horses.  He is progressing with his reading and other school subjects this year.

 Happy eighth Birthday, Benny.  Mommy and Daddy love you so much.  We are so glad that God gave us the gift of YOU!  May He continue to grow you in wisdom and stature.  May you be drawn closer to God and become a mighty man of God. 

We celebrated with lunch with Joel's parents on Saturday and then my parents joined the celebration in time for cake and presents.  Benny was overjoyed to receive some ammo for his nerf gun, and a military lego set, which big brother Nate loved to help put together.  We always enjoy spending time with our families, and Saturday was a fun opportunity to do just that.