Perfect 10

Today was Declan's 10th birthday. And I can't believe it. I mean I can, but I can't. Which makes no sense whatsoever, I realize.

On Friday night, Declan was supposed to have a sleepover party with three friends. Unfortunately, in shades of last year, he was sick and we'll have to reschedule the party for next weekend.

Last year, Declan's birthday fell on a Friday. The last few days leading up to the party looked something like this:

Wednesday, March 25--drive to Denver for Finn's appointments on Thursday; go to museum; hang out in park; go to Chuck E. Cheese.

Thursday, March 26--wake up at hotel, massive snowstorm starting; drive to appointments; realize we are in a blizzard; search for and find a hotel that takes one hour to get to even though it is only five miles from where we are; remain trapped in hotel overnight.

Friday, March 27--Declan's birthday! Wake up at hotel to 18 inches of snow and frigid temperatures. Mommy eventually digs out the car and we make it home at lunchtime. . .right as Declan gets the stomach flu. He vomits for the rest of the day. He rallies around dinnertime to open presents, but that's pretty much it. Fortunately, his party is scheduled for a later date.

Here was this year's itinerary:

Tuesday, March 23--A giant snowstorm races through our valley and wallops Denver. We are scheduled to drive to Denver on Wednesday for Finn's appointments and to to an Avalanche game. Declan goes snowboarding with Tara and Garvin, but doesn't feel well. In a very sympathetic mood, we make him go to soccer practice. In the snow. When he comes home, we realize he has a fever.

Wednesday, March 24--We head out despite the inclement weather. Allegedly, all of the roads are open. And they are--most of the way. At one point we sit for 45 minutes as the result of an accident, but we finally make it to Denver an hour late. When we get there, three hours later, they can still see us because all of the Denver people cancelled their appointments. The only people who drove through the weather to keep their appointments? Us, a family from Avon (in our valley) and a family from Wyoming.

We picnic in the car and go to the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum. Very cool. Declan spends most of the time lying on a bench.

We go to the hotel, which is very nice, thank you American Cancer Society, and rest before going to the Avs game. We all enjoy the game, but Declan is clearly not himself.

Thursday, March 25--We drive home. That night, Declan has such a coughing attack, he vomits. We make the decision to cancel the Friday night sleepover party. Declan wonders if he is allergic to Denver.

Good sport that he is, he plays along with the friend Finn has for a sleepover instead (I had invited a friend for Finn to keep him occupied during the party, but the parents didn't get my message saying the party was off. . .). Now, with a little rest, we're hoping Declan is on the mend at last.

He's a good kid. And now he's 10.

Some pictures of our Denver adventure. . .

In the cockpit


With Bob, our tour guide in the cockpit


Big wheels


Skydivers


Marveling at our hotel


Finn meets Bernie the Avalanche dog during a bathroom break


The LA Kings warming up



We were up close and personal to the action--right behind the glass. We are very lucky to have friends who have such great seats and who generously hand the seats out when they can't use them!


Fight!


Celebrating an Avalanche goal!


This old-fashioned safe was on the same floor as our room. The safe was manufactured in Hamilton, Ohio, which is near where I went to grad school at Miami University in Oxford.


Birthday morning--Feeling better and opening presents.


Cutting his own cake

A little look back. . .

You are brand new:

First day home from the hospital. I wondered if the baby acne would ever go away.


It did.

You are 1:

You like cake.


You are So Big.


You like presents. You don't like to wear socks.

You are 2:

You love Thomas the Tank Engine.


You think Easter egg hunts are the greatest thing ever.


You play endlessly with the eggs. When you go to Grandma's house, you ask her to get out the "fragile eggs" from Italy. Being a Grandma, she says OK, and lets you play with the fragile eggs, even though you are 2.


You twist your hair when you drink your bottle at night. I still see you do this when you're mindlessly watching TV (and when you have hair).

You are 3:

You love Larry Boy. You are so adorably cute it breaks my heart.


However, you cannot endure our Happy Birthday singing.


Larry Boy seems panicked.

You are 4:

You get your first "big boy" bike.


You love to play Candyland. And you cheat while doing so.


You love Buzz Lightyear and all things Toy Story.


To infinity. . .and beyond!

You are 5:

You love Spider-Man.


Your birthday falls on Easter. You are still beyond cute. And yet you are also a stinker. You are somewhat challenging at this age.

You are 6:

We celebrate with Grandpa in Florida. You seemed so grown up. Looking back, not.


Your love of hockey and all things Blue Jackets is already years old.


Finn wears those socks now. And he has long outgrown that stick.

You are 7:

Your first birthday in Colorado. It was a hard adjustment. . .


. . .but you made lots of good friends.

You are 8:

You love Harry Potter.


You love to snowboard.


You shave your head in honor of your brother for the first time.

You are 9:

We go to Park City to visit your cousins for spring break and celebrate your birthday early with them. You still love snowboarding. You still love hockey.


You are sick on your actual birthday. You do manage to open your presents. Imagine that.


You have a group of friends we call The Posse. I try to envision you all in high school.

You are the Perfect 10:

Old enough to raise money for a good cause.


Emotionally tough enough to endure shootouts.


Young enough to be delighted by animals and puppies.


Old enough for some independence, but still young enough to be excited about birthdays and presents. And still young enough to ask for 10 kisses from your parents to celebrate being 10.