Eleven

I spent some time reminiscing through Luke's birthday blog posts.  (If you're interested:  Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten.)  It was fun to read how Luke's interests have changed through the years, but I also started to think: "what can I say about Luke that I haven't already"...oh, don't worry, I came up with something;)

Our eleven year old is 4 feet 10 inches and 88lbs of boy!  This past year, he's kept busy playing spring soccer, running lots of summer races (sprints and 5Ks), summer 3-on-3 basketball, fall flag football, and winter basketball.  Although he really enjoys being active, he's also been learning more on the piano with Grandma Ruth (which is especially fun now that we have her piano at our house for him to play).  Luke is also a very thoughtful kid.  He loves time with cousins and friends and is often seen slowing down for the littler kids in the mix.  This thoughtfulness can ebb and flow with his own sister though...they are siblings after all;)  This year we also got to have some fun experiences with just Luke.  We saw Amos Lee in concert, got out skiing a few times, and saw the Michigan at Minnesota men's basketball game.

But, more importantly than all he's done and kept busy with this past year, I am proud of who Luke is.  This past year has presented a lot of change and new experiences: leaving the only school he's ever known (in Rochester), moving to a new home/school/neighborhood (in Stewartville), and meeting lots of new people.  These are all stretches for our introverted, sensitive, and quiet boy.  Before we decided to move, we asked him if he was up for the changes.  He, like us, was excited about the process and possibilities, but everything "on the horizon" with the move became his every day reality this past year.  Most of the changes have gone smoothly, but there have also been learning and growing experiences.  For this, I am proud of our boy.  We are all still in a learning phase as we meet more people and learn how school/activities operate in Stewartville, but Luke has certainly had the biggest everyday adjustment.  We were reassured by his teacher telling us at conferences that if he didn't know Luke was new to the school, that he would have never known by the way he interacted each day.  Luke continues to excel at school, especially enjoying math and science, and does a great job staying organized and on task with his assignments.

He's growing up before our eyes, this boy of ours. I try not to take for granted the little things that still show me he's a boy and not yet a tweenager. Like, when he still calls us Mommy and Daddy, still wants a hug before he leaves for school, and when he snuggles with us while watching a movie.

We are beyond blessed by this boy!

Here is a look back at Luke's past year...

Ice skating for his tenth birthday

Terrific Kid Award from Gibbs Elementary

With our Terrific Kid

Skiing last winter with Picker crew...he loves selfies;)

With Mekhi

With Daddy (who doesn't love skiing:))

Playing with Piper and Nora at Gma and Gpa's house

Date with Luke for the Jungle Book 

Color Run 5K in Stewartville

Post Color Run 5K

Sibling fun

Luke's last day of 4th grade

Breakfast out for first day of summer!

Pool on the first day of summer

Meeting cousin Parker for the first time

All Comer Track Meet with daycare friends

Gravitating to the little friends:)

Second generation friends

Como Zoo

Game face on for the Go for the Gold 5K

Go for the Gold 5K

Dad's mini-me

Another little friend to play with

Hanging with Parker

Birthday hug for Piper

Love this boy

Harvest Classic 5K

Last day of summer with cousins at Gma and Gpa's

First day of 5th grade in Stewartville

Survived his first day at a new school!

Piano with Gma Ruth

Flag Football

Amos Lee concert

Harry Potter for Halloween

Basketball team's first tournament

Skiing with Picker cousins this winter

Skiing with Moyers this winter